It’s Not A Straight Line

On this episode, I sat down with Chris Reynolds - the Co-Founder and Executive Chair of Investment Planning Counsel (IPC). When Chris co-founded IPC in 1996, he set out on a mission to help entrepreneurial financial advisors build better businesses. Since then, he has remained committed to this mission, which continues to be the focus at IPC, which was acquired by Canada Life in 2023. Chris has spent over 25 years in the Finance and Investment industry, and he believes at the heart of any great business is a remarkable client experience. Chris is a life-long learner who is always learning from the best of the best, from within his industry, as well as outside/new perspectives. Chris Reynolds is the Host of the "Turning The Page" Podcast, a big fan of live music and rock n' roll, and his former radio show on a popular Toronto radio station was syndicated across ten other stations. When asked what gets him "out of bed in the morning", he stated "it is the people that get me most excited!"You'll hear why Chris is a huge advocate for entrepreneurship and why to him, there is no safer way to go.Enjoy the episode! Turning The Page Podcast - Spotify Link Investment Planning Counsel - Website

Join me for an insightful and energizing conversation with Olympic Figure Skating champion and On-Air Broadcast Commentator, Kaetlyn Osmond.In this episode, Kaetlyn shares the highs and lows of her incredible journey, from winning a silver in the Figure Skating Team Competition at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi to winning bronze in the Women's Singles event and gold in the team competition at the 2018 Games in PyeongChang. Soon after her successful 2018 year, she retired in May of 2019 at the age of 25, which is something unique to high-performing athletes. You'll hear how Kaetlyn is exploring what's next, taking Media Studies at the University of Alberta, coaching Figure Skating and working as a Broadcast Commentator with Skate Canada (Patinage Canada). Born in Marystown, Newfoundland, she made history as the first Canadian to win the Women's Singles Figure Skating Competition in 45 years.Kaetlyn's story is one of determination, talent, and being intentional about her expectations and focusing on her performance, while blocking out the “noise”. This episode is a must-listen for all fans of sports, figure skating, media and career transitions. Kaetlyn's Instagram @kaetkiss

On this episode, I had a captivating conversation with Igor Lukač, an inspiring entrepreneur who navigated life's challenges with resilience and determination. Igor shares his journey from fleeing the former Yugoslavia with his family during the tumultuous Yugoslav Wars to building a successful career in Canada.After earning degrees in Engineering and Business from the prestigious Ivey Business School at Western University, Igor embarked on a path of entrepreneurship. From selling printers door-to-door in Niagara, Ontario, to owning a Marble Slab Creamery and founding Kingswood Engineers, Igor's entrepreneurial spirit has always burned bright.What sets Igor apart is his unwavering composure and his embrace of failure as a stepping stone to success. His story is a testament to the power of perseverance and the importance of a positive mindset.If you're in Burlington, Oakville, or Hamilton and need structural engineering expertise for your renovation project, visit https://www.kingswoodengineers.com/ and follow Kingswood Engineers on Instagram @kingswoodengineers for more insights and updates.

I sat down with Eduek Brooks, a Financial Educator & Coach and the Founder of Two Sides of a Dime. As an immigrant to Canada from Nigeria, Eduek completed her Master's degree in Chemical Engineering and has a certificate in Business Technology from the University of Waterloo. From working in Engineering to Lifestyle Creep and finding herself in $47,000 of debt, Eduek takes us behind the scenes as to how she made a goal to pay off her debt in 3 years. As reported in the Toronto Star and other media outlets, Eduek paid off her debt in an incredible 20 months and she built a social media following as she showed others how she "hacked" savings and debt payments. From there, Eduek started educating and coaching people on how to pay down debt, money-saving tips, investing and more. Now it's her full-time business! Listen in as she explains why she never considered leaving an engineering career as a sunk cost, what being from Nigeria instilled in her, and her thoughts on budgeting.You can follow Eduek on Instagram @twosidesofadime

This episode is an exploration of grief and resilience with Dina Bell-Laroche, a Partner at Sport Law and the Founder of Grief Unleashed. Dina shares her journey through grief, triggered by the untimely passing of her younger sister Tracy (when Dina was 31 years of age).You'll hear how Dina initially navigated her sister's death by trying to be stoic, brave and courageous, but found hope, meaning and a way forward through a deeper understanding of grief and death (and her studies in Thanatology). Dina helps unpack the non-linear nature of grieving, and her insights offer a refreshing perspective on living a meaningful and rewarding life. As the driving force behind Grief Unleashed, Dina guides individuals in re-imagining their relationship with loss. Dina shares valuable advice and thoughts on coping with loss, especially during the challenging holiday season, drawing upon her experiences and expertise.Beyond her work in grief support, Dina dives into her extensive career in high-performance sports. With a remarkable background as a media attache and press chief at numerous national and international events, including five Olympic Games, Dina brings a unique perspective on what it takes to perform at the highest levels. A published author of "Grief Unleashed" and a parent of three, Dina's multifaceted life unfolds in this episode. Proceeds from Dina's book sales contribute to bringing a Wind Phone to Ottawa through the Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundation. To learn more about the Wind Phone Project and contribute, visit this link.Connect with Dina on Instagram (@grief.unleashed) and explore the transformative work of Grief Unleashed on their website.

