Forty Under 40 2020

2020

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4 | FORTY UNDER 40 2020 PUBLISHED BY BUSINESS IN VANCOUVER

2020

Recognizing this year’s exceptional Forty under 40 cohort | 6–7 2019 Forty under 40 gala | 10–11

2020 WINNERS Troy Abromaitis | 13

Jennifer Hollinshead | 29

Amir Sharif | 44

Solon Bucholtz | 14

Harj Johal | 20

Kosi Stobbs | 46

Corinne Caldwell | 15

Dustin Johnson | 31

Anna Stukas | 47

Natalie Chan | 16

Braam Jordaan | 32

Rogayeh Tabrizi | 48

Zac Cohen | 17

Matthew May | 33

Christian Thomson | 49

Jon Conlin | 18

Aliya Mohamed | 34

Sean Tyson | 50

Joshua Davis | 19

Joshua Myers | 35

Chris Van Dyck | 51

Emile de Rosenroll | 21

Nima Nabavi | 36

Kevin Westell | 52

Mitchell Demeter | 22

Ryan O’Shea | 37

Cecilia Yeung | 54

Joe Deobald | 23

Kathleen Reid | 38

Russell Zishiri | 55

Carling Dick | 24

Dylan Rekert | 39

Ramin Estifaie | 25

Jason Robertson | 40

Sarah Gulbrandsen | 26

Anna Sainsbury | 41

Christian Hamm | 27

Reza Sanaie | 42

Kevin Heyries | 28

Vahid Shababi | 43

PRESIDENT: Alvin Brouwer EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, BUSINESS IN VANCOUVER; VICE-PRESIDENT, GLACIER MEDIA: Kirk LaPointe EDITOR: Hayley Woodin DESIGN: Petra Kaksonen PRODUCTION: Rob Benac DIRECTOR, SALES AND MARKETING : Pia Huynh SALES MANAGER: Laura Torrance ADVERTISING SALES: Betty Jin, Blair Johnston, Corinne Tkachuk, Chris Wilson ADMINISTRATOR: Katherine Butler Forty under 40 is published by BIV Magazines, a division of BIV Media Group, 303 Fifth Avenue West, Vancouver, B.C. V5Y 1J6, 604-688-2398, fax 604-688-1963, biv.com.

Copyright 2020 Business in Vancouver Magazines. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or incorporated into any information retrieval system without permission of BIV Magazines. The publishers are not responsible in whole or in part for any errors or omissions in this publication.

ISSN 1205-5662 Publications Mail Agreement No.: 40069240.

Registration No.: 8876.

Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to Circulation Department: 303 Fifth Avenue West, Vancouver, B.C. V5Y 1J6 Email: subscribe@biv.com

PRODUCED BY

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6 | FORTY UNDER 40 2020 PUBLISHED BY BUSINESS IN VANCOUVER

2020

CELEBRATING THIS YEAR’S COHORT OF YOUNG BUSINESS LEADERS KUDOS | 2020 award recipients reflect the caliber and diversity of Vancouver’s business community

BY FORTY UNDER 40 MAGAZINE STAFF NEWS@BIV.COM

F

rom logistics to law, technology to transportation and communications to clean tech, this year’s cohort of Business in Vancouver Forty under 40 award winners reflect the diversity of the province’s business scene.

Nea rly 100 nom i nations were received for th is yea r’s awards program, which recognizes British Columbia’s most

accomplished business leaders under the age of 40 who are working in private, public and non-profit sectors.

Four judges reviewed nominations to select the top 40 award nominees. This year’s award recipients hold leadership positions across a wide number of industries. They have each demonstrated exceptional achievements in leadership, business, innovation, vision and community involvement.

“As it is every year, the competition was strong among a large field of nominees, which made the judging quite challenging,” said Kirk LaPointe, BIV’s editor-in-chief and publisher, and Glacier Media’s vice-president of editorial.

Along with LaPointe, this year’s judging panel included: Sharon

Speedee Transport would like to congratulate all the 2020 BIV Forty Under 40 winners including our very own President & CEO Joshua Davis.

We thank all of BC’s rising stars for making an impact in their industries.

Speedee is one of Canada’s fastest growing transportation and logistics companies. Our mission is to provide the absolute best customer experience ever– no excuses.

Email for rates: rates@speedeetransport.com Direct Line: 604-245-1911 ext 8100 www.speedeetransport.com

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THE 2020 JUDGING PANEL KIRK LAPOINTE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF AND PUBLISHER, BUSINESS IN VANCOUVER; VICE-PRESIDENT, EDITORIAL, GLACIER MEDIA

SHARON SINGH PARTNER, BENNETT JONES LLP

HAYLEY WOODIN REPORTER, BUSINESS IN VANCOUVER; EDITOR, BIV MAGAZINE

GREG KRYWULAK CO-FOUNDER, IQMETRIX

Singh, partner at Bennett Jones LLP and a former Forty under 40 award winner; Greg Krywulak, co-founder of IQmetrix; and Hayley Woodin, reporter at Business in Vancouver and editor of BIV Magazine.

Every year, Business in Vancouver asks B.C.’s business community to nominate leaders who have risen through the ranks of their company or organization, or who have successfully created their own venture, at a relatively young age. This year’s youngest award recipient is 31, while several are 39.

Recipients not only demonstrate individual and professional success, but showcase a commitment to giving back to their community and profession. Many of this year’s recipients are board members, advisors and mentors; they donate their time, skills and resources outside of regular working hours to the causes they value.

Overall, this year’s Forty under 40 cohort features more than a dozen founders and co-founders, 11 CEOs, eight directors, five presidents, five chief operating officers, four partners and principals and four vice-presidents.

Award winners are celebrated at an annual awards gala, which will look different this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. É

Leadership on the Rise 2020 BIV Forty Under 40 Awards Fasken recognizes that the resilience of today’s rising stars makes them tomorrow’s leaders. Even during these uncertain times, young business professionals are doing their part to move business forward. The ones who stand out are highly motivated and passionate about their work, making them essential to the success of any organization.

The BIV Forty Under 40 award recipients are leaders and role models who make outstanding contributions to their workplaces and communities. Their accomplishments raise the bar for others in the formative years of their careers, propelling business innovation and growth in BC. With personal dedication and perseverance, they excel in the ever-changing business landscape.

William Westeringh, Q.C. Managing Partner, BC Region Fasken

Congratulations to the recipients of the 2020 BIV Forty Under 40 Awards. Your hard work, innovation and successes have not gone unnoticed. We look forward to seeing what you achieve next.

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Congratulations to our Future Leaders Recognizing the outstanding achievements of the 2020 BIV Forty Under 40 recipients

An innovating business in a competitive industry can’t just oer new ideas. It must deliver on them and compel clients and customers to return. Applauding our award recipients who make outstanding contributions to their workplaces and communities.

fasken.com

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2019 FORTY UNDER 40 WINNERS Adil Ahamed Kyle Barker Paulina Cameron Brent Charleton Reshma Chaskar Mehta Robert Coard Cheryl D’Sa Zahra Esmai Ashley Freeborn Hanna Golota Erik Hadley Janie Hungerford BrittneyKer Vera Kobalia Matthew Lewis Derrick Li Ian MacKinnon Christina Marcano Stephen Menon Carly Monahan

Rachel Nelson Nicole Parmar Jordana Pourian Jay Rhind Khaled Shariff Amanda Shatzko Ben Silverman Sharon Singh Ashley Smith Jonathan Snoek Sean Stofer Byron Thom Jasmean Toor Ryan Uy Lisa von Sturmer Erin Walker Jeff Ward Jonas Woost Alex Yamini Leena Yousefi

— CONGRATULATIONS! BCIT Business + Media congratulates all of our outstanding BCIT alumni recipients.

Our graduates launch their careers with the advantage that comes from an applied learning model that ensures they are equipped to thrive in a world of innovation. We look forward to congratulating future BCIT graduates as Business in Vancouver’s Forty under 40.

!! "## $

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10 | FORTY UNDER 40 2020 PUBLISHED BY BUSINESS IN VANCOUVER

2020

FORTY UNDER 40 GALA

B

usiness in Vancouver celebrates B.C.’s brightest young business leaders at its annual Forty under 40 awards gala.

The awards program highlights the achievements of 40 of the province’s young entrepreneurs, executives and professionals who have demonstrated excellence in business, judgment, leadership and community contribution.

In keeping with ongoing COVID-19 restrictions, this year’s crop of winners will be celebrated in a safe and physically distanced manner.

Earlier this year and prior to the pandemic, BIV honoured 2019 Forty under 40 winners at the Westin Bayshore. The event was MCed by Dan Burritt and Anita Bathe of CBC Vancouver and featured an array of notable B.C.-based business leaders and entrepreneurs.

The event began with a cocktail reception followed by dinner and the night’s award presentations.

The evening concluded with after-dinner drinks and celebratory photos. The event also marked the 30th anniversary of the annual awards program.

For more information about Business in Vancouver’s Forty under 40 awards, visit: biv.com/ forty-under-40.

Cheryl D’Sa, managing partner of Narwal Litigation LLP and a Forty under 40 award recipient, enters the Westin Bayshore with her date

The winners of the 2019 Forty under 40 awards

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PHOTOGRAPHY: CHUNG CHOW

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Hundreds of people gathered to celebrate Business in Vancouver’s 2019 Forty under 40 award recipients at a gala held earlier this year at the Westin Bayshore

EO Vancouver president Manny Padda presents a donation to Kim Wing of Covenant House Vancouver

Leena Yousefi, lawyer and founder of YLaw Group, accepts her award from Jon Conlin of Fasken, the event’s platinum sponsor. Conlin is one of the 2020 Forty under 40 award recipients Forty under 40 gala MCs Anita Bathe and Dan Burritt from CBC Vancouver

Paulina Cameron, CEO of the Forum for Women Entrepreneurs, accepts her award from Leelah Dawson, dean of the British Columbia Institute of Technology School of Business

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Jonathan Snoek, managing partner of Cascadia Strategy Consulting Partners, accepts his Forty under 40 award from BIV editor-in-chief and publisher Kirk LaPointe

Kirk LaPointe, editor-in-chief and publisher of Business in Vancouver and vice-president, editorial, of Glacier Media Group, was one of the award judges

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Pender Litigation congratulates all 2020 BIV Forty under 40 winners including our very own Kevin Westell

Partners: Scott Wright, Kevin Westell, Claire Hatcher, Jonathan Desbarats Associates: Stephanie Dickson, Catherine Rose, Sam Williams and Amanda Willox

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2020

TROY ABROMAITIS Director of development, Bucci Developments

AGE

37

WHO OR WHAT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR WORK ETHIC? Throughout my career, I was fortunate to have the support of my family, colleagues and mentors. Their support has been essential in my career development and as a result, I continue to look for ways to help mentor and support the next generation of young professionals. I strongly believe that you get out of a career what you give back to your community.

WHAT IS YOUR GUILTY PLEASURE? Tiramisu or crème brûlée.

WHAT IS THE BEST BOOK YOU WOULD RECOMMEND? Blue Ocean Strategy or The Hard Thing About Hard Things.

NOW THAT YOU’RE ENTERING YOUR 40S, WHAT GOALS HAVE YOU SET FOR YOURSELF? See the world. Learn another language.

Get more involved in politics.

CHOOSE ONE OF THESE FIVE CHILDHOOD CAREER DREAMS: ROCK STAR, STAR ATHLETE,

SUBMITTED

I AM RELENTLESSLY CURIOUS. I ALSO LOOK AT PROBLEMS AS OPPORTUNITIES, NOT CHALLENGES

PRIME MINISTER, ASTRONAUT, DETECTIVE. Prime minister.

NAME YOUR HAPPIEST PLACE.

ADVICE YOU WOULD GIVE YOUR 20-YEAR-OLD SELF? If you are fortunate enough to find success, it is your opportunity to send the ladder down and lift others up as we climb. Giving back is the right thing to do.

Vacation on a tropical beach.

I am a business professional by day and professional student by night.

BEST PIECE OF ADVICE EVER RECEIVED? Think long term and strive to contribute to your community.

WHAT IS YOUR BEST HABIT? WHAT WAS YOUR TOUGHEST BUSINESS OR PROFESSIONAL DECISION? Stepping back from volunteering to spend more time with family.

I am relentlessly curious. I also look at problem s a s opp or t u n it ie s, not challenges.

TELL US ONE IMPROBABLE FACT ABOUT YOURSELF.

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WHAT CAREER HIGHLIGHT ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF? Working on one of the largest masterplanned communities in Surrey and being the president of the Real Estate Institute of British Columbia.

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2020

SOLON BUCHOLTZ Co-founder and CEO, LBC Studios Inc.

AGE

37

WHO OR WHAT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR WORK ETHIC? My family drives my desire to provide a quality of life that allows us all to chase our dreams.

WHAT IS YOUR GUILTY PLEASURE? Ice cream, chocolate, peanut butter, fine red wines and golf. One of those keeps me in shape.

