After deep loss set her on an unconventional path, Annabelle White eventually carved out a leadership role with the co-creation of Dragonfly Ventures. As primary visionary and co-CEO of the company, White pairs the management of her family’s financial and philanthropic legacy with her passion for nature, environmentalism and emotional health and well-being.
More than 15 years ago, Ms. White met a kindred spirit in her co-CEO at Dragonfly, Wendy Cooper. The duo met when Cooper was executive director of Georgian Bay Land Trust, and White immediately perceived Cooper to be “very talented and driven,” she says. Through mutual support, they have made Dragonfly Ventures a force of nature in and of itself.
Here, Ms. White, a member of a prominent publishing family from London, Ont., shares how the mentors and strong women in her life not only have helped her maintain the vision, mission and values of her family, but also how they have encouraged her to support other independent women in philanthropy.
Tell us about your academic path, and who were your mentors or champions?
I’m assuming you’re referring to postsecondary studies? I did not go to university and as such I have learned all my financial knowledge experientially. My mother died suddenly of a heart attack when I was 19. A few months later, my dad left Canada to move to the U.S. with his second wife. I had no familial support at that time. Life itself educated me.
I have travelled extensively through parts of Southeast Asia, China, Africa, Australia and, of course, Europe and North America. I absorbed the sights, smells, tastes, emotions and experiences of many countries. Through my wealth, I experienced the rest of the world and dabbled in many sports in the amazing wilderness Canada has to offer. Flat and whitewater canoeing and kayaking. Camping, hiking, horses, skiing, snowboarding, climbing, boating, and many more -ings!
My greatest mentor and support has been my Aunt Kay (my dad’s sister), although she did much of that from a distance as she lives in a remote part of B.C. More recently, as I delved into the world of finance, my mentors have been many of the people who have supported me and shared my vision for a better world, alongside some of my investees and grantees. They all in some way have inspired me when I’ve wondered if I’m actually making a difference and wanted to give up and run away to Fiji.
Their commitment to humanity and Mother Earth, alongside our shared vision/mission/values, has kept me going. There are so many more people who have dedicated their lives and their livelihoods to developing their businesses or supporting their communities who have taught me so much about not giving up.
What drew you to wealth stewardship and giving back?
As an inheritor and wealth holder, wealth stewardship was a given. I absolutely did not want to be another story of riches to rags. I knew I needed to learn how to either manage my own money or learn how to hire honest professionals. I have succeeded in doing both.
Giving back has also been a part of my and my family’s DNA. My grandparents were hugely supportive of giving back to London [Ontario] and its surrounding area, the region that our family’s companies served. It was their way of saying thank you to the population and readership who helped our companies build wealth.
As a young teenager, I remember the day I realized my family were big fish in a small pond. I didn’t really fit in anywhere. It was incredibly scary and isolating. I was overwhelmed with a powerful understanding that so many others had so much less, and I just wanted to be like my peers. I was 15. I had the thought that I just wanted to give it all away.
Of course, my mission has matured and evolved significantly since that moment. I am still acutely aware of how unbalanced and inequitable this world truly is.
How did Dragonfly Ventures come to be founded?
When my mother died, I became one of three beneficiaries of a trust. DV was originally the numbered company within which my trust was held. I did not have any control of how it was managed until I turned 35 years of age. When I gained control, I named the company Dragonfly, and then later it evolved into Dragonfly Ventures.
What challenges did you face in the earliest days of Dragonfly Ventures?
Oh, gosh, this is very personal. At 20, I was essentially parentless and struggling emotionally. My mother was dead, and my father was in the U.S. with his second wife. I was desperate for a familial foundation and searching for belonging. I did some amazing things, and travelled to some amazing places, but I often felt homeless and lost and very alone.
At 35, I got 25 per cent control over my trust and began working with a coach. She was incredibly patient, kind and nurturing. We’ve talked about how in many ways she played the important role of being my financial midwife, and she helped me birth the early vision/mission/values of DV. My first big challenge was when I told the trustees I was moving on without them. They were instrumental in professionally managing my inheritance, but they were also very blind to who I was and my potential. I felt a ton of guilt moving on, knowing I was going to be replacing them.
My next big challenge has been truly trusting the path I’m on with Dragonfly and acknowledging the work we have done and those we have helped. Every day, we see gaps that need to be filled and opportunities to do more, but we are limited. So many gifted people are doing amazing work and need access to money. So many outdated policies and practices need to be updated, changed or thrown away completely. We try to stay as focused as we can, because we can’t do it all.
As women in finance continue to find their voices, what advice would you give to young women who are working towards a career in finance?
I was asked this several years ago and regretfully didn’t know how to answer. It’s such an important question for career women in general. I have been thinking about this a lot. The key for young women is to understand human psychology. Learn about narcissism. Learn to recognize and manage dysfunctional behaviours in others and yourself. Know your rights, and always get help or talk to someone if something happens that you are uncomfortable with.
There will be people who are deliberately trying to sabotage you. There will be those who make uninformed but fixable mistakes. And there will be those who want to see you grow. Learn how to tell the difference by building a solid experiential toolbox and in relationship with supportive mentors.
And know your worth. Keep track of your achievements. Make a list and put it on your fridge. Add to it. Use it to negotiate when necessary. Acknowledge to yourself when you are feeling overwhelmed or like you can’t be strong for yourself anymore. Get help from unbiased proven professionals who have your best interest at heart.
Going forward, what are your most anticipated goals and initiatives for 2025–2026?
2025 marks the first year of a five-year strategy for Dragonfly Ventures. This strategy was a result of our learnings from the previous 15-plus years with our ambitions to go deeper in bringing our vision, mission and values to life. We’re especially excited to engage more at the grassroots level with community-led and serving organizations. We are focused on addressing gaps in our current philanthropic and investment systems, particularly for women, gender-diverse, Indigenous and racialized communities that have faced barriers to accessing capital.
In addition, we’re excited to go deeper in our work to reduce the pervasiveness of toxic substances impacting human and environmental health. We’re looking to contribute to improving policy and regulations around toxic chemicals, supporting communities facing the impacts of these harmful substances on a daily basis, research to better understand impacts and solutions, supporting companies providing safe alternatives, and helping to build a supportive community of all the people dedicated to this work.
What advice would you give women who are hoping to find their voice in philanthropy?
Go places and do things and talk to people you don’t know. That’s how new ideas get sparked and where new relationships or alliances are born. Deliberately challenge yourself. Put yourself in a situation where you are not the expert or the dominant voice. Listen. Ask questions. Truly absorb the answer. Learn. Go home and unpack what you just experienced. And then pivot.
Responses have been edited for clarity and length.
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