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Rustum Southwell

Inducted 2022

Rustum Southwell was one of the first Black franchise owners in the food industry. In 1996, Rustum became the founding CEO of BBI. His leadership has resulting in 25 years of unprecedented growth and impact. BBI has created over 1,500 jobs and has provided business training to over 1,000 aspiring entrepreneurs. He continues to demonstrate his commitment to the community by serving on a variety of local boards.
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Biography

Rustum Southwell is best known as the founding CEO of the Black Business Initiative (BBI). Originally from Saint Kitts, Southwell arrived in Halifax in 1972 and has been contributing to Nova Scotia’s business landscape ever since.

Southwell began his business career in the food industry as one of the province’s first Black franchise owners. After several years managing restaurants, he moved on to become executive director of the African Canadian Business Development Centre.

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APA 7th Edition
The Nova Scotia Business Hall of Fame. (2022, October 16). Rustum Southwell. Nova Scotia Business Laureates Digital Archive. Retrieved from: https://nslaureates.ca/laureates/rustum-southwell/

MLA 9th Edition
The Nova Scotia Business Hall of Fame. “Rustum Southwell”. Nova Scotia Business Laureates Digital Archive, 16 October 2022. nslaureates.ca/laureates/rustum-southwell/