In this episode of Connecting the Dots, I sit down with Jim Hamilton, an iconic professor at Smith School of Business known for teaching sales, for a conversation about listening, influence, and the human skills behind every great conversation. Jim challenges the traditional idea that sales is simply about pitching or convincing, and explains why the best salespeople are often the ones who ask better questions, listen more carefully, and understand what truly matters to the person in front of them. We explore why everyone is in sales—whether you are interviewing for a job, advocating for an idea, leading a team, or communicating your own value—and why trust is earned long before a decision is made. Sometimes, the most influential person in the room is not the one who speaks the most, but the one who understands the most.

In this episode of Connecting the Dots, I sit down with Anthony Viel, CEO of Deloitte Canada & Chile, for a conversation about leadership, AI, creativity, and building a meaningful career in a rapidly changing world. Anthony shares how his nonlinear path was shaped by mentors, uncomfortable opportunities, and a shift from chasing personal achievement to helping others grow. In just a few minutes, he breaks down why “rubbish assignments” can become career-defining, why great leadership moves from “me” to “we,” and why critical thinking, creativity, effort, and human connection may become the real advantage in the age of AI. Sometimes, the future belongs not to the person who moves fastest, but to the person who thinks deeper and brings others with them.

In Part Two of Connecting the Dots, I continue my conversation with Ken Wilden. What picks up from the turning point we paused on becomes a practical look at performing under pressure, learning from failure, and staying sharp when the stakes are high. In this episode, Ken breaks down how he approaches feedback, checks his ego at the door, and uses setbacks (including major crashes), as fuel for growth rather than reasons to step away. His story is a reminder that high-performance careers are built through repetition, humility, and the discipline to keep improving long after the spotlight fades.

In this episode of Connecting the Dots, I sit down with Ken Wilden, a professional race car driver, stunt man, and Ferrari driver coach who’s built a career in environments where pressure is constant and mistakes are costly. What began behind the wheel evolved into a life shaped by risk, resilience, and mastery; from racing at elite speeds, to recovering from major crashes, to coaching drivers at the highest level. In this conversation, Ken shares what it really takes to turn performance into a profession: checking your ego at the door, staying open to feedback, and building a career one step at a time through trust and relationships. His story is a reminder that progress isn’t linear, and that the ability to bounce back, listen, and keep learning is what allows excellence to compound over time.

In this episode of Connecting the Dots, I sit down with Nick Dean, a creative leader who has built his career at the intersection of hospitality, culture, and people-first leadership. As President of one of Canada’s most recognizable restaurant brands, The Keg, Nick has spent years shaping environments where people feel seen, empowered, and excited to grow. In just a few minutes, Nick breaks down why great leadership starts with how you make others feel, why empowering people is a daily practice (not a slogan), and how smiling, taking risks, and having fun along the way can transform both teams and careers. Sometimes, the biggest impact you can make is simply believing in someone before they believe in themselves.

In Part Two of Connecting the Dots, I continue my conversation with Randy Powell. What starts with the risk story we paused on becomes a practical playbook for running the room, raising the hiring bar, and executing when the numbers are fuzzy. In this episode, Randy shares how he pressure-tests his gut with the team, makes the call, and owns the result. His story is a reminder that the long game is built on reps, clear standards, and consistent action.

In this episode of Connecting the Dots, I sit down with Randy Powell, a president and people-first leader who’s scaled brands across food, retail, and consumer goods. What started as a “spiral up” at Campbell Soup evolved into leading organizations at SC Johnson, Second Cup, and Maple Leaf Foods, and even owning a brewery. In Part One, Randy shares how he trusts his intuition, listens hard, and makes brave calls when the data runs thin. His story is a reminder that leadership compounds in the messy middle, and that the best careers are measured by the people you lift.

In this episode of Connecting the Dots, I sit down with Renata Chubb — a graphic designer who walked away from the commercial design world to pursue something deeper. What started as a personal creative outlet evolved into a full-blown practice in expressive art therapy. In just 10 minutes, Renata shares how she followed her instincts, embraced the mess, and built a career rooted in healing through art. Her story is a reminder that growth isn’t always clean - and that sometimes the most meaningful paths are the ones we piece together as we go.

In this episode of Connecting the Dots, I sit down with Paulo Rhee - the son of immigrants who started in private equity, pivoted into hedge funds, and eventually took a leap to build something of his own. In just 10 minutes, Paulo shares how he spotted an overlooked opportunity turned and why starting a hedge fund doesn’t have to look like everyone else’s playbook. His story is a reminder that the path isn’t always straight — and that you don’t need to reinvent the system to make your mark — sometimes, you just need to trust your instincts and take the risk.

In this episode of Connecting the Dots, I sit down with Luis Almeida Fernandes, former McKinsey Partner and healthcare leader now driving impact as an entrepreneur. In just 10 minutes, Luis shares how his journey through consulting and public service led to the founding of Usawa Care. His story is a powerful example of what happens when experience meets purpose. We talk about making bold career moves, building with intention, and why real change starts with a commitment to serve, not just to scale.