Hal Kvisle is a Canadian business icon. He’s been named Canada’s most Outstanding CEO of the Year, received the Canadian Business Leader Award, and has been recognized as one of the 50 most influential executives in the country. In fact, Hal has received about every major business award that you can receive, and many more that recognized his contributions to the community. Hal was the long time CEO of TransCanada pipelines (known today as TC Energy), as well as Talisman Energy. He’s served as governor with the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers and on the boards of the Bank of Montreal, Arc Resources and the Nature Conservancy of Canada, amongst others. But the resume doesn’t begin to tell the full story.
Growing up in the foothills of Alberta, Hal developed a passion for nature. And though some might assume that his work in the oil and gas industry disqualifies him from speaking about conservation, they’d be wrong. Hal’s story is as important as it is insightful. He understands the challenges at the intersection of nature and the economy better than most – after all, he has seen the issue from both sides.
Before heading to a board meeting, Hal Kvisle sat down with us to share his recipe for balancing people and nature.
What do you think?
- What did you learn from Hal’s story?
- Do you think his vision for balance does right by both the economy and biodiversity?
- Do you think business has improved its environmental bottom line or is there work still to be done?
- Do you agree with Hal that business leaders need to respect the environment in order to succeed?
- Has Hal given you a better insight into how you can work with business leaders – major corporations – to bring about change that benefits both people and nature?
- If you had assumptions about Hal, did he change your perspective?
- How do you think we should balance people and nature?
More on Hal
Read the articles:Canadian Petroleum Hall of Fame, What’s Next for Hal Kvisle and Talisman Energy?, Hal Kvisle on ‘CEO disease’ and our ‘incompetent’ regulation of pipelines