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What truly separates the leaders who inspire and elevate from those who simply manage? Are you ready for the kind of wisdom that makes uncomfortable ownership, integrity, and humility not just buzzwords, but daily practices that build winning teams?
In this exclusive Leadership Collage episode, host Chris Thomson brings together the most impactful moments from alumni and operator conversations, featuring Guy Metcalfe, Amer Abu Shakra, Chris Caruso, Colby Wilson, Jaden Hauser, Jamie Lee Bongard, Chris O'Rourke, and Jadan Hauser. Through their experiences, you’ll uncover what real leadership looks like: from leading by example in snowstorms and pizza run rituals, to building cultures of trust, hungry ambition, and day-to-day accountability.
Listen now because leaders aren’t born. They’re built from action. If you want a proven shortcut to avoid costly mistakes, accelerate your growth, and foster a team that wins together, this collage gives you exclusive insights not found anywhere else. The urgency is real: don’t let your leadership journey plateau before you discover these powerful habits.
Amer Abu Shakra – Co-founder of Contracting.com, a multi-million dollar business built in his twenties, Amer exemplifies building culture through integrity, trust, and ownership. | Episode 309: The Six Rules of Success that Helped me Break the All-Time Sales Record at Student Works
Chris Caruso – Operator and coach in the field, Chris is dedicated to building positive team cultures and achieving ambitious business milestones. | Episode 390: How to Break Records and Push Your Limits
Colby Wilson – Field operator and coach, Colby is known for his example-based leadership, focus on integrity, and commitment to personal and professional growth. | Episode 438: How To Turn Failure into a $275K Comeback
Will Malouf – Director at Valsoft, Will brings leadership perspective and business acumen to the discussion. | Episode 400: How to Master Organization for Professional Success
Guy Metcalfe – Former Global Chairman and Global Head of Real Estate, Guy advocates for leading by example and fostering team cohesion through shared experiences. | Episode 398: Mastering Stress to Fuel Your Growth Journey
Jamie Lee Bongard – Owner of three Keller Williams franchises, Jamie highlights humility, drive, and people-centered leadership as keys to success. | Episode 350: Path to Personal Growth and Business Success
Chris O’Rourke – Former Chief Revenue Officer of Zuess, Chris focuses on humility, organizational clarity, and strong foundational leadership habits. | Episode 397: From Student Works to Building a Legacy of Success
Jadan Hauser – Veteran operator, Jadan champions daily self-improvement, organization, and consistent action as the foundation of strong leadership. | Episode 410: How to Master Time Management for Entrepreneurial Success
The Leaders of Tomorrow Podcast is an original production by Chris Thomson. Production and editing by Podcast Your Brand.
Ever feel like the success you crave is just out of reach, blocked by self-doubt or a lack of clarity?
This exclusive episode features Eric Fullerton, a lightning-fast riser who went from average student to Adobe’s youngest Enterprise Account Director in New York by harnessing failure, radical ownership, and a playbook he first tested as a Student Works operator.
Host Chris Thomson dives deep with Eric on beating impostor syndrome, translating “victim” moments into power moves, and why real leaders fall in love with process instead of status. Whether you’re aiming for a spotlight role or just searching for your next big break, their conversation uncovers the mindset and habits you need right now.
Stop hoping for a breakthrough, and learn what high-performers actually do. Listen now, because inaction kills more dreams than failing ever could—and these real-world strategies aren’t shared anywhere else.
Eric Fullerton is the Enterprise Account Director for Adobe in New York, leading high-impact digital transformation projects with C-suite leaders across public sector and government. A Student Works Management Program alum and former top performer at Canada Life, Eric is recognized for hitting 200%+ sales quotas year after year while championing authentic leadership, resilience, and continuous personal growth.
🔗 LinkedIn | Website
The Leaders of Tomorrow Podcast is an original production by Chris Thomson. Production and editing by Podcast Your Brand.
What would it feel like to finally break through your limits and know for certain you belonged at the top?
In this energizing episode, Chris Thomson welcomes star operator Mathieu Champagne, fresh off scaling his student enterprise from rookie status to a high-performing, multi-hundred-thousand-dollar juggernaut.
Their no-holds-barred conversation unpacks the REAL story behind radical growth: why betting on yourself is terrifying (and thrilling), how to develop the mindset to crush dry spells, the magic of team culture, and practical systems for building the discipline serious leaders need.
If you’re tired of ordinary advice or stuck at good-enough, tune in now. You’ll discover proven moves to double your results, swerve rookie traps, and ignite a sense of purpose that makes relentless work feel like victory not burnout. Don’t risk plateauing. For real results, listen now before your spot is gone.
Mathieu Champagne is a top-performing Student Works Management Program operator based in Montreal, Quebec. Known for doubling his business year-over-year and building powerhouse teams, he’s established himself as a coach, mentor, and role model for emerging leaders. With an HEC business background and a talent for inspiring others, Mathieu is setting records in operational excellence, team leadership, and sales growth within Canada’s most competitive young entrepreneur ecosystem.
