The CEO Series with McGill's Karl Moore

This week on The CEO Series, Karl Moore speaks with Ken Holland, Vice President and General Manager of the Los Angeles Kings and one of the most accomplished executives in NHL history. Ken reflects on his promotion to General Manager of the Detroit Red Wings in 1997, winning the Stanley Cup, and the strategic thinking behind trades that shape a winning franchise.

This week on The CEO Series, Karl Moore speaks with Jennifer Heil, Olympic gold medalist, entrepreneur, and Chef de Mission for Team Canada right as the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics are underway. Jennifer explains what the Chef de Mission role really involves. lessons from building her women’s-health-centered startup and the importance of mental health for high-level athletes.

This week on The CEO Series, Professor Moore sits down with Ambassador Pete Hoekstra, the United States Ambassador to Canada, about the evolving Canada–U.S. relationship. Ambassador Hoekstra reflects on the constructive role politics can play in society, how trade tensions are managed while preserving a strong bilateral partnership, and how diplomacy adapts as governments and political leadership change.

This week on The CEO Series, Professor Moore speaks with Jean-Pierre Primiani, General Manager of the Opera for a behind-the-scenes look at leadership in the arts. Jean-Pierre discusses why philanthropy is essential to sustaining cultural institutions, the story behind a historic five-million-dollar donation, and how translation makes performances accessible to bilingual audiences.

This week on The CEO Series, Karl Moore speaks with Naveed Irshad, President and CEO of Manulife Canada, one of the country’s leading insurance companies. Naveed discusses how Canada’s aging population is reshaping the insurance industry, how Manulife is working to better educate Canadians on the value of insurance in long-term financial security, and how the company is leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) to boost productivity.

This week on The CEO Series, Professor Moore speaks with Kurtis McBride, CEO of Miovision, a Canadian company transforming how cities manage traffic through technology. Kurtis explains how Miovision designs systems that help municipalities operate more efficiently, the strategic thinking behind Miovision’s recent acquisitions, and what Canada must do to position its innovation sector competitively against much larger international players.

This week on The CEO Series, Karl Moore speaks with The Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Industry and Economic Development for Quebec Regions. Minister Joly discusses how the federal government is preparing young people for the future, the role her department plays in creating jobs and supporting economic growth across Quebec, and key investments designed to strengthen both economic competitiveness and national resilience.

This week on the CEO Series, Professor Moore speaks with Mitch Joel, a Canadian entrepreneur. Mitch shares insights from his early career writing for leading business and technology magazines, growing and selling his digital agency, and how leaders should think about implementing AI responsibly.

This week on The CEO Series, Karl Moore speaks with General Jennie Carignan, Canada’s Chief of the Defence Staff. General Carignan discusses how the Canadian Armed Forces are leveraging big data and artificial intelligence in military operations, what it’s like reporting directly to the Minister of National Defence, and the growing importance of the Arctic for national sovereignty and security.

Karl Moore is delighted to be speaking with Mark Shapiro, CEO of the Toronto Blue Jays. This is a replay of show we recorded in 2023, before they made it to this year’s unbelievable World Series.

This week on The CEO Series, Karl Moore speaks with Thane Calder, Founder and Chairman of CloudRaker. Thane shares the story behind founding CloudRaker, what it means to grow a startup in today’s turbulent environment, and the lessons he’s learned from his experience working with a venture studio.

This week on The CEO Series, Professor Moore speaks with Jon Cercone, owner of Taverne sur le Square, a restaurant in Montreal. Jon shares his perspective on navigating shutdowns during the pandemic, how inflation is impacting the hospitality industry today, and offers thoughts on what cities could do differently to better support small businesses.

This week on The CEO Series, Karl Moore speaks with Jonathan Goldbloom, Partner at Avenue Strategic Consulting and Chair of VIA Rail Canada and Hockey Canada. Jonathan shares his perspective on how communications have shifted over the past decade, including leading communications at the Jewish General Hospital during the peak of COVID-19 and his thoughts on the state of Quebec’s anglophone community as more English speakers move out of the province.

This week, Karl Moore rebroadcasts a conversation he had with the late Ken Dryden from 2016, when Dryden taught his Canadian Studies course at McGill university entitled "Thinking The Future To make The Future."

This week on The CEO Series, Karl Moore sits down with Fred Lalonde, the Founder & CEO of Hopper. Fred shares his perspective on life as an entrepreneur compared to the corporate world, how he chooses which ideas are worth pursuing, and the profound impact of COVID-19 on the travel industry

This week on The CEO Series, Karl Moore speaks with Isabelle Hudon, President and CEO of the Business Development Bank of Canada and Canada’s former Ambassador to France and Monaco. Isabelle reflects on her time as ambassador, how strategy is built within crown corporations, and her leadership approach across both public service and business.

