This article is part of the Bright Leaders of Calgary series, which features prominent corporate leaders from our Team Calgary program and their insights on the local business community and vision for the future.
Calgary’s entrepreneurial drive is opening doors across industries — and Winta Asefaw is helping businesses step through them. As a Partner in the Business Law Group at Cassels Brock & Blackwell LLP, she guides companies of all sizes through mergers and acquisitions, corporate structuring and complex commercial deals. With deep expertise in agribusiness, agtech and logistics, she supports clients in sectors that are shaping Calgary’s next wave of growth.
With a clear view of the legal and commercial trends influencing Calgary’s economy, Winta shares her perspective on the city’s strengths, the sectors gaining momentum and how Calgary’s entrepreneurial spirit is reshaping its business landscape. Her insights reflect the priorities outlined in Uplook: An Action Plan for Our Economy — Calgary’s long-term strategy to attract investment, create jobs and build resilience across emerging and established sectors.
We sat down with Winta to talk about industry shifts, opportunities on the horizon and why Calgary’s collaborative mindset gives local companies an edge.
Calgary’s economy is diversifying rapidly. From your vantage point in mergers and acquisitions, what kind of deals or activity signal that Calgary is gaining traction as a global business hub?
Calgary's merger and acquisition activity is stronger than ever, and it's clear the city is stepping into its role as a global player. The scale and quality of transactions happening in Calgary reflect real confidence in our economy and the talent driving it forward. While Q1 deal volumes have shifted nationally, Calgary continues to lead with larger or more strategic transactions that draw attention from across Canada and abroad. This is indicative of Calgary's growing role as a global M&A hub. We're closing complex, high impact deals and getting attention from domestic and international players alike, something I've personally experienced through my own growing involvement in cross-border transactions. I'm proud to be part of this momentum and to see Calgary recognized on the world stage.
You work across multiple sectors, from agribusiness to logistics to emerging tech. What are you seeing in Calgary’s business environment that gives companies confidence to invest or expand here?
Calgary’s business environment remains optimistic and very connected. There’s no shortage of expertise and experience. There’s an exceptionally skilled labor pool, whether professionals or skilled laborers in niche markets. People train here, but they also stay here.
I’m an example of that. When I finished school, I could have gone anywhere, but Alberta remained home, and Calgary in particular has a thriving innovation and venture capital scene. Investors and businesses are confident, which makes you confident to be part of the ecosystem.
What trends in Calgary’s deal flow or investment landscape stand out to you as unique compared to other regions?
From 2019 to 2024 — during COVID and immediately after — Calgary still had very strong deal flow. Investments grew at a greater rate than other major Canadian cities. There’s also consistent investment in Alberta’s post-secondary schools, and that’s led to excitement, confidence and further investment — not just financially but also in time, resources and brainpower.
We’ve seen people capitalizing on agtech. Calgary already has rich resources and a thriving agribusiness sector, and people are using that strong foundation to build on. That really puts Calgary on the global map.
When clients ask you about setting up here, what do you tell them about Calgary’s policies or supports that can help them move faster?
It goes back to the talent pool. In other jurisdictions, it can be difficult to get access to the right expertise or skilled labor. Calgary has no shortage of that. The best of the best are here. Rates are reasonable, and the value is exceptional.
There’s also strong investment in business infrastructure, so processes are well established. More often than not, it’s very easy in our business friendly environment for companies to get applications in, complete searches and move through the steps to enter the market or continue here.
What lessons do you think other cities can learn from how Calgary is attracting investment and building resilience in its economy?
Calgary utilizes what it has. The city has a unique history rooted in the energy sector, and it has pivoted very well. Clean tech and agtech are good examples of how Calgary has taken existing knowledge, experience and expertise and adapted to stay current with trends and opportunities.
Calgary is good at pivoting. It’s adaptive and able to provide what the market needs. Other jurisdictions would be smart to do the same and not get stuck in one identity.
What gives you optimism for Calgary’s future?
Calgary is already a pleasant place to live, work and play, but Calgary and Calgarians are all about strategic growth. You can see this in people’s attitudes, in how the city is physically growing through residential and commercial real estate development and strategic investment in transportation and other infrastructure, and in how the business community balances exploring new business opportunities with expanding what's already been successful.
That measured approach and thoughtful focus on growth makes me optimistic.
About Team Calgary: The Team Calgary corporate partnership program engages our community’s visionary thought leaders to influence Calgary’s economic growth and create long-term prosperity and opportunities for all Calgarians.
Together, we advance the economic strategy, Uplook: An Action Plan For Our Economy, as the path to make Calgary the place where bright minds and big ideas come together with an unmatched spirit to help solve global challenges