Linda Southern-Heathcott

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TRANSCRIPTION WITH SPEAKERS
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[00:00] SPEAKER_01: It's Calgary's podcast on the Canada's podcast network.
[00:16] SPEAKER_01: Hello, this is Mario Toniguchi coming to you today with Calgary's podcast, a member
[00:21] SPEAKER_01: of Canada's podcast network, where we talk to the entrepreneurs who are making it happen
[00:26] SPEAKER_01: in Calgary, Alberta, so you can listen, discover and engage.
[00:32] SPEAKER_01: Today's guest is Linda Southern Heffcott, who is CEO of Spruce Meadows, the sprawling
[00:37] SPEAKER_01: equestrian facility in Calgary's deep south.
[00:41] SPEAKER_01: Welcome to the show Linda, and thanks for taking the time today to be here for our listeners.
[00:45] SPEAKER_00: Well, thank you very much for inviting me.
[00:48] SPEAKER_01: For those not aware, tell us a bit about Spruce Meadows, its history and how much it has grown
[00:53] SPEAKER_01: over the years.
[00:54] SPEAKER_00: So Spruce Meadows is an equestrian venue that was started 44 years ago by my parents,
[00:59] SPEAKER_00: Margin Ron Southern.
[01:01] SPEAKER_00: It was a venue to give back to Calgaryans and Albertans and Canadians, also a venue
[01:07] SPEAKER_00: to assist in the production of young athletes, to help them aspire to international acclaim
[01:16] SPEAKER_00: and international success in the equestrian sport.
[01:20] SPEAKER_00: Over the 44 years, I think what we set out to do at Spruce Meadows, actually I know
[01:25] SPEAKER_00: what we set out to Spruce Meadows has really come to fruition in the fact that we've had
[01:30] SPEAKER_00: Canadian gold medal winners at the Olympics, we've had a team bronze, our silver story,
[01:36] SPEAKER_00: we've had numerous World Cup winners, and yeah, they've excelled on the World Championship
[01:44] SPEAKER_00: scene.
[01:45] SPEAKER_00: So it's really a wonderful venue, it's open year round for public to enjoy.
[01:51] SPEAKER_00: It is, we focus on show jumping, but it is a community place with lots of things for
[01:56] SPEAKER_00: families to do at Spruce Meadows year round.
[01:59] SPEAKER_01: How did you end up running the show here?
[02:02] SPEAKER_00: Well, I was one of the perks, I guess, of being a daughter and I evolved into it, I was
[02:11] SPEAKER_00: originally an athlete and then began putting my toe into running the business and about
[02:18] SPEAKER_00: 2005, I became president and CEO.
[02:22] SPEAKER_01: Tell me a little bit about doing business in Calgary, what are the benefits of being here?
[02:29] SPEAKER_00: Well Calgary is a great city, when we work with, we have a number of corporate sponsors
[02:33] SPEAKER_00: and supporters, and Calgary has had a really can-do attitude, people have embraced what we
[02:42] SPEAKER_00: do here.
[02:43] SPEAKER_00: You know, we're open, as I mentioned, 365 days a year, we've really never had any vandalism,
[02:49] SPEAKER_00: people protect the place.
[02:51] SPEAKER_00: I think that we have an entrepreneurial spirit in Calgary.
[02:56] SPEAKER_01: Where about the challenges that we're facing these days?
[02:59] SPEAKER_00: Yeah, the challenges, how about we say opportunities?
[03:04] SPEAKER_00: I think as one of the things that we have to do as Canadians is to be united and the
[03:13] SPEAKER_00: negative discord is destructive and it's best to put your best foot forward and try and
[03:20] SPEAKER_00: find a solution for all Canadians.
[03:22] SPEAKER_00: That's what I believe is, will be the best for all of us in Canada.
[03:26] SPEAKER_01: When you look at entrepreneurs out there looking to start a business, would you recommend Calgary?
[03:34] SPEAKER_00: Always, yeah.
[03:36] SPEAKER_00: Calgary has, you know, really, you have a wonderful lifestyle in Calgary.
[03:41] SPEAKER_00: You have the mountains in hour and a half away.
