Share Your Spark
A speaker series to ignite your entrepreneurial spirit.
Join the Centre for Entrepreneurship (CfE) for the "Share Your Spark" speaker series and discover how successful entrepreneurs ignited their passions! This inspiring journey into their minds will help you unlock your own potential, explore new ideas, and build the skills you need to succeed.
This event is open to the U of T Arts & Science community (students, staff, faculty and alumni) and the U of T entrepreneurship community.
Som Seif and Stephen Smith kick off our exciting new series on March 3rd - join the conversation!
Monday, March 3, 2025
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Som Seif (BASc’99), Founder & CEO of Purpose Financial
Som Seif is a Canadian entrepreneur and financial services leader. He is the founder and CEO of Purpose Unlimited, a firm he established after selling his previous company, Claymore Investments, to BlackRock Inc. in 2012. He was also a co-founder of Wealthsimple Technologies Inc., a leading financial platform for Canadians. Before his entrepreneurial ventures, Seif worked as an investment banker with RBC Capital Markets.
Seif has dedicated his time and talents to both the University of Toronto and the broader community. He was a Varsity Blues water polo player and later coached the team to four straight OUAA championships. His commitment to U of T continues today through his volunteer work advising the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering. His passion for community engagement extends beyond U of T with his service on the Sunnybrook Hospital Foundation Board, a member of the Art Gallery of Toronto Mechanical & Industrial Engineering Advisory Board, and a member of The Next 36. Seif was also honored with the Top 40 Under 40 award by Caldwell Partners International in 2011 for his exceptional vision and leadership.
He holds a Bachelor of Applied Science in Industrial and Systems Engineering from the University of Toronto and is a CFA charterholder.
Stephen Smith, Chairman & CEO at Smith Financial Corporation
Stephen J.R. Smith is a prominent Canadian financial services entrepreneur and philanthropist. He is the Co-founder and Executive Chairman of First National Financial Corporation, Canada's largest non-bank mortgage lender, and co-owner of Canada Guaranty Mortgage Insurance. Known for his innovative approach to financial structuring and information technology within the Canadian mortgage industry, he has been a driving force in modernizing mortgage finance in Canada.
A dedicated philanthropist with a deep commitment to advancing education, he made a then historic $50-million donation to Queen's University in 2015, leading to the naming of The Stephen J.R. Smith School of Business. Continuing his extraordinary support, he made a historic $100-million pledge to Queen's Faculty of Engineering in 2023, the largest ever to a Canadian engineering school, leading to its renaming as Smith Engineering. He is also Chair of Historica Canada, the creator of the Heritage Minutes and publisher of The Canadian Encyclopedia.
He contributes his time and expertise to several important organizations. He is a member of the Boards of the Rideau Hall Foundation and the C.D. Howe Institute and is a Honourary Governor of the Royal Ontario Museum. His contributions to Canadian business and society have been widely recognized. He was inducted into the Canadian Business Hall of Fame in 2019 and was awarded the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2012.
He holds a B.Sc (Hons.) in Electrical Engineering from Queen's University, a M.Sc. in Economics from the London School of Economics, and an honorary LL.D. from Queen's University.
Details coming soon!