Peggy Van de Plassche

💪 Tariffs aren’t the only way to push back. Sometimes, Canada needs to put its elbows up—with policy.

In the face of rising tariffs, trade weaponization, and U.S.-centric tech monopolies, what if there was a smarter way to fight back?

📘 Inspired by a great Financial Times article, I dug into one of the most underused levers on the table:
repealing anti-circumvention laws—a technical, deeply strategic move that could reshape digital trade on our terms.

These laws were introduced to appease U.S. trade demands (DMCA, USMCA, ring a bell?). But in doing so, we gave up too much:

• 💰 Locked ourselves out of a $100B+ global repair economy
• 📉 Suppressed Canadian innovation
• 🧩 Increased our dependence on foreign tech ecosystems

Anyone who's tried to fix their AirPods Max, washing machine, or printer knows the frustration. These laws protect monopoly margins—not users, not local economies.

🇨🇦 It's time for Canada to get elbows up. Not with tit-for-tat tariffs. But with principled, high-impact policy that reclaims our digital sovereignty and empowers consumers and innovators alike.

 🔧 Bonus: yes, the image captures the mood perfectly.

#SmartRetaliation #RightToRepair #InnovationPolicy #DigitalSovereignty #CanadaTrade #DMCA #IPReform #Newsletter #ElbowsUp #StrategicRegulation

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

Art doesn’t just decorate our walls. It reshapes the way we see the world—and ourselves. 🎨

I recently read three extraordinary books that cracked open my understanding of creativity, value, and human connection:
 ✅ Poor Artists by Gabrielle de la Puente and Zarina Muhammad
✅ Get the Picture by Bianca Bosker
✅ The Art Thief by Michael Finkel

Each offers a different lens:
 🔍 The economic realities behind who gets to create
 🔍 The wonder (and confusion) of contemporary art
 🔍 The almost primal obsession beauty can ignite

If you’re looking for books that will open your mind, lift your spirit, and change the way you experience art—this list is for you.

Because sometimes, the real masterpiece is the shift happening inside us. 🌟

#ArtBooks #Creativity #ArtWorld #ContemporaryArt #PersonalGrowth #MindExpansion #BooksWorthReading #CultureAndCreativity

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

Good news in healthcare doesn’t always make the headlines — but it’s happening all around us. 🌿

In the last decade alone, we’ve seen seismic shifts:
 ✅ Psychedelics are redefining mental health care.
 ✅ Early cancer detection technologies are saving lives.
 ✅ Women’s health research is finally getting the representation it deserves.
 ✅ Aging science is moving from lifespan to healthspan.
✅ Generative AI is reshaping healthcare into a proactive, human-centered model.

While the headlines are often dark, real, transformational progress is unfolding — if we choose to look for it.

I explored these breakthroughs in my latest podcast.

Because the world we focus on is the world we help create. 🌟

#HealthcareInnovation #FutureOfHealth #PsychedelicTherapy #EarlyDetection #LongevityScience #WomensHealth #AIinHealthcare #PositiveTrends #Wellbeing #HumanisticHealthcare

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

“It doesn’t change anything.”
That’s the response I keep getting from global investors when I ask how they’re adjusting to the Trump administration’s return.

But here’s the truth: everything is already changing.

📉 Buy America.
📉 Tariffs.
📉 Stock market volatility.
📉 Private market redemption spikes.

Saying it doesn’t affect your investment strategy isn’t confidence—it’s denial.

We’re not in the world as we wish it were. We’re in the world as it is.

And in this world, strategic adaptation is not optional. It’s essential.

In my latest newsletter, I unpack what investors and business leaders must consider now—including shifting allocation patterns, difficulties in pricing private assets, and why liquidity and optionality matter more than ever.

👀 Read it here → [link in comments]
 Then ask yourself: Are you riding the storm, or still waiting for the old bus route to resume?

#InvestmentStrategy #TrumpAdministration #CapitalMarkets #PrivateEquity #Macroeconomics #BuyAmerica #AssetAllocation #PolicyRisk #GeopoliticalVolatility #Resilience

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

Are you too one encounter away from greatness? That was the question echoing in my mind after hearing Tim Whiten speak at the AGO.

