Business Management Lessons from International Fashion Sensation Parachute

What led  Nicola Pelly  and  Harry Parnass to launch a new line of clothing that would become the world-wide phenomenon known as Parachute?  

When they began, they had no idea how it would evolve and grow. Like many other fashion brands (many of which we’ve never heard of), their efforts could have resulted in disaster. Yet, they went ahead. The brand emerged from the energy of Montreal and reflected the cultural and social changes of the 1980s.

The pair of innovators confided in their talents without second-guessing themselves or compromising their vision: had they played it safe, Parachute as we know it may have never come to fruition.

During this session, we explore how these same principles of confidence, intuition, and perseverance embodied by Parachute can be implemented into the world of business, strategic planning, and decision making. This interactive discussion dives into how we can be bold, innovative, and even subversive in leadership roles through collaboration and problem-solving.

About the Presenter

President of 5i Strategic Affairs, Mark Hollingworth is an expert in strategic leadership who has worked as a management consultant, workshop leader/facilitator, educator, and ontological coach for clients in the profit and not-for-profit sectors for over 25 years.

Mark lectures in Strategic Management and Leadership at McGill University. He is a workshop leader at the Executive Institute of the University’s Desautels Faculty of Management and a lecturer in the School of Continuing Studies.

Mark will be assisted by Anna Maggi, Visual Facilitator & Communication Designer, Anna Maggi Studio; Debora Barrientos, Corporate Talent and Leadership Development Specialist, and Shannon Stoll Rabas, Somatic Coach, Training and OD Consultant.