Steve Young is the recipient of the 2025 International Distinguished Entrepreneur Award (IDEA), the highest honour given by The Associates of the Asper School of Business and the University of Manitoba.

This May, Young will share his journey with students here on campus at the IDEATE Student Presentation, sponsored by Princess Auto and held at the Desautels Concert Hall. Invitations are extended to UM students and high school students from across Manitoba.

An inspiration for business students and more

Bruno Silvestre, Dean of the Asper School of Business and CPA Manitoba Chair in Business Leadership, expresses the significance of the annual IDEATE Student Presentation and the excitement for Young’s arrival.

“Here at the Asper School, we train students to thrive in business and contribute to the social and economic future of Manitoba. As UM’s connection to the business community, the Asper School is proud to offer all students the opportunity to connect with and learn from real business leaders.”

“We are honoured to welcome Steve Young to our School and host him for this exclusive event made possible by the generous support of The Associates of the Asper School of Business” says Dean Silvestre. “I am excited to learn from Mr. Young’s storied career and commitment to giving back, and I can’t wait to hear the questions and curiosity from a room full of students.”

A career in making plays, giving back, and starting up

Young is the Co-Founder, Chairman, and Managing Partner of Huntsman Gay Global Capital (HGGC), a values-driven, partnership investment firm. He is also the Founder and Chair of the Forever Young Foundation.

Young’s journey from record-breaking student athlete and award-winning NFL quarterback to influential philanthropist and entrepreneur comes with a numerous accolades and achievements.

Completing a fifteen-year NFL career as the quarterback in 1999 with the San Francisco 49ers, Young is a Super Bowl MVP and NFL Hall of Fame inductee. Today, he plays a leading role at HGGC, which has over $8B under management, and he has raised millions for various philanthropic endeavours including the Forever Young Foundation which he has founded.

The Foundation provides millions of dollars annually, supporting primarily mental health awareness and assistance for children and adolescents. Young is also the broadcast host for the Children’s Miracle Network and director on the boards of the Capital Impact Foundation and the Workday Foundation.

An opportunity to meet in person

The 2025 IDEATE Student Presentation invites students to bring their curiosity and questions to the UM on May 21, 2025, to learn from Young’s experiences.

Wondering how team spirit runs through business, sport, and giving? Curious as to how launching a business differs from launching a spiral? Seeking inspiration for career stories not yet written?  

Join the Asper School of Business and The Associates this May to ask questions, hear from Young himself, connect with business leaders and faculty, and enjoy a complimentary continental breakfast.

Event Information

IDEATE Student Presentation with Steve Young

May 21, 2025

9:00 a.m. – Doors open

10:00 a.m. – Program begins

Desautels Concert Hall, 150 Dafoe Rd W, University of Manitoba

• Please register for the IDEATE Student Presentation
• Continental breakfast will be served.

Recognizing the best in entrepreneurship for over four decades

Since 1984, The Associates of the Asper School of Business have presented the International Distinguished Entrepreneur Award (IDEA) to illustrious business leaders who have achieved international stature, outstanding entrepreneurial success and have made an exemplary global contribution. IDEA is an internationally recognized, prestigious honour.

Steve Young will be presented with the award at the 41^st IDEA dinner on May 21, 2025, in Winnipeg at the RBC Convention Centre.

A remarkable combination of character, judgement and athletic ability combined with a will to succeed in making the world a better place makes Steve Young a natural pick as the Associates 2025 International Distinguished Entrepreneur Award recipient”. Says IDEA Chair, Paul Soubry and Asper Alumnus.

RBC is IDEA’s platinum partner, celebrating entrepreneurial excellence through the IDEA celebration each year. 

Read more about Young’s remarkable achievements in the official IDEA 2025 announcement.

Young, a decorated student-athlete, an NFL Hall of Fame quarterback, Co-founder and Chairman of private equity firm Hunstman Gay Global Capital (HGGC) and Founder and Chair of the Forever Young Foundation was chosen as an exceptional entrepreneur combining athletic excellence, business success and philanthropic leadership.

If Super Bowl MVP and NFL Hall of Fame inductee aren’t enough, 2025 IDEA recipient Young has torn up the business field as Co-founder and Chairman of HGGC, a private equity firm with over $8 billion under management. In addition to breaking countless NCAA and NFL records, launching a successful private equity firm, he has raised millions for numerous philanthropic endeavors.

