The Empire Club of Canada
Wednesday, November 21, 2018
The Empire Club of Canada Presents:
Michael Katchen, CEO, Wealthsimple In Conversation With Amber Kanwar On Getting the Recipe Right: Making Canada the Best Place in the World for the Financial Companies Of The Future
Michael Katchen is the CEO and co-founder of Wealthsimple, a leading financial technology company operating in Canada, the U.S., and the U.K. Wealthsimple launched in September 2014 and quickly established itself as a leader in Canada, and in under three years, it has grown to manage $3 billion for more than 100,000 clients. Prior to founding Wealthsimple, he led product and marketing at 1000memories, a Y Combinator startup that was acquired by Ancestry.com in 2012. Michael started his career at McKinsey & Company where he advised clients in finance and technology.
Michael has been called an Industry Mover by the Financial Post, a Change Agent by Canadian Business magazine, and one of Toronto’s 50 most influential people by Toronto Life. He won Entrepreneur of the Year at the Canadian Startup Awards in 2017, is a winner of a EY Entrepreneur Of The Year Award, was named one of Canada’s Top 40 Under 40 by Caldwell Partners International, and is a member of the Canadian Business Council.
Amber Kanwar is an expert when it comes to financial markets and disruptive technologies. As the successful host of Business News Network’s flagship morning show, Business Day AM, and co-host of CTV’s The Disruptors, she has interviewed everyone from CEOs of major companies, to start-up technology entrepreneurs, fund managers, politicians, and thought leaders.
Amber is a relentless digger, always looking for ways to break down complex topics and ideas and making them accessible to anyone who is interested. Amber has a Master of Journalism degree from Ryerson University and a Bachelor of Management & Organizational Studies degree from University of Western Ontario.
With Introductory Remarks from: MPP Doug Downey Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Finance
Doug Downey was elected as the Member of Provincial Parliament for Barrie–Springwater–Oro-Medonte in 2018 and subsequently named the Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Finance, the Honourable Victor Fedeli.
Doug was raised in Bond Head, and has spent much of his life working and living throughout Simcoe County. He obtained his Hons. B.A. from Wilfrid Laurier University; M.A. specializing in Judicial Administration from Brock University; a Law Degree from Dalhousie University at Halifax; and a Master of Laws in Municipal and Development Law through Osgoode Hall Law School. He has served as a Professor for Laurentian University at Georgian College, taught for the Real Estate Bar Admission Course, and occasionally lectured when asked.
He is a founding partner at Downey, Tornosky, Lassaline & Timpano Law Professional Corporation and has earned professional recognition including the Lawyer of the Year award from the Simcoe County Law Association, the Business Leader of the Year by the Orillia Business Association, and as one of Canada’s Leading Lawyers by Lexpert magazine. He has extensive experience in politics from working as a city councillor, to chairing the Independent Panel on the Future of the Trent-Severn Waterway, the largest federal asset in Ontario. The panel’s work has resulted in over $625 million in investments into upgrading the Waterway’s infrastructure.
Doug has also been active in numerous community organizations, including the Orillia and District Chamber of Commerce, the Orillia Kiwanis Club, Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Orillia and District, the Orillia Area Community Development Corporation and hosted Politically Speaking on Rogers television for 8 years. His volunteer work has earned him the Order of Orillia, and the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal.
Moderator:
Amber Kanwar, BNN
Speaker:
Michael Katchen, CEO, Wealthsimple
*The content presented is free of charge but please note that the Empire Club of Canada retains copyright. Neither the speeches themselves nor any part of their content may be used for any purpose other than personal interest or research without the explicit permission of the Empire Club of Canada.*
*Views and Opinions Expressed Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by the speakers or panelists are those of the speakers or panelists and do not necessarily reflect or represent the official views and opinions, policy or position held by The Empire Club of Canada.*