Peggy Van de Plassche

Talent? Yes.
 Luck? Absolutely.
 Timing? More than we’d like to admit.

But after spending time with artists like Aline Setton, Luca Soldovieri, Melanie Authier, Vickie Vainionpää—alongside galleries like Olga Korper Gallery and institutions such as the Aga Khan Museum—I’ve started to notice something else.

A pattern.

Not a formula. Not a guarantee.
 But a set of behaviours that show up again and again.

The artists who make it work financially tend to:

•  Treat their practice like a long-term game 
•  Build real networks (not just visibility) 
•  Communicate and tell compelling stories 
•  Develop a recognizable signature 
•  Embrace the business side of art (without apology) 
•  And yes… make themselves visible 

In short: they behave like professionals—not just creators.

It sounds obvious. It isn’t.

Because the romantic narrative of the “pure artist” still lingers…
 And it quietly sabotages a lot of talent.

I talked about what I’m seeing—from the outside looking in—
 for anyone navigating the intersection of art, market, and ambition.

Curious to hear:
 What do you think actually drives success in today’s art market?

#Art #ContemporaryArt #ArtMarket #Artists #Creativity #Professionalism #Collecting #Newsletter

Peggy Van de Plassche is a value creation strategist and senior advisor with over 20 years of experience in private equity, financial services, healthcare, and technology. She works with investment firms, boards, and C-suite leaders to accelerate portfolio company performance, drive operational transformation, and unlock long-term value. Peggy specializes in the execution of complex value creation plans—spanning capital allocation, digital enablement, transaction advisory, and leadership alignment. Her work consistently bridges strategy and implementation, helping investors and operators maximize EBITDA and enterprise value. A founding board member of Invest in Canada, she also brings deep expertise in public-private partnerships and institutional capital deployment—critical levers for competitive advantage in today’s global landscape. Her clients have included BMO, CI Financial, HOOPP, OMERS, GreenShield Canada, Nicola Wealth, and Power Financial. Learn more at peggyvandeplassche.com.

#privateequity #privatemarkets #alternativeinvestments #investing #investments #invest #venturecapital #investor #entrepreneur #digitaltransformation #ai #exit #tech #technology #finance #financialservices #healthcare

A question that sounds philosophical…
 but is becoming very operational.

We are watching, in real time:

→ Companies optimizing for “no employees”
 → AI used as justification (not always proof) for layoffs
 → Full-time jobs quietly replaced by part-time, no-benefit roles
 → Entire workforces rebranded as “independent contractors”

Efficient? Yes.
 Sustainable? I’m not so sure.

Because here’s the uncomfortable truth:

💰 An economy does not run on billionaires. It runs on stable households.

If we erode income stability, purpose, and confidence…
 who exactly is left to consume?

At some point, “efficiency” starts to cannibalize the very system it’s meant to optimize.

This is not anti-tech.
 It’s pro-thinking.

👉 What is the role of humans in the economy we are building?

Because if the answer becomes:
 “Optional (except when they need to spend)…”

We are not just redesigning work.
 We are redesigning society.

I wrote a piece on this—part reflection, part provocation, part quiet rebellion.

Curious to hear your take 👇

Peggy Van de Plassche is a value creation strategist and senior advisor with over 20 years of experience in private equity, financial services, healthcare, and technology. She works with investment firms, boards, and C-suite leaders to accelerate portfolio company performance, drive operational transformation, and unlock long-term value. Peggy specializes in the execution of complex value creation plans—spanning capital allocation, digital enablement, transaction advisory, and leadership alignment. Her work consistently bridges strategy and implementation, helping investors and operators maximize EBITDA and enterprise value. A founding board member of Invest in Canada, she also brings deep expertise in public-private partnerships and institutional capital deployment—critical levers for competitive advantage in today’s global landscape. Her clients have included BMO, CI Financial, HOOPP, OMERS, GreenShield Canada, Nicola Wealth, and Power Financial. Learn more at peggyvandeplassche.com.

#privateequity #privatemarkets #alternativeinvestments #investing #investments #invest #venturecapital #investor #entrepreneur #digitaltransformation #ai #exit #tech #technology #finance #financialservices #healthcare

💰 Collecting Art Versus Decorating

I had a small (and slightly uncomfortable) realization recently.