WHAT IS THE BEST BOOK YOU WOULD RECOMMEND? The Four Agreements. Be impeccable with your word. Don’t take anything personally. Don’t make assumptions. Always do your best.

NOW THAT YOU’RE ENTERING YOUR 40S, WHAT GOALS HAVE YOU SET FOR YOURSELF? Age hasn’t changed my goals of being a good partner, father and leader – they’ve strengthened the more precious time becomes.

SUBMITTED

SUBMITTED

CHOOSE ONE OF THESE FIVE CHILDHOOD CAREER DREAMS: ROCK STAR, STAR ATHLETE, PRIME MINISTER, ASTRONAUT,

I SET PERSONAL, PROFESSIONAL, AND FAMILY GOALS AND HOLD MYSELF ACCOUNTABLE TO DO ONE THING EACH DAY TOWARDS THEM

DETECTIVE. Astronaut, because I love the idea of exploring uncharted space and gaining a different perspective.

NAME YOUR HAPPIEST PLACE.

ADVICE YOU WOULD GIVE YOUR

BEST PIECE OF ADVICE EVER

20-YEAR-OLD SELF?

RECEIVED?

Dream big, fail fast and learn to balance your priorities.

Be an energy giver, not an energy taker.

WHAT CAREER HIGHLIGHT ARE

Collecting new experiences around the world with family and friends.

WHAT WAS YOUR TOUGHEST

WHAT IS YOUR BEST HABIT? I set personal, professional and family goals and hold myself accountable to do one thing each day towards them.

BUSINESS OR PROFESSIONAL DECISION? Pivoting my career by co-founding LBC with no experience in tech after building a successful real estate business for eight years.

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YOU MOST PROUD OF? Having the privilege and trust to lead LBC and our team of amazingly talented people.

TELL US ONE IMPROBABLE FACT ABOUT YOURSELF. I was homeless and dealt with addiction as a young adult.

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2020

CORINNE CALDWELL COO, BC Real Estate Association

AGE

36

WHO OR WHAT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR WORK ETHIC? Leading by example, my parents taught me the value of setting goals and working hard to achieve them.

WHAT IS YOUR GUILTY PLEASURE? E a t i n g w a f f l e s a n d i c e c re a m fo r breakfast.

WHAT IS THE BEST BOOK YOU WOULD RECOMMEND? Power of One – Bryce Courtenay NOW THAT YOU’RE ENTERING YOUR 40S, WHAT GOALS HAVE YOU SET FOR YOURSELF? Professionally: embrace challenges and opportunities for continuous growth and coaching. Volunteer: design and implement practical strategies to address wildlife conservation concerns in Africa.

CHUNG SUBMITTED CHOW

CHOOSE ONE OF THESE FIVE SUBMITTED

CHILDHOOD CAREER DREAMS: ROCK STAR, STAR ATHLETE, PRIME MINISTER, ASTRONAUT, DETECTIVE.

MY GRANDMOTHER ADVISED ME TO ALWAYS DO IT NOW: PURSUE EXPERIENCES, EXPLORE THE WORLD. DON’T WAIT FOR TOMORROW.

Astronaut.

NAME YOUR HAPPIEST PLACE.

ADVICE YOU WOULD GIVE YOUR 20-YEAR-OLD SELF?

When home, I’m happy on Mayne Island with my dog; I’m happiest travelling to remote countries to experience majestic, endangered wildlife.

WHAT WAS YOUR TOUGHEST BUSINESS OR PROFESSIONAL DECISION? Losing mentors and team members through significant restructuring then transforming this into an opportunity to strengthen my skillset and empower my team.

Trust your instincts. Data is necessary, but sometimes you need to trust yourself to make the best decision, which won’t always align with the data.

WHAT IS YOUR BEST HABIT? Learn something new every day, big or small, then challenge myself to apply that new knowledge to make a difference.

BEST PIECE OF ADVICE EVER RECEIVED? My grandmother advised me to always do it now: pursue experiences, explore the world. Don’t wait for tomorrow.

WHAT CAREER HIGHLIGHT ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF?

TELL US ONE IMPROBABLE FACT ABOUT YOURSELF. I’m as comfortable with a computer as a tool belt. I personally tile, perform

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electrics/carpentry, replace windows, lay flooring.

Reaching a position in my career that allows me to meaningfully volunteer in governance roles with organizations that align with my values and goals.

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2020

NATALIE CHAN Co-founder, president and research director, Be The Change Group Inc.

AGE

34

WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR WORK ETHIC? My parents. As new immigrants, they showed me how you may have very little, but hard work and education will open up opportunities.

WHAT IS YOUR GUILTY PLEASURE? Cinnamon buns, Nanaimo bars, carrot cake and fried rice.

WHAT IS THE BEST BOOK YOU WOULD RECOMMEND? Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett. If you want a good laugh and love fiction, it’s one of my favourites.

NOW THAT YOU’RE ENTERING YOUR 40S, WHAT GOALS HAVE YOU SET FOR YOURSELF? I want to build a better business model for family physicians, so new grads can practice without needing to learn how to run a business and can focus on providing quality care and improve the overall health of our community. My business partner and I plan to open a clinic in the future.

CHOOSE ONE OF THESE FIVE CHILDHOOD CAREER DREAMS: ROCK STAR, STAR ATHLETE, PRIME MINISTER, ASTRONAUT, DETECTIVE.

SUBMITTED

EVERY TIME YOU FAIL, IT IS GOING TO FEEL ATROCIOUSLY DISGUSTING, BUT WHEN YOU AREDONE FEELING PITIFUL, TAKE THE TIME TO LEARN THE LESSON AND BE A BETTER YOU quite hard to step back from projects I loved, but it was important to focus on developing my clinical skills.

TELL US ONE IMPROBABLE FACT ABOUT YOURSELF. Being a doctor is my side hustle.

Astronaut – minus the nauseating flight to space. Is teleportation an option?

NAME YOUR HAPPIEST PLACE.

ADVICE YOU WOULD GIVE YOUR 20-YEAR-OLD SELF?

Cuddling my dog, your dog, any dog, really. I really, really love dogs.

Every time you fail, it is going to feel atrociously disgusting, but when you are done feeling pitiful, take the time to learn the lesson and be a better you.

WHAT WAS YOUR TOUGHEST

WHAT IS YOUR BEST HABIT?

BUSINESS OR PROFESSIONAL DECISION? Limiting my day-to-day work at my company during my clinical training. It was

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BEST PIECE OF ADVICE EVER RECEIVED? Don’t accept advice from people whose values are not aligned with yours, even if they give it to you freely.

WHAT CAREER HIGHLIGHT ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF?

Being hyper-organized and putting work, holidays, life events and self-care all into my calendar. It’s how I stay on top of everything.

AIDS Vancouver’s 30 30 Campaign: having the honour of telling the story of HIV in Vancouver and seeing how the series impacted the community.

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2020

ZAC COHEN COO, Trulioo

AGE

39

WHO OR WHAT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR WORK ETHIC? My parents.

WHAT IS YOUR GUILTY PLEASURE? Cribbage app.

WHAT IS THE BEST BOOK YOU WOULD RECOMMEND? The Alchemist.

NOW THAT YOU’RE ENTERING YOUR 40S, WHAT GOALS HAVE YOU SET FOR YOURSELF? Build a billion-dollar company.

CHOOSE ONE OF THESE FIVE CHILDHOOD CAREER DREAMS: ROCK STAR, STAR ATHLETE, PRIME MINISTER, ASTRONAUT, CHUNG SUBMITTED CHOW

DETECTIVE. Star athlete.

NAME YOUR HAPPIEST PLACE. A beach in the sun, anywhere.

SUBMITTED

NON-LINEAR CAREER PATHS CAN BE SUCCESSFUL, AS LONG AS EACH STEP IS MEANINGFUL

WHAT WAS YOUR TOUGHEST BUSINESS OR PROFESSIONAL DECISION?

WHAT IS YOUR BEST HABIT?

Launching a second entrepreneurial venture shortly after the first failed spectacularly.

Breaking down complex challenges into simple strategies and actions.

TELL US ONE IMPROBABLE FACT

ADVICE YOU WOULD GIVE YOUR

ABOUT YOURSELF.

20-YEAR-OLD SELF? Non-linear career paths can be successful, as long as each step is meaningful.

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I h ave z ero p erson a l so ci a l me d i a accounts.

BEST PIECE OF ADVICE EVER RECEIVED? You can learn something from everyone.

WHAT CAREER HIGHLIGHT ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF? Helping Trulioo grow from 20 to 200+ people continues to be my career highlight thus far.

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2020

JON CONLIN Partner, Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP

AGE

35

WHO OR WHAT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR WORK ETHIC? My parents. Watching my father run a very large company successfully, and watching my mom beat cancer, has been very inspiring to me and showed me the value of hard work in many aspects of life.

WHAT IS YOUR GUILTY PLEASURE? Fantasy football – I am in way too many leagues!

WHAT IS THE BEST BOOK YOU WOULD RECOMMEND? Recently enjoyed Atomic Habits by James Clear and The Price of Tomorrow by Jeff Booth.

NOW THAT YOU’RE ENTERING YOUR 40S, WHAT GOALS HAVE YOU SET FOR YOURSELF? I want to contribute to the continued success of the local technology ecosystem.

Specifically, helping entrepreneurs start and grow businesses that have a meaningful impact on our local economy and our world.

CHOOSE ONE OF THESE FIVE CHILDHOOD CAREER DREAMS:

SUBMITTED

SUBMITTED

I WANT TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE CONTINUED SUCCESS OF THE LOCAL TECHNOLOGY ECOSYSTEM

ROCK STAR, STAR ATHLETE, PRIME MINISTER, ASTRONAUT, DETECTIVE. Star athlete, no question.

NAME YOUR HAPPIEST PLACE. Whistler, any season.

WHAT WAS YOUR TOUGHEST BUSINESS OR PROFESSIONAL DECISION? Deciding to be a lawyer – but I don’t regret it!

ADVICE YOU WOULD GIVE YOUR

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20-YEAR-OLD SELF? Don’t stress about the little things in life (lawyers are really good at worrying about the little things). Also, always prioritize your health.

WHAT IS YOUR BEST HABIT? I start my day at 5 a.m., usually with exercise.

BEST PIECE OF ADVICE EVER RECEIVED? Taking a long-term approach to any situation. Many mentors have told me this, and I think Naval Ravikant summarized it well: “Play long-term games w ith longterm people. All returns in life, whether in wealth, relationships or knowledge, come from compound interest.”

WHAT CAREER HIGHLIGHT ARE

TELL US ONE IMPROBABLE FACT

YOU MOST PROUD OF?

ABOUT YOURSELF. I climbed Mount Kilimanjaro shortly after overcoming malaria while living in Tanzania (and shortly after a major knee surgery).

Becoming a partner at Fasken and leading multiple major M&A transactions for great local technology companies in the same year.

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2020

JOSHUA DAVIS Founder, JL Davis Enterprises; co-founder and CEO, Speedee Transport; co-founder, Stark TMS Software

AGE

37

WHO OR WHAT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR WORK ETHIC? My grandfathers: both self-made, hard working entrepreneurs.

WHAT IS YOUR GUILTY PLEASURE? Playing the “NBA 2K” video game.

WHAT IS THE BEST BOOK YOU WOULD RECOMMEND? Leadership by the Good Book – about servant leadership and making an eternal impact through your business.

NOW THAT YOU’RE ENTERING YOUR 40S, WHAT GOALS HAVE YOU SET FOR YOURSELF? Be a dedicated husband and father, build exceptional companies that have impact, and help kids at risk around the world.

CHOOSE ONE OF THESE FIVE CHILDHOOD CAREER DREAMS: ROCK STAR, STAR ATHLETE,

SUBMITTED

PRIME MINISTER, ASTRONAUT, DETECTIVE. Star athlete, like Michael Jordan.

SET THE TONE FOR A PRODUCTIVE, ENERGIZED AND FRUITFUL DAY

NAME YOUR HAPPIEST PLACE. With my beautiful wife and children – at home, travelling or boating.

WHAT WAS YOUR TOUGHEST BUSINESS OR PROFESSIONAL DECISION?

WHAT IS YOUR BEST HABIT? Morning routine: up early, exercise, prayer and devotional, coffee, breakfast.

Set the tone for a productive, energized and fruitful day.

Ma k i ng the decision to sel l a com-

TELL US ONE IMPROBABLE FACT

pany that we built from the ground up.

ABOUT YOURSELF.

ADVICE YOU WOULD GIVE YOUR 20-YEAR-OLD SELF? Seek mentors early in life! Wise counsel is invaluable

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Took my grandfather on one last sailing adventure which was cut short by 60-foot waves that almost sank the boat.

BEST PIECE OF ADVICE EVER RECEIVED? Write an annual plan that defines your purpose for your life, family and business for each year.

