Peggy Van de Plassche

Let’s be honest: Nutella, croissants, éclairs au chocolat… I’m very pro.Unfortunately, my body disagreed.I was prescribed meds for skin and sugar issues: 👉 worked great 👉 messed with my mood (even at microdoses)So I made the least exciting decision possible: 🥗 less sugar 💧 better habits 🚶‍♀️ more movementDid I enjoy it? No. Did I miss chocolate? Intensely.But… it worked. I didn’t need the meds anymore.We live in a world where: 💊 taking a pill is easier than 😴 sleeping well 🏃‍♀️ moving 🚫 saying no to sugar (painful)And yes—sometimes meds are the right answer.But sometimes, small lifestyle shifts go a long way.Fast forward a few months:I still love chocolate 🍫 Just not as a daily default.Small choices. Big impact.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

Imagine you’re in a meeting… 👀Someone says your name… once… twice… five times 😅Locks eye contact like it’s a staring contest 👁️👁️Pauses… for impact… 🎭And delivers a perfectly polished pitch 🎤You’re not listening anymore. You’re thinking: “ah… they read the book.” 📚And to be fair—it works. Until it doesn’t.Because now it just feels… obvious 🤖In this week’s newsletter, I unpack where influence turns into manipulation—and why people can feel it instantly.👉 The tricks aren’t magic anymore ✨ 👉 We’ve all read the same booksWhat’s the most “playbook” move you’ve seen lately? 👇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

Not exactly a popular take.And yet—after two decades working alongside wealth creators, heirs, and power circles, I’ve come to a somewhat uncomfortable conclusion:👉 Wealth solves many problems. But it quietly creates others.Who is actually in your corner—and who is playing a role?What happens when success is always discounted… and failure quietly celebrated?What if your life isn’t entirely your own—even with unlimited means?At what point do you stop being a person… and become an opportunity?We don’t talk about this.Because wealth is supposed to be the end game.But beyond a certain point, it starts to reshape every interaction around you—social, emotional, even existential.Ironically, the “sweet spot” may not be at the top.👉 It might be just below it.Where you have: enough to live well,  but not enough to distort reality. This piece is not anti-wealth. It’s pro-clarity.And maybe… a little uncomfortable.#Leadership #Wealth #Psychology #Power #HumanNature #Success #PerspectivePeggy 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

Talent? Yes. Luck? Absolutely. Timing? More than we’d like to admit.But after spending time with artists like Aline Setton, Luca Soldovieri, Melanie Authier, Vickie Vainionpää—alongside galleries like Olga Korper Gallery and institutions such as the Aga Khan Museum—I’ve started to notice something else.A pattern.Not a formula. Not a guarantee. But a set of behaviours that show up again and again.The artists who make it work financially tend to: Treat their practice like a long-term game  Build real networks (not just visibility)  Communicate and tell compelling stories  Develop a recognizable signature  Embrace the business side of art (without apology)  And yes… make themselves visible In short: they behave like professionals—not just creators.It sounds obvious. It isn’t.Because the romantic narrative of the “pure artist” still lingers… And it quietly sabotages a lot of talent.I talked about what I’m seeing—from the outside looking in— for anyone navigating the intersection of art, market, and ambition.Curious to hear: What do you think actually drives success in today’s art market?#Art #ContemporaryArt #ArtMarket #Artists #Creativity #Professionalism #Collecting #NewsletterPeggy 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

A question that sounds philosophical… but is becoming very operational.We are watching, in real time:→ Companies optimizing for “no employees” → AI used as justification (not always proof) for layoffs → Full-time jobs quietly replaced by part-time, no-benefit roles → Entire workforces rebranded as “independent contractors”Efficient? Yes. Sustainable? I’m not so sure.Because here’s the uncomfortable truth:💰 An economy does not run on billionaires. It runs on stable households.If we erode income stability, purpose, and confidence… who exactly is left to consume?At some point, “efficiency” starts to cannibalize the very system it’s meant to optimize.This is not anti-tech. It’s pro-thinking.👉 What is the role of humans in the economy we are building?Because if the answer becomes: “Optional (except when they need to spend)…”We are not just redesigning work. We are redesigning society.I wrote a piece on this—part reflection, part provocation, part quiet rebellion.Curious to hear your take 👇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

💰 Collecting Art Versus DecoratingI had a small (and slightly uncomfortable) realization recently.I found myself hesitating to openly love certain artworks… simply because they were affordable and not endorsed by the “right” galleries.That pause told me everything.Somewhere along the way, I had started outsourcing my taste to the market.Here’s the truth most people don’t say out loud:👉 The art world operates on two very different logics • Collecting = capital allocation, downside protection, signaling • Decorating = personal enjoyment, emotion, lived experienceBoth are valid. But confusing the two? That’s where things get messy.Because once you do, you risk asking the wrong question: “Is this good art?” …instead of “Do I actually like this?”And the irony?Add a few zeros to the price, place the same piece in a top gallery, and suddenly the narrative changes.Same artwork. Different validation.In this week’s newsletter, I unpack: Why “reputable” often really means “financially validated”  The uncomfortable snobbery (including my own) we rarely admit  And why taking a chance on unknown artists might be the most rational—and enjoyable—move 💭 Maybe the real flex isn’t owning what everyone agrees is valuable… …but knowing what you love before the market tells you.#Art #ArtCollecting #ContemporaryArt #Investing #Taste #CreativeEconomy #PersonalPerspectivePeggy 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