I’ve admired Tim’s work since discovering him at Olga Korper Gallery—but hearing him reflect on his journey added a whole new layer.

He spoke of Olga, the legendary gallerist, as a pivotal force in his life.
"Without Olga, who would I be?" he asked.

Would someone else have stepped in? Would he have made it differently? Likely. But maybe not with the same voice, reach, or legacy.

🎯 It made me think: how often do we underestimate the power of one person—one connection, one conversation—to change the shape of our trajectory?

Whiten’s background in philosophy and psychology shapes everything he creates. His work is not just art—it’s human inquiry.

🔍 No answers, just questions.
 🔍 No frame before the encounter—only what emerges.
 🔍 From darkness to light, from density to clarity.

This isn’t just about art. It’s about mentorship, consciousness, and how greatness is rarely a solo pursuit.

📰 I wrote more about it in my latest newsletter—link in comments. If you’ve ever had someone shift your path—or been that person for someone else—you may relate.

#TimWhiten #OlgaKorperGallery #ArtGalleryOfOntario #MentorshipMatters #ConsciousLeadership #ArtAsExperience #TorontoArtScene #PhilosophyInArt #SelfDiscovery #OneEncounterAway #ContemporaryArt #GlassArt #SpiritualArt

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

🚨 Disinformation isn’t new. But today, it’s faster, stickier, and more dangerous than ever.

This week, I attended a thought-provoking event in French on conspiracy theories in the digital age, featuring Rudy Reichstadt, founder of Conspiracy Watch, and hosted by Gabrielle Sabourin of Radio-Canada. Students from the Université de l’Ontario Français also joined the conversation, adding a fresh digital perspective.

📸 I’ve shared a few moments from the event below ⬇️

The discussion touched on everything from algorithmic amplification, to Brandolini’s Law, to the evolution of conspiracies—from 9/11 to flat-earthers, from vaccine myths to climate change denial.

But what stayed with me was this:

In a world where truth is complex, algorithms reward outrage, and trust is eroding, how do we preserve the space for healthy doubt?

 ✅ Why conspiracy theories resonate emotionally
 ✅ How misinformation spreads faster than truth
 ✅ Brandolini’s Theory and the asymmetry of facts
 ✅ The risk of “certainty traps” in our fight against disinformation
 ✅ How to stay critical—without becoming cynical

🎯 This one blends psychology, technology, communication, and the future of civic discourse.

I’d love to hear:
 How are you navigating the flood of information (and misinformation) in your world?

#Disinformation #DigitalMedia #CriticalThinking #ConspiracyTheories #BrandolinisLaw #MediaLiteracy #AI #PublicTrust #PsychologyOfMisinformation #CivicEngagement #Newsletter #ThoughtLeadership

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

🤖 AI is moving fast—and not just in the startups it powers, but in the venture capital firms that fund them.

Last week, I attended a fantastic panel hosted by Introduction Capital on The Role of AI in Startups and Venture Capital, moderated by Kathryn Wortsman and featuring insights from Eva Lau, Matt Cohen, and Peter Shi.

Here’s what struck me:
 We’re no longer in the era of “AI as a tool.” We’re in the era of AI as infrastructure.
And it’s transforming everything—from how founders build to how investors deploy capital.

A few insights that stood out:
 ✅ Customer service, legal claims, municipal systems—AI is driving efficiency everywhere
 ✅ VCs are automating sourcing, diligence, and portfolio management
 ✅ Defensibility matters more than ever (AI wrappers ≠ sustainable business)
 ✅ The lines between VC and PE are blurring fast
 ✅ Tech is no longer the moat—the relationship is

And maybe most importantly:
 ⚠️ AI safety, misinformation, and trust are real, growing risks.