“IDEA Co-Chair Ash Modha [BA/98], Co-founder and CEO Mondetta, and I had the opportunity recently to sit down with Steve and what struck us most was how he embodies and personifies all of the hallmarks of an incredible leader and very special person. The Associates are about connecting the world’s greatest entrepreneurs and tapping into their life experience to share and inspire our current business community along with the next generation of leaders in Manitoba,” says Paul Soubry [BComms(Hons)/84] NFI Group Inc. President and CEO, and Chair of IDEA. “With all Steve has accomplished, we were impressed by how humble he was. He is a unicorn – an exceptional athlete, a successful business leader and yet what he seems most proud of is the impact he has and can make for his community and the world.”

Young broke 13 NCAA college football records and was recognized as one of the top five student athletes in the United States. He went on to become a Hall of Fame NFL quarterback who dedicated over fifteen years to professional football, predominantly with the San Francisco 49ers winning three Super Bowls and earning seven Pro Bowl selections. He earned numerous accolades, including being named the Most Valuable Player of Super Bowl XXIX and receiving the NFL’s Most Valuable Player awards in 1992 and 1994. He held the record for the highest quarterback rating in NFL history and remains the only quarterback to clinch four consecutive NFL passing titles.

Following his football career, Young transitioned into work as an ESPN analyst and a best-selling author. He evolved again moving into the world of private equity co-founding HGGC Capital, establishing himself as a notable business leader. He also founded and currently Chairs the Forever Young Foundation, an organization involved in supporting children’s charities globally. He is a former International Spokesperson for the Children’s Miracle Network, where more than a billion dollars has been raised to aid children’s hospitals worldwide.

“Imagine scoring the game winning touchdown in every aspect of life – from sport to business to community. Steve Young doesn’t need to imagine it. He lives it,” shares RBC Regional President Kim Ulmer and IDEA 2025 Platinum Partner. “Whether navigating the gridiron, negotiating financial markets, or exploring how to make this world a better place, Steve Young has done so with an excellence, enterprising spirit and a compassionate heart.”

“We are honoured that Steve Young will be on our campus. From a student athlete, a champion in sports to becoming a champion for others in business and philanthropy, he continues to inspire people on and off the field,” says Michael Benarroch, UM President and Vice-Chancellor.

IDEA 2025 will take place on May 21, 2025, at the RBC Convention Centre in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

About the Associates at the Asper School of Business:

The Associates are proud leaders, innovators and entrepreneurs moving the Manitoba economy forward. Comprising 370 senior executives, the Associates have been a driving force since 1982, advancing business education at the I.H. Asper School of Business. The Asper students are linked to the business community through mentorship programs, ongoing networking events and philanthropy. Giving back to the Asper School of Business and business community are the hallmark attributes of the Associates.    ‌

Gerry Price, 2024 International Distinguished Entrepreneur Award (IDEA) recipient

The annual IDEA Student Presentation, hosted by the Asper School of Business and sponsored by The Associates, is a special event that brings remarkable award recipients to speak with students directly, recounting career success, challenges and stories. Or, as Price himself described it “lessons learned on the path to success.”

After an engaging presentation of Price’s journey from the beginnings of the company to North American expansion and becoming a leader in the market, students had the floor to ask about encouraging innovation, economic growth in a competitive landscape and why Price Industries’ home office lives right here in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

To the last, Price responded, “it’s my home. We support out home.”

He shared the tenets of the Price Way—how he does business—emphasizing that innovation is fundamental, service comes first and people come before profit. “Business is wealth creation where everyone—customers, employees, communities—wins,” he explained.

Above all, he advised students to balance that responsibility to with an unwavering commitment to innovation.

“Don’t shy away from the challenges that might cause a setback. It’s in the setback, the stumble, that you learn. The lessons learned aren’t at the end of the path; they’re on the path,” he said.

As the 2024 IDEA recipient, Price was selected for his impressive business achievements, dedication to philanthropy and steadfast support of student success at the Asper School of Business, the Price Faculty of Engineering and the University of Manitoba.