One comment from Timothée Chalamet → outrage, headlines, Oscar speculation.Meanwhile…Leaders in positions of real power say (and do) far worse—with far fewer consequences.Interesting, isn’t it?This isn’t about Chalamet.It’s about the expectations we place on young, successful artists:→ Be talented→ Be famous→ Be insightful→ Be flawlessAll at once. At 25. Or 30. Or 20.Most of them are just that—young.Learning. Figuring it out. In public.And yet, we hold them to a higher standard than CEOs or politicians whose decisions actually shape lives.I wrote a piece on this double standard—and why our outrage might be…misdirected.💭 Maybe the issue isn’t what he said.It’s what we choose to care about.#Leadership #Culture #Media #Reputation #DoubleStandardsPeggy 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 recently interviewed Robb Nelson, CEO and co-founder of Farm Lending Canada, and walked away thinking: why don’t we hear this version of entrepreneurship more often?Robb has built successful businesses for decades, but his philosophy is refreshingly different from the usual founder mythology.Less: “move fast and break things”More: collaborate, test relentlessly, invest your own capital first, share the upside, and build to lastIn our conversation, we also explored a space many investors and operators know too little about: Canadian agriculture financing.Behind the discussion on farmland, succession planning, transition lending and food security was a much bigger theme:some of the best businesses are built quietly, patiently, and with a lot less ego than the market tends to reward.I share more in my latest newsletter, including why Robb’s approach stood out to me and what it says about entrepreneurship, leadership, and building durable businesses.Link in comments.#entrepreneurship #leadership #agriculture #finance #privatecredit #investing #canadaPeggy 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 people are reacting to headlines. Very few are understanding the system. 🌍I recently joined a webinar hosted by FrenchFounders, brilliantly animated by Lucie Duvivier, with Olivier Bariety (Princeps Strategy).What struck me wasn’t just the situation in the Middle East.It was the confusion.Strong opinions. Weak analysis. Noise… everywhere.Quick note 🧭 This reflects the analysis shared by Olivier and his team—deep expertise, real regional experience… but still an interpretation, not absolute truth.Here’s the reality:This is not just a regional conflict. It’s a stress test of the global order.A few things most people are missing 👇• It’s not Sunni vs Shia → it’s a fragmented chessboard • It’s not escalation → it’s pre-emption (nuclear logic ☢️) • It’s not local → it’s also US vs China (energy = power 🌐)And this won’t “resolve” anytime soon ⏳But here’s where it gets very real for business leaders:→ Energy, supply chains, inflation: already moving 📉 → Data centers are now targets 💻 → Cyber is no longer optional 🔐 → Cash is strategy 💰 → Dependency = vulnerability 🔗We are entering a world where:• conflicts are hybrid • alliances are fluid • and stability is… temporaryThe winners won’t be the loudest voices.They’ll be the ones who: understand complexity, think in systems, and prepare early.Because by the time things are clear… it’s usually too late.#geopolitics #strategy #leadership #riskmanagement #futureofworkPeggy 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 was talking with a friend about her daughter’s first job and the toxic colleague she’s already dealing with.Which led us to a strange realization.Work used to be… fun.People went for drinks together. Bosses occasionally picked up the tab. Birthdays, weddings, promotions were celebrated. Colleagues became friends.Yes, there were brown-nosers and professional troublemakers. But somehow the vibe still worked.So what happened?A few suspects:💸 Two decades of relentless cost-cutting that quietly eliminated the social glue of organizations. 🧴 The hypersensitivity Olympics where disagreement is “unsafe” and Bob from accounting becomes “toxic” for asking about year-end. 🏠 Remote work arriving just as office culture had already deteriorated. 🤖 And the freight train of AI, promising efficiency… and possibly a future where everyone does three jobs.Meanwhile companies are puzzled by disengagement and lack of loyalty.Strange.Remove the joy. Remove the community. Remove the perks.…and people stop caring.In my latest podcast I ask a simple question:When did we collectively decide work shouldn’t be enjoyable?And more importantly — how do we bring the fun back?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

Uncomfortable thought?Good.For years, I thought my biggest professional obstacle was incompetence around me.Slower thinkers. Insecure gatekeepers. Political operators.You know the type.What I eventually realized — painfully — is that the real issue wasn’t just them.It was the emotional wound I was bringing into the room.When someone: • Interrupted me • Slowed momentum • Questioned my framingMy nervous system didn’t think “complex organization.”It thought: intentional diminishment.That subtle shift changed my tone. My eyes. My energy.And insecure systems react to intensity.Especially when you’re right.In this week’s newsletter, I unpack:• Why “Safety = Superiority” is a dangerous career equation • How old invalidation shows up in boardrooms • The micro-shifts that move you from dominance to grounded powerYou don’t need to shrink. But you may need to stop letting old battles run new meetings.If this hits a little too close to home… you might want to read it.(And yes — I’m still practicing this myself.)#Leadership #ExecutivePresence #EmotionalIntelligence #CareerGrowthPeggy 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

