Leaders Of Tomorrow Podcast

In today’s show, Chris interviews Simon Miller, Senior Principal Managing Partner at Workday Canada. Simon shares the most important attributes which enabled him to overcome personal challenges and rise through the corporate ranks.

This show starts with Simon sharing his background information. Growing up in abject poverty and being subjected to emotional and mental abuse by his step-father fueled Simon’s desire for success. Ambition and hard work paid off big time as Simon was awarded a full scholarship to Trent University. In this segment of the show, we learn how to avoid giving in to feeling overwhelmed and anxious and face challenges head-on.

Next, Simon shares why he chose to enroll at Student Works. Simon reveals how he chanced upon Student Works at an opportune time when he had lost his scholarship. Again, with his back to the wall, Simon put in all his efforts to make his painting business a success. Was it difficult for someone with zero business experience to manage a painting business?

After Student Works, Simon became interested in the internet and its immense potential. Starting as a junior salesperson, Simon gradually transitioned to IT consultancy. His first job in IT involved Analytics and he gradually mastered programming, training and project management.

He was thrown into some large analytics implementations where he learned to lead people he had no direct line management over. He was not afraid to move from one job to the next when he saw a dead end. In one case, he was willing to quit a job after recognizing the need for better work-life balance.

Simon shares some interesting anecdotes about his 13 year stint at Oracle. An insider’s account of the work culture at one of the largest software companies in the world is sure to keep you hooked. Here, Simon discusses how continuous learning can help you adapt to new technologies and survive in a tough industry. Specifically, we share how the industry and its employees struggled to adapt to cloud technology in the initial years.

In this segment of the show, listeners will learn how Student Works can equip you with transferable skill sets that can help you immensely in your corporate career.

Along with his corporate career, Simon is also a successful real estate investor, having started with nothing and ending up with a mortgage-free million dollar private cottage island. He shares his experiences and provides a reality check for those who are looking to make a quick buck in real estate. Should you attempt to time the real estate market? Can you generate handsome returns by investing in residential properties? What was the effect of declining interest rates over the years? Whether you are a real estate investor or aspiring to be one, this segment of the show is sure to interest you greatly.

Throughout his journey, Simon has worked to balance the pressures of a 20-year marriage and four children with the pressures of generating a single income needed to simply pay the bills in Oakville, ON. Part of the journey has been from working hard to working smart to learning when and how to back off to enjoy life. While not explicitly discussed, a large part of this journey has been one of faith, volunteering, the importance of friends and mentors, and giving back through charitable donations.

Towards the end of this show, listeners will learn about Simon’s role at Workday, his current employer. A leading provider of enterprise cloud applications, Workday delivers financial management, human capital management, planning, and analytics applications designed for the world’s largest organizations. Simon reveals what he cares about the most at Workday – first his team, and then his customers. Simon has benefitted from world-class management training at Workday. 

We wrap up this show with some excellent advice for aspiring and young entrepreneurs. Topics discussed include cultivating empathy, developing hobbies and reflecting on your past actions.

Tune in for some excellent nuggets!

What You Will Discover In This Episode:

• How to cultivate a good work-life balance

Resources:

Grit by Angela Duckworth

Student Works

Simon Miller LinkedIn

Good to Great

In today's episode of Leaders of Tomorrow, Chris Thomson has another fascinating and inspiring interview with Patrick Lalonde, VP at Student Works.

In today’s show, Patrick is going to talk about the nature of being successful in the world, some important mindset concepts that we use regularly at Student Works and the way those different concepts work together to really pull people towards success and impactful lives. 

You will learn what the iterative feedback process is and why it is so critical to the nature of success.

Chris and Patrick will talk about the importance of being aware of the nature of feedback loops and why you need to change your perspective on failure.

You will learn how we make decisions and will find out what the first-order, second-order and third-order consequences are. You will also discover one of the reasons why being really successful is such a challenge

Chris and Patrick will also reveal a perfect example of the exponential nature of results, will talk about the flywheel effect and how it works, will dive into the concept of cause and effect and why it is so important and so much more. And so much more...

Enjoy!

What You Will Learn In This Show:

• What is the iterative feedback process and why it is critical to the nature of success?

