People before profits: the key to long-term business sustainability

According to a recent study conducted by Smith School of Business, 81% of Canadians feel it is the role of the CEO of a company to take a firm position on important social issues.

Perhaps in response, many executives have recently spoken out publicly on social and environmental issues. Is this trend a distraction or even a risk, especially now that many firms are facing greater pressure to improve core performance? Or is this the exact moment we distinguish the true visionaries from the rest of the group?

Join Canadian Club Toronto on April 26 for a timely discussion on the leadership implications and the risks and rewards of being an Outspoken CEO. This panel will be moderated by Andy Willis (Business Columnist, Report on Business, The Globe and Mail) and will feature:

Tabatha Bull – President & CEO, Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business

Dr. Wanda Costen – Dean, Smith School of Business at Queen’s University

Meghan Roach – President & CEO, Roots Corporation

Jim Stanford – Economist and Director, Centre for Future Work

Two Trailblazing Futurpreneur-supported Founders

Join Canadian Club Toronto on April 19 for an engaging fireside chat with two of Canada’s most successful entrepreneurs: Joanna Griffiths, Founder and President of Knix and KT by Knix, and Noura Sakkijha, co-Founder and CEO of Mejuri. Led by Karen Greve Young, CEO of Futurpreneur, this conversation will explore how these trailblazing founders built their brands from the ground up, the opportunities they seized along the way, and their visions for the future of their businesses. From overcoming early obstacles to building global brands and strong teams, Joanna and Noura will share their insights and experiences with candor and honesty. Don’t miss this opportunity to be inspired by two of Canada’s most innovative, resilient, and successful entrepreneurs!

Join Canadian Club Toronto on April 13 for a virtual panel featuring former Olympian Diana Matheson and Thomas Gilbert, co-founders of Project 8.

Project 8 is working to establish a professional Canadian Women’s Soccer League, solidifying Canada as a global leader in sport and gender equality. In conversation with TSN’s Kate Beirness, Diana and Thomas will discuss why now is the time to establish the league, how it will take shape in the lead up to a 2025 launch, and the importance of women’s professional sports in inspiring the next generation.

Rogers and Shaw have just completed a historic merger that will bring together two entrepreneurial Canadian companies. Join Canadian Club Toronto on April 12 when we’ll host Rogers CEO Tony Staffieri for a conversation where he will discuss his vision for the company and how it will benefit consumers, businesses, and our country.

Tony Staffieri is the President and CEO of Rogers Communications, a leading Canadian technology and media company proudly committed to providing the very best in wireless, residential, sports and media to Canadians and Canadian businesses.

A highly regarded and seasoned leader, Tony previously held the Chief Financial Officer position at Rogers for nine years where he played a lead role in delivering strong results and long-term shareholder value, solid operational execution, improvements to customer experience and best-in-class team engagement. Prior to Rogers, Tony held senior leadership positions with Price WaterhouseCoopers, Celestica International and Bell Canada Enterprises.

Tony is Chair of the Toronto Metropolitan University Board of Governors, and a Board Director of Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment (MLSE).

Join Canadian Club Toronto on April 5 when Leagh Turner, Co-CEO of Ceridian, speaks to her personal journey within the Canadian technology ecosystem. She will share how Ceridian achieved successful growth and scale across global markets, fueled by the acquisitions of value-added companies, the rollout of game changing technologies, and the hiring of critical talent in key markets. Leagh will also reveal insights about Ceridian’s award-winning culture, anchored in her leadership team’s reimagined approach to the employee experience and bold commitment to workplace diversity, equity, and inclusion. Leagh will be joined in conversation by David Skok, Founder and Editor-in-Chief of The Logic.

Leagh Turner is Co-CEO of Ceridian and a member of the company’s Board of Directors. Leagh oversees the end-to-end operations and strong execution that are fundamental to Ceridian’s growth. Leagh joined Ceridian in 2018, serving as President and Chief Operating Officer.

Leagh has been a leader and innovator in the software industry for more than 20 years, previously serving in senior leadership roles at SAP and Oracle and has twice been recognized by the Women’s Executive Network as one of Canada’s 100 Most Powerful Women.

Leagh is a member of the boards of directors at Manulife, a leading international financial services group, and Plan International Canada, a global not-for-profit that focuses on improving lives of children around the world. She is a strong advocate for the advancement of women in leadership and a champion of diversity, equity, and inclusion within the workforce.

