Steve Whiteside, Ph.D., PCC

Dr. Steve Whiteside is a business leader, entrepreneur, author, executive coach, and speaker who brings together extensive real-world business experience with advanced academic research in leadership and organizational development.

For more than 35 years, Steve has built, owned, led, and advised organizations. As an entrepreneur, he owned and operated seven private colleges in British Columbia, building and managing multi-million-dollar organizations before successfully selling the business. He has also served in senior executive and CEO roles, including leading organizational turnarounds, and continues to work with business owners, executives, and leadership teams.

What makes Steve’s perspective distinctive is the combination of practical business experience and academic depth. He holds a Ph.D. in Human and Organizational Systems, a Master’s degree in Leadership, and a Master’s degree in Human and Organizational Development. He is also a Professional Certified Coach (PCC) through the International Coaching Federation.

He is the author of The Happy Franchisee, a book rooted in the franchise world but built around leadership principles that apply far beyond franchising. At its core, the book explores how leaders build stronger relationships, healthier organizational systems, and environments where both people and businesses can thrive.

Steve’s work is grounded in a simple philosophy: strong businesses are built by strong people, strong relationships, and strong systems.