Mission in Motion: A Minute With Maxwell

In this episode of A Minute with Maxwell: Mission in Motion, host Heather Maxwell sits down with leadership development expert Stacy Lademar to explore what it really takes to develop leaders that people actually want to work for—especially in the senior living sector, where leadership directly impacts resident experience, team stability, and turnover.

Drawing on her journey from retail executive trainee on Fifth Avenue to manager of learning and development for major brands like Walmart and Royal Caribbean, and later into senior living during the pandemic, Stacy shares the hard lessons she learned about trying to “do it all,” the power of delegation, and why promoting your best individual contributor without support is often a setup for failure.

Through practical stories from the floor—like assistant buyers in tears over untrained managers, or a star chef turned struggling culinary director—Stacy shows how lack of people-skills training quietly erodes culture, performance, and retention, and what organizations can do differently.

Key themes they explore include:

• From top performer to first-time manager: Why so many organizations promote high achievers into leadership without giving them the tools to succeed—and how this leads to confusion, frustration, and avoidable turnover.
• High-potential and new manager programs: How identifying emerging leaders early, and offering targeted training in feedback, delegation, emotional intelligence, and expectation setting, can transform both performance and engagement.
• Feedback as a gift—not a threat: Using simple frameworks like What Went Well / Even Better If / Must Be Better and the FBI model (Situation, Behaviour, Impact) to make feedback specific, normal, and safe—for both positive reinforcement and constructive coaching.
• The critical role of one-on-ones and psychological safety: Why early and ongoing one-on-ones help new leaders build trust, become “safe spaces” for their teams, and surface struggles before they become performance issues.
• Delegation, clarity, and follow-through: Practical advice for leaders who are used to doing everything themselves—how to let others do things “their way,” ensure understanding, and follow up without micromanaging.
• Time management and the 80/20 rule: How journaling your time, then reviewing it with your supervisor, reveals where your energy really goes—and how to refocus on the 20% of activities that drive 80% of results.
• Trust as the foundation of leadership: Why trust—built through honesty, consistency, and admitting when you don’t know—is the core trait that separates leaders people endure from leaders people choose to follow.

Stacy also lifts the curtain on how Walmart and Royal Caribbean structured their leadership development—through intentional promotion-from-within programs, extended manager training, and open-access leadership classes—and how organizations of any size can adapt these ideas using fractional learning and development support.

This conversation offers a clear, actionable roadmap for organizations that want to stop “hoping managers figure it out” and start intentionally developing leaders who listen, clarify expectations, give meaningful feedback, and create workplaces where people—and residents—truly thrive.

About Maxwell Management Group

This podcast is brought to you by Maxwell Management Group, a national executive search and education firm specializing in the continuing care sector. For nearly two decades, they’ve partnered with organizations to build values-driven leadership, vibrant workplace cultures, and purpose-led employer brands.

Learn more: maxwellmanagementgroup.com

Chapters:

0:00 – Introduction to Stacy and Mission in Motion
2:20 – Stacy’s Journey: From Retail to Leadership Development
4:27 – The Pitfall of Promoting Top Performers
6:43 – Building High-Potential and New Manager Programs
8:42 – One-on-Ones and Creating Psychological Safety
9:52 – Feedback as a Culture, Not a One-Off
10:54 – Practical Feedback Models (WWW/EBI and FBI)
12:47 – The Power of Positive Feedback and “Catching People Doing Right”
18:06 – Traits of Leaders People Want to Work For
19:19 – Clarity, Expectations, and Job Descriptions
21:37 – Interviewing as a Critical Leadership Skill
23:33 – Onboarding New Leaders and Reinforcing Expectations
25:15 – Delegation: Letting Go of “My Way”
28:09 – Time Management and the 80/20 Rule for Leaders
29:51 – Trust as the Core of Effective Leadership
32:06 – What Walmart Got Right in Developing Leaders
33:11 – What Royal Caribbean Got Right in Developing Leaders
35:04 – How Stacy Partners with Organizations Today
35:53 – Closing Thoughts and How to Connect with Stacy & Maxwell Management Group

In this episode of A Minute with Maxwell: Mission in Motion, host Heather Maxwell continues the conversation with Mike Traub, former Vice President of Operations at Riverstone Retirement Communities, and Arta Shala, now Riverstone’s Vice President of Operations, to explore how lived experience, immigration, and frontline work shape people-first leadership in senior living.

