The Interview:

BBB: Hi Peter. When People ask who is Peter Espig…what would you say to them?

PETER ESPIG: I would say that I am a person that has been blessed with a multi-cultural upbringing by parents that instilled hard work ethics.  I am also fortunate to be athletically inclined and stubborn with regards to accepting any form of limitation, which has allowed me to overachieve academically and in business.  Those who know me would generally comment that I am a stable intellect who is a VERY sore loser.

BBB: Why did you choose Vancouver to live and do business?

PETER ESPIG: My wife and I chose to live in Canada in order to enable our children to learn English, as both boys speak Japanese as their native tongue. In hindsight it is clear that it was part of God’s plan have us move to Canada in order to benefit our boys’ education and expand my career; however I do believe it was my wife who preferred Vancouver to Regina.

BBB: What is the most important decisions you make as a leader of your organization?

PETER ESPIG: I don’t believe that any leader can have one or two “most important decisions” but can provide leadership and direction to maneuver through increasingly volatile business environments. I would say that most management can take a company to the 80% level; however, a leader is one that can actually lead a business by combining all available tools to a point to fruition. This is clearly evident in our local mining sector.I pride myself on the ability to pull it all together and “close” an accretive transaction.

BBB: What saying or thought has meant a lot to you and is a nugget that you would not mind sharing with others?

PETER ESPIG: I have several, but I like the following:

• “You never get what you deserve but what you negotiate.”  That said, it is just as important to not overly focus on entrance negotiations with regards to M&A because success is recognized at exit;
  
• I have modified the term “think out of the box” to “think out of the border.”  We live in a global economy and I believe that those capable of thinking beyond local geographic borders, essentially understanding potential cross-border demand / usage and customs, can better succeed.

BBB: When did that “ahaa” moment happen in respects to your relationship with God?

PETER ESPIG: While working at Goldman Sachs a group of us would often contemplate the meaning of our existence and began creating a model calculating various mathematical probabilities of mankind truly originating from evolution. When we moved to Singapore the only school available was the International Christian School; God definitely had a plan. Rather than an “ahaa moment” I would describe my path to becoming a Christian as a “well thought out realization.”  I am just as please to know that my wife is taking the journey with me.

BBB: Can you name a person who has had a tremendous impact on you as a leader? Maybe someone who has been a mentor to you? Why and how did this person impact your life?

PETER ESPIG: Obviously I would say my father had a huge impact on me.  He is one of the most intelligent and hardworking individuals that I have ever known, but as an Austrian immigrant welder nobody provided him the opportunities he afforded me.  As I get older I have truly come to comprehend the sacrifices he did for my sister and I.

I the business world I have been blessed with great mentors, including: Robert Fallon, Mark McGoldrick, David Shen, Toshiki Saito, Wataru Mizoguchi, Petros Pappas and Nobel Prize winner Joseph Stiglitz. I would say that all of them have had various important impacts.

BBB: What is the biggest challenge facing leaders today?

PETER ESPIG: For Vancouver I would say the biggest challenge is coping with “globalization of our local market.”

Having done business for over 23 years in Asia, I often witness local leaders error on effective overseas capital raising, product sales and M&A. With technology and mining companies the confusion is often reciprocal, especially with regards to junior or non-multinational companies.  Leaders need to not only understand local supply and demand, but increasingly require savvy in international markets.   Ironically, Vancouver maybe the most multi-cultural business environment globally, yet cultures have not melted together.

BBB: What are you doing to ensure you continue to grow and develop as a leader?

PETER ESPIG: No one can ensure success, but everyone has the ability to guarantee effort and desire to learn.  What excites me the most about business is that I am always learning and growing as an individual, which can allow me to become a better leader. As a leader one can never be afraid to listen and follow because leveraging other skill sets can only augment the team.  Warren Buffet once said “I am happiest when I am the dumbest man in the room” but we all know the s a leader that clearly thinks “outside the borders.”

The Interview:

BBB: Hi Felicia. When People ask who is Felicia Lee what would you say to them?

FELICIA LEE: I am…

• A cheerleader for entrepreneurs
• An advocate for people to go after their dreams, desires, ambition in life.
• A mother to two beautiful girls (ages 5 & 3); intriguing to be a mom and watch them grow.  There is a saying…. the days are long but the years are short…that is the case they grow up too fast but enjoying every moment.
• A child of God
  

BBB: What is it that makes you tick. What is your passion in life?

FELICIA LEE: Helping and learning. I love school and learning…..it is still a learning journey for me in business and certainly in my walk with God. I’m passionate in supporting others to learn and to grow. Whether in my business or life as a mom I always have this passion for learning and growing and discovery.

BBB: What are a few resources you would recommend to someone looking to gain insight into becoming a better leader?

FELICIA LEE: As a leader…especially in Vancouver they’re amazing resources for entrepreneurs, and in professional development. Here are some suggestions…

• Don’t do this on your own.  If you are going to be a leader make sure that you are plugging in, meeting with others, there are a lot of associations.
• If you a female entrepreneur there are many amazing resources in our city. I am a big fan of forum of women entrepreneurs, women’s enterprise center.
• Whichever industry you are in, there is something out there to help you with your journey.
• Get plugged into other members, other groups to help you on this journey

BBB: What is one characteristic you believe every leader should possess?

FELICIA LEE: Hard to point to one…ok…two.(laughter).

• Great leaders that I have met have two characteristics that I am drawn to….humility and love.
• Jesus himself offered a great example just as a leader it is not about you being authoritative over your followers, it is about servant leadership.
• So have the capacity to love those around you…that makes a leader great to follow because you know in that in their core they care love and support people they are surrounded by.

BBB: What advise would you give someone going into a leadership position for the first time?

FELICIA LEE: It is exciting to become a leader for the first time but also nerve racking because all on a sudden God has trusted you with responsibilities that may contain new tasks to become great at. My advice is…

• In addition to continuing to develop your skills as a leader, continue to work on developing  character.
• Leadership is much more than knowing how to lead or reading leadership books and  cast visions…character is also important.
• Especially for first time leader, it can become a lonely journey…especially if promoted into a leadership position you don’t have a group of people that you can confide in so it is important for leaders to plug in with other leaders and  join peer groups where you can share your burdens.
• Have a great mentor…they can help you develop.