Wes Hall
Request More Info

Wes Hall

"Dragon", CBC's Dragons’ Den | Entrepreneur | Philanthropist

The newest “Dragon” on CBC’s Dragons’ Den, Wes Hall is one of the most influential businesspeople in Canada. The Globe and Mail has called him one of the nation’s “most influential powerbrokers,” Canadian Business magazine named him one of the “most powerful businesspeople”, and Maclean’s magazine ranked him number 18 on their 2021 list of the “50 most powerful people in Canada”. Hall channels his drive, passion, and commitment to offer audiences inspiring and actionable business strategies while empowering them to enact real change.

Hall came from very humble beginnings, growing up in a tin shack in rural Jamaica. Today, he is the founder of Kingsdale Advisors, where he has established himself as the preeminent leader in shareholder advisory services. His clients are some of North America’s biggest names, including Air Canada, Barrick, BHP Billiton, Citigroup, CN, CP, OVINtiv, Goldcorp, Talisman, and Suncor. He has also been sought out to lead some of the highest profile deals and activist campaigns in North America.

Additionally, Hall is the owner of QM Environmental, a leading national environmental and industrial services provider; Titan Supply, a top manufacturer and distributor of rigging and wear products serving industries in the oil and gas, construction, and transportation sectors; and Harbor Club hotel, Curio Collection by Hilton, one of St. Lucia’s premier resorts. He is also an instructor at the Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto where he teaches Black Entrepreneurship and Leadership in Canada, a first-of-its-kind course in North America.

In June 2020, Hall launched Black North Initiative (BNI), which challenges Canadian businesses to end systemic racism head on in a business centric approach. As the founder and executive chairman, Hall and his highly esteemed team of experts are collaboratively improving the lives of millions of black Canadians by opening doors that otherwise would have been shut.

Hall’s success and reputation led him to CBC’s Dragons’ Den. As the first Black Dragon, he aims to create more opportunities for BIPOC entrepreneurs. Hall is also the executive producer of the Dionne Warwick documentary, Don’t Make Me Over, which premiered at the 2021 Toronto International Film Festival, and is the host of the new podcast, Between Us: with Wes Hall, launched in partnership with TorStar group. His memoir, No Bootstraps When You’re Barefoot, will hit bookshelves everywhere in Fall 2022.

In 2021, Hall was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Ontario Chamber of Commerce for his exceptional leadership in business and, in 2022, he received the Canadian Business Leader of the Year Award from the Canadian Chamber of Commerce. He has also received an Honourary Doctorate from the University of Ottawa in June 2021 and the Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson) in November 2021.

Hall sits as a board member of the SickKids Foundation, Pathways to Education, Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), and The Black Academy. He is also a Member of the Board of Governors at Huron University College. In addition, he is the founder and chairman of The Canadian Council of Business Leaders Against Anti-Black Systemic Racism.

The Corporate World Reimagined

Wes Hall’s climb to the top of the corporate ladder is an inspirational one. From growing up in rural Jamaica in a tin shack to founding one of the most successful corporate advisory firms in North America. His success was inspired by his grandmother’s industrious nature and powered by his tireless work ethic and determination. Yet, as Hall climbed the corporate ladder, he noticed that fewer and fewer people looked like him at the top.

Today, Hall is a judge on CBC’s Dragons’ Den and founder of the BlackNorth Initiative, an organization that challenges companies to create new opportunities for Black employees. In this presentation, he not only shares his personal story of success, but reveals concrete steps that leaders and organizations can take to reduce anti-Black systemic barriers, advance POC in the workplace, and foster equitable workplaces.