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Harley Finkelstein

Canadian businessperson, entrepreneur, and public speaker

Harley Finkelstein is a prominent Canadian entrepreneur and business leader, best known for his role as the President of Shopify, a leading e-commerce platform. He was born in Montreal, Quebec, and began his entrepreneurial journey at the age of 17 by founding a T-shirt company while studying at McGill University. He later transferred to Concordia University, where he earned a bachelor's degree in economics, and subsequently attended the University of Ottawa, where he obtained both a Juris Doctor and an MBA.1

Finkelstein joined Shopify in 2010 as Chief Platform Officer, shortly after meeting co-founder Tobias Lütke. His early involvement included various roles across business development, law, and finance. He was promoted to Chief Operating Officer (COO) in 2016 and became President in September 2020.12 Under his leadership, Shopify has significantly expanded its influence in the e-commerce sector, powering a substantial portion of online retail in North America.

In addition to his work at Shopify, Finkelstein serves on the board of directors for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) and is an advisor for several venture capital firms. He is also a well-known public speaker and has appeared as a "Dragon" on the Canadian version of Dragons' Den, where he invests in startups.13

Finkelstein has received numerous accolades, including being named Angel Investor of the Year at the Canadian Startup Awards and being recognized in Canada's Top 40 Under 40. He is actively involved in philanthropy, including a notable donation to establish a Jewish community center in Ottawa.12

Highlights

May 19 · twitter

Reminder: 99.9% of merchants in good standing on Shopify have never experienced any disruption with their Shopify Payments account.

May 10 · twitter

Happy Mother’s Day to all the moms out there.

Especially the ones doing the invisible work. The emotional labor. The remembering. The calming. The carrying. The showing up every single day whether anyone notices or not.

You are the heartbeat of the family.

Thank you for the love, the patience, the magic, and the steady hand on the wheel.

Happy Mother’s Day 💚

Happy Mother’s Day to all the moms out there.

Especially the ones doing the invisible work. The emo
May 8 · Business Insider
Airbnb's CEO says AI writes 60% of the company's code — and makes managers get their hands dirty
Dec 7 · Business Insider
Shopify president says work-life balance is a 'misnomer' — and that we should embrace work-life 'harmony'
Feb 13 · youtube.com
Shopify President Harley Finkelstein goes one-on-one with Jim ...
Shopify President Harley Finkelstein goes one-on-one with Jim ...
Aug 14 · mckinsey.com
The Committed Innovator: Talking with Shopify's Harley Finkelstein
The Committed Innovator: Talking with Shopify's Harley Finkelstein

Related Questions

What inspired Harley Finkelstein to start his first business at age 17?
How did Harley transition from being a lawyer to becoming Shopify's President?
What are some key achievements of Harley Finkelstein at Shopify?
How has Harley's background influenced his leadership style at Shopify?
What is the story behind Harley's involvement with the CBC and Dragons' Den?
Harley Finkelstein
Harley Finkelstein, photo 1
Harley Finkelstein, photo 2
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Location

Canada