Margo Crawford is the President, CEO and founder of the Business Sherpa Group where she and her team of more than 80 associates have been involved with over 400+ companies throughout North America (profit and not-for-profit) from formation stage through to sale. She was a co-founder of Meriton Networks and was instrumental in building a company with locations around the world, and raising over $75M in equity financing and related M&A transactions. Margo has been an Business and HR leader in technology companies, education and NFP sector organizations for the past 30 years. She currently sits on the Boards of Digital Opportunity Trust (DOT) and is Co-chair of the Governance and HR Committee, Ottawa Network For Education (ONFE) and is Chair of the Governance Committee, a founding member of the Canadian Museum of Nature Foundation and a member of Invest Ottawa’ Venture Development Committee. Previously she was Corporate Secretary of Meriton Networks and Board member for several organizations including not-for-profits, sport organizations, including President of Nakkertok Nordic Cross Country Ski Club.
As a recognized thought leader in the area of small and mid-sized business strategy, human resources and governance, Margo has been invited to speak on many occasions about creating optimal business performance through HR strategies, organization design, aligning business strategy with shareholder strategy and other topics – largely focusing small and medium sized enterprises as well as emerging and growing companies. Margo’s business passions lie in the long-term success of small and medium size enterprises, as well as kick-starting the careers of young professionals.
Expertise
- Business Strategy
- Organization Design
- HR Strategy
- Business Insights Planning
- Succession Planning
Education and Certifications
- Institute of Corporate Directors, ICD.D
- Directors Education Program – Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto
- Masters of Business Administration (MBA) – Telfer School of Management, University of Ottawa
- Bachelor of Arts (Honours) – Carleton University
Board Activities
- Board Member, Digital Opportunity Trust (Co-chair of Governance & HR Committee)
- Board Member, Ottawa Network for Education (ONFE) (Chair of Governance Committee)
- Board Member, Canadian Museum of Nature Foundation (founding Director)
- Member, Invest Ottawa’s Venture Development Committee
- Corporate Secretary, Meriton Networks
- Steering Committee Member, WCT – Catalyst Protégé Project
- Board Member and President, Nakkertok Nordic Cross Country Ski Club
- Board Member, NECTAR Foundation
Awards, Honours & Speaking Events
- Business Woman of the Year Award, Entrepreneur Category, Women’s Business Network, Ottawa
- Human Resources Professional of the Year, Vision Awards, Ottawa
- Ottawa University Hugette Labelle Public Policy Forum, Academic Research Paper Award
- CPA (GTA West) – Innovation and Technology Conference
- CSAE National Conference
- MaRS – Entrepreneurship 101 & Human Resources Best Practices Series
- Disrupt HR (Ottawa)
- Mindtrust Leadership
- Product Management Association of Ottawa
- Women Powering Technology – panelist
- Canadian Sales Professionals Association
- TiECon Canada – panelist
- Re$earch Money Conference – Scale-Up panelist
- Business of Sport Summit (BOSS)
- Enactus – Ottawa University – Keynote
- Executive Leadership, Legacy Entrepreneurship (ELLE), Ottawa University – Keynote
- Women in Leadership, International Women’s Day, Algonquin College – Keynote
- Path To The Boardroom – panelist
- Governance Best Practices, SIRC – webinar series
- Guest Lecturer – Ottawa University, Carleton University, Algonquin College