From arriving in Canada with two duffel bags and no clear plan, to walking through a snowstorm to her first retirement home interview, Arta shares how chance, courage, and deep respect for elders led her into the sector—and why she never looked back.

Through powerful resident stories, including a Holocaust survivor whose quiet rituals spoke volumes, Arta reveals how listening beyond the surface transformed the way she leads teams, supports families, and carries forward Riverstone’s people-first culture.

Key themes they explore include:

• Immigrant experience and leadership lens: How Arta’s journey from a war-torn country to Canada shaped her resilience, empathy, and refusal to take opportunity for granted—and how that perspective informs every leadership decision she makes today.
• Frontline to executive leadership: Why starting as an office manager in a retirement home gave Arta a ground-level understanding of residents, families, and staff that now guides her as VP of Operations.
• Seeing beyond the surface in resident care: The story of a Nazi camp survivor, and how understanding hidden histories changed Arta’s approach to care, compassion, and dignity in senior living.
• People-first as a daily practice: How small moments—checking in on a withdrawn team member, asking “Are you really okay?”—reinforce the belief that “it’s a people business” where kindness, curiosity, and non-judgment are non-negotiable.
• Determination, fairness, and growth: The realities of being underpaid, having to work harder for promotions as a newcomer, and why those experiences made Arta more determined to build workplaces where people feel seen, valued, and supported.

The conversation offers an honest, story-driven look at what it means to lead with humanity in senior living—drawing on personal history, cultural transition, and everyday moments of care to shape a leadership style where people come first, and everything else follows.

About Maxwell Management Group

This podcast is brought to you by Maxwell Management Group, a national executive search and education firm specializing in the continuing care sector. For nearly two decades, they’ve partnered with organizations to build values-driven leadership, vibrant workplace cultures, and purpose-led employer brands.

Learn more: maxwellmanagementgroup.com

Chapters:

00:00 – Intro: Mission in Motion & Guest Introductions
00:09 – Why Mike Chose to Mentor Arta as His Successor
01:07 – Heather’s Welcome and Episode Framing
01:20 – Arta’s Unplanned Entry into Retirement Living
03:02 – First Job in Retirement & Early Culture Shock
03:13 – The Story of Mrs. Zem and Seeing Beyond the Surface
05:59 – “Be Kind”: The People-First Nature of Senior Living
06:39 – Arta’s Immigration Story: From War-Torn Kosovo to Canada
08:57 – An Immigrant Lens on Team Members’ Hidden Struggles
10:44 – Family Roots: Parents, Daughter, and Leadership Values
13:14 – Challenges as a Woman and Immigrant Leader
16:08 – Leading a Large, Diverse Team at Riverstone
22:45 – Psychological Safety, Trust, and Frontline Voices
26:55 – Mike on Retirement, Hobbies, and Ongoing Mentorship
28:11 – Mike’s Legacy: People, Properties, and Riverstone’s Growth
30:00 – Succession Planning Advice for Executives Nearing Retirement
31:32 – How Arta Defines Success and Leadership Today
34:27 – Advice to Newcomers & the Power of Mentorship
38:56 – When You Must Hire Externally: Choosing the Right Search Partner
42:01 – Final Reflections on Purposeful Careers in Senior Living

In this episode of A Minute with Maxwell: Mission in Motion, host Heather Maxwell sits down with Mike Traub, former Vice President of Operations at Riverstone Retirement Communities, and Arta Shala, now Riverstone’s Vice President of Operations, to explore what legacy leadership and people-first succession look like in senior living. 

From building Riverstone “boots on the ground,” to leading through COVID-19 without ever closing the office, to cultivating teams and residents who stay for 15+ years, Mike and Arta offer a rare, practical look at succession planning that is both strategic and deeply human.