[03:43] SPEAKER_00: You have, you know, blue sky, we have so many opportunities here, and that date you will
[03:49] SPEAKER_00: come back.
[03:50] SPEAKER_00: I think our city has diversified.
[03:54] SPEAKER_00: We see that, we see a great deal of diversity in the citizens of Calgary.
[04:00] SPEAKER_00: And I believe that we have all the opportunities available to us.
[04:04] SPEAKER_00: We just have to find the right direction to go.
[04:09] SPEAKER_01: Obviously, you've got very busy schedule out here, especially throughout the summer.
[04:14] SPEAKER_01: But how do you disconnect and recharge and inspire?
[04:19] SPEAKER_00: I get inspired with our team.
[04:21] SPEAKER_00: I think in running a business, if you have a good team around you, it's really, really
[04:27] SPEAKER_00: very easy.
[04:28] SPEAKER_00: Lots of people talk about bricks and mortar of a business or wires and pipes, but it's
[04:35] SPEAKER_00: really about the team and the people that you work with.
[04:37] SPEAKER_00: And if you have a good team, anything is possible.
[04:39] SPEAKER_00: And when everybody's moving in the right direction, it's very easy.
[04:45] SPEAKER_00: For spruce meadows, the business that we run, we're just about to launch our season.
[04:50] SPEAKER_00: And we have athletes from all around the world that have joined us.
[04:56] SPEAKER_00: We have five of the top 10 in the world ranking list that have said that spruce meadows is
[05:00] SPEAKER_00: the best place for them to be.
[05:02] SPEAKER_00: So I see, our team has done that.
[05:06] SPEAKER_00: Spruce meadows is successful, but it's because of all the people that have joined with us
[05:10] SPEAKER_00: and our stakeholders.
[05:11] SPEAKER_00: So it's my colleagues at spruce meadows.
[05:15] SPEAKER_00: It's our sponsors.
[05:16] SPEAKER_00: It's the media.
[05:17] SPEAKER_00: It's the community around the fan base.
[05:22] SPEAKER_00: And of course, our athletes.
[05:24] SPEAKER_00: And so what I like about our business is that you're able to put all of those constituents
[05:30] SPEAKER_00: and stakeholders together and they're all working together for the best and for the
[05:35] SPEAKER_00: ultimate goal of being successful.
[05:37] SPEAKER_00: And so I think that applies in any business.
[05:39] SPEAKER_00: I don't think that that's just for sport.
[05:41] SPEAKER_00: I think it applies to anything.
[05:43] SPEAKER_01: What are your most excited about spruce meadows right now?
[05:46] SPEAKER_00: Oh, wow.
[05:47] SPEAKER_00: It's so nice to see the horses here.
[05:50] SPEAKER_00: And you know, we're, you know, when you go to put on a party, you are always worried
[05:55] SPEAKER_00: or is anybody going to attend?
[05:57] SPEAKER_00: And everybody's attending.
[05:59] SPEAKER_00: So, you know, I guess that's a pat on our backs saying, you know, you're doing a good
[06:04] SPEAKER_00: job and what we're, what we believe in in our pursuit of excellence is, is being applauded
[06:10] SPEAKER_00: by the athletes and our sponsors.
[06:11] SPEAKER_01: And what's your vision for spruce meadows going forward?
[06:16] SPEAKER_00: So spruce meadows has quite a big vision in my mind.
[06:20] SPEAKER_00: We're right on the corner of the transportation utility corridor right beside the, the
[06:25] SPEAKER_00: growing city, but we're still in the MD of foothills.
[06:28] SPEAKER_00: So I see spruce meadows as the growth opportunity right now.
[06:33] SPEAKER_00: We have the ability right now.
[06:35] SPEAKER_00: We're working on an area structure plan with the city together with the MD.
[06:39] SPEAKER_00: It's in the intermunicipal plan and we're working on having a commercial district,
[06:44] SPEAKER_00: having a sport district and then of course an agricultural district.
[06:49] SPEAKER_00: And I, as that develops, I'm very excited about the, the future for spruce meadows.
[06:56] SPEAKER_01: What's been the greatest challenge, I guess, in the last year of operating and running
[07:02] SPEAKER_01: spruce meadows?
[07:03] SPEAKER_00: Oh, I'd say the roadways.
