Previous Speaking Engagements at Grow Up:
2023 Alberta

Shakir Tayabali

Shakir Tayabali is a results-oriented and dynamic leader with a hands-on management style, a sharp eye for detail, and strong analytical and problem-solving skills. He is known for his ability to inspire people to deliver innovative solutions that translate into high performance and client satisfaction. With over 11 years of experience as the former Executive Vice President of Sales for Merrco Payments, and VP Integrated Solutions at Global Payments Inc., Shakir has an impressive track record of success as a leader and executive level professional.

During his time at Global Payments, Shakir held various leadership positions, including VP Integrated Solutions and Vice President Customer Experience. As Vice President Customer Experience, he provided strategic development and execution while being responsible for a portfolio of $150M in annual revenue. Shakir oversaw the entire customer experience from onboarding to ongoing maintenance and retention analytics and loyalty programs for the entire SB merchant base. He also oversaw installation and service teams nationally, including third-party vendors and streamlined and optimized processes to gain savings in both boarding/issue resolution time frames and operating costs. As the EVP of Sales, Marketing and Partnerships at Merrco Payments, Shakir led the sales team to a national average of 60% in the Cannabis vertical.

Shakir Tayabali is currently the Chief Executive Officer of the Independent Retail Cannabis Collective, where he continues to apply his extensive leadership experience and strong track record of success. As a cannabis professional and enthusiast, Shakir is passionate about the industry and is committed to delivering exceptional results. In his current role, he is responsible for leading the collective and driving growth and profitability. Shakir’s dynamic leadership style, attention to detail, and problem-solving skills enable him to inspire his team to deliver innovative solutions that translate into high performance, and member and partner satisfaction. www.irccollective.com