Leaders Of Tomorrow Podcast

Latest Episodes:

228 | Bob Milling | The Power of Far-Sightedness May 04, 2021

Show notes

Ever wondered how successful entrepreneurs manage to ride out challenges and pivot again and again?

On today’s show, we interview the incredible Bob Milling who shares with us his experience of working in the government, the power industry, and the hospitality industry. You will learn how to develop a far-sighted approach to make decisions that result in massive success in the long run.

We start this show with Bob sharing his backstory. He too graduated at the height of the recession – pretty much akin to the current scenario.

After graduation, Bob got an opportunity to work for the government where he learned how the whole bureaucratic machinery works. When Bob started working for the government, he was far more idealistic. And while all the cronyism has tempered his enthusiasm somewhat, he still believes that there’s a lot of good that gets done.

After 16 extremely fruitful years in this role, Bob decided to work as a consultant for the private sector. As a Sherpa, Bob translated the needs and requirements of the government for the private sector.

One thing led to another, and Bob got an opportunity to develop wind farms across Canada. In this segment, you will learn how Bob navigated the complexities of the power industry by negotiating long-term agreements.

He also talks about his real estate venture, Wakefield Field Hotel Mill and Spa. Bob secured $4 million to finance this 42-room luxurious hotel on the outskirts of Ottawa through a long-term lease twenty years back.

You will learn how Bob and the team at Wakefield are pivoting in the wake of covid. And why Bob thinks this is the most exciting time ever for entrepreneurs.

We wrap up this show with Bob sharing some of the biggest lessons that he has learned from his failures. He talks about the importance of honesty and why he prefers progress over perfection.

Enjoy!

What You Will Learn In This Show

What did I have to change about myself when I went from being a university student to a value creator?
Why I firmly believe in progress over perfection
How to develop a far-sighted approach as an entrepreneur
Creative financing strategies for capital intensive businesses
And so much more…

Resources

Wakefield Field Hotel Mill and Spa

Student Works

Chris Thomson LinkedIn

Chris’s Email

227 | Govindh Jayaraman | Navigating Massive Downturns and How to Successfully Spot New Opportunities and Pivot Apr 27, 2021

Show notes

How do some organizations manage to emerge stronger from a crisis? What is it that sets them apart and enables them to stand the test of time?

Today’s show is a special one as we have Govindh Jayaraman, Head Coach and Team Lead of IMBA Medical, back on the show to share with us his distilled wisdom on tenacity, entrepreneurship, and navigating black swan events.

Like all of us, life has significantly changed for Govindh after the pandemic.

Govindh shares how his organization creating a free platform to detect covid outbreaks in the vicinity. Through his platform, Govindh and his team helped millions of healthcare workers and school-going children better navigate this difficult time.

As an experienced business leader, Govindh shares some excellent insights so your organization is better equipped to deal with black swan events. He talks about recognizing your weaknesses while leveraging your strengths in such trying times.

Over the past three decades, Govindh has tried his hand at selling second-hand computers, software, and even bio-diesel. Time and again, he has managed to spot new opportunities and pivot inspite of having no experience in that niche.

To become a successful entrepreneur, you will learn why you need to focus on making a sustainable contribution. You will learn that profit follows contribution. And how a more sustainable contribution will lead to a steady, more sustainable profit for your organization.

Enjoy!

What You Will Learn In This Show

Spotting new opportunities and pivoting when the time is right
Leveraging your strengths to best navigate black swan events
Why you should be focusing on making greater contributions
And so much more…

Resources:

Paper Napkin Wisdom

Govindh’s LinkedIn

I Love You Forever

Show 104 with Govindh

Student Works

Chris Thomson LinkedIn

Chris’s Email

226 | Faraz Khan | Biggest Takeaways from my Student Works Stint Apr 20, 2021

Show notes

On today’s show, we interview the incredible Faraz Khan who shares his distilled wisdom on entrepreneurship, tenacity, and relationship building.

Faraz’s single-minded focus has earned him the Rookie Operator of the Year award.

So, how did Faraz manage to get a leg up on his extremely competitive and high-performing peers? And how did he manage to hit his goals in a year ravaged by the pandemic?

