In today’s episode we are joined by Mr. Peter McCann, a Management Consultant, an author of two business books, and now Advisor to the Rector at Tashkent Chemical Technologies Institute. Peter has over 30 years of experience in consulting small and large businesses in the USA & Canada, as well as taught and lectured in Finland, Germany, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan.

Peter shares his firsthand experience in establishing his own business and new professional and social life in Central Asia, education reforms in Uzbekistan and large-scale projects in partnership with the world leaders in vocational training. How will applying the best international practices address the core challenges in education? What opportunities does this tremendous transformation open for Canada-Uzbekistan cooperation?

Related links to this episode:

Tashkent Chemical-Technological Institute

SAIT

'Strategy & Business Planning of Privately Held Companies' book by Peter McCann

'Turnarounds: Brains, Guts & Stamina' book by Peter McCann

Timeline:

00:40 – Introducing Peter McCann

1:40 – Radical transformation of the Tashkent Chemical Technologies Institute (TCTI)

7:30 – Growing up in Ottawa's rural northwest

9:20 – First career breakthroughs

12:32 – Turnarounds and Consultancy practice

13:42 – Early steps towards Kazakhstan in 1998

16:28 – Aftermath of moving to Central Asia

21:55 – Meeting your better half and strengthening family bonds

24:25 – Uzbek progress and hard work

25:07 – Partnership with SAIT – the World Leaders in vocational training

27:45 – “The LEADER” Project from Ivey Business School in TCTI

30:03 – Life lessons taken from Judo

33:50 – What made Mr.Peter McCann a leader?

35:35 – What does the future hold for Peter McCann?

36:49 – Closing

Icebreakers is produced by CECC, an independent non-profit organization that promotes bilateral trade and investment between Canada and Eurasia. www.canadaeurasia.com