Key themes they explore include:

• Legacy leadership in senior living: How Mike intentionally prepared his own successor—from identifying Arta’s potential to gradually expanding her responsibility—so Riverstone could grow without disrupting residents, families, or staff.
• People-first, profit-follows philosophy: Why Riverstone’s guiding principle—“We look after the people and then the profits follow”—has shaped culture, operations, and long-term success across all communities.
• Mentorship and internal promotion in action: Real stories of informal mentorship, stretch assignments, and how most support office roles (and even a former accountant) were developed into successful leaders from within.
• Leading through COVID-19 and rapid growth: How Mike and Arta stayed “boots on the ground,” supported homes that couldn’t work remotely, and maintained trust, stability, and continuity during crisis and expansion.

The conversation offers a grounded, story-rich roadmap for organizations that want to turn mentorship, internal promotion, and succession planning into everyday leadership practices—especially in mission-driven sectors like senior living.

About Maxwell Management Group

This podcast is brought to you by Maxwell Management Group, a national executive search and education firm specializing in the continuing care sector. For nearly two decades, they’ve partnered with organizations to build values-driven leadership, vibrant workplace cultures, and purpose-led employer brands.

Learn more: maxwellmanagementgroup.com

Chapters:

00:00 – Intro: Legacy Leadership in Senior Living
00:59 – Early Impressions of Arta’s People-First Management
03:03 – Mike’s Path: From Hotels to Retirement Living
05:57 – People-First, Profit-Follows Philosophy
06:39 – Growth, COVID-19 & Responsibility to Residents
12:42 – Choosing Arta as Successor & Mentorship Begins
17:15 – Culture, Connection & Stories of Long Tenure
20:21 – Inside the Mentorship: Exposure to the Executive Role
24:34 – Why Succession Planning Matters
26:30 – Arta’s Journey: Being Mentored into Leadership
29:31 – Practical, Informal Mentorship & Internal Promotion
33:37 – Outro

In this episode of A Minute with Maxwell: Mission in Motion, host Heather Maxwell sits down with clinical psychologist Dr. Rachel Toledano to explore how workplace mental health has transformed since COVID-19. They discuss the most common mental health challenges facing today’s workforce, why supporting mental health is now a business imperative, and how organizations can create psychologically safe cultures. From no-cost strategies like flexibility, trust, and daily recognition, to paid supports such as enhanced benefits and EAPs, Rachel shares practical, actionable ways leaders can better support their teams. 

• Post-COVID shift in mental health: From stigma to normalization; “everyone was struggling” so the conversation opened up.
• Common workplace mental health challenges: Burnout/adjustment disorders, depression, anxiety, and especially substance use concerns.
• Evolution of EAPs and access to care: From a few in‑person sessions to ongoing, flexible, remote and tech-enabled support.
• Role of technology & AI: Tele-mental health, AI-driven matching with therapists (language, culture, identity, role-specific needs).
• Psychological safety at work: Reducing stressors like workload, role overload, and poor work-life balance; clear responsibility between employer and employee.
• Organizational responsibility & ROI: Mental health as a business imperative with clear return on investment.
• Leadership behaviors: Empathy, active listening, non-judgment, openness, and having real human conversations about struggle.
• No-cost / low-cost supports: Flex work where possible, reduced micromanagement, autonomy, trust, and everyday recognition and gratitude.
• Paid supports: Benefits for mental health, improved EAP structures, ergonomic and practical supports, dedicated mental health roles.
• Workplace culture & energy: How toxic versus positive cultures impact energy, engagement, productivity, and burnout.
• Burnout and return-to-work: Need for real accommodations and dialogue to prevent relapse, not just box-ticking.
• Using data for action: Turning engagement and satisfaction surveys into concrete, visible changes and closing the feedback loop with employees.

The conversation also looks ahead at trends like AI-driven care, tele-mental health, and holistic wellness approaches that are reshaping how we think about work, well-being, and burnout prevention.

