Leaders in Emerging Markets: The DIY spirit, the desire to create what will be and the value of suffering. Ep. 3

There’s something electric about being on the front lines of a new idea. No path laid and no rules written. Leading in this space is a unique practice, not only do you need to be a visionary, you need to be able to do the work and roll with an ever-changing landscape. On this episode of ONE STEP BEYOND, we chat with leaders in two different emerging markets- cannabis and plant-based foods. Our guests, Chris Colohan, creator of Vegan Magic and Eric Gattoni, SVP of Operations at MJardin share their distinct experiences of risk-taking and navigating in uncharted waters and share what they’ve learned along the way.

On this episode we talk about:

• DIY Culture and building an idea into a business
• Demystifying the process and define yourself.
• The challenges involved in dealing with regulatory bodies in a space that doesn’t exist yet.
• Problem solving and getting things done.
• Decision points and taking the leap.
• The value of suffering.
• Advice for the initiator and the early adopter.

About our guests:

Chris Colohan grew up in the DIY punk and hardcore world having played in a handful of acclaimed bands such as Left for Dead, Cursed, Burning Love and Sect. He is a well-known singer, writer and entrepreneur. His company Vegan Magic was established in 2013 and was one of the original vegan companies to enter the market offering products to people who had adopted this diet.

Eric Gattoni is the SVP of Operations for MJardin where he is responsible for multiple cultivation facilities across Canada and the United States.  He has over 10 years of experience building and leading operational teams from 5 to over 1,000 people in the automotive, technology and service industries as well as 5+ years of P&L management experience.

Eric previously served as Vice President, Operations for FirstService Residential, one of Canada’s largest property management companies.  Eric earned his MBA at the Rotman School of Management and his Mechanical Engineering Degree from the University of Windsor

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