This year, the fortieth IDEA celebration, is marked by a special focus on the Price Student-Managed Investment Fund (PSMIF). The fund is part of an important campaign to raise $5M to support student success and experiential learning at Asper—an initiative that will have an immediate and lasting impact on students.

Through the PSMIF, Asper students will have the chance to put their knowledge into practice, gaining hands-on investment experience that will prepare them for career success. They will have the opportunity to network with accomplished alumni and industry leaders through the fund’s Board of Directors and Advisory Committee.

Beyond the experience of managing the fund, students benefit from the fund’s distributions, with 4% of the asset value reinvested in the Asper School of Business and going toward additional experiential learning opportunities, scholarships, bursaries and improvements to facilities.

Says Bruno Silvestre, Dean of the Asper School of Business, “Today and for years to come, investments in the Price Student-Managed Investment Fund will have a lasting and transformative impact on our students, on the province and the country as we train business leaders of the future. A gift to the fund is an amazing tribute to its namesake, Dr. Gerry Price. As Gerry himself said in his presentation: ‘Business should be for the greater good.’”

Whether in prestigious events and rooms of over 1,600 of Manitoba’s top business executives, to a packed classroom full of 200 eager students, success stories come from connecting and building pathways to success for the next generation, a mission that the Asper School of Business, The Associates and the 2024 IDEA recipient Gerry Price all support.

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Learn more about supporting experiential learning at the Asper School of Business through the Price Student-Managed Investment Fund here.

The two words first spoken by those who dare to dream and then pursue it with determination and imagination. 

They are the trailblazers, innovators, and idea generators who lead from the front and leave the world behind them forever changed.

The International Distinguished Entrepreneur Award (IDEA) is awarded annually by The Associates of the Asper School of Business at the University of Manitoba. Leaders from across Canada and around the world gather in Winnipeg annually to honour a business executive who has achieved international stature and made an exemplary contribution to the economic life of Canada or the world at large.

The recipient is presented a custom designed, five-ounce pure gold medallion, specially produced by the Royal Canadian Mint. Since 1984, the IDEA dinner has grown to become a premiere business event in Canada.

History of honouring innovators

For forty years, IDEA has celebrated those who have left deep footprints on the global economic landscape from Richard Branson, Founder & Chairman of the Virgin Group of Companies, to Indra Nooyi, former Chairperson & CEO of PepsiCo, to Akio Morita, Co-Founder, Sony Corporation.

These giants impart their lessons to an audience of students, faculty, alumni, business leaders, and government officials who, in that moment, collectively become the students to the entrepreneurial teacher being honoured.

From among the honourees we know, names like Arianna Huffington, Founder of the Huffington Post, and legendary music producer David Foster, Founder of the David Foster Foundation, there are also those honourees we know from closer to home.

Ideas happen in every corner of the globe, and they also happen right here in Manitoba.

The first IDEA medal recipient in 1984 was UM alum and Manitoba’s own, the late Albert D. Cohen [LLD/87], CEO & Chairman of Gendis Inc. Four other Manitobans, also all UM alumni, have been celebrated with this award including 1997 recipient Israel Asper, Chairman & CEO, CanWest Global Communications Corp., 2012’s Stu Clark, oil and gas entrepreneur, 2019’s Hartley Richardson, President & CEO, James Richardson & Sons, Ltd., and Dr. Ernest Rady, Founder, President & CEO of American Assets Trust in 2020. 

The lessons from these homegrown heroes are many. 

Albert Cohen captured the birth and early history in his book I.D.E.A. that asked, “What business award has the whole world talking?” He spoke how this event would bring together the community to honour a well-known entrepreneur who either founded their company or revived a company experiencing distress.

Israel Asper [BA/53, LLB/57, LLM/64, LLD/98] has reminded us through his tremendous example that entrepreneurial success is not an end on to itself but the spark for social impact and philanthropy.    

Stu Clark [BComm(Hons)/76, LL.D./2011], a renowned philanthropist, has demonstrated that entrepreneurialism isn’t only what he excels at but also what we can all create space for. One of his many donations to the University of Manitoba enabled the establishment of the Stu Clark Centre for Entrepreneurship in the I.H. Asper School of Business igniting the entrepreneurial spark in students from all faculties.

Hartley Richardson [BComm(Hons)/77, LLD/04] at IDEA spoke to the importance of self-belief reminding us, “You all have the ability if you have the right attitude.” 