👗🤖 How ChatGPT Improved My Fashion Style. Or Did It?My sense of style took a very real downturn during the pandemic.Not because I suddenly stopped owning nice things (multiple closets, still standing). Not because I ran out of skincare (I could open a small apothecary). But because I felt… uninspired. A bit at a loss.Then a friend told my husband and I how he used ChatGPT to upgrade his closet: 📸 he photographed everything (including suits in deep retirement) 🧠 asked for a diagnosis ✂️ got ideas like tailoring for a modern cut, changing buttons, what to store, what to give away …plus best colors, glasses, haircut — the whole “AI stylist” package.I didn’t go full inventory mode (I’m not running a warehouse). But the seed was planted.So I tested it in a more realistic way: 🎥 YouTube — but with intent (I research, I don’t scroll) 🎨 ChatGPT — for color analysis (20 seconds, bam… plus very obscure shades I can’t find anywhere) 😬 Then I uploaded a few no-makeup, natural-light photos for hair/skin/makeup advice and learned:My “French girl hair” is… not a strategyMy left profile wins (apparently Bezos has billions, I have eyebrow symmetry)I’m oval-faced (identity shift)I’m not (yet) a facelift candidateA dermatologist appointment was politely suggested (of course)Then I went back to YouTube for body shape advice because… yes, there are limits to what I’m uploading.The real punchline: AI is great at patterns. But it still needs your context, preferences, and critical thinking.It’s a servant. Not a master. Even in fashion.Full story in the newsletter — witty, practical, and mildly humiliating. 👇 Link in comments.#PersonalBrand #AI #ChatGPT #Style #SlowFashionPeggy 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

Everyone is debating AI fluency. Or DEI. Or generational friction.But the real productivity drains I see inside organizations are far less fashionable — and far more costly.1️⃣ Lack of empowerment Rooms full of smart people waiting for permission. Circular meetings. Silence until things blow up.2️⃣ Not connecting the dots Process over purpose. Templates over thinking. “I’m just doing my job.”3️⃣ People completely tapped out Burned-out professionals don’t think long term. They survive short term.And yet… we keep expecting technology to fix it.AI will not solve fear. Dashboards will not create courage. Software will not connect dots.If you care about performance, productivity, and valuation — this is where the real leverage is.New newsletter out. It might make a few synchronized notebook openings slightly uncomfortable.#Leadership #OrganizationalCulture #Productivity #ValueCreationPeggy 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

Integrity is not sexy. It doesn’t trend. It doesn’t sparkle on a résumé or a dating profile.And yet… it’s the one thing you really can’t afford to ignore.In my latest newsletter, I argue that integrity is the most boring value with the highest ROI — whether you’re hiring, dating, choosing friends, clients, or even employers.Because here’s the uncomfortable truth: You can hire brilliant. You can date charming. You can work with “impressive.”But if you skip the integrity check, you may have just signed up for a slow-motion disaster. 💣We all ignore the signals at first: • the “harmless” white lies • the chronic unreliability • the gossip framed as bonding • the small rule-bending that’s apparently no big dealUntil it is.This newsletter is about patterns, not perfection. About pressure-testing integrity before the cost shows up on your balance sheet — emotional, professional, or otherwise.Fair warning: Integrity compounds slowly. Quietly. Almost boringly. But the absence of it? That compounds fast.🧭 Integrity First: The Most Boring Value You Can’t Afford to Ignore 📬 New podcast out now.If you’ve ever thought “something feels off, but I can’t quite put my finger on it” — this one’s for you.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 car would the people in your life be? 🚗Over the past few years, friendship has quietly moved to the top of my personal agenda. Pandemic effect? Age? Life doing what life does? Probably all of the above.We all have circles. First circle: the people who truly have your back. Second, third… and some who shouldn’t even be on the map.After a recent party, I realized a friend had moved from my first circle to my third. And suddenly, a very clear image came to mind: a car.Once I started seeing people through that lens, I couldn’t unsee it.The Antique Italian Convertible: exhilarating… when it works. Mostly drama.The Volvo: deeply reliable, slightly boring, quietly invaluable.The Mini: fun and dependable — the gold standard.The Range Rover / G Wagon: entitlement on wheels.The Ferrari: access, elegance, unforgettable — but rarely parked.The Minivan: no longer a human, now a parent.The Nissan Leaf: morally superior and silently judging you.The Beat-Up Honda Civic: down on luck, still running, somehow.And yes… the White Van. No explanation needed.The exercise isn’t about judging others (well… not only). It’s about being honest with ourselves about who belongs in which circle, and what each relationship actually costs — and gives back.I wrote the full piece as a lighthearted but very real reflection on friendship, boundaries, and energy.And if you’re wondering: I’m personally a mix of Volvo and, hopefully, Mini Cooper. Reliable when it matters. Fun when it counts. Always trying to stay out of the white van category.👉 Full newsletter in the comments. Curious: what car are you?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 innovation started with people — not technology?This week, Dubai quietly did something North America still struggles to do.A Dhs12.8bn expansion of Dubai Silicon Oasis isn’t just another tech park story. It’s a lesson in how to build an innovation ecosystem that actually works — where housing, healthcare, education, transit, and advanced tech are designed together, from day one.In my latest newsletter, I explore: • Why Dubai is putting people first and technology second (on purpose) • What North America gets right — and what it keeps retrofitting too late • Why integrated ecosystems may be the real competitive advantage in the global talent raceThis isn’t about shiny buildings or buzzwords. It’s about systems thinking, long-term capital, and human outcomes.📩 If you’re thinking about innovation, cities, talent, or capital allocation — this one’s for you.#Innovation #FutureOfCities #KnowledgeEconomy #UAE #Leadership #CapitalAllocation #SystemsThinkingPeggy 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