WHAT CAREER HIGHLIGHT ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF? Building one of the fastest growing logistics companies with my wife Loretta, business partner Daryl and our incredible team.

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2020

BY THE NUMBERS

Insights on this year’s cohort of Forty under 40 winners

AGE

FUN FACTS

Youngest award recipient: 31 Oldest award recipients: 39 Average: 37 Median: 37.5

3 award winners have the initials A.S. 1 is named after a small town in Ontario 2 have climbed Mount Kilimanjaro 1 is a former scuba instructor 1 is a Winnipeg Jets fan 8 said their best habit includes waking up early Hobbies include woodworking, crafting, meditation, journaling and triathlons Guilty pleasures include black liquorice, golf on weekdays, tech gadgets, painting and Oreo blizzards

WORKING FROM 24 – Vancouver 2 – North Vancouver 2 – Squamish 2 – Surrey 2 – Tri-Cities 2 – Victoria 1 – Belcarra 1 – Burnaby 1 – Delta 1 – Langley 1 – New Westminster 1 – Richmond

CHILDHOOD AMBITIONS 13 – Astronaut 12 – Star athlete 6 – Prime minister 5 – Rock star Other answers include shark-catcher, movie star, doctor and cashier

Source: The data on this page is taken from the nomination packages and questionnaires submitted by the award winners or on their behalf.

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2020

EMILIE DE ROSENROLL CEO, South Island Prosperity Partnership

AGE

38

WHO OR WHAT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR WORK ETHIC? Working on what makes you excited: when you are having fun, you aren’t punching your timecard.

WHAT IS YOUR GUILTY PLEASURE? Absolutely anything from Pâtisserie Daniel on Cook Street in Victoria.

WHAT IS THE BEST BOOK YOU WOULD RECOMMEND? A magic realism classic: One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez.

NOW THAT YOU’RE ENTERING YOUR 40S, WHAT GOALS HAVE YOU SET FOR YOURSELF? To paraphrase Jack Ma: you should scale up in your 40s what you build the foundation for in your 30s.

SUBMITTED

CHOOSE ONE OF THESE FIVE CHILDHOOD CAREER DREAMS: ROCK STAR, STAR ATHLETE, PRIME MIN-

TO PARAPHRASE JACK MA: YOU SHOULD SCALE UP IN YOUR 40S WHAT YOU BUILD THE FOUNDATION FOR IN YOUR 30S

ISTER, ASTRONAUT, DETECTIVE. All seemed fairly viable at that stage of my life. But missing: food taster and shark-catcher.

ADVICE YOU WOULD GIVE YOUR

BEST PIECE OF ADVICE EVER

20-YEAR-OLD SELF?

RECEIVED?

Not to worry about all the things you can’t control (and that’s most stuff).

Albert Einstein said, “Try not to become a person of success. Rather, become a person of value.”

NAME YOUR HAPPIEST PLACE. Disco dance parties with two little monkeys (aka my daughters).

WHAT WAS YOUR TOUGHEST BUSINESS OR PROFESSIONAL DECISION? Moving to Victoria five years ago (with a hubby and newborn) and starting a new career from scratch.

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WHAT IS YOUR BEST HABIT? Following curiosity and wanting to get things done.

TELL US ONE IMPROBABLE FACT

WHAT CAREER HIGHLIGHT ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF? Usually it’s in recent memory.

ABOUT YOURSELF. I’ve lived in 16 places and speak three languages.

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2020

MITCHELL DEMETER President, Netcoins Inc.

AGE

34

WHO OR WHAT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR WORK ETHIC? I’m motivated by a personal sense of competition – I always want to see how far I can go and what I can accomplish. I also enjoy building businesses. This all gives me a strong discipline and work ethic.

WHAT IS YOUR GUILTY PLEASURE? Black liquorice.

WHAT IS THE BEST BOOK YOU WOULD RECOMMEND? The Bitcoin Standard by Saifedean Ammous – a great overview for anyone that wants to understand the origins of money and the case for Bitcoin.

NOW THAT YOU’RE ENTERING YOUR 40S, WHAT GOALS HAVE YOU SET FOR YOURSELF? I still have a few years to go before 40, but in my 40s I aim to have a healthy work-life balance and spend more time with family.

SUBMITTED

SUBMITTED

CHOOSE ONE OF THESE FIVE CHILDHOOD CAREER DREAMS: ROCK STAR, STAR ATHLETE, PRIME MINISTER, ASTRONAUT, DETECTIVE.

THINK LONG TERM RATHER THAN CHASING QUICK WINS. THE TIME GOES BY FAST SO SET LONG TERM GOALS AND TAKE LITTLE STEPS TOWARDS THEM EACH DAY

Rock star.

NAME YOUR HAPPIEST PLACE. Exploring the world on a motorcycle.

WHAT WAS YOUR TOUGHEST BUSINESS OR PROFESSIONAL

ADVICE YOU WOULD GIVE YOUR 20-YEAR-OLD SELF? Think long term rather than chasing quick wins. The time goes by fast so set long-term goals and take little steps towards them each day.

DECISION? Selling a stable and successful business to focus full-time on a cryptocurrency startup, before anyone knew what Bitcoin was.

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WHAT IS YOUR BEST HABIT? Daily meditation. It sounds cliché but it has had a huge impact on every aspect of my life.

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2020

JOE DEOBALD Founder and director of marketing, Full Frame Marketing Inc.

AGE

38

WHO OR WHAT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR WORK ETHIC? My upbringing. I was constantly driven to push limits and expectations. The question I remember being asked the most is, “Was that your best?”

WHAT IS YOUR GUILTY PLEASURE? Being in the kitchen cooking or baking. I have complete control over the creativity and the outcome.

WHAT IS THE BEST BOOK YOU WOULD RECOMMEND? Your Oxygen Mask First by Kevin Lawrence. I struggled with being overly empathetic until I was burnt out. It’s guided me on being empathetic not just to others but to myself.

NOW THAT YOU’RE ENTERING YOUR 40S, WHAT GOALS HAVE YOU SET FOR YOURSELF? Being a great role model for my son, opening up a couple coding schools with my wife and starting a non-profit that helps kids make an impact in their communities.

CHOOSE ONE OF THESE FIVE CHILDHOOD CAREER DREAMS: ROCK STAR,

SUBMITTED

I WAS CONSTANTLY DRIVEN TO PUSH LIMITS AND EXPECTATIONS. THE QUESTION I REMEMBER BEING ASKED THE MOST IS, “WAS THAT YOUR BEST?”

STAR ATHLETE, PRIME MINISTER, ASTRONAUT, DETECTIVE. Star athlete – health is so important and the amount of influence they have can really make a difference.

NAME YOUR HAPPIEST PLACE. I’m happiest when I’m out exploring and travelling to places I haven’t been to.

WHAT WAS YOUR TOUGHEST BUSINESS OR PROFESSIONAL DECISION? Stepping out of management. This allowed me to grow, gain more insight and appreciate what we had built.

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ADVICE YOU WOULD GIVE YOUR

BEST PIECE OF ADVICE EVER

20-YEAR-OLD SELF?

RECEIVED?

You don’t need to rush on love. Invest in Vancouver real estate. The most important one is to believe in yourself and be patient. There is no overnight success.

Listen. Listening is key to being a great leader.

WHAT IS YOUR BEST HABIT? Investing my time into others.

TELL US ONE IMPROBABLE FACT ABOUT YOURSELF.

WHAT CAREER HIGHLIGHT ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF? An in-kind sponsorship to the Global Student Entrepreneur Awards. Donating my time allowed me to help a startup get off the ground, get funding, grow and get acquired.

I was and still very much am in touch with my crafty side.

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2020

CARLING DICK Principal, Earnscliffe Strategy Group

AGE

37

WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR WORK ETHIC? My parents.

WHAT IS YOUR GUILTY PLEASURE? Chicken strips dipped in honey mustard sauce.

WHAT IS THE BEST BOOK YOU WOULD RECOMMEND? Currently, for fiction – Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts and for non-fiction – Shoe Dog by Phil Knight.

NOW THAT YOU’RE ENTERING YOUR 40S, WHAT GOALS HAVE YOU SET FOR YOURSELF? Having worked at the Beijing, Vancouver and London Olympics, the Olympic motto “faster, higher, stronger” is the motto for my life and work choices.

CHOOSE ONE OF THESE FIVE CHILDHOOD CAREER DREAMS:

SUBMITTED

ROCK STAR, STAR ATHLETE, PRIME MINISTER, ASTRONAUT, DETECTIVE.

WORK HARD, BE THOUGHTFUL ABOUT YOUR EFFORTS. SUCCESS WILL COME

Prime minister.

NAME YOUR HAPPIEST PLACE.

ADVICE YOU WOULD GIVE YOUR

BEST PIECE OF ADVICE EVER

Anywhere there is sun.

20-YEAR-OLD SELF?

RECEIVED?

WHAT WAS YOUR TOUGHEST

Patience – work hard, be thoughtful about your efforts. Success will come.

Recognize an opportunity when it presents itself and seize it.

BUSINESS OR PROFESSIONAL DECISION? I turned down a permanent job at UBS in London, England to move back to Vancouver.

WHAT IS YOUR BEST HABIT? I am very organized.

TELL US ONE IMPROBABLE FACT ABOUT YOURSELF.

WHAT CAREER HIGHLIGHT ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF? While I was working in the premier’s office, planning the one-year anniversary celebration of the Vancouver Olympics.

I am named after a small town in Ontario.

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2020

RAMIN ESTIFAIE Co-founder and CEO, CSN Pharma (Canadian Sports Nutrition Inc.)

AGE

38

WHO OR WHAT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR WORK ETHIC? Karma.

WHAT IS YOUR GUILTY PLEASURE? Drinking milk straight from the bottle.

WHAT IS THE BEST BOOK YOU WOULD RECOMMEND? Defying Limits: Lessons from the Edge of the Universe by Dave Williams.

NOW THAT YOU’RE ENTERING YOUR 40S, WHAT GOALS HAVE YOU SET FOR YOURSELF? Go from pescatarian to vegetarian. Create more jobs and help to build a stronger start-up community. More exploration and lifelong learning. More frequent meditations.

CHOOSE ONE OF THESE FIVE CHILDHOOD CAREER DREAMS: ROCK STAR, STAR ATHLETE,

SUBMITTED

PRIME MINISTER, ASTRONAUT, DETECTIVE.

ENJOY MORE, WORRY LESS

Astronaut.

NAME YOUR HAPPIEST PLACE. WHAT IS YOUR BEST HABIT? Grandpa’s old house.

Early morning workouts.

WHAT WAS YOUR TOUGHEST BUSINESS OR PROFESSIONAL DECISION?

TELL US ONE IMPROBABLE FACT

YOU MOST PROUD OF? The first startup in my mid-20s.

ABOUT YOURSELF.

Selling my first startup.

I had pursued four years of education in music and became the lead guitarist in a local hard rock band when I was 22.

ADVICE YOU WOULD GIVE YOUR

BEST PIECE OF ADVICE EVER

20-YEAR-OLD SELF?

RECEIVED?

Enjoy more, worry less.

Think big!

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WHAT CAREER HIGHLIGHT ARE

2020-11-18 3:25 PM

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2020

SARAH GULBRANDSEN President and COO, RingPartner

AGE

39

WHO OR WHAT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR WORK ETHIC? My parents impressed upon me that if something is worthwhile, then it’s worth working hard for it.

WHAT IS YOUR GUILTY PLEASURE? Instagram. I have a home design and renovation account where I spend too many evenings and weekends glued to my phone.

W H AT I S T H E B E S T B O O K YO U WOULD RECOMMEND? Gretchen Rubin’s The Four Tendencies.

NOW THAT YOU’RE ENTERING YOUR 40S, WHAT GOALS HAVE YOU SET FOR YOURSELF? I have an outline for a book that I would like to write in the next few years. I would like to continue to mentor other young professionals and to make a trek on the Camino de Santiago.

CHOOSE ONE OF THESE FIVE SUBMITTED

CHILDHOOD CAREER DREAMS: ROCK STAR, STAR ATHLETE, PRIME MINISTER, ASTRONAUT, DETECTIVE.

HEALTH, FAMILY, FRIENDS AND WORK TAKE OUR TIME AND ATTENTION. AT ANY GIVEN TIME YOU CAN ONLY DO THREE REALLY WELL

None of the above – I secretly wanted to be a movie star.

ADVICE YOU WOULD GIVE YOUR

B E S T P I E C E O F A DV I C E E V E R

NAME YOUR HAPPIEST PLACE.

20-YEAR-OLD SELF?

RECEIVED?

On my back deck with my family and a great book.

Career paths do not have to be linear.

It’s a lot more enjoyable to widen your options.

Health, family, friends and work take our time and attention. At any given time you can only do three really well. Your focus on these different areas will fluctuate and that’s OK.

