What does it mean for Canada to truly control its economic destiny? Where have we fallen behind, and what would it take to rebuild national competitiveness in a world order that is changing in real time?

In this episode of Forthlane Features, Vanessa Hui and Rob Vanderhooft sit down with John Ruffolo, Founder and Managing Partner of Maverix Private Equity and a leading Canadian voice shaping the national conversation around innovation, capital formation, and economic policy. Together, they unpack the urgent issue of economic sovereignty.

Drawing on decades spent helping build Canada’s venture ecosystem, John explains why governments must move from neutrality to intentionality, why entrepreneurs need to lead, and why Canadian capital must be mobilized toward domestic growth.

John makes the case that Canada must rebuild its innovation engine—quickly. He outlines the critical sectors where Canada must lead and calls on entrepreneurs and capital allocators to build boldly.

This is a powerful conversation about vision, action, and national ambition.

WHAT TO LISTEN FOR

:47 What does "economic sovereignty" really mean in a Canadian context?

4:40 What are the low-hanging fruits Canada can act on today?

12:12 What are the key sectors where Canada must lead?

14:23 What can entrepreneurs and business builders actually do to create change?

25:09 What lessons can be learned from Shopify’s global success story?

GUEST: John Ruffolo, Founder and Managing Partner of Maverix Private Equity

Maverix Website | LinkedIn | X | Substack

CONNECT WITH ROB VANDERHOOFT, PRESIDENT & CO-CHIEF INVESTMENT OFFICER, FORTHLANE PARTNERS

Website | LinkedIn

CONNECT WITH VANESSA HUI, SENIOR CLIENT ADVISOR, FORTHLANE PARTNERS

Website | LinkedIn

How does a founder ensure their life's work is truly "sale-ready?" What is the differentiator that separates a great acquirer from other bidders?

In this episode of Forthlane Features, Vanessa Hui sits down with Mario Nigro, a Partner in the Mergers & Acquisitions group at Stikeman Elliott and a primary architect of Canada’s search fund ecosystem.

With a career built on representing both sides of the transaction—the buyer and the seller—Mario brings a unique, 360-degree perspective to the mechanics of a successful deal.

Drawing on decades of experience at the center of both domestic and cross-border transactions, Mario provides his perspectives on the evolution of the Canadian deal-making landscape.

Mario dives into the current dynamics of the market, 'entrepreneurship through acquisition', and where the biggest friction points lie today.

Whether you are a seller or an acquirer, Mario’s insights offer a thoughtful look into the preparation and emotional intelligence required to close a deal.

GUEST: Mario Nigro, Partner at Stikeman Elliott LLP

LinkedIn | Stikeman Elliott Website

CONNECT WITH VANESSA HUI

Website | LinkedIn

What happens after a founder steps away from the company they’ve built from the ground up?

Vanessa Hui sits down with Sanjay Malaviya, founder and former CEO of RL Solutions, for a candid conversation about the realities of building, exiting, and reimagining life after nearly two decades of building a company.

Sanjay reflects on RL Solutions’ growth from a small startup to a global leader in patient safety and risk management, and the emotional complexity of deciding it was time to move on.

He discusses the unexpected challenges of stepping back from being a CEO, navigating the transition from operator to investor, and the principles that shaped his approach to wealth preservation, diversification, and philanthropy.

From humility and the value of surrounding yourself with the right people, Sanjay offers thoughtful insights into what life looks like after an entrepreneurial exit — and what he’s learned along the way.

WHAT TO LISTEN FOR

2:07 What made you realize it was time to step away from RL Solutions?

4:43 What surprised you most about stepping away from your company?

9:11 How did you start investing after selling your business?

21:26 How do you choose where to focus your philanthropy?

27:09 What advice would you give founders preparing to exit?

GUEST: Sanjay Malaviya, Founder and former CEO of RL Solutions (now RLDatix | Board member at SeamlessMD |

Malaviya Foundation | Foundation Instagram | RLDatix Website | SeamlessMD Board of Directors

CONNECT WITH VANESSA HUI

Website | LinkedIn

In this episode of Forthlane Features, Vanessa Hui sits down with Anna-Marie Musson, Managing Lawyer at M & Company. Together, they unravel the complex intersection of wealth, family law, and relationship transitions. From crypto and collectibles to prenups and postnups, Anna-Marie shares expert insights on how high-net-worth individuals can approach divorce with foresight, financial strategy, and emotional intelligence.

With stories of "quiet divorces," illiquid assets, and shifting market dynamics, this episode reveals how to safeguard wealth even in life’s most challenging moments.

GUEST: Anne-Marie Musson, M and Company

Website | Email | LinkedIn

CONNECT WITH VANESSA HUI

Website | LinkedIn

Vanessa Hui and Anthony Berg sit down with Andrew Sarna, Portfolio Manager at Forthlane (Cayman Islands), to dive into the insights behind his widely read macro note, Off the Charts.

With over 830 issues published and nearly 2,300 subscribers, Andrew has built a loyal audience by offering sharp, independent perspectives on markets, risk, and macro trends.

He shares the origin story of the note, how he curates each edition, and why he believes traditional investment playbooks are challenged.

From equity complacency and geopolitical risks to real assets, crypto, and private equity’s uncertain future, this conversation is a masterclass in macro thinking for a new investing era.

WHAT TO LISTEN FOR

0:39 Birth of Off the Charts

3:02 How Andrew Picks the Day’s Chart

5:46 The Dangerous Complacency in Today’s Market

8:52 Why the Old Playbook No Longer Works

14:33 The “Pre-Earnings Inflection” Strategy

20:42 A Coming Reckoning in Private Equity?

GUEST: Andrew Sarna, Portfolio Manager

LinkedIn

Anthony Berg, Senior Investment Analyst

LinkedIn

CONNECT WITH VANESSA HUI

Website | LinkedIn

Listen to the podcast: Apple/ Spotify/ Online
Not yet a subscriber? Sign up for Off the Charts Here

What’s driving gold to historic highs?

Vanessa Hui chats with Peter Grosskopf, a global leader in gold and precious metals, to uncover the key factors behind the recent surge in gold prices.

With gold surpassing $3,000 per ounce and a 40% rise over the past year, Grosskopf explains how the changing macroeconomic landscape, central bank policies, and growing government debts are pushing gold to the forefront of investors’ portfolios.

He also shares insights into how investors can safely gain exposure to gold and real assets, why gold remains a reliable hedge, and the long-term outlook for this precious metal.

WHAT TO LISTEN FOR

03:13 – What’s Driving Gold’s Strong Performance?

10:12 – Is It Too Late to Invest in Gold?

19:00 – The Vision for Forthlane’s Real Assets Fund

22:55 – Personal Diversification Beyond Gold

GUEST: Peter Grosskopf

Peter Grosskopf is the former CEO (2010-2022) of Sprott Inc., a global asset manager focused on precious metals which he helped grow from $5B to over $20B in assets. Peter is a director at Agnico Eagle Mines and the World Gold Council and co-founded Newcrest Capital, a boutique investment bank and institutional equities firm which was acquired by TD Bank in 2000 for $224M. Peter is currently the founder of Argo, an investment platform that combines the security of physical gold with the convenience of digital ownership, and is also a strategic shareholder of Forthlane Partners.

Website | LinkedIn

CONNECT WITH VANESSA HUI

Website | LinkedIn