With a mission to inform, empower, celebrate and advocate for British Columbia's current and aspiring business leaders, BCBusiness go behind the headlines and bring readers face to face with the key issues and people driving business in B.C.
Issue link: http://digital.canadawide.com/i/1508543
OCTOBER 2023 BCBUSINESS.CA 29 BCB: The Board of Trade showcases so many great leaders through different events and conferences. Do any stand out to you as particularly memorable? Bridgitte Anderson: It's really hard to choose one or even two people. We have incredible business leaders on our stage all the time, whether they have a national, interna- tional or provincial profile. We're fortunate to host the best and the brightest. I take something from every one of them across all sectors—enter- tainment, sports, forestry, life sciences, government. BCB: I had a feeling you wouldn't name anyone specific. BA: Well, it would be hard to choose one. In the four years I've been at the Board of Trade, I can think of something from every single speaker; not one particular speaker or event stands out in my mind. I feel fortunate every day. Juggy Sihota: Okay, I've got one. Michelle Obama. I was with my mom. And Bridgitte interviewed her! BA: I didn't include her because that was before my time! I did interview Michelle Obama, but it was a year before I was CEO. I was on the board of directors at the time. It was a professional and personal highlight. JS: It was phenomenal. BCB: What was so memorable about it? Radha Curpen: The vibe in the room, before and after. And I think just the question of "What can you do to elevate the work environment for everybody?" It was really about the energy, the positivity. That positive energy stayed with us for a while. JS: The pride that it was the Board of Trade bringing her here in Vancouver. And the run up to the event, the anticipa- tion, the excitement. It was fully inclusive—everyone was a part of the experience. It was like going to a Prince concert. I like going to concerts a lot and one of the best I've ever been to was Prince in Vancouver, because he brought everybody into his party. It was so much fun—you felt like you were a part of it whether you were by yourself or with 10 people. Michelle Obama had the same level of inclusiveness with the way she engaged with everyone in the room. We were elated when we left. For me, that experience was wonderful. And Bridgitte did a phenom- enal job of interviewing her. INCOMING CHAIR: JUGGY SIHOTA, CHIEF GROWTH OFFICER, TELUS HEALTH