In one of the most urgent and eye-opening conversation, Dwayne sits down with Karl Tabbakh—top Canadian business strategist, international dealmaker, and former chair of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce—to unpack the global forces redefining the rules of business, politics, and leadership.
Together, they explore what rising geopolitical tension, fractured trade alliances, and shifting world orders mean for entrepreneurs, CEOs, and decision-makers across North America. With experience advising on multi-billion-dollar cross-border transactions and leading strategic investments in Canada and the Middle East, Karl offers a rare lens into how to stay sharp—and sane—in chaotic times.

This is part one of a two-part conversation filled with powerful insights on resilience, globalism, and the responsibilities of leadership in the modern era.

Timestamps
00:00 - Introduction
04:14 - Who is Karl? Background and Insights
13:44 - Analyzing Time Blocks for Perspective
15:24 - Importance of Global Experiences
20:00 - Current State of World Affairs
23:55 - World War II Indicators and Lessons
26:51 - Market Reactions Explained
31:19 - Seven Decades of Global Peace
37:41 - Global Events and Their Impacts
43:34 - Economic Divide: Haves vs. Have Nots
44:34 - Navigating Fear and Certainty
52:15 - Canada's Economic Performance Overview
55:29 - Future of Globalization Trends
56:20 - Adversity as a Growth Catalyst
58:34 - Lessons from History
01:00:54 - Client Concentration and Market Diversification
01:05:13 - Ideological Decisions Impacting Economy
01:13:37 - Canadian Election and Climate Change Issues
01:16:33 - Closing Thoughts
01:18:15 - Conservative Party's Evolution
01:24:31 - Building a Business: Key Requirements
01:27:10 - Understanding Coalition Government
01:29:20 - Necessary Actions for Canada
01:30:48 - Spreading Positivity and Love
01:31:06 - Disclaimer

About Karl
Karl Tabbakh is a lawyer, a business leader and a strategic advisor with over 20 years of international business experience. Karl’s expertise is sought after to advise corporations, directors and business executives on a range of strategic issues and transactions both domestically and globally. He is a partner at McCarthy Tétrault LLP with a focus on M&A and private equity and serves on the firm’s Senior Leadership Team as National Leader, Markets and International Business. He was appointed by the Government of Canada as Chairman of Invest in Canada, Canada’s agency responsible for promoting, attracting and facilitating global foreign direct investments into Canada. He previously served as Chair of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce and was on the Board of directors of the Canada Arab Business Council. Karl is a regular speaker on matters of governance, global investment and mergers and acquisitions. In addition to his career in Canada, Karl spent eight years in the Middle East and four years in London, UK, where he developed a solid international network and gained an understanding of international business and investments. An active community leader, Karl supports and leverages his network to benefit many non-profit and local community service organizations, including as member of the Centraide/United Way campaign. Born in Syria, Karl immigrated with his parents to Canada at age 10. He holds an LLB from Osgoode Hall Law School in Toronto, a BCL from the Université de Montréal and a B.Comm from Université Laval in Québec City. Karl is fluent in French, English, and Arabic.

Notable Quotes
“If World War III starts, historians will look at this moment and say: all the signs were there.” – Karl Tabbakh

“Business is a series of relationships. The same principles that heal marriages can heal nations.” – Dwayne Kerrigan

“We’re not saying there will be war. We’re saying the rules are changing—and business can’t afford to ignore that.” – Karl Tabbakh

“The future belongs to those who can see the world through more than one lens.” – Karl Tabbakh

Connect with Dwayne Kerrigan

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Website: www.dwaynekerrigan.com

Disclaimer The views, information, or opinions expressed by guests during The Business of Doing Business are solely those of the individuals involved and do not necessarily represent those of Dwayne Kerrigan and his affiliates. Dwayne Kerrigan or The Business of Doing Business is not responsible for and does not verify the accuracy of any of the information contained in the podcast series. The primary purpose of this podcast is to educate and inform. Listeners are advised to consult with a qualified professional or specialist before making any decisions based on the content of this podcast.