Michael Hyatt
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Michael Hyatt

Leadership | Change and Innovation Visionary

In our rapidly shifting business landscape, Michael Hyatt gives people the tools and insight needed to succeed, inspiring them to face change head-on. Hyatt is one of Canada’s top entrepreneurs — a self-made millionaire who built and sold two highly successful tech firms. Drawing on his experience of leading businesses through crises and change, Hyatt speaks on leadership, change management, innovation, and entrepreneurship. He shows audiences a way forward through an uncertain future using creativity, knowledge, and adaptability.

Hyatt was the CEO and executive chairman of BlueCat, one of the largest private software companies in Canada, which he led since the company’s inception. His leadership philosophy was to focus on strategy and empower his employees to execute. Since selling his company, Hyatt has become an active investor in several start-ups, later-stage businesses, and private equity and venture capital firms. He is also a Founding Partner at the Rotman School of Management’s prestigious Creative Destruction Lab.

Previously a “Dragon” on CBC’s online sensation Next Gen Den, Hyatt is now a weekly business commentator for CBC; the host of “Business Unplanned”, a podcast that offers expert opinions and advice for small businesses navigating the new normal of the pandemic era; and an investor on the hit Spotify podcast, “The Pitch”.

In addition, Hyatt chairs the Hyatt Family Foundation, which focuses on women’s health, critical hospital research, and sponsorship of underprivileged minorities. In recognition of his work, Hyatt was awarded the “Power Partner Award” from the Women of Inspiration Awards for his supportive and innovative work for women in Canada and the developing world. He has also been named one of Canada’s “Top 40 Under 40”.

Business Unplanned: Leadership in a Post-Pandemic World

Let’s face it — it’s been challenging lately, living and working through a worldwide pandemic. But, challenge often travels with “opportunity”, opening up a world of possibility for those ready for it. Are you ready?

Michael Hyatt is one of the countries’ leading entrepreneurs with a wealth of experience in crisis, change, and innovation. Over the past two decades, Hyatt has built and led two successful tech companies, invested in dozens of businesses, and advised industry-leading venture capitalist and private equity firms. He understands the inner workings of operations, especially during a crisis, having been a leader and CEO through the dot-com crash, the banking crisis, and a worldwide pandemic.

Drawing on his experience, and providing a historical perspective on change and innovation, Hyatt inspires audiences to embrace possibility and become the change agents needed to prosper in times of uncertainty. Audiences will leave equipped with the business mindset and tools needed to succeed in a post-pandemic world.

Leading with Grit, Passion, and People

Michael Hyatt left school at age 22. With no money to his name, he became a self-made millionaire just three years later at age 25. While this may seem like the story of someone who got lucky, Hyatt has consistently repeated this success over the past two decades by following the same formula, proving there is a lot more to success than just luck.

In this presentation, Hyatt walks audiences through his business and leadership philosophies that have brought him success time and time again. This includes how to avoid common mistakes that leaders often make, how to accept and embrace failure, the questions you should be asking to get the right answers (not just the answers you want to hear), how to hire people smarter than you and let them excel, how to win in a new demographic shift, how to find the best way for a product’s success, how to lead through crisis and manage change, and more.

Hyatt’s humble beginning and ethos of hard work make him instantly relatable. His upfront and honest talk will inspire audiences to think differently in their business approach to elevate their level of success.

Be Comfortable with Uncomfortable

Michael Hyatt is a mentor and investor in many startups, including the Rotman School of Management Creative Destruction Lab and The Founders Institute. He has built two highly successful tech firms, valued at hundreds of millions of dollars.

What’s his secret to startup success? The first thing Hyatt tells a budding entrepreneur or startup is to “focus”. Do one thing and one thing well. At the same time, you need to learn how to embrace discomfort, pain, and sacrifice. If you become comfortable as an entrepreneur, you might as well be dead.