The Lavin Agency Speakers Bureau

A speakers bureau that represents the best original thinkers,
writers, and doers for speaking engagements.

Manjit Minhas

To succeed in uncertainty, the best leaders adapt quickly, negotiate boldly, and keep moving forward.

Co-Founder and CEO of Minhas Breweries, Distilleries and Wineries | Owner of the 9th Largest Brewery in the World

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Manjit Minhas: Speaking Sizzle Reel (5:00)

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You Don’t Always Get What You Deserve. You Get What You Negotiate (1:45)

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Why Goal Setting Is the Most Important Habit for Business Leaders (3:25)

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How Do You Know What to Say “Yes” or “No” To? (1:39)

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The Power of Giving Back (1:30)

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Putting a Face to Your Business (3:30)

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Beer Business School 101: You Get What You Negotiate (1:34)

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People Make Your Business (7:24)

Award-winning entrepreneur and business mogul Manjit Minhas knows what it takes to defy the odds and thrive in an industry dominated by men. At only 19, Manjit co-founded Minhas Brewery, Distillery and Winery, becoming the youngest brewery owner in the world—it’s now the 9th largest brewery in North America. A powerful leader and speaker, Manjit uses her success to clear a path for all entrepreneurs of every age and gender. In smart, engaging talks, she shares the secrets that every business leader needs to know: from the right way to set goals (and why you might be doing it wrong), to finding a mentor who can bring the best out of you (and why even CEOs need mentors). Audiences walk away from her talks inspired and equipped to find breakthrough success in any industry.

Manjit Minhas is known across Canada as a star of Dragons’ Den, the hit CBC series she joined 11 years and 11 seasons ago after establishing herself as the formidable entrepreneur behind Minhas Breweries & Distilleries — a privately-owned global empire with annual revenues in excess of $300 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 filmmaker Paul Feig (Bridesmaids, The Housemaid).

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 an innovative new crisis shelter. She also co-chaired a $60 million United Way of Calgary and Area fundraising campaign.

And, in 2023, Manjit was honoured to have been appointed by the Department of National Defense as the Honorary Lieutenant-Colonel of the Canadian Armed Forces’ Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada.

The United Nations Association in Canada also honored Manjit in 2024 — with the Global Citizen Laureate Award in recognition of her commitment to the UN goal of gender equality.

Manjit made history in 2024 becoming the first woman owner of a CEBL team when she and Ravinder invested in the Edmonton Stingers — two-time champions of the Canadian Elite Basketball League.

Manjit also sits on the boards of Enbridge, YYC Airport Authority, and ATB Financial.

As Manjit has experienced the highs and lows of entrepreneurship, she is keen on helping others who work hard to create successful businesses and was excited to be approached by the CBC to star on Dragons’ Den in 2015. Being a venture capitalist on the Den allows Manjit to share her experience and expertise about being an entrepreneur with millions of Canadians each week.

Manjit has invested in more than three dozen businesses over the past ten seasons.

When not on the set of Dragons’ Den, calling on international buyers and suppliers or scouting new trends and industry innovations, Manjit Minhas continues to live in Calgary with her amazing husband and two daughters.

Testimonials

We were delighted to have Manjit Minhas as our keynote speaker at our EY Partner Conference . From the moment she arrived, she immersed herself fully in the event - taking the time to engage meaningfully with attendees and understand the spirit of the room. Her keynote was both inspiring and practical, striking the right balance between personal story and actionable insight. What stood out most was her ability to genuinely connect with our audience and build on the strong, positive energy in the room. Attendees left not only impressed, but motivated. Manjit brought authenticity, presence, and a level of engagement that elevated the entire event. We would confidently recommend her as a keynote speaker for any organization looking to inspire and engage their audience.

Ernst and Young

Testimonials

Manjit Minhas delivered an exceptional keynote on leadership that was both inspiring and practical. Her authenticity, resilience, and entrepreneurial journey made every lesson feel genuine and relatable. She shared powerful insights on leading with courage, embracing challenges, and building high-performing teams while staying true to your values. What stood out most was her ability to connect with the audience through engaging stories, humor, and actionable takeaways. Rather than focusing solely on business success, she emphasized the importance of adaptability, accountability, and empowering others—qualities that define outstanding leaders. This keynote left us motivated to think differently about leadership and equipped me with practical strategies I can apply immediately. I highly recommend Manjit Minhas as a keynote speaker for any organization looking to inspire innovation, strengthen leadership, and energize their teams.

