In a world where social media has become a powerful tool for businesses to thrive, Amanda LePiane, founder and owner of Breeze Social, has taken it upon herself to help entrepreneurs navigate this ever-evolving landscape with ease and expertise. 

With an honest and kind approach, Amanda has become passionate about creating communities and contributing to the growth of small businesses and social causes. Through her work, she is determined to change the way business owners look at online marketing. 

“It should be a breeze,” she said.

But her journey to becoming a digital marketing maven was far from linear — it was a harmonious fusion of music, fashion, and a dash of serendipity.

Amanda grew up in Regina in a family of retail entrepreneurs, so she got insight into the world of small business at an early age. However, her story actually started with a love of music, which led her to study the flute at the University of Regina. 

Upon completing her degree, she found herself at a crossroads, unsure of how she wanted to use her musical talents. This uncertainty ultimately led her to Vancouver, where she enrolled in a fashion merchandising program to combine her creative spirit with a keen sense of business acumen.

She quickly climbed the ranks in the fashion industry, serving as a buyer for Hudson's Bay for over a decade. 

While on the West Coast Amanda met her husband, Peter, and together they decided to move to Toronto to start a family. They lived in the Beaches for almost a decade and loved it, but when the Covid-19 pandemic upended the world in 2020, Amanda and Peter made the decision to leave the bustling streets of Toronto behind and embrace a quieter life in Collingwood. 

“It was too isolating and crazy, we decided we didn’t want to live like that anymore,” she said. “We had always talked about retiring in the Blue Mountains and then we thought, why wait?”

It was this move that would set the stage for Amanda's transformation into a digital marketing expert.

To adapt to her new life and avoid commuting to the city, Amanda took an online digital marketing course. She joined a community of entrepreneurs through the Foundry, which opened doors to new opportunities. Her network expanded, and Amanda found herself connecting with like-minded individuals who introduced her to the vibrant Collingwood community.

“A lifestyle change brought us up here, and then work followed,” she said. “Necessity is the motherhood of invention.”

As someone who had always played musical instruments, Amanda's heart remained rooted in creativity. She decided to focus on social media, realizing that she could make an impact by helping businesses thrive in the digital world. Thus, Breeze Social was born.

And, as Amanda puts it, "It just snowballed after that."

With two young kids at the time, she thought she would start as a “mompreneur,” as she puts it, working only part time, but her business took off.

“Cut to now and I am scaling so much, I have a few contractors working for me. It’s definitely not any mompreneur-ing,” she laughed. 

But it took hard work and dedicaiton. In the early stages of her entrepreneurial journey, Amanda made a real effort to put herself out there and meet new people. She believed that networking was important, so she attended every event she could find. 

She also enrolled in The Monarch & Co.’s Monarch Business Academy (MBA) to gain clarity on what she wanted to offer. 

“I probably didn’t have a formative idea of my business or ideal clients until I took the program,” she said. It was this commitment to building relationships and learning from others that played a big role in helping Breeze succeed.

Now, Amanda's approach to social media management is rooted in authenticity and a deep understanding of her clients. She seeks heart-centred individuals and small to medium-sized businesses who are ready to trust her expertise.

“The biggest thing I hear people say is that social media is difficult, it’s just not easy for them,” she said. “I want to change that — easy breezy.”

Her services range from full social media management to coaching and training, and even monthly newsletters. And in a world where the digital landscape evolves at breakneck speed, she stays ahead of the curve by constantly reading and immersing herself in the latest trends. 

One of Amanda's unique selling points is her local presence. She understands the Collingwood market intimately and is always accessible to her clients. She truly believes in going slow, taking one step at a time, and avoiding unrealistic expectations.

When asked about her relationship with social media, Amanda's perspective is refreshingly balanced. She acknowledges its potential pitfalls but approaches it with intention, using it as a tool for connecting, both personally and professionally.

“I try to go on there with an intention, socially, and for business I am always trying to be in the cheering section and to engage with people,” she said. 

Recently, Amanda also co-authored a book, One Decision Away, which features the stories of 12 women, including herself, who have all made significant choices that transformed their lives. In the book, she shares her journey, highlighting the challenges she faced and the triumphs she achieved as she pursued her dreams and brought Breeze to life. 

She credits the Foundry for playing a crucial role in her journey as it not only has enhanced her business, but also brought her a circle of friends who share her passion for entrepreneurship and community.

“Meeting everyone through the Foundry really opened up our world,” she said. “Getting to know people, seeing how they run their businesses, you pick up a lot of things so that was a game changer.”

As she looks to the future, Amanda is not resting on her laurels. Having surpassed her 2023 goals, she's gearing up for an even more ambitious 2024. 

“Levelling up,” she smiled. 

Outside of her bustling business life, Amanda enjoys an active lifestyle with her family, including skiing in the winter and swimming in the bay during the summer.