A Conversation With Wes Hall

Che had the opportunity and privilege to speak to Wes Hall, the newest Dragon on Dragon's Den on Let's Talk today. Wes is an established innovator, entrepreneur, and philanthropist. As Executive Chairman and Founder of Kingsdale Advisors, he has been repeatedly named one of Canada's most influential people by The Globe and Mail, Canadian Business, Toronto Life and Maclean's. He is also the owner of QM Environmental, Titan Supply, Founder and Executive Chairman of Black North Initiative, an organization dedicated to ending anti-black systemic racism in business and opening doors for Black Canadians. He shared what it was like growing up in a tin shack in St. Thomas, Jamaica, being raised by his grandmother in his formative years and then living on the streets at the age of thirteen to escape the abuse of his mother before coming to Canada at the age of sixteen to live with his father. He has a picture of the shack he grew up in sitting on his desk, and he shares stories about grandmother Julia Vassel, a woman of tremendous fortitude and strength and how she inspires to this day. Julia Vassel raised fourteen grandchildren in a tin shack while working on sugar cane plantations. Wes has a harrowing story that takes you from the streets of St Thomas, Jamaica, to the suburbs of Toronto, to a job as a chicken catcher, to an inner-city security guard, to the corner office on Bay Street looking over the city. In addition, you can find Wes on Dragon's Den, a Canadian Television Reality show -based on the internationally franchised Dragon's Den. In this franchise, entrepreneurs take a chance and pitch their startups to a panel of venture capitalists, hoping that they will get funding. Take a listen, follow the Let's Talk Podcast and share the show. -- Connect with Che: https://coachchemarville.com/