WHAT WAS YOUR TOUGHEST BUSINESS OR PROFESSIONAL DECISION? Deciding six years ago to leave the San Francisco Bay Area and a solid career with a Fortune 500 company for B.C. I didn’t have concrete career plans but I knew it was the right decision for me and my family.

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WHAT IS YOUR BEST HABIT? Exercise is a daily outlet.

WHAT CAREER HIGHLIGHT ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF?

TELL US ONE IMPROBABLE FACT ABOUT YOURSELF. I was homeschooled for much of my childhood (before it was normalized).

It’s been amazing to see people I have coached at RingPartner shift into leadership roles of their own and make a big impact.

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2020

CHRISTIAN HAMM Co-founder and COO, SiteMax Systems Inc.

AGE

35

WHO OR WHAT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR WORK ETHIC? Early mornings and my parents. Growing up, I was landscaping an acreage and picking up golf balls at 12 or 13.

WHAT IS YOUR GUILTY PLEASURE? Right now, golf podcasts and following featured groups on GolfTV. WHAT IS THE BEST BOOK YOU WOULD RECOMMEND? Built to Last, Jim Collins and Jerry Porras.

NOW THAT YOU’RE ENTERING YOUR 40S, WHAT GOALS HAVE YOU SET FOR YOURSELF? I’m getting the itch to build buildings again. I plan to do more of that into my 40s.

CHOOSE ONE OF THESE FIVE CHILDHOOD CAREER DREAMS:

SUBMITTED

ROCK STAR, STAR ATHLETE,

SUBMITTED

PRIME MINISTER, ASTRONAUT, DETECTIVE. Always wanted to play in the NHL or on the PGA tour. Still think I can make it, as a caddie.

NAME YOUR HAPPIEST PLACE. Dinner table with my wife and three kids or Palm Springs.

MOST DAYS I’M UP AT 4:00 A.M. IT FEELS GOOD TO ACCOMPLISH A FEW THINGS WHILE THE WORLD IS ASLEEP

Stay the course – life is a marathon. Move quickly when required but always with a v ision for where you are going.

WHAT IS YOUR BEST HABIT?

WHAT WAS YOUR TOUGHEST BUSINESS OR PROFESSIONAL DECISION? Transitioning my career away from construction project management to construction management software and then doubling down on it.

ADVICE YOU WOULD GIVE YOUR 20-YEAR-OLD SELF?

40 Under Forty 2020_56R-HWFINAL.indd 27

Most days I’m up at 4:00 a.m. It feels good to accomplish a few things while the world is asleep.

BEST PIECE OF ADVICE EVER RECEIVED? There has been a lot. To be honest, I get great daily metaphors from my business partner, James Faulkner.

WHAT CAREER HIGHLIGHT ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF?

TELL US ONE IMPROBABLE FACT ABOUT YOURSELF.

SiteMax. We have a great team, product and customer base so I am thrilled to continue my career in construction this way.

I journal. My construction journey is documented in dozens of notebooks since my first day as assistant PM at Northland Properties.

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2020

KEVIN HEYRIES Co-Founder and head of business development, AbCellera

AGE

38

WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR WORK ETHIC? My parents, who taught me that hard work pays off in the long run.

WHAT IS YOUR GUILTY PLEASURE? Being from France and having a father who was a chef, the French trifecta: good bread, good cheese and good wine.

WHAT IS THE BEST BOOK YOU WOULD RECOMMEND? The Alchemist, Paulo Coelho.

NOW THAT YOU’RE ENTERING YOUR 40S, WHAT GOALS HAVE YOU SET FOR YOURSELF? Continue to learn as much as possible, while passing on things I now know to others, including my kids.

CHOOSE ONE OF THESE FIVE CHILDHOOD CAREER DREAMS: ROCK STAR, STAR ATHLETE,

SUBMITTED

PRIME MINISTER, ASTRONAUT, DETECTIVE. Astronaut.

DREAM BIG, DON’T GET TURNED DOWN BY THINGS OR IDEAS THAT LOOK MUCH BIGGER THAN YOURSELF

NAME YOUR HAPPIEST PLACE. Up in some of the nicest mountains of the French Alps, close to where I was born and grew up.

WHAT WAS YOUR TOUGHEST BUSINESS OR PROFESSIONAL DECISION? Fully committing early on to the startup we had just founded with others, choosing a life in Vancouver with my wife and our two very young daughters over going back to France.

ADVICE YOU WOULD GIVE YOUR

BEST PIECE OF ADVICE EVER

20-YEAR-OLD SELF?

RECEIVED?

Dream big, don’t get turned down by things or ideas that look much bigger than yourself.

Trust your guts.

WHAT IS YOUR BEST HABIT? Read the news/books early in the morning, everyday. It gives perspective.

WHAT CAREER HIGHLIGHT ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF? Having initiated and brought up deals that nobody thought there was room for initially, which led to significant business opportunities down the road.

TELL US ONE IMPROBABLE FACT ABOUT YOURSELF. I love woodworking.

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2020

JENNIFER HOLLINSHEAD Founder and clinical director, Peak Resilience

AGE

38

WHAT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR WORK ETHIC? My sense of justice. I see so much unnecessary suffering in our world and it motivates me to keep pushing for change.

Working with such an incredible team of humans definitely motivates me too.

WHAT IS YOUR GUILTY PLEASURE? I’m working on not feeling guilty when experiencing pleasure!

WHAT IS THE BEST BOOK YOU WOULD RECOMMEND? I just listened to A Mind Spread Out on the Ground by Alicia Elliott.

NOW THAT YOU’RE ENTERING YOUR 40S, WHAT GOALS HAVE YOU SET FOR YOURSELF? Saving for retirement should probably be on the list. More generally, to continue helping people understand the world, themselves and their limitless potential.

SUBMITTED

CHOOSE ONE OF THESE FIVE

SUBMITTED

CHILDHOOD CAREER DREAMS: ROCK STAR, STAR ATHLETE, PRIME MINISTER, ASTRONAUT, DETECTIVE. Neither. I wanted to be a doctor and you could find me watching graphic operations on TV as a kid.

I LOVE GETTING UP SUPER EARLY AND PREPPING FOR MY DAY WHEN I’M THE ONLY ONE UP ADVICE YOU WOULD GIVE YOUR

BEST PIECE OF ADVICE EVER

20-YEAR-OLD SELF?

RECEIVED?

NAME YOUR HAPPIEST PLACE.

The sooner you practice not caring what other people think, the better.

Feel the fear and do it anyway.

The shower. It’s a place of peace when I need to get away from being a mom/ business owner.

WHAT IS YOUR BEST HABIT?

WHAT WAS YOUR TOUGHEST

I love getting up super early and prepping for my day when I’m the only one up. This translates into me getting teased for going to bed around... 8 p.m.

BUSINESS OR PROFESSIONAL

WHAT CAREER HIGHLIGHT ARE

DECISION?

YOU MOST PROUD OF? Our grand opening party for family and friends when we opened our new office.

That was March 6, 2020. We closed the office on March 13 for the first wave of the pandemic. What a roller coaster.

TELL US ONE IMPROBABLE FACT Taking on an unimaginable amount of debt to finance the opening of our dream office, when we didn’t have the revenue to back it up. My belief in my team and our purpose made it a bit easier to put everything (literally our home) on the line.

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ABOUT YOURSELF. Despite the success of my business, I got fired from every single serving job I had.

I always forgot the ketchup or spilled on guests.

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2020

HARJ JOHAL CEO, Alpine Building Maintenance Inc.

AGE

35

WHO OR WHAT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR WORK ETHIC? My parents shaped my work ethic. I watched them work day and night to provide a good living for our family. My dad catapulted me into the family business at a young age to keep me from getting in trouble. I worked as a janitor scrubbing floors and learned the value of a dollar the hard way.

WHAT IS YOUR GUILTY PLEASURE? Playing golf on a weekday.

WHAT IS THE BEST BOOK YOU WOULD RECOMMEND? How to Get Rich by Felix Dennis.

NOW THAT YOU’RE ENTERING YOUR 40S, WHAT GOALS HAVE YOU SET FOR YOURSELF? I’m going to prioritize my family and health first. Life without balance leads to burnout. I want to be in the best shape of my life in my 40s.

SUBMITTED

CHOOSE ONE OF THESE FIVE CHILDHOOD CAREER DREAMS: ROCK STAR, STAR ATHLETE, PRIME MINISTER, ASTRONAUT,

I’M GOING TO PRIORITIZE MY FAMILY AND HEALTH FIRST. LIFE WITHOUT BALANCE LEADS TO BURNOUT. I WANT TO BE IN THE BEST SHAPE OF MY LIFE IN MY 40S

DETECTIVE. Definitely an athlete.

investment thesis wrong kept me up at night.

TELL US ONE IMPROBABLE FACT

ADVICE YOU WOULD GIVE YOUR

I’m still loving watching cartoons.

ABOUT YOURSELF.

NAME YOUR HAPPIEST PLACE. Somewhere hot, preferably on a golf course.

20-YEAR-OLD SELF? BEST PIECE OF ADVICE EVER Be different – don’t follow the crowd.

WHAT WAS YOUR TOUGHEST BUSINESS OR PROFESSIONAL DECISION? Spending a big chunk of the family’s money to expand through acquisition.

Acquiring my first company was a nerveracking experience. Not knowing if I’d recoup the investment or if I got the

40 Under Forty 2020_56R-HWFINAL.indd 30

WHAT IS YOUR BEST HABIT? Waking up at 4 a.m. to workout and meditate.

RECEIVED? Get out on your own two feet as early as possible, don’t get used to a paycheck.

WHAT CAREER HIGHLIGHT ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF? Winning the company’s first multimillion-dollar contract.

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2020

DUSTIN JOHNSON Director, enterprise analytics and data science, Save-On-Foods

AGE

31

WHO OR WHAT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR WORK ETHIC? My mother: a dedicated woman who managed to raise two active boys, study, work multiple jobs and continues to help all those around her.

WHAT IS YOUR GUILTY PLEASURE? Staying up late to enjoy the calmness of the night while being captivated by a good psychological thriller.

WHAT IS THE BEST BOOK YOU WOULD RECOMMEND? The Theory That Would Not Die, by Sharon McGrayne.

NOW THAT YOU’RE ENTERING YOUR 40S, WHAT GOALS HAVE YOU SET FOR YOURSELF? I’ve just entered my 30s, however, I strive to make further ground in the quantum computing space and empower the next generation of data scientists.

SUBMITTED SUBMITTED

CHOOSE ONE OF THESE FIVE CHILDHOOD CAREER DREAMS: ROCK STAR, STAR ATHLETE,

DON’T BE DISCOURAGED BY OTHERS’ OPINIONS – TRUST YOURSELF AND PUSH ONWARD

PRIME MINISTER, ASTRONAUT, DETECTIVE. Astronaut: exploring unchartered territory and pushing the boundaries of science and technology with a sense of awe.

NAME YOUR HAPPIEST PLACE. A campfire on the top of a mountain surrounded by an aurora borealis.

WHAT WAS YOUR TOUGHEST BUSINESS OR PROFESSIONAL DECISION? Forgoing a large contract that would enable my business to scale for the sake of staying in tune with a business vision and core set of values.

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ADVICE YOU WOULD GIVE YOUR

BEST PIECE OF ADVICE EVER

20-YEAR-OLD SELF?

RECEIVED?

Don’t be discouraged by others’ opinions – trust yourself and push onward.

WHAT IS YOUR BEST HABIT? No matter what the weather, I take my evening stroll to unwind and plan my next day.

An idea is only as meaningful as the people you form it with.

WHAT CAREER HIGHLIGHT ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF? Leading the first quantum computing application in the grocery retail industry.

TELL US ONE IMPROBABLE FACT ABOUT YOURSELF. I lived in Japan for some time where I discovered my passion for science and technology.

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2020

BRAAM JORDAAN CEO, Convo Communications Canada, Inc.

AGE

39

WHAT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR WORK ETHIC? My determination and social justice.

WHAT IS YOUR GUILTY PLEASURE? Cheese and the Indian Premier League cricket tournament.

WHAT IS THE BEST BOOK YOU WOULD RECOMMEND? Creativity, Inc. by Ed Catmull about leadership.

NOW THAT YOU’RE ENTERING YOUR 40S, WHAT GOALS HAVE YOU SET FOR YOURSELF? International business expansion. Travel extensively for work and pleasure when it is safe again.

CHOOSE ONE OF THESE FIVE CHILDHOOD CAREER DREAMS: ROCK STAR, STAR ATHLETE, PRIME MINISTER, ASTRONAUT, DETECTIVE. Prime minister.

SUBMITTED

SURROUND YOURSELF WITH SKILLED AND MOTIVATED PEOPLE

NAME YOUR HAPPIEST PLACE. Anywhere with my wife, Drisana, and Cape Town.

WHAT WAS YOUR TOUGHEST

ADVICE YOU WOULD GIVE YOUR

BEST PIECE OF ADVICE EVER

20-YEAR-OLD SELF?