This week on The CEO Series, Karl Moore sits down with Jeff Leger, CEO of 123Dentist, one of Canada’s fastest-growing dental organizations. Jeff shares his perspective on the technologies transforming dentistry, whether AI can help address Canada’s shortage of dentists, and how government policy is shaping dental care for Canadians.

This week on The CEO Series, Karl Moore speaks with Goldy Hyder, President and CEO of the Business Council of Canada. Goldy reflects on his time working alongside former Prime Minister Joe Clark, discusses the evolving role of China in Canada’s economic growth, and how Canadian businesses can position themselves for success in today’s rapidly changing global landscape.

This week on The CEO Series, Karl Moore sits down with Mario Peloquin, President and CEO of VIA Rail Canada, the country’s national rail service. Mario shares how VIA Rail is positioning itself for the future by modernizing infrastructure, engaging Gen Z travelers, and benchmarking against international rail systems.

This week on The CEO Series, Professor Moore speaks with Sunil Kapur, CEO of McCarthy Tétrault, Canada’s first national law firm. Sunil shares how his background in science shaped his legal thinking and reflects on his early experiences working with the Ministry of the Attorney General. Tune in for insights on leadership, legal strategy, and what it takes to succeed in today’s legal landscape.

This week on The CEO Series, Professor Moore speaks with R.J. Simpson, Premier of the Northwest Territories. Tune in to hear Premier Simpson share how climate change continues to reshape the North, the future of the diamond mining industry and the broader challenges and opportunities facing northern leadership in a shifting global landscape.

This week on The CEO Series, Karl Moore speaks with Mirko Bibic, President and Chief Executive Officer of BCE Inc. and Bell Canada, one of Canada’s largest communications and media companies. Mirko reflects on the launch of Bell’s AI Fabric, the critical role of public policy in broadband expansion, and some insights on Bell’s $30 billion investment to bring fiber internet to millions of Canadians during the pandemic.

This week on The CEO Series, Professor Karl Moore sits down with Eliza Reid, former First Lady of Iceland and best-selling author, to discuss Iceland’s global leadership in gender equality and her work advocating for equity both at home and abroad. Eliza also shares reflections on the unexpected transition into public life and what’s to come after her best-selling book, Death on the Island.

This week on The CEO Series, Karl Moore sits down with Hubert Bolduc, President of Investissement Québec, to discuss how the organization is driving economic growth across the province in close collaboration with the Minister of Economy. They also explore how Investissement Québec supports employee mental health, the importance of trade diversification, and how political shifts in the U.S. may be influencing Quebec’s business landscape.

This week on The CEO Series, Karl Moore speaks with Fady Dagher, Chief of the Service de police de la Ville de Montréal (SPVM). Fady shares his early journey into law enforcement, what inspired him to serve, and the growing focus on mental health support for officers

This week on The CEO Series, Karl Moore sits down with Dax Dasilva, CEO of Lightspeed, a global leader in point-of-sale software headquartered in Montreal. Dax reflects on the company's early days, the turning points that fueled its global rise, and the entrepreneurial spirit behind its founding 20 years ago.

This week on The CEO Series, Karl Moore speaks with Anthony Broccolini, CEO of Broccolini, a leading family-owned construction firm based in Montreal. Anthony shares how technology is reshaping the construction industry, navigating uncertainty in today’s VUCA world, and how demographic shifts are transforming the sector.

This week on The CEO Series, Professor Karl Moore sits down with Graham Carr, President and Vice-Chancellor of Concordia University. Tune in to hear about his path from teaching to senior administration, how Concordia stands out among local universities, and how it’s tackling tuition hikes and other emerging challenges in higher education.

This week on The CEO Series, Karl Moore speaks with Helen Antoniou, Chair of the Board of Governors at Concordia University. They discuss the role of philanthropy in Canada, decision-making in family businesses, and why multi-generational leadership can give family-run businesses a lasting edge.

This week on The CEO Series, Karl Moore sits down with Edward Greenspon, former CEO of the Public Policy Forum and past Editor-in-Chief of The Globe and Mail. Tune in as they discuss the impact of Canada’s most influential prime ministers, the future of the media industry, and how organizations can navigate today’s increasingly complex policy landscape.

This week on The CEO Series, Professor Moore sits down with The Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Canada’s Minister of Innovation, Science, and Industry. Tune in as they discuss Canada’s evolving relationship with the U.S., strategies to safeguard Canada’s infrastructure amidst potential tariffs, and on the importance of listening as a politician, in order to strengthen public trust in government.