In this episode, Kevin Craig shares his remarkable journey across continents, careers, and personal transformations. Kevin's life has been anything but a straight line. From growing up in the UK and Muscat to establishing a call centre in Delhi, India to venturing into a scuba diving business, to building a thriving coaching business in Bahrain, and much more in between.Kevin is a Master Certified Coach and a Professionally Certified Kinesiopractic. His engaging personality, combined with his cheekiness and unwavering courage, enables him to challenge his clients with tough love and guide them toward their highest potential. He is an Executive Coach to esteemed clients ranging from Government Entities and Royal Family Members to Senior Business Leaders throughout the Gulf in the GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council).In a candid moment, Kevin reveals two major challenges he faced, including being caught up in a fraudulent investment scheme, where a shadow trading scam left him in immense debt. He recalls calling on a group of people in his network each morning by 9 am for nine months to get him through this incredibly challenging time. He also recounts a near-death experience resulting from being in a car accident, which propelled him onto a profound spiritual path. These personal trials have shaped his purpose, driving him to focus on his two purposes. His external purpose is to raise the consciousness of leadership and his internal purpose is to hand his soul back in its best possible condition. Kevin's company has received multiple consecutive awards for "Best Executive Coaching Company - Middle East," while he himself was recently honoured as one of the "Best 100 Global Coaching Leaders" by CHRO Asia.Tune in to this thought-provoking episode as Kevin Craig shares his extraordinary life experiences, profound wisdom, and invaluable lessons on conscious leadership.

On this episode of "It's Not A Straight Line," we are joined by Lauren Ammon, a former athlete turned mental performance coach. Lauren's journey in sports began at the young age of five when she was "thrown" into the pool with her older sisters and swam her first race. She went on to achieve remarkable successes, including winning a U.S. High School Championship, a top three finish in the Mid-American Conference, and swimming at the Division 1 NCAA Level while also serving as the Captain of the Swim Team at Eastern Michigan from 2003-2004.As Lauren touched the wall for the final time in her last race in the NCAA, she realized that her 17-year athletic career had come to an abrupt end. She went on to complete a Master's degree at the University of Cincinnati and worked for over a decade in Human Resources, but she felt that something was missing. In 2019, Lauren received her professional coaching certification and founded her own practice called Performance Reimagined.In this episode, Lauren shares with us how her coaching focus changed after a pivotal moment during the 2020 Olympics (which took place in 2021). She recalls watching as Simone Biles pulled out of competition, noticing the expression on Katie Ledecky's face during her gold medal win, and listening to Michael Phelps, the world's greatest swimmer of all time, speak about mental health and the need for athletes to have someone to listen to them. It was at that moment that Lauren knew she was being called to help athletes master the mental part of the game and perform at the highest level in all aspects of life's competition.Join us as Lauren Ammon shares her inspiring story and insights on mental performance coaching for athletes of all ages and levels.Learn more about Lauren Ammon and her coaching practice, Performance Reimagined, at https://www.performancereimagined.com/Follow Lauren on Instagram: @mrslaurenammon and @performance_reimagined_Lauren's LinkedIn profile

What stood out about Eric's story - aside from his tenures at entertainment powerhouses like Cirque du Soleil and Just For Laughs - was the lessons he learned from the record label (Grenadine Records) that he started in University and ran for six years. If he could go back in time, he said he wouldn't have been so strict with what the record label had to be. They were "after" two sounds, and it restricted their progress. In the early days, Sam Roberts Band's manager came to them, and even though they loved the songs that would eventually be on Sam Roberts' first EP, they decided to pass on it. It didn't fit what they were trying to create. How often do we try to make things fit with who we think we should be? And who we think we should be is many times influenced by others and not ourselves. Another key part of the conversation was Eric leaving Quebec to move to Vancouver for family reasons. He knew three people in Vancouver, was leaving a dream job and didn't know how his skillset would fit into Vancouver. He was even told that Vancouver is a "production town", not a content sales and distribution "town", and there are no jobs for you here. But Eric persevered and has gone on to launch "And Now Global", the Global VID Podcast and helps his hometown BIA program and facilitate the White Rock 5 Corners Buskers & Comedy Festival.Eric is the founder of Greater Vancouver's international TV/Digital distribution & development consulting company "And Now Global" and brings over 15 years of content sales experience with major brands Just For Laughs and Cirque du Soleil, where his primary focus has been on Foreign TV & VOD sales (over 4000 TV hours licensed in over 100 countries).Eric's LinkedIn profileAndNowGlobal.com

What amazed me about Andrew Case's story was how his entrepreneurial journey unfolded. After two years in Sales at Xerox, Andrew and his colleague from Xerox took the sales skills and training they learned and launched a sales consulting company. They focused on going to small and medium-sized businesses and would offer sales training based on their Xerox sales training. Andrew and his partner would ask for a reasonable rate of pay (less than many of their competitors) and a percentage of the sales lift. When they would visit their clients six months later, they would find out that some of the businesses did not experience the increase in revenue that they initially expected. They realized to be successful, they needed a way to assess the people on the sales team to make sure the right people were in the right roles. Even with excellent sales training, some people were not meant to be in those types of roles. This led Andrew to meet Dr. Herb Greenberg, learning about the Caliper profile and a long and successful career in talent assessment. Andrew Case is the Country Manager of Talogy Canada, previously Caliper. The business has a Caliper Profile, which delivers critical insights to leaders and managers to put the right people in the right place at the right time. It is about assessing employees, leaders, athletes and personalities to find out how their strengths will fit into a new role, venture, spot on a professional sports team, etc.

Kevin Rempel made a major shift at the end of 2022. He sold his beloved business, the Sledge Hockey Experience, shifted his speaking business, started to build new training programs, and moved from Canada to the Dominican Republic.What strikes me about Kevin is his mindset and his ability to say "yes" to things that will improve his life. When speaking with his sister about how good he felt on vacation in the Dominican Republic, he said - I wish I could live here all the time. Her response was -  well, why don't you? And that's when Kevin thought - well, what's stopping me?! Our discussion ranges from Kevin "letting go" of the Sledge Hockey Experience,  the challenges of moving to a new country, and his mindset as he faced setbacks.Kevin is a 2014 Paralympic Bronze Medalist, a speaker, an expert on mental health, and an entrepreneur.  Kevin Rempel on LinkedIn KevinRempel.com