Resources:

Student Works

207 | Patrick Lalonde | Shedding the Victim Mindset and Taking Charge of Your Life

Books:

Principles: Your Guided Journal (Create Your Own Principles to Get the Work and Life You Want)

Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones

Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap...And Others Don't

Outliers: The Story of Success

In this episode, Chris interviews Jonathan Suther, co-founder, SimpleTax. Jonathan shares how grit, ingenuity and focus can help you quit your corporate job, follow your dreams, and start your business.

This show starts off with Jonathan sharing his background information and his life before Student Works. Did Jonathan always have a huge appetite for hard work? Jonathan shares some inspiring (and funny) anecdotes that are sure to interest you. You will also learn about Jonathan’s first work stint at Nortel, touted back then as “a safe haven” for those looking for a stable career. What lessons did Jonathan learn when his entire department was axed overnight?

Next, Jonathan shares his Student Works experience and reveals the important and universally applicable lessons that he learned while there. Particularly, Jonathan highlights the need to cultivate unwavering focus. Listeners will learn how focus is necessary for delivering a successful and sustainable product. Chris and Jonathan also remind listeners that the road to success is laden with many challenges – challenges that test our patience, courage, and ingenuity.

After Student Works, Jonathan worked in the technology sector for a while now. While this experience was rewarding for Jonathan, he always harbored entrepreneurial ambitions. However, like most of us, Jonathan was not willing to give up his job security unless the “perfect business opportunity” knocking on his door. So, did that eventually happen? What led Jonathan to finally give up the comfort of his job and don the entrepreneurial hat?

In our last and perhaps, more interesting segment, you will hear Jonathan talk about SimpleTax, a company that he co-founded along with his wife, Allison. Jonathan reveals his strong “Why” behind starting SimpleTax. He also reveals his amazing “pay what you make like” business model. How has SimpleTax managed to survive (and thrive) with such a unique payment model? What position does SimpleTax hold in the DIY tax space today?

Towards the end, Jonathan shares some crucial attributes that define a “Leader of Tomorrow”. For all this and much more, tune in to our latest show now!

What You Will Learn In This Episode:

• Is “job security” a myth?  

Resources: 

SimpleTax

Student Works 

Chris Thomson LinkedIn

Jonathan Suter LinkedIn

In today's episode of Leaders of Tomorrow, Chris has another conversation with Luke Fenn and Devon Thomson, business coaches at Student Works Management Program.

This time they discuss getting off to an unbelievably fast start for 2023, what they have seen from the incredible results that they've co-created with all the operators they worked with, and will share some lessons they’ve learned and some tips on how you can create and launch something new and achieve success in our program.

You will find out why making sacrifices is crucial if you want to achieve success and why it is important to create great relationships with the other operators in our program.

Luke and Devon will talk about the importance of having a coach and will; share some effective time management strategies you need to know.

You will find out that the most important thing is not falling behind and having a holistic view of your life.

You will also discover how to become an excellent marketer by combining three microelements, how to get your body and your mind in a peak state to attract good things and so much more.

Discover how Student Works Management Program enables our leaders to excel with Chris, Luke, and Devon! Enjoy!

What You Will Learn In This Show:

• • Why making sacrifices is crucial is you want to achieve success 

Resources:

Student Works

Books:

Sell or Be Sold: How to Get Your Way in Business and in Life

How to Win Friends & Influence People

How to Stop Worrying and Start Living

The Closer's Survival Guide: Over 100 ways to ink the deal

Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones

In this episode, Chris interviews Amer Abu Shakra, Business Owner, Student Works Painting. Amer shares his SIX rules of success that helped him hit the all-time high sales record of $500,000 at Student Works.

This show starts with Amer sharing some background information with listeners. Born in Jordan, Amer is truly thankful for the excellent opportunity that Student Works has given him. Amer was incredibly focused from the get go and shares how he managed to generate half-a-million dollar worth of business without compromising on his studies.

To define his SIX rules of success, Amer drew inspiration from entrepreneurs like Mark Zuckerberg, Elon Musk, and Jeff Bezos. These are his rules:

• Always keep your word – no matter what

• Trust your team

• Trust the power of input

• Have someone hold you accountable

• You promote what you permit 

• Have the will to conquer and dominate

As Amer explains each of these rules, he shares some interesting anecdotes that will surely pique your interest.