The Leaders of Tomorrow Podcast is an original production by Chris Thomson. Production and editing by Podcast Your Brand.
Ever wonder what separates a thriving leader from the crowd, especially when the stakes are sky-high?
In this riveting episode, Chris Thomson sits down with Darryl Leroy, a corporate trailblazer who rose from small-town roots and student jobs to powerhouse roles at P&G, Maple Leaf Foods, and high-impact consulting. Together, they unveil the real-life playbooks, risks, and victories behind building a standout career, plus the invisible skills every next-gen leader must master.
Get the raw truth on how setbacks, relentless learning, and courageous ownership transform not only your path, but your impact.
Listen now. Miss this, and you risk blindly repeating the mistakes that hold ambitious leaders back. The tools and insights inside this episode are proven, real, and not found in any textbook… Catch them here, first.
Darryl Leroy is a Canadian executive mentor, advisor, and former senior leader with two decades at Procter & Gamble, where he held multiple director and VP-level roles managing multi-million dollar portfolios. He later brought this expertise to Maple Leaf Foods as a national sales team lead and spent years consulting for fast-growth entrepreneurs and CPG startups. Known for his energizing leadership style, deep operational insight, and championing of relentless learning, Darryl’s impact reaches across the top tiers of Canadian business and beyond.
The Leaders of Tomorrow Podcast is an original production by Chris Thomson. Production and editing by Podcast Your Brand.
Do you ever wonder if you’re holding yourself back just because you haven’t found your spark yet?
In this revealing conversation, Chris Thomson sits down with Charles Bédard, the University of Ottawa student who turned a “lazy worker” mentality into a $200,000+ business breakthrough. Together, they explore how ruthless self-reflection, competitive drive, and a surprising ability to make work fun fueled Charles’s transformation from solo grinder to thriving team leader.
Discover how overcoming fear, systemizing chaos, and loving hard conversations changed everything.
Listen now because missing this episode means staying stuck when you could be leveling up fast. Unlock exclusive insights into the real skills, mindsets, and habits marking the next generation of leaders. These are proven strategies you won’t find anywhere else. Don’t wait.
Timestamped HighlightsCharles Bédard is a second-year operator with the Student Works Management Program and a business student at the University of Ottawa. Known for his rapid transformation from competitive-but-unmotivated rookie to top-performing team leader, Charles broke $200,000 in sales his first year and now mentors a growing team. His story is proof that anyone can unlock scalable leadership and real joy at work through relentless self-improvement and a service-driven mindset.
The Leaders of Tomorrow Podcast is an original production by Chris Thomson. Production and editing by Podcast Your Brand.
Do you ever wonder what truly separates successful business owners from the pack? What hidden habits, tough pivots, and real-life lessons matter in the long run?
In this energizing episode, Chris Thomson sits down with Ted Duncan, an accomplished real estate leader and Student Works Management Program alum, whose career took him everywhere from high-stakes sailing in Muskoka to leading top-performing teams and even chasing his acting dreams in New York.
Together, they reveal proven systems, the discipline myth most young leaders get wrong, and what it really takes to create success worth loving plus the unexpected tools Ted still uses from his earliest entrepreneurship days.
If you’re hungry to skip regret, build real impact, and become the kind of leader people rave about, listen right now. Don’t wait for perfect. You’ll miss secrets you can’t find anywhere else.
Ted Duncan is a top-performing real estate agent in Washington D.C., celebrated for leading high-volume, high-impact teams and guiding clients through life-changing home purchases. A longtime Student Works Management Program alum, Ted’s journey spans business launches, district management, entrepreneurship, and seven years as a working actor in New York, making him a powerful mentor for ambitious young leaders.
🔗 Website
The Leaders of Tomorrow Podcast is an original production by Chris Thomson. Production and editing by Podcast Your Brand.
Ever wonder why health feels like a losing battle for high achievers even when you “know what to do”?
If you’re tired of the Monday restarts, toxic self-criticism, and feeling like your energy never matches your ambition, this episode is your permission slip to break the cycle and reclaim your power.
Chris Thompson welcomes health and mindset coach Steph Kawaja, founder of She’s Better Than Ever, to reveal the surprising psychology and revolutionary frameworks behind creating sustainable healthy habits without all-or-nothing thinking or burnout. From healing your relationship with food to unlocking career-changing energy through unshakable routines, discover why the Future Ready Framework is helping leaders (and their teams) perform at their best, in and out of the gym.
Listen now or risk repeating another year of the same-old struggles. Don’t wait! These exclusive mindset and habit shifts aren’t found in any generic fitness guide. This episode is your unfair advantage to lead, love, and live your best.