Andrea Shaw is the owner and founder of TTG Canada, one of Canada's leading sponsorship and marketing agencies. She started TTG (formerly TwentyTen Group) around her kitchen table after working as the Senior Vice-President Sponsorship, Sales, and Marketing at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics and Paralympic Games. What strikes me about Andrea is her passion for partnerships, sports marketing and her ability to stay true to her heart's desire. Andrea was diagnosed with colon cancer shortly after launching her second business, and she had to decide whether to wind down the operations or keep going. She chose to push forward, and since day 1 of her career, Andrea has decided to challenge herself and face adversity head-on.Our discussion ranges from her early career to the Olympic Games, a tragedy in the early days of the Games, uniting a Country, and bringing her learnings from the Olympics to the Canadian sponsorship industry.Andrea Shaw LinkedIn ProfileTTGCanada.com

Chris Coulter co-led a successful business that went bankrupt after 18 years, he tragically lost his 14-year-old daughter to mental health, and he is the Executive Director of "How Are You Feeling?" and Owner of the Finish Line Group.  Chris' life mission is to scale "How Are You Feeling?" to get it into as many schools as possible. He knows the importance of kids being able to understand their mental health, and his organization uses TV shows and movies that kids will relate to for educational purposes.  Sumerlee Office Solutions reached $35 million in revenue before the financial crisis of 2008/2009, which was the catalyst that forced him and his partner to declare bankruptcy. From $2 million in revenue to $35 million, to winding down its operations.   Closer to the end of the episode, I asked Chris an important question and he kindly answered. How do we approach someone who has just lost a close friend, daughter, son, father, mother or sibling to mental health?  Chris Coulter on LinkedInHowAreYouFeeling.org

John Sime is a Sr. Product Marketer at Shopify Capital. If you're not familiar with Shopify - they are one of Canada's most valuable companies (top 10 market cap on the TSX - December 2022). After almost 10 years working at marketing agencies and a few years at a start-up fresh out of University, John decided he wanted to try something new. The "break-up" between him and marketing agency, FCB, occurred just months before the pandemic and little did John know, he was in for a lengthy job search where he stayed true to what he was looking to achieve...a change/something different and a new industry.When going through the job search in hopes of something different, John said when so many people are telling me something... at what point do you go, maybe I'm wrong. I was wondering if I was going around and saying the sky was green and everyone was being polite and they're like... no John, the sky is blue.There were many times when John thought he might be chasing the wrong thing and he should embrace what he is known for and been successful at... but he continued to make the decision that he wanted to do this... and change industries.We also discuss why after 3 years, John wanted a re-do, a mulligan on the podcast. Why he felt like he was "guarded" when answering my questions the first time around. He commented - "what scares me the most is talking about myself... the last two years have been pretty humbling and turbulent. The last two years have forced me to confront things that I probably should have confronted early [and] I realized that I need to "exercise" my communication and self-awareness muscles [more regularly]."Show Notes:0:00 - my thoughts on our conversation and the value you'll take away with you4:35 - what has changed since you were last on the podcast in October of 2019? 6:00 - how did your time at FCB end and with the benefit of hindsight, what impact did it have on you considering we entered a global pandemic soon after you left that role10:05 - why did you suggest to your boss that an option was to "just" lay you off12:45 - do you like that you have the self-awareness in your roles and organizations to understanding when you are adding value and when you no longer are making a significant impact? 15:15 - is there anything else during the first 10 years of your career that we should discuss?  21:00 - what came next (after FCB)? Spoiler alert: it is the role at Shopify23:10 - did you hear from recruiters, mentors, friends or family that you should stay on the agency side... you're good at it and it's where you have great experience27:00 - how long was your job search (while you were freelancing after FCB?36:40 - how do you think you have changed since you were first on the podcast in 2019?39:20 - on joining Shopify in April 2021 and the challenging first 5 months 45:50 - How has the cancer journey of your younger brother, Iain, given you a different perspective on life and the everyday things that happen - positive and negative? 49:40 - the 3 final 'zig zag' questionsJohn's LinkedIn profile

This is the inaugural "solo" episode of It's Not A Straight Line. After 29 episodes, I reflect on the learnings, advice and thoughts that you have been listening to from the incredible group of guests that I have been fortunate to have on the show. I focus on three themes that have been consistent from conversation to conversation and guest to guest. Patience - have patience, trust the process, and know that time can heal and if you take one step at a time, you'll get to (or close to) your destination. We are all on a unique journey.Grit and Determination Authenticity - be 100% AUTHENTIC to you Almost each of the 29 episodes is referenced in this insight-packed 30 minutes. And the other episodes will be "touched on" in my second solo episode. Value... pass it on - you're up! 

Jason Taylor is a President, Leadership Coach, and Professional Speaker that works with companies on their talent strategy. He believes in - strategy to results through people. He has 3 boys, uses meditation to ground himself and we discuss talent optimization, the Predictive Success Company and how people drive results within an organization. He's been able to create "better work and a better world" for himself. Jason is also a big believer in "jumping in" the cold water and letting it "warm" up around you. Show notes:2:30 - how do you describe your career journey? 3:35 - when did the "entrepreneur" come out in you? 5:30 - Jason on being a calculated risk taker...7:15 - did you have a family when you decided to "dive into" entrepreneurship?9:10 - did you learn any early lessons as an entrepreneur or was there something that didn't go to plan?11:50 - quick and decisive decision making14:00 - Jason explains how he started focusing on his household and his family "unit" 15:15 - do you try to put work to the side on the weekend or are you "all in" at all times as an entrepreneur? 18:00 - The decision to partner and work with David Lahey at the Predictive Success Corporation20:00 - the four factors of disengagement at a company: manager, the "right" role, team, and purpose24:30 - how does The Predictive Index collect and lead to accurate insights with just two questions 27:30 - what are your client's concerns and pain points when it comes to talent management? 33:00 - respectfully challenge when asking prospects and clients questions34:40 - To get in contact with Jason, you can email him at jtaylor@predictivesuccess.com 36:20 - 3 questions to find out what drives Jason

