Leaders Of Tomorrow Podcast

Latest Episodes:

218 | Cory Bartrim | A Peek Into The Student Works Model and The Biggest Things that Make Us Thrive Mar 12, 2021

Show notes

On today’s show, we interview Cory Bartrim, Vice President, Operations at Student Works who shares with us his distilled wisdom on collaboration, entrepreneurship, and organization. He also shares his biggest failures and some of the most important lessons that he has learned along the way.

Born in a blue-collar family, Cory always had a big engine for work. However, admittedly, he had little idea about his long-term goals and the direction in which his life was headed. While studying business at UNBC, he discovered the Student Works opportunity due to a chance meeting with a close friend of his.

And the rest, as they say, is history.

After two amazing years of franchising, Cory was offered the opportunity to work as a DM in Vancouver Island.

In his initial years at Student Works, Cory was mentored by Andrew who, almost became like a second father to him. You will learn how Cory has managed to forge life-long relationships that go well beyond the business at Student Works.

You will also get a “peek” into the Student Works model, and learn how the organization is set up to bring out the best in people.

Having been an intimate part of the business for 9 years, Cory shares how Student Works strives to achieve a fine balance of structure and flexibility. He also talks a bit about the nimbleness with which Student Works tweaked their hiring practices and sales processes in the wake of COVID.

We wrap up this show with Cory making some frank admissions about all the mistakes that he made early on in his career. Especially, he talks about being neck-deep in debt in his early thirties and how good counsel helped him nurse his finances back to health.

Having learned his lesson the hard way, Cory and his wife, Emily have managed to build up an enviable real estate portfolio over time.

This show is full of inspiring nuggets. Enjoy!

What You Will Learn In This Show

A “peek” into Student Works model
Why Student Works is designed to bring out the best in people
Best organizational practices and achieving a balance between structure and flexibility
Avoiding the common money mistakes that most people make early on in life
And so much more…

Resources

Willing to Fail

Student Works

Chris Thomson LinkedIn

Chris’s Email

217 | Todd Palmer | Entrepreneurial Grit and How to Successfully Pivot and Re-invent Yourself Mar 09, 2021

Show notes

On today’s show, we interview executive coach, keynote speaker, and renowned author, Todd Palmer who shares with us his distilled wisdom on grit, entrepreneurship, and mentorship.

Back in 1988, while Todd was still enrolled as an undergraduate the Eastern Michigan University, he took up a permanent teaching job at a community college. But just as things were looking up for Todd, he lost his job. And to make things worse, his personal life hit a rough patch as his marriage ended in a divorce.

A single father with no income, Todd decided to take the bull by its horns and start his own business in 2007. This, however, was easier said than done because he found that no banks were willing to back him up.

Fortunately for Todd, his mentor lent him $20K using which Todd bootstrapped his business – Diversified Industrial Staffing in 1997.

After two years of hyper-growth, Todd found himself saddled with $600,000 in debt. So, he had his elder brother step in as a mentor, and they mutually decided that some drastic measures were in order.

So, in 2006, he decided to completely restructure his business. And he started this process by firing his entire staff.

These efforts paid off big time as Todd’s business was featured in Inc. 5,000 Fastest-Growing list SIX (!) times in a row.

Despite his entrepreneurial success, Todd felt unfulfilled. At this juncture, he decided to pivot once again and don the hat of an executive coach. A sought-after thought leader in his field, Todd shares the importance of staying vulnerable and authentic.

Enjoy!

What You Will Learn In This Show

How I made it to the Inc. 5,000 Fastest-Growing List after being saddled with $600,000 in debt
Dealing with your imposter syndrome
My ATV principle of coaching
Opportunity in every tragedy – what my coach, Danny Friedland taught me about coping with death
And so much more…

Resources

Extraordinary Advisors

Todd’s Twitter

Student Works

Chris Thomson LinkedIn

Chris’s Email

216 | Hugh Owen | How to Pivot Successfully and Why Entrepreneurs Should Always Strive For Lifelong Learning Mar 05, 2021

Show notes

Ever wondered how successful entrepreneurs manage to pivot and survive massive economic downturns?

On today’s show, Hugh Owen, CEO, MacRAE'S and Scott's Directories brings to us his distilled wisdom on persistence and continuous learning.

