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 

Join host Jon Finkelstein and guest Ron Jaikaran to discuss Ontario’s Accelerated High-Speed Internet Program. Ron is the Director of Commercial Projects at Infrastructure Ontario, where he is driving progress on Ontario’s 4 billion dollar investment in high-speed internet. The program aims to bring high-speed connectivity to some of the hardest-to-reach communities in the province, to deliver this essential service to all Ontarians. A project of this size requires consensus between partners and collaboration between the public and private sectors to deliver results by 2025, something Ron and his team manage. Ron discusses the opportunities and challenges in undertaking such a large project, how Infrastructure Ontario is managing various partnerships at the municipal and provincial levels, and how the private sector is helping the government tackle some of the largest challenges. 



• (00:02)- Jon’s introduces Shift and Ron Jaikaran
• (01:29)- Ron introduces himself and Ontario’s Accelerated High-Speed Internet Program
• (03:54)- Ron discusses the teams and partners involved in the program 
• (06:15)- Ron discusses how the private and public sector are working together to implement high speed internet 
• (09:05)Ron and Jon discuss why access to high-speed internet is so important, and the challenges posed by the geography of Ontario 
• (14:49)Jon asks Ron about the legislation involved in the project 
• (15:44)Ron talks about the importance of setting expectations with the market 
• (19:22)Ron and Jon talk about the project’s quick timeline, 
• (24:33)- Ron shared the challenges that had to be overcome along the way, and how this project can be used as an example for future Infrastructure Ontario projects 
• (28:06)Ron and Jon discuss the importance of building consensus 
• (29:56)- Jon and Ron share their closing thoughts and conclusions

Welcome back to a new season of PwC Shift. In this episode, host Jon Finkelstein, Executive Creative Director, PwC Canada, interviews Pierre Miron. Pierre is the Executive Vice-President and Chief Growth Officer Canadian Operations at Industrial Alliance (IA), where he has been at the helm of a variety of impactful transformations. Pierre and Jon dive into these transformations, specifically the pivot that IA has made in its thinking around its customers, and its new approach to I.T and the cloud. Jon and Pierre discuss how to convince people within the organization that these changes are worth it, how to set meaningful KPIs during periods of transformation, and what’s next for Industrial Alliance. 



• (00:01)- Jon’s introduces Shift and Pierre Miron
• (02:02) - Pierre explains how he established the digital ambition of IA when he first joined
• (05:16)- Pierre discusses why I.T is central to the transformations at IA, and to business transformation generally
• (07:32)- Pierre explains his current role of Chief Growth Officer 
• (12:03)- Jon and Pierre discuss navigating the ramifications of large transformations on company culture, and how to set meaningful KPIs for a transformation
• (16:52)- Pierre explains Industrial Alliance's growth strategy 
• (21:15)- Pierre dives into how he implemented key transformations, and his strategy for getting executives on board
• (23:56)- Pierre explains how to get buy-in from employees who don’t think change is needed
• (26:50)- Jon and Pierre share their closing thoughts and conclusions

In the latest episode of our CEO Viewpoints podcast series, host James McLean sits down with John Cleland, CEO of Australia’s Essential Energy. This year, the annual CEO survey focuses on critical questions facing leaders today including how to balance reinventing the business to succeed in a changing world with the need to manage short-term pressures and challenges. In the podcast discussion John shares his experiences and learnings of leading and accelerating a utility through the energy transition, balancing customer and stakeholder expectations, his commitment to sustainable and safe energy, and his outlook on where the sector is headed.

• (00:01)- James’s introduction to CEO Viewpoints and John Cleland
• (01:34)- John shares more about his career background so far
• (03:02)- John explains more about Essential Energy in terms of scale, customers and employees
• (04:29)- John shares more about what enticed him towards his current role
• (06:49)- John explains some of the challenges he’s faced along the way in his role, and how he’s navigated those challenges
• (11:18)- John explains the implications of the major cultural and digital changes that have taken place in recent years
• (13:32)- John explains how the company’s recruitment strategy has evolved over time
• (15:17)- John sheds light on his stakeholder management strategy
• (17:59)- John shares some of the critical investments and surprises along the way during the company’s transformation
• (22:53)- John explains how the company is being cost-effective while still innovating
• (25:50)- John shares some of the things he might have done differently when looking at the journey in hindsight
• (28:13)- John and James share their closing thoughts and conclusions

In this episode of the CEO Viewpoints podcast, host Allan Buitendag, a Partner in PwC’s Financial Services practice, speaks with Kevin Strain, President and Chief Executive Officer of Sun Life about his approach to staying ahead of the accelerating pace of change while navigating increasingly complex and volatile conditions. Kevin shares his approach to building a bright future for Sun Life during these challenging times and talks about the power of creating an engaging and agile culture as a key to navigating disruption and strengthening resilience.

Show Notes: 

• (00:01)- Allan’s introduction to CEO Viewpoints and Kevin Strain
• (01:12)- Kevin explains how Sun Life handles crises and changes in today's economic climate
• (04:59)- Allan and Kevin discuss SunLife’s recent acquisitions and expansion plans
• (07:45)- Kevin shares how SunLife balances long-term goals with immediate pressures
• (08:48)- Allan and Kevin discuss how hybrid work affects productivity as well as the lasting impact of COVID on workplaces
• (10:35)- Kevin explains how he plans to build and strengthen SunLife’s internal culture across its global business
• (16:34)- Kevin shares his thoughts on generative A.I
• (19:42)- Allan and Kevin share their closing thoughts and conclusions