Dr. Ernest Rady [BComm/58, LLB/62, LLD/15] spoke to the power of gratitude, leveraging this opportunity to give gratitude back to the Manitoba community. “Because you gave my family freedom, you gave my family an occupation, you gave me an education and you gave me a great start in life. I’m grateful to you for what you gave me.”

This year’s honouree, Gerry Price [BSc/70, MSc/72, LLD/17], Chairman & CEO of Price Industries, joins this celebrated class of UM alumni and honourees who have found both inspiration and a home in Manitoba. 

Gerry Price offers a choice – that, “You can go through life taking or giving.” Mr. Price shares that he chooses the giving approach, “I think it’s the only legacy that’s worthy of a life lived.” He weaves this philosophy into his approach to inspiring service, growth, resilience, innovation, a no-ego culture, and committing to the greater good.

RBC’s brand platform, Ideas Happen Here, is built on the belief that the world has entered a powerful Age of Ideas as the global community reimagines and reinvents itself. In this environment, RBC is uniquely positioned to lead, contribute, and convene to make purposeful contributions to those it serves. IDEA is one of many ways RBC does just that.

“Gerry Price clearly demonstrates that ideas have always – and will always – happen here,” shares RBC Regional President Kim Ulmer. “It is trailblazers like Gerry who inspire us to return each year to celebrate those who dare to power our economic engine through the boldness of their ideas and a passion for people and planet.”

Here’s to forty years of recognizing outstanding global entrepreneurs and Manitobans whose big ideas are changing our world.

RBC is a platinum partner in celebrating entrepreneurial excellence through The Associates of the Asper School of Business International Distinguished Entrepreneur Awards Gala on May 30, 2024. RBC proudly supports a broad range of community initiatives through donations, community investments and employee volunteer activities. See how on our website.

On May 30, 2024, Gerry Price [BSc/70, MSc/72, LLD/17], the 2024 International Distinguished Entrepreneur Award (IDEA) recipient, will share his impressive career journey, followed by a Q&A facilitated by the Asper School of Business Commerce Students’ Association President, Melani Fernando.

Bruno Silvestre, Dean of the Asper School of Business, comments on Price’s legacy as a business leader.

“Gerry Price demonstrates the intent and value of IDEA, recognizing a business leader who has not only seen incredible professional success, but who has also consistently used that success to give back to the Manitoba community. The Asper School of Business is honoured to welcome Gerry to the Drake Centre for this exclusive event. We thank the Associates for giving students this opportunity to connect with an influential leader, philanthropist and innovator.”

The CEO and Chairman of Price Industries, Price began his career as a mechanical engineer, pursuing his Bachelor and Master of Science at UM, before completing a PhD at Lehigh University in Pennsylvania.

Starting in contracting, manufacturing and sales, Price advanced to President of Price Industries Ltd. after only nine years with the organization. Following the “Price way,” he led the growth of the organization from 250 employees and $31 million in sales when he took on the role, to the Price Group today, which comprises 10 companies, more than $1.2 billion in sales and 4,400 employees around the world.

Hosted at the Asper School of Business, the IDEA Student Presentation is an opportunity for UM students to learn from and engage with a top entrepreneur and business leader face-to-face. Students can ask questions and connect with Gerry as he shares stories and lessons learned throughout his distinguished career.  

CSA President Melani Fernando explains why meeting with an icon as a current student is so important.

“When we look at a business professional like Gerry, we can see how successful he is today. Being able to ask him about the stages of his career, that success and see his trajectory, even the struggles, is a really exciting opportunity.

“His transition from engineering into business and leadership will really stand out to students. We know how quickly the business world is changing and that adaptation is a valuable skill. Hearing from someone who made those career transitions will be inspirational and informative.”

Gerry Price is many things—an icon, a prairie powerhouse, a distinguished international entrepreneur, a passionate philanthropist and an inspiration. At the IDEA student presentation, students are invited to meet him as a mentor, a model and, ultimately, a great business leader who was once a UM student himself.

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Event information:

IDEA Student Presentation with Gerry Price

May 30, 2024 | 10:15 a.m. to 11:15 a.m.

Room 343, Drake Centre, 181 Freedman Crescent, Asper School of Business, University of Manitoba

• Please register for the event here.
• Complimentary refreshments will be served.

