Interviewee: Marnie Walker
Company: 401 Bay Street
Website: www.marniewalker.com www.401bay.com
Avil Beckford: Tell me a little bit about yourself.
Marnie Walker: Starting and building organization is exciting to me. It comes as no surprise then, that I am a serial entrepreneur. My current business is 401 Bay Centre, a fully serviced office facility at 401 Bay Street, in the heart of downtown Toronto. Prior to that I started and built Student Express, a school bus company from a start up to a multi-million dollar company with a fleet of 250 buses, which I sold. I love being around entrepreneurs. There is an excitement and magic about them. They are out there every day creating, innovating, doing. I teach entrepreneurship at the Schulich School of Business, am a founding Board member of Maple Leaf Angels investment organization and sit on several boards. I am married to a supportive husband, Bill Fahey and live in Toronto and Australia.
Avil Beckford: How do you integrate your personal and professional life?
Marnie Walker: I am a great user of Outlook’s Calendar. I schedule both my personal and professional life commitments, so I get the balance I need.
Avil Beckford: What’s a major regret that you’ve had in life?
Marnie Walker: My biggest regret is that there are on 24 hours in a day.
Avil Beckford: What are five life lessons that you have learned so far?
Marnie Walker:
- Listen to yourself. Only you know what is right for you.
- There are no short cuts
- It a long road to the finish line, so pace yourself and stay focused
- Your reputation is the most valuable asset you have
- It all about relationships
Avil Beckford: When you have some down time, how do you spend it?
Marnie Walker:
- I am a great art buff. I love to go to galleries.
- I love the ballet, I love music especially classical.
- I need spend time alone and in nature.
Avil Beckford: What process do you use to generate great ideas?
Marnie Walker: I listen.
Avil Beckford: What’s your favorite quotation and why?
Marnie Walker: “80 % of success is showing up” by Woody Allen
Avil Beckford: How do you define success?
Marnie Walker: Waking up each morning with a smile and looking forward to the day ahead.
Avil Beckford: In your opinion what’s the formula for success?
Marnie Walker: Do what you love and love what you do.
Avil Beckford: What are the steps you took to succeed in your field?
Marnie Walker: I believe that being an entrepreneur and a successful business person, is like being a musician. You need an aptitude and desire to do it, then you take lessons and then practice, practice, practice. I was always interested in business, had a natural aptitude for it. I went to University obtained a MBA, then practiced in the Corporate world before starting my first company Student Express. I still practice, practice every day and listen and learn every day.
Avil Beckford: What advice do you have for someone just starting out in your field?
Marnie Walker: Take courses, read, listen, learn and then practice, practice, practice!
Avil Beckford: If trusted friends could introduce you to five people that you’ve always wanted to meet, who would you choose? And what would you say to them?
Marnie Walker: I don’t wish to meet five specific people, I want to meet people who will enrich my life, help me through a difficult time, or just make me smile. I have been fortunate in my life, that people came into my life and were there for me, and I believe that will continue.
Avil Beckford: Which one book had a profound impact on your life? What was it about this book that impacted you so deeply?
Marnie Walker: I read many years ago a book called the The Dance of Anger: A Woman's Guide to Changing the Patterns of Intimate Relationships
. What I learned from that book was that all of us are engaged in dances with people in our lives. Some of these dances are good, some are not. What I learned from this book is that if you change your dance, the dance of those others will change as well. This was very empowering for me as I realized that I could dramatically change the relationship I have with family, friends, and colleagues by simply changing my behavior.
Avil Beckford: What one music CD and movie would you like to have with you (on the deserted island) and why?
Marnie Walker: Leonard’s Cohen’s CD The Future
, I love and play all the time. I love poetry and music and this is the one CD that puts it all together.
Leonard Cohen – The Future [Official Music Video]
If you cannot view this YouTube video click here.
Avil Beckford: What excites you about life?
Marnie Walker: I feel that I am a kid in a candy store, and the candy store is life. There are so many wonderful things to do and experience, my challenge is what to do first.
Avil Beckford: How do you nurture your soul?
Marnie Walker: To nurture my soul, I need to be alone in nature, whether it is the rainforest in Australia, the magic forest at my summer house, or a rock somewhere overlooking the water.
Avil Beckford: If you had a personal genie and she gave you one wish, what would you wish for? Or, if I gave you a magic wand, what would you use it for?
Marnie Walker: I have always struggled to walk and to keep my weight down. I would wish for strong legs and less of me love.
Avil Beckford: Complete the following; I am happy when…..
Marnie Walker: I am doing what I love to do.
Let’s keep the conversation flowing, please let me know your thoughts in the comments section below.
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Video Credit: Leonard Cohen – The Future [Official Music Video] Uploaded by a1000kissesdeep on Nov 4, 2008
