Join our next Wine Wednesday as we showcase a homegrown gem, Showpass. Experience an engaging dialogue between CEO and Founder, Lucas McCarthy, and Executive Chairman, Paul O'Donoghue, as they share insights into the incredible growth journey of the company driven by their collaborative leadership.
Showpass is the world's first customer-centric ticketing and discovery platform for events, activities and things to do. Starting from humble beginnings as a basement startup, the company has now become a tech powerhouse, serving millions of customers annually. With a core vision of reigniting the joy of live experiences, McCarthy has led Showpass to become the fastest-growing ticketing company in North America. Meanwhile, O'Donoghue, with his extensive background in corporate finance, played an instrumental role in the company's launch and expansion by connecting Showpass with other investors during its early days.
Gain firsthand insights into the power of an intergenerational leadership and its lasting impact on company culture and growth, strategies for sustaining growth through challenging times in the market like the pandemic, the beauty of mentorship and collaboration to foster long-term success and so much more! With a growing team of over 100 members, a 30,000-square-foot headquarters in Calgary uniquely designed to support the growing company, Showpass is committed to shifting the narrative from the energy industry to Calgary's booming tech ecosystem. Don't miss this chance to listen to experienced leaders who have skillfully blended their distinct perspectives to build a thriving company.
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Speakers:
Lucas McCarthy is a 3x founder and the current CEO of Showpass, North America’s largest independent ticketing and things-to-do discovery platform. Showpass revolutionizes the ticketing industry by leveraging technology to enhance customer experiences in a sector known for poor satisfaction rates. Lucas’s entrepreneurial journey began with a design company catering to competitive gaming teams, followed by a venture developing a synchronized video upload platform for musicians worldwide.
He holds a finance degree from the University of Calgary and has been featured in A&R Magazine and IQ Magazine for his innovative approach to business. Recognized for his resilience and leadership during the pandemic, Lucas has been honored in Event Industry’s Top 40 under 40 and often speaks at events about entrepreneurship, technology, and entertainment.
Paul has 30 years of corporate finance experience in the energy sector including being a part of starting several private energy ventures in both management and director roles. His energy experience concentrated on corporate development, financings, M&A, investor relations, legal and risk management. He has participated (led or co-led) the raising of over $3 billion in capital and over $2 billion in M&A transactions.
Paul has continued his involvement in the energy sector but transitioned into the Calgary tech space a number of years ago with his active participation in the launch and growth of Showpass as Executive Chairman. Since then, he co-founded Credivera (verifiable credentials) where he is Executive Chairman and in the restructuring of PK Sound (world class concert speakers) as an active Board member. Paul is also a member of Platform Calgary’s Advisory Group.
Paul holds an MBA in Finance from the Rotman School of Business, University of Toronto.
Sponsor:
Opportunity Calgary Investment Fund (“OCIF”) was created as a wholly owned subsidiary of The City of Calgary in 2018 to support catalytic investments within the city to help diversify and transform the economy. The fund is administered by Calgary Economic Development and has a volunteer Board of Directors. It is vital tool to achieve the goals of the economic strategy and diversify Calgary's economic future.