Yes. Five. Minutes.No leggings. No 45-minute commitments. No heavy weights. No “no pain, no gain” theatrics.Just short bursts scattered through the day that actually… happen.I don’t like working out. I like moving. Big difference.This newsletter is about how I stopped fighting my personality, ignored fitness trends, and built a system that: – strengthens my body – doesn’t disgust me – and survives real life, winter, ugly sneakers, and motivation gapsIf exercise has ever felt like a lifestyle you had to join rather than something you could just do — this one’s for you.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 I attended the 2026 Macroeconomic Outlook organized by 100 Women In Finance at Scotiabank—and walked away with one conviction: The conversation was anchored by Rebekah Young, Laura Lau and Nan Chen, CFA, FRM  Global growth is holding (~3.2% in 2025), markets are still up, AI momentum is real—and yet:Job and wage cooling is unmistakableThe disconnect between markets and the real economy is wideningAI is shifting from hype to maintenance capitalCanada sits at a crossroads: invest—or hollow out The mood? Uncomfortably optimistic.No recession, but no margin for complacency. In this week’s newsletter, I break down:Why uncertainty is no longer a phase, but the backdropWhy AI’s biggest winners may not be who you thinkWhy Canada’s next 24 months are criticalPeggy 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

We all know the data by now:Screens are rewiring our brains, shrinking attention spans, and quietly eroding social skills and relationships.Yet family dinners look like a row of people sitting next to each other…scrolling.Parents model presence—or absence.Playgrounds are louder, attention is shorter, and boredom (which kids actually need) has disappeared.And Silicon Valley’s solution?👉 More apps to help us be on social media less.I love the irony.Here’s the thing: I love my phone.Maps. Payments. Music. News. Connection.But during the holidays, my average daily screen time was 19 minutes.Not because of superhuman willpower.Because of ground rules.No doom-scrolling.Paper over screens whenever possible.Designing the environment instead of fighting it.Are you designing your habits—or letting them design you?#attentioneconomy  #digitalwellbeing  #leadership  #presence  #thinkingtime 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

Dinner party. Assigned seating.Luxury objects being passed around.Inventories compared.Photos shown.Colleagues' behaviors discussed—at lengthIf this had been women with handbags, the verdict would have been immediate: vain, shallow, boring 🙄But it wasn’t. It was men. With watches ⌚So suddenly: – it’s not vanity, it’s craftsmanship 🛠️ – not gossip, but “knowing the ecosystem” 🌐 – not posturing, but passionSame behavior. Entirely different intellectual upgrade.No outrage here. No gender war either.Just a quiet observation on how effortlessly we reframe the same signals—depending on who’s sending them 🧠Next time a dinner conversation strikes you as “impressive” or “trivial,” try one experiment: swap the gender.The story usually rewrites itself ✨ #Leadership #Power #genderPeggy 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

🎯 If you set only one career resolution for 2026, make it this.Stop treating LinkedIn like a photo albumAnd start treating it like your own HBR 📖Thought leadership isn’t about posting more.It’s about thinking better — and making that thinking visible 🧠Writing regularly has:sharpened how I listen 👂clarified how I think ✍️elevated the conversations I have 💬and, yes, quietly unlocked career opportunities 🚪Not because I post pictures of where I go —but because I share what I see, what it means, and why it matters.I spoke about this in my latest podcast — why insightful communication may be the most underestimated career lever we have. #ThoughtLeadership #CareerDevelopment #Leadership #ProfessionalGrowth #executivepresence 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

🚧 Career stalled? Before you panic — listen to this.Career slumps don’t mean you made bad choices. More often, they mean the environment shifted, the market moved, expectations drifted, or something quietly stopped fitting.I’ve been through several versions of the career slump — sometimes forced, sometimes chosen, sometimes just confusing — and I’ve tested more remedies than I care to admit.In my latest newsletter, I share what actually helped me regain momentum, without platitudes or manifestation talk:🧭 how to tell whether the issue is macro, personal, or both 🪞 why self-awareness isn’t enough without real feedback 🛠️ what truly moves the needle (and what mostly doesn’t) ✈️ when changing role, organization, or geography is the right move 🔄 why careers move in cycles, not straight lines — despite what LinkedIn suggestsIf any of this feels familiar, enjoy this podcast #CareerTransitions #Leadership #ProfessionalGrowth #ExecutiveLife #ReinventionPeggy 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

