BIV will recognize five exceptional leaders at its annual Influential Women in Business Awards event on March 8 in Vancouver.
The following Q&A with award recipient Lynda Brown-Ganzert, founder and CEO of RxPx, was originally published in the Feb. 27 print edition of BIV.
Brown-Ganzert is a world-renowned leader in digital media, health technology and innovation. She leads the team at RxPx (previously Curatio), where their digital-health network offering is used by some of the world’s largest companies to support patients in more than 80 countries.
Over her career, Brown-Ganzert has produced more than 100 programs, products and initiatives.
She is chair emerita of Simon Fraser University, and a past director of the Canada Foundation for Innovation.
What career highlight are you most proud of?
Growing Curatio from a concept to a global digital-health platform alongside an incredible team, and then exiting to form RxPx last year. Representing Canada on two United Nations missions for digital media was also a very proud moment.
Your toughest professional challenge?
Businesses are made by people. Uniting people around a vision, aligning the team towards a common strategy and helping people find deep meaning in their work is both a challenge and wonderful honour. As well, the early days of startup when you’re broke and lying awake trying to figure out how to meet payroll with your own personal credit cards maxed.
Greatest advice ever received?
Persist. As a company, we have been very fortunate to work with the National Research Council of Canada’s Industrial Research Assistance Program (IRAP) to help us develop and commercialize our technology. Persist was the advice I received from Riz, a treasured mentor with IRAP. So often, entrepreneurs are closer than they think to success. Persistence is key.
What do you wish you knew when you were first starting out?
It is so important to invest in a network of business peers. My CEO roundtable colleagues have seen the best and the worst of me. They have been a huge part of my personal journey and an integral factor in our company’s success.
What does it take to be a leader in 2023?
Empathy, compassion, situational leadership and, above all, a growth mindset.
What are you looking forward to personally and professionally this year?
Professionally, supporting the RxPx team as we help patients and doctors around the world. Personally, celebrating love with friends’ weddings and my family.
What is your best habit?
Reading every night.
A book you would recommend?
So many! From The Ashes by Jesse Thistle is an important read for all Canadians.
One surprising or improbable fact about yourself?
I (used to) speak Portuguese.
A female leader or woman in business you admire?
Hayley Wickenheiser.
A cause or non-profit you support?
Ballet Kelowna.
What do you do to relax?
Ski! Anything outside clears my mind.
A top tip for staying organized?
At night, writing out the top three things I need to accomplish the next day to move the business forward.
A favourite quote?
Carpe diem!
Celebrate Brown-Ganzert and BIV's four other 2023 Influential Women in Business Award recipients on International Women's Day, March 8. Tickets and event details are available here.
