MacEwan University has appointed Angela Santiago, co-founder and CEO of The Little Potato Company Ltd., as its 38th Allard Chair in Business.
This esteemed position recognizes exceptional business leaders who have made significant contributions to the community and exemplify outstanding leadership qualities.
“Angela has the vision and belief in the wider community that is so important to see in today’s entrepreneurs,” Dr. Annette Trimbee, president and vice-chancellor of MacEwan University said in a press release. “She holds dear the belief that everyone deserves healthy, nutritious food. Not surprisingly, as a leader in agriculture, innovation and sustainability are vitally important to her as well. MacEwan is proud to welcome Angela to this position, and we look forward to the year ahead.”
During her year-long appointment, Santiago will engage with students and faculty members through classroom visits, lectures, and special events, sharing her expertise and experiences with a broad audience. “What a thrill and honor it is to be named the 38th Allard Chair in Business by MacEwan University,” Santiago says. “I am so grateful for this acknowledgment and the opportunity to share my experiences with students, engage with the community, and connect with the next generation of business leaders.”
MacEwan University will officially celebrate Santiago’s appointment at an event in February. Past Allard Chairs have included prominent figures such as Kristina Botelho, Bill Comrie, and Teresa Spinelli, each contributing unique insights and perspectives during their tenure.
About Angela Santiago
Angela Santiago co-founded The Little Potato Company Ltd. alongside her father, Jacob Vander Schaaf, a Dutch immigrant with a passion for the tiny potatoes of his childhood. After earning a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Alberta, Santiago joined her father in 1996 to transform his dream into reality. Starting with a modest one-acre plot, the duo began growing and selling their little potatoes at local farmers’ markets. Their product gained rapid popularity, leading to significant growth.
Today, The Little Potato Company partners with family farms across North America and distributes its potatoes to more than 20,000 stores in Canada, the USA, and Mexico. With a commitment to ensuring that everyone has access to healthy, flavourful, and nutritious food, Santiago and her team focus on sustainable farming practices and continuous product innovation, including breeding new potato varieties. Her breeding efforts span regions with rich potato histories, integrating insights from South America, Europe, and Canada to create unique and proprietary potatoes in various colours and flavours.
Angela Santiago has received numerous accolades for her contributions to the industry, including Top Produce Person of the Year (Ontario Provincial Marketing Association), Top Forty Under Forty (2011), and Alberta’s Woman Entrepreneur of the Year (2016), among others.