From London Boardroom to Vancouver’s Backcountry: A Englishman’s Survival Guide

Part 2 - The flip side of the story …

So, picture this: I’ve gone from the grey-suited, with tie 9-to-7 (who are we kidding? It’s 9-to-9) world of being a British banker becoming a CEO, running a TSX Venture-listed company in Vancouver. You’d think it would be all business as usual—quarterly reports, investor calls, staring at spreadsheets like maps to buried treasure. But no. the work-life balance isn’t just a concept; it’s practically a religion.

Take Fridays, for example. Back in London, Friday is an extension of Thursday and there to the end. Here, "Are you busy?" means “Let’s hit the slopes,” given that it's only 15 minutes from downtown.

It’s as if my Canadian colleagues believe the best way to close a deal is while racing down a black diamond with a coffee in one hand and a contract in the other.

This is where networking groups like WRN (World Referral Network) come in. For a commercial lone-wolf Englishman like me, navigating this laid-backwork ethic is like learning a new language. WRN was a lifeline—a collection of people who’ve balanced beautifully. “Is this a business meeting or a camping trip?” One of the monthly events is even called the “Board meeting,” which issuch fun.

And don’t get me wrong—I’ve come to love it. There’s something brilliant about how integrated work and play have become here. Turns out, you can still be a driven CEO—even when you always have your skis in the car, just in case.

By  Nicolas Jeffery:  CEO / C0 Founder Impresario Partners Inc.