216 | Hugh Owen | How to Pivot Successfully and Why Entrepreneurs Should Always Strive For Lifelong Learning

Ever wondered how successful entrepreneurs manage to pivot and survive massive economic downturns?  

On today’s show, Hugh Owen, CEO, MacRAE'S and Scott's Directories brings to us his distilled wisdom on persistence and continuous learning. 

Early on in his story, Hugh found himself lacking focus and just drifting through life. However, all this changed when he enrolled in the Student Works Management Program. The two years that he spent here honed his work ethic and introduced him to business at an early age.

After Student Works, he enrolled in the accountant training program at PWC which was admittedly a terrible choice. Hugh quit this program prematurely after eight months and went on to pursue his MBA at The University of Western Ontario. 

Hugh got sucked into the world of business once he discovered how he could make money selling research papers. A publishing agreement with the Canadian Manufacturer’s Association was his first big break, and Hugh rapidly scaled up his print business in the pre-dot com era.

Hugh decided to sell his business and go work for Yellow Pages – a decision that he regrets to this day. Fortunately for him, he was able to purchase his business back at a fraction of the cost after the dot com bubble burst.

Hugh has since managed to successfully pivot from print to digital. He has branched out into digital marketing, and also set up an operational base in India.

You will also learn how Hugh has ensured continuous learning over the years by enrolling in programs at Ivey and Harvard Business School.  

Enjoy!

What You Will Learn In This Show

• How to stand out in a commoditized market
• Importance of continuous and lifelong learning
• Showing grit in the face of adversity
• And so much more…

 

Resources

Student Works 

Chris Thomson LinkedIn

Chris’s Email