About this episode

Paul Desmarais III discusses the principles of earning a 'right to win' in business and the importance of disciplined processes in scaling organizations.

Paul is the co-founder, Chairman, and CEO of Sagard, a global alternative asset manager with $45B AUM (as of year-end 2025), and a builder behind platforms like Portage and Diagram spanning fintech investing and venture creation. He unpacks what it really means to earn a “right to win,” how disciplined process and mistake-avoidance hold up under pressure, and how to scale breadth, culture, values, networks, and entrepreneur-first decision-making without diluting judgment across market cycles. - This podcast/webcast is provided for informational purposes only and should not be considered legal, tax, investment, or business advice. It is not a solicitation, recommendation, or endorsement. All opinions expressed by participants are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Evoke Advisors Division of MAI Capital Management, LLC ("Evoke”), its affiliates, or any companies mentioned. Information shared has not been independently verified by MAI or its affiliates. MAI Capital Management, LLC (“MAI”) is registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), which does not imply any particular level of skill or training. Certain information contained herein…

People in this episode

Host: Alex Shahidi

Guest: Paul Desmarais III

Topics covered

• alternative asset management
• fintech investing
• venture creation
• scaling businesses
• entrepreneur-first decision-making
• market cycles

Keywords

• asset management
• business strategy
• investment
• leadership
• entrepreneurship
• decision-making
• market dynamics

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Sagard, Portage, Diagram, MAI Capital Management, LLC, Evoke Advisors Division of MAI Capital Management, LLC, U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission

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