RECEIVED?

Be you! It is OK to say ‘No.’

Surround yourself with skilled and motivated people.

BUSINESS OR PROFESSIONAL DECISION?

WHAT IS YOUR BEST HABIT?

Been working and living in four different countries. Sold a successful business in South Africa to build one in the U.S./ Canada.

Never stop learning.

WHAT CAREER HIGHLIGHT ARE

TELL US ONE IMPROBABLE FACT ABOUT YOURSELF. I know nine languages and I communicate in six languages every day.

40 Under Forty 2020_56R-HWFINAL.indd 32

YOU MOST PROUD OF? Successfully built Convo Communications Canada from scratch and making a difference to the beloved signing community.

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2020

MATTHEW MAY President, Coast 2000 Terminals Ltd.

AGE

39

WHO OR WHAT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR WORK ETHIC? My late grandfather taught me to work hard and never ask anyone to do a job you wouldn’t do.

WHAT IS YOUR GUILTY PLEASURE? A glass of red wine on the couch bingewatching a Netflix series.

WHAT IS THE BEST BOOK YOU WOULD RECOMMEND? A couple high on my list to recommend: The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People (Steven Covey), Thinking Fast and Slow (Daniel Kahneman).

NOW THAT YOU’RE ENTERING YOUR 40S, WHAT GOALS HAVE YOU SET FOR YOURSELF? Continue to learn and grow as a business leader while driving growth throughout our group of market-leading logistics companies.

SUBMITTED SUBMITTED

CHOOSE ONE OF THESE FIVE CHILDHOOD CAREER DREAMS: ROCK STAR, STAR ATHLETE, PRIME MINISTER, ASTRONAUT, DETECTIVE.

ALWAYS MAKE SURE TO PUT YOUR OWN MASK ON FIRST. IF YOU AND YOUR BUSINESS ARE NOT STRONG AND RELIABLE, THEN YOU WILL NOT BE IN A POSITION TO SUPPORT THOSE WHO COUNT ON YOU

Prime minister.

NAME YOUR HAPPIEST PLACE. Tough choice… either on the golf course or the beach in Maui.

WHAT WAS YOUR TOUGHEST BUSINESS OR PROFESSIONAL DECISION? Resigning a fter 20 years from the family business I had a hand in building.

ADVICE YOU WOULD GIVE YOUR 20-YEAR-OLD SELF?

instincts and asking for help is not a weakness.

WHAT IS YOUR BEST HABIT? Getting an early start by getting to bed early.

WHAT CAREER HIGHLIGHT ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF? The development and introduction of operational and policy reform to transform our company’s safety performance.

BEST PIECE OF ADVICE EVER RECEIVED? Always make sure to put your own mask on first. If you and your business are not strong and reliable, then you will not be in a position to support those who count on you.

Make sure to find balance, trust your

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2020

ALIYA MOHAMED Director of public affairs, Translink

AGE

36

WHO OR WHAT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR WORK ETHIC? My immigrant parents, who worked every day on their independent business while raising a family and giving to their community.

WHAT IS YOUR GUILTY PLEASURE? Spicy food – especially whole, red chillies. Fact: I can eat several in one sitting.

WHAT IS THE BEST BOOK YOU WOULD RECOMMEND? Thinking Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman. It’s helped me unpack how I think about thinking.

NOW THAT YOU’RE ENTERING YOUR 40S, WHAT GOALS HAVE YOU SET FOR YOURSELF? As I approach my late 30s, I’m going to focus on building my career and continuing to give back to our community.

CHOOSE ONE OF THESE FIVE CHILDHOOD CAREER DREAMS: ROCK STAR, STAR ATHLETE, PRIME MINISTER, ASTRONAUT, DETECTIVE. Toss-up between rock star and prime minister. My singing in the shower got me to youth choir, but nowhere beyond that.

NAME YOUR HAPPIEST PLACE. Exploring the world beneath us while scuba diving in warm waters.

SUBMITTED

BE MORE FORGIVING TO YOURSELF. EVERYONE WILL MAKE MISTAKES, BUT IF YOU KEEP GOING WITH THE RIGHT ATTITUDE YOU WILL BOUNCE BACK QUICKLY AND ACHIEVE YOUR GOALS ADVICE YOU WOULD GIVE YOUR 20-YEAR-OLD SELF? Be more forgiving to yourself. Everyone will make mistakes, but if you keep going with the right attitude you will bounce back quickly and achieve your goals.

WHAT IS YOUR BEST HABIT?

not as easy as it looks and it’s colder than you think at the summit.

BEST PIECE OF ADVICE EVER RECEIVED? Keep your head down, work hard and don’t boast about your successes. The rest will follow.

WHAT WAS YOUR TOUGHEST BUSINESS OR PROFESSIONAL DECISION? Moving from politics to the “real world.”

Checking in on friends and family. Making the first move to stay in touch and keep the flame of the friendship alive.

TELL US ONE IMPROBABLE FACT ABOUT YOURSELF. I climbed Mount Kilimanjaro in 2017. It’s

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WHAT CAREER HIGHLIGHT ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF? To have worked for a prime minister who left a strong legacy for moving this country in the right direction and opened the door to so much progress for Canada’s Ismaili Muslim community.

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2020

JOSHUA MYERS Executive director, BC Centre for Ability

AGE

36

WHO OR WHAT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR WORK ETHIC? The “who” is my dad and the “what” is the inspiration I get from the impact the organizations I’ve served are having in the community.

WHAT IS YOUR GUILTY PLEASURE? Teen pop music.

WHAT IS THE BEST BOOK YOU WOULD RECOMMEND? The Ordinary Leader – Randy Grieser.

NOW THAT YOU’RE ENTERING YOUR 40S, WHAT GOALS HAVE YOU SET FOR YOURSELF? Challenging my assumptions, widening my perspectives and growing as a person and father.

CHOOSE ONE OF THESE FIVE CHILDHOOD CAREER DREAMS: SUBMITTED

ROCK STAR, STAR ATHLETE, PRIME MINISTER, ASTRONAUT, DETECTIVE. Star athlete.

I’M REALLY PROUD OF THE TEAMS I’VE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF LEADING AND WITNESSING THE POWER OF HUMBLE, COMPASSIONATE LEADERSHIP

NAME YOUR HAPPIEST PLACE. Cycling up the Callaghan Valley Road in Whistler.

WHAT WAS YOUR TOUGHEST

WHAT IS YOUR BEST HABIT? Probably my commitment to triathlon and the physical and psychological benefits of training as an outlet.

BUSINESS OR PROFESSIONAL DECISION?

TELL US ONE IMPROBABLE FACT

WHAT CAREER HIGHLIGHT ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF? I’m really proud of the teams I’ve had the privilege of leading and witnessing the power of humble, compassionate leadership.

ABOUT YOURSELF. Where to focus attention and resources when there’s not enough to go around and the needs are great everywhere.

My first flight on an airplane was when I was 26.

ADVICE YOU WOULD GIVE YOUR

BEST PIECE OF ADVICE EVER

20-YEAR-OLD SELF?

RECEIVED?

It’s going to be hard, but it’s totally worth it.

As a student intern, a supervisor made me chair an important meeting on my first day and said: “Fake it until you make it!”

40 Under Forty 2020_56R-HWFINAL.indd 35

2020-11-18 3:25 PM

36 | FORTY UNDER 40 2020 PUBLISHED BY BUSINESS IN VANCOUVER

2020

NIMA NABAVI Founder and CEO, ExcelSense Technologies Corp.

AGE

38

WHO OR WHAT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR WORK ETHIC? I believe work ethics develop as part of how you are raised. I characterize both my parents as very responsible. My father is a serial entrepreneur in the chemical engineering sector, and possesses a strong work ethic.

WHAT IS YOUR GUILTY PLEASURE? Enjoying good food and wine, and finding hidden gems with my wife.

WHAT IS THE BEST BOOK YOU WOULD RECOMMEND? One book that comes to mind is The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey.

NOW THAT YOU’RE ENTERING YOUR 40S, WHAT GOALS HAVE YOU SET FOR YOURSELF? To ensure ExcelSense grows exponentially. I would also like to travel with my wife once the COVID crisis is behind us.

CHOOSE ONE OF THESE FIVE CHILDHOOD CAREER DREAMS: ROCK STAR, STAR ATHLETE,

SUBMITTED

I TRY TO TAKE NOTHING FOR GRANTED. I ALSO LIVE IN THE PRESENT

PRIME MINISTER, ASTRONAUT, DETECTIVE. I like science, engineering, solving problems and exploration. Becoming an astronaut would be a good hypothetical career choice for me.

NAME YOUR HAPPIEST PLACE. My happiest place would be in nature – skiing, hiking, running or snorkelling.

WHAT WAS YOUR TOUGHEST

ADVICE YOU WOULD GIVE YOUR

BEST PIECE OF ADVICE EVER

20-YEAR-OLD SELF?

RECEIVED?

High-calibre partners and employees are more expensive on a monthly basis, but that pales in comparison to the cost of employees who aren’t proficient.

Learn from the past, but don’t live in the past.

WHAT IS YOUR BEST HABIT? I try to take nothing for granted. I also live in the present.

BUSINESS OR PROFESSIONAL DECISION?

TELL US ONE IMPROBABLE FACT

WHAT CAREER HIGHLIGHT ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF? Founding ExcelSense Technologies, forming an exceptional team and seeing the impact of its products on safety and operational efficiency in 15 distinct categories of applications.

ABOUT YOURSELF. To quit my well-paying job to start ExcelSense based on a technology which was yet to be invented.

40 Under Forty 2020_56R-HWFINAL.indd 36

I love movies and documentaries about survival.

2020-11-18 3:25 PM

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2020

RYAN O’SHEA Vice-president, Miracon Development Inc.

AGE

37

WHO OR WHAT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR WORK ETHIC? My work ethic primarily comes from a strong desire to pursue excellence and to build a sustainable legacy for my family and our business.

WHAT IS YOUR GUILTY PLEASURE? Red wine and Sweet Chilli Heat Doritos.

WHAT IS THE BEST BOOK YOU WOULD RECOMMEND? Principles by Ray Dalio.

NOW THAT YOU’RE ENTERING YOUR 40S, WHAT GOALS HAVE YOU SET FOR YOURSELF? Continue to establish Miracon as a leading residential builder recognized for exceptional quality homes and the most compelling customer service experience.

CHOOSE ONE OF THESE FIVE CHILDHOOD CAREER DREAMS:

SUBMITTED

ROCK STAR, STAR ATHLETE, PRIME MINISTER, ASTRONAUT, DETECTIVE. Olympic athlete.

WHILE YOU CAN HAVE VIRTUALLY ANYTHING YOU WANT IN LIFE, YOU CAN’T HAVE EVERYTHING YOU WANT. THEREFORE, DON’T CONFUSE YOUR GOALS WITH YOUR DESIRES

NAME YOUR HAPPIEST PLACE. WHAT IS YOUR BEST HABIT? Maui or at home with my wife and kids.

WHAT WAS YOUR TOUGHEST BUSINESS OR PROFESSIONAL DECISION? Deciding to leave the public sector (teaching) and transition into the private sector.

ADVICE YOU WOULD GIVE YOUR 20-YEAR-OLD SELF? Don’t let obstacles or setbacks determine your future. Learn from your mistakes and constantly strive to grow and improve.

40 Under Forty 2020_56R-HWFINAL.indd 37

Regular exercise, meditation and goal setting.

TELL US ONE IMPROBABLE FACT ABOUT YOURSELF. I was a former national boxing champion and represented Team Canada at the World Junior Championships in Puebla, Mexico.

BEST PIECE OF ADVICE EVER RECEIVED? While you can have virtually anything you want in life, you can’t have everything you want. Therefore, don’t confuse your goals with your desires WHAT CAREER HIGHLIGHT ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF? Being named Single Family Home Builder of the Year by HAVAN from 2017-2020 and receiving the Avid Diamond Award in 2020 for being the top customer service builder in Canada.

2020-11-18 3:25 PM

38 | FORTY UNDER 40 2020 PUBLISHED BY BUSINESS IN VANCOUVER

2020

KATHLEEN REID Founder and managing director, Switchboard Public Relations

AGE

32

WHO OR WHAT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR WORK ETHIC? My parents. As business owners they instilled grit and resilience in me. Also my grandmothers, who both came from small farming communities and found a way to go to university.

WHAT IS YOUR GUILTY PLEASURE? Takeout pizza. It got me through latenight study sessions at UBC, and not much has changed now that I’m running a business while pregnant.

WHAT IS THE BEST BOOK YOU WOULD RECOMMEND? It Didn’t Start With You by Mark Wolynn.

As a mom-to-be, I found it really interesting when thinking about systems and patterns in my own life.

NOW THAT YOU’RE ENTERING YOUR 40S, WHAT GOALS HAVE YOU SET FOR YOURSELF? Continue to grow my business while earning one of those World’s Greatest Mom coffee mugs.