I found myself hesitating to openly love certain artworks… simply because they were affordable and not endorsed by the “right” galleries.

That pause told me everything.

Somewhere along the way, I had started outsourcing my taste to the market.

Here’s the truth most people don’t say out loud:

👉 The art world operates on two very different logics
 • Collecting = capital allocation, downside protection, signaling
• Decorating = personal enjoyment, emotion, lived experience

Both are valid. But confusing the two? That’s where things get messy.

Because once you do, you risk asking the wrong question:
 “Is this good art?”
 …instead of
 “Do I actually like this?”

And the irony?

Add a few zeros to the price, place the same piece in a top gallery, and suddenly the narrative changes.

Same artwork. Different validation.

In this week’s newsletter, I unpack:

•  Why “reputable” often really means “financially validated” 
•  The uncomfortable snobbery (including my own) we rarely admit 
•  And why taking a chance on unknown artists might be the most rational—and enjoyable—move 

💭 Maybe the real flex isn’t owning what everyone agrees is valuable…
 …but knowing what you love before the market tells you.

#Art #ArtCollecting #ContemporaryArt #Investing #Taste #CreativeEconomy #PersonalPerspective

Peggy Van de Plassche is a value creation strategist and senior advisor with over 20 years of experience in private equity, financial services, healthcare, and technology. She works with investment firms, boards, and C-suite leaders to accelerate portfolio company performance, drive operational transformation, and unlock long-term value. Peggy specializes in the execution of complex value creation plans—spanning capital allocation, digital enablement, transaction advisory, and leadership alignment. Her work consistently bridges strategy and implementation, helping investors and operators maximize EBITDA and enterprise value. A founding board member of Invest in Canada, she also brings deep expertise in public-private partnerships and institutional capital deployment—critical levers for competitive advantage in today’s global landscape. Her clients have included BMO, CI Financial, HOOPP, OMERS, GreenShield Canada, Nicola Wealth, and Power Financial. Learn more at peggyvandeplassche.com.

#privateequity #privatemarkets #alternativeinvestments #investing #investments #invest #venturecapital #investor #entrepreneur #digitaltransformation #ai #exit #tech #technology #finance #financialservices #healthcare

One comment from Timothée Chalamet → outrage, headlines, Oscar speculation.

Meanwhile…
Leaders in positions of real power say (and do) far worse—with far fewer consequences.

Interesting, isn’t it?

This isn’t about Chalamet.
It’s about the expectations we place on young, successful artists:

→ Be talented
→ Be famous
→ Be insightful
→ Be flawless

All at once. At 25. Or 30. Or 20.

Most of them are just that—young.
Learning. Figuring it out. In public.

And yet, we hold them to a higher standard than CEOs or politicians whose decisions actually shape lives.

I wrote a piece on this double standard—and why our outrage might be…misdirected.

💭 Maybe the issue isn’t what he said.
It’s what we choose to care about.

#Leadership #Culture #Media #Reputation #DoubleStandards

Peggy Van de Plassche is a value creation strategist and senior advisor with over 20 years of experience in private equity, financial services, healthcare, and technology. She works with investment firms, boards, and C-suite leaders to accelerate portfolio company performance, drive operational transformation, and unlock long-term value. Peggy specializes in the execution of complex value creation plans—spanning capital allocation, digital enablement, transaction advisory, and leadership alignment. Her work consistently bridges strategy and implementation, helping investors and operators maximize EBITDA and enterprise value. A founding board member of Invest in Canada, she also brings deep expertise in public-private partnerships and institutional capital deployment—critical levers for competitive advantage in today’s global landscape. Her clients have included BMO, CI Financial, HOOPP, OMERS, GreenShield Canada, Nicola Wealth, and Power Financial. Learn more at peggyvandeplassche.com.

#privateequity #privatemarkets #alternativeinvestments #investing #investments #invest #venturecapital #investor #entrepreneur #digitaltransformation #ai #exit #tech #technology #finance #financialservices #healthcare

I recently interviewed Robb Nelson, CEO and co-founder of Farm Lending Canada, and walked away thinking: why don’t we hear this version of entrepreneurship more often?

Robb has built successful businesses for decades, but his philosophy is refreshingly different from the usual founder mythology.

