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Director Profile: Praveen Varshney

Anna Grimes

For one of The Vancouver Board of Trade’s newest directors, acting as a mentor through initiatives such as The Board’s Leaders of Tomorrow Mentorship Program^TM is an experience every entrepreneur should embrace.

"I have mentored many students and other entrepreneurs in the past, on my own and through organizations like the Sauder School of Business," says Praveen Varshney, appointed to the board of directors earlier this year. "It’s very rewarding to see someone take a bit of constructive criticism, advice and support to become successful in both their personal and professional lives."

Born in India, Varshney moved to Vancouver with his family when he was five years old. After graduating with a commerce degree from the University of British Columbia (UBC), he carried on to get his chartered accountant designation and worked at KPMG for five years. Today, he is one of three principles at Varshney Capital Corp., a public venture capital firm he leads with his father, Hari, and his brother, Peeyush.

As a local small business owner, Varshney appreciates being aligned with an organization like The Board, which acts on behalf of the business community in Vancouver.

"It’s quite a privilege and honour to be amongst some of the brightest business minds in our community, and to be part of a group... that can positively affect change and impact our society at many levels," he says.

Despite his recent appointment as a director, Varshney is like a seasoned Board of Trade veteran when it comes to positive networking. His best tip? "Ask questions and listen. The next time you meet that person, ask them different questions. If you don’t know anything about a person or can’t remember, there’s no way you can build a relationship with them."

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