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Since 1984, the Associates of the Asper School of Business have presented the International Distinguished Entrepreneur Award to illustrious business leaders who have achieved international stature, outstanding entrepreneurial success and have made an exemplary global contribution. IDEA is internationally recognized as prestigious honour and provides notoriety to the University of Manitoba, the Asper School of Business, and the Associates of the Asper School of Business.

Gerry Price will be presented with the award at the 40^th IDEA dinner on May 30, 2024, in Winnipeg at the RBC Convention Centre. RBC is a platinum partner celebrating entrepreneurial excellence through the IDEA celebration each year. 

Read more about Price’s remarkable achievements in the official IDEA announcement here.

Price, who holds B.Sc. and M.Sc. degrees in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Manitoba as well as a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mechanics from Lehigh University in Pennsylvania, has helped catapult Price Industries and now the Price Group of Companies from $30 million in sales to more than $1 billion, establishing a global presence across five continents and leading a team of more than 4,500 employees. He guided this prairie powerhouse via the Price Way, the company’s business model that is rooted in values such as growth, innovation and, fundamentally, service.

“It is an honour on the 40th anniversary of our event to present the 2024 International Distinguished Entrepreneur Award to Manitoba’s own Gerry Price,” says Arni Thorsteinson, Chair of the IDEA Committee and President of Shelter Canadian Properties Limited. “Bringing together excellence in both engineering and business, Gerry has transformed Winnipeg’s Price Industries Ltd. into a dominant global organization that continually pushes the boundaries of innovation. Gerry’s unwavering commitment to his team and community makes him an exemplary recipient of this award.”

The Price family has a longstanding connection to UM. Gerry Price [BSc/70, MSc/72] holds an Honorary Doctor of Laws from the University. In 2020, he and his wife, Barb Price [BHE c/69, Cert Ed/70], generously donated $20 million to the Faculty of Engineering, which now bears his name. This investment will create additional faculty member positions, greatly enhancing the capacity of the undergraduate engineering program as well as its impact on students and our community. You can read more about the Price family’s generosity to UM here.

Michael Benarroch, President and Vice-Chancellor of UM describes how Price embodies the best of UM.

“The University of Manitoba is so grateful for all that Gerry Price and his family have done for our university and the community with his exceptional talents as an entrepreneur and engineer. It will be my pleasure to honour a local icon, who encapsulates all the competencies this university inspires: humanitarianism, creative problem-solving, communication and collaboration. I look forward to celebrating and sharing his story with everyone at the gala in the spring.”

RBC continues to support Manitoba’s premier business event as IDEA’s Platinum Sponsor.

“There are icons in business and then there are those whose shoulders these icons stand upon. For both his entrepreneurial and generous spirit, Gerry Price is that person,” shares RBC Regional President Kim Ulmer. “We at RBC are returning once again to support IDEA because of the powerful role the Associates of the Asper School of Business play in honouring those who leave the deepest of footprints on the world around us.”     

Founded as E.H. Price Limited in Winnipeg in 1949 by Ernest H. Price, the company was purchased by Gerry and Barb Price in 1986. In the years that followed, the company expanded its operations into the United States and beyond, became the number-one manufacturer of commercial HVAC products in North America and branched out into additional industries, including aluminum extrusion and glass manufacturing. The company is celebrating its 75th anniversary in 2024.

After Israel Asper, Gerry Price is the second person in UM’s history to be celebrated with the rare trifecta of an Honorary Degree, a Distinguished Alumni Award and the International Distinguished Entrepreneur Award. 

Bruno Silvestre, Dean of the Asper School of Business, with Gerry Price, 2024 IDEA Recipient. Photo by David Lipnowski

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The 2024 IDEA Dinner will take place on May 30, 2024, at the RBC Convention Centre.

About the Associates at the Asper School of Business:
The Associates are proud leaders, innovators and entrepreneurs moving the Manitoba economy forward. Comprising 365 senior executives, the Associates have been a driving force since 1982, advancing business education at the I.H. Asper School of Business. The Asper students are linked to the business community through mentorship programs, ongoing networking events and philanthropy. Giving back to the Asper School of Business and business community are the hallmark attributes of the Associates.