We start this show with Faraz sharing his background story. Originally from Pakistan, Faraz moved to Canada back in 2013. He dropped out of high school so that he could support his family. But he soon realized that he would never meet his goals if he kept on working 9 to 5.

So, when he came across the Student Works opportunity, he was immediately stoked that he could be his own boss while running a large painting business.

Faraz shares WHY Student Works has been a life-changing opportunity for him. Being in the Student Works fold has taught Faraz some lifelong lessons in relationship building, accountability, and goal setting.

Particularly, Faraz shares how he learned to build and manage a dream team that could function in a hands-off manner.

You will also learn how Faraz managed to pivot fast and completely rework his sales practices once the pandemic broke out.

This is a show that you do not want to miss. Enjoy!

What You Will Learn In This Show

Tenacity, and staying consistent, no matter what
Setting clear expectations and staying transparent while assembling your dream team
How to delegate and manage a painting business in a completely hands-off manner
Pivoting in the wake of the pandemic
And so much more…

Resources

Student Works

Chris Thomson LinkedIn

Chris’s Email

225 | Jody Steinhauer | Radical Change and Leading a Life of Authenticity and Integrity Apr 13, 2021

Show notes

On today’s show, we interview social entrepreneur and founder of The Bargains Group, Kits For a Cause and Engage and Change, Jody Steinhauer who shares with us her thoughts on authenticity, integrity, and corporate social responsibility. Jody is a radical change-maker who is helping the homeless and needy through her various charity initiatives.

When Jody was studying fashion and interior design in her formative years, she was always independent-minded. But admittedly she was in the process of discovering her core values.

Over time, after many impactful experiences, Jody realized that she wanted to lead her life with integrity and authenticity.

Jody started her career as the VP for a profitable wholesale division in Ontario. In the two years that she spent here Jody built some rock-solid relationships with her vendors. And in a strange twist of fate, when the wholesale business went under, Jody ended up leveraging her goodwill to start her own business, The Bargain Group in 1988.

Over time, Jody decided to pursue her heart and passion by creating her charity, Engage and Change that organizes initiatives like Project Winter Survival, Project Water, and Kits for a Cause. Her enthusiasm to help the homeless and the needy will surely inspire you and blow you away.

As someone who firmly believes that “you are your brand”, Jody talks about making important life decisions while adhering to rock-solid core values.

With regards to corporate social responsibility and the greater good, she calls out the hypocritical attitude of several organizations. And, as a tenacious entrepreneur, she talks about the importance of accountability.

Enjoy!

What You Will Learn In This Show

A peek into the bargain wholesale business
Holding yourself accountable and avoiding the victim mindset
Leading a life of integrity and authenticity
Corporate social responsibility and doing your bit for the homeless and needy
And so much more…

Resources

Chris Thomson LinkedIn

Chris’s Email

224 | Sam Symons | Leveraging Short-Term Rentals for Maximizing ROI Apr 06, 2021

Show notes

On today’s show, we interview Sam Symons, Expansion Manager, Lavanda who shares with us his distilled wisdom on the real estate market and specifically, short-term rentals. You will learn how institutional investors are slowly but surely waking up to the massive opportunities in the short-term rental space.

Growing up in a small town of just 700 did not deter Sam from dreaming big. And having older siblings who were high achievers also opened his eyes to the massive opportunities that lay in front of him.

So, by the time he entered University, he had his mindset on entrepreneurship. When he stumbled onto the Student Works opportunity, he dove right in.

In this segment of the show, Sam shares how running a painting business allowed him to hone foundational skills like sales, marketing, and project management. He also shares how Student Works was a “growing up” experience for him which helped him discover his core values.

After University, Sam moved to Shanghai to work in a startup. But unfortunately, this experience did not live up to his expectations.

So, in September 2016, Sam moved back to Toronto to kickstart his new business, Hosted Properties. Hosted Properties explored the somewhat undiscovered space of short-term rentals. And Sam and his business partner, James (also a Student Works alum) even published a book, AirBnB for Rentals.

