Meet Michael Keoshkerian, Senior Advisor, Investment Attraction at Toronto Global
He's on a mission to support the expansion of foreign-owned businesses to the Toronto Region.
We chat about what it means to be an ambassador to the local ecosystem, how bringing in companies like Netflix, Pinterest and Reddit enriches our tech ecosystem and one of his favourite things to do to recharge!
What do you enjoy most about connecting global tech to the TO ecosystem?
This job is one of the most challenging ones I've ever had, but certainly the most rewarding. We represent the City of Toronto but we also represent the entire Greater Toronto Area, so 24 municipalities around the City of Toronto. I think it is quite special because of Toronto, who we are and the region that we represent. That means that we can work with companies ranging from tech to manufacturing to food/beverage and entertainment. Being able to touch on so many different sectors is quite exciting. Every day is different.
I really enjoy making connections. When a company is coming in, they don't necessarily know anyone in Toronto. So maybe there are researchers at the University of Toronto that we can connect you with, maybe there are folks within local community organizations who are doing something connected to the company's mission, especially from a diversity inclusion perspective or broader social mission. With Netflix, for example, when they set up their office in Toronto, they were keen to understand more about the diversity of creators that we have here in Toronto, so we connected them to local filmmaking groups. It’s really cool to have that kind of perspective and offer it to companies as they're coming into Toronto.
One of the biggest things is helping people get new jobs and opportunities with really exciting companies that otherwise wouldn’t have been possible.
How does the arrival of US and global tech companies enrich the tech ecosystem (vs being seen as a drain on our talent pool)?
Yeah, that's a very good question. Our mission at Toronto Global is mostly focused on international companies coming into the Toronto Region. So when helping all these international companies get set up here, thinking about the impact on local companies is certainly something that we keep in mind. The companies coming here, just like everywhere else, are looking for the best people. That's often why they're attracted to Toronto - the diversity of our tech ecosystem. So sometimes that means that they're competing with local companies for talent.
We see that the global companies setting up here are growing, the people they hire are also growing and learning, and at some point those people are going to move on. So let's say a company comes in, and they're looking for someone to be a site lead. That may be an opportunity for someone who's been with a Toronto-based company for a few years and they're looking to grow their experience to another level. Well, here's the chance to work with an international company and become the bridgehead for their operations here locally. We see that as a way to enrich the ecosystem. The people who are getting these jobs are staying in the GTA and in Canada. In a few years with experience and with new connections, maybe they'll go off and start their own company, locally or bring that global experience to a Canadian business.
If we didn't exist, companies would still be coming here because we're a great place. So by working with them, part of our mission is to help them understand local best practices and how to integrate within and enrich the community. None of the companies I've worked with have wanted to come in and dominate the market and pay above the expected compensation rates. They all want the best people and they'll certainly compete, but knowing they want to be part of what's going on here rather than being disruptive is great. The message that they convey to us is “Yes, we want to be part of Toronto, please help us understand how to fit in and contribute in a positive way”.
You have a big job with big demands, what do you do to recharge?
It's important to keep a clear line between work and personal life but things evolve quickly, so you do also have to be responsive. In the moments where we have downtime, I like to do early morning runs to burn off some of that stressful energy, and level set for the day. I love going for walks in different neighbourhoods in Toronto. I love winter myself, so I'm not afraid of what's coming in the cold weather. So I'll definitely continue being outside.
And then family time is also important. I have a three-year-old daughter. So it puts everything in perspective when I turn off my laptop and go play with my daughter and suddenly the bigger problems at work seem a lot less important. And that's a good way to have perspective.