Ever feel like you’re managing an overconfident junior analyst — only this one costs $20/month and never sleeps?That’s been my relationship with ChatGPT-5 lately. Brilliant at first glance, charming in tone, but when deadlines hit… it cheerfully tells you everything is “✅ On track” while the deliverables are nowhere to be found.I’ve done the homework — deep-dive courses, optimized prompts, feedback loops tighter than a McKinsey Gantt chart — yet the “deep research” experience remains a mix of brilliance and bafflement.Deadlines? Elastic. Quality? Inconsistent. Tone? Disingenuously confident.So yes, AI is changing how we work — but not always in the ways the hype suggests.💸 The real question: will the technology catch up to its trillion-dollar valuation before the music stops?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 makes something valuable? Its beauty, its rarity… or the story it tells?A few years ago, I met artist Abraham Reyes — heir to the world’s largest natural pearl, the Giga Pearl, appraised at $135 million. But instead of locking it away, he turned his inheritance into art.He uses real gems and wild pearls to create sculptures that question what value really means — in art, in markets, in culture.It reminded me of Marcel Duchamp, who once placed a urinal in a museum and called it art, forcing the world to rethink worth and meaning. Abraham is doing something similar — merging gemology and contemporary art to redefine both.✨ Why it matters: His story isn’t just about pearls. It’s about how innovation disrupts tradition — in art as in finance.🎨 Listen to my latest podcast — “Value, Beauty & Rebellion: When Art Holds Its Own Worth” A reflection on what truly gives things — and ideas — their value.#Art #Innovation #ValueCreation #Culture #Investing #AbrahamReyes #ContemporaryArtYou can explore Abraham’s Art here: abrahamreyes.art | https://www.instagram.com/abrahamreyesartPeggy 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

For years, I was a model student of personal development — from the most structured to the most woo-woo.Therapy. Energy work. Coaching. Yoga. Breathwork. You name it — I did it. And it worked. I’m calmer, more confident, and more grounded because of all that work, not despite it.But here’s the catch: at some point, all that “growth” starts getting in the way of life itself.You go from living to self-improving. From “being” to “fixing.” You start chasing the next workshop instead of applying what you already know.Before my last trip to the Emirates, I was spending 4.5 hours a week with practitioners (plus my daily routines). That was basically my entertainment.Then I paused. For real. And something shifted — I didn’t regress. I integrated. I realized I was already good enough.Like in tennis 🎾 — at some point, you’ve had enough lessons. You can play, have fun, and keep your skills sharp by practicing. But stop playing, and you regress. Keep taking lessons forever, and you never just… play.So maybe the next phase of your growth isn’t another program, teacher, or retreat. Maybe it’s the courage to pause — and just be.👉 Listen to my new podcast for the full story (yes, including the sweat lodge panic attack and the Jean-Claude Van Damme self-defense class 🙃).#PersonalGrowth #Leadership #Wellbeing #Mindfulness #Integration #SelfDevelopment #Balance #TransformationPeggy 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’s the Best Career Advice You’ve Ever Given?Last week, I was speaking at the Club Canadien de Toronto during the Francophone Summit on Finance and Investment 2025. The panel was about Power, Leadership, and Investment: Who Shapes the Finance of Tomorrow?But the moment that stayed with me came from the Q&A. A young woman in the audience asked:“What advice would you give to someone like me starting out in finance?”My co-panelists gave wonderful, practical answers — build a network, find mentors, invest in yourself. All true. All helpful.My answer was different.I told her the most important investment she’ll ever make isn’t in a fund, a skill, or a connection — it’s in her own self-belief.Because sometimes, the real barrier isn’t a glass ceiling above you — it’s the one you’ve built in your own head.I’ve seen (and lived) how self-doubt quietly sabotages careers long before bias or circumstance ever could. The voice that says “you’re not ready,” “you’ll fail,” “they’ll find out.” That’s the one to silence first.So when people ask me for career advice, I don’t start with strategy. I start with psychology.Because the future of leadership — in finance or anywhere else — belongs to those who learn to trust their own potential before anyone else does.👉 Listen to my latest podcast for the full story#Leadership #CareerAdvice #Finance #WomenInFinance #Mindset #SelfBelief #ImposterSyndrome #PensionFunds #Canada #ValueCreationPeggy 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

The most underrated form of personal development? Reading someone else’s life.Not the polished business bios that read like PR exercises. But the real ones — messy, contradictory, deeply human stories of artists, writers, and athletes who fail, doubt, reinvent, and rise again.Reading David Bowie makes you question how far you’d go to reinvent yourself. Jane Birkin teaches you what it takes to reclaim your own narrative. Didion and Babitz expose the eternal tension between discipline and chaos, ambition and authenticity.Sometimes I know the subject — Bowie, Birkin. Sometimes I don’t — Didion, Babitz, Cohen. It doesn’t matter. I always end up learning — about them and about myself.Because biographies aren’t just stories. They’re mirrors. They help us see who we are, who we were, and who we might become.💭 Next time you reach for a self-help book, try a biography instead. You might discover yourself in someone else’s life.👉 Forget Self-Help — Read a Biography InsteadPeggy 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