For instance, he shares how he managed to build a dream team whom he trusts explicitly. He also reveals his process of breaking down large tasks into tiny and attainable bits. Amer reveals that he has an accountability buddy in Austin, another member of the Student Works community.  

If you are failing to meet the audacious goals that you have set for yourself, tuning in to this show will give you loads of value.

What You Will Learn in This Show:

• Why rigid structure is necessary for financial freedom

Resources: 

Student Works 

Chris Thomson LinkedIn

Amer Abu Shakra LinkedIn

In this day and age, is it even possible to launch greenfield projects that allow you to exploit the first-mover advantage?

On today’s show, we interview the incredibly successful serial entrepreneur Josh Campbell who shares with us his wisdom on exploration, product differentiation, and taking the path less trodden.

We start this show with Josh revealing some of the biggest lessons that he learned from his Student Works stint. A soup to nuts experience for him, Josh shares how Student Works laid a firm foundation for an extremely successful career.

Upon graduation, Josh first decided to try his luck in the world of finance. But he soon realized that he was more interested in people development and tangible creations. 

So, what followed was an extremely successful stint at Starbucks where he overlooked construction and facility management. In this segment of the show, Josh gives us an insider peeks and reveals what makes Starbucks such a unique and special place.

After 5 years of working at Starbucks, Josh ran into the owners of Saje Natural Wellness, and he was blown away by their business model. 

The ability to make “sales per square feet higher than Apple” had Josh stoked, and he transitioned into his new role as VP, Retail. 

Learn how Josh and his team managed to raise profitability and get an exit in 18-months flat!

Currently, Josh is at the helm of two extremely innovative businesses.

His first business, Dosist is a health and wellness company providing cannabis-based solutions. And his second business, Health Improvement manufactures protein power from…you will never guess it…organic crickets.

Enjoy!

What You Will Learn In This Show

• How to fail cheap, and pivot quickly

Resources

Student Works 

Chris Thomson LinkedIn

Ever wondered what the world of investment banking looks like? And about the pressures and challenges that bankers go through on a daily basis?

On today’s show, we have with us Garth Friesen who shares with us distilled wisdom on resilience, investing vs. trading, and risk management.

19-year-old Garth got into Student Works just because “his friends were doing it”. And while he already had the book smarts, running a painting business helped Garth develop the life smarts that laid the base for a spectacular career.

Inspired by a friend of his, Garth decided to get into investment banking, and his first employer was a Japanese Bank based out of Toronto.

After getting some experience under his belt, Garth was quick to figure out that he was lacking in certain important skills. And he decided to pursue a full-time MBA.

Having a full-time MBA did not make it any easier for Garth to get his “foot inside the door”. And he had to go through 12 interviews to get accepted at Merrill Lynch.

This segment of the show is particularly interesting as Garth emphasizes the importance of resilience when you are going after your dream job.

And once you snag your dream job, you have to start at the bottom, and work your butt off to prove yourself – and differentiate yourself from your peers who are equally capable and hard-working as you.

Garth’s attitude towards failures, or setbacks, as he prefers to call them, is particularly refreshing.

We talk about the importance of EQ vs. IQ, risk management, and the difference between investing and trading in today’s show.

Enjoy!

What You Will Learn In This Show

• Why trading is NOT a solo sport (The importance of collaboration and EQ in trading)

Resources

Bite the Ass off a Bear

Student Works 

Chris Thomson LinkedIn

What is the ONE thing that could help you realize your most audacious goals? If you want your life to get better and better, you can’t do it without integrity.

But, what does integrity really mean?

In the simplest terms, integrity means that you are honoring your word. However, in today’s show, Chris and Patrick share a more thoughtful and detailed definition of “integrity”:

Doing what to do, doing it as was meant to be done, and doing it on time.

Doing what others expect you to do, even when others don’t expect you to do it, and doing it on time.

Doing what you said you would do, and you do it on time.

If you sincerely strive to keep your integrity 100% of the time, the impact can be truly exponential. But it is not always possible to keep your word, especially when you take on something challenging. 

So, what should you do when you falter and fail to keep your word?

Rather than sliding your failures under a rug, you need to own them – and hold yourself accountable. You need to be fully present to the impact that your actions are having.