American Manufacturers and Exporters Association

Testimonials

Outstanding keynote! Manjit Minhas was engaging, authentic, and incredibly inspiring. Her insights on leadership, resilience, and innovation were both practical and motivating. I left with fresh perspectives, actionable ideas, and renewed energy. One of the best presentations we’ve booked—highly recommended!

CPA (Canadian Professional Accountants)

Testimonials

We were very impressed with Manjit’s speech. She was inspiring, engaging, and authentic. She connected with our audience and was very open to interacting after the keynote with attendees.

Accenture

Testimonials

Thank you so much for sharing your talents, time and positive energy. With your presence, you helped make this conference an amazing and game changing experience! You brought to the forefront issues of mental health and climate change as well as inclusion within our workplace and in our communities. The world is a better place because of people like you!

Centre for Intellectual Excellence

Testimonials

The fireside chat with Manjit just now was incredible and so popular! Thank you so much for making it happen, even when we needed to change dates!

6Sense

Testimonials

The Manjit Minhas keynote was, to sum it up in one word, phenomenal. When we announced Manjit as our speaker, we received such positive feedback from not only our students, but alumni, faculty, and staff. The excitement carried through Manjit’s keynote and afterwards, as many reached out to thank the Alumni Association for putting on this event. Our audience learned so much from Manjit. They felt she was not only inspiring and resourceful, but genuine and humorous too.

Lambton College

Testimonials

Manjit was very professional, and she responded to the keynote conversation in pure brilliance. Her responses to business issues and insights were spot on. She spoke the exact mind of many of the women, she nailed on each point in a sincere and open attitude. Manjit definitely knows her stuff and executed her role in a very profound manner. My organization would definitely bring her back.

de Sedulous Women Leaders

Testimonials

It was such an absolute pleasure hearing her entrepreneurial journey and to benefit from her extensive marketing expertise on the panel. She really added a ton of value to that conversation. I appreciated it both as a moderator, but also as an entrepreneur, myself. I work with a lot of "thought leaders" and public personalities in my business and I just wanted to share that her capacity to tell compelling stories, share so many memorable (and quotable!) nuggets of business wisdom and keep an audience engaged was truly inspiring. It's a rarity!

CSuite Content

Testimonials

Thank you for contributing to this year’s event, and making it an overwhelming success! Our delegates were extremely delighted with Manjit’s knowledge, breadth of experience, candidness and kindness. She created a collaborative and nurturing atmosphere that enabled participants to share, connect, and be inspired.

Aga Khan Council for Canada

Testimonials

Manjit was an absolute delight to work with. The audience really loved her talk and she did an excellent job on the judging panel. Even with her not feeling 100%, she took the time to chat with a number of people so we really appreciate having her.

#BCTECH Summit

Testimonials

I had the privilege of having a personal conversation with Manjit in front of 100 or so eager listeners at the President’s League Retreat on June 4, 2016. She is the ultimate example of what it means to be an entrepreneur. When you listen deeply to Manjit, you understand her incredible tenacity. She has overcome one obstacle after another. There were many times when her business looked like it might fail. She talks about being totally discounted and overlooked in a man’s world. It was tough enough to be a young woman, barely above the legal drinking age in Canada, let alone being a visible minority. She admits to having many nights of tears of frustration, but they also fueled her relentless determination. In addition, she was an absolute pleasure to work with before and during the President’s League event.

ATB Financial

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Speech Topics

Change Management

How to Thrive in an Uncertain Economic Environment

Economic uncertainty can feel overwhelming. Rising costs, changing job markets, rapid technological shifts, and global instability often create stress for individuals and businesses alike. But uncertainty does not only bring challenges, says Manjit Minhas. It also creates opportunities for growth, innovation, and resilience.

Thriving in an uncertain economic environment is not about avoiding challenges—it is about preparing for them and responding wisely. Adaptability, financial discipline, continuous learning, and resilience help individuals and organizations remain strong even during difficult times.

While the future may be unpredictable, those who stay proactive, flexible, and focused on growth are better positioned to succeed.

Entrepreneurship

The Entrepreneurial SpiritBusiness Lessons from 25 Years of Breakthrough Success

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.

Audiences will learn:

How to lead inclusively and ensure that your teams have what they need to thrive;
How to set goals that actually help you reach your full potential (plus, how to spark urgency to reach these goals);
How to bring the best out of your mentees, and how to find a mentor who will bring the best out of you;
Why “everything can be negotiated,” and how to turn those conversations to your advantage;
and much more!

Strategy

Rising to the TopGet the Best From Your People Through Inclusive Leadership

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 a variety of 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.”

Women in Leadership

Empowering WomenAchieving Business Success in Male-Dominated Industries

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.