CHOOSE ONE OF THESE FIVE CHILDHOOD CAREER DREAMS:

SUBMITTED

I WROTE TO JEAN CHRÉTIEN WHEN I WAS SIX, AND IT WAS SUCH A THRILL WHEN HE WROTE BACK

ROCK STAR, STAR ATHLETE, PRIME MINISTER, ASTRONAUT, DETECTIVE.

competitive and demanding business environment.

I don’t drive due to a genetic eye disease.

BEST PIECE OF ADVICE EVER

Prime minister. I wrote to Jean Chrétien when I was six, and it was such a thrill when he wrote back.

NAME YOUR HAPPIEST PLACE. Saltspring Island. Nature + swimming = bliss!

WHAT WAS YOUR TOUGHEST

ADVICE YOU WOULD GIVE YOUR

RECEIVED?

20-YEAR-OLD SELF? Hire slow, fire fast.

Be more laid back by focusing on the things you can control.

WHAT IS YOUR BEST HABIT? Not letting past baggage or future worries hold me back or slow me down.

WHAT CAREER HIGHLIGHT ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF? Being able to hand off Switchboard with complete confidence as I go on maternity leave.

BUSINESS OR PROFESSIONAL DECISION?

TELL US ONE IMPROBABLE FACT ABOUT YOURSELF.

Letting a team member go in a very

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2020-11-18 3:25 PM

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2020

DYLAN REKERT Founding partner and vice-president, creative, Very Polite Agency

AGE

36

WHO OR WHAT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR WORK ETHIC? My parents taught me that I could make a living doing what I love.

WHAT IS YOUR GUILTY PLEASURE? Lego.

WHAT IS THE BEST BOOK YOU WOULD RECOMMEND? Jimmy Corrigan: The Smartest Kid On Earth. (Why: graphic art as literature.)

NOW THAT YOU’RE ENTERING YOUR 40S, WHAT GOALS HAVE YOU SET FOR YOURSELF? Learn a new language, instrument and art form.

CHOOSE ONE OF THESE FIVE CHILDHOOD CAREER DREAMS: ROCK STAR, STAR ATHLETE,

SUBMITTED

PRIME MINISTER, ASTRONAUT,

SUBMITTED

DETECTIVE. Rock star.

NAME YOUR HAPPIEST PLACE.

MY PARENTS TAUGHT ME THAT I COULD MAKE A LIVING DOING WHAT I LOVE

Tokyo (drink in hand).

WHAT IS YOUR BEST HABIT? WHAT WAS YOUR TOUGHEST

Punctuality. Being late stresses me out.

BUSINESS OR PROFESSIONAL DECISION? Basically anything and everything since March 2020.

TELL US ONE IMPROBABLE FACT

WHAT CAREER HIGHLIGHT ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF? Founding Very Polite and designing a T-shirt for Lil Jon.

ABOUT YOURSELF. Past professions include: scuba instructor and baseball umpire.

ADVICE YOU WOULD GIVE YOUR 20-YEAR-OLD SELF? Success will take a bit longer to achieve than you might expect.

40 Under Forty 2020_56R-HWFINAL.indd 39

BEST PIECE OF ADVICE EVER RECEIVED? Say ‘Yes’ to work – even when it’s not overly inspiring – until you are in a position to say ‘No.’

2020-11-18 3:25 PM

40 | FORTY UNDER 40 2020 PUBLISHED BY BUSINESS IN VANCOUVER

2020

JASON ROBERTSON Co-founder and vice-president, investments, Nimbus Synergies Inc.

AGE

39

WHO OR WHAT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR WORK ETHIC? Growing up, my parents were both incredibly hard working business leaders and fortunately instilled in me that same work ethic.

WHAT IS YOUR GUILTY PLEASURE? Perhaps cliché, but tech gadgets – always the latest and greatest!

WHAT IS THE BEST BOOK YOU WOULD RECOMMEND? Poor Charlie’s Almanack: The Wit and Wisdom of Charles T. Munger. An indispensable tome of life and business experience.

NOW THAT YOU’RE ENTERING YOUR 40S, WHAT GOALS HAVE YOU SET FOR YOURSELF? To continue growing into the best version of myself: father, husband, friend and colleague.

SUBMITTED

CHOOSE ONE OF THESE FIVE CHILDHOOD CAREER DREAMS: ROCK STAR, STAR ATHLETE,

BE MORE COURAGEOUS, TAKE MORE RISKS, FAIL MORE OFTEN AND BE EVEN MORE ADVENTUROUS

PRIME MINISTER, ASTRONAUT, DETECTIVE. Rock star: as a young child I used to dance on the table singing to Michael Jackson wearing one sparkling glove.

ADVICE YOU WOULD GIVE YOUR

studied herpetology in university.

20-YEAR-OLD SELF? BEST PIECE OF ADVICE EVER

NAME YOUR HAPPIEST PLACE. The game reserves of South Africa: it feels like being in a fairy tale surrounded by so many phenomenal animals.

WHAT WAS YOUR TOUGHEST

Be more courageous, take more risks, fa i l more of ten a nd b e even more adventurous.

RECEIVED? Failure is the key to success: each mistake teaches us something new.

WHAT IS YOUR BEST HABIT? Listening to podcasts to quench my thirst for continuous learning and knowledge.

WHAT CAREER HIGHLIGHT ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF?

BUSINESS OR PROFESSIONAL DECISION? To leave an amazing team of friends and colleagues at Aquinox Pharmaceutials to pursue a passion for digital health.

40 Under Forty 2020_56R-HWFINAL.indd 40

TELL US ONE IMPROBABLE FACT ABOUT YOURSELF.

T he co-founding of Nimbus Synergies and its positive impact on B.C.’s health tech ecosystem and human health overall.

Growing up I had a five-foot-long pet iguana and wanted to be a herpetologist (study of reptiles and amphibians). I even

2020-11-18 3:25 PM

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2020

ANNA SAINSBURY Founder and chairman, GeoComply

AGE

37

WHO OR WHAT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR WORK ETHIC? I believe I’ve always had a strong vision and a will for change; however, I developed my work ethic when I moved to London and was exposed to some very impressive, young professionals striving for something more.

WHAT IS YOUR GUILTY PLEASURE? Cave time, watching T V and eating chocolate.

WHAT IS THE BEST BOOK YOU WOULD RECOMMEND? This summer I really enjoyed Robert Iger, The Ride of a Lifetime.

NOW THAT YOU’RE ENTERING YOUR 40S, WHAT GOALS HAVE YOU SET FOR YOURSELF? As I look to prepare myself for the future, I am keen to ensure I increase my focus on prioritizing what matters most to me.

SUBMITTED SUBMITTED

CHOOSE ONE OF THESE FIVE CHILDHOOD CAREER DREAMS: ROCK STAR, STAR ATHLETE, PRIME MINISTER, ASTRONAUT,

PEOPLE WITH HUMILITY DON’T THINK LESS OF THEMSELVES; THEY JUST THINK OF THEMSELVES LESS

DETECTIVE. I wanted to be a cashier when I was young.

I loved the sounds of the buttons on the till and handling what I thought was lots of cash.

projects. However, this methodology has limited effectiveness after a company reaches a certain size.

ADVICE YOU WOULD GIVE YOUR

NAME YOUR HAPPIEST PLACE. Now that travel is off the cards, my happy place is dreaming about eating spectacular Italian food while sipping an Aperol Spritz in the Tuscan sun.

WHAT WAS YOUR TOUGHEST BUSINESS OR PROFESSIONAL DECISION? As an entrepreneur, I sometimes overly utilize pure personal willpower and self determination to complete tasks and

40 Under Forty 2020_56R-HWFINAL.indd 41

20-YEAR-OLD SELF? Relax and be kind to yourself.

WHAT IS YOUR BEST HABIT? When in a bind or really stressful situation I can think fast and work fast. I also tend to enjoy tough and stressful issues so I jump right in.

TELL US ONE IMPROBABLE FACT

I love parasites.

BEST PIECE OF ADVICE EVER RECEIVED? People with humility don’t think less of themselves; they just think of themselves less.

WHAT CAREER HIGHLIGHT ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF? Having GeoComply reach a point where we could establish a philanthropic organization, Conscious Gaming, to utilize advanced technology to propel social responsibility initiatives.

ABOUT YOURSELF.

2020-11-18 3:25 PM

42 | FORTY UNDER 40 2020 PUBLISHED BY BUSINESS IN VANCOUVER

2020

REZA SANAIE Co-founder and CTO, Beanworks Solutions Inc.

AGE

38

WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR WORK ETHIC? My parents, brother and sister for providing me with support, encouragement and guidance to pursue my passion and aim high.

WHAT IS YOUR GUILTY PLEASURE? I don’t believe in guilty pleasures – everyone should enjoy their pleasures guilt-free.

WHAT IS THE BEST BOOK YOU WOULD RECOMMEND? Homo Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harari, any books by him, Malcolm Gladwell or Jim Collins.

NOW THAT YOU’RE ENTERING YOUR 40S, WHAT GOALS HAVE YOU SET FOR YOURSELF? Raise my newborn son and find ways to help save our planet with my incredibly talented wife.

SUBMITTED

CHOOSE ONE OF THESE FIVE CHILDHOOD CAREER DREAMS: ROCK STAR, STAR ATHLETE, PRIME MINISTER, ASTRONAUT,

I DON’T BELIEVE IN GUILTY PLEASURES – EVERYONE SHOULD ENJOY THEIR PLEASURES GUILT-FREE

DETECTIVE. Astronaut, hands down. Is it too late?

NAME YOUR HAPPIEST PLACE. Spending the weekends exploring B.C.’s beautiful coasts on my boat.

WHAT WAS YOUR TOUGHEST BUSINESS OR PROFESSIONAL

Don’t waste your time working at a job where you’re not being challenged everyday.

You’ll never get rich by saving money.

Pay it forward and help others in their career journey. I wouldn’t be here without the help of my network.

TELL US ONE IMPROBABLE FACT

ADVICE YOU WOULD GIVE YOUR 20-YEAR-OLD SELF?

40 Under Forty 2020_56R-HWFINAL.indd 42

RECEIVED?

WHAT IS YOUR BEST HABIT?

DECISION? Turning down all those lucrative offers while working on my startup.

BEST PIECE OF ADVICE EVER

WHAT CAREER HIGHLIGHT ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF? Starting Beanworks with my exceptionally brilliant co-founders.

ABOUT YOURSELF. At some point I was pursuing a career in law, but soon after I realized I enjoy writing software more than reading court cases.

2020-11-18 3:26 PM

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2020

VAHID SHABABI COO, Victory Square Technologies Inc.

AGE

38

WHO OR WHAT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR WORK ETHIC? Everyone who has been in my professional career. I believe there is always something that we can learn from every single person we meet and interact with.

WHAT IS YOUR GUILTY PLEASURE? Eating – good food, pastries, dark chocolate and ice cream.

WHAT IS THE BEST BOOK YOU WOULD RECOMMEND? Shoe Dog by Phil Knight. Second best would be Relentless by Tim Grover.

NOW THAT YOU’RE ENTERING YOUR 40S, WHAT GOALS HAVE YOU SET FOR YOURSELF? I’m currently hyper-focused on helping Victory Square’s team and portfolio companies to continue this path successfully.

I’m motivated to help young entrepreneurs advance their careers and grow. In addition to my professional goals, I’m also focused on giving back to the community and raising my son to be a good person.

CHOOSE ONE OF THESE FIVE

SUBMITTED SUBMITTED

FOCUS ON YOUR END GOAL AND THE ‘WHY,’ NOT ON THE ‘WHAT’ AND ‘HOW’

CHILDHOOD CAREER DREAMS: ROCK STAR, STAR ATHLETE, PRIME MINISTER, ASTRONAUT,

ADVICE YOU WOULD GIVE YOUR

DETECTIVE.

20-YEAR-OLD SELF?

Star athlete, for sure.

Live life to the fullest with no regret. Invest in yourself by reading more. Be less stubborn and more open to learn from others.

haven’t been doing well for years.

B EST PI ECE O F ADVI CE E VER

NAME YOUR HAPPIEST PLACE. On a basketball court or a soccer field – next to my family and my son.

WHAT WAS YOUR TOUGHEST

WHAT IS YOUR BEST HABIT? I love empowering others, that gives me energy.

BUSINESS OR PROFESSIONAL DECISION? Leaving my basketball career at 28 to focus more on my professional career.

Then leaving a company that I had worked for eight years at the peak.

40 Under Forty 2020_56R-HWFINAL.indd 43

RECEIVED? Focus on your end goal and the ‘why,’ not on the ‘what’ and ‘how.’

WHAT CAREER HIGHLIGHT ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF? The journey continues and I believe that chapter hasn’t been written for me.

