In this episode of The Relevant Minute by Ventum Financial, we sit down with David Curson, CEO of Ventum Financial, to discuss the leadership principles, advisor-first mindset, and evolving client expectations shaping the future of wealth management.

Drawing on decades of experience in financial services, David shares the lessons that have guided his career, from the importance of outworking the competition to the value of betting on yourself and building resilience through challenging market cycles. He also offers a candid perspective on leadership, accountability, and what it takes to build a firm that attracts and supports top financial advisors.

For advisors and wealth management professionals, the conversation explores how trust, transparency, and culture create a competitive advantage in an increasingly complex industry. David discusses why the strongest firms invest in their people, empower their advisors, and remain relentlessly focused on delivering exceptional client experiences.

Key topics include:• Leadership lessons for financial advisors• Building a successful wealth management firm• Advisor recruitment, retention, and culture• Trust and transparency in financial services• Creating exceptional client experiences• Navigating change in the wealth management industry• The future of financial advice• Wealth, wellness, and holistic planning• Resilience, growth, and long-term success

Whether you're an independent financial advisor, portfolio manager, wealth advisor, branch leader, or financial services executive, this episode offers practical insights on building stronger client relationships, creating high-performing teams, and thriving in the future of wealth management.

In this bonus episode, Relevant: NextGen brings together students and young adults for candid conversations about money, careers, and the everyday habits that shape real financial literacy. These voices offer a clear reminder that today’s influence is social, built through shared routines, peer insight, and practical ideas exchanged in real time. 

In this episode of ReleVant, Debbie McGrath sits down with Silken Laumann, 4 time Olympic medalist, author, speaker, and founder of the charity Unsinkable, for a conversation about resilience, relevance, and what it truly means to keep moving forward.

Silken reflects on a life shaped by both extraordinary achievement and profound challenge, from the intensity of Olympic competition to rebuilding after personal setbacks, navigating mental health, and leading with empathy in the public eye. Central to the conversation is a near-death experience that reshaped her perspective entirely: a remote hiking accident in New Zealand where a bee sting triggered an anaphylactic reaction, leading to loss of consciousness, a dramatic rescue, and the stark realization that life can change  or end  in an instant

This is a conversation about leadership, relevance beyond age, and the quiet power of living fully awake to what matters most one moment, one choice, and one story at a time.

In this episode of ReleVant, Debbie McGrath visits West Haven Farms to sit down with Asta Torokvei, an accomplished equestrian and the founder behind a working horse farm built on discipline, care, and long-term thinking.

What begins as a conversation about horses quickly becomes an exploration of leadership, resilience, and the realities behind building a business rooted in passion. Asta shares her journey from competitive riding to managing a complex operation; from breeding and training to team building, risk management, and navigating the unpredictability that comes with working with animals.Together, they unpack what it truly takes to run a farm: the economics, the daily demands, the emotional investment, and the humility required when plans inevitably change. From sustainability and climate considerations to the importance of trust, culture, and adaptability, this conversation reveals how lessons learned in the barn translate far beyond it.This is a conversation about responsibility, patience, and the quiet strength required to build something meaningful.

In this episode of ReleVant, Debbie McGrath sits down with Cari Covent, an accomplished cultural and digital transformation leader and advisor who helps organizations adopt AI and understand it, bridging the gap between innovation and human impact.Cari offers a grounded, accessible way into the world of artificial intelligence, exploring how it can empower rather than replace, simplify rather than overwhelm. Together, they unpack what it means to lead responsibly in a time when technology is rewriting how we live and work.This is a conversation about trust, transformation, and keeping humanity at the heart of innovation.

In this episode of ReleVant, Debbie McGrath sits down with Ehren Cory, CEO of the Canada Infrastructure Bank, to explore what it really takes to build for the long term: trust, vision, and public purpose.Ehren reflects on leading through complexity, balancing innovation and accountability while steering multi-billion-dollar investments that shape Canada’s future. From clean energy and sustainable transit to partnerships that bridge public and private sectors, he shares how leadership grounded in humility and collaboration can move entire systems forward.This is a conversation about purpose, stewardship, and the quiet confidence it takes to build things that endure.

In this episode of ReleVant, Debbie McGrath sits down with Matt Giffen, founder of Bench Brewing Company, a certified B Corp brewery rooted in craft, community, and sustainability.

From a Niagara orchard to a thriving brewery built on integrity and respect for the land, Matt shares what it means to lead with values and  to grow responsibly, support people, and create something that reflects more than profit. He opens up about risk, resilience, and why staying true to purpose can be the boldest move in business.

This conversation explores how authenticity and accountability can shape a company and community.

In this episode of ReleVant, Debbie McGrath sits down with Jennifer Bernard, President and CEO of SickKids Foundation, a leader redefining what it means to pair heart and strategy in healthcare.

Jennifer shares how purpose, precision, and empathy drive real transformation inside one of Canada’s most respected institutions. From the idea of “home as medicine” to her perspective as a Black woman in philanthropy, she unpacks the quiet radicalism of leading with compassion and intent.

This is a conversation about designing impact and how the right mix of mission, innovation, and humanity can reshape entire systems of care.

In the first episode of ReleVant, Debbie McGrath sits down with Dan Slater, an award-winning producer and storyteller whose work bridges creativity, culture, and connection. From indie stages to international screens, Dan shares his unique insights and experiences on how powerful stories are built and why authenticity, courage, and emotion remain the most valuable currencies in entertainment.

Together, they unpack the creative process behind The Undertone, recently acquired by A24, and discuss how storytelling continues to evolve in an era of constant change.

This is a conversation about vision, resilience, and the timeless relevance of a well-told story.