Jennifer Nunes is an example of someone who is the definition (in my opinion) of someone with strength, resiliency, vulnerability and self-awareness. "...this is our upbringing too...this is intergenerational stuff where we are taught [to be] stoic and strong, and non-emotional is strength and the reality is actually quite the opposite. It's when we get in touch [with ourselves] and the truth is, we need to be honest with ourselves. We can't be self-aware and grow if we aren't honest with ourselves."Jennifer Nunes is a Registered Social Worker, Author and Public Speaker. Jennifer is the founder of Nourished Soul Therapy (https://nourishedsoultherapy.com/) - a collective of independent clinicians that work collaboratively to provide comprehensive, evidence-informed care to clients across Ontario with virtual therapy and counselling services. She is described by her good friend as "an amazing wife, a mother of two, an entrepreneur, amazing daughter and incredible sister and friend and someone who seems to keep it all under control."Show notes: 2:15 - Jen, you have your own business, your an entrepreneur - what is it called and what's your entrepreneurial journey been like4:00 - going through school (3 degrees), did you think you were going to be doing the work you do now? 6:10 - what made you want to help people instead of wanting to work at "x" just to make money7:55 - what is the main difference between a psychotherapist, psychiatrist, psychologist and social worker9:20 - what pushed you to want to be an entrepreneur in this space? You want to hire other social workers that will help take on a client load. A professional collective and provide clinical supervision. 12:00 - January 26, 2018 - your life completely changed... do you mind sharing your story with the listener? 19:00 - “we're going to be okay, even if this is not okay” and I said it until I believed it because I didn't believe it at first23:15 - after his stroke, he did start having seizures... "hold on to your seat here because it does change a bit"- Jennifer Nunes26:20 - Jennifer discusses decision making and although you can't compare it to other decisions one would make in their life... but Jenn provides insight into how her and her husband made such difficult decisions in a short time period, under the most intense pressure30:00 - no medical reason why he had a stroke with the massive blood clot. It was considered a medical fluke. Jennifer decided to help others and make sense of the whole experience, she was inspired and called to write a book32:45 - Jennifer's first book will be called "Making It To Monday" and it has a dual meaning for her

Andy Vasily is an inspiring Cognitive Coach/Educator, Workshop Facilitator and Podcaster. As an educator, Andy has taught at International Baccalaureate (IB) Schools globally, including in Cambodia, China, Azerbaijan, Japan, and Saudi Arabia. Andy hosts the Run Your Life Podcast which has over 200 episodes and recently focused on the topic of flow and fear. He is currently a Faculty member and Consultant at KAUST in Saudi Arabia. After his undergrad degree and playing American Football at the University of Windsor, Andy and his wife moved to Hiroshima, Japan. What they thought would be a 6-month adventure, turned into 10 years in Japan and a life working in countries all over the world (now over 25 years). What amazed me about Andy is his understanding of "surrendering to his own path". He isn't religious but he believes in the power of the Universe. I was also struck by Andy's comment - "the attempt to escape pain is what creates more of it." In this episode, we speak about Andy's career and life and how his experiences globally have revealed to him the beauty of the human spirit. We also dig into Andy's family challenges with mental health and addiction, as well as his near-death experience in Cambodia. Show notes: 3:30 - You regularly post inspiring quotes on LinkedIn, is there one quote you've recently come across that stands out to you? 7:10 - You've travelled all over the world to teach at IB Schools... were you someone who stepped out of your comfort zone often or was moving to Japan your first big leap outside of your comfort zone 11:45 - how does a Canadian living in Hiroshima, Japan complete teachers college and become qualified to teach in Japan  12:30 - what did your family and friends think about your career and moving to new countries every 5 or so years to teach at a new school 16:00 - what are some of the biggest lessons that have come from living all over the world?20:00 - how do you describe your career - you are a teacher, workshop facilitator, cognitive coach and podcaster. 23:20 - did you need to get a certification for Cognitive Coaching and Executive Coaching? 29:00 - you have not personally experienced anxiety, depression and addiction; however, it has directly impacted your family. How do you think you've been able to keep your mental health balanced?  36:45 - a near-death experience in Cambodia... what happened? and how did it impact your life?  39:45 - "surrender yourself to the Universe in a way" and do the work to make your vision clear42:45 - The "3 zig-zag" questionsRun Your Life Podcast Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/4EMbIvkPO1WPU8fm39RLKT?si=5SX3t_TiTWas4IwWvXs9HQApple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/run-your-life-show-with-andy-vasily/id1088719197website - www.runyourlifepodcast.com

Tony Chapman built two internationally renowned and award-winning communications and marketing agencies and co-founded a research firm. After selling his remaining interests in Capital C, he wanted to speak his mind and host conferences around the world. In 2019, Tony launched his platform Chatter That Matters (a top-ranked podcast that can be listened to on iHeart Radio and wherever you get your podcasts). Tony is a proud father, grandparent, dog owner, conference and podcast host and a proud Canadian. Show notes:2:25 - early career...when did you know you were going to follow an entrepreneurial path? 4:50 - how did you start your first agency, Communique?9:45 - what sat within you to avoid the noise and create something new and launch Capital C?13:45 - hiring the right people18:15 - finding more balance and time for family when starting a second agency20:30 - what advice do you pass on to your daughters?25:00 - the pandemic hits, and your conference hosting dries up in one day...the launch of Chatter That Matters31:45 - where do you get the confidence and attitude to take the "un" out of uncertainty, the "im" out of impossible and the "in" out of insecurity?35:00 - any political ambitions? 38:50 - the latest episode of Chatter That Matters with Jeanne Beker (late August 2022)40:10 - was there an ad campaign during your agency days that stood out as a favourite? Chatter That Matters Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/76RCZ0lFuuf5JzzrGTvpYd?si=A2pX_BNaSOycxVyIxM8cEwApple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/chatter-that-matters/id1478779098Tony Chapman on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/tonychapmanreactions/