Chris and Patrick also remind us why clear communication is important for preventing regular breaches of integrity. You will learn how setting clear ground rules can help you steer clear of conflict.

Enjoy!

What You Will Learn In This Show:

• Leading your life with integrity, and why it’s the one thing that can help you led a better life

Resources

Student Works 

Chris Thomson LinkedIn

Chris’s Email

In today’s show, Chris interviews, Brett Bergmann, COO, Solar Panda.

Growing up, young Brett was totally confused by the myriad of options available in front of him. There were a whole bunch of ways he wanted to go, but he had little idea how to get there.

This is when the Student Works opportunity came knocking.

Running a painting business and managing a crew of people at a young age had a transformational impact on young Brett. Rather than looking at business through a dispassionate and practical lens, Brett realized that, at the end of the day, it was all about great people.

The important SUCCESS DRIVER in business was something so rudimentary yet often-ignored…a team of happy, productive people.

Other than learning these important, foundational skills, working at Student Works also helped Brett snag his first corporate job.

While working as a Students Painter, Brett took on a garage painting job for the CEO of McCain Foods. Impressed by his passion, collaborative approach, and leadership skills, he offered Brett his first job in corporate development at McCain.

Certainly, if you show up in a consistent and unique way, the opportunity will come knocking sooner or later…and when you least expect it.

After McCain Foods, Brett joined another iconic organization, General Mills as a marketing manager. Notably, Brett worked on some well-known brands like Nature’s Valley and Green Giant.  

Lighting up 140,000 homes in Kenya

“I don’t have to worry about my kids coughing on kerosene fumes.”

Currently, Brett works as the COO of Solar Panda. Solar Panda sells solar kits in Africa – thus providing Kenyans with a much-needed and far healthier alternative to kerosene. Brett talks about their unique micro-financing structure which has made it possible to scale up their business in Africa. 

In this segment of the show, Brett also talks about the different challenges of remotely managing their 198 people team in Kenya.

We also draw some interesting comparisons between working in start-ups and extremely large organizations. 

If you thinking of switching over from a start-up to a large organization or vice-versa, this segment of the show will be particularly interesting to you!

Enjoy!

What You Will Learn In This Show

• Working in a large organization vs. start-up – a comparison

Resources

Student Works 

Chris Thomson LinkedIn

Chris’s Email

In today’s show, Chris interviews Chris Reynolds, Founder and Managing Partner at Venn Capital Partners.

Chris kickstarts today’s show by sharing a bit of a backstory. As a young professional, Chris was (and still is) a hustler with a big engine for work. 

Like most people at that young age, Chris wasn’t sure about what he wanted to do career-wise. So, to get clarity, he took up various summer jobs which helped him hone foundational skillsets that allowed him to grow as an individual.

During this stage of his career, apart from working a summer at Student Works, Chris started his own venture and also worked as an investment banking intern in London. In this segment of the show, listeners will learn the importance of picking the right summer job. Additionally, we discuss the importance of taking risks and putting yourself out there. 

He also shares how this phase gave him the confidence of tackling big challenges ahead in his life.

Chris started working as an intern at KPMG in 2009 and then slowly worked his way up to being a senior accountant/consultant by 2013. In this segment of the show, you will get a “peek” into the incredible work culture at KPMG. 

You will learn why it is important to go through the grind if you wish to get ahead in life. 

We also discuss why you should always strive for continuous improvement. Having realized that he possessed weak quantitative skills, Chris reveals how he got his chartered accountancy certification while at KPMG.

After KPMG, Chris moved on to another iconic organization – McKinsey in 2013. Here, Chris shares how his entrepreneurial spirit helped him get hired. As an associate partner here, Chris got a chance to hone his broad skillsets as a problem solver. Additionally, he also talks about the different pressures and challenges in the consultancy space.

We wrap up this show with Chis sharing his big WHY for donning the entrepreneurial hat with his latest venture, Venn Capital Partners. Why did Chris decide to start a hedge fund right in the middle of the pandemic? Tune in to find out!

We hope you enjoy this show!

What You Will Learn In This Show

• How Student Works can equip you with foundational skillsets 

Resources

Student Works 

Chris Thomson LinkedIn

Chris’s Email