Leagh is a graduate of Western University in London, Ontario.

Imagine a world without journalism. A statement like this would have been incomprehensible a decade ago. Today it is an increasingly potent threat. While the pandemic emphasized the need for reliable, quality news and opinion, the last few years have not been an easy road for journalism in Canada. However, Jordan Bitove, owner of the Toronto Star sees a brighter future.

Whether it’s breaking news like John Tory’s recent decision to resign, the ongoing political tensions around the Greenbelt or exclusive stories on the Sherman case, Toronto Star delivers the news with honesty and integrity. Join Canadian Club Toronto on March 30 when Jordan will discuss the critical role of journalism in supporting our democracy, dive deep into the importance of supporting Canadian owned and operated media, offer a look behind the curtains of publishing and what we can expect for media in Canada in the years to come.

Jordan’s distinguished career at the forefront of Canadian business includes ownership of 80 newspapers, technology, real estate, hospitality, natural resources, and distribution. In 1998 he founded Vision Companies, an industry-leading experiential marketing company. He also founded Great Moments in Catering in 1990, which became Canada’s largest privately held event catering company. As a leader in Canada’s sports industry, Jordan helped launch the Toronto Raptors basketball team, the first NBA franchise awarded outside the United States, and he was part of the ownership consortium that built the SkyDome (now Rogers Centre). He also helped orchestrate Toronto’s bid for the 2008 Olympics. Since 2013, Jordan has been a member of the Board of Directors of ClearStream Energy Services. He has been a member of the Board of Trustees for SickKids Foundation since 2012. He previously served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Toronto International Film Festival, the Board of Governors of Western University, and the Canadian Advisory Board for Right to Play. In 2012, he was a recipient of the Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Medal for his philanthropic work. Jordan is a graduate of Western University and holds the position of Honorary Consul to the Republic of North Macedonia.

Join Canadian Club Toronto on March 28 for a virtual panel discussion featuring former CEO of UHN, Dr. Peter Pisters, former CEO of SickKids, Dr. Michael Apkon, and Elizabeth Buller, moderated by leading healthcare consultant Georgina Black. The discussion will be focused on what’s worked well and what hasn’t, and how Canada can learn from other countries to seek to improve care for its citizens, as we continue to rework and improve our healthcare system.

Dr. Michael Apkon – President, Sand Street Advisors

Elizabeth Buller – President & CEO, St. Joseph’s Health System

Dr. Peter Pisters – President, MD Anderson Cancer Center

Georgina Black – Vice Chair & Canadian Managing Partner, Government, Public Services, Health & Life Sciences, Deloitte Canada

Join Canadian Club Toronto on March 7, on the eve of International Women’s Day, when we will hear from Laurentian Bank’s President and Chief Executive Officer, Rania Llewellyn, the first woman to lead a chartered Canadian Bank. Rania will be joined in conversation by Tanya van Biesen (Managing Partner, Board & CEO Succession Practice Canada, Korn Ferry) to discuss her ideas and efforts around equity at Laurentian and beyond, with a focus on the power of mentorship, sponsorship, and allyship.

Rania Llewellyn was appointed as President and Chief Executive Officer of Laurentian Bank in 2020, the first woman to head a major Canadian chartered bank. Under her leadership, the Bank has launched a new three-year strategic plan, purpose and core values, and has exceeded all of its financial targets over the past two years.

Rania is a first-generation Canadian, having immigrated from the Middle East in her teenage years. As a transformational change leader, her top priority is building high-performance teams and creating a culture of equality, diversity and inclusion. Her focus on improving the customer experience and driving growth and shareholder value has earned her wide recognition and awards, including being awarded the Canadian Chamber of Commerce’s Business Leader of the Year Award in 2023, being named on Maclean’s 2022 The Power List, and included as one of the Top 25 Women of Influence in 2021.

Rania has more than 27 years of experience in the banking industry. Previous experience includes serving as an Executive Vice President at Scotiabank, where she began her career as a part-time teller. She holds Bachelor of Commerce and MBA degrees from Saint Mary’s University where she focused on Finance, Marketing and International Business. In 2022, Ontario Tech University awarded her with an Honorary Doctor of Laws, and she received an Honorary Doctor of Commerce from Saint Mary’s in 2014. Rania is married to Sean Llewellyn and is the proud mother of two wonderful children, Sofia and Zachary.