By Chris Thomson
5
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The podcast currently has 402 episodes available.
What does it take to grow from a student unsure of their future to a leader in business and entrepreneurship? On this episode of Leaders of Tomorrow, Chris Thomson reconnects with Chris O’Rourke, a remarkable alumnus of the Student Works Management Program, to discuss his inspiring journey.
Chris reflects on how the skills and network he built during his time in the program shaped his career, from managing $300,000 projects as a student to leading high-growth companies in multiple industries.
Chris dives into the pivotal moments that defined his path, including his decision to embrace challenging opportunities and his relentless focus on leadership, team building, and strategy. He shares actionable insights on the importance of mentorship, avoiding complacency, and creating innovative solutions for emerging market needs. This episode is packed with lessons for anyone looking to scale their impact and lead with purpose. Enjoy!
In This Episode You'll Learn:
Resources:
Student Works
Connect with Chris O'Rourke on LinkedIn
077 | Chris O’Rourke | How to Discover and Find Success in Emerging Markets
How do life’s toughest lessons shape the leaders of tomorrow? On this episode of the Leaders of Tomorrow Podcast, host Chris Thomson interviews Bruce Hodges, an accomplished entrepreneur, global leader, and proud alumnus of the Student Works Management Program. Bruce shares his incredible journey, starting from running a student franchise to becoming a CEO with extensive international experience. Along the way, he faced extraordinary challenges, including personal financial setbacks, and ultimately turned those lessons into fuel for building a mission-driven business, Parachute, aimed at disrupting predatory lending practices.
Bruce reflects on the critical skills he developed during his Student Works days, such as sales, team management, and embracing discomfort to grow as a leader. He discusses the power of taking risks, seizing opportunities, and staying grounded in a strong sense of purpose. From insights into financial literacy to the importance of living a values-driven life, Bruce offers a wealth of advice for aspiring leaders and entrepreneurs.
Whether you're a Student Works participant, alumni, or simply looking to sharpen your leadership edge, this episode is packed with inspiring stories and actionable lessons to elevate your career and life. Enjoy!
In This Episode You'll Learn:
Resources:
Student Works
Bruce’s LinkedIn
Myparachute.co
Books:
Hooked: How to Build Habit-Forming Products
Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones
The Millionaire Next Door: The Surprising Secrets of America's Wealthy
How Will You Measure Your Life?
The Willpower Instinct: How Self-Control Works, Why It Matters, and What You Can Do to Get More of It
In today's episode of Leaders of Tomorrow, Chris talks to Zak Lefevre, co-founder and CEO at ChargeLab, a company that builds OCPP-Compliant software for managing EV charging stations. They are the back-end software behind North America's leading EV fleets, charging networks, and charging sites.
Zak’s entrepreneurial journey started with Student Works back in 2011 and, like most of our alumni, he believes that this experience played a big role in his professional and personal development.
You will learn a little bit about Zak’s background and who he was before joining our program.
Zak will share the best part about Student Works and the invaluable lessons he took with him from this experience.
He will also talk about the first business he ever started when he was very young.
You will find out what made Zak interested in electric vehicles, how he started ChargeLab and he will also share some of his early ideas about how to make money with this company.
Zak will also talk about the importance of not getting too greedy, why you should learn as much as you can about the business before you start anything, the most important qualities the leader of tomorrow should have and so much more.
Listen now and enjoy another fascinating discussion with one of our amazing alumni!
What You Will Learn In This Show:
Resources:
Student Works
Chargelab.co
How can mastering sales transform your career and elevate your business? In this episode of the Leaders of Tomorrow podcast, Chris Thomson sits down with Mark Cox, one of our alumni, founder of In The Funnel (ITF) Sales Coaching , and a seasoned sales expert with over 25 years of experience.
Mark shares his incredible journey from being a top operator in the Student Works Management Program to leading a consulting firm that has helped over 70 companies achieve double-digit growth. He unpacks the lessons he learned along the way, providing valuable insights into how understanding sales at a deep level can create massive opportunities in both entrepreneurship and the corporate world.
Mark dives into the fundamental principles that drive sales success, such as the importance of mindset, skillset, and toolset. He discusses how preparation and planning can help salespeople perform authentically in the moment, creating meaningful conversations that lead to results.
With a focus on real-life examples, Mark talks about the necessity of stepping out of your comfort zone to grow, the power of perseverance, and how surrounding yourself with the right people can fuel long-term success.
Listeners will gain practical advice on how to build a strong foundation in sales, why sales is a critical skill for anyone in business, and how lessons from Student Works apply to achieving success at the highest levels. Whether you’re just starting out in sales or looking to refine your approach, this episode offers valuable takeaways for building a high-performance mindset and reaching your goals. Enjoy!
In This Episode You'll Learn:
Resources:
Student Works
017 | Mark Cox | How to Become a Sales Champion
Mark’s LinkedIn
What does it take to transform from a young person with a bit of ego to a powerful, inspiring leader? On this episode of the Leaders of Tomorrow podcast, Chris speaks with Andrew Solomon, an exceptional young leader who has been through Student Works as both a top operator and a coach, and now runs an $8 million division of Rydel Roofing.
Andrew shares how his experiences at Student Works shifted his focus from himself to the people around him—and how that change fueled his success.Andrew discusses the value of integrity, accountability, and how showing up with consistency has been crucial in his journey from a young operator to a thriving business leader.
Listeners will hear how Andrew made critical personal and professional transformations, dealt with major setbacks, and ultimately built a high-performing business by putting his people first.
