Beyond The Family Business

In this episode of Beyond the Family Business, I sit down with Jen McCain, a proud Maritimer from Florenceville, New Brunswick, and a third-generation member of the McCain family. Jen shares her own journey of building an identity outside of the family business, becoming an entrepreneur, and then stepping into a more active ownership role within one of Canada’s most iconic family enterprises. We d...

Iqbal Kassam is one of Vancouver’s most successful investors. He is the founder of EQ Bank and Chairman of Zynik Corporation, his family office. In this interview, we discuss how his youth in Kenya and London shaped him as a leader. We delve into his first success in Canada which became EQ bank. He shares valuable lessons on how to think as an entrepreneur. Lastly, he explains his latest thesis in...

In this episode, the tables are turned on host Luke Hansen-MacDonald as his cousin, Colin Michael MacDonald (COO of Micco Group of Companies), takes over as the interviewer. They dig into the history of Luke's family business Clearwater Seafoods and what it was like to sell this legacy business in 2021. Luke discusses his early entrepreneurial venture in the music video industry and why he decided...

In this episode, Michael Cooke—second-generation owner of Westcoast Gems—takes us inside the high-risk, little-known world of offshore diamond diving along South Africa’s rugged coastline. He shares how his father entered the industry and forged an unlikely partnership with a biracial diver during apartheid-era South Africa, defying social norms of the time. Michael reflects on stepping into the f...

In this episode, Tareq Hadhad, CEO of Peace by Chocolate, shares the extraordinary story of his family business, from surviving the Syrian war to rebuilding their lives and company in rural Nova Scotia. He reflects on his role as a storyteller, the power of resilience, and how purpose helped transform hardship into hope. Tareq also offers practical advice for other immigrant entrepreneurs looking...

Mack Csaszar is the 3rd generation CEO of UCEL Inc. They are a family business based in Toronto that focuses on industrial elevators and construction lift systems. Mack has grown the family business across Canada and into the USA. In this episode, we dive into the story of taking over the family business as a young man. Mack shares what was the most valuable experience and where he spent his time...

My cousin Colin Michael MacDonald is the COO of his family business, Micco Group of Companies. Much like my family business, they are invested in private businesses, real estate and marketable securities. Today we debate the pros and cons of our two distinct approaches to an investment company. Micco is much more hands on with their operations, whereas my business uses distributed leadership. beyo...

Chris Ritchie is the former President of SilverCrest, a mining firm that sold for $2.5B CAD in 2024. In today’s episode, we discuss the fundamentals of the precious metals market. Chris explains the major differences between investing in a mining business and precious metals. He shares tips on how to buy gold or silver. Lastly, we discuss the outlook for precious metals given the recent market cor...

In this episode, I provide a clear, plain-English summary of J.P. Morgan’s 2026 Outlook—“Promise and Pressure.” We walk through the major themes shaping markets, including AI’s investment boom, global fragmentation, and a shifting inflation regime. Along the way, I add my own commentary throughout from a family office perspective, focusing on what these trends could mean in real-world decision-mak...

What does it really take for the next generation to find their own voice in a family business? In this episode, I speak with Danielle Saputo, third generation of the Saputo family and author of I Am Enough , about identity, expectations, and engagement across generations. We discuss why some next-gen family members choose a different path, how families can better support those decisions, and the l...

In this episode, Lee Bragg, Vice Chair of Eastlink and member of the Bragg Business Family, shares how a Nova Scotian family business grew from its rural roots into a diversified enterprise spanning telecom, frozen foods, and airport services. Lee explains the group’s disciplined approach to risk, return, and diversification—and why capital allocation, not just entrepreneurship, sits at the heart...

 Ben Hertzman is the 2nd Gen President of Progress Luv2Pak and Gather Packaging. They specialise in premium retail packaging for customers across North America. We discuss Ben’s offshore supply chain and how he has become an expert in navigating tariffs. He also shares how his team has recently reshored part of their manufacturing to Toronto. We discuss the ingredients that have made his successio...

Pierre Somers is the founder of Montreal-based Walter Group and the third generation of his entrepreneurial family. Their story begins in Germany in the early 1900s with the building of locomotives. We delve into the complex journey of his family and how they had to reinvent themselves many times. We discuss the Walter Group’s investment strategy and how Pierre has attracted top talent. Lastly, we...

Derrick Hunter is the 2nd-generation CEO of Calgary-based Bluesky Equities. In this episode, we discuss how Derrick pivoted his family business from a concentrated to a diversified model. Starting in the Alberta oil patch, the business has now become a diversified portfolio of alternative investments, including private equity and venture capital.

KC Daya is the CEO and founder of Clifton Blake, a vertically integrated builder, lender, and operator of Multi-Family assets. We discuss the impact of his immigrant entrepreneurial parents and how this spills over into his parenting. We discuss how his first fund failed and the valuable lessons this taught him. As well, we discuss the transformational mergers that have made his business verticall...

Jeffrey McCain is the 3rd generation of the McCain family and the President of Woodword Capital. In this episode, we discuss working outside the business on Wall Street and his motivations for returning to work with his family. Jeffrey shares his latest investment strategy and how family offices stand apart from traditional private equity. We discuss how his family onboards new family members and...

 Ian Wilson is the 8th-generation President and co-owner of Wilsons. They are an Atlantic Canadian family with investments in the fuel industry, home security, and quick-serve restaurants. Ian shares the incredible history of their family business and how his own journey wove into the family story. As well, we dive into the sales of their retail fuel business and the motivation behind it. Lastly,...

Adrian Rocca is the CEO and founder of Fitzrovia. In this interview, he shares how being fired from Tricon set him on a path to build Canada’s largest purpose built rental business. Adrian delves into the latest innovations of his portfolio and how to develop affordable housing in Canada.

Andrew Oland is the CEO and co-owner of Moosehead Brewery. He shares the incredible 6-generation family story of how the Oland family built a beer empire. He discusses how the family split into two branches and why his family did not sell their brewery. As well, he discusses how he and his brother work together every day as CEO and CFO without family dynamics becoming an issue.

Tony and Peter Nahas are the co-owners of Mezza Lebanese Kitchen. Their parents started the business shortly after immigrating from Lebanon. The brothers discuss how they streamlined their family business and unlocked huge growth through franchising. They also share their own struggles as leaders and what is next on their growth horizon. 

Artificial Intelligence is dramatically changing the threat landscape for cybercrime.  Generative AI is making hackers more efficient and giving them new capabilities that make their attacks harder to detect. In this episode, we discuss types of threats, why family business is at risk and tips to defend.

Matthew Cassidy is the President of Coach Atlantic, Maritime Bus and Ambassatours. Over the last 20 years, Matthew and his family have consolidated the bus industry in Atlantic Canada. We discuss his biggest challenges as a new leader. As well, Matthew tells all about their recent acquisition of Ambassatours.

Tony Falbo, an 81-year-old Italian immigrant, chronicles his entrepreneurial journey of building Mircom Technologies and successfully transitioning the business to his three sons. Through strategic focus and family collaboration, he transformed a small fire alarm systems company into an international enterprise. The interview offers a compelling blueprint for family business succession and entrepr...

Aakash Shah is the former CEO and owner of Vivify Specialty Ingredients. He shares how his father convinced him to join the struggling family business and turn it around. Aakash shares how we found balance with his brother and father. As well, how he brought in private equity to buy his family out. Lastly, he shares his plans for his newly minted family office.

Tammy Buss is a family business advisor and family business owner. Over her 30 year career, she has helped family businesses with estate planning, financial planning and succession. This has been informed by her own entrepreneurial journey as she sold her own business and currently works with her son.