TELL US ONE IMPROBABLE FACT ABOUT YOURSELF. Being a die-hard fan of AC Milan Football club for 20 years, even though they

2020-11-18 3:26 PM

44 | FORTY UNDER 40 2020 PUBLISHED BY BUSINESS IN VANCOUVER

2020

AMIR SHARIF Principal and CEO, CASACraft Properties Ltd.

AGE

39

WHO OR WHAT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR WORK ETHIC? My family. In 1992, we moved to Vancouver. We didn’t have much space, but we had plenty of gratitude for what we did have. My background in technology and experience with design-thinking also drive my work ethic.

WHAT IS YOUR GUILTY PLEASURE? I love getting out of the office for ‘Fresh Air Fridays.’

WHAT IS THE BEST BOOK YOU WOULD RECOMMEND? Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl and Mindset by Carol Dweck.

NOW THAT YOU’RE ENTERING YOUR 40S, WHAT GOALS HAVE YOU SET FOR YOURSELF? Raising my two girls and supporting my wife’s career will always be priorities.

I’d love to find new ways to invest in my community while expanding CASAcraft’s core business.

CHOOSE ONE OF THESE FIVE CHILDHOOD CAREER DREAMS:

SUBMITTED

I LOVE TO START CONVERSATIONS WITH PEOPLE I’VE NEVER MET BEFORE, EVEN IF IT FEELS A BIT AWKWARD

ROCK STAR, STAR ATHLETE, PRIME MINISTER, ASTRONAUT, DETECTIVE.

ADVICE YOU WOULD GIVE YOUR

Astronaut. As a child, rocket science fascinated me, and it was because of this I chose to study computer science at UBC.

20-YEAR-OLD SELF?

NAME YOUR HAPPIEST PLACE.

WHAT IS YOUR BEST HABIT?

Sunday morning, having breakfast with my two daughters and my wife.

I like to get up early, workout, read and get things done before everybody else wakes up so that I can free up time to eat breakfast with my family.

WHAT WAS YOUR TOUGHEST BUSINESS OR PROFESSIONAL DECISION? Pivoting from tech to real estate and accepting it’s best to work with my father.

40 Under Forty 2020_56R-HWFINAL.indd 44

bit awkward.

BEST PIECE OF ADVICE EVER

Feel the fear, and do it anyway.

TELL US ONE IMPROBABLE FACT ABOUT YOURSELF.

RECEIVED? If it’s important, you will find a way. If not, you will find an excuse.

WHAT CAREER HIGHLIGHT ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF? Completing an extremely complex land assembly that involved handling the legal, accounting and financing components.

I love to start conversations with people I’ve never met before, even if it feels a

2020-11-18 3:26 PM

We envision a future of multi-family developments where every project is an opportunity to positively impact people, the planet, and our city’s prosperity.

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11/17/2020 2:18:55 PM 2020-11-18 3:26 PM

46 | FORTY UNDER 40 2020 PUBLISHED BY BUSINESS IN VANCOUVER

2020

KOSI STOBBS CEO, Property Owl Group of Companies

AGE

39

WHO OR WHAT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR WORK ETHIC? My parents for sure – best example of always putting your best effort in. My mom worked at a hospital as a porter and my dad as a millwright. They never complained, and always worked incredibly hard.

WHAT IS YOUR GUILTY PLEASURE? Oreo blizzards.

WHAT IS THE BEST BOOK YOU WOULD RECOMMEND? Aside from my own… Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill.

NOW THAT YOU’RE ENTERING YOUR 40S, WHAT GOALS HAVE YOU SET FOR YOURSELF? Multibillionaire.

CHOOSE ONE OF THESE FIVE CHILDHOOD CAREER DREAMS: SUBMITTED

ROCK STAR, STAR ATHLETE, PRIME MINISTER, ASTRONAUT, DETECTIVE.

WINNERS NEVER QUIT, AND QUITTERS NEVER WIN

Prime minister, for sure.

NAME YOUR HAPPIEST PLACE. In my office, working on my dream.

WHAT WAS YOUR TOUGHEST

WHAT IS YOUR BEST HABIT? Ability to stay calm in what most would view as a stressful situation.

BUSINESS OR PROFESSIONAL DECISION?

RECEIVED? Winners never quit, and quitters never win.

TELL US ONE IMPROBABLE FACT ABOUT YOURSELF.

To leave a career as an engineer to pursue my business dreams.

BEST PIECE OF ADVICE EVER

I struggle with reading, which stems from my dyslexia.

WHAT CAREER HIGHLIGHT ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF? Buying my first company.

ADVICE YOU WOULD GIVE YOUR 20-YEAR-OLD SELF? Set higher goals, because the things you thought were stretch goals, you did.

40 Under Forty 2020_56R-HWFINAL.indd 46

2020-11-18 3:26 PM

| 47

2020

ANNA STUKAS Vice-president, business development, Carbon Engineering Ltd.

AGE

39

WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR WORK ETHIC? My parents and grandparents, who expected we would always work hard and do our best – not for them, but for ourselves.

WHAT IS YOUR GUILTY PLEASURE? Hiding out with an excellent glass of wine, a bag of potato chips and a captivating novel.

WHAT IS THE BEST BOOK YOU WOULD RECOMMEND? Right now, The Citizen’s Guide to Climate Success by Mark Jaccard and Rosie Revere, Engineer (my three-year-old’s favourite).

NOW THAT YOU’RE ENTERING YOUR 40S, WHAT GOALS HAVE YOU SET FOR YOURSELF? Be a good mum and role model for my kids.

Contribute to solving climate change.

Leave the world a better place.

CHOOSE ONE OF THESE FIVE

SUBMITTED

CHILDHOOD CAREER DREAMS: ROCK STAR, STAR ATHLETE, PRIME MINISTER, ASTRONAUT, DETECTIVE. Astronaut, 100%. Paraphrased excerpt from my childhood diary: I could be an astronaut that teaches chemistry by satellite while also being the flight crew physiotherapist, chief lawyer for NASA and helped engineer the space shuttle…

Realistic expectations be damned!

NAME YOUR HAPPIEST PLACE. Anywhere in the Gulf Islands on a sailboat.

WHAT WAS YOUR TOUGHEST

THE ROLE YOU’LL BE IN 20 YEARS FROM NOW PROBABLY DOESN’T EXIST YET TODAY. DON’T THINK YOU CAN, OR NEED TO, PREDICT THE FUTURE ADVICE YOU WOULD GIVE YOUR

BEST PIECE OF ADVICE EVER

20-YEAR-OLD SELF?

RECEIVED?

The role you’ll be in 20 years from now probably doesn’t exist yet today. Don’t think you can, or need to, predict the future.

It doesn’t matter what you think you said, it matters what the other person hears.

WHAT IS YOUR BEST HABIT? Resilience.

BUSINESS OR PROFESSIONAL DECISION? Deciding to have kids and figuring out how to juggle career ambitions with being present for my family.

40 Under Forty 2020_56R-HWFINAL.indd 47

WHAT CAREER HIGHLIGHT ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF? Driving commercialization of groundbreaking solutions to climate change with our amazing team.

TELL US ONE IMPROBABLE FACT ABOUT YOURSELF. I’m actually an undercover introvert.

2020-11-18 3:26 PM

48 | FORTY UNDER 40 2020 PUBLISHED BY BUSINESS IN VANCOUVER

2020

ROGAYEH TABRIZI Co-founder and CEO, Theory+Practice

AGE

36

WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR WORK ETHIC? My team.

WHAT IS YOUR GUILTY PLEASURE? Painting. I love to grab a canvas and let the creativity take control.

WHAT IS THE BEST BOOK YOU WOULD RECOMMEND? The Outsiders, by William Thorndike.

NOW THAT YOU’RE ENTERING YOUR 40S, WHAT GOALS HAVE YOU SET FOR YOURSELF? To cont i nue t he jou r ney t h at Theory+Practice has put me on and find new and bigger opportunities to impact the world around me, while staying open to change.

CHOOSE ONE OF THESE FIVE CHILDHOOD CAREER DREAMS:

SUBMITTED

ROCK STAR, STAR ATHLETE,

SUBMITTED

PRIME MINISTER, ASTRONAUT, DETECTIVE. I always wanted to be an astronaut. T his actually was my dream as a kid.

NAME YOUR HAPPIEST PLACE. This is going to sound odd, but I love being on a plane. T ravelling is a real passion. Maybe the toughest part of 2020 has been the inability to travel.

WHAT WAS YOUR TOUGHEST BUSINESS OR PROFESSIONAL

I REALIZED THEN THAT IT IS MORE IMPORTANT TO STRIVE FOR EXCELLENCE THAN PERFECTION

ADVICE YOU WOULD GIVE YOUR

BEST PIECE OF ADVICE EVER Commit to working hard, particularly when you feel stuck. Persevere and stick to it, but also ask for help. ou won’t be able to succeed on your own.

WHAT IS YOUR BEST HABIT?

DECISION? Challenging my own assumptions.

Switching from an master of science in physics to a PhD in economics with no background. I am happy I had the courage to be bold at that time.

40 Under Forty 2020_56R-HWFINAL.indd 48

Vancouver, which I helped organize.

20-YEAR-OLD SELF? RECEIVED? One mentor asked me, “Are you a perfectionist?” and I proudly responded “Yes.” With a straight face, he said: “Quit now, you would never finish anything.”

I realized then that it is more important to strive for excellence than perfection.

TELL US ONE IMPROBABLE FACT

WHAT CAREER HIGHLIGHT ARE

ABOUT YOURSELF.

YOU MOST PROUD OF?

I am one of the few people who has actually been touched by the Dalai Lama. It was a funny surprise when he tripped and landed on my lap during his last visit to

Being at the ground-level of starting the African School of Physics (ASP) 10 years ago.

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2020

CHRISTIAN THOMSON Founder, CEO and head of UK operations, Marwick Internet Marketing

AGE

39

WHO OR WHAT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR WORK ETHIC? Growing up in a single-parent, low-income home in England taught me that if I wanted something, I had to earn it.

WHAT IS YOUR GUILTY PLEASURE? Entering awards for people under 40.

WHAT IS THE BEST BOOK YOU WOULD RECOMMEND? Purple Cow – super simple concept that’s missed by many.

NOW THAT YOU’RE ENTERING YOUR 40S, WHAT GOALS HAVE YOU SET FOR YOURSELF? Stay alive a bit longer. Stretch more.

CHOOSE ONE OF THESE FIVE CHILDHOOD CAREER DREAMS: ROCK STAR, STAR ATHLETE, PRIME MINISTER, ASTRONAUT,

SUBMITTED

DETECTIVE. I would choose to be a rock star.

A HEALTHY BODY EQUALS A HEALTHY MIND

NAME YOUR HAPPIEST PLACE. Where I am now.

ADVICE YOU WOULD GIVE YOUR 20-YEAR-OLD SELF? Dave didn’t do it. Sarah was actually right. You’re going to have twins so pace yourself.

TELL US ONE IMPROBABLE FACT

WHAT CAREER HIGHLIGHT ARE

ABOUT YOURSELF.

YOU MOST PROUD OF?

I was paid $5,000 for 20 minutes of work in a studio fake surfing for a McDonald’s Cup that went global.

Aside from being nominated for the 40 Under 40, I would say Marwick ranking as the 11th Fastest Growing Company in B.C. in 2020, Premier Google Partner Agency for eight years, surfing in the World Longboard Championships in 2019, being a dad to three awesome children – Dylan, Summer and Joel – and a husband to Theresa.

BEST PIECE OF ADVICE EVER WHAT IS YOUR BEST HABIT? Surfing everyday to balance desk time.

A healthy body equals a healthy mind.

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RECEIVED? “Pay your taxes and stay out of jail” – Steve Skinner.

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2020

SEAN TYSON Co-founder and CEO, Quietly Media Inc.

AGE

38

WHO OR WHAT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR WORK ETHIC? My parents.

WHAT IS YOUR GUILTY PLEASURE? European football. I’m a Barca fan and try to watch highlights on the weekends.

WHAT IS THE BEST BOOK YOU WOULD RECOMMEND? The book I would to business people is The 3G Way: Dream, People, and Culture.

The best book I’ve read is The Conversations by Michael Ondaatje. It’s a set of discussions between him and Walter Murch. I read it during a formative time of my life and it had a profound impact on me.

NOW THAT YOU’RE ENTERING YOUR 40S, WHAT GOALS HAVE YOU SET FOR YOURSELF? 1. Apply Oil of Olay rigorously.

2. Maintain a healthy level of mischief.

3. Hire people smarter than me.

CHOOSE ONE OF THESE FIVE CHILDHOOD CAREER DREAMS: ROCK STAR, STAR ATHLETE,

SUBMITTED

SUBMITTED

YOUNG PEOPLE TEND TO OVERESTIMATE WHAT CAN BE DONE IN ONE YEAR, AND UNDERESTIMATE WHAT CAN BE DONE IN TWO

PRIME MINISTER, ASTRONAUT, DETECTIVE. I want to say astronaut because I’m absolutely fascinated by space, but we need politics to mature and policy to catch up, so I’d probably go with prime minister.

