🚀 Success, Strategy & Staying Human

A friend reached out recently—unhappy in her role and ready to make a move. We spoke about the job market (not great), office politics (they pass), and the uncomfortable truths of ageism and sexism (still real). She left the call with a new perspective.

That conversation made me reflect on my own path—and how much of it I’ve shaped by design.

Yes, I’ve made mistakes. But I’ve also been strategic:
📍 Choosing high-margin industries
🌎 Moving across geographies for opportunity
🎓 Investing in globally recognized credentials
🔁 Designing optionality into my career
🧭 And—most importantly—not confusing intention with opportunism

Too often, I see "strategy" turn into mercenary behavior. Networking not for growth but for gain. Picking charity boards like they’re LinkedIn filters. That’s not strategy—that’s extraction.

You can design a meaningful, prosperous, and ethical life. I’ve done it. So did my mom—at 67.

👇 Full story in this week’s newsletter. I hope it gives you something to think about.

#careerdevelopment #strategy #success #careertransition #purpose #lifedesign #uae #canada #leadership #valuecreation

Peggy Van de Plassche is a value creation strategist and senior advisor with over 20 years of experience in private equity, financial services, healthcare, and technology. She works with investment firms, boards, and C-suite leaders to accelerate portfolio company performance, drive operational transformation, and unlock long-term value. Peggy specializes in the execution of complex value creation plans—spanning capital allocation, digital enablement, transaction advisory, and leadership alignment. Her work consistently bridges strategy and implementation, helping investors and operators maximize EBITDA and enterprise value. A founding board member of Invest in Canada, she also brings deep expertise in public-private partnerships and institutional capital deployment—critical levers for competitive advantage in today’s global landscape. Her clients have included BMO, CI Financial, HOOPP, OMERS, GreenShield Canada, Nicola Wealth, and Power Financial. Learn more at peggyvandeplassche.com.

#privateequity #privatemarkets #alternativeinvestments #investing #investments #invest #venturecapital #investor #entrepreneur #digitaltransformation #ai #exit #tech #technology #finance #financialservices #healthcare