Early Life
Sherry Brydson was born in Toronto and is the granddaughter of Roy Thomson, the founder of the Thomson media empire. She studied political science and economics at the University of Toronto in the 1960s. During her time there, she contributed to the university newspaper, The Varsity. She also participated in the 1970 Abortion Caravan, protesting against restrictive abortion laws.
Rise to Success
Brydson is the largest shareholder in Woodbridge, the Thomson family investment firm that controls Thomson Reuters. She is also the richest woman in Canada. Brydson inherited her share of the company and a significant stake in the family's other businesses. She chose to carve her own path after studying at York University and working briefly as a journalist. Brydson holds a significant stake in the Woodbridge Company Limited, which owns a controlling interest in Thomson Reuters.
Key Business Strategies
Brydson's strategic holdings and understated leadership have made her a model of modern wealth stewardship. She runs Westerkirk Capital, her private investment firm, which focuses on long-term investments in sectors like aviation, hospitality, and real estate. Her business philosophy is built on discretion and a focus on long-term value creation.
Philanthropy
Brydson is involved in various philanthropic and charitable causes. In 2009, she donated $5 million to the Toronto Women's YWCA in memory of her mother, Irma Thomson Brydson. Additionally, she contributed to the development of the Elm Centre, a housing facility for women and children. When the Royal BC Museum in Victoria was denied funding, Brydson and her cousin David Thomson paid $5.7 million for a collection of sacred art significant to the Tsimshian people.