Less:
 “move fast and break things”

More:
 collaborate, test relentlessly, invest your own capital first, share the upside, and build to last

In our conversation, we also explored a space many investors and operators know too little about: Canadian agriculture financing.

Behind the discussion on farmland, succession planning, transition lending and food security was a much bigger theme:

some of the best businesses are built quietly, patiently, and with a lot less ego than the market tends to reward.

I share more in my latest newsletter, including why Robb’s approach stood out to me and what it says about entrepreneurship, leadership, and building durable businesses.

Link in comments.

#entrepreneurship #leadership #agriculture #finance #privatecredit #investing #canada

Peggy Van de Plassche is a value creation strategist and senior advisor with over 20 years of experience in private equity, financial services, healthcare, and technology. She works with investment firms, boards, and C-suite leaders to accelerate portfolio company performance, drive operational transformation, and unlock long-term value. Peggy specializes in the execution of complex value creation plans—spanning capital allocation, digital enablement, transaction advisory, and leadership alignment. Her work consistently bridges strategy and implementation, helping investors and operators maximize EBITDA and enterprise value. A founding board member of Invest in Canada, she also brings deep expertise in public-private partnerships and institutional capital deployment—critical levers for competitive advantage in today’s global landscape. Her clients have included BMO, CI Financial, HOOPP, OMERS, GreenShield Canada, Nicola Wealth, and Power Financial. Learn more at peggyvandeplassche.com.

#privateequity #privatemarkets #alternativeinvestments #investing #investments #invest #venturecapital #investor #entrepreneur #digitaltransformation #ai #exit #tech #technology #finance #financialservices #healthcare

Most people are reacting to headlines.
 Very few are understanding the system. 🌍

I recently joined a webinar hosted by FrenchFounders, brilliantly animated by Lucie Duvivier, with Olivier Bariety (Princeps Strategy).

What struck me wasn’t just the situation in the Middle East.

It was the confusion.

Strong opinions. Weak analysis.
 Noise… everywhere.

Quick note 🧭
 This reflects the analysis shared by Olivier and his team—deep expertise, real regional experience…
but still an interpretation, not absolute truth.

Here’s the reality:

This is not just a regional conflict.
It’s a stress test of the global order.

A few things most people are missing 👇

• It’s not Sunni vs Shia → it’s a fragmented chessboard
 • It’s not escalation → it’s pre-emption (nuclear logic ☢️)
 • It’s not local → it’s also US vs China (energy = power 🌐)

And this won’t “resolve” anytime soon ⏳

But here’s where it gets very real for business leaders:

→ Energy, supply chains, inflation: already moving 📉
 → Data centers are now targets 💻
 → Cyber is no longer optional 🔐
 → Cash is strategy 💰
 → Dependency = vulnerability 🔗

We are entering a world where:

• conflicts are hybrid
 • alliances are fluid
 • and stability is… temporary

The winners won’t be the loudest voices.

They’ll be the ones who:
 understand complexity, think in systems, and prepare early.

Because by the time things are clear…
 it’s usually too late.

#geopolitics #strategy #leadership #riskmanagement #futureofwork

Peggy Van de Plassche is a value creation strategist and senior advisor with over 20 years of experience in private equity, financial services, healthcare, and technology. She works with investment firms, boards, and C-suite leaders to accelerate portfolio company performance, drive operational transformation, and unlock long-term value. Peggy specializes in the execution of complex value creation plans—spanning capital allocation, digital enablement, transaction advisory, and leadership alignment. Her work consistently bridges strategy and implementation, helping investors and operators maximize EBITDA and enterprise value. A founding board member of Invest in Canada, she also brings deep expertise in public-private partnerships and institutional capital deployment—critical levers for competitive advantage in today’s global landscape. Her clients have included BMO, CI Financial, HOOPP, OMERS, GreenShield Canada, Nicola Wealth, and Power Financial. Learn more at peggyvandeplassche.com.

#privateequity #privatemarkets #alternativeinvestments #investing #investments #invest #venturecapital #investor #entrepreneur #digitaltransformation #ai #exit #tech #technology #finance #financialservices #healthcare

I was talking with a friend about her daughter’s first job and the toxic colleague she’s already dealing with.

Which led us to a strange realization.

Work used to be… fun.

People went for drinks together.
 Bosses occasionally picked up the tab.
 Birthdays, weddings, promotions were celebrated.
 Colleagues became friends.

