2016-17 LOT Graduation and New Student Orientation

Charles Chang

Power and influence — everyone wants it, but few have it.

Join us on Sept. 11 as Charles Chang, Founder of Vega, shares insights on how to become a successful entrepreneur and the skills that make entrepreneurs extraordinary.

This event marks the first-ever combined LOT Graduation and New Student Orientation, which kicks off the 19th year of our Leaders of Tomorrow mentorship program.

Simply put, this is an event not to be missed for LOT students and mentors past and present!

Graduates
Why you need to attend:

  • Learn how to gain interpersonal and organizational power and influence from one of North America's most accomplished business leaders
  • Connect with established and emerging leaders from across Greater Vancouver during this highly social and engaging evening
  • Celebrate the conclusion of the 2016-17 LOT program

New Students
Why you need to attend:

  • Meet your student or mentor for the first time
  • Gain insights from past program participants about how to best engage in LOT
  • Meet established and emerging leaders from across Greater Vancouver.
  • Receive a free corporate headshot

About the speaker:

Prior to starting Lyra Growth Partners in September 2015, (Charles' own personal investment fund) Charles was the President and Founder of Vega, a company he started from scratch from his basement in 2004. Financed by his life savings, a second mortgage on his house and four credit cards, Charles built Vega to become an iconic lifestyle brand of clean, plant-based nutritional products, sold in over 20,000 stores across North America.

Honoring a triple bottom line approach to business, Vega and Charles have received many awards, including: Profit 100 Fastest Growing Companies, Best Workplaces, BIV 40 Under 40, Best Managed Companies and E&Y Entrepreneur of the Year.

In August 2015, Charles led the sale of Vega to White Wave Foods for US$550 million cash. Charles is proud that corporate headquarters have remained in Vancouver and Vega's employees continue to run the company. As one door closes, another opens and so Lyra was born: The constellation in which Vega was its brightest star seeks fresh, young stars looking to shine brighter and reach further.

Charles lives with his family in Vancouver, BC and is an active member of Young Presidents Organization (YPO), an avid mountain biker, golfer, skier and Whistlerite wannabe.

Attention Graduates:

For those engaged in the 2016-17 Leaders of Tomorrow Program (students, mentors, partners, and alumni) there will be a brief awards presentation prior to Charles Chang's presentation. LOT will present awards for Mentee of the Year, Mentor of the Year, and Committee Member of the Year. Graduation Certificates will be available for pickup following the event.

Please note: This event is limited to students, mentors, sponsors and alumni of the Leaders of Tomorrow (LOT) Mentorship Program. If you have difficulty registering online or have questions about the LOT program, please email programs@boardoftrade.com.

Platinum Program Partner:
Gold Program Partners:
London Drugs
 
SFU Beedie
 
Silver Program Partners:
https://www.bchydro.com/index.html
https://www.bccpa.ca/
http://www.citywideprint.com/
https://www.douglascollege.ca/
http://www.kpu.ca/
http://www.sauder.ubc.ca/
http://www.scotiabank.com/ca/en/0,0,2,00.html
http://www.tricitieschamber.com/
Student Champion Sponsor:
This event is presented by the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade's Leaders of Tomorrow (LOT) program, our mentorship program that connects top post-secondary students with leading industry professionals. Launched in 1999, LOT is recognized as the premier mentorship program in British Columbia. Based on the pillars of mentorship, leadership, networking, and volunteerism, LOT candidates go through a competitive and rigorous selection process to experience a year of accelerated professional and personal growth. Discover more.