About Maxwell Management Group

This podcast is brought to you by Maxwell Management Group, a national executive search and education firm specializing in the continuing care sector. For nearly two decades, they’ve partnered with organizations to build values-driven leadership, vibrant workplace cultures, and purpose-led employer brands.

Learn more: maxwellmanagementgroup.com

In this episode of A Minute with Maxwell – Mission in Motion, Heather Maxwell sits down with Derrick Bernardo, President & CEO of Broadmead Care in British Columbia, one of the province’s most respected continuing care organizations.

Derrick shares his leadership journey from his first role in a psychiatric hospital to leading a rapidly growing, innovation-driven non-profit that serves veterans, seniors, and younger adults with disabilities. He reflects on:

• How early exposure to interdisciplinary teamwork shaped his collaborative leadership style
• The turning point of opening his first long-term care home and learning to balance high standards with adaptability
• Broadmead Care’s evolution from a single veterans’ lodge to a multi-site organization with seven homes and expanding third‑party management up Island
• The internal culture shift behind the “You Matter” commitment and how it’s improving staff retention, psychological safety, and resident experience
• Broadmead’s Long Term Care at Home program (federally funded to 2028), using technology and home care to help seniors safely age in place and reduce ER visits and hospitalizations

Derrick and Heather also dig into:

• Common misconceptions about long-term and continuing care across Canadian provinces
• Why innovation ecosystems, partnerships and new models of care (like campuses of care and concierge-style independent living) are crucial for the future
• How Broadmead is tackling workforce challenges through creative recruitment, recognition programs (like the “You’re a Gem” award), and wellness initiatives
• Why Derek believes seniors care offers limitless career paths—far beyond nursing alone

Derrick closes with advice to his younger self—and to emerging leaders: take risks, listen first, act second, and never underestimate the power of relationships and engagement.

If you’re a leader, policymaker, or professional in the continuing care sector—or simply care about how we support an aging population—this episode offers a hopeful, practical look at what’s possible when innovation and compassion meet.

About Maxwell Management Group

This podcast is brought to you by Maxwell Management Group, a national executive search and education firm specializing in the continuing care sector. For nearly two decades, they’ve partnered with organizations to build values-driven leadership, vibrant workplace cultures, and purpose-led employer brands.

Learn more: maxwellmanagementgroup.com

In this episode of A Minute with Maxwell: Mission in Motion, host Heather Maxwell sits down with Rebecca Greenberg, a bioethicist, nurse consultant, and founder of Greenberg Consulting, to explore the often hidden reality of moral distress in healthcare, especially in nursing and long-term care.

Rebecca explains how she transitioned from bedside nursing into bioethics, driven by her early fascination with big philosophical and ethical questions. She shares a powerful story from her time as a nurse caring for a terminally ill patient whose family was not ready to choose a palliative care path, leaving staff to deliver aggressive treatment they felt was causing more harm than good.

Together, Heather and Rebecca unpack:

• What is moral distress?
• How moral distress shows up in long-term care
• Moral distress and Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID)
• Moral distress vs. burnout
• Staffing shortages, system pressures, and moral distress
• What organizations can do: supports that actually help
• Self-care, boundaries, and realistic expectations
• Hope, moral resilience, and culture change
• Advice to nurses and care professionals

Website: greenbergconsulting.ca

Social: Search Greenberg Consulting on Instagram or LinkedIn

About Maxwell Management Group

This podcast is brought to you by Maxwell Management Group, a national executive search and education firm specializing in the continuing care sector. For nearly two decades, they’ve partnered with organizations to build values-driven leadership, vibrant workplace cultures, and purpose-led employer brands.

Learn more: maxwellmanagementgroup.com

In this episode, host Heather Maxwell sits down with Jeff Renaud, a passionate leader in long-term care who is on a mission to inspire the next generation of caregivers. Jeff shares why a career in long-term care is both meaningful and rewarding, breaking old myths about the sector being low-paying or limited in opportunity. He explains how leaders can transfer passion to young professionals, helping them see long-term care as a place to grow, contribute, and make a real impact on society. If you’re a young professional, student, or healthcare leader curious about long-term care careers, this conversation will open your eyes to the possibilities.

