Last night I had the opportunity to return to the Telfer School of Management at the University of Ottawa, the place where I once began my own business studies. This time, however, I was on the other side of the lecture hall. Professor Chris Liboiron, a friend and faculty member, invited me to speak to the very first class that every business student at Telfer must take. Standing in front of nearly two hundred students in the same setting where I had once tried to make sense of the fundamentals of business, was both personal and rewarding.
During the session, Chris and I spoke about my early venture, BlackholeTV, which I launched as a student, as well as the work I now do through Rise Up Strategies and my most recent project, AgentAstro.ai But the highlight of the evening was not the stories I shared. It was the level of engagement from the students themselves. Their questions came quickly and continued right until the end of the class. Even when the session officially ended, many stayed behind to introduce themselves, ask for further advice, or simply continue the discussion. A few even asked for photos, which made me realize just how much this generation values not only knowledge but connection.
One of the key themes we explored was the rise of artificial intelligence. I stressed that some professions and industries will adopt AI faster than others, but ultimately every job and business will be touched by it. The pace of change is accelerating so quickly that tasks I once outsourced, such as legal work, accounting, or even certain types of writing, I now handle myself with the support of AI tools. We are living through a kind of gold rush, and ignoring it is not an option for anyone hoping to build a career or a company.
We also discussed the nature of entrepreneurship itself. I explained that most entrepreneurs are either selling an “aspirin” or a “vitamin”: They either solve someone’s headache or they offer a way to make a business or life better. In both cases, buyers are usually looking for innovations that represent a clear step forward. I pointed to examples like Sara Blakely of Spanx, who solved a personal frustration in a way that resonated with millions, or Brian Chesky and Joe Gebbia of Airbnb, who reimagined how people find accommodation. What unites these examples is not perfection at the start but the ability to act, refine, and adapt quickly.
Another point I emphasized was the importance of knowing your strengths and weaknesses and hiring to complement them. No one builds a successful venture alone. At the same time, being an entrepreneur means living with constant responsibility. I told the students that while entrepreneurship gives me flexibility to be present for my children, it also requires me to be “on” at all hours. If the CEO of a multinational calls on a Saturday night, I need to be sharp. Just last week I had calls with Taiwan at three in the morning.
Finally, I wanted the students to understand that success in entrepreneurship depends as much on resilience as it does on strategy. You cannot always control timing or circumstances, but you can prepare yourself to respond. Building the capacity to adapt, recover, and keep moving forward is what separates those who last from those who fade away.
Leaving the lecture hall last night, I felt both nostalgic and inspired. Nostalgic because I remember clearly what it felt like to be in their position, uncertain but eager. Inspired because the students I met displayed a level of curiosity, drive, and seriousness that made me confident about the future of business in this country. If these students are any indication, the next generation of Canadian entrepreneurs is ready to face the challenges and opportunities ahead.