The Associates of the I. H. Asper School of Business presented the 2023 International Distinguished Entrepreneur Award to wine and beverage pioneer Anthony von Mandl, Founder, Owner and CEO of The Mark Anthony Group of Companies.

Visiting the Drake Centre in the afternoon for a student-focused Q&A, von Mandl shared stories about entrepreneurship, resilience and the wine industry before reflecting on his impressive career during his final presentation at the IDEA dinner.

von Mandl also made an unprecedented donation of a once-in-a-lifetime trip to experience the very best of the Okanagan Valley, which led to the introduction of a charity auction as part of IDEA celebrations.

This year for the first time in the award’s 39-year history, The Associates held an auction to raise funds in support of experiential learning at the Asper School of Business. The inclusion of the auction at IDEA this year was conceived by the IDEA Committee Chair Arni Thorsteinson [BComm (Hons)/71, LLD/09] and successfully led by Paul Soubry [BComm(Hons)/84] and Ash Modha [BA/98].

The lively auction ran during the gala dinner and continued until May 5. Bidding closed with an outstanding final bid of $110,000, all of which will directly support experiential learning opportunities for Asper students. Congratulations go to Stu Clark [BComm(Hons)/76, LLD/2011] for the winning bid.

Half of the generous bid will support the Asper Student-Managed Investment Fund (SMIF), which allows undergraduate students to manage a real portfolio of equity and fixed income securities.

The other half of the bid will support experiential learning more broadly at Asper including case competitions, co-op education, international exchanges and more.

Bruno Silvestre, Dean of the Asper School of Business, emphasizes the importance of experiential learning in business education.

“With experiential and active learning, students learn by doing. Whether they learn on the job in our award-winning co-op program, expand their horizons on an international exchange or step out of their comfort zone to represent the Asper School in case competitions, our students benefit from the wealth of experiential learning opportunities we offer. They hone practical skills, build a network and connect with the business community, forming lifelong bonds and gaining tremendous hands-on experience.

“Thank you to Anthony von Mandl for this generous donation to the Asper School of Business, to The Associates for organizing the auction and to our business leaders for believing in the value of giving back to our students. A special thank you to Arni Thorsteinson, the IDEA Committee Chair, for creating this outstanding annual event.”

Hear from students who have benefited from experiential learning and how funds raised from this auction will enrich their time at Asper. 

On May 4, 2023, Anthony von Mandl O.C., O.B.C., the 2023 IDEA Award recipient, will share his entrepreneurial journey, followed by a Q&A facilitated by the 2023/2024 CSA President Betty Mae Ferrer.

“Anthony von Mandl represents the impact of entrepreneurship. He is a leader who didn’t just thrive in, but actively changed the wine and beverage industry and we are honoured to welcome him to the Drake Centre for this event,” says Dr. Bruno Silvestre, Dean of the Asper School of Business. “We thank The Associates for giving students the opportunity to connect with such an influential entrepreneur.”

von Mandl is the proprietor of a collection of family-owned luxury wineries in British Columbia’s Okanagan Valley. As he worked to produce the best wines in Canada, von Mandl created many groundbreaking beverage brands, including Mike’s Hard Lemonade and White Claw.

Ferrer, who recently started her term as CSA President, is excited that students have this opportunity to learn more about von Mandl’s journey.

CSA President, Betty Mae Ferrer

“As students, we often know, or think we know, our destination, but there is so much opportunity, especially here at Asper, that it can be hard to map our journey. As an innovator, Anthony von Mandl embraced that opportunity and built his own path to achieve his dream.”

von Mandl began pursuing his dream to become a wine importer at only 22 years old. Starting in a 100 square-foot office in Vancouver, he began looking for opportunities to bring the best wines from across the world into Canada and make this dream a reality.

In 1981, he purchased a near-bankrupt winery in BC’s then unknown Okanagan Valley. Early on, he faced many struggles and a constant fear that the next setback would put him out of business for good.

With each challenge, however, von Mandl adapted—from supplying to airlines when the liquor board wouldn’t invest in a 22-year-old wine merchant, to cultivating a wine selection that later won over that same liquor board with what mattered most: taste.

