Episode Summary:

In this episode of The Alternative Exit Podcast, Andy sits down with Jon Shell, Chair of Social Capital Partners, to explore the transformative potential of employee ownership. Jon shares insights from his journey in advocacy and policy, recounting how he’s championed for Employee Ownership Trusts (EOTs) in Canada to address wealth inequality and business succession.

His experiences highlight the advantages of EOTs, from preserving a company’s legacy to fostering economic resilience in the workforce. Tune in to discover the future of ownership and its role in reshaping business culture and social equity.

Key Takeaways:

• How Employee Ownership Trusts empower business owners to leave a lasting legacy.
• The role of employee ownership in combating wealth inequality.
• Canada’s steps toward adopting EOTs for sustainable economic transitions.
• The tangible impact of majority-owned employee businesses in economic recessions.
• How Social Capital Partners leverages ownership funds for wider social outcomes.

Resources Mentioned:

• Capital in the Twenty-First Century - https://www.amazon.com/Capital-Twenty-Century-Thomas-Piketty/dp/067443000X

About Jon Shell:

Jon Shell is Chair of Social Capital Partners (SCP) and has been advocating to bring Employee Ownership Trusts to Canada since the release of SCP’s report Building an Employee Ownership Economy in 2020. He’s a former small business owner and co-founder of the Canadian Employee Ownership Coalition. Jon was Managing Director of SCP from 2017-2023, leading the transition to our Ownership Agenda. He spent most of his career in the private sector before joining SCP, founding and growing successful companies in both Canada and Australia.

Jon co-founded both Save Small Business and the Canadian Employee Ownership Coalition. Jon was first introduced to SCP when Bill supported a volunteer entrepreneurship project he was leading in Kenya in 2008. He received a BA from Queen’s University and an MBA from the Richard Ivey School of Business at Western University.

Connect with Jon Shell:

• LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jon-shell-8952491
• Website - https://www.socialcapitalpartners.ca/

Connect with Andy Farquharson:

• LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/andyfarquharson/
• Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/andyfarq
• Website - https://abettermonday.me/
• Email - andy@abettermonday.me