Early on in his story, Hugh found himself lacking focus and just drifting through life. However, all this changed when he enrolled in the Student Works Management Program. The two years that he spent here honed his work ethic and introduced him to business at an early age.

After Student Works, he enrolled in the accountant training program at PWC which was admittedly a terrible choice. Hugh quit this program prematurely after eight months and went on to pursue his MBA at The University of Western Ontario.

Hugh got sucked into the world of business once he discovered how he could make money selling research papers. A publishing agreement with the Canadian Manufacturer’s Association was his first big break, and Hugh rapidly scaled up his print business in the pre-dot com era.

Hugh decided to sell his business and go work for Yellow Pages – a decision that he regrets to this day. Fortunately for him, he was able to purchase his business back at a fraction of the cost after the dot com bubble burst.

Hugh has since managed to successfully pivot from print to digital. He has branched out into digital marketing, and also set up an operational base in India.

You will also learn how Hugh has ensured continuous learning over the years by enrolling in programs at Ivey and Harvard Business School.

Enjoy!

What You Will Learn In This Show

How to stand out in a commoditized market
Importance of continuous and lifelong learning
Showing grit in the face of adversity
And so much more…

Resources

Student Works

Chris Thomson LinkedIn

Chris’s Email

215 | Byron MacDonald | Cultivating the Olympic Mindset Mar 02, 2021

Show notes

On today’s show, we interview American Canadian swimming coach and former Olympian, Byron MacDonald who shares with us the key attributes of world-class athletes.

Byron won six international game medals for Canada from 1970 to 1975. He finishes sixth in the 100 m butterfly at the 1972 Olympics.

In 1976, Byron started his coaching career with the York University in Toronto. Over the years, two of MacDonald’s swimmers have won Olympic medals – the most recent one being by Kylie Masse at the 2016 Olympics.

You will get a peek into Byron’s coaching methodology in the next segment of the show. Compared to many other sports like football and basketball, swimming is more of an individualized sport. But team dynamics still play an important role.

Drawing from his plethora of experience, Byron shares his take on what sets the best athletes apart. You will learn that while talent is important, what truly matters is preparation and confidence.

We also have an interesting discussion on why a large percentage of elite athletes go on to become successful entrepreneurs as well. Like in sports, success in business also requires grit, patience, and hardcore work ethic.

You will also learn how the pandemic has impacted the Olympic preparations for 2021. Because Canada was one of the countries that enforced a strict lockdown, elite swimmers could not train at their facilities for 14 weeks.

Byron shares how the Canadian athletes improvised and trained in their backyard pools in this interim period.

What You Will Learn In This Show

Key attributes of world-class athletes
Drawing parallels between sports and business
How is the national Canadian swimming team training for Olympics 2021?
Is swimming a team sport?
And so much more….

Resources

Student Works

Chris Thomson LinkedIn

Chris’s Email

214 | Craig Whitten | Scaling and Growing a Real Estate Syndication Business to the Next Level Feb 26, 2021

Show notes

Ever wondered how successful real estate developers manage the different moving parts to ensure the successful fruition of large multi-million-dollar projects?

On today’s show, we interview Craig Whitten, partner, Huntington Properties who shares with us his thoughts on core values, business strategy, and growth.

Growing up, Craig was independent-minded and success-motivated. So, when he went through the Student Works internship, this further stoked his passion for business. Here, he got some lifelong lessons and transferable lessons in relationship-building and work ethic.

After graduating from the University of Waterloo, Craig worked for a home renovations company for a while before the company went under due to a lack of systems and farsightedness. So, in 2010, Craig became the fourth employee to join his father’s syndication business.

Craig and his team have since significantly expanded their operations as they are developing/managing large multi-million dollar commercial as well as real estate properties.

In this next segment of the show, you will get an interesting peek into the operations of Craig’s business, Huntington Properties. You will learn how they scout out feasible locations for their forthcoming projects. And how they find the right investors and tenants to bring a project to successful fruition.

We also have an interesting discussion on brick & mortar vs. online. Craig shares why, inspite of all the hoopla surrounding online/eCommerce, brick and mortar is here to stay. And you will learn how Craig’s business is pivoting to develop projects that are more aligned with tenant requirements in the post-pandemic world.

