About Scott Stirrett
My mission is to help people reach their full potential.
As the Founder and CEO of Venture for Canada (VFC), I’ve spent the past decade building a national movement that equips early-career professionals with the skills, networks, and mindset needed to thrive in an uncertain economy. Since launching VFC in 2013, I’ve supported over 10,000 young people in launching their careers and raised more than $80 million to expand entrepreneurial opportunities across Canada. Our impact has been made possible through collaborations with Employment and Social Development Canada, RBC Foundation, TD Bank, Scotiabank, and leading Canadian foundations.
I’m also the author of The Uncertainty Advantage, a practical guide for young professionals navigating today’s unpredictable global economy. The book is endorsed by leaders including Andrew Yang, Stephen Poloz, Amanda Lang, Eric Ries, Sukhinder Singh Cassidy, and Michele Romanow. It draws on my experience scaling VFC and emphasizes the importance of adaptability, entrepreneurial thinking, and lifelong learning in the future of work.
Before founding VFC, I worked at Goldman Sachs in New York City. I’m a graduate of Georgetown University’s Walsh School of Foreign Service and have been fortunate to be recognized as a TELUS LGBTQ Innovator of the Year, a Young Impact Leader by Future of Good, a Globe and Mail Changemaker, an Action Canada Fellow, and an Ashoka Fellow. I grew up in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia—a place that continues to shape how I think about community and opportunity.
My commentary has appeared in outlets such as The Washington Post, Forbes, The Globe and Mail, CBC News Network, and BNN Bloomberg. I currently serve as Co-Chair of the Board of Directors of the Canadian Centre for Housing Rights and sit on the Board of the Speech and Debate Canada Foundation.