These setbacks and successes stand out to Ferrer. “I think his pursuit of a nonlinear path to success will really resonate with students. He had a distinct goal in mind, but he had to constantly adapt to get there,” she says.

von Mandl’s true goal—the destination winery, Mission Hill—would take time. He knew that to make a small fortune in the wine business, you need to have a large one, something he did not have.

To generate revenue, he turned to other markets, developing the world’s first flavoured ciders, creating Mike’s Hard Lemonade, and eventually defining the hard seltzer market with White Claw. Each new product shook up the industry, creating new beverage categories altogether, as von Mandl built a $5 billion international drinks company.

Today, Mission Hill Winery is a true landmark of the Okanagan. Five-time winner of Winery of the Year, it is a symbol celebrating the valley and represents von Mandl’s unfailing pursuit of entrepreneurship.

“He saw potential in the BC vineyard rather than going somewhere already established,” says Ferrer. “It’s an important reminder that you can innovate in your own environment.”

Redefining the beverage industry in Canada not once, but multiple times might be considered an impressive life’s work for any entrepreneur. For von Mandl, these achievements are only part of his journey and enduring legacy.

“There’s no such thing as perfection, no absolute. It’s a journey.” –Anthony von Mandl

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Student Presentation – Event information

May 4, 2023 | 10:15 am – 11:15 am

Room 343, Drake Centre, 181 Freedman Crescent, Asper School of Business, University of Manitoba

• Please RSVP to asper.communications@umanitoba.ca
• Complimentary refreshments will be served.

___

Since 1984, The Associates of the Asper School of Business have presented the International Distinguished Entrepreneur Award to illustrious business leaders who have achieved international stature, outstanding entrepreneurial success and have made an exemplary global contribution. IDEA is internationally recognized as prestigious honour and provides notoriety to the University of Manitoba, the Asper School of Business, and the Associates of the Asper School of Business.

Anthony von Mandl will be presented with the award at the 39th IDEA dinner on May 4, 2023, in Winnipeg at the RBC Convention Centre.

Read more about von Mandl’s remarkable achievements in the official IDEA announcement here.

“It is an honour to welcome Anthony von Mandl to Manitoba as the 2023 IDEA Recipient,” said Arni Thorsteinson, Chair of the IDEA Committee and President of Shelter Canadian Properties Limited. “We have known Anthony for many years, and I am inspired by how he has grown his company organically from a one-person wine importing business to an international drinks company whose hallmarks include a portfolio of luxury wineries, hand-crafted premium spirits, and iconic beverage brands. He is an embodiment of the term ‘entrepreneur’ and has taken every opportunity throughout his career to support local businesses and give back to community charities.”

The Vancouver-born, European-educated entrepreneur founded a wine importing firm in Vancouver, out of a 100 square foot office. Despite extremely difficult initial years, he successfully grew the business, and began to realize his audacious dream: to produce world-class wines in British Columbia’s then unknown Okanagan Valley.

In 1981, von Mandl risked everything to purchase a near-bankrupt winery, renaming it Mission Hill after its stunning hilltop location. As no one believed in his dream, his only option was to self-finance his vision by building entirely new businesses and pioneering new categories in the drinks trade, including the world’s first flavoured ciders with the Okanagan Cider Company in the early 1980’s, followed by the creation of the Mike’s Hard Lemonade in the 1990’s and the breakthrough White Claw Hard Seltzer, a brand that has transformed the entire drinks industry. Mike’s has since gone on to achieve iconic brand status in America and White Claw is the #1 brand in the explosive hard seltzer category in U.S. and Canada. Building on this success in North America, von Mandl is taking a long-term approach to build White Claw into an iconic, global brand.

Mr. von Mandl is an Officer of the Order of Canada and a recipient of the Order of British Columbia; both honours recognize his innovative contributions to enhancing Canada’s international reputation in the wine industry. A former YPO International Board Member, he holds five honourary doctorates and has been inducted into both the Canadian Agriculture Hall of Fame and American Marketing Hall of Fame. He is also a co-recipient of ‘The Warren Bennis Award for Leadership Excellence’ alongside A.G. Lafley, former CEO of Procter & Gamble. Previous winners include Mikhail Gorbachev, Benazir Bhutto, and Howard Schultz of Starbucks. Mr. von Mandl is Chairman of The von Mandl Family Foundation, supporting health, disparity, the arts, and environmental-based initiatives globally.