Keywords: long-term care, long-term care careers, senior care, leadership in healthcare, young professionals, healthcare careers, caregiving, meaningful work, healthcare leadership, career advice, Jeff Renaud, Heather Maxwell

00:00 – Introduction to Heather Maxwell and guest Jeff Renaud
01:00 – Why Jeff is passionate about long-term care
03:00 – What leaders can do to inspire young professionals
06:00 – Is long-term care still “low paying”? Debunking old myths
09:00 – Meaningful careers: making a real impact in society
12:00 – Advice for students and young professionals considering long-term care
15:00 – Final thoughts and message to future leaders

In this special Holiday edition of “Mission in Motion: A Minute with Maxwell”, Heather Maxwell brings together the Maxwell Management Group team for a warm, funny, and heartfelt year-end reflection.

From coast-to-coast travel mishaps and wrong-address meetings (with muffin rewards!) to mayoral campaigns, lipstick regrets on Zoom, and the mystery of getting into a Fort Knox–style Airbnb, the team shares real stories behind a year of serving Canada’s healthcare and nonprofit sectors.

You’ll hear from leaders across recruitment, executive coaching, and education as they reflect on:

• What makes Maxwell’s coaching, education, and recruitment approach unique
• How they support new leaders during their first critical months in role
• The importance of alignment, purpose, and culture in long-term care and healthcare organizations
• Personal lessons in resilience, kindness, courage, and connection
• Hopes for the future of people & culture innovation in continuing care

Whether you’re a leader, HR professional, or part of a care team, this episode offers encouragement, insight, and a reminder that behind every strong organization is a team of humans doing their best, with humor, heart, and a Santa hat (or slightly shrunken one).

00:00 – Festive welcome & year-in-review introduction with Heather
03:05 – Jackie on what makes Maxwell’s coaching division unique
04:15 – Supporting new leaders with aligned values & executive coaching
05:10 – Anna’s “lipstick on Zoom” confession & online education vibes
06:45 – Heather on live online classes for new leaders across Canada
07:49 – Catherine’s plot twist: showing up at the wrong address
08:47 – Turning mishaps into lessons (and muffins) in recruitment
09:13 – Thank you to the West Coast team & intro to Daniel
10:24 – Daniel’s big surprise: announcing a run for mayor
12:04 – The BC road trip & the “Fort Knox” Airbnb adventure
15:06 – How Heather met Hillary at a women’s event
15:22 – Hillary’s magic wand: courage, calm, and kindness at work
16:32 – Leading with empathy and compassion in people & culture
17:17 – Sponsor segment: About Maxwell Management Group’s mission
18:51 – Welcoming Laura: the power of executive coaching
20:25 – Continuity of care for leaders and organizations
22:38 – Setting up leaders for success in their first 30–180 days
24:33 – Coaching real-world challenges: change, policies, and pets at work
27:27 – How Laura knows coaching is working
29:12 – Leaders embracing coaching as a tool, not a test
32:54 – Charlyn’s reflections on growth, mentorship, and impact
35:31 – Janice’s year as an advent calendar & Swiss army knife
37:27 – The joy of relationships with clients and candidates
39:05 – Heather’s closing reflections & gratitude for 18+ years in business

Learn more about Maxwell Management Group’s executive search, coaching, and education services:
👉 https://maxwellmanagementgroup.com

In this episode, we sit down with Steven Harrison, CEO of Tri County Mennonite Homes, whose career spans continents and crises but is rooted in steadfast purpose, resilience, and a passion for building vibrant senior care communities. From his formative years shaping community healthcare in China to leading Ontario organizations through the SARS and COVID-19 pandemics, Steven exemplifies what it means to put people first, adapt to change, and innovate for the future.

