Speaker Bio
Manjit Minhas is known across Canada as a star on Dragons’ Den, the hit CBC series she joined 10 years and 10 seasons ago after establishing herself as the formidable entrepreneur behind Minhas Breweries & Distilleries — a privately-owned global empire with annual revenues in excess of $220 million.
Manjit started her companies as a 19-year-old petroleum engineering student by selling her Toyota RAV4 to enter the alcohol industry with the $10,000 return — and her brother, Ravinder. Despite competition from the multinational corporations controlling the beer industry, Minhas managed to establish itself in the marketplace by offering higher quality products at a better value than the competition and, within a decade, Manjit and Ravinder’s parttime job had become a $100 million operation.
The siblings became the youngest brewery owners in the world in 2006 when they purchased the second-oldest brewery in the United States: the Joseph Huber Brewery in Monroe, WI. The facility was renamed the Minhas Craft Brewery and modernized to meet the demands of an ever-evolving industry.
Today, Manjit has over 90 brands of beers, spirits, liqueurs and wines. Her products are sold in five provinces, 47 American states and 16 other countries. Minhas companies have sold over 12 billion pints of Boxer Lager, Mountain Crest and other beers. She’s also created unique and successful distilled spirit products in numerous categories form vodka to whisky to Irish cream.
In addition to creating custom brands for retail chains, Manjit also collaborates with celebrity partners such as Artingstall’s Brilliant London Dry Gin, with Hollywood luminary Paul Feig, and MONEYBAG™ Vodka – an ultra-premium, 10x distilled luxury vodka with legendary KISS co-founder Gene Simmons.
Manjit believes in social responsibility and has used her engineering background to innovate production processes using the least amount of chemicals, gas, electricity and water. Manjit also created a special 48-can pack for Costco with no plastic rings and the least amount of paper box material necessary to prevent excess materials from ending up in landfills.
Manjit was the first brewer in Canada to voluntarily print warnings about drinking and driving, and the risks of consuming alcohol during pregnancy on beers cans. Meanwhile, Canadian and American consumers who suffer from celiac disease and similar dietary sensitivities have benefited from her innovative method of making delicious gluten-free beer from sorghum.
Manjit is passionate about giving back to her community and provides her time, energy and money to numerous charities such serving on the boards of the TELUS Friendly Future Foundation, Hull Services and a YWCA board that raised $50 million for a crisis shelter. She also co-chaired a $60 million United Way of Calgary and Area fundraising campaign.
Speaker Topics
Manjit Minhas started her business as a 19-year-old with $10,000 and a dream. Today, her brewery is the 10th largest in the world.
An engaging and inspiring speaker, Minhas is as down-to-earth as she is business-savvy. In this highly customizable talk for entrepreneurs and leaders in any industry, she reveals the lessons that she’s learned in her two decades of groundbreaking business leadership, as well as the strategies used by some of the best entrepreneurs, innovators, and visionaries of our time.
How can we truly rise up to the occasions that challenge us? How can we harness exciting possibilities in a way that inspires others? How can we ensure everyone under our leadership has what they need to thrive?
Award-winning entrepreneur Manjit Minhas is a brilliant speaker who will show you how to make a difference in the lives of everyone around you. She shares how you can welcome diverse voices in your team and your company, why it’s crucial to provide both encouragement and critical feedback, and how to inspire your people to persevere through challenges and look towards the future.
With wisdom and wit, Manjit shows audiences how to develop vision, grit, and true teamwork throughout your organization. “True leaders don’t create followers,” she says. “They create more leaders.”
It’s so easy to conflate our positions, roles, and responsibilities with who we really are. It’s even easier to be scared when we start to see that these titles no longer represent us fully.
Manjit Minhas—CEO, entrepreneur, mother, wife, mentor, and investor—understands how hard it can be, especially for women. Creating a full, well-rounded life and career that’s truly your own means being brave enough to push the boundaries of your comfort zone, and move beyond the limiting definitions of yourself you may hold.
As the co-founder of a now-$155 million brewery, Manjit is living proof that women can—and should—achieve success in even the most male-dominated industries. In her 25 years running Minhas Breweries, Distillery and Wineries, she’s combined savvy financial sense with passion, patience, and thick skin.
In this inspiring and accessible keynote, Minhas shares her stories of challenges in her personal and professional life—and how she overcame them to re-define success and thrive. With candor, clarity, and unique insight, Minhas is the speaker sure to motivate and empower an entire generation of female innovators.
In today’s world of constant distractions and ever-growing to-do lists, staying productive without burning out is a challenge many people face. Manjit Minhas, a successful entrepreneur and star of Dragons’ Den, shares her powerful strategies for building sustainable, productivity-enhancing habits. Discover proven methods to stay focused, prioritize effectively, and create a routine that turns intentions into real, consistent achievements. Learn how to power up your day with practices that drive success while maintaining balance and well-being.
This seminar focuses on actionable insights that bridge the gap between branding and sales, with a unique emphasis on authenticity and value-driven marketing. Successful entrepreneur and star of Dragons’ Den, Manjit Minhas, covers topics like:
- Building a Brand That Resonates: Drawing from her experience creating household beverage brands, Manjit shares strategies for building a brand that stands out, connects emotionally with consumers, and creates lasting loyalty.
- Value-Based Selling: She discusses the importance of showing value to customers, not only in product quality but in what the brand represents—such as sustainability, social responsibility, and community. Manjit emphasizes how aligning with values helps attract and retain customers.
- Breaking into Competitive Markets: Sharing how she and her brother entered and scaled their brewery in a multinational-dominated industry, Manjit offers insight into finding unique selling points (USPs), developing competitive positioning, and using innovative thinking in crowded markets.
- Effective Sales Techniques for Today’s Buyer: Manjit addresses the shift in buyer expectations and how personalized, consultative selling drives conversions. She covers negotiation tips, closing strategies, and how to build trust with clients.
- Creating Partnerships for Growth: Through examples from her collaborations with celebrities like Paul Feig and Gene Simmons, Manjit speaks on leveraging partnerships and collaborations for brand visibility and new sales opportunities.
Attendees leave with a toolkit of strategies to create a memorable brand, communicate value effectively, and thrive in competitive markets.
In this seminar, successful entrepreneur and star of Dragons’ Den, Manjit Minhas, teaches essential skills for delivering pitches that capture attention, build trust, and close deals. Key areas covered include:
- Crafting a Standout USP: Learn to highlight your Unique Selling Points (USPs) to make your pitch memorable and impactful.
- Understanding Your Audience: Discover how tailoring your message to align with your audience’s needs and values strengthens your pitch.
- Building a Compelling Story: Manjit shares storytelling techniques that turn your pitch into an engaging narrative, drawing in potential investors and partners.
- Communicating with Confidence: Explore techniques for presenting with confidence, clarity, and credibility, including body language and vocal cues.
- Closing the Deal: Gain insights on handling objections, negotiating effectively, and creating a sense of urgency that moves prospects to action.
Participants will walk away equipped to deliver pitches that resonate, persuade, and lead to lasting partnerships.
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