More than 15 years ago, a simple question sparked a transformative journey: "Why should I choose you?" This question brought Michael Burns and Ian Chamandy together when Ian’s consulting firm was hired to help a start-up in the financial services sector define its purpose. Ian’s innovative methodology—articulating an organization’s purpose in 7 words or less—proved to be a game-changer, influencing every aspect of the company’s operations and messaging.
Michael witnessed the remarkable impact of this clarity firsthand and engaged Ian repeatedly over the next decade. One notable collaboration came in 2015, shortly after Canada secured Prince Harry’s Invictus Games. Ian worked with Michael and the organizing committee to define the event's purpose. The result? The most successful Games in its history—a sold-out event, live-streamed in over 110 countries, a television audience of more than 7.5 million viewers for the opening and closing ceremonies, a worldwide audience of more than 40 million people, and a record-breaking budget surplus of nearly $10 million.
Fast forward to 2020, when the pandemic upended lives and sparked deep reflection about purpose. As Michael and Ian discussed the widespread uncertainty, they saw a profound “purpose deficit,” especially among young people. The world talks about the importance of purpose, but few know how to uncover it. That challenge became their next great mission: to adapt Ian’s proven process for businesses into an accessible, transformative experience for individuals.
After over a year of development, PurposeU was born—the world’s first AI-powered online course designed to help anyone discover their purpose and what makes them truly remarkable.
At PurposeU, we believe everyone deserves to live a life of clarity, confidence, and meaning, guided by their unique purpose.
Michael Burns is a highly accomplished executive and entrepreneur with more than 30 years of proven leadership experience in financial services, technology, philanthropy, and marketing. He has co-founded and scaled successful ventures, including the Co-Founder and President of Clearsight Wealth Management, CEO of the Invictus Games Toronto 2017 and President and CEO of the Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation. Michael’s efforts have directly contributed to raising more than $1.4 billion to support transformative initiatives in healthcare, scientific research, veterans’ rehabilitation, youth empowerment, athletics, women’s advancement, and refugee support.
A trusted advisor and collaborator, Michael has worked alongside global leaders, including presidents, prime ministers, members of the Royal Family, and top executives from Fortune 500 companies. As a sought-after speaker, he has delivered impactful presentations at Canada’s most respected venues, including the Canadian Club and the Empire Club of Canada, further cementing his reputation as a thought leader.
Over his career, Michael has served on more than a dozen boards and advisory committees, leveraging his leadership and expertise to advance a range of influential organizations. Notable roles include serving as Chair of the Michael Garron Hospital Foundation, Co-Founder of the True Patriot Love Foundation, and Director of two iconic cultural venues, Roy Thomson and Massey Halls. He continues to play an active role on several boards, including the Professional Golf Association of Canada, Canada Snowboard, and the Edmonton Oilers Community Foundation.
Michael’s exceptional service has been recognized with numerous honours, including an honorary Doctor of Laws from Dalhousie University, Canada’s Top 40 Under 40 distinction, and two prestigious awards from the Governor General of Canada: The Meritorious Service Cross and Medal for his philanthropic contributions.
As Co-founder and Executive Chairman of PurposeU, Michael brings his decades of experience, vision, and passion for purpose-driven success to empower individuals and organizations. His proven track record of building impactful initiatives and inspiring innovation ensures that PurposeU delivers unparalleled value to its clients.
Ian Chamandy is a strategist, author and speaker with over two decades of experience helping organizations and individuals define and live by their purpose. As the co-founder of Blueprint Business Architecture Inc. in 2005, Ian developed the proprietary Blueprint process, enabling more than 500 organizations to articulate their unique purpose in 7 words or less. This groundbreaking approach transforms purpose into a strategic guide for operations and communications, driving consistent and remarkable results.
Building on this success, Ian adapted the Blueprint process for individuals in 2022, empowering people to create personal Blueprints for happier, more productive, and purpose-driven lives. In 2024, he co-founded PurposeU, an online platform offering the Blueprint for Purpose course, which guides participants in defining their personal purpose and using it to design a life of meaning and fulfillment.
Ian’s journey began at the University of Waterloo, where he earned a BA in Social Psychology. His early career included roles in advertising as a copywriter and account executive, then becoming a computer consultant, introducing the Macintosh computer to the visual communications industry in Toronto in the late 1980s. In 1992, Ian created a television business selling Citytv’s Speakers Corner format globally, a venture he co-led for 15 years.
Ian is the co-author of “Why Should I Choose You?: Answering the Most Important Question in Business in Seven Words or Less”, published by HarperCollins. As a contributor to a nationally broadcast TV station, Ian shared insights on leadership, strategy, and personal growth.
Known for his ability to distill complex ideas into clear, concise and compelling strategies, Ian has made it his life’s mission to help organizations and individuals uncover what makes them uniquely remarkable. His work inspires transformation, guiding others to live and lead with purpose.
We are leading a global movement that empowers people to find, live and share their purpose.
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