Steven opens up about the pivotal moments and mentors that influenced his vision, sharing how early exposure to international development, hands-on community care work, and experience amidst healthcare turmoil helped shape his values of service, courage, and continuous learning. He reveals how he and his team transformed Tri County’s staffing from crisis to success, replacing reliance on agency workers with a robust, mission-driven team, creating a workplace where younger staff thrive, and retention is stronger than ever.

We explore the ambitious redevelopment underway at Tri County: a new 160-bed home built around nature, connection, and technology. Steven takes us inside the design process, emphasizing how feedback from residents, staff, and the wider community drives every decision, from outdoor gardens and walking trails to state-of-the-art systems designed to free staff from paperwork and foster deeper resident engagement. His vision doesn’t just focus on today’s needs; it actively prepares for the healthcare of the future, embracing intergenerational community, sustainability, and emerging technological tools.

Throughout this candid conversation, Steven shares actionable insights for senior care leaders, from the importance of self-care and humility to keeping a strategic focus during a crisis. He encourages leaders to never settle for the status quo but to innovate, learn, and build organizations that elevate everyone involved, from residents to frontline team members. If you’re passionate about building resilient communities, advancing the standard of care, or inspiring purposeful leadership in the face of challenge, this episode is for you.

00:00 – Introduction & guest welcome
01:32 – Steven’s early inspiration and international beginnings
06:25 – Leadership lessons: community, resilience, and service
11:02 – Turning around staffing and recruitment at Tri County
16:58 – Building a culture of meaning, retention, and growth
23:36 – Redevelopment vision: new home, nature, and community connection
30:52 – The importance of intergenerational engagement
33:22 – Overcoming challenges: funding, regulation, and innovation
38:38 – Preparing for future public health crises
42:46 – Advice and reflections for leaders in senior care
47:24 – Steven’s first jobs and lessons in leadership
51:28 – Legacy, continuous improvement, and hope for the future
54:07 – Outro and closing remarks

In this episode, we sit down with Lois Cormack, visionary CEO of Spring Living Retirement Communities, whose career in seniors’ living is rooted in compassion, mentorship, and innovation. From her first job as a healthcare aide on a farm in Kennington to steering one of Canada’s fastest-growing senior living organizations, Lois’s story is one of resilience, people-centered leadership, and relentless commitment to building vibrant communities.

Lois opens up about the experiences that shaped her values, recognizing the impact of hands-on care, learning from mentors (and less-than-great bosses), and the vital role that community and team empowerment play in long-term success. She shares candid insights into developing a people-first culture at Spring Living, scaling through acquisition while maintaining trust and personal connection, and the unique opportunities of mid-market retirement living for Canada’s aging population.

We dive deep into Spring Living’s growth strategy, the importance of fostering leadership at every level, and the ongoing work to make senior care more accessible. Lois shares practical advice for young leaders: seek mentors, stay curious, and embrace diverse perspectives. She also discusses the evolving landscape for senior care: technology, generational change, memory care, affordability, and the future of meaningful work in the sector.

Throughout this episode, Lois’s advocacy and optimism stand out. Whether she’s mentoring upcoming leaders, investing in staff development, or advocating for systemic change, Lois is shaping a brighter future for seniors and those who care for them. If you're passionate about building teams, transforming communities, or seeking actionable wisdom on leadership, this episode is for you.

00:00 – Introduction & guest welcome
02:35 – Lois’s early career and passion for seniors’ living
06:30 – Discovering her calling and the influence of mentorship
12:00 – Spring Living’s founding and growth strategy
14:29 – The importance of mid-market retirement living
18:53 – Identifying communities for acquisition and value creation
20:56 – Lessons from leading a fast-growing organization
24:07 – Building a people-first, team-empowering culture
26:33 – Advocacy, mentorship, and promoting within
32:30 – Technology and innovation in senior care
35:34 – Differences between retirement and long-term care homes
37:56 – Amenities and resident engagement at Spring Living
39:58 – Essential qualities for leaders in seniors’ care
43:47 – Advice for young leaders: mentorship and career clarity
47:12 – Final thoughts and encouragement for future senior care professionals
49:39 – Outro and closing remarks