When I say invest in yourself, I don’t mean another AI course, eMBA, or leadership retreat in the Rockies.I mean literally: invest in your appearance, fitness, and energy.Why? Because ageism is alive and well — for both women and men. Pretending it doesn’t exist won’t make it go away.As a (very honest) friend working at a large bank told me:“I’m doing everything I can to look young. In my group, no one is overweight and no one is above 40.”Scary? Maybe. Realistic? Absolutely.In today’s corporate world, “career longevity” has a very literal dimension: 🧴 Skincare counts. 💇‍♀️ Image matters. 🏋️ Staying fit signals energy, drive, and resilience.You might think this is superficial — and you’d be right. But it’s also real. And ignoring it doesn’t make it go away.So while you’re upgrading your skills, don’t forget to upgrade yourself. Because in the modern workplace, the survival of the fittest is not a metaphor.Listen to my latest podcast for the full take — from ageism to GenAI layoffs and what it really takes to stay in the game 👇#CareerLongevity #Leadership #Ageism #FutureOfWork #PersonalBrand #ProfessionalGrowth #RealityCheck #ValueCreationPeggy 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’ve seen it too many times. New tech emerges — blockchain, crypto, digital transformation — and companies rush headfirst into POCs, MVPs, and pilots… …forgetting to ask the most important question: 👉 Why?AI is no different.During my month in the Emirates, I attended several AI events and heard it all: ✨ AI for Good. AI for the People. AI as an Enabler. Refreshing, compared to the ego-driven “move fast and break things” we so love in North America.But I also met the Evangelists — selling AI as the universal solution (preferably using their services). And the Balanced Evangelists — pragmatic thinkers who remind us that AI without purpose, context, and reasoning is just noise.AI will change how we work — no doubt. But if you don’t know the problem you’re solving, it’s just another hammer in search of a nail.💡 My take? GenAI is a co-worker, not a savior. The winners won’t be those who deploy AI the fastest — but those who think the deepest about why they’re deploying it.Listen to my latest podcast for the full story — from the hype to the reality, and where leaders should really focus 👇#AI #AgenticAI #Leadership #Innovation #ValueCreation #DigitalTransformation #CriticalThinking #StrategyPeggy 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 spent a month in the UAE. And I came back thinking — they’re doing what we in the West keep talking about… but with coherence and conviction.In the Emirates, economic development isn’t an afterthought — it’s a strategy.If you want to access sovereign wealth funds, the rule is simple: 💼 No local office, no money. Capital comes with purpose. You invest in the country, not just from it.The same logic applies to government contracts and SOEs. Public funds are tied to public benefit — jobs, skills, and local growth. Logical, right?Meanwhile in Canada, we often treat economic development as a “nice to have.” That’s real money not circulating in our economy.In the UAE, initiatives like Emiratization aren’t about exclusion. They’re about long-term prosperity — training locals, keeping income at home, building resilience.💡 The takeaway? Economic growth isn’t accidental. It’s engineered — through intention, consistency, and accountability.Listen to my latest podcast for what Canada (and the West) could learn from the Emirates’ playbook on capital, growth, and national strategy 👇 #EconomicDevelopment #Canada #UAE #Policy #SovereignWealth #Investment #Emiratization #ValueCreation #LeadershipPeggy 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

In North America, the first question is usually: “What can you do for me?” In the UAE, it’s more often: “Who are you? What are your values?”That simple difference reshapes everything—hiring, compensation, execution, even how time itself is perceived.👉 Relationships come before résumés. 👉 Compensation is negotiated differently (and turnover is built into the system). 👉 Time runs on a more elastic clock. 👉 Local presence and patience aren’t optional—they’re the ticket to credibility.I’ve pulled my observations together in my latest newsletter: a candid take on why succeeding here requires more than credentials and why complexity isn’t a bug—it’s the feature.If you’re considering expanding to the region or curious about what it takes to thrive professionally in the UAE, this one’s for you.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

✨ One week in Dubai and already noticing patterns in how people actually do business here.Networking feels… different.Meetings in days, not monthsFull attention, not 25 min with an Apple Watch buzzingInvites with no strings attachedExpats who get it — building new lives, new careers, new networksA buoyant economy where expansion (not survival) drives behaviorOf course, there are still the bullshitters, the bait-and-switchers, and the “investment advisors” who really just want to sell you a villa. But the overall vibe? Generous, open, fun.And my BS radar has never been sharper.Oh, and the best networking follow-up so far? Meeting a new friend at… the Butterfly Garden 🦋I unpack all of this (and more) in this week’s pod 👇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

