CEO in Residence Mentors, Inspires Next-Gen Business Leaders
Bob Gauvreau ’01 inspires students, staff, faculty, and alumni across both campuses with discussions about following dreams and focusing on personal values
March 18, 2024
In his 20s, Bob Gauvreau ’01 (Lady Eaton College) worked hard at one of his first jobs with a big global finance brand and was quickly offered a lucrative promotion. The next day, he quit.
“I had to ask myself hard questions about whether the business aligned with my personal values, and it did not,” says the founder and CEO of Gauvreau Accounting Tax Law Advisory. “I ended up starting my own business with a new vision and building a team whose values aligned with mine.”
During his time as the 2023/24 Trent School of Business CEO in Residence, Gauvreau has inspired students, staff, faculty, and alumni across both campuses with lectures, Q&A sessions, classroom visits, panel discussions, podcasts, wine-and-cheese receptions, and mentorship activities. He has encouraged others to not only work diligently and earn wealth but to also follow their dreams, pursue careers that align with their personal values, and always reinvest back into the community for “the power of good.”
“He has inspired me to find what I’m passionate about and make it my career,” says Sam Dever, a fourth-year Business student.
Trent Foundational to Success
Gauvreau is leader of one of Canada’s fastest growing businesses (as recognized by The Globe and Mail and Financial Times), author of The Wealthy Entrepreneur, creator of the mastermind coaching program The Million Dollar Year, and frequently cited in major business journals.
“Trent University has been foundational to my success, and it has been an honour to return to this world-class institution to inspire and mentor the next generation of business leaders,” he says.
In the Fall, Gauvreau focused on the Peterborough campus including leading the panel discussion ‘You’re the CEO of You’ when he joined Trent School of Business faculty to discuss leadership, values, and overcoming failure.
He encouraged others to become a “next-gen” leader who takes care of team members’ emotional wellbeing.
“I’m not interested in being a CEO but his talk inspired me to take care of co-workers’ wellbeing because you can be a leader in your workplace without being a boss,” says Jaidyn Pond, fourth-year Business student.
On his Wealthy Entrepreneur podcast, Gauvreau showcased Trent School of Business faculty by featuring Business professor Dr. Ken Chen (‘Resourcefulness for Small Businesses’) as well as Gzowski College Principal Melanie Buddle (‘Unleashing the Potential of the Next Leaders’).
Sharing Insights at Trent Durham
During the winter term, Gauvreau led programming at the Trent Durham campus – including an ‘In the Hot Seat’ Q&A session with students – before ending his residency in mid-March by supporting Trent Business students through a Leadership micro credential program at Gzowski College.
Katerina Salto ’94 (Traill College) joined the Durham Campus events and said she was inspired to hear Gauvreau discuss how his company supports Big Brothers Big Sisters annually by providing back-to-school backpacks and haircuts to families in need.
“The importance of giving back to community is essential in any business,” Salto says. “If you contribute to the community, it always comes back to you 10-fold.”
Trent Durham Business Administration student Ronan D’Souza said Gauvreau is a role model because of his passion for mentoring and encouraging other business leaders.
“He inspired me to become a better mentor in my role as president of the Trent Business Durham club,” he says. “I want to help more students get opportunities, full-time jobs, and co-ops.”
As a proud alum, Gauvreau has stayed connected with the University over the years by providing co-op placements to students, supporting Trent’s annual Career Fair, hiring Trent alumni as permanent employees, and championing University initiatives such as Trent Day. In recognition of his accomplishments, the Trent University Alumni Association awarded Gauvreau with the Young Alumni Leadership Award in 2017.
Led by the Trent School of Business, the CEO in Residence program is delivered in partnership with the Life After Trent program, Careerspace, Gzowski College, and the Campaign for Momentous Change. Previous CEOs in Residence include Anita Erskine ’99 (Otonabee College), CEO of Anita Erskine Media; and Dr. Katie Taylor, board chair of the Royal Bank of Canada and past CEO of Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts.