Founding SENT: John Cannon’s Story
Today, we’re sharing the story of the man behind the vision of SENT: John Cannon.
In 2020, John Cannon founded SENT Ventures to unleash a spirit-led entrepreneurial movement at the intersection of business and faith.
But his powerful personal story starts long before SENT was even an idea.
John has a rich background in business, including investment banking, consulting and Harvard Business School. But during the early and intense years of his career, he came face to face with how amoral modern business can be.
During a particularly challenging time, John experienced an intense and transformative encounter with God that changed the trajectory of his life.
Filled with gratitude and a sense of the Holy Spirit’s guidance, he left business behind and joined a Carmelite monastery in California. He spent the next 7 years living as a Carmelite friar in both the Western US and Africa.
During this time, John studied how past Catholic founders and saints revitalized the Church through their entrepreneurial efforts.
He realized that the Saints were holy AND entrepreneurial. They knew how to marshal resources and mobilize teams. Some of the best Catholic founders were wise in the ways of God, but also wise in the ways of the world when they needed to be.
After nearly 8 years as a Carmelite, John discerned not to continue in the monastery, which he says was the hardest decision of his life. He left with nothing and, working from his aunt’s basement, started developing what would one day become SENT.
Throughout his life, John had encountered individuals with the drive and dreams to build, to create and to shake up their industries.
But his study of entrepreneurial leaders in the Church led him to recognize that the Saints often possessed a similar determination. Only the Saints united that drive with an even more radical pursuit of holiness.
And that made all the difference.
John saw the need for a hub for founders and leaders seeking to integrate radical holiness and impact. He wasn’t the only one who saw it. SENT Ventures is the fruit of countless collaborations from people who share the same vision.
Building SENT changed John’s life, and his greatest hope is that it changes yours too.
If you’re not already involved in SENT, we’d be honored if you’d consider joining the SENT Network and giving us the opportunity to serve you, your company, and your mission.