Matt Haze is a podcasting and content expert, who is endlessly curious about everything and everyone. He started his career and spent several years working in radio, gave the real estate industry a try for a few years and after deciding it wasn't for him, Matt discovered podcasting. He produced and consulted on his first podcast episode with a well-respected real estate agent in 2008, and founded Haze Creative helping clients with podcasts (coaching, editing, pre and post-production), content creation and building community. Matt is the creator and voice of the Twitter account @30RockTree, the first-person perspective of the famous Christmas Tree at the Rockefeller Centre in NYC and he is the podcast host and creator of "Meet A Stranger". Episode Show Notes:2:30 - early career in radio - did you always want to get into Radio? The original plan was to be a vocal music teacher and go to music school at the University of Akron, Ohio5:15 - went to the University of Akron after some time at a radio station because that's "what 19-year-olds did" 6:30 - how did you get into comedy? 7:35 - moved to L.A. for a "cup of coffee" but built up network connections in NYC - switched coasts moving to New York8:50 - it's amazing that you can use the phone in your pocket and laptop and make someone on the other side of the world laugh10:00 - tweeting as the Rockefeller Christmas Tree (@30RockTree) and working on a character idea as Prometheus - the Greek God statue that sits right below the 30 Rock Tree12:00 - how do you come up with these characters? How do you get yourself into a creative process? 17:50 - "Learn how to come back to your breath so you can relax" - Matt's meditation process18:40 - what did you learn about yourself and Los Angeles when you decided it wasn't for you and you were going to try New York?22:30 - how did New York prepare you for living in Puerto Rico? 24:00 - the "zag" to go work in Real Estate and how it led to podcasting in 2008/200927:15 - what does your business look like now? Haze Creative LLC30:15 - how did you come to the idea of the "Meet A Stranger" podcast? 35:40 - is there any advice shared on the "Meet A Stranger" podcast that really resonated with you?Twitter and Instagram - @MattHaze@30RockTree on Twitter"Meet A Stranger" podcastSpotify - https://spoti.fi/3AucqbXApple Podcasts - https://apple.co/3Cm9b7A

After practicing law for a couple of years, Oliver J. Gleeson knew he needed to make a change. He didn't want to wake up 10 years later, miserable with his career.  Oliver quit his job at the law firm and set off on his travels, ending up in Japan and in his words, he was living the perfect life! After spending some time with ex-Pats he realized he enjoyed travelling but wanted to get back to Canada. Oliver accepted a role at Second Dimension International Marketing, joining a 7-person event marketing firm. Over 14 years, Oliver would rise to the position of Executive Vice-President and Corporate Counsel. Even though it was 14 years, Oliver said it was like working for 7 different companies as they continually evolved and his responsibilities changed. Oliver is currently the President of Salient Map Executive Consultancy, which provides Executive Consulting, Coaching and Training for privately-owned companies that believe they are great at what they do, but not great at growing their business (and don't possess the internal ability to fix it themselves).Recently he decided to add a new offering and made coaching early career professionals a key part of his business. Oliver's goal is to impact 10 million early career professionals with the belief that - "Wherever you are in your career, you can think, act and perform like a C-level executive right now."You can follow or connect with Oliver on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/olivergleeson/Show notes: 1:30 - 3 Universities in 3 different provinces… early education and playing College Football9:10 - Law and why go to Law School10:45 - Practicing Law and the decision that it may not be the path for Oliver14:30 - “get out…get out while you can [from your career practicing law]”15:15 - making the commitment and decision to go travel the world; 21 Countries16:05 - “it showed me I had value” - a conversation with the law firm's Sr. Partner20:50 - returning from Japan and embarking on a career with a 7-person company at the time called SDI Marketing (formerly Second Dimension International)27:10 - was there something that stood out over the 14 years at SDI that helped you continue to grow and evolve? 29:30 - launching an event in Dohar and pitching for Shell to become a key partner 33:10 - Oliver's focus on supporting early career professionals and his passion for helping others grow and wanting to impact 10 million early career professionals. 39:30 - stepping out of your comfort zone. As a lawyer by training, were you always a natural speaker?  

Rob Thompson has spent time with major entertainment conglomerates like The Walt Disney Company and the National Football League. In his early 20s after playing Lineman on his College Football team, Rob launched a Football Recruitment Agency based in the NorthEast U.S. He sold the agency within 18 months and says he was taken advantage of and his biggest piece of advice is to make sure you have mentors that have been "there" before, who you trust. He was instrumental in building NFL Flag and Grassroots programs globally, and it all started by volunteering for an NFL Flag event in the early 90s. He is the founder of ConnexSports, works in Athletic and Economic Development at the University of New Haven, and wrote the book "Sports Dream Job Playbook (How To Land A Dream Job If Your Dad Doesn't Own The Team)".Show Notes: 1:50 - Rob's lifestyle and how it has changed over time (working out, his relationship with alcohol, entertaining clients)6:00 - early days, from a College Football Player to Coaching to launching a Football Recruiting Agency (1991) 10:30 - find mentors and people that you trust who have been there before13:00 - NFL Flag (a chance encounter in Biddeford, Maine) and how volunteering can be the way "in" for a lot of people who want to work in the business of sports18:45 - some of the big lessons from working at Disney, and mentorship from the President (at the time) of ABC News22:30 - careers not being a straight line and linear careers, Rob's real estate projects25:45 - regrets - I wish I had the opportunity to work with Disney and the NFL earlier in my career30:00 - What's Rob up to now?Twitter and Instagram @RobThompsonLife and LinkedIn - Rob ThompsonWebsite - www.myconnexsports.com

