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From MGB to business leader: Garett Senez on taking chances and embracing opportunities

Garett Senez carrying his son and daughter at a trade show in front of the Quark Baby booth

Inspired by fatherhood, the MGB graduate launched Quark Baby and is bringing a fresh approach to the baby products industry

By Jennifer Ivanov

Garett Senez has shaped his career by embracing new opportunities. Since graduating with his Master of Global Business (MGB) in 2011, he’s taken on roles in beauty, beer and more recently baby products. His latest venture, Quark Baby, was inspired by his daughter, Hannah, who was born in 2021. As a new dad, he saw a gap in the way some products were designed and set out to improve them.

That instinct to find a better way has been a constant throughout his career. Shortly after graduating, he landed a dream job with beauty giant L’Oréal. From there, he moved into beer, working for one of the world’s largest brewing companies, honing his marketing expertise. That experience led him to create PACRIM Distributors, which exports Canadian craft beer to more than 20 international markets. In 2023, he took on yet another challenge, bringing Quark Baby to Dragons’ Den, where he secured a $2 million investment.

“I’m just always thinking about how we can do things better,” says Garett. “Ultimately it’s about trying to make an impact and thinking about how we can change things for the better.”

Garett Senez embracing his son and daughter at a pumpkin patch

An entrepreneurial mindset

Garett has never been afraid of charting a new course. He sees a problem, gets curious about it, looks for a solution, and is willing to step outside his comfort zone to try something new. That entrepreneurial mindset was strengthened at Gustavson, where the MGB program gave him a foundation in global business, exposing him to the possibilities of working across different markets, cultures and business environments.

“I went into the MGB program knowing I eventually wanted to do something on my own,” he explains. “If you know what you want to accomplish and why it matters, at some point, your conviction will lead you out of your comfort zone. It’s just that simple.”

Charting his own course

That belief is what led him to take Quark Baby to CBC’s Dragons’ Den. It was a chance to push himself even further, put the business in front of a national audience and see what could happen.

With his heart racing, Garett stopped in the middle of his pitch and took a moment to speak candidly to the dragons. He pulled his focus away from trying to make a deal and thanked them for the opportunity, telling them it was okay if they decided not to invest.

It was a turning point.

“I was a huge fan of Arlene Dickinson, I had read her book, and in that moment, I just wanted to let go of all the expectations and insecurities and have a real moment with people I admire,” he explains. “I took a chance. It felt right, and although it wasn’t quite how I had planned, it turned out to be one of the best experiences.”

The moment paid off. Garett left Dragons’ Den with a $2 million investment deal from Dickinson, giving his startup more momentum.

Today, Quark Baby is sold in seven countries and in more than 6,000 stores. Garett sees plenty of room for growth. The company is expanding beyond traditional baby products and moving into baby tech, including smart cribs and a suite of connected devices.

Garett’s career has taken him across industries, but his approach has always remained the same: be willing to learn and adapt while giving yourself the space to take chances. Gustavson’s MGB program gave him the business foundation and global perspective to pursue those opportunities with confidence, preparing him to navigate different markets, industries and business challenges. Today, that foundation continues to support his willingness to try something new and chart his own course.