September 22, 2020
Episode #98 –Florent Thevenin – Connector, Communicator & Enthusiastic Promoter
Lead the life that you find meaningful.” – Florent Thevenin
- Connect with Florent Thevenin LinkedIn Facebook Twitter
- Selected Links & People Mentioned in this Episode
- TheFutureEconomy.ca
- Enerkem
- Elon Musk
- Richard Branson
- Genome Canada
- TheFutureEconomy.ca COVID-19 Rebound Series
- Michael Crothers Shell Canada
- CBSR – Do Business Like a Canadian campaign
- Invest in Canada
- REIN
- Losing My Virginity by Richard Branson
- The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Steven R. Covey
- The Polymath by Waqas Ahmed
- Connect with REIN Canada
- REIN Canada
- [email protected]
- Show Notes
- [02:08] Patrick introduces his next guest Florent Thevenin.
- [03:55] Flo and Patrick get rockin’ with how they met, Flo’s heritage, what it is he does and the global lens through which he feels fortunate to see.
- [10:25] Flo describes his multi-lingual background and how he came to learn them all.
- [11:47] Flo explains what TheFutureEconomy.ca is, their key topics and the basis of its platform. Building a narrative around what Canada is, what it can be and how do we get there? And who needs to be there?
- [17:35] Patrick and Flo have an in-depth discussion around the visible division in Canada from west to east, and from province to province in some cases. Flo shares his own views about decentralization along with what he hears from business leaders in the interviews he conducts. By and large they truly want to do business across the country.
- [25:41] With the example of a Montreal based waste management company going to Edmonton as its first test site, Flo illustrates how the business community can rise above the political story, to unify the country.
- [27:00] Patrick gives a shout out to Edmonton as a global leader in waste management followed by Flo’s shout out to Saskatchewan as a world leader in carbon capture and sequestration.
- [28:12] Observations of the differences that exist between entrepreneurs and non-entrepreneurs, capitalism and socialism. Flo sees opportunity for that conversation to open and possibly strike a balance through his work and conversations with TheFutureEconomy.ca. The pendulum often tends to swing and overshoot as we calibrate to bring together the two sides towards solutions.
- [36:03] Patrick talks about entrepreneurship, immigration as it relates to rental housing providers and the cornerstone of REIN’s training: treat each investment like a business.
- [39:06] Being an entrepreneur takes on many forms and sizes. Flo talks about Small and Mid-size Enterprise (SMEs), the important economic impact of this sector and the (mis)perceptions of entrepreneurial life.
- [43:05] Flo offers his view of generating an entrepreneurial culture within our school system as early as kindergarten with an aim to encourage imagination, creativity, and possibility.
- [47:11] Through his conversations with TheFutureEconomy.ca, Flo observes the commonalities that thread through business leaders and entrepreneurs of today, particularly in the current state of things. Resilience: adapting to uncertainty (which has always existed), rising to challenges to see opportunity; community: support networks, outreach; and at the centre of all decisions: people.
- [57:15] Before he deep dives into his background, Florent talks about his impression of important and positive Canadian values and gives a shout out to Canadian Business for Social Responsibility (CBSR) and Invest in Canada.
- [62:19] Back on the Flo Train, Florent talks about his father’s journey later in life which leads into a conversation about redefining the word success, and the value that comes with connecting what we do with being of meaningful contribution.
- [67:00] While neither of his parents may appear to be traditional entrepreneurs, their actions and openness to explore new worlds and perspectives possess those qualities that would later influence Flo’s path. Flo goes on to talk about his younger years – siblings, school – and the values he drew from his experiences.
- [71:42] Growing up in France, together with the cultural diversity within his re-composed family, gave Flo freedom to expand and reach beyond self-imagined limitations. With gratitude to his mother, Flo seized the opportunity to study in Holland and extend his travels around the world.
- [75:42] Considerations for TheFutureEconomy.ca may include promoting national tourism to highlight the rich and vast multi-culturalism within Canada. Additionally, Flo underscores the importance, when traveling to other countries, to learn even a few words and phrases as a show of respect (and finding a cold beer.)
- [78:06] A five-year picture of what is in store for TheFutureEconomy.ca may not be predictable, but in the present moment Flo shares their gratitude, resilience, and aspirations to continue the conversation for building and promoting the value that Canada brings to the world stage.
- [83:44] On Florent’s prompt, Patrick talks about the contribution REIN has been and continues to be in the conversation of real estate as a vehicle to secure one’s financial future.
- [86:16] Flo emphasizes the congruency of their mandate and vision with REIN’s. It is not singular nor is it a self-centred agenda. TheFutureEconomy.ca is about the promotion of future leaders, innovators, and entrepreneurs from all of Canada’s cultures towards a better economic future. The hub of support from their sponsors and partners has been critical and invaluable.
- [88:24] Let’s slow the roll into Rapid Fire: three books with great impact; favourite inspirational quote; alternate profession; room-desk-car; too many good tunes to choose just one; favourite movie; favourite swear word en français; Flo’s question for Patrick.
- [92:12] Florent’s gratitude. <