🧭 My full breakdown of the panel—including the biggest opportunities, hard truths, and what’s coming next—is live in my latest newsletter:

#AI #VentureCapital #Startups #PrivateEquity #ArtificialIntelligence #Innovation #TechTrends #ProcessAutomation #EdgeComputing #VCInsights #FutureOfWork #TrustInAI #CapitalAllocation

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

🔥 Is “Follow Your Bliss” Really the Best Career Advice?

We’ve all heard it: Follow your bliss.

It’s a seductive idea. Quit your job, pursue your passion full-time, build a life that doesn’t feel like work. You’ve seen the success stories—artists, creators, tech founders, athletes—who bet on themselves and won.

But what about everyone else?

👉 What if your passion doesn’t pay the bills?
 👉 What if the opportunity cost is massive—financially, emotionally, professionally?
 👉 What if "bliss" becomes burnout when it becomes your job?

This week’s newsletter was inspired by a conversation with a friend whose 8-year-old daughter loves to dance. She’s already hearing, “If she loves it, she’ll find a way to make a living from it.” Sound familiar?

💡 In the latest post, I dig into:

• The real cost of turning your passion into a paycheck
• The myth of the financially viable “portfolio career”
• How social media success often masks financial struggle
• Why the "exceptions" aren't the rule—and usually start with generational wealth
• A more grounded take on work, creativity, and fulfillment

💬 “It’s not about becoming an accountant out of fear—it’s about being realistic about how economics work.”

Whether you’re an artist, entrepreneur, or corporate escapee, this one’s for you.

 #PassionEconomy #Entrepreneurship #CareerPivot #FinancialIndependence #PersonalDevelopment #RealityCheck #FollowYourBliss #WorkLifeBalance #CreatorEconomy #Startups #MidCareer

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

👩‍💼 Why I’m Not Running for Office (And Probably Never Will)

People sometimes ask me why I don’t run for public office.
It’s flattering. But here’s the truth: I have a hard time with the idea that if you buy into one belief, you’re expected to adopt ten more—no questions asked.

Party lines, political jerseys, organizational echo chambers—it’s all the same pattern: pick a side, stick to the script.

But real leadership doesn’t live in binaries. And innovation? It thrives on friction, not agreement.

🧠 I’ve built my career around independent thinking.
Not to be contrarian—but because complexity demands it.
Because blind consensus leads to blind spots.
Because the best ideas often come from respectful disagreement.

This is why I loved Janan Ganesh’s recent FT piece on Denmark: a country that dares to be pro-welfare and pro-market. That thinks case by case. Issue by issue. Not vibes by vibes.

In a world that rewards tribal loyalty, nuance has become an act of courage.

We don’t need more people who “toe the line.” We need more people willing to say:
"I agree with you on this. I don’t on that. Let’s keep talking."

That’s not disloyalty. That’s integrity.

💬 Curious to hear from others:
Where have you seen independent thinking lead to better outcomes—in politics, leadership, or business?

#Leadership #Innovation #IndependentThinking  #CriticalThinking 

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

💥 Burnout isn’t a failure of willpower—it’s a signal.

After two decades in finance, tech, and venture capital, I’ve seen too many high performers quietly struggle with disconnection, overstimulation, and burnout. We’re praised for pushing through—but rarely encouraged to realign.

That’s why I’m thrilled to be a featured speaker at The Roots Of Our Being, a free global summit running April 14–18.

🌀 It’s not your typical wellness event.
 This is a gathering of 20+ thinkers—shamans, healers, economists, and consciousness leaders—exploring how ancient wisdom can inform modern leadership, performance, and purpose.

🎤 In my session, I’ll share how microdosing—done intentionally and responsibly—can help professionals:

• Calm the nervous system
• Reignite creativity and purpose
• Reconnect with clarity, focus, and meaning

This is a conversation for anyone feeling the pull to move from achievement mode to alignment mode.

✨ Curious? Burned out? Ready for something deeper?

🔗 Save your free spot here: https://www.therootsofourbeing.com/

Because in a world that rewards hustle, reconnection is revolutionary.

#Leadership #Wellbeing #Microdosing #BurnoutRecovery #ConsciousLeadership #RootsofOurBeing #ProfessionalGrowth #MentalHealth #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