When we launched the very first Business Transitions Forum in 2015, it was driven by one idea: founders needed a better way to prepare for what’s next. Ten years later, that idea has grown into a national series of events and a trusted place for entrepreneurs, advisors, and investors to gather, learn, and connect. To mark the 10-year milestone, I sat down to reflect on how BTF started, what we’ve learned along the way, and where we’re headed next.

After nearly two decades at the helm of Southwest Doors and Hardware based in London, ON, Chantal Hampson, a seasoned business leader and recent retiree, is reflecting on a journey defined by family legacy, grit, and smart succession planning. A featured speaker in the May 21 session "Through the Buyer’s Lens" at Toronto’s Business Transitions Forum, Chantal offered candid insights into transitioning out of a family-run enterprise—and what others can learn from her experience.

Sean Stephens, CEO of digital transformation agency Treefrog, is in the business of helping companies grow. Based in Ontario and founded in 1989, Treefrog has grown into a collective of companies specializing in digital strategy, tech, marketing, and transformation. Stephens joined in 1997, bought the business in 2002, and has been leading it for over two decades.

After selling two businesses over the span of his career, Mike Mann, a Moncton-based entrepreneur, is taking time to reflect—not just on the numbers, but the emotional toll that comes with stepping away from something you’ve built. Speaking during a recent interview following his appearance at the Atlantic Business Transitions Forum in Halifax, Mann shared insights from his experience, emphasizing the human side of selling a company.

At the Toronto Business Transitions Forum, Doug Dougherty, CEO of Cooper Equipment Rentals, is sharing the story of the company’s remarkable growth. Cooper, a family-owned business since its founding in 1972, has expanded to become a leading player in Canada’s equipment rental industry, with 89 locations and over 1,350 employees. In a conversation, Dougherty explained how the company, initially a small, family-owned business, grew into a national leader by staying true to its core values. He discussed how he and business partner Darrell Cooper navigated the challenges of scaling the company while maintaining a focus on people and culture.

Toronto-based entrepreneur Joanna Track is no stranger to building—and exiting—successful businesses. Now, as the founder of digital marketing firm Good Eggs & Co., she’s preparing to share insights from two major business exits at the upcoming Business Transitions Forum in Toronto. “My current business, Good Eggs & Co., is a marketing firm pretty focused on digital content marketing,” said Track. “We work with brands, small and medium-sized businesses, help them from strategy through execution with email marketing, social media, website design, SEO, content development—everything that really pushes their story forward.”