[07:07] SPEAKER_00: So we're right on the, right on the, we buttress right onto the stony trail expansion.
[07:14] SPEAKER_00: So the roads have really caused us a lot of challenges.
[07:20] SPEAKER_00: Communicating, I think communication is, is really tough for everybody to understand
[07:24] SPEAKER_00: that, you know, if you haven't been to spruce meadows in the last year or whatever,
[07:28] SPEAKER_00: you're going to get here and go, there is, you know, it's Mars out there.
[07:33] SPEAKER_00: So the construction of the stony trail really, I would say is our biggest challenge at the moment
[07:37] SPEAKER_00: and communicating it.
[07:39] SPEAKER_01: When you look back in hindsight, you know, what do you know now that you wish?
[07:45] SPEAKER_01: You would have known when you first started this job.
[07:50] SPEAKER_00: Everything.
[07:55] SPEAKER_01: Baptism by firing.
[07:56] SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
[07:57] SPEAKER_00: I, you know, I look, I look to mentors in my life to see how they have handled different
[08:03] SPEAKER_00: challenges or opportunities.
[08:05] SPEAKER_00: And I couldn't have had two better mentors than my mother and my father, Margonne Rons
[08:10] SPEAKER_00: otheren.
[08:11] SPEAKER_00: You know, I think I always classified that my father is soldering through everything,
[08:17] SPEAKER_00: you know, and being very focused, but my mother always did it with grace and a smile
[08:23] SPEAKER_00: on her face.
[08:23] SPEAKER_00: And so if I can mix those two, I think will be successful.
[08:27] SPEAKER_01: What's the best piece of advice you've ever received?
[08:33] SPEAKER_00: Understand that you don't know everything and to reach out to individuals to get their
[08:39] SPEAKER_00: advice because much of their advice is very sage and it's outward looking in.
[08:46] SPEAKER_00: And sometimes when you're in, in a business, it's easy to get really bogged down in the weeds.
[08:52] SPEAKER_00: And I think that having good advisors and trusted advisors, I think it's the most
[08:57] SPEAKER_00: important thing in business.
[08:59] SPEAKER_01: Getting a switch gears and ask you a couple of personal things right now.
[09:03] SPEAKER_01: Tell me what's on top of your bucket list.
[09:06] SPEAKER_00: Oh, wow, my bucket list.
[09:08] SPEAKER_00: I've, you know, I've been so fortunate over my life.
[09:12] SPEAKER_00: I'm not sure I have a bucket list.
[09:14] SPEAKER_00: I have a goal in my life is to wake up every day and make the best I can of each day.
[09:20] SPEAKER_00: I don't always achieve that.
[09:24] SPEAKER_00: So it is a lofty goal at some times.
[09:27] SPEAKER_00: But yeah, I don't know that I have anything on my bucket list.
[09:31] SPEAKER_00: I guess sitting at the lake and having a glass of wine is always there.
[09:35] SPEAKER_01: Sounds good to me.
[09:37] SPEAKER_01: What about if you weren't doing what you're doing today?
[09:41] SPEAKER_01: What career or what job, the profession, do you think you would be doing?
[09:46] SPEAKER_00: I would like anything in marketing and communication.
[09:49] SPEAKER_00: I find meeting people is so engaging and you learn so much about people.
[09:56] SPEAKER_00: Because it's really people that, you know, if you've ever traveled, people say some people will say,
[10:01] SPEAKER_00: you know, I really like going to Holland or I like going to Switzerland.
[10:04] SPEAKER_00: But it's really about the experiences and the people that you meet, not necessarily
[10:07] SPEAKER_00: with the country.
[10:09] SPEAKER_00: And so I think I'm a people person.
[10:12] SPEAKER_01: What book are you reading right now?
[10:14] SPEAKER_00: I'm reading Sapiens and it's a history of the humans.
[10:21] SPEAKER_00: So it's a very good book.
[10:23] SPEAKER_01: And why are you reading?
[10:25] SPEAKER_00: Yeah, I just want to understand the evolution of humanity and I think it's good to always learn.
[10:31] SPEAKER_01: If there's one word that you would use to describe yourself, what would it be and why?
[10:37] SPEAKER_00: Me? I think I would say I'm shy.
