The Company You Keep

Business and life philosophy according to Jared Smith

For Jared Smith, success has never been about the bottom line: it’s about the people who shape the journey. A lifelong entrepreneur with a passion for connection, Smith has built businesses, communities, and a life anchored in meaningful relationships. From launching a marketing firm in his mother’s basement to guiding growth as a strategic advisor and connector, his path reflects a deep belief: the right people make anything possible.

How did your career path as an entrepreneur unfold?

I’m a fourth-generation Edmontonian, and I grew up in an entrepreneurial family. In high school and university, I was always running small businesses and ventures. During university, I had the chance to represent some Canadian companies in China, which was an eye-opening experience. I’ve always had a not-so-secret passion for martial arts, so while I was in China, I started training in Kung Fu while doing market research for those Canadian companies. It was one of my first real chances to flex that entrepreneurial muscle, and I just knew it was what I wanted to do.

This led me to start a marketing firm. I met a great guy here in Edmonton named Ted Kouri, and we launched a company in my mom’s basement using her floral TV trays, a couple of cell phones, and a shared laptop. We started out selling websites back when websites were just becoming a thing. That business became Incite, and I was there for 20 years. At our peak, we had about 35 to 40 people and a beautiful standalone office on Saskatchewan Drive. Ted and I had a fantastic partnership, and it was a wonderful company, but at the 20-year mark, I started to feel the itch to do something different.

Around that same time, I experienced a personal tragedy: my sister passed away from cancer at 39. That had a huge impact on me. Parallel to deciding what was next for my business, I organized a group of people to train for a year and then participate in a simulated Navy SEAL Hell Week. It was incredibly challenging, and I ended up giving a TEDx talk about the experience.

Originally, I just wanted to suffer in my sister’s honour, but what I found was something much deeper. I learned the value of being vulnerable and open with a strong community. If you want to go further, having great people around you is key. My grandfather used to say, “If you want to be incredible, surround yourself with incredible people.” After everything I’ve been through, I can say that’s absolutely true.

What direction did life take you in after that?

I ended up selling the business to my partners and decided to move forward in a new way. In this next phase of my career, I’ve built everything around that idea of connection. Today, I have a small portfolio of businesses I’ve invested in. I also support a few of them as a fractional executive. It’s just me and my assistant, and I keep it intentionally lean so I can stay engaged and agile. I also run a private gym which has been a real passion project. Fitness has always been a powerful way for me to bring people together, and this space allows that, whether it’s working out, hosting conversations, or building community.

My role across all these connections is as a catalyst. I help companies grow, usually through strategy and connection. Sometimes it’s through building better internal relationships; other times it’s through tapping into my network. I naturally seem to know the right person someone should talk to, whether they’re hiring, expanding, or just need a new perspective. Over the years, I’ve built a deep and diverse network, and I genuinely enjoy putting people together in ways that benefit them both.

Some friends even joke that I’m “the know-a-guy guy,” and maybe that’s true. But what I care about is how those connections land. I want the people I introduce to feel like, “If Jared made this connection, there’s probably something meaningful here for both of us.” That’s always my intent. It’s not just about knowing people; it’s about making the right introductions that create real momentum for everyone involved.

How has your approach to relationships evolved, and how does it inform your work today?

Earlier in my career, I had a transactional mindset. It was like, “Could you be a client? No? Okay, on to the next.” I didn’t always slow down to think about the bigger picture of relationships. It was very outcome-driven. But after my sister passed away, something shifted in me. I started to reflect on my grandfather’s words of “How can I help?” That simple question reframes everything. When I show up with a genuine desire to help, the entire conversation changes. Over time, I’ve also become aware of the danger of judgment. I think as humans, we’re wired to judge. We do it automatically, often without realizing it. We want to put people into boxes. I don’t think we can stop that entirely, but what we can do is catch ourselves when it happens and try to replace that judgment with curiosity.

That idea has become a powerful principle for me. It starts with how we relate to ourselves, too. When I notice that I’m judging myself, I try to meet that with curiosity instead. It’s changed the way I relate to people and to myself, and that’s been foundational to how I approach the relationships in my life now.

What three things do you need to live your most luxurious life?

First and foremost, it’s people. Beyond my family, who are at the heart of everything, I find so much richness in the relationships I’ve built with a diverse range of individuals. Some of the most meaningful connections in my life are with people whose backgrounds, perspectives, and life experiences are different from mine. 

The second thing is peace of mind. It’s something I strive for, though I don’t always get it right. I’ve found a surprising amount of it through martial arts. The ability to be fully in the moment—to slow down and focus—has become a personal luxury I value.

And finally, freedom. I’ve worked hard to create a life that gives me space. I never want to be so entangled in something that I lose the ability to shift gears or pursue something new. That kind of flexibility feels like real wealth to me.

I’d also say that meaningful experiences—more than any object—are what make life feel luxurious. Whether it’s travel, learning something new, or sharing a moment that creates a lasting connection, those experiences stay with you. I like nice things, but I believe luxury lives in people, in presence, and in the freedom to live life on one’s own terms.

https://www.jaredsmith.ca/