Shift podcast: Helping you rethink business transformation

Canada needs to double its power capacity by 2050, and we're already wasting 50% of the energy we produce today. So how do we close the gap?

In this episode, Emily Heitman, President of Schneider Electric Canada, joins us to unpack the urgent reality of Canada's energy future and why "we need more power, and we need it now." Emily makes the case that the technology to solve our energy challenges already exists. The real work is in adopting it.

We dig into the digitization of our electrical infrastructure and why sustainability is a financial advantage rather than a cost. But this conversation goes beyond the grid. Emily shares her philosophy on authentic leadership, why "your EQ is as important as your IQ," and how embracing an iterative mindset makes the future exciting instead of scary.

Because as Emily puts it: the future isn't scary if it's iterative. 

What if the most important leadership skill isn't knowing the answer, but being willing to hear one you don't like?

Amanda Lang, one of Canada's most recognized business journalists, Chief Financial Correspondent for CTV News, host of Taking Stock on BNN Bloomberg, and bestselling author of The Power of Why and The Beauty of Discomfort, joins Shift for a conversation about the things that quietly shape every decision we make: what we pay attention to, how we stay curious, how we exercise judgment, and how we decide who to trust.

We talk about why the smartest people are the least likely to act like know-it-alls, why real curiosity requires humility, how to lead when certainty is impossible, and why trust is earned the same way in a boardroom as it is at home, through transparency, repair and showing up the way you said you would.

It's a reminder that in an era of infinite information and AI-generated certainty, the human superpowers, curiosity, judgment and trust, matter more than ever.

What survives when you hand a company to the next generation—and the world has changed underneath you?

Mitchell Cohen has run the Daniels Corporation since 1984, building a development company on a conviction that traces back to his roots in Montreal's 1970s housing co-op movement: that housing is a right, not just a product. This September, his son Jacob stepped into the president's chair—by his own account, "in the toughest market our industry's ever seen."

In only their second-ever joint interview, Mitchell and Jacob sit down with PwC's Shift for a candid conversation about what it actually takes to pass the torch without losing the soul of a company. They get into why brand isn't a logo but a promise ("we do what we say we're going to do"), what it means to build in a "trust recession," and the chance sidewalk encounter that turned into a quilt called a love poem to an entire community.

Along the way they make a surprisingly persuasive case that empathy belongs on the balance sheet—and that the way out of Canada's affordability crisis comes down to a single word: collaboration.

If you take one idea away, it's this: you don't have to choose between doing well and doing good—and the next chapter of our cities depends on more people believing it.

What does it take for Canadian leaders to not just survive, but shape the AI revolution? In this episode of Shift, tech journalist, bestselling author, and entrepreneur Amber Mac joins the conversation to unpack why digital literacy is no longer optional — it's a leadership imperative. 

From dismantling the myth that AI is "only for the smartest people in the room" to exploring Canada's unique position in global AI innovation, Amber delivers a candid look at the risks of falling behind and the rewards of going first. We dig into the barriers holding Canadian businesses back — risk aversion, regulation, and capital — and why telling stories of transformation matters now more than ever. 

Plus: how a purpose-driven, human-centric approach to AI can redefine industries like healthcare, and why the leaders who master the art of learning, unlearning, and relearning will define the next decade. 

A must-listen for executives, innovators, and anyone who wants to stop fearing AI — and start leading with it. 

Insurance is meant for life’s hardest moments — illness, loss, the unexpected. It’s one of the most human promises we make. And yet, for many Canadians, the experience still feels confusing, impersonal, and slow. 

In this episode of Shift, we speak with Rohit Thomas, CEO of BMO Insurance, about what it really takes to transform an insurance company from the inside out — the culture, the legacy systems, and the organizational muscle memory — without losing empathy at the centre of the promise. 

Over the past year, BMO Insurance has launched Canada’s first bank-led digital insurance storefront, introduced RovrAI, an industry-first AI tool for advisors, and rolled out a new purpose and identity. Together, these moves raise a bigger question that sits at the heart of this conversation: how do you bring digital and AI in the moments that matter most — and still keep it human? 