NAME YOUR HAPPIEST PLACE.

ADVICE YOU WOULD GIVE YOUR

BEST PIECE OF ADVICE EVER

20-YEAR-OLD SELF?

RECEIVED?

Young people tend to overestimate what can be done in one year, and underestimate what can be done in two.

Fo rg i v e n e s s i s e a s i e r to ge t t h a n permission.

WHAT CAREER HIGHLIGHT ARE

Amsterdam.

WHAT IS YOUR BEST HABIT? WHAT WAS YOUR TOUGHEST BUSINESS OR PROFESSIONAL

I read The Economist and Bloomberg ferociously. I also drink good coffee.

DECISION?

YOU MOST PROUD OF? Starting Quietly. It’s taken us into some incredible arenas, and it feels like we’re only just getting started.

TELL US ONE IMPROBABLE FACT Letting someone go is always tough.

ABOUT YOURSELF. I’ve played lacrosse and music on fairly big stages.

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2020

CHRIS VAN DYCK Founder, head of studio and senior VFX supervisor, CVD VFX (Crafty Apes VFX)

AGE

37

WHAT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR WORK ETHIC? Ultimately, I want any product or experience that I’m a part of to be known for being delivered at the highest standard – I think it is a commitment to quality!

WHAT IS YOUR GUILTY PLEASURE? Games. It could be soccer, board games, darts all the way to ridiculous bets and challenges.

WHAT IS THE BEST BOOK YOU WOULD RECOMMEND? If you are looking to add structure and growth to your business, I’d recommend anything around the EOS framework

NOW THAT YOU’RE ENTERING YOUR 40S, WHAT GOALS HAVE YOU SET FOR YOURSELF? Adventures with my family, building community in Squamish with a new venture and to get back into teaching and mentoring.

CHOOSE ONE OF THESE FIVE

SUBMITTED

TRY TO FIND A NICHE IN YOUR CRAFT UNTIL YOU’RE AN EXPERT. I BELIEVE IT CAN CHANGE YOUR JOB INTO A BUSINESS

CHILDHOOD CAREER DREAMS: ROCK STAR, STAR ATHLETE, PRIME MINISTER, ASTRONAUT, DETECTIVE. Star athlete.

NAME YOUR HAPPIEST PLACE. Probably on the water or playing soccer.

WHAT WAS YOUR TOUGHEST

one to make and full of the unknown.

No regrets.

I met my wife at the Roxy - we’ve been married for over 10 years and have three kids.

ADVICE YOU WOULD GIVE YOUR 20-YEAR-OLD SELF.

BEST PIECE OF ADVICE EVER RECEIVED?

Each decision felt so important – go with your gut.

WHAT IS YOUR BEST HABIT?

To specialize. Try to find a niche in your craft until you’re an expert. I believe it can change your job into a business.

BUSINESS OR PROFESSIONAL DECISION? When I walked from an ironclad deal for the sale of my company to pursue another offer. It’s a very long story but the decision was an incredibly tough

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To celebrate!

TELL US ONE IMPROBABLE FACT ABOUT YOURSELF.

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2020

KEVIN WESTELL Managing partner, Pender Litigation

AGE

39

WHO OR WHAT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR WORK ETHIC? My parents – without a doubt, the hardest working people that I’ve ever known.

WHAT IS YOUR GUILTY PLEASURE? I have a bad habit of buying more books than I’ll ever have time to read.

WHAT IS THE BEST BOOK YOU WOULD RECOMMEND? When it comes to fiction, my all-time favourite is The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay by Michael Chabon. Right now, I’m tackling Where Law Ends by prosecutor Andrew Weissmann and can’t put it down.

NOW THAT YOU’RE ENTERING YOUR 40S, WHAT GOALS HAVE YOU SET FOR YOURSELF? My chief goal is to continue to pursue excellence in the practice of law.

CHOOSE ONE OF THESE FIVE

SUBMITTED

CHILDHOOD CAREER DREAMS: ROCK STAR, STAR ATHLETE, PRIME MINISTER, ASTRONAUT,

KEEP SHOWING UP AND WORKING HARD AND KEEP TREATING PEOPLE WITH KINDNESS AND RESPECT

DETECTIVE. Star athlete. The closest I came was journeyman Canadian collegiate basketball player.

NAME YOUR HAPPIEST PLACE. It’s any place where I get to spend time with my favourite people: my fiancé, Andrea, and my six-year-old, Walter.

WHAT WAS YOUR TOUGHEST BUSINESS OR PROFESSIONAL DECISION? After articling, I had an opportunity to take a full-time position with the Ministry of the Attorney General. It was tough to say ‘No’ to the job security and benefits that come with a government gig.

I decided to bet on myself and work as a sole practitioner.

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ADVICE YOU WOULD GIVE YOUR

BEST PIECE OF ADVICE EVER

20-YEAR-OLD SELF?

RECEIVED?

Keep showing up and working hard and keep treating people with kindness and respect. The rest will take care of itself.

Don’t take anything personally and don’t rely on unrealistic expectations of others. Be accountable to yourself.

WHAT IS YOUR BEST HABIT?

WHAT CAREER HIGHLIGHT ARE

I get up very early and get to work. That quiet time in the office before the phone starts ringing and my colleagues arrive is when I am most calm and most productive.

YOU MOST PROUD OF? It’s the ongoing opportunity to work alongside my brilliant and dedicated colleagues at Pender Litigation.

TELL US ONE IMPROBABLE FACT ABOUT YOURSELF. I am a Winnipeg Jets fan.

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2020

ASK THE 40 BIV Magazine asked Forty under 40 alumni to share one thing they’ve learned, tried or prioritized during the COVID-19 pandemic. As many answers as could be included follow.

Miranda Lam

I took this as an opportunity to simplify my life and focus on the thing that matters most: my family

Partner, litigation

Leon Ng

McCarthy Tétrault LLP

Founder and CEO

We redesigned our workday to accommodate meetings, childcare and personal responsibilities without pretending that the traditional workday model was sustainable

LNG Studios

Genesa Greening

I am learning – and trying – to convey a smile while wearing a mask

The future office culture is staff flexibility and choice Karn Manhas Founder and CEO Terramera, Inc.

Having to have a bigger capacity for adaptability and demonstrating care

President and CEO

That people have very different thresholds of comfort and safety during this uncertain time and that being patient, open and understanding is essential to leading a team successfully

During times of crisis there is huge value to signal the potential for major changes wherever possible before making the changes

BC Women’s Foundation

Andrea Mestrovic

Patrick Haney

Robert Coard

Partner and vice-president, brand

President

Partner, assurance

Very Polite Agency

Keir Surgical Ltd.

Clarifying our key business practices with the goal of being as lean, mean and efficient as possible

Reflection

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

When safety is the No. 1 priority, the solutions tend to be simple, although sometimes hard to source. Adaptability is key to keep organizations working

Mayor, City of Courtenay Vice-president, The Wells Family

Managing Partner, Shape

Founder and CEO

Growing City

Communication is key Kerry Corlett

There really is nothing we can’t do – problems we can’t overcome when we need to Kristan Ash

I got out of my comfort zone and hopped on the virtual open house bandwagon to normalize and add exposure to the new method of marketing and selling homes

Executive director Fraser Northwest Division of Family Practice

Ashley Smith

Businesses of all sizes need to fast track innovation – and that doesn’t only mean digital transformation

Co-founder

Anita Huberman

Vancouver Avenue

President and CEO Surrey Board of Trade

It is paramount to put people first. Once you have that in place, you can execute on strategy Juanita Lohmeyer

Prioritize compassion. We are all in this together and compassion is a two-way street

President

Graham Collings

JT Insurance

President, Vancouver VR/AR Association

Lisa von Sturmer

Bob Wells Owner, My Tech Guys

Dan Burgar

Executive vice-president, investments ACM Advisors Ltd.

Founder and CEO Annex Pro

Embrace the forced slowdown and really notice and appreciate the little special moments that often got missed Kylie McMullan Principal Finch Media

Implemented a daily huddle of 10 minutes (online video) with the management team Joe Geluch President Naikoon Contracting Ltd.

We’ve doubled down on investments in technology and our people

That when the chips are down, some people can be really mean; I’m not always my own best company; and the freedom to step outdoors and wander is one of life’s great pleasures

Business is resilient to change

President

Jamie Garratt

Braidy Corp.

Laura Ballance

President

I’ve discovered that working from home has as many upsides as downsides

Zoom meetings, Zoom conferences, Zoom marketing, Zoom drinks, Zoom holidays. Getting pretty sick of Zoom but it, and other apps like it, has been a life-saver

Will Gaherty

Greg Smith

President

President

PGL Environmental Consultants

Equinox Gold Corp.

Laura Ballance Media Group Inc.

I’ve learned how to be a better work-from-home parent – balancing business priorities with toddler demands

Matt Lewis

Founder and CEO Idea Rebel

Brent Charleton President and CEO Enwave Corp.

Source: This content was originally published in BIV Magazine: The BC Tech Issue.

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2020

CECILIA YEUNG Clinical director, PTSD Support for Nurses

AGE

37

WHO OR WHAT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR WORK ETHIC? As a nurse, I strive to be my clients’ advocate.

WHAT IS YOUR GUILTY PLEASURE? Sleeping 16 hours straight after night shifts.

WHAT IS THE BEST BOOK YOU WOULD RECOMMEND? Stop Relying On Your Old Ways by Takashi Shiihara. “People grow in both the most hopeless and lowest of times.”

NOW THAT YOU’RE ENTERING YOUR 40S, WHAT GOALS HAVE YOU SET FOR YOURSELF? Do one thing well – obviate PTSD in healthcare.

CHOOSE ONE OF THESE FIVE CHILDHOOD CAREER DREAMS:

SUBMITTED

ROCK STAR, STAR ATHLETE,

SUBMITTED

PRIME MINISTER, ASTRONAUT, DETECTIVE. Astronaut, as I was hoping to be slightly taller without the force of gravity.

LIFE SOMETIMES DOES NOT GO AS PLANNED AND THAT’S OK. EMBRACE THE SURPRISES

NAME YOUR HAPPIEST PLACE. Wherever my family is!

WHAT WAS YOUR TOUGHEST BUSINESS OR PROFESSIONAL DECISION? I was on leave due to an assault at work, which has placed me in the abyss of PTSD despair.

ADVICE YOU WOULD GIVE YOUR

BEST PIECE OF ADVICE EVER

20-YEAR-OLD SELF?

RECEIVED?

Life sometimes does not go as planned and that’s OK. Embrace the surprises.

Just keep going no matter what.

WHAT CAREER HIGHLIGHT ARE

WHAT IS YOUR BEST HABIT? Keeping my 10+ intravenous medication lines, cables and tubings untangled.

YOU MOST PROUD OF? That I have launched PTSD Support For Nurses and winning BIV’s Forty Under 40 Award!

TELL US ONE IMPROBABLE FACT ABOUT YOURSELF. I am five feet tall on a good day.

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2020

RUSSELL ZISHIRI Founder and CEO, Anaconda Systems Ltd.

AGE

39

WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR WORK ETHIC? My mother.

WHAT IS YOUR GUILTY PLEASURE? Being at home with the family.

WHAT IS THE BEST BOOK YOU WOULD RECOMMEND? Letters to a Young Poet – Rainer Marie Rilke.

NOW THAT YOU’RE ENTERING YOUR 40S, WHAT GOALS HAVE YOU SET FOR YOURSELF? To be honest, I haven’t thought of that at all. Just happy to have made it thus far.

CHOOSE ONE OF THESE FIVE CHILDHOOD CAREER DREAMS: ROCK STAR, STAR ATHLETE, PRIME MINISTER, ASTRONAUT, DETECTIVE.

SUBMITTED

Star athlete.

NAME YOUR HAPPIEST PLACE.

FEAR NOTHING. IT’S NEVER OVER, IT BECOMES SOMETHING ELSE

Anywhere with the family.

WHAT WAS YOUR TOUGHEST BUSINESS OR PROFESSIONAL DECISION? Over the last five years it seems there are multiple, however what I would share is that making tough decisions doesn’t feel great in the moment, I’ve been fortunate that enduring the short-term pain has led us to this point.

WHAT IS YOUR BEST HABIT?

WHAT CAREER HIGHLIGHT ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF?

I tend to get up i n t he morn i ng, persistently.

TELL US ONE IMPROBABLE FACT

There is no one moment/highlight – it’s the continuous learning and growth outside of my capabilities that leads from one milestone to the next.

ABOUT YOURSELF. I’m greatly affected by cold weather.

ADVICE YOU WOULD GIVE YOUR 20-YEAR-OLD SELF? Fear nothing. It’s never over, it becomes something else.

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BEST PIECE OF ADVICE EVER RECEIVED? “You have a great appetite, don’t eat so much that you burst,” Therese Hayden.

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