In this special live episode of Mission Critical, Lance sits down with Charles Khabouth, founder and CEO of INK Entertainment Group, for a candid, wide-ranging conversation on entrepreneurship, leadership, and building brands that endure.From immigrating to Canada at 15 to becoming one of the most influential figures in Toronto’s hospitality and cultural landscape, Khabouth reflects on the early risks that shaped his career, the losses behind every win, and why respect (not money) has always been his greatest driver. He shares how nightclubs once served as cultural incubators for fashion, music, and design, and why hospitality today is less about product and more about trust, people, and experience.The episode also dives into INK’s newest evolution: 30 Hazelton, the group’s expansion into the medispa and wellness space. Khabouth explains why health and wellness is a natural extension of hospitality, the importance of choosing the right partners, and how trust transfers from brand to experience—whether in dining, nightlife, or skincare.KEY TAKEAWAYS & HIGHLIGHTSEntrepreneurship is built on loss: There is no winning without losing—failure is a prerequisite for success.Hospitality is about trust, not product: People return because they feel cared for, not because they need another steak or cocktail.Culture beats everything: A strong internal culture is the foundation of any scalable hospitality brand.Leadership at scale is about people: With thousands of employees, every interaction matters—and every person represents the brand.Consistency is harder than growth: Maintaining status quo is more difficult than getting there.Hospitality is bigger than food and nightlife: Wellness, skincare, art, and design all fall under the umbrella of caring for people.Legacy is built through others: True success comes from helping people grow and creating opportunities beyond yourself.

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