Curious about the importance of “leading yourself first” or how a personal vision can empower a whole team to achieve beyond expectations? Andrew reveals the mindset and actions needed to create not just a successful business but also a life full of purpose and fulfillment. Listen now and enjoy!
In This Episode You'll Learn:
Resources:
Student Works
How do you go from facing major setbacks to finishing the season strong? In this episode of the Leaders of Tomorrow podcast, Chris Thomson sits down with three high-achieving operators from Student Works: Zach Weiler, Chris Bennett, and Landon Roberts. Each of these young leaders faced significant challenges in their first year with Student Works but turned things around with determination and strategic thinking to achieve outstanding results.
Zach, Chris, and Landon share their unique journeys, from the frustrations of managing crews and hitting production snags to the personal growth that came from facing these challenges head-on. They talk about the mindset shifts, systems, and habits that allowed them to go from average results to extraordinary performance.
Whether you're a first-time entrepreneur or looking to push through a difficult season, this conversation offers insights into what it takes to finish strong and set yourself up for long-term success.
Curious about how these leaders went from struggling to thriving? This episode will inspire you to reflect on your own obstacles, rethink your strategies, and take action to reach your full potential. Listen now!
What You Will Learn In This Episode:
Resources:
Student Works
Ever wonder how skills from one discipline can shape your success in a completely different field? In this episode of the Leaders of Tomorrow podcast, Chris Thomson talks to Victor Turcanu, who made the leap from being a national-level athlete to a thriving career in law.
Victor shares how his experience in the Student Works program laid the groundwork for his legal career, teaching him invaluable lessons about discipline, leadership, and entrepreneurship. discusses how the business acumen he developed during his time as a franchise operator continues to serve him as a corporate and franchise lawyer.
Victor explores the challenges of balancing risk management with fostering client growth and why relationships are key in both business and legal success. Whether you're interested in law, business, or personal development, this episode offers insights into the importance of blending multiple skill sets to achieve success in any field.
Victor explains how the entrepreneurial mindset has been vital to his career growth and why mentorship and continuous learning are critical for anyone looking to excel in the legal profession. Listen now and enjoy!
In This Episode You'll Learn:
Resources:
Student Works
What does it take to set a record and break the limits you thought you had? On this episode of the Leaders of Tomorrow podcast, Chris Thomson welcomes Chris Caruso, one of our operators who broke the all-time window cleaning record. Chris shares his journey from being a window cleaner for Student Works to breaking the all-time window cleaning sales record—earning over $210,000 in a single season.
Chris offers insights into his challenges, personal growth, and the power of pushing yourself beyond comfort zones to achieve new heights. Chris talks about the physical, emotional, and mental lessons learned from working so hard that he reached his limit—and why that limit became a crucial moment of growth.
This conversation isn’t just about business success; it’s about understanding yourself, striving for balance, and learning when to ease off the throttle to achieve long-term fulfillment.
Curious about how a young entrepreneur juggles intense workloads, motivates a team, and still manages to find meaning beyond just hitting targets? This episode offers a candid look at the highs and lows of scaling a business and how a powerful "no excuses" mindset can create transformative experiences. Listen now and enjoy!
In This Episode You'll Learn:
Resources:
Student Works
What does it take to build a successful business from the ground up and turn it into a multi-million dollar enterprise? In this episode, I sit down with one of the most remarkable entrepreneurs I know, my close friend and longtime colleague, Rick Eastwood. You’ll hear how friendships, like the one we’ve shared since our Student Works days, can shape not only your personal life but also your professional journey in ways you’d never expect.
Rick Eastwood, one of Canada's top entrepreneurs and the CEO of The Central Group, shares the ups and downs of growing a business from $5 million to nearly $200 million. From starting as a Student Works manager to leading one of Canada's 50 Best Privately Managed Companies (as recognized by Deloitte), Rick has seen it all. This episode dives deep into the entrepreneurial mindset, business pivots, and how strong networks can make or break your success.
Curious about the critical moments that almost led Rick to failure? Want to know how Rick navigated losing 60% of his business or how he attracted the top talent that fuels his success today? Tune in to hear Rick’s invaluable lessons on leadership, resilience, and building lasting relationships in business.
Don't miss this chance to gain insights from a top leader who has mastered the art of staying relentless in the face of challenges. Listen now and enjoy!
In This Episode You'll Learn:
Resources
Student Works
Rick’s LinkedIn
Blue Ocean Strategy: How to Create Uncontested Market Space and Make Competition Irrelevant
What if the things you thought you were good at turned out to be your biggest blind spots? In this episode, Chris talks to Alex Irvine, a top performer in the program. He built a $275,000 business and earned a place in the President’s Club. Now, as a full-time coach, he shares how his experience with Student Works helped him grow as a leader and develop the systems that allow him to thrive in business and life.
During the episode, you will discover how Alex Irvine’s journey through the Student Works Management Program uncovered surprising truths about leadership, organization, and personal growth. It’s not just about running a business—it’s about recognizing where you need to improve and learning how to scale up without burning out.
Curious about how the Student Works program prepares young entrepreneurs for the real world? Want to learn how to lead, delegate, and build a strong team from the ground up? Alex’s insights into scaling a business while maintaining balance offer a roadmap for anyone ready to take their leadership to the next level.
Tune in for actionable strategies and inspiration, and share this episode with anyone looking to start their entrepreneurial journey!
What You Will Learn In This Episode:
Resources:
Student Works
The podcast currently has 402 episodes available.