Currently, Sam is working as an Expansion Manager for Lavanda in the UK. In his current role, Sam is helping institutional investors maximize returns from their real estate portfolio through short-term rentals.

Enjoy!

What You Will Learn In This Show

How institutional investors are slowly but surely embracing short term rentals
Case studies that reveal how short-term rentals can help maximize ROI
How my Student Works experience helped define foundational skills and my core values
And so much more…

Resources

AirBnB for Dummies

Student Works

Chris Thomson LinkedIn

Chris’s Email

223 | Deb Crowe | Heart-Centered Leadership and Entrepreneurship Wisdom to Inspire you Ahead Mar 30, 2021

Show notes

On today’s show, we interview Deb Crowe who shares with us her distilled wisdom on leadership, failure, and success. Deb is a professional executive coach with a background in the medical rehabilitation industry.

Back in 1987, Deb had to drop out of school to take care of her ailing father. Tragically, while her father passed away, this experience forced Deb to grow up rather quickly.

Three years hence, Deb started work as a neurotrauma case manager for the insurance industry – a fruitful stint that lasted for 21 long years.

Currently, Deb coaches Executives and C-Suite Leaders in five different countries.

Deb talks about “heart-centered leadership” and why you cannot lead effectively unless you care and connect.

You will also learn why you need to “fail forward”. Unless you are fearless in trying new things, your growth will stagnate, and you will find yourself trapped on the hamster wheel.

Towards the end of the show, Deb talks about the importance of work-life integration and leading a life by design. Deb also shares her own morning routine – one of the few non-negotiables in her life in this segment of the show.

Enjoy!

What You Will Learn In This Show

Understanding heart-centered leadership
Venturing into the unknown and failing forward
Work-life integration and how to create a life by design
Importance of a good self-care routine
And so much more…

Resources

Deb Crowe

Student Works

Chris Thomson LinkedIn

Chris’s Email

222 | Jordan Kipnes | My Coaching Philosophy and How Student Works Can Set You Up For Success Mar 26, 2021

Show notes

On today’s show, we interview Vice President of Development for Student Works West, Jordan Kipnes who shares with us his distilled wisdom on business, scaling, and coaching.

Growing up, Jordan was always enterprising and had a big engine for work. However, he soon realized that working hourly jobs were not going to cut it. So, when he came across the Student Works opportunity, his interest was piqued immediately.

In his first years as painting business owners, Jordan hired his friends and relied on them to get the jobs done. While this strategy often backfires, it worked quite well for Jordan as he set the right expectations from the get-go.

In this first year, Jordan managed to earn a profit of $22,000 – a far cry from what he used to earn after going through the drudgery of hourly jobs.

In his fourth year with Student Works, Jordan eased into the role of a district manager and eventually ended up managing 30 franchise owners.

In September 2019, Jordan was promoted to VP for Western Canada. In his new role, Jordan is responsible for development, training, and business development throughout British Columbia and Alberta.

Jordan shares how he managed to finance his education from the earnings of his painting business. And how running a business alongside helped him extract more value from his business education.

As a coach and a mentor, Jordan reveals how focusing on the long term is helping him generate 10x returns as he is able to recruit great people purely on the basis of referrals.

Towards the end, you will learn about Jordan’s other business ventures where he has experienced varying degrees of success.

Enjoy!

What You Will Learn In This Show

The Structure of Student Works and why it encourages training and development
Unraveling my coaching philosophy
Growing your business through referrals
And so much more…

Resources

Jordan’s LinkedIn

Student Works

Chris Thomson LinkedIn

Chris’s Email

221 | Hope DesRoche | Powerful Habits of Top Performers that Make Them Shine Out Mar 23, 2021

Show notes

How do top performers get the slight edge that catapults them miles ahead of the competition?

On today’s show, we interview student painter, Hope DesRoche who shares with her distilled wisdom on excellence, confidence, and leadership. As of now, Hope has booked orders worth $500,000 and is on track to break the all-time record held by the incredible Amir Abu Shakra.

Before Student Works, admittedly Hope was frustrated living the life of a “typical twenty-year-old”. So, when she came across the Student Works opportunity, Hope was immediately stoked at the idea of embarking on an adventure.