Founder and steward of the Dovetail community where she curates experiences for women entrepreneurs as well as building a very special community for these women.She's an entrepreneur, a speaker, community builder and podcast host of the “Think About This” podcast.Show notes:2:00 - Early career ideas, thoughts about travelling the world, and teacher's college3:00 - early signs of entrepreneurship and building mini-business initiatives as a young adult6:00 - the idea that you can travel the world and have friends in different countries and learn new things. Working and living all over the world in her 20s and early 30s.9:45 - the book “a year of yes” - “I feel like that was my life for a bit” and skydiving in New Zealand. 5 times at 10,000 feet in New Zealand11:00 - did any of those experiences scare you... jumping out of a plane over New Zealand for example15:40 - "It's easy to get stuck" and the feeling of "stuckness" and the same old pattern18:50 - things changed for me when I stopped waiting for that "one moment" that would change "my life". "Home is within me." 23:30 - giving her entrepreneurial journey a fair shot. The start of Dovetail 26:00 - how the Dovetail community started to build momentum33:00 - where you can find out more information about Alexis and Dovetail  - Instagram @Alexis.Dovetail and @DovetailCommunity; website - CampTailwind.com34:15 - advice from Alexis on building cool communities and how to start!37:45 - Is there something you do to regulate stress, pressure and your mental health?42:20 - what is your focus or 1 goal for 2022 - starting a camp for girls and young women is a future goal@Alexis.Dovetail@CampTailwindwww.camptailwind.com

Michael Rossi was the valedictorian of his graduating class at Ivey Business School yet graduated without a job. As his classmates went on to highly respected companies, Michael wanted to pursue his passion and find a role in sports and business. After stints with the NHL and Nestle Canada, Michael went on to have an 18-year career with adidas Canada, where he ultimately became President of adidas Canada before the age of 40. After 15 years at adidas, Michael reflected and started to find a new passion for Coaching. He completed his Coaching Certification (Certified Professional Co-Active Coach) and in 2020, he announced he would leave his post at adidas, the following year. Michael is an executive leadership coach, the founder of Voce Leadership, Speaker, and Board Member of the Terry Fox Foundation. He enthusiastically believes "Everyone has a voice, and truly discovering yours leads to a life of fulfillment and purpose." Voce Leadership websiteMichael Rossi LinkedInShow notes:1:00 - Michael's job through high school was the Blue Jays batboy. He was there during the 1992 and 1993 World Series Championships3:10 - The potential Michael saw in himself at a young age7:00 - If you choose experiences and jobs where you can learn and grow... it won't backfire7:40 - His corporate career - the first ~25 years8:00 - Getting on board with change 13:30 - The importance of culture18:00 - Leaving Adidas and starting Voce Leadership, reflecting on 15 years, and connecting with his purpose24:30 - Why Voce Leadership 29:45 - The Terry Fox Foundation and what philanthropy means to Michael's life36:45 - Purpose and why someone who has a "voice" and wants to give something to the world, must do it 40:00 - Is there an impact you're focusing on for the remainder of 202243:30 - How do you regulate and keep stress and pressure "at bay"46:00 - Where can people connect with you? 48:00 - It's actually the name in front of the title that matters

Mark Drager and I get "real" quick - something he does best. If you've ever felt like you're not enough, this episode is for you. Mark is the host of the podcast - "We Do Hard Things with Mark Drager", his YouTube channel has over 25,000 subscribers and counting, and he founded Phanta Media taking it from $0 to a 7-figure revenue per year business. On today's episode, we discuss: how he launched Phanta Media; why running the branding and creative agency has been anything but a straight line; his podcast, "We Do Hard Things with Mark Drager"; and the strategies he uses to feel worthy. Believe it or not, with all Mark's successes, he still wakes up some days not feeling good enough or that he has to prove himself.

Sherry Pedersen-Ajmani is a Principal and Organizational Development Consultant at Talent Craft, a Human Resources firm specializing in Organizational Design, Talent Management, and Culture Change. Sherry's trademarks include versatility, innovation and collaboration. She is known as a quick study who is agile and credits that agility to her move to Japan when she was 18 years old. She is a graduate of Sophia University in Tokyo, has an MBA from the University of Toronto's Rotman School of Business, and has worked for Toyota, Maple Leaf Foods, and Walmart.We chat about:moving to Japan at 18 and learning the language and fully immersing herself the power of a networking meeting redefining herself with an MBA, targeting a strategy role and deciding on another pathcareer assessment and her own 1 year re-assessment executive career transition and more! 

In the face of risk - with a second child on the way and a spouse not working at the time - Bobby Sahni launched Ethnicity Matters.Bobby is the Co-Founder and Partner of Ethnicity Matters, a multicultural marketing and advertising agency. He has been a pioneer in developing, executing and managing diversity and multicultural marketing initiatives for a number of top brands.We discuss Bobby's career journey; what led to multicultural marketing (it happened in Sault Ste. Marie of all places!); his love for speaking; acting in commercials; entrepreneurship; his MBA; and his love for hockey and his Hockey Canada board appointment.

In part 2 of our conversation, Matt Logue explains why volunteering is important to him and how helping out charities on the "front lines" can bring value and new perspectives.We also speak about hiring transparency and why it can save you a lot of time and make sure the process is equitable. 

Matthew Logue is the co-founder of the greater, a marketing strategy consultancy with the goal of achieving new heights for businesses through purpose-led strategy. 50% of the agency's net profit is invested back into meaningful causes. After graduating from the Ivey School of Business at Western, Matt spent 4 years at Maple Leaf Foods and then took a chance on a small sponsorship agency to work with sports business legend Brian Cooper. Matt was continually promoted (over 10 years) to the position of Executive Vice-President and Chief Operating Officer of S&E Sponsorship Group. He played a significant role in quadrupling the size of the agency and had the opportunity to work with major properties like the NHL, Toronto Maple Leafs, Toronto Raptors, CFL and more. He had an impact on global deals like the Scotiabank Arena naming rights partnership and the Sun Life jersey patch on the Raptors uniform.  Matt played a role in the sale of S&E to Dentsu Aegis Network and stepped down as President of MKTG Canada (the new agency name) in 2019. He explored different opportunities - even considered buying a restaurant - before co-founding the greater, which has a different type of agency model. Beyond work, Matt believes strongly in being on the front lines of not-for-profits. He's been a long-time volunteer with The 519, Sponsorship Marketing Council of Canada and other great organizations. You can find out more about his business at thegreater.ca

