Peggy Van de Plassche

If you’ve followed me for a while, you know I’m a sucker for new frontiers.

And lately, one signal keeps getting louder: a growing number of Canadians and Americans—myself included—are turning their attention to the UAE. Not just because the job market here feels uncertain. But because the Middle East, and the UAE specifically, still believes in building.
Where the future isn’t something to fear—it’s something you shape.

To explore this shift, I invited Oscar Orellana-Hyder, a seasoned headhunter and founder of Cordell Partners, to the podcast. He’s spent the last 10 years in Dubai and Abu Dhabi helping global executives relocate and succeed—and he brings a rare mix of candor and context.

💼 From private equity operators to job seekers, here are five things to know:

🔑 1. Relationships are more important than Resumes
Trust is built slowly. Business is done face-to-face. If you're used to North American speed, prepare to slow down—and go deeper.

🌍 2. The Region Is Building—Not Just Hiring
Sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and regulators are shaping an ecosystem. It’s no longer about extracting capital from the Gulf. It’s about contributing to it.

📈 3. Middle Management Roles Are Booming
Especially in compliance, risk, and finance. But don’t expect to land anything without local context and trusted connections.

💰 4. Yes, There’s No Income Tax—But It’s Not Cheap
Schooling, housing, healthcare... it adds up. Do your homework before assuming you’ll save big.

✈️ 5. Builders Thrive Here
If you’re entrepreneurial, positive, and flexible, the UAE rewards it. Oscar put it best:

“The people who succeed here aren’t running from London. They’re running toward something.”

📣 If you’re even considering making a move—or raising capital in the region—this episode is for you.

🎧 Listen to the full conversation.
🗺️ And if you're headed to the UAE this fall—let’s connect.

#privateequity #valuecreation #UAE #dubai #abudhabi #globaltalent #leadership #careerstrategy #capitalallocation #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

Last week, we celebrated FrontFundr’s 10th anniversary—a milestone not just for the company, but for the Canadian innovation economy.

In the past decade, nearly $300M has been invested via FrontFundr by almost 20,000 investors. That’s not just capital—it’s community. And it’s a reimagining of how early-stage companies can raise money and stay in control.

I joined FrontFundr early—as an investor, board member, and long-time believer in the crowdfunding model. Used wisely, it can be more aligned, more forgiving, and more strategic than institutional capital—especially for B2C startups.

The same spirit applies to revenue-based financing, like the approach Lighter Capital takes. I’ll be speaking with CEO Melissa Widner on the podcast soon—stay tuned.

And a big thanks to Joe Canavan for reminding us that while markets matter, character still comes first. The best founders protect early believers, think long-term, and build with values.

More thoughts on crowdfunding, capital structure, and founder-first funding in my latest edition

#FrontFundr #AngelInvesting #Crowdfunding #LighterCapital #CapitalStrategy #EarlyStageInvesting #CanadianStartups #FounderFirst #PrivateMarkets #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

What if tech outsourcing could actually be… a strategic advantage?

On this week’s podcast, I sat down with Sean Languedoc, founder & CEO of Outforce AI, to talk about why outsourcing is so often broken—and how to fix it.

📉 60% of outsourcing projects fail.
 📈 Outforce AI’s hit rate? 98%.

Sean’s secret? Start with the team, not the agency. Match for culture, experience, communication style—not just cost and credentials. The result? Faster product cycles, smarter use of capital, and real value creation—especially in the private equity space.

Some gems from our conversation:
 ✅ Why owning your tech staff isn’t always necessary
 ✅ What should actually happen in the first 100 days post-acquisition
✅ How cultural mismatches quietly kill engineering productivity
✅ Why PE firms need a better playbook for tech audits & due diligence

🎧 We covered a lot—from tech debt to tactical speed to talent psychology. And Sean had the receipts.

Read the full recap or listen here
 Trust me, if you’ve ever outsourced and regretted it… this one’s for you.

#PrivateEquity #TechStrategy #ValueCreation #Outsourcing #EngineeringLeadership #Startups #AI #DueDiligence #Podcast #DigitalTransformation

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

🌍 Staying Global in a Deglobalizing World
Reflections from the Burgundy Forum

Last week, I attended Burgundy’s annual forum in Toronto—a quiet but powerful gathering of serious long-term investors.

The theme this year? Staying global in a deglobalizing world. Timely. Necessary.

Two keynotes stood out—one from Anne Mette de Place Filippini, the other from Kenneth Broekaert. Their message? Conviction matters more than ever.

Anne reminded us that diversification isn’t about complexity or blindly owning the market—it’s about owning what compounds. “Why not invest in more of the winners and less of the losers?” she joked. Simple. But not easy.

Kenneth made a compelling case for Europe—not as a relic, but as a resilient, underappreciated opportunity. Some of the best businesses in the world (healthcare, consumer goods, industrials) are there—often trading at lower valuations, with stronger dividends, and less noise.

💡 My takeaway:
 In uncertain times, the smartest strategy is the simplest one—good businesses, at good prices, held for the long haul.

 Would love to hear your take—where do you see the next global opportunities?

#investing #privateequity #valuecreation #Europe #longterminvesting #BurgundyForum #finance #strategy #globalmarkets

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

What a roof leak taught me about fiduciary duty, asymmetric relationships, and why micro-communities matter more than ever

Would you trust your roofer like you trust your lawyer?

During two days of torrential rain in Toronto, water started dripping from our bedroom ceiling. What followed was a comedy of errors—no ladder, no diagnosis, and no accountability.