Needless to say, when she signed up for Student Works, she had set big goals for herself. And even the pandemic could not deter her. Staying in a bubble meant working without a district manager. But we improvised with virtual support to ensure that Hope remained on track.

Speaking from her experience of running a painting business, Hope shares the importance of balancing optimism with realism. As entrepreneurs, we always see the glass as half full and have extreme confidence in our abilities.

However, a dose of realism can act as a safety net so that you can tide over difficult times.

Towards the end of the show, Hope shares some critical habits that are commonly found in leaders and top performers. Specifically, you will learn the importance of owning up to your bad habits and continuous improvement.

Enjoy!

What You Will Learn In This Show

Learning to step into the unknown
Goal-setting and other habits of top performers
Balancing optimism with realism
And so much more…

Resources

Student Works

Chris Thomson LinkedIn

Chris’s Email

220 | Steve Macdonald | Entrepreneurial Wisdom and How I Built My Multi-Million Construction Firm Against All Odds Mar 19, 2021

Show notes

On today’s show, we interview Steve Macdonald, owner of high-end custom-home-builder, Patty Mac Inc. who shares with us his wisdom on entrepreneurship, management, and perseverance.

You will learn how Patty Mac has graduated from small, maintenance jobs to building million-dollar homes in a short span of time.

Back in college, admittedly, Steve was directionless and spent his days partying. Fortunately for him, he came he touch with Ryan who was running a thriving painting business with Student Works. Inspired by his friend, Steve also decided to go down the same path – a decision that set the tone for a brilliant career.

Looking back, Steve recalls how he learned the importance of stepping outside the comfort zone at Student Works.

After Student Works, Steve teamed up with his friend, Mike to start a property maintenance business. Over time, this business has evolved into a real estate design and development firm which clocked sales of $12 million last year.

So, what are some of the biggest reasons behind Patty Mac’s incredible growth?

One of the most important things that Steve attributes Patty Mac’s success to is stellar customer service. In fact, he shares how Patty Mac goes all out to ensure client happiness even if it means losing money on a job.

Additionally, Patty Mac has also invested in systems and processes so that the client can learn about the project status in real-time at the click of a button.

These efforts have paid off big time for them as Patty Mac generates 80% of their business through referrals.

Additionally, you will also learn how Patty Mac has managed to build and retain a dream team while ensuring a great team culture.

Running a capital-intensive business is a stressful experience, to say the least. And you also will get some excellent insights about managing cash flow and growth.

Tune in for some excellent insights!

What You Will Learn In This Show

How I built my multi-million-dollar construction business
Managing cash flow and how to finance a capital-intensive business
Building a dream-team and how to ensure employee-retention
How to ensure client satisfaction and happiness
And so much more…

Resources

Student Works

Chris Thomson LinkedIn

Chris’s Email

219 | Bill Eckstrom | Key Coaching Practices for Growth and Excellence Mar 16, 2021

Show notes

On today’s show, we interview the founder of Ecsell Institute, Bill Eckstrom who shares with us his wisdom on coaching, reinvention, and growth.

Growing up, Bill was admittedly behaviourally challenged. He hated structure and classroom teaching. And so, it was of little surprise when Bill was kicked out of school in 7th grade. Even at that young age, Bill was admonished severely for his mistake.

Now, as an accomplished coach and successful entrepreneur, Bill calls out the societal tendency to frown upon mistakes, rather than encourage them.

Bill has spent his entire career in the growth and performance arena. Starting his career with a sales position in an insurance company, Bill went on to take senior leadership roles in medical equipment and healthcare companies.

And at the age of 47, driven by his passion for coaching, Bill founded Ecsell Institute.

On today’s show, you will learn the important attributes that make you a great coach. You will learn that you cannot grow your team unless you grow yourself.

Apart from investing in your personal growth, a coach also needs to work on building strong relationships. Doing so gives a coach the right to challenge somebody.

Watch out for the interesting parallels that Bill makes between entrepreneurs and athletes in today’s show.

Enjoy!

What You Will Learn In This Show