And Then What Happened?

“The land of misfit toys,” is how Michael Wekerle describes the small group of friends he partnered with to create GMP Securities, a Toronto-based boutique investment firm. Although the cynics had their doubts, within a short period, the firm became a trading powerhouse. Its legacy includes some landmark capital-raising campaigns including Sherritt International and Research in Motion, which GMP took public in 1997. In Canada, Wekerle “Wek” is a bit of a celebrity. In the 80s and 90s, he earned a reputation as the greatest trader on Bay Street with elephant-like memory. Later, he leveraged his Bay Street smarts to foray into a few new ventures. Today, he’s a Dragon investor on the hit CBC show Dragons’ Den. In our inaugural podcast with Randy Cass, Michael speaks candidly about what drives him to succeed, overcome struggles and become a better person. Know the rules The core secret to Wekerle’s success is simple. He takes the time to understand the rules of engagement. “You can’t do anything unless you kno