[10:41] SPEAKER_00: I'm very driven and but I'm quite shy.
[10:44] SPEAKER_01: Is there anything that keeps you up these days that worries you?
[10:47] SPEAKER_01: I just troubles him to fight.
[10:49] SPEAKER_00: Well, I think you touched on it earlier is the economy in Alberta.
[10:55] SPEAKER_00: And I am concerned with the political rhetoric on all sides.
[11:02] SPEAKER_00: But I don't think that that's just Canadian.
[11:04] SPEAKER_00: I think that that's worldwide.
[11:07] SPEAKER_00: I am concerned that we as a whole in the world, people don't want to work together.
[11:15] SPEAKER_00: And I think that we have to put our differences aside and find a way to work together,
[11:21] SPEAKER_00: whether it's in Canada, to find a good solution in United States, in Europe,
[11:27] SPEAKER_00: when you see it everywhere.
[11:28] SPEAKER_00: And that is concerning to me.
[11:31] SPEAKER_01: If you had to pick a favorite place in the world outside of Calgary, of course,
[11:36] SPEAKER_01: what would it be and why?
[11:38] SPEAKER_00: My favorite place would be Summerland, BC.
[11:42] SPEAKER_00: We have a cottage there.
[11:44] SPEAKER_00: And it's just very peaceful and it's my, my,
[11:48] SPEAKER_00: I was this away from the hectic world.
[11:51] SPEAKER_01: Let's talk about a little bit about your routines.
[11:54] SPEAKER_01: Do you have daily routines, whether it's morning or evening, that is just something that you just
[12:00] SPEAKER_01: have to do each day?
[12:02] SPEAKER_00: I really try to get up in the morning and go for a long walk.
[12:07] SPEAKER_00: It's a time for myself early in the morning to think about my day.
[12:11] SPEAKER_00: And I find that if I spend a little bit of time for me, the day becomes so much easier.
[12:17] SPEAKER_00: So I would say that's my biggest routine.
[12:19] SPEAKER_01: I'm going to ask you kind of an oddball question, but imagine a small tropical island somewhere
[12:26] SPEAKER_01: off in the middle of the ocean that has only one phone booth but has no internet,
[12:31] SPEAKER_01: no TV, nothing of that source.
[12:34] SPEAKER_01: We're going to drop you off there with no technology, but at any time you can use the phone to
[12:40] SPEAKER_01: to make a call and the boat can bring you back home.
[12:43] SPEAKER_01: How long do you think you'd last before making that phone call and what do you think you would do
[12:48] SPEAKER_01: in the meantime?
[12:49] SPEAKER_00: Do I have a book?
[12:51] SPEAKER_01: You could.
[12:53] SPEAKER_00: I probably last a few weeks.
[12:56] SPEAKER_00: I'm quite comfortable on my own.
[12:59] SPEAKER_00: And I probably try and be creative there.
[13:03] SPEAKER_00: And I would read and I think if I could take one book, I probably would take the
[13:09] SPEAKER_00: Bible because I think it would bring me a certain for me.
[13:14] SPEAKER_00: It isn't religious.
[13:15] SPEAKER_00: I'm spiritual.
[13:16] SPEAKER_00: I'm not religious, but I believe it would be that would be what I would choose.
[13:21] SPEAKER_00: Interesting.
[13:22] SPEAKER_01: Is there anything else you'd like to add that I didn't ask you to?
[13:27] SPEAKER_00: No, I think that people that are starting up businesses or wanting to excel,
[13:36] SPEAKER_00: you have to have a belief in your dreams and your ambition and you have to work hard.
[13:41] SPEAKER_00: There's no shortcuts.
[13:43] SPEAKER_00: And as long as you bring the right attitude, I think you can succeed at anything.
[13:48] SPEAKER_01: Okay, thanks Linda for being our guest today on Calgary's podcast on Canada's podcast network.
[13:55] SPEAKER_01: We hope you enjoyed the show today.
[13:57] SPEAKER_01: Make sure you sign up for our newsletters and write a review for us on iTunes and then connect
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[14:09] SPEAKER_01: You can also check out what other entrepreneurs are doing across the country.
[14:14] SPEAKER_01: See you next time.