A Niche of One: Interview with Allan Klassen

In this episode of Branching Out, Allan Klassen, former CEO and managing partner of Albi Homes, shares how he helped turn a Calgary-based luxury home builder into a “niche of one” and a strategic acquisition target which was acquired by Brookfield Residential in 2015. Allan walks through the realities of negotiating with a globally recognized asset management company, keeping a deal alive when it nearly collapsed, and the lessons he learned about non-negotiables, timing, and values alignment. He also opens up about the deeply emotional transition from entrepreneurial leader to an executive inside a finance-driven organization, and how that journey led him to a new role as Chief Experience Officer and ultimately to launching his own advisory practice, Clarity Quest. This conversation is a must-listen for founders and leaders who want to prepare not just their business — but themselves — for a future transaction.