C-Suite Network™

Menu
Search
Close this search box.

The 3 Ts of Success: Trust, Talent & Tenacity

When you meet Miles Nadal, you immediately understand you’re in the presence of someone exceptional. But it’s not just the accolades or the billions under management that define him—it’s his unwavering belief in the power of human potential, his commitment to partnerships grounded in values, and the incredible generosity that has marked every stage of his life.

It’s been more than a decade since I first met Miles, and I’ve never forgotten that moment. I walked into that meeting knowing I was about to speak with a wildly successful entrepreneur, someone who had built a $3 billion holding company from a $500 loan. But I walked out knowing something far more important: that Miles Nadal is the kind of leader who doesn’t just scale companies — he elevates people. His presence arms you with the belief that even the impossible is entirely achievable.

Today, as the founder and global chairman of Peerage Capital, Miles leads one of North America’s top 10 residential real estate brokerage firms, with strategic platforms spanning Peerage Realty Partners, Peerage Wealth Management, and Vaultra Self Storage. Together, these businesses are shaping industries, managing over $18 billion in assets, and operating nearly 3 million square feet of storage space.

But Miles’s origin story isn’t about privilege. It’s about grit.

He grew up in a modest two-bedroom apartment in Toronto. His family never owned a home. “It’s a reverse family enterprise,” he told me with a smile. “The first two people I hired were my parents.” With $500 from a Visa card and a whole lot of necessity-driven creativity, Miles began building what would become a global empire.

For Miles, success wasn’t about status but of survival. “Failure wasn’t an option,” he said. “If I didn’t figure it out, we’d all be on the street.” And figure it out, he did. With each challenge – from skyrocketing interest rates in the 80s, Black Monday in ’87, and the dot-com bust — Miles met adversity not with fear, but with persistence, partnership, and a belief in people.

It’s this belief that sits at the heart of his now-iconic partnership model: a structure that allows Peerage to own majority stakes while empowering the original owners to retain meaningful equity. “When people feel like true partners—manual, emotional, and financial stakeholders—they’ll help you build something greater than you could ever achieve alone,” he explained.

And build they have. But Miles hasn’t just built businesses; he’s built communities. He’s redefined what it means to be a successful entrepreneur by weaving impact and philanthropy into the very DNA of his leadership.

One of his most formative experiences came as a child when he was given a subsidized opportunity to attend summer camp at what is now the Miles Nadal Jewish Community Centre in Toronto. That experience stayed with him. Thirty years ago, even when he had only modest means, he made a multi-million-dollar pledge to revitalize the center; a pledge he later fulfilled with over $20 million in investments. “That was my first real ‘give,’” he told me. “And it was all about giving back the same opportunity I had.”

That same generosity led to his transformational work in Regent Park and other underserved communities. When asked why he gives so much, he didn’t hesitate. “Because I’m selfish,” he said with a grin. “It just feels so good to help others that I want to do more of it.”

That’s the essence of what we call a Hero Leader — someone who builds, not just for profit, but for purpose. Someone who leads with heart and humanity. Miles is exactly that.

And while his business acumen is unmatched, what struck me most was his humility. “I don’t think of myself as extraordinary,” he said. “I’m just an ordinary guy trying to do extraordinary things.” He lives by the quote from the legendary Jimmy Valvano: Every day, in every walk of life, ordinary people accomplish extraordinary things.

That mindset, combined with his insatiable curiosity, drives him even now. “I still believe my dreams exceed my memories,” he told me. “There’s so much more I can learn, and so many ways I can grow—as a leader, a partner, a father, a friend.”

His principles of partnership are nothing short of brilliant—simple yet profound. Only partner with people you’d want to spend a weekend with. Only partner with those who love animals. Only partner with those who know how to count. And only partner with people who understand that luck, humility, and kindness are just as critical as strategy and ambition.

Miles shared with me that his phone holds over 23,000 contacts—each one a potential story, a connection, a collaboration. “You never know who you’ll meet and what that might lead to,” he said. “Just ask three questions: What’s your name? Where are you from? What do you do?”

In a world that moves at breakneck speed, Miles Nadal reminds us that meaningful success is built on trust, talent, tenacity—and heart. He’s not just building companies. He’s building lives. And for those of us lucky enough to know him, learn from him, or work alongside him, we are better for it.

Miles, thank you for leading by example. For daring to dream. And for showing us that the best leaders aren’t just the ones who rise to the top—they’re the ones who lift everyone else up along the way.

Watch the full interview on C-Suite TV or listen to the podcast on C-Suite Radio (or whatever platform you listen to podcasts).

Tricia Benn
Latest posts by Tricia Benn (see all)

More Articles by Author