The Inspire Podcast

In this episode Bart is joined by Stephen Poloz, the former head of the Bank of Canada, to discuss his new book and its implications for leaders. Stephen explains that the world is facing unprecedented change at a pace that will only increase, driven by five major trends that collide. He explains that those leaders who attempt to wait for a return to normalcy or to create plans that will guide them years out will be left behind by those leaders who adapt and embrace the opportunity that rapid disruption brings. A must listen to anyone who wants to inspire in this new world of disruption.

Learn more about Stephen here: https://www.osler.com/en/resources/in-focus/stephen-poloz-on-economic-impacts-and-preparing-for-the-future

00:28 Show introduction

01:10 Introducing Stevphen Poloz

01:46 Praise for his new book

02:43 Why did you write the book?

03:15 Short-term-ish

04:33 Constants and the forces that are in motion

06:18 The 5 big forces affecting the world

06:40 Demographics

07:22 Technological progress

07:49 Digitization of everything

08:04 Income inequality

08:42 Rising debt

09:00 Climate change

09:38 What does it mean for leaders?

10:39 Chaotic outcomes

11:43 Increased volatility

13:53 Risk management

17:24 How to deal with pushback against long term thinking

19:37 Capitalizing on risk

22:42 Barbell strategy

23:18 How to lead people in volatile times

25:14 Developing an internal risk capability

26:56 Market power shifting from employer to employee

28:16 Managing residual risk

31:55 Importance of having values that bind people together

33:27 Rise above the fray

35:29 Bart summarizes main points about leadership

37:01 Labour cost is going to rise

39:47 Wrapping up

41:02 Outros

In this conversation Bart speaks with Megan Fielding, Vice President, Brand and Culture Communications at Nutrien, about Story Living. Megan explains how you can turn clarity of purpose into powerful stories that inspire employees, customers, stakeholders and yourself. She shares how the concept has guided her own career, leading her to choose -- and leave -- jobs that allowed her to connect more deeply with what mattered to her. She then outlines how she is helping apply this concept at Nutrien, a global fertilizer company, to connect a global community with the work the business does to feed the world. Megan's story provides practical and relevant ways to weave meaningful stories into work and life.

Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) is an increasingly-used term.... but what does it mean and how should leaders think about its objectives? In this conversation Bart speaks with Larissa Maxwell about why companies are embracing ESG and how they begin integrating it into their work (proactively and reactively). She then explores what role leaders have to play in ESG and what kind of leadership best leads to lasting impact. Larissa draws on her extensive experience in advising companies to share valuable tips for anyone hoping to lead in a more socially responsible way.

00:19 Intro

00:54 Introducing Larissa

01:22 About Larissa's background

01:51 Responsible business practice

02:17 What is ESG?

07:22 Why are companies drawn to ESG?

08:52 Public pressure leading to ESG work

09:12 Example of tech diversity issues

11:03 How do you start doing ESG work in a company?

11:16 Proactive vs reactive approaches

12:12 Proactive (foundational) approaches

12:44 Example of apparel industries

13:57 Materiality

15:32 How do leaders need to prepare themselves?

13:59 Are you living a purpose driven life?

17:37 Is ESG against profit?

19:38 ESG strategy and tools

20:40 Examples of impact projects

22:23 What leadership is required for good ESG work?

23:49 The quality test

23:55 You need brave executive champions

26:29 Example of involving community stakeholders

27:32 Lived experiences

28:51 Is ESG too overwhelming for some companies?

29:46 You can go too fast/far with ESG strategy

31:21 Advice on building purpose driven living

34:47 How to find out more about Maxwell Group and ESG

36:49 Thank yous

37:13 Outro

In this episode Bart is joined by Jackie Scales, Director of Inclusion and Diversity at Teck Resources. Jackie talks about the historic barriers to inclusion that have been common in the mining industry, what the impact of those barriers have been, and how different cultural norms across geographies can pose additional challenges to organizations seeking to create more equitable workplaces. She talks about the very real and valid perspectives that people may have that lead them to doubt EDI initiatives, and then outlines what Teck is doing to bring people along the journey. Her story is a powerful look at how champions of inclusion cannot afford to demonize or push back but must instead work hard to understand, respect and care for all stakeholders who must be part of the solution.

Answering questions is one of the most challenging leadership communication tests for a leader. The time pressure, unstated assumptions and even audience emotion can all make it a fraught situation; yet leaders who can master this high stakes interaction can influence and inspire their listeners. In this episode Bart is joined by Dr. Brian Gibkowski, Associate Professor of Management at North Central College in Illinois, to discuss his research on Answer Intelligence (AQ). Brian explains how his research into top golf pros led to his work in Q&A, a framework for listening, how to prepare and what types of answers you should use to influence.

This special episode is released on the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia - IDAHOTB. Bart is joined by Colin Druhan, Executive Director of Pride at Work Canada/Fierté au travail Canada, to discuss what questions we should be asking to create more equitable, inclusive organizations. Colin shares his own journey and how he came to head up PaWC, why research demonstrates that trans, bisexual and gay people continue to be left behind and ignored, and then how his national and bilingual organization helps employers and partners take on these inequities. Colin explains why even well-intentioned efforts may come up short because people ask the wrong questions, and then explains what leaders should ask instead. A powerful conversation for any leader committed to equity.

In this episode Bart speaks with Michael Piperno, founder of the Comvia Group, about building Relationship Intelligence.