Enjoy!

What You Will Learn In This Show

Why brick and mortar retail is here to stay inspite of all the hoopla about online
How retail developers are pivoting in the wake of the pandemic
How to navigate the different peaks and troughs in a business
Getting the right anchor tenants to ensure the success of a commercial real estate development
And so much more…

Resources

Student Works

Chris Thomson LinkedIn

Chris’s Email

213 | Michelle Tucker | How to Maximize Value and Exit Big Feb 23, 2021

Show notes

What is the one thing that can help businesses unlock massive value?

On today’s show, we talk to leading M&A advisor, Michelle Tucker who shares some expert tips to help you get your dream exit. And you will also learn the SIX Mistakes that businesses make due to which they are unable to stand the test of time.

Michelle has also co-authored The Exit Rich Book along with Sharon Lechter of Rich Dad, Poor Dad fame.

One of the biggest mistakes that businesses make is that they fail to plan for their exit.

Michelle points out that businesses should be thinking of making an exit when the business is firing on all six cylinders and raking in the moolah. But, typically, businesses do not start planning for an exit unless they have their backs against the wall – and selling is the only viable option.

As an expert M&A advisor, Michelle calls out the SIX common mistakes that businesses make. She calls it her six P’s. You will learn how Michelle evaluates a business based on these SIX P’s to determine the biggest threats that can cause a business to fold up.

Enjoy

What You Will Learn In This Show

Expert tips for exiting big
Six Ps’ to evaluate a business
AIM – Always, Innovate, and Market to stand the test of time
Why you need an outsider’s perspective to see the big picture
And so much more…

Resources

Exit Rich Book

Student Works

Chris Thomson LinkedIn

Chris’s Email

212 | Michael Rudzki | How to Pivot in Times of Massive Uncertainty Feb 19, 2021

Show notes

Ever wondered how successful entrepreneurs and professionals manage to pivot in times of massive uncertainty? And how do they broaden their horizons and gain some enriching experiences while they are at it?

On today’s show, we interview Michael Rudzki, Application Sales Manager, Oracle who shares his thoughts on entrepreneurship, grit, and persistence. He shares with us his different work experiences, and reveals some of the most important lessons that he has learnt along the way.

Michael is a second-generation immigrant with Polish lineage. After moving to Canada, Michael’s father and uncles ventured into real estate and construction. And this turned out to be Michael's first exposure to business as he eagerly lent a helping hand to the family business.

When Michael came across the Student Works internship, he saw it as another opportunity to build his foundational base. Particularly, Michael learnt how to research new markets and discover hidden opportunities during his internship.

Michael’s Student Works experience led him to his next business – a Service Master franchise. One of three partners, Michael built an extremely profitable commercial cleaning in Waterloo over the next three years.

During this period, Michael got exposed to the technology industry while working on some projects in the start up hub in Vancouver. Inspired, he decided to pivot and get his MBA in his late twenties. This was certainly not an easy decision, and Michael shares how he eventually decided to put up with the short-term pain and income loss for potential long-term gains.

Upon graduation, Michael worked in start-ups like Mobify and Procurify before working in some larger, established organizations like Egencia and Oracle.

While large organizations have greater resources at their disposal, Michael shares how working in the start-up space was an equally enriching experience that allowed him to greatly broaden his horizons.

In November 2020, in the aftermath of the pandemic, Michael was laid off from Egencia (an Expedia company) barely three months after his marriage. Fortunately for him, an ex-colleague from Oracle reached out to him to offer the role of an Application Sales Manager.

This show is loaded with some great nuggets guaranteed to inspire you forward.

Enjoy!

What You Will Learn In This Show

Biggest lessons learned after working in the startup space
How to successfully pivot in the times of massive uncertainty
What are some of the biggest benefits of working in larger, established organizations?
How to research new market opportunities
And so much more…

Resources

Student Works

Chris Thomson LinkedIn

Chris’s Email

211 | Bill Bishop | Rewiring Your Thinking and How You Can Stop Being a Penguin in a Commoditized Marke Feb 16, 2021

Show notes

Wondering how to grow your business in a competitive and commoditized market? And how to add value and make yourself irresistible to your ideal clients?

