The Mike Method

This week Mike Desjardins is sitting down with Steph Corker, our Chief Growth Officer here at ViRTUS, to talk all about CHANGE —how it shows up in our habits, parenting, the workplace, and leadership. They dig into how creating "white space" in our lives helps spark creativity and reflection. They share insights on how parenting is all about evolving and meeting your kids where they are, and they both reflect on the challenges of navigating a hybrid workforce.

A big takeaway is that empathy is a must for leadership, especially in times of change. Mike and Steph talk about how relationships, whether at home or at work, can really push you to reflect on yourself and grow. They also dive into how culture isn’t about where people are physically but about giving them autonomy, mastery, and purpose. Change is inevitable, and embracing it with curiosity and acceptance can reduce stress and open the door to creativity!

Episode Resources:

ViRTUS: Website / Instagram / LinkedIn

Steph Corker: LinkedIn

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This week Mike is sitting down with Noel Asmar, a visionary founder and all-around empathetic leader. Noel is a purpose-led designer with a passion for empowering spa, wellness & healthcare professionals through elevated apparel, made for the way you move. In 2002, Noel launched Noel Asmar Uniforms, a first-to-market collection of tailored spa tunics intentionally designed with a focus on improving how professionals both looked and felt at work. Today, Noel serves as the founder and creative director behind the Noel Asmar Group’s portfolio of companies which includes: Noel Asmar Uniforms & Asmar Scrubs,™ Asmar Equestrian and PedicureBowls.com.

In their conversation Noel breaks down her leadership style, sharing how she stays emotionally connected, open-minded, and authentic in her role. They also dive into her personal practices for keeping her energy up, like going to bed early and dedicating time for “Wellness Wednesdays.” Noel opens up about the importance of vulnerability, balancing personal and professional life, and why creativity—and having the right people around you—makes all the difference. Plus, they touch on how mindfulness and wellness can fit into even the busiest workdays, and how tools like the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS) help scale businesses without the burnout.

If you’re looking for tips on leading with empathy, managing your energy, and keeping things balanced, this one’s for you.

Episode Resources:

Noel Asmar: LinkedIn / Website

ViRTUS: Website / Instagram / LinkedIn

Thinkific: Website

OneWheel: Website

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On this episode of The Mike Method, host Mike Desjardins sits down with Dave Inglis! Dave is the author of Chief Family Officer and CEO of Threshold Leadership. His journey as an entrepreneur was kick-started after breaking his neck and back during a fluke hockey accident at the age of 15. Now a professional business & family leadership coach, Dave is often referred to as “the corporate therapist”, and sought after for his expertise in strategy, communications and managing high-stake relationships! Dave's book is a game-changer for families looking to thrive through strategic planning, similar to how successful companies are built.

In this episode Dave and Mike dive into his new book and explore the importance of creating a shared family vision, managing conflict, fostering accountability, and nurturing relationships with a "triple bottom line" of wealth, health, and love. Dave's book isn’t just for business leaders—it’s for anyone who wants to lead their family with purpose and design a life that works for everyone. If you’re looking to bring more focus and intention into your family life, this conversation is a must-listen. Be sure to grab a copy of The Chief Family Officer and dive into the strategies Dave shares.

Episode Resources:

Dave Inglis: LinkedIn / Website

Chief Family Officer by Dave Inglis

ViRTUS: Website / Instagram / LinkedIn

Sonos: Website

HubSpot: Website

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In this episode of The Mike Method, Mike catches up with his good friend Laura Mack! Laura’s a facilitator and coach with a calm, grounded vibe that instantly puts everyone at ease, making it easier for leaders to open up and dig into the real stuff. She’s all about driving real growth—both personally and professionally—which is why she’s in demand across the globe, from corporate settings to healthcare and even government gigs. On top of that, she’s the CEO of Authentic Leadership Global and has trained coaches and facilitators just about everywhere.

They dive into Laura’s community work, like her role on the board of the North Shore Restorative Justice Society and her work with youth justice programs in partnership with TELUS. They also chat about everything from Big L and Little L leadership to the magic of starting every meeting with a solid check-in. This convo gets into all about what it really means to lead authentically. Don’t miss this one!

Episode Resources:

Laura Mack: LinkedIn

ViRTUS: Website / Instagram / LinkedIn

Sonos: Website

HubSpot: Website

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This week Mike is sitting down with Eric Wong, Director of Leadership Development at Adobe! Eric’s role involves boosting the performance of Adobe’s people leaders, drawing from a rich 15-year career in leadership and people operations. Before joining Adobe, he was Chief Commercial Officer at the HR startup Impro.ai and co-founder of Xember, a boutique leadership firm.

With a BA in computer engineering from UBC and an MBA from Stanford, Eric has facilitated over 500 workshops and brings a wealth of experience to the conversation. Outside of work, he’s an avid skier, hiker, and cyclist who enjoys family time. In this episode Mike and Eric explore radical candor in leadership, the evolving nature of mentorship, and how the pandemic reshaped leadership dynamics. Eric also shares his insights on the power of slowing down for long-term success. Tune in for a deep dive into what it takes to lead with authenticity in today’s world!

Episode Resources:

ViRTUS: Website / Instagram / LinkedIn

Eric Wong: LinkedIn

Essentialism by Greg Mckweon

Effortless by Greg Mckweon

Vega

Muse Meditation

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We’ve got a new episode of "The Mike Method" out today featuring Susan Manning, the Head of Learning, Leadership, Coaching, and Culture at Enbridge! Susan shares her incredible leadership journey, how coaching has shaped her approach, and the power of aligning values early in your career. We dive into the value of coaching skills for leaders, knowing when to move on and embrace new challenges, insights from influential mentors and servant leadership, tips on building commitment and having courageous conversations and so much more goodness. We know you will love this one! Tune in on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts to soak up some serious wisdom!

Episode Resources:

Susan Manning: LinkedIn

ViRTUS: Website / Instagram / LinkedIn

GoMacro: Website

Peloton: Website

The Coaching Habit by Michael Bunjay Stanier

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Yabome Gilpin-Jackson and I talk about decolonizing and rebuilding, Black Lives Matter, Canadian Residential Schools, Colonial education, and what taking action looks like from an individual perspective today.

Video version here: https://youtu.be/BYJN5uKUekw

Here are the links that we mentioned in the podcast:

Me and White Supremacy by Layla F Saad: http://laylafsaad.com/meandwhitesupremacy

Murray Sinclair Podcast on Indigenous Deaths: https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/1904061507879

NYC 1619 Project: https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/08/14/magazine/1619-america-slavery.html

U of A Program: https://www.coursera.org/learn/indigenous-canada?

Indigenous Flag: https://www.canadiannativeflag.ca/; https://www.cbc.ca/news/indigenous/what-i-choose-to-celebrate-on-this-day-called-canada-day-1.3660300

Canada History Through the Lens of Indigenous Women: https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/08/14/magazine/1619-america-slavery.html

Yabome Gilpin-Jackson: https://sldconsulting.org/quilting-global-futures/

Anti-Black News in Canada:

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/clive-mensah-black-man-taser-peel-police-1.5967692

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/police-shootings-2020-yer-review-1.5849788

https://globalnews.ca/news/7675321/surrey-rcmp-black-family-complaint/

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-53141449

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/black-judge-handcuffed-racism-1.6033332

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