Lara Brown is a multimillion-dollar sales girl, a mom, a breast cancer survivor and 2x Ironman! She has worked at Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment since 2003 as a leader on the Executive Suites Sales team.Born in South Africa, Lara has been through more setbacks and triumphs than I can imagine. In 2016, as she was just learning how to navigate life as a single mother, Lara was diagnosed with Breast Cancer. She had no direct family history, did not eat red meat, and was very active.After the diagnosis, Lara made a key decision to ask "why not me" instead of "why me"? Instead of feeling sorry for herself, she chose to jog to her appointments or do a spin class before them, walking into the Cancer Centre feeling strong. After being told she probably shouldn't run (as her energy would drop during treatment), she decided that she was going to do an Ironman.16 months after being diagnosed, Lara Brown heard those words - "Lara Brown, you are an Ironman!"

Nicol Kalman (aka Ni) is the Recruitment Lead and Founder of aNIthing is Possible. After a degree in hospitality and tourism, Nicol got an offer to be a producer at an ad agency while bartending and decided to take the extra money and go for it. She spent the next 17 years in marketing at agencies and with one of the world's top brands, Coca-Cola. After declining an opportunity to become a partner at a multi-national ad agency, she realized that she wanted to market people she believed in rather than brands.That led to resigning from the ad agency and working with her former boss to replace herself. Ni was able to put together several different gigs and after being told, she shouldn't go into recruiting and the name "aNIthing is Possible" would never fly, Ni went for it anyways. Ni is a born connector, authentic and real. She takes challenges head on and learned at a young age "not to go too deep on things" because you might not be here tomorrow.

Michelle Robertson has spent 20+ years building and enhancing finance functions across multiple industries - media, events, not-for-profit and technology. As a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA, CA), Michelle always had what society deems as "that" well-respected finance job. She worked for top-tier companies such as PwC, the Globe & Mail and the PanAm Games, and thought climbing the ladder would lead to happiness and admiration. That wasn't the case.From 2017-2020, Michelle had to overcome significant challenges - two job restructurings, divorce and losing her dog to her former partner. In her own words, "the universe" kept pushing her to do something new. In late 2020, Michelle launched her business as a Wealth & Money Coach - Ms. Money & Math. Her mission is to help people find, keep, grow and work confidently with money both personally and professionally. Follow her on Instagram @Ms.Money&Math!

Bonus content from my conversation with Gavin Roth, Founder and Managing Partner of Gavin Roth + Associates. We discuss mental health, a topic he cares deeply about, and the advice he offers his children about careers and life. 

Gavin Roth's resume reads like a dream career to many who aspire to work in sports and entertainment. He is the Founder and Managing Partner of Gavin Roth + Associates and an accomplished sales & marketing executive with over 25 years of success in the sports, entertainment and media industries. He started out working for two globally recognized ad agencies, before joining World Wrestling Entertainment in a marketing role. Gavin's career trajectory changed when the Head of WWE Canada asked him to take on the Director of Sales position. He didn't think 'sales' was for him, but he went on to work in revenue/sales roles for iconic Canadian properties like the CFL, Canadian Broadcast Consortium, Rogers Media and Golf Canada.We also discuss his parents immigrating to Canada from South Africa, his leap into podcasting as the host of The Influencers of Sponsorship Marketing and the importance of relationship building/networking.

Steven Fry's goal is "to be the wild card that ups the ante and redefines the game."It wasn't an easy start for Steve. He was the youngest of 6 siblings and his family was just scraping by financially. His poor grades early in high school pointed toward a bleak future but a high school guidance councillor allowed him to take academic courses in grade 11 and Steve was determined to get the grades he needed to be accepted into University.Through these early obstacles, Steve learned a thing or two about advocating for himself, negotiation and hard work. He worked two jobs to pay for University. Steve is the guy that was featured in Toronto Life's 2019 story - "Confessions of a Legal Pot Dealer". After University, he entered the world of health care and climbed the ladder at Shared Services West becoming the Vice-President of Operations. After hearing a radio ad for the cannabis lottery in Ontario that would award 25 people with the license to open a legal cannabis store, Steve thought "why not me". He applied and forgot all about it until he received a FB message from a friend that asked if the Steve Fry he saw as a winner was him. At that point, Steve's life changed Steve opened and operated the first licensed cannabis store in Hamilton, and became President and Co-founder of Sessions Cannabis, which has 25 retail locations and is growing. He is an industry trailblazer and in this episode, he provides great advice on negotiation skills, hard work, and networking. 

Andre Kaden Black had major music management at the age of 17 and signed his first record deal soon after. It was his first big break and difficult for him to fathom just how well his career was going at the time. He was on his way to the success and fame he had dreamed about until his band broke up soon after signing that record deal.Whether it was too many egos, the stress of the music industry, or differing opinions from band members - the early taste of success in the highly competitive industry quickly vanished. Andre didn't let that stop him. He went on to tour with the likes of One Republic, Alicia Keys, Jason Mraz and others. He has also worked alongside countless other artists including multi-platinum artist Fefe Dobson (Island/Def Jam), Francesco Yates (Atlantic Records), and Walk Off The Earth (Columbia Records), and many others. When music isn't taking up his time, Andre is training to compete in his first Triathlon. Athletes have always inspired him and when he sets a goal, he is all in!Check out this episode to learn about why Andre believes you need to be obsessed with your goals, have an insatiable work ethic and invest in yourself to achieve your goals in the competitive music industry. 