Back in 1980, Bill was working as a waiter at The Keg restaurant when he hit upon a “magic formula” to sell lobsters to restaurant customers. Using his formula, Bill managed to sell 1400 lobsters in 3 months. And to put things in perspective, the waiter who came in distant second just sold 90.

Bill figured out soon enough that he could apply this same magic formula to other businesses as well. And this led to him forming The Big Idea Company in 1987.

“So, what was the magic formula due to which Bill ended up selling an obscene number of lobsters?”, you may ask.

Well, his lobster story taught Bill the importance of understanding his clients and then rewiring his thinking.

Unless you are willing to expand your thinking to make it more aligned to the current scenario, you will end up fighting a losing battle where you are just struggling to survive.

Bill has since taught hundreds of clients to profitably and sustainably scale their businesses by providing more value and differentiating themselves in a commoditized market.

You will learn the three things that you can do right NOW to get rid of your fears and embrace this new-age thinking.

Enjoy!

What You Will Learn In This Show

Scaling and growing your business in a commoditized market
How to make “gourmet” offers that win your ideal clients over
The three things that you can do to stop managing and start entrepreneur-ing
The five super-powers that robots do not have
And so much more…

Resources

New Factory Thinker

Student Works

Chris Thomson LinkedIn

Chris’s Email

210 | Christine Purvis | Closing Billion-Dollar Deals Feb 12, 2021

Show notes

Ever wondered how million-dollar deals are closed? What is the level of effort, diligence, and teamwork required for successful culmination?

In today’s show, Chris interviews Christine Purvis, Senior Account Executive, SAP who shares her work experiences and some of the biggest lessons learned over the years.

Back in high school, Christine was a busy-bee doing great in academics as well as in extra-curricular activities, constantly making sacrifices so that she could remain focused on her big goals.

Student Works was her first real-life business experience and a great one at that. You will learn how Christine picked up an entire gamut of skills ranging from sales to operations.

Upon graduation, Christine worked with some stellar organizations, starting with a financial analyst role at Pepsi, then working as a staff accountant at Deloitte before moving on to SAP.

This next segment of the show will be particularly interesting for those who are trying to gain a foothold in the highly lucrative cloud software space. Christine gives us a peek into the rigorous recruiting process, her work profile, and the overall culture at SAP.

You will learn about the thoroughness, preparation, and teamwork that goes into closing million-dollar deals.

We also have an interesting discussion about how COVID has taught us some important lessons in gratitude and empathy.

Tune in to this inspiring show today!

What You Will Learn In This Show

Why great sales skills are at the core of a successful career
How to close billion-dollar accounts
How the pandemic has taught us some important lessons in gratitude and empathy
And so much more…

Resources

Student Works

Chris Thomson LinkedIn

Chris’s Email

209 | Geoff Woods | The ONE Thing and How the Right Mentors Can Collapse Your Time and Accelerate your Money Feb 09, 2021

Show notes

What if you could get a peek into the billionaire mindset? And learn how to make decisions that multiply your growth and success?

On today’s show, we interview Geoff Woods, co-founder, and partner, ProduKtive who shares with us his wisdom on entrepreneurship, core values, and mentorship. ProduKtive is a training company and community based on The One Thing.

Growing up, Geoff was always driven and motivated to set and achieve big goals. However, he had little clarity about the path he had chosen and where his life was headed.

Geoff’s big AH-HA moment was when a young co-worker had a heart attack and shortly after that the company announced the commission structure was revised and he lost 40% of his income just like that. Geoff realized that he needed to be in better control of his destiny.

As he was looking for better career alternatives, he ran into Jay Papasan at the national sales meeting for his book, The One Thing. Geoff felt an instant connection to Jay as he shared his thoughts on focus and time management.

One thing led to another and Geoff partnered up with Gary and Jay for ProduKtive. In this segment of the show, Geoff shares some great tips for operating efficiently in a virtual setting.

When the pandemic broke out, Geoff and his partners were quick to pivot to refocus on the ONE thing that mattered then – client retention. And in the process, they ended up having their best year ever.

You will learn how sticking to your core values always pays off in the long run. And how learning from the right mentors can collapse your time while accelerating your money.

Enjoy!

What You Will Learn In This Show