Guy Levesque comes full circle in new role as Hunter Hub executive director

For Guy Levesque, stepping into the role of executive director at the Hunter Hub is a full-circle moment.

Since the start of his career as a high school science teacher, Levesque has been driven to support students and their ambitions. Prior to joining the Hunter Hub for Entrepreneurial Thinking, Levesque served as the inaugural associate vice-president of Innovation, Partnerships, and Entrepreneurship at the University of Ottawa for six years, leading programs that would establish the university as a leader in local and national innovation ecosystems.

If our lives are books, and we the authors, Levesque is writing his next chapter with precision and intention. With over 30 years of transformative impact in various roles, Levesque is returning to his first love: building and supporting the next generation of changemakers. Landing at the Hunter Hub, Levesque’s excitement is infectious. His arrival marks an exciting step forward for the Hunter Hub.

The Hunter Hub for Entrepreneurial Thinking is a community centre dedicated to fostering student entrepreneurship, empowering faculty innovation, and building a network of entrepreneurial minds. The Hunter Hub’s mission is to enhance the University of Calgary’s entrepreneurial capacity, enabling the larger community to drive positive global change.

Stepping into the role of executive director at the Hunter Hub, Levesque is looking forward to exploring the campus, the community and the city. 

Levesque isn’t new to Calgary; his love for the Alberta city first began in 2007. Working with universities and colleges across Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta during a three-year tenure at NSERC gave Levesque the opportunity to grow familiar with the city. As the face of NSERC for the Prairies, Levesque would visit Calgary at least once a month. 

“I’ve had such a tremendous fondness for Calgary as an innovation and entrepreneurial community for 20 years now, so for me, it really is about immersing myself within it. Though I’ve visited Calgary many times in the past, I’m sitting in a different seat now,” he says. 

“I’m now a part of the community as opposed to someone who simply works within the community.”

Community is a commonly used word in Levesque’s everyday vocabulary. “I say the word all the time,” he laughs. And for good reason: “Part of my role here, and part of my philosophy, is about being a contributing member of the community,” he says. 

This very ethos is what drove Levesque to take the role of executive director at the Hunter Hub. “What resonates most with me is that there are so many people who are invested in innovation, entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial thinking – all within the community,” he says. Now ingrained in this community, Levesque is engaging a new perspective on the ways he can contribute and serve the community at large.

“I can’t think of a better next chapter to write than joining a talented, diverse team that has a visceral drive to help students become our next generation of leaders,” he says.

His mission is a noble one. “By arming our future leaders with an entrepreneurial toolkit, we increase our prosperity and well-being as a nation. So, what better way to make the world a better place than to be at the Hunter Hub?”

Dr. Alice de Koning, PhD, who served as acting executive director at the Hunter Hub for Entrepreneurial Thinking leading up to Levesque’s arrival, is pleased to pass the mantle to Levesque. 

"I’ve been fortunate to be a part of the heart and soul of this community as academic director for the past five years, and it has been so fulfilling to see it grow. Even more exciting is the growth we have yet to see," she says. "I got a first-hand taste of this potential during my time as acting executive director. I believe that his passion for entrepreneurial thinking and the community that drives it is the secret sauce for the Hunter Hub to achieve new heights." 

On Calgary: One of Canada’s fastest-growing entrepreneurial hubs

“When I look at the realm of possibility and potential, there’s no place like Calgary anywhere else in Canada,” Levesque asserts.

In June, Calgary ranked among the world’s top 50 emerging startup ecosystems. With Calgary’s entrepreneurial scene clearly booming, Levesque is excited to be embarking on a leadership role at the Hunter Hub, and even larger, the University of Calgary.

“The University of Calgary is one of the youngest universities in the country,” Levesque says. “Yet where it sits in terms of its profile, reputation and achievements is remarkable. Calgary being a top 50 startup ecosystem is a no-brainer,” he says. Noting the talent, the potential and the confidence of the city, Levesque says that Calgary has a certain “swagger.”

“People have the ability to actually achieve their ambitions and dreams,” he says. And to him, there’s no better place to do so than the Hunter Hub.

“The Hunter Hub is a space, both physically and psychologically, where people can create their own success,” he says. “Part of our collective mission is to make sure we capitalize on the potential we house in order to help our future generation of entrepreneurs change the world. We want to fill this space with changemakers and give them the tools to succeed,” he says.

Hunter Hub as a catalyst for global change

As the Hunter Hub continues to grow, Levesque is excited to champion entrepreneurial thinking within the university ecosystem.

“Looking at the university’s north star, entrepreneurial thinking is so transcendent across the Academic Plan, the Research and Innovation Plan, and the Community Plan. The University of Calgary seeks to become Canada’s 'most entrepreneurial university,' and the Hunter Hub is dedicated to supporting that vision,” he says.

During his tenure at the University of Ottawa, the University of Calgary was always an example institution to look towards. Most notably, Levesque notes the Hunter Hub’s Experience Ventures program. “My former colleagues spoke about Experience Ventures and the quality and breadth of impact of the program. For the University of Calgary to be the national lead on a project of this scale speaks volumes,” he says. The University of Ottawa is one of 14 post-secondary institutions that deliver the Experience Ventures program.

Beyond Experience Ventures, the Hunter Hub powers various programming for students, researchers, faculty and more, wherever they are on their entrepreneurial journey.

“We want every person who comes through the Hunter Hub to walk away with a valuable experience, whether that’s creating a successful startup, growing a company that already exists or completing an experience that brings them fulfillment and enjoyment.”

“Ultimately, entrepreneurship is not for everyone. Not everyone has the right set of ingredients for it, or even the desire for it,” he notes. “But what we can do at the Hunter Hub is give every single person who walks through these doors a toolkit of entrepreneurial thinking skills that will help them look at the world a little differently.”

“If we can impart this philosophy on our community, then we will have done our job well,” he says.

Defining entrepreneurial thinking

When asked to define entrepreneurial thinking, Levesque draws upon a book that had a huge impact on him, Start With Why written by Simon Sinek.

“People often jump into the ‘what,’ but it truly does start with your ‘why.’ Resilience, courage and risk-taking are all attributes associated with entrepreneurial thinking. But to me, at the end of the day, wanting to change the world one problem or opportunity at a time, and figuring out how to do so, is the simplest definition of the phrase,” he says. To Levesque, it’s about putting in the work every single day. “You have to show up. You must be confident but also humble enough to ask for help,” he says.

In line with this vision, the Hunter Hub is designed to be an entrepreneurial playground for students to learn, explore and grow. Levesque asserts the importance of exploration and failure: 

“The Hunter Hub provides a safe space where you can feel comfortable to fail. Failure is imperative and brings you one step closer to success.”

For budding entrepreneurs, the opportunity to try new things is an invaluable asset. “Growth happens when you’re in uncomfortable situations,” Levesque says. In fact, this mindset propelled Levesque to make the jump from the University of Ottawa to the University of Calgary. “I was there for six years, and I wanted to get a little uncomfortable. Moving from Ottawa to Calgary presented a tremendous growth opportunity,” he says.

Above all else, Levesque believes that the Hunter Hub should serve as a student’s first impression of entrepreneurship at the university. He likens the Hunter Hub to the French word “incontournable” which refers to something that can’t be overlooked; something inevitable and undeniably essential.

“We want the Hunter Hub to be the first place people think about when they think of entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial thinking.”

Learn more about the Hunter Hub for Entrepreneurial Thinking by visiting its website.