Hollyhock Presenters

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Our presenters are curated for their quality, depth, integrity, and alignment with our educational purpose. Since 1982, a distinguished faculty of authors, educators, activists, artists, performers, and practitioners have shared their work at our Cortes Island campus and in Vancouver.

People smiling at Activate 2023 Hollyhock Leadership Institute

Charles Chang

Charles Chang is known as a serial entrepreneur – currently leading Lyra Growth Partners, a growth equity firm he founded in 2015. Prior to Lyra, Charles was founder and President of Vega, which he started from scratch from his basement in 2004. Financed by his life savings, a second mortgage on his house and credit cards, Charles led Vega to become a leading brand of clean, plant–based nutritional products in North America. In 2015, Charles successfully led the sale of Vega to White Wave Foods for US$550 million.

In 2016, Charles helped establish the Charles Chang Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at Simon Fraser University, an interdisciplinary home and academic hub where students and ideas converge to foster entrepreneurial thinking and action.

Charles is also co-founder of PowerPlay Young Entrepreneurs, a non-profit organization that helps elementary school students develop an entrepreneurial mindset.

Charles resides with his family in West Vancouver, BC and is an active member of Young Presidents Organization (YPO), an avid golfer, fly fisher, mountain biker, skier, and Whistlerite wanna.