Stephany Kawaja is the founder and lead coach of She’s Better Than Ever, a results-driven program helping ambitious women (and men) heal their relationship with food, master sustainable routines, and achieve peak health without sacrificing career success. Drawing on her experience as a top Student Works alum and sales leader, Steph’s Future Ready Framework has transformed 100+ lives by unraveling perfectionism, toxic diet culture, and burnout cycles.
🔗 LinkedIn | Website
The Leaders of Tomorrow Podcast is an original production by Chris Thomson. Production and editing by Podcast Your Brand.
What if the ONLY thing standing between you and extraordinary success is how you leverage your values and your time? Whether you dream of leading high-impact teams, building a thriving business, or setting yourself apart as a transformative entrepreneur, this episode is your inside pass to leadership mastery.
Chris Thompson welcomes back talent optimization expert Rob Friday, live and unscripted. They break down the true ROI of writing books and core values, unveil “buying back your time” strategies, and reveal how predictive tools fuel massive growth and retention across businesses and sports teams. If you want actionable tools to smash your limits, boost retention, and win with a team of A-players, this conversation is your unfair advantage.
Don’t wait for “one day.” Listen now, because the leaders who act today are the ones tomorrow admires, and this episode unlocks insights few ever hear straight from Canada’s proven leadership trenches.
Rob Friday is the Managing Principal of Predictive Success and author of “Talent Optimizer” and the forthcoming “The Core Value Code.” Known for pioneering data-driven hiring and strategizing with Fortune 500 clients (and Stanley Cup-winning coaches), Rob specializes in unlocking the hidden levers that drive extraordinary performance, alignment, and growth. He is also a student works alumnus who has become an influential force in leadership development worldwide.
🔗 LinkedIn | LinkTree
The Leaders of Tomorrow Podcast is an original production by Chris Thomson. Production and editing by Podcast Your Brand.
Are you still trying to do everything alone, risking burnout and missing your true potential?
This episode features Kaleb O'Very, the three-time “Operator of the Year” who scaled his student business to unprecedented heights, and Chris Thompson, Student Works Management Program Head Coach.
You’ll hear Kaleb’s raw and inspiring journey from self-doubt and bad habits to elite leadership and record-breaking business growth. Together, they reveal how building a winning team, mastering the art of integrity, and leveraging habit-breaking techniques can propel any young entrepreneur toward industry-defining results.
If you want to avoid years of struggle and discover what it really takes to lead a high-performing team, this episode is your unfair advantage. Listen now before everyone else catches up. These lessons might just be the missing blueprint to your next breakthrough.
Kaleb O’Very is a multi-year “Operator of the Year” with the Student Works Management Program who shattered regional business records by leading his team from $120K to over $1.4M. In 2023, he managed and coached five rookie operators to collective President’s Club and Mexico trip success, embodying what next-level delegation and leadership can achieve. Known for his relentless grit, fierce team-building, and the ability to turn high-pressure opportunities into thriving growth engines for all involved.
The Leaders of Tomorrow Podcast is an original production by Chris Thomson. Production and editing by Podcast Your Brand.
In this end-of-year solo episode, Chris Thomson reflects on one of the most transformational chapters in the history of Student Works. From smashing revenue records to reinventing the company’s systems, 2025 marked massive progress for the team and set the stage for an even stronger 2026.
Chris walks through the company’s growth, the evolution of the Leaders of Tomorrow podcast, breakthroughs in technology (including the full rebuild of SIMON), increases in operator success metrics, and the continued expansion of fundraising efforts for MS.
He also shares a personal milestone: becoming a grandfather and redefining his vision for the future.
If you want a snapshot of what makes this community powerful…and what’s coming next…this is the episode to hear.
Timestamped Highlights[00:00:00] – The power of a competitive and cooperative culture
[00:01:10] – Why recognizing progress is a leadership best practice
[00:02:00] – From $10M to $43M: how Student Works accelerated after the pandemic
[00:03:15] – Seven years, 70,000 downloads: the evolution of the podcast
[00:03:40] – Shoutout to Podcast Your Brand for bringing the show to life
[00:04:45] – “I’m a proud grandfather”: welcoming Ella Rae Manje
[00:05:20] – New record averages in both painting and window cleaning
[00:06:30] – Eight million-dollar painting operators…and the first million-dollar window cleaner
[00:07:00] – $2.3M raised for MS: a legacy of impact
[00:08:00] – Five years of system building…and now a full-scale cleanup
[00:09:00] – Introducing SIMON 3.0: a complete rebuild of the company CRM
[00:12:50] – New estimating module + automated profitability safeguards
[00:14:13] – Daily production plans generated instantly inside SIMON
[00:14:50] – Major upgrades to safety, compliance, and team training
[00:18:00] – Final recruitment window: why December is the deadline
[00:19:35] – A call to future leaders: this is your moment to get on the bus
Resources & Links MentionedThe Leaders of Tomorrow Podcast is an original production by Chris Thomson. Production and editing by Podcast Your Brand.
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