University of Manitoba President and Vice-Chancellor Dr. Michael Benarroch noted: “The life of Anthony von Mandl has been a true example of the spirit of entrepreneurship, having literally worked his way from practically nothing to a model of success. His unwavering commitment to his big idea allowed him to revolutionize a growing industry. We are honoured to have him as IDEA recipient in 2023.”

Since 1984, the Associates of the Asper School of Business has presented the International Distinguished Entrepreneur Award to outstanding entrepreneurs who have made exemplary contributions to global economic life.

“We often hear about the American Dream. Anthony von Mandl is the ideal role model for the Canadian Dream,” shared RBC Regional President Kim Ulmer. “We at RBC return each year to support the IDEA celebration because of the special role the Associates of the Asper School of Business play in bringing our community together to learn from those who dare to reimagine the future and boldly pursue it. Mr. von Mandl is exactly that person and an inspired choice as the honouree for IDEA 2023.”  

Anthony von Mandl joins previous distinguished IDEA recipients including: Sir Richard Branson, Stu Clark, Paul Desmarais Sr., David Foster, A. Linda Hasenfratz, Akio Morita, Ross Perot, Heather Reisman & Gerald Schwartz, Dame Anita Roddick, David Thomson, Prem Watsa, Arianna Huffington, Dr. Hartley Richardson, Dr. Ernest Rady, and the 2022 recipient, Indra Nooyi.

Anthony von Mandl will be presented with the IDEA award by President Michael Benarroch at the 2023 IDEA dinner on May 4, 2023 at the RBC Convention Centre.

Indra is the 2022 International Distinguished Entrepreneur Award (IDEA) recipient and former CEO of PepsiCo. As President of the Commerce Students’ Association (CSA), I feel extremely honoured and excited for the opportunity to have a conversation with an influential business leader like Indra in a space where all UM students can learn from her inspiring story.

Indra has achieved admirable success in the past years such as leading a Fortune 500 company and being named Forbes’ Most Powerful Women during multiple instances. But what really inspired me about Indra is her values as a leader because I feel that they are very similar to my own and likely many UM students. She believes in performance with purpose and that being yourself is an attribute to success. I think that her awards are a reflection of the actions she’s taken to make meaningful change.

As a young woman who immigrated to Canada from the Philippines when I was three years old, it is very empowering to be interviewing Indra who shares a similar experience. I’m a very ambitious student and seeing Indra as a role model who I can relate to, makes me feel that I’m capable of making an impact in the business world. Ultimately, I think having the opportunity to hear Indra talk about her journey will really impact so many young people and drive them to pursue their own aspirations.

On behalf of my fellow students, I’m really looking forward to asking Indra about the different experiences she’s had and listening to her stories. I find having genuine conversations to be the most fulfilling and I’m sure those discussions will strike many learning opportunities. Indra has made significant change with equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI).

As a student leader who advocates for EDI, I look forward to sharing with Indra what our student organization has done to foster EDI within our school and hear her insights. I’d also like to ask her how she thinks young people like myself, who are the generation’s future business leaders, could be courageous in pushing forward with EDI.

The IDEA Dinner is the “Dinner of the Year” hosted by The Associates of the Asper School of Business who provide a tremendous amount of support to the school and its students. The dinner will be held on May 3, 2022 at 6pm at the RBC Convention Centre. By attending the event, University of Manitoba students have the unique opportunity to meet and connect with representatives from our business community. It’s a great way to build meaningful connections, be inspired by the different speakers, and learn directly from business professionals by having valuable conversations.

Student Presentation – Event information 

May 3, 2022 | 10:15 am – 11:15 am

Room 343, Drake Centre, 181 Freedman Crescent, Asper School of Business, University of Manitoba

• Please RSVP by April 29 to asper [dot] communications [at] umanitoba [dot] ca
• Complimentary Refreshments will be served.
• A KN95 Mask will be required for entry. Please refer to UM’s Health and Safety Protocols page for other important information.

Kyla Mae Dacanay is currently a third-year student majoring in Human Resources at the I.H. Asper School of Business. She is the current President of the CSA and comes into this role after previously serving as the Vice President Internal. Kyla is a passionate leader who is excited to bring the student body back to an in-person school year filled with professional development and social networking opportunities, in order to foster an empowering community and culture at Asper