Thomas Park, Co-Founder & Lead Partner, BDC Deep Tech Fund

Thomas Park, Co-Founder & Lead Partner, BDC Deep Tech Fund

• Growing up in Quebec during the referenda and witnessing the impact of economic hardship on society.
• Lessons from his parents’ wartime experiences in Korea, teaching gratitude, service, and resilience.

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In this episode of The Brand Called You (TBCY), host Stephen Ibaraki speaks with Thomas Park, Co-Founder and Lead Partner of the Canadian Government BDC Deep Tech Fund.

Thomas Park shares a deeply personal and professional journey—from growing up in Quebec shaped by immigrant parents and wartime histories, to global work at McKinsey and the Gates Foundation, and finally to building Canada’s deep tech ecosystem.

00:01:03 – What Crucible Moments Shaped Thomas Park’s Leadership?

• Growing up in Quebec during the referenda and witnessing the impact of economic hardship on society.
• Lessons from his parents’ wartime experiences in Korea, teaching gratitude, service, and resilience.
• The influence of education and the value of preparation for seizing opportunities.

00:05:26 – Why Pursue Top-Tier Education, and What Did Thomas Park Learn from It?

• Drive to unlock opportunity through education, with studies at McGill, Harvard Kennedy School, and Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth.
• The power of persistence: embracing rejection and working harder than peers, especially during competition-heavy downturns (e.g., 2008 financial crisis).
• The importance of preparation over outcome in both studies and career moves.

00:09:21 – What Did Thomas Park Learn at McKinsey?

• The complexities and limitations of consulting: real value requires engagement in implementation, not just strategy.
• The crucial role of communication tailored to different audiences.
• Insights from fieldwork, including reforming supply chains in Senegal, and lessons from navigating real-world client politics.

00:12:04 – How Did Field Experience at the Gates Foundation Influence Thomas Park?

• Adopting the “butler” mindset: bringing expertise to serve and empower local teams, rather than imposing one-size-fits-all “solutions.”
• Adapting across countries and appreciating local contexts in Nigeria, Cambodia, and more.

00:14:01 – What’s the Reality of Work-Life Balance in High-Impact Careers?

• Early-career overwork and missionary zeal, balanced by the realization that productivity collapses without downtime.
• “Sprints” versus “marathons” as a framework for managing demanding projects.
• The reality: passion-driven industries require sacrifice, but learning to manage limits is key.

00:18:36 – Why Did Thomas Park Return to Canada and Focus on Innovation?

• Observations about the weakening of multilateral institutions and the strengthening role of domestic innovation.
• The importance of homegrown transformation: “You have to go home at one point.”
• Desire to contribute to Canada’s emerging tech and innovation scene.

00:23:13 – What is BDC and How Does It Support Venture Capital?

• An overview: BDC is Canada’s state-owned development bank, focused on supporting small businesses, with both development and profit mandates.
• Its pivotal role as one of Canada’s largest venture capital investors, filling gaps in the capital market.
• The strategic impact of investing directly in hundreds of companies and funds.

00:25:01 – What’s the Difference Between Venture Capital and Private Equity?

• Venture capital: investing on hope and transformative technical potential before revenue.
• Private equity: investing in established businesses with real customers and revenue.
• The unique scope and network-building power of
  Thomas Park
  ’s leadership roles across BDC Capital.

RESOURCES:

Learn more about Thomas Park: LinkedIn

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A childhood shaped by immigrant parents, their wartime trauma, and modest means led him to a core belief: “Use what you have in service of others.” Gratitude + hustle is his formula. Share your thoughts in the comments and spread these insights with friends!

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Thanks for listening!

• Growing up in Quebec during the referenda and witnessing the impact of economic hardship on society.
• Lessons from his parents’ wartime experiences in Korea, teaching gratitude, service, and resilience.
• The influence of education and the value of preparation for seizing opportunities.