Yes, there were brown-nosers and professional troublemakers.
 But somehow the vibe still worked.

So what happened?

A few suspects:

💸 Two decades of relentless cost-cutting that quietly eliminated the social glue of organizations.
🧴 The hypersensitivity Olympics where disagreement is “unsafe” and Bob from accounting becomes “toxic” for asking about year-end.
🏠 Remote work arriving just as office culture had already deteriorated.
🤖 And the freight train of AI, promising efficiency… and possibly a future where everyone does three jobs.

Meanwhile companies are puzzled by disengagement and lack of loyalty.

Strange.

Remove the joy.
 Remove the community.
 Remove the perks.

…and people stop caring.

In my latest podcast I ask a simple question:

When did we collectively decide work shouldn’t be enjoyable?

And more importantly — how do we bring the fun back?

Peggy Van de Plassche is a value creation strategist and senior advisor with over 20 years of experience in private equity, financial services, healthcare, and technology. She works with investment firms, boards, and C-suite leaders to accelerate portfolio company performance, drive operational transformation, and unlock long-term value. Peggy specializes in the execution of complex value creation plans—spanning capital allocation, digital enablement, transaction advisory, and leadership alignment. Her work consistently bridges strategy and implementation, helping investors and operators maximize EBITDA and enterprise value. A founding board member of Invest in Canada, she also brings deep expertise in public-private partnerships and institutional capital deployment—critical levers for competitive advantage in today’s global landscape. Her clients have included BMO, CI Financial, HOOPP, OMERS, GreenShield Canada, Nicola Wealth, and Power Financial. Learn more at peggyvandeplassche.com.

#privateequity #privatemarkets #alternativeinvestments #investing #investments #invest #venturecapital #investor #entrepreneur #digitaltransformation #ai #exit #tech #technology #finance #financialservices #healthcare

Uncomfortable thought?

Good.

For years, I thought my biggest professional obstacle was incompetence around me.

Slower thinkers.
 Insecure gatekeepers.
 Political operators.

You know the type.

What I eventually realized — painfully — is that the real issue wasn’t just them.

It was the emotional wound I was bringing into the room.

When someone:
 • Interrupted me
 • Slowed momentum
 • Questioned my framing

My nervous system didn’t think “complex organization.”

It thought: intentional diminishment.

That subtle shift changed my tone.
 My eyes.
 My energy.

And insecure systems react to intensity.

Especially when you’re right.

In this week’s newsletter, I unpack:

• Why “Safety = Superiority” is a dangerous career equation
 • How old invalidation shows up in boardrooms
 • The micro-shifts that move you from dominance to grounded power

You don’t need to shrink.
 But you may need to stop letting old battles run new meetings.

If this hits a little too close to home… you might want to read it.

(And yes — I’m still practicing this myself.)

#Leadership #ExecutivePresence #EmotionalIntelligence #CareerGrowth

Peggy Van de Plassche is a value creation strategist and senior advisor with over 20 years of experience in private equity, financial services, healthcare, and technology. She works with investment firms, boards, and C-suite leaders to accelerate portfolio company performance, drive operational transformation, and unlock long-term value. Peggy specializes in the execution of complex value creation plans—spanning capital allocation, digital enablement, transaction advisory, and leadership alignment. Her work consistently bridges strategy and implementation, helping investors and operators maximize EBITDA and enterprise value. A founding board member of Invest in Canada, she also brings deep expertise in public-private partnerships and institutional capital deployment—critical levers for competitive advantage in today’s global landscape. Her clients have included BMO, CI Financial, HOOPP, OMERS, GreenShield Canada, Nicola Wealth, and Power Financial. Learn more at peggyvandeplassche.com.

#privateequity #privatemarkets #alternativeinvestments #investing #investments #invest #venturecapital #investor #entrepreneur #digitaltransformation #ai #exit #tech #technology #finance #financialservices #healthcare

👗🤖 How ChatGPT Improved My Fashion Style. Or Did It?

My sense of style took a very real downturn during the pandemic.

Not because I suddenly stopped owning nice things (multiple closets, still standing).
 Not because I ran out of skincare (I could open a small apothecary).
 But because I felt… uninspired. A bit at a loss.