This week on The CEO Series, Professor Moore sits down with Michael Duheme, the 25th Commissioner of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Tune in as they discuss the importance of mental health in law enforcement, the Mounties’ role in securing Canada’s borders, and efforts to rebuild public trust.

This week on the CEO Series, Professor Moore speaks with Valerie Pisano, President and CEO of Mila—a non-profit AI hub in Montreal. Join us to hear Valerie shares some insights on the challenges Canadian startups face when seeking investment, how AI is shaping the workforce, and on the Mobius Bias Project, a new initiative tackling biases in AI.

This week on the CEO Series, Professor Moore sits down with Claude Marchand, CEO of LCI Education and LaSalle College Montreal, to discuss the future of education. Tune in as we explore what’s new in teaching, the profound impact of technology on the educational landscape, and how the creative economy shapes the next generation of innovators.

This week on the CEO Series, Professor Moore sits down with Harley Finkelstein, President of Shopify, to explore the evolving landscape of global retail and entrepreneurship. Join us as we discuss Montreal's role as a global retail hub, Shopify's commitment to Canada's bilingual culture, and their innovative new AI product ShopifyMagic.

This week on the CEO Series, Professor Moore sits down with Steven Singer, CEO of Fody Foods, to discuss his entrepreneurial journey and passion for health-conscious food innovation. Join us as we dive into his experiences working with a board of directors, securing investments, and navigating the challenges of the food industry, including rising costs. 

This week on the CEO Series, Professor Moore sits down with Catherine Tait, President of CBC. Join us to hear her insights on creative leadership, managing public broadcasting in a digital era, and the future of Canadian storytelling.

This week on the CEO Series, Professor Moore sits down with Omar Sachedina, Canadian journalist and Chief News Anchor at CTV News. Join us to hear his thoughts on journalism, storytelling in the digital age, and the evolving demands of Gen Z in the media landscape.

This week on the CEO Series, Professor Moore sits down with Charles Bierbrier, Business Consultant, Previous Founder and CEO of a brewing company, and Professor at McGill University. Join us to hear his thoughts on entrepreneurship, the challenges of selling novel products, and the evolving demands of Gen Z in the business world.

This week on the CEO Series, Professor Moore sits down with Adam Waterous, Managing Partner & CEO of Waterous Energy Fund. Join us to hear his thoughts on energy poverty, the contrasting perspectives between Ottawa and Alberta energy policies, and the evolving role of the energy sector in addressing climate change and economic challenges today.

This week on the CEO Series, Professor Karl Moore sits down with Mary-Dailey Desmarais, Chief Curator at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts. Join us to hear her thoughts on the museum's commitment to uplifting Indigenous art in North America, how her refined curation process shapes the museum's exhibitions, and the evolving role of art museums in fostering cultural dialogue today.

Tune in for a special episode covering the U.S Elections this week on the CEO series as Karl sits down with the Governor of New Jersey, Phil Murphy and David Shribman, an American Journalist, Author, and Pulitzer Prize Winner. Join us to hear how New Jersey plans to handle climate change, the Governor's stance on the electoral college system, and David Shribman's thoughts on a journalist's bias towards change.

Tune in this week on the CEO series as Karl sits down with Lance Mortlock, a managing partner at EY. Join us to hear about Lance's upcoming book ‘Outside in Inside Out', scenario planning at EY, and his thoughts on which countries are currently leading the energy industry. 

Tune in this week on the CEO series as Karl sits down with Alexis von Hoensbroech, CEO of WestJet, one of Canada's leading airline companies. Join us to hear about Alexis' approach to working with labour unions, the shift in flights from east to west, and their recent investments in the latest technology to approach the Net Zero goal. 

Tune in this week on the CEO series as Karl sits down Lisa Giannone, President and COO of BFL Canada, a leading insurance brokerage and risk management firm. Join us to hear about BFL's national strategy and its implementation to each of its local firms, how they plan to leverage AI in order to be more efficient, and their recent initiatives in the non-profit housing sector.

From the archives: Professor Karl Moore sat down with Nobel peace prize laureate Muhammad Yunus in September 2016 to discuss the story behind microcredit and how it's evolved.

Tune in this week on the CEO series as Karl sits down with Eric Montminy, President of Normandin Beaudry, a consulting company centered around total rewards. Join us to hear about modern talent acquisition, how he's incorporating EDI practices at the firm, and his perspective on social differences between Canada and the U.S

Tune in this week on the CEO Series as Karl joins Jennifer Heil and Joseph Polosifakis in Calgary, Alberta. Jennifer and Joseph are two exceptional athletes in freestyle skiing and fencing respectively, who have previously competed in the Olympics, and will now be visiting the Paris 2024 Olympics as mentors. Join us to hear about the moments leading up to the Olympics, what it's like inside the Olympic village, and their business endeavours ever since.