About Eric
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- About Eric
- Last Updated: June 17, 2025
My journey
A detour worth taking
When I was rejected by the University of Ottawa’s accounting program, I could have called it quits. Instead, I enrolled at Algonquin College, found my people, made the dean’s list, and even launched the Accounting Club just because I could. A second application to Ottawa later earned me both admission and a scholarship, putting me back on the path to my CA designation.
One shot, one opportunity
I still remember the sting of failing my CA final exam. I retreated at home, ready to throw in the towel, until a friend dragged me out for lunch, reminding me that every setback is just a setup for a comeback. Blasting the 8 Mile soundtrack and a month later, I passed on my second try, and that moment of triumph still gives me goose bumps.
Those two defining chapters, embracing an unexpected detour, then turning a failure into fuel, laid the foundation for my early hustle: from Kijiji bookkeeping gigs and roles at the CRA and Auditor General’s office, all the way to earning my CPA at KPMG and, eventually, co-founding Zenbooks.
Looking ahead
I’m obsessed with bringing AI-driven insights into every dashboard and expanding Zenbooks into new markets. Whether it’s through my podcast, a byline in your favourite trade magazine, or a coffee chat, let’s make sure no entrepreneur ever flies blind again. I’d love to hear your story! Let’s build the future of finance, together!
About me
Hello! I’m Eric Saumure, a CPA, co-founder of Zenbooks, and host of the Small Business, Big Insights podcast. What began as a small side project now empowers over 300 companies to sleep easier at night. We have grown a remote-first team of 20, $3M in annual recurring revenue. Hearing “You’re making things so much easier” from clients never gets old.
What I've been up to
Public Voice
I’ve been fortunate to share insights on tax policy, cash-flow strategy, and AI in finance with CTV News, CBC, The Globe and Mail, Radio-Canada, and Canadian Press. Hosting the Small Business, Big Insights, one of Canada’s top-five business podcasts, has been loads of fun! We’ve been featuring C-suite leaders from Wealthsimple, Abacus Data, Wagepoint, and more.
Community & Leadership
In 2024, I was honored to join the Board of Cystic Fibrosis Canada (inspired daily by my wife’s CF journey), and Zenbooks landed on both the Ottawa Business Journal’s Fastest Growing list and The Globe’s Top Growing Companies. I’m also humbled to be named one of the Ottawa Board of Trade’s Forty Under 40. My involvement in local politics was successful as Chief Financial Officer for the Mark Sutcliffe Campaign for mayor (Ottawa).
Roots & Resilience
Roots
I feel privileged to carry forward a 10th-generation Franco-Canadian legacy. My ancestor Marc Semeur dit Labonté arrived in New France under Louis XIV, and through that line I trace my roots back to the Capetian royal dynasty. An ancestral reminder that every great endeavour starts with a single step.
Resilience
In 2020, I embarked on a sobriety journey that’s brought me clarity and focus I never imagined. And in 2023, welcoming my first son just as my dad tragically passed was a poignant lesson in gratitude and why I strive to cherish every moment.
If you’d like to swap stories over a coffee (virtual or otherwise), hit the button below.
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Lessons from Leaders
Over the years I’ve been lucky to learn firsthand from brilliant minds. Here are a few moments (and takeaways) that still shape my work today.
“Doing the right thing when no one is looking.”
Before he was Ottawa’s Mayor, Mark was my trusted business coach and he even celebrated with us at my wedding in 2022. He taught me the value of doing the right thing when no one is looking.
Mark Sutcliffe
“Humour, personality and authority can mix quite well.”
When my Dad confessed Jean Chrétien (20th Prime Minister of Canada) was his hero, I quietly arranged a meeting. Watching his face light up was the best gift I’ve ever given. He taught me that humour, personality and authority can mix quite well.
Jean Chretien
“Aim high in my ambitions and just do it.”
Volunteering as a VIP usher at We Day let me spend the day alongside Laureen Harper (spouse of 22nd Prime Minister of Canada, Stephen Harper), chatting about leadership and community. She taught me to aim high in my ambitions and just do it.
Laureen Harper
“If you keep showing up, you will be at the right place, at the right time.”
Also at We Day, I got to shake hands with Martin Sheen (Academy Award–nominated actor and activist). Proof that sometimes the best inspiration comes from unexpected encounters. He taught me if you keep showing up, you will be at the right place, at the right time.
Martin Sheen
“We could use our business acumen to change the world to be a better place.”
At the Globe and Mail Head Office in Toronto, I got to shake hands with legendary activist investor Wes Hall. He taught me we could use our business acumen to change the world to be a better place.
Wes Hall
Some career highlights include:
- 🏆 2024 Forty under 40 (Ottawa Business Journal and Ottawa Board of Trade)
- 🏆 2024 Fastest-Growing Companies (Ottawa Business Journal)
- 🏆 2024 Top Growing Companies (Globe and Mail)
- 🌍 20+ national interviews in 5 days advocating for small business tax fairness
- 🧠 Panelist at Open Banking Expo 2025, sharing insights alongside Xero’s VP of Americas
Boards and Committees
- Cystic Fibrosis Canada – Board Member (Finance and Audit Committee)
- Mark Sutcliffe Mayoral Campaign – Chief Financial Officer
- Ottawa Board of Trade – Ambassador Committee
- Cystic Fibrosis Canada – Ottawa Chapter – Chapter development
- Ottawa Real Estate Investors Organization (OREIO) – Executive/Treasurer
- Neighborhood Refresh – Advising Committee member
- Résidence Coopérative – CMFO (Maison de la francophonie) – Treasurer
Certifications
- Chartered Accountant (CA)
- Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA)
- University of Ottawa – Telfer School of Management – Honours Bachelor of Commerce, Specialization in Accounting
- Algonquin College of Applied Arts and Technology, Business Administration – Accounting
Awards
- 🏆 Forty under 40 – Ottawa Business Journal 2024
- Best Volunteer in Professional Field – Volunteer Ottawa
- Community Leader Award – KPMG Regions East Canada
- The Greater Nepean Chamber of Commerce Scholarship
- Dean’s Honour List – Algonquin College