Michele Ferrari dropped out of University after a mental breakdown; in her first job, the males walked off the factory floor when she showed up; her family didn't always have enough money growing up... BUT Michele did not let her situation define her. In her own words "based on the rules it shouldn't have been possible... I am not supposed to be respected, I am not supposed to be listened to, I am not supposed to be significant in my field, and I AM because I never believed people when they told me that it wasn't possible."Michele leads MF Consulting and has always believed that one individual can be the catalyst for monumental change. Some of the most rewarding years of her career were spent as a part of an executive team building a mid-sized travel firm into an organization recognized as one of the 50 Best Employers in Canada. Fourteen years later, Michele became the President of L(earn)2 Inc where she was able to live her purpose and also got to coach the 2010 Canadian Olympic Team on how to live a gold medal life. Never one to shy away from a challenge, Michele jumped into a role in Digital Media in 2010 heading one of Canada's largest English portals, Sympatico.ca. Now as a Certified Professional Co-Active Coach (CPCC) and a certified administrator of The Leadership Circle Profile, Michele brings her knowledge gained from working with many of Canada's leading companies to her clients at MF Consulting.I am grateful that Michele chose to share her life story with us on this episode. Be sure to check it out!

Angela Champ has been named one of Canada's top 20 Human Resources (HR) leaders on the HDR Global 100 and she's been recognized on the Most Inclusive HR Influencers List. As the President of Lean in Canada Vancouver, former Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) of Prospera Credit Union and Intact Insurance (Western Canada), Angela knows a thing or two about how to build high-performing teams. Her book titled "Squiggly Line Career" comes out in November 2020, and focuses on why you should think of your own "squiggly" line career as a positive. She speaks about her own career and how she applied to become a Director of HR with next to no Human Resources experience. What struck me most about Angela is how she has a little cheerleader in her head that has been there for as long as she can remember. It always says "go try this" and "give that shot"! Also, Angela is not afraid to fail or feel embarrassed. Angela also discusses that looking at the "squiggly line career'ist" is an excellent way to find great candidates from diverse backgrounds.This is a must-listen as we navigate our careers and hire others.  

Marc Petitpas was seven courses short of earning his University degree. His honest acknowledgement about something that could have been perceived negatively likely built trust with the CEO of one of the world's biggest sports and entertainment companies, leading to becoming employee #1 at BMO Field a few years later.  Marc discusses lessons from his first job at McDonald's to a career in retail, sports and entertainment, real estate development and the launch of Marc Petitpas Business Coaching.  He believes that he is here to serve his employees, clients and customers. Marc wants to change the way executives and founders lead, and he wants to improve the state of mental health in the workplace.

In this episode, Brad Furtney offers his thoughts on sales, networking and career management. He's one of the top sales and networking experts that I know, who is authentic, motivational and always looking to improve himself and those on his team.After a successful 28 year career in beer, media, and technology, Brad had to dig deep to find his next role. He deservingly landed as a President overseeing a 50 person team, but the journey did not come without its challenges. Listen to this episode if you want to learn how to become a better colleague, leader and networker as you navigate the ups and downs of your career. This episode was recorded in late June 2020. 

During the Northeast blackout of 2003, Pete Bombaci noticed something he hadn't seen in years. He observed people getting together for a BBQ, hanging out with their neighbours and relying on their community. Prior to the blackout and even up to the COVID-19 pandemic, Pete had been noticing that people were focused on themselves and even believed that they didn't need each other. While working as a bartender at Yonge & Eglinton in Toronto, Pete learned the power of human connection and relationships. He went onto work in Marketing and Sales at Molson Coors, then grew a "hilarious" moustache, and ran Movember Canada. When his five years at Movember came to an end, he decided if he didn't start the movement, known as the GenWell Project, he may regret it for the rest of his life. Check out this episode, and learn how Pete put up a website and just went for it!  

A "can do" attitude and having the self-confidence that he will perform (if he can get his "foot in the door") has led Rishi to overcome career and personal challenges and thrive as a business professional, entrepreneur, speaker and coach. Rishi's life has included periods of family tension, dealing with high expectations at a young age, and re-invention as he balances his entrepreneurial interests while serving as an Associate Director at the Smith School of Business (Queen's University). Find out how Rishi Behari went from a Pre-med Student to a Psych grad, then Entertainment Commentator to Career Coach and Associate Director at a top-ranked Canadian University. 

During this interview, Kevin wore a shirt that had Sledgendary emblazoned across the front. A nod to his sport, Sledge Hockey, and Kevin (IMO) is legendary!After a terrible accident, Kevin was told he was an incomplete paraplegic and may never walk again. He was determined to show the world that there was another chapter to his story, and he walked almost one year to the day of his accident. Kevin went on to win Paralympic Bronze, founded and operates the Sledge Hockey Experience and speaks across the country. If you've ever struggled with re-inventing yourself or mental health, please listen and share this podcast with others who it could help. 

In this episode, Dr. Alyssa Hayes opens up about the health, education and professional challenges that tried to get in between her and her goals. Alyssa would not let an early failure in University stop her from becoming a dentist; although it led her on the adventure of a lifetime where she would practice dentistry in New South Wales, Australia and subsequently face difficulties returning to Canada.Alyssa now works for the federal government and has to consider millions of Canadians as she makes decisions on dental policy for Indigenous communities. Listen as Alyssa explains how she bounced back from career and health obstacles. 

This episode is with my buddy, John Sime - a proud native of Halifax, Nova Scotia. John shares his lessons, challenges and advice from a career that has included being in the Reserves, at a start-up (that didn't end with an IPO), ad agencies, and becoming a UI/ UX Strategist. One of my biggest takeaways from John was to plan for the plan not to go to plan. 

An interview with my sister, Allison Lukač. As a well-respected educator, Allison is always seeking opportunities to learn and challenge herself. She shares her advice and experiences on her way to becoming a full-time teacher and opens up about her year teaching abroad in Switzerland. After 5 years in a steady teaching role, Allison and her husband moved to Europe, shortly after their wedding. Many would have seen this as a risk but Allison explains her decision-making process and why this was something she felt so strongly about pursuing.