💸 In Dubai, inequality isn’t hidden. It’s right there: Lamborghinis next to labor buses. Nobody pretends it’s sad, nobody calls for change. It simply is. The pecking order is clear, unapologetic, and accepted.😶 In the West, we play a different game. We polish inequality with layers of politeness. We don’t talk about money — it’s “unseemly.” We pretend everyone is equal. And by making inequality an off-limits topic, we protect the status quo. No one complains. No one rocks the boat.But here’s the thing: when an investment professional tells me they have nothing to show after 20 years, or a corporate lawyer admits they won’t be able to retire — even in Portugal — the polite silence cracks. Reality forces its way in.So what’s worse? 👉 A world where inequality is blunt and visible, like in Dubai? 👉 Or a world where inequality is politely swept under the rug, like in Canada, France, or the US?Maybe it’s time we stop smiling over structural inequality — and start talking about it.📩 Full reflections in my new podcast: Peel Back the VeneerPeggy 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’m pressing the reset button: 4 weeks, 2 cities, ~many coffees. Dubai Sep 10–20 → Abu Dhabi Sep 22–Oct 3.Why? Because sometimes it’s riskier to stay put than to move. The UAE’s dynamism is a pull; today’s noise is a push. I’m here to learn fast, meet great people, and map real opportunities in PE/SWF/value creation.What’s inside the newsletter (playbook included): • Join communities early. FrenchFounders, CFA (Emirates), 100 Women in Finance, biz councils = instant lift. • Be in the room. WhatsApp on landing → coffee same week. Momentum follows motion. • Pack a one-pager. Who you are, what you’re exploring, how to help. • Anchor with events. Build the week around 1–2 big ones; book meetings off the back of them. • Follow up same day. Be memorable and useful. • Mindset: one small bite daily > perfect plan someday.Ask: If you’re in Dubai/Abu Dhabi, let’s grab a coffee. Intros to PE/SWF folks (Mubadala/ADIA/ADQ and co.) are hugely appreciated.👉 Listen to the full field guide What’s your best “new market in 30 days” move?#UAE #Dubai #AbuDhabi #PrivateEquity #SovereignWealth #ValueCreation #Networking #Career #Leadership #MENAPeggy 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-proofing your career boils down to 2 moves: 1) Amplify everything AI can’t do (or doesn’t do well). 2) Double-down on your secret sauce.Why now? The IMF estimates ~40% of global jobs are exposed to AI—~60% in advanced economies. If half of what you do is automatable, make the other half unmistakable.🧭 Critical thinking is the operating system. Ask sharper questions, design the analysis, own the judgment. No report should come from an LLM that you didn’t architect and can’t defend.🗣️ Talk > Type. Verbal clarity beats prompts: run tighter meetings, read the room, land the point.🧠 EQ & trust. Decisions people believe in > documents they skim.🛠️ Use Gen + Agentic AI for the rest. Automate the busywork; keep the calls that require context, nuance, and taste.🥡 Your secret sauce (be a category of one). Specific domain edge + geo/language + unusual experiences = differentiation that’s hard to copy.Question: What will you hand to AI this quarter—and what will you make unmistakably human? #Career #Leadership #GenerativeAI #AgenticAI #CriticalThinking #Communication #Networking #ValueCreationPeggy 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

Ever had a perfectly normal coffee turn into a TED Talk on how cannibals run the world? Same. ☕🌀My new newsletter is a field guide to the conspiracy slide—how a chat that starts with “sugar is bad” ends with “the lizard people are late to the meeting.”Inside the piece:The Black-Hole Effect: How five “wellness” videos become ten anti-vax rants and—boom—global cabal. (Scroll = rocket fuel.)Spot the Tells: “You’re being manipulated.” ✅ “I have underground sources.” (Hi, Fred2009$.) ✅ “Mainstream media? Sad.” ✅ When you hear these, you’re entering 🧟‍♀️ territory.My Playbook (tested in the wild):Find one sane island (“Yep, sugar is bad”).Redirect like your life depends on it (cat UTI > cannibals).If it loops back, graceful fade—no debate club, no heroics.Why this matters: Beyond awkward brunches, this is about critical thinking, relationships, and democracy. If the algorithm can hijack smart people, none of us are untouchable.If you’ve navigated one of these conversations, I want your best moves: What actually works without blowing up the friendship?👉 Read the full piece: [link] #Leadership #Communication #CriticalThinking #MediaLiteracy #DigitalWellbeing #RelationshipsPeggy 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

If you know me well, you know my tolerance for nonsense is… minimal. If you don’t know me well, you probably think I’m endlessly calm and kind. Both are true.The problem? We’re living in a world where public headphone-free playlists, table manners (or lack thereof), and casual disrespect have become the new normal.As a Frenchwoman in North America, I was raised with an intricate set of social do’s and don’ts — the kind that makes you remove your coat at precisely the right moment or risk eternal plouc status. But here and now, the rules are… let’s say… more “flexible.”In my latest piece, I explore:Why “I don’t take sh*t from anyone” is the greatest lie of all timeWhen swallowing it is the best move for your own sanityWhy politeness feels like a superpower in a disrespectful worldAnd yes… my neighbor’s fence.Whether you’re zen, perpetually irritated, or somewhere in between, I promise you’ll relate.Do you take sh*t — and admit it? Or pretend you don’t? Let’s be honest in the comments.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

👨‍🔧 “Let Me Talk to Your Husband.” Because apparently, you need a Y chromosome to understand drywall.If I had a dollar for every contractor who said that to me, I’d be sipping rosé in a manicured garden in Monaco—not fending off raccoons on my Toronto patio.But as ridiculous as it sounds, there’s more to this story than just misogyny. It’s also about sales psychology, social conditioning, and the bizarre gender dynamics of home improvement.In this week’s newsletter, I unpack: 💸 Why men are prime targets for upsells (even economists aren’t safe) 🧠 How women became better at asking questions—and dodging BS 🛠️ What really drives that “talk to your husband” reflex 👩‍⚖️ And why being called a Karen doesn’t bother me one bitIt’s part personal rant, part social commentary, and 100% real.👉 Read it here: [insert link] #genderroles #leadership #bias #humour #newsletter #construction #lifelessonsPeggy 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

