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[email protected] 613-798-2411 > p. 12 www.4ottawahomes.com Ottawa Jewish Bulletin FEBRUARY 17, 2014 | 17 ADAR 1 5774 ESTABLISHED 1937 OTTAWAJEWISHBULLETIN.COM | $2 Shopify executive mentors younger Jewish entrepreneurs Harley Finkelstein cites ‘special connection’ and ‘particular responsibility’ to Jewish community BY MONIQUE ELLIOT semester at McGill University in 2001, “I know I’m never going to be the smartest when his mother called from the family guy in the room, ever. But I will be the guy home in Florida with a message: “We are who works the hardest.” broke.” Harley Finkelstein is known for his Finkelstein’s father had been “leveraged hustle. to the hilt” and now owed creditors The 30-year-old entrepreneur has made millions. PHOTO: MONIQUE ELLIOT his home in Ottawa as the chief platform He was given a choice: leave McGill, go Harley Finkelstein started his first business as a university student when his family could no offi cer (CPO) of Shopify, one of the back to Florida and try to work everything longer provide financial support. fastest-growing tech companies in Canada. out as a family; or try to make it on his “Hustle is just about persistence. It’s own in Montreal, without any fi nancial “I needed to do something that would out of passion, ambition. I wish that was about being smart and creative.” support and tuition costs of $18,000 per put food on the table and pay the bills,” he the case for me.