E42: Private Equity & Life Lessons with Brent Belzberg

In this special episode of the Unlimited Podcast, Brian welcomes Brent Belzberg, founder and Senior Managing Partner of TorQuest – one of Canada's original private equity firms – to discuss leadership, culture, and the keys to success in both life and business.

Brent has been a supporter and mentor to Brian for almost two decades and we were honoured to have the chance to bring our listeners his story and his wisdom.

Brent founded TorQuest in 2002 after selling Harrowston, Inc., a publicly traded investment fund he started in 1992 to invest in and build businesses. Beyond TorQuest, Brent serves as a Director of Sinai Health System, where he was previously Chair. He is a member of the Investment Advisory Committee at the University of Toronto. His past directorships include CIBC, O&Y REIT, and Four Seasons Hotels. In 2018, he was appointed a Member of the Order of Canada for his work as a business leader and philanthropist. Brent received Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee Medal in 2023 for his significant contribution to Canada and the province of Alberta. Brent received a B.Comm. (Honours) from Queen’s University in 1972 and a J.D. from the University of Toronto in 1975. In 2023, Brent received an honorary Doctorate of Laws (LLD) from Queen’s University.

TorQuest is a private equity firm that focuses on middle-market companies in North America, investing across various industries. The firm collaborates closely with family owners, founders, and management teams, and specializes in entrepreneurship/family succession, corporate carve-outs, recapitalizations, and management buyouts.

Timestamps

0:00 Disclaimer and Intro

3:30 Private Equity & TorQuest

15:16 Success in Private Equity and TorQuest's future

21:02 Brent's outlook on the economy

23:48 How did Brent enter the Private Equity space?

31:49 Culture and Leadership within TorQuest

36:41 Successful partnerships & leadership traits

40:54 Brent's advice for entrepreneurs

48:29 Philanthropy & Brent's legacy

54:10 If Brent could do anything, what would it be?