But what struck me most wasn’t the leak. It was the systemic blind spot we all live with: in most commercial relationships, acting in your best interest is optional.

We talk a lot about fiduciary duty in finance and law. But what about construction? Mechanics? Shouldn’t any relationship based on asymmetric information and expertise require a higher standard of care?

This is why micro-trust—friends, niche communities, micro-influencers—is becoming more powerful than macro-influence. Because in a world where everything is monetizable, trust is the real currency.

Here’s what I learned, what pissed me off, and what made me reflect.
 

#trust #fiduciaryduty #microinfluencers #communities #asymmetricinformation #valueoftrust #digitaltrends #rooffails #integritymatters

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

🏒What the Maple Leafs’ Playoff Defeat Can Tell Us About the Corporate World

I don’t follow sports. But living in Toronto, even I couldn’t escape the Maple Leafs playoff drama.
The part that stuck with me wasn’t the final score (1–6, ouch), but the conversations around it—especially the double standard we apply to failure.
A mid-tier hockey player underperforms in a big game? Might not make the cut next season.
But a top-league player? They’ll be back. Too much money, too much reputation invested.

Sound familiar?
In corporate life, we often see the same thing:
CEOs tank strategies and stay for years.
Execs a few levels down? Miss a target once—and they’re out.

Why do we extend more grace to people higher up the ladder?
I shared some thoughts on this in my latest newsletter—what the Leafs can teach us about power, failure, and why your intern might’ve gone through more interviews than your CEO.

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 wrote a book. Then I didn’t publish it. Now I’m sharing it anyway.

In the summer of 2022, I started writing Paris, Mushrooms and Me—a raw, funny, and deeply personal story about my first experiences with microdosing and the emotional dominoes it set in motion. Think Bridget Jones meets Eat, Pray, Love—with psilocybin chocolate.

Then life happened. I shelved the manuscript, wrote and published MORE! The Microdose Diet instead, and moved on. Or so I thought.

Three years later, I’m taking the book back—and sharing it on my terms. No agent, no publisher, no PR tour. Just words, a story, and the chaos of becoming someone new.

✨ The first chapter is now live on Substack. It’s a journey through Europe, self-doubt, shiatsu, sabotage, and ultimately… self-liberation.

👉 Read it on my substack: https://peggyvandeplassche.substack.com/
 💌 Want the full manuscript? Just message me.

#microdosing #memoir #personaldevelopment #writingcommunity #transformation #paris #mushrooms #healingjourney #authorlife

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 M&A Deals Fail. So Why Are We Ignoring the Gold Mine Inside Our Own Businesses?
70–90% of M&A deals fail to create value.
And yet, executives, boards, and advisors still chase acquisitions like it’s the only path to growth.

But what if the smarter move is right under your nose?

Last week, I shared a keynote with financial services professionals on how to bring a private equity mindset to your business—or your clients’—without the complexity of a buyout.

Here’s the playbook:
✅ Get laser-sharp on what actually drives value in your business (hint: not all revenue is equal).
✅ Optimize operations—not to cut your way to greatness, but to free up capital and reinvest where it matters.
✅ Align culture and incentives so your strategy doesn’t die at the execution stage.

The smartest PE firms are doing this every day.
So why not use their tools—100-day plans, KPI dashboards, pricing levers—without selling a single share?

Your clients don’t need a deal. They need a strategy.
Your business doesn’t need more noise. It needs focus.

#PrivateEquity #ValueCreation #Strategy #FinancialServices #OperationalExcellence #Leadership #PeggyVanDePlassche

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

💥 "Raising capital is like a favor from the mafia—once you shake hands, you’re in the game."

That’s one of the many sharp insights from my recent conversation with Brice Scheschuk.

Brice has seen it all: founder, operator, investor, LP in 50+ funds, direct investor in 130+ startups. And now? He’s sounding the alarm—and offering a playbook.

🔑 His message is simple but radical: most startups shouldn’t raise venture capital.
Not because VC is bad—but because it’s misapplied. It's the wrong tool for the wrong business at the wrong time.

In our interview, we dig into:

• Why VC is often a poor fit for 99% of companies
• The irreversible consequences of raising too early
• How to reverse-engineer success from humility and focus
• Why lean, quiet growth might be the most Canadian—and most effective—strategy of all

We also talk about founder resilience, mindset training, and the mental toll of conventional wisdom.

You can find Brice's presentation of "Founders, Play Your Own Game" here

🧠 TL;DR: More capital ≠ better outcomes. More control, more clarity, and more self-awareness often do.

👇 Read the full newsletter here and let me know:
 What’s your version of “playing your own game”?

#startups #venturecapital #founders #entrepreneurship #valuecreation #resilience #capitalstrategy #canadianinnovation #foundermindset

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

PE isn’t broken. But the rules have changed—and most firms haven’t.

I’ve spent 25 years in value creation:
 → In a PE-backed manufacturing company
 → As part of a SWAT team transforming a global tech firm
 → Inside banks and insurers where value creation often gets lost in translation
I’ve seen what works (and what absolutely doesn’t).
The debt-load-and-cut playbook is dead.
Multiple expansion is over.
And LPs are done waiting for magic.

Now, value creation means:
 ⚙️ Launching new revenue streams
 🤖 Using AI to drive precision and speed
 📲 Building digital into the core—not just around the edges
 💡 Thinking like an operator, not a spreadsheet jockey

Too many portcos still run like it’s 2005.
The PE firms that actually build businesses?
They’ll be the ones who raise again.

👉 I wrote about what I’ve learned, what’s broken, and where the real value is—inside and outside of PE.

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