EDMONTON, AB / ACCESS Newswire / September 22, 2025 / For many entrepreneurs, the ultimate goal is building a company that grows rapidly, attracts investors, and eventually delivers strong financial returns. However, according to seasoned entrepreneur and business leader Noah Smith Regina, this traditional focus is incomplete. "Entrepreneurs who only aim to build companies are missing the bigger picture," Regina argues. "The real measure of lasting success is building communities around those companies."

With over two decades of entrepreneurial experience across multiple industries, Noah Smith Regina has seen businesses thrive and collapse, often for reasons that go beyond revenue. The ventures that endure, he says, are those that connect with the people they serve: employees, customers, partners, and local communities.

Beyond Profits and Products

"The days when companies could simply make a product and sell it are over," Regina explains. "People want to belong to something bigger than a transaction." He points to the rise of customer-driven brands that succeed not just by meeting needs but by creating a sense of shared values and identity.

For Noah Smith Regina, community-building means embedding a company into the social fabric it touches. That includes prioritizing employee well-being, supporting local initiatives, fostering genuine customer engagement, and encouraging collaboration among entrepreneurs themselves.

"Profitability is essential; no business survives without it. But profitability alone doesn't guarantee longevity," he adds. "A company rooted in community earns loyalty that no competitor can easily replicate."

Employees as the First Community

According to Regina, the first community every entrepreneur should build is within their own company. "Your employees are not just resources; they're your ambassadors, innovators, and problem-solvers," he says.

Creating this community requires more than perks like free lunches or remote flexibility. It demands authentic investment in professional growth, mental health, and meaningful inclusion. "When people feel like they belong, they don't just work for you, they work with you," Regina notes.

He recalls his own ventures, where the most innovative solutions emerged not from top-down directives but from collaborative cultures in which employees felt empowered to contribute.

Customers as Partners, Not Buyers

Building communities also means reimagining the relationship with customers. Instead of seeing them as buyers, Regina advocates treating them as partners. "When customers feel connected to your mission, they become advocates," he says. "They tell your story for you."

He highlights examples of businesses that create forums, user groups, or social initiatives where customers share ideas and feel part of something beyond a product. "That sense of shared ownership makes loyalty nearly unbreakable," he adds.

The Local Impact

Noah Smith Regina is equally passionate about the role of entrepreneurs in strengthening local communities. Based in Edmonton, he has seen firsthand how businesses that invest in local programs, whether youth sports, education, or nutrition initiatives, earn respect and trust that translates into stronger relationships with customers and employees alike.

"Entrepreneurs often underestimate how much their businesses can shape the character of a city," he explains. "When a company supports its local community, the community supports the company in return. It's a cycle of shared prosperity."

A Global Dimension

Community-building, however, doesn't stop at the local level. In today's interconnected economy, entrepreneurs must also consider their global footprint. Regina himself supports initiatives that provide meals to children in developing countries, viewing this not as charity but as a responsibility.

"Entrepreneurship today is global. Your supply chain, your customers, your talent, they cross borders. If you're benefiting from that, you also need to contribute to it," he says.

Lessons for the Next Generation of Entrepreneurs

For younger entrepreneurs, Regina emphasizes that building community is not a distraction from growth but a catalyst for it. "When you focus on community, you attract better people, inspire stronger loyalty, and create resilience in times of crisis," he says.

He advises startup founders to integrate community values into their business models from day one, not as an afterthought. "It's much harder to add community later. It needs to be part of your DNA."

About Noah Smith Regina

Noah Smith Regina is an accomplished entrepreneur from Edmonton, Canada, with more than 20 years of experience founding and scaling businesses. He combines an MBA in strategic management with hands-on expertise from multinational organizations and startups. Today, he leads successful ventures, advises emerging companies, and serves on multiple boards.

CONTACT Noah Smith Regina:

Email: regina@noahsmithregina.com

SOURCE: Noah Smith Regina