To mark International Women’s Day, Shift goes beyond celebration — and into the reality of leadership. Gillian Stein, CEO of Sluyter Manufacturing, joins the podcast for a candid conversation on what leadership truly demands. From stewarding a 115-year-old family business to stepping into a new industry, Gillian reflects on leading through uncertainty, carrying the unseen emotional labour at the top, and navigating the double binds women continue to face in the C-suite. 

She also speaks openly about living publicly with bipolar disorder — and how vulnerability and psychological safety have reshaped her leadership, relationships, and impact. A powerful International Women’s Day conversation for anyone ready to lead with greater humanity, courage, and truth. 

In this episode of Shift, investor and innovation leader John Ruffolo offers a bold, forward‑looking take on the forces reshaping Canada’s economic future and the massive opportunity ahead. From digital sovereignty and the evolving implications of the U.S. Cloud Act to strengthening industrial strategy and anchoring homegrown innovation, Ruffolo highlights why now is the moment for Canada to rethink how it builds wealth and scale its brightest ideas.

Candid, optimistic, and deeply pragmatic, this conversation offers a roadmap for how Canada can seize this moment and build world‑leading companies on its own soil. A must‑listen for executives, investors, and builders shaping Canada’s next chapter.

In this episode of the Shift podcast, David Usher, Founder & CEO of Reimagine AI, shares his journey from Juno-winning Canadian musician to technology innovator, exploring how curiosity can help leaders navigate innovation, ethics, and disruption. He discusses practical approaches for building responsible AI—including human-led design, consent, and regulation—and highlights projects like Second Echo and virtual companions for dementia patients, showing how technology can create value and meaning without replacing human connection.

In this episode, PwC Canada partner David Bryan sits down with Curtis Stange, President and CEO of ATB Financial. Curtis shares his perspective on this year's CEO Survey, which focused on the global megatrends that are reshaping business and society. They discuss some of the key insights and themes from the survey, including the pressing need for CEOs to adapt to rapid technological advancements and shifting economic landscapes. Curtis also shares his personal insights on how CEOs can lead with resilience and adaptability in an ever-evolving economic landscape.

• (00:00)- David introduces CEO Viewpoints and Curtis Stange
• (01:19)- Curtis shares his journey to CEO of ATB Financial
• (05:34)- Curtis shares an update on the halfway point of ATB’s 10-year strategic plan
• (09:51)- Curtis discusses how to balance client relationships with new technologies
• (16:39)- Curtis explains how ATB balances ESG initiatives while supporting local Alberta businesses
• (20:32)- Curtis shares the “secret sauce” behind ATB reaching its highest total revenue at the end of the last fiscal year 
• (24:56)- Curtis offers his insights on how to foster a positive company culture
• (29:32)- Curtis predicts ATB’s business trajectory over the next five to 10 years
• (34:06)- David shares his closing thoughts and conclusions 

Joining us for the first episode of the third season of CEO Viewpoints is Canadian National Railway CEO Tracy Robinson, who talks to PwC Canada’s Sébastien Doyon about the drivers of growth in the rail industry and how CN is harnessing emerging opportunities. They explore the growing need for rail carriers to partner with both each other and other modes of transport like trucking companies to serve evolving supply chains. They also discuss key industry challenges like climate change as well as the leadership attributes required to steer organizations through complex and uncertain times. 

• (00:00)- Sébastien introduces CEO Viewpoints and Tracy Robinson 
• (01:00)- Sébastien and Tracy discuss the CEO Survey and CN railway’s perspective on the responses
• (03:09)- Sébastien and Tracy turn their attention to the future of rail
• (05:51)- Tracy discusses how railroads remain competitive while working together to create resilient supply chains 
• (11:04)- Sébastien asks Tracy about allocating resources to important new initiatives while delivering on existing commitments 
• (17:33)- Tracy explains the changes at CN under her leadership
• (22:13)- Sébastien asks Tracy about the energy transition and climate change 
• (26:39)- Sébastien shares his closing thoughts and conclusions