Then a friend told my husband and I how he used ChatGPT to upgrade his closet:
 📸 he photographed everything (including suits in deep retirement)
 🧠 asked for a diagnosis
 ✂️ got ideas like tailoring for a modern cut, changing buttons, what to store, what to give away
 …plus best colors, glasses, haircut — the whole “AI stylist” package.

I didn’t go full inventory mode (I’m not running a warehouse).
 But the seed was planted.

So I tested it in a more realistic way:
 🎥 YouTube — but with intent (I research, I don’t scroll)
 🎨 ChatGPT — for color analysis (20 seconds, bam… plus very obscure shades I can’t find anywhere)
 😬 Then I uploaded a few no-makeup, natural-light photos for hair/skin/makeup advice and learned:

• My “French girl hair” is… not a strategy
• My left profile wins (apparently Bezos has billions, I have eyebrow symmetry)
• I’m oval-faced (identity shift)
• I’m not (yet) a facelift candidate
• A dermatologist appointment was politely suggested (of course)

Then I went back to YouTube for body shape advice because… yes, there are limits to what I’m uploading.

The real punchline:
 AI is great at patterns.
 But it still needs your context, preferences, and critical thinking.

It’s a servant. Not a master. Even in fashion.

Full story in the newsletter — witty, practical, and mildly humiliating.
 👇 Link in comments.

#PersonalBrand #AI #ChatGPT #Style #SlowFashion

Peggy Van de Plassche is a value creation strategist and senior advisor with over 20 years of experience in private equity, financial services, healthcare, and technology. She works with investment firms, boards, and C-suite leaders to accelerate portfolio company performance, drive operational transformation, and unlock long-term value. Peggy specializes in the execution of complex value creation plans—spanning capital allocation, digital enablement, transaction advisory, and leadership alignment. Her work consistently bridges strategy and implementation, helping investors and operators maximize EBITDA and enterprise value. A founding board member of Invest in Canada, she also brings deep expertise in public-private partnerships and institutional capital deployment—critical levers for competitive advantage in today’s global landscape. Her clients have included BMO, CI Financial, HOOPP, OMERS, GreenShield Canada, Nicola Wealth, and Power Financial. Learn more at peggyvandeplassche.com.

#privateequity #privatemarkets #alternativeinvestments #investing #investments #invest #venturecapital #investor #entrepreneur #digitaltransformation #ai #exit #tech #technology #finance #financialservices #healthcare

Everyone is debating AI fluency.
 Or DEI.
 Or generational friction.

But the real productivity drains I see inside organizations are far less fashionable — and far more costly.

1️⃣ Lack of empowerment
 Rooms full of smart people waiting for permission.
 Circular meetings.
 Silence until things blow up.

2️⃣ Not connecting the dots
 Process over purpose.
 Templates over thinking.
 “I’m just doing my job.”

3️⃣ People completely tapped out
 Burned-out professionals don’t think long term.
 They survive short term.

And yet… we keep expecting technology to fix it.

AI will not solve fear.
 Dashboards will not create courage.
 Software will not connect dots.

If you care about performance, productivity, and valuation — this is where the real leverage is.

New newsletter out.
 It might make a few synchronized notebook openings slightly uncomfortable.

#Leadership #OrganizationalCulture #Productivity #ValueCreation

Peggy Van de Plassche is a value creation strategist and senior advisor with over 20 years of experience in private equity, financial services, healthcare, and technology. She works with investment firms, boards, and C-suite leaders to accelerate portfolio company performance, drive operational transformation, and unlock long-term value. Peggy specializes in the execution of complex value creation plans—spanning capital allocation, digital enablement, transaction advisory, and leadership alignment. Her work consistently bridges strategy and implementation, helping investors and operators maximize EBITDA and enterprise value. A founding board member of Invest in Canada, she also brings deep expertise in public-private partnerships and institutional capital deployment—critical levers for competitive advantage in today’s global landscape. Her clients have included BMO, CI Financial, HOOPP, OMERS, GreenShield Canada, Nicola Wealth, and Power Financial. Learn more at peggyvandeplassche.com.

#privateequity #privatemarkets #alternativeinvestments #investing #investments #invest #venturecapital #investor #entrepreneur #digitaltransformation #ai #exit #tech #technology #finance #financialservices #healthcare