🚀 From VC to CEO — and Why Founders Are Rethinking DilutionWhat happens when a venture capitalist jumps into the trenches to run one of her portfolio companies?In this week’s podcast & newsletter, I sat down with the brilliant Melissa Widner—CEO of Lighter Capital and former head of NAB Ventures—to talk about: 💡 Why she left VC to become an operator again ⚡️ The rise of revenue-based financing (and how it actually works) 💰 The private credit boom—and what LPs are really looking for right now 🧠 What she wishes she knew as a first-time CEO 🛠️ And why not every startup needs to chase the unicorn pathWhether you're a founder, investor, or just curious about how smarter capital is reshaping the game, this one's packed with insight.👉 Listen here #startups #venturecapital #privatecredit #founders #valuecreation #leadership #capitalraising #saasPeggy 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

Between calendar invites for brunch, soft-circled plans, 20-text back-and-forths, and the ever-popular last-minute “doctor’s appointment” excuse… I’m starting to think we need a project manager just to have lunch.We used to meet at the movies in 1999 with no phones, no iCals, no text confirmations—and somehow, we made it. Today? Getting a friend to show up IRL feels like coordinating a G7 summit.In my latest newsletter, I take a (very real, very funny) look at: ☕️ The brunchers who need invites 📬 The ghost-then-scream catch-uppers 🗓️ The overbooked, undercommitted crew 🚫 And why I now spontaneously text: “Free in the next hour?”👉 If your social life feels like a series of false starts and flaky friends, this one’s for you. And no need to send me a calendar invite to discuss—just show up 😉#ModernLife #SocialFatigue #frriendsandneighbors #friendshipPeggy 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

🚀 From Startup to Global HR Tech — and a Family Move to Dubai What does it take to build a 500-person company, raise three kids, and still prioritize culture over growth-at-all-costs?This week on the podcast, I sat down with Stéphanie Reniers, co-founder and CEO of Gentis, to talk about:💡 The human problem in recruitment — and how Gentis set out to fix it 🤖 Why they built their own HR tech (Wiggli) to give recruiters time back 🧠 How a coaching certification helped her become a better CEO 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 What it’s really like to build a company with your spouse ✈️ And why their family moved from Belgium to Dubai for a better life — not lower taxesOne quote that stuck with me:“You can have the best strategy in the world. But if you don’t have the right people around you—it won’t last.”🔥 Full of nuggets on scaling with purpose, leadership evolution, and building a people-first company in a tech-driven world.📩 Read the full newsletter here: [Insert Link] 🎧 Or tune in to the podcast for the full conversation.#leadership #startuplife #hrtech #dubai #podcast #recruitment #valuecreation #peoplefirstPeggy 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

🚀 Success, Strategy & Staying HumanA friend reached out recently—unhappy in her role and ready to make a move. We spoke about the job market (not great), office politics (they pass), and the uncomfortable truths of ageism and sexism (still real). She left the call with a new perspective.That conversation made me reflect on my own path—and how much of it I’ve shaped by design.Yes, I’ve made mistakes. But I’ve also been strategic: 📍 Choosing high-margin industries 🌎 Moving across geographies for opportunity 🎓 Investing in globally recognized credentials 🔁 Designing optionality into my career 🧭 And—most importantly—not confusing intention with opportunismToo often, I see "strategy" turn into mercenary behavior. Networking not for growth but for gain. Picking charity boards like they’re LinkedIn filters. That’s not strategy—that’s extraction.You can design a meaningful, prosperous, and ethical life. I’ve done it. So did my mom—at 67.👇 Full story in this week’s newsletter. I hope it gives you something to think about.#careerdevelopment #strategy #success #careertransition #purpose #lifedesign #uae #canada #leadership #valuecreationPeggy 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 does it really take to build and scale deep tech across borders? (Hint: It's not just capital or code.)Last week’s event The Humans Behind the Next Wave—co-hosted by La French Tech Toronto, AAGEF Ontario, and CDL Paris—was packed with lived experience and straight talk. No hype, just hard truths.Here are a few takeaways that stuck with me:🔹 Startups are pain. Especially in AI and deep tech. 10+ year journeys with no shortcuts. 🔹 AI is not a strategy. The tech is everywhere—your differentiation needs to be clearer. 🔹 The most exciting breakthroughs are at the intersection of AI, hardware, and science. 🔹 Not all networks are worth it. Choose accelerators and ecosystems intentionally. 🔹 Global ambition requires global focus. Don’t try to be "generally good." Be exceptional at a few key things. 🔹 Big rounds ≠ smart money. Especially when operating costs kill your runway.So many insights came from a conversation that felt like a strategy session for the future.Thank you to the organizers, speakers, and attendees who made the evening so impactful.📩 I wrote a deeper reflection in this week’s newsletter Would love to hear your thoughts—what's resonating in your world right now?#DeepTech #AI #Startups #Innovation #ValueCreation #TechAcrossBorders #FrenchTech #CDL #Strategy #FoundersPeggy 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

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 ResumesTrust 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 HiringSovereign 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 BoomingEspecially 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 CheapSchooling, housing, healthcare... it adds up. Do your homework before assuming you’ll save big.✈️ 5. Builders Thrive HereIf 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 #ValueCreationPeggy 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 #DigitalTransformationPeggy 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 ForumLast 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 #globalmarketsPeggy 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 everWould 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 #integritymattersPeggy 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 WorldI 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 #authorlifePeggy 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