Public-Private Risk vs. Reward | Dr. Philippe Couillard

The Guest of Honour: Dr. Philippe Couillard, former Premier of Québec (2014-2018) and senior consultant, StrategyCorp 

 

From Montréal's controversial but innovative REM light rail project to balancing four consecutive provincial budgets, Dr. Couillard opens up about governing with private sector partners, modernizing public infrastructure with PPPs and embracing political risk.

 

The former provincial Liberal leader reflects on how to ensure infrastructure projects are built to last and how bureaucratic overload is threatening innovation. He also challenges conventional views on profitability in public projects and calls for smarter, more collaborative models, drawing on lessons from European healthcare and public transit.

 

For this special 2025 finale, Mike and Dan also get practical advice from Dr. Couillard for business leaders hoping to partner with government—and why understanding Québec culture is essential to any fruitful collaboration. 

Inspiring Entrepreneurs is a  TNKR Media Original Production.