Michael is a seasoned communications coach whose passion is to help clients communicate more clearly and effectively, build and maintain positive and healthy business relationships while leading with confidence. He takes Bart through an assessment then uses it to share lessons from his work around helping clients build their capacity to forge authentic relationships. He explains what strengths people bring, how to understand those you work with better, how conflict is the ultimate crucible of "R-IQ" and answers that vexing question of how much people can really change.

00:15 Intro

00:54 Welcome Michael Piperno

01:50 What Comvia does

03:00 Relationship intelligence

05:33 Why is there so little focus on the interpersonal?

06:17 How can we build each other up?

07:09 Strength Deployment Inventory

07:46 What motivates each of us?

09:55 Bart's test results

10:50 3 themes to develop better skills

11:18 Assessing your own motives - people, process, performance

12:09 How we experience conflict

14:59 What strengths we all bring to the table

17:07 How do people get started with this approach

21:45 Your conflict style

27:09 Common conflict sequences

31:08 How to work your own strengths

33:07 Do strengths change over time?

34:02 How does knowing your strengths effect your communications

35:40 Overdone strengths and their impact on communication

38:10 Manage perceptions

39:38 In summary

40:36 How much do people really change?

42:52 Ho to find more about the assessment and Michael 

43:18 Thank yous

43:31 Outro

In this episode of The Inspire Podcast Bart welcomes Shad, award-winning Canadian rapper and broadcaster. Shad talks with Bart about his approach to performing and what he has learned from winning (and losing!) rap battles, using humor and vulnerability to create connection with the audience, channeling nerves, and harnessing gestures and physical presence to energize the audience.

Shad has released six studio albums since 2005. Four of his albums have been shortlisted for the Polaris Music Prize, and he won a Juno Award for Rap Recording of the Year in 2011. In 2013, CBC Music named Shad the second-greatest Canadian rapper of all time.[1][2] Shad hosted Q on CBC Radio One from 2015 to 2016[3][4] and hosts the International Emmy and Peabody Award-winning documentary series Hip-Hop Evolution (2016–present) on HBO Canada and Netflix.

In this episode of The Inspire Podcast Bart speaks with Lisa Morton, Founder and CEO of Roland Dransfield, a UK communications agency. Lisa's entrepreneurial journey has been driven and guided by her values, starting with her decision to create her own agency, carrying through her personal growth, to pursuing community outreach in Manchester, and now to how she onboards and builds her team. Lisa's story drives home that whatever role you are in your values will serve as a north star. You must take the time to define them, to update them as life goes on, and to use them as a touch stone during difficult periods. 

Here are the highlights from the conversation:

Teaser 00:02

Inspire Podcast opener 00:17

introducing the guest 00:49

How did entrepreneurship begin in her life 02:03

Early cleaning business as a child 02:41

Early experiences in PR 03:55

Start her own business 05:24

Why start her own biz?? 05:55

Never aligned with the values of PR agencies she worked at 06:28

Did you write your values down? 07:59

Leading the business with implicit values 09:47

Having children changed things 10:46

Difficult personelle problem during growth 11:38

Mistakes to avoid when hiring 13:29

Why was I attracting narcissists 14:45

Worked with a personal coach 18:52

Updating values and what matters 19:42

Letting people go 22:12

Values over experience 22:55

No job is too small 23:26

"Sweep the Shed" 23:32

Values 24:37

No jerks allowed 24:57

protect the team 25:43

Outreach in Manchester 26:30

Bombings in Manchester 27:31

Most clients now are onboard with CSR 28:55

Creating a legacy 29:58

Advice?  31:42

Take that time out 32:05

Write it down 32:54

wrap-up 34:05

Thank yous 34:39

In this episode of The Inspire Podcast Bart speaks with Tony Martignetti, Founder of Inspired Purpose Coaching about why so many leaders reach a career peak only to realize they may have to in fact come down and climb a different mountain. Drawing on his own life experiences where he walked away from a prestigious executive role to reflect on his own journey, Tony shares wisdom he currently uses to coach leaders in many fields. He explains the signs that you may be in crisis, how to know if you're climbing the right mountain, what to do when you come off your first path, and how to start again. In this time of the Great Resignation and career disruption, Tony's advice is helpful when you know something isn't working but don't want to jump at the next thing without knowing where you're headed.

00.32 Teaser

00.12 Inspire music/intro

00.49 Welcome Tony

01:33. Introduction

02:25 Early career

02:49 Biotech

03:08 Something missing

03:54 Internal doubts

04:36 Breaking point

05:05 Lost himself in the process

06:05 Rock bottom

08:11 Golden handcuffs -- how to overcome

09:44 Leaving the room -- change the way leaders "show up"

11:01 Crises on the mountain

12:30 What he wanted to do for his clients

13:48 Signs that you might be stuck

15:00 Finding the balance

15:36 We can control our level of excitement towards work

16:33 You may be in the right job, but your perspective might need to change

18:56 Going back in time - time travelling anthropologist

20:50 How Covid has brought this in focus

24:30 Are there people who can't unstick themselves?

26:07 Biggest hurdles to overcome when making career changes

27:04 Don't box yourself in

28:58 Celebrate your own accomplishments and experiences

30:25 3 places to start journey to career fulfillment

30:47 Pause

31:07 What do I want?

31:34 What am I going to do next?

32:07 Book recommendations