From free trade and national unity to COVID and today’s geopolitical shifts, the conversation reflects on a half century of business leadership in helping build a stronger Canada. 

Revealing conversations with influential innovators, entrepreneurs and leaders. Listen to more episodes here: thebusinesscouncil.ca/podcasts/

From its roots in Southwestern Ontario helping Canadians get the medicine they need, to becoming a national healthcare and insurance company, the podcast explores how the organization grew without losing sight of its purpose. 

“We believe that healthcare is a right, not a privilege,” explains Zahid Salman, GreenShield President and CEO. “So this universal cornerstone that we've all lived on ever since we adopted the Canada Health Act is critical to us.”

In conversation with host Goldy Hyder, Salman discusses GreenShield's origins, why the company is putting an emphasis on mental health support and how corporate culture influences the work they do.

With headquarters in Windsor, Ontario, he even shares what makes for the best Windsor Pizza!

Revealing conversations with influential innovators, entrepreneurs and leaders. Listen to more episodes here: thebusinesscouncil.ca/podcasts/

For AltaGas President and CEO Vern Yu, it involves a remote rail line and a deep-water port in Prince Rupert, B.C. 

In a wide-ranging conversation with Goldy Hyder on the Speaking of Business podcast, Yu recounts how the company become a global export powerhouse, growing Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) shipments from 25,000 to 130,000 barrels a day in just a few years, with plans to scale up even more once a second facility is built.  

Today, AltaGas’s Prince Rupert facility accounts for a significant amount of Canada’s annual exports, driving economic growth across Alberta, B.C., and the broader Canadian supply chain.

Yu also shares why long-term partnerships with Indigenous communities have become essential to building projects that last and why Asia represents the biggest opportunity for Canada’s energy future.

Listen to this episode to see what's possible when Canadian energy thinks globally.

Revealing conversations with influential innovators, entrepreneurs and leaders. Listen to more episodes here: thebusinesscouncil.ca/podcasts/

“When I think about the Canadian energy industry and what we are and where we've been and where we're going, I think the opportunity is immense,” he tells Goldy Hyder on the Speaking of Business podcast. “This is an industry that Canada competes on at a global scale.”

Canada is among the top global producers of oil and gas yet faces mounting challenges. 

From stalled projects and shifting regulations to the need for ecological sustainability, McKenzie lays out the tough realities as well as the opportunities. He describes it as a “grand bargain” which balances growth, environmental responsibility and regulatory stability.

“There needs to be a coming together of those three legs under the stool and have this grand bargain where everybody is compromising, everybody is of the place where they understand what the end game is, which is to improve our standard of living as Canadians and to increase our economic benefit as a country.”

🎧 Tune in for a sharp, insightful look at the future of Canada’s energy sector.

Revealing conversations with influential innovators, entrepreneurs and leaders. Listen to more episodes here: thebusinesscouncil.ca/podcasts/

In this episode, Goldy Hyder sits down with Emily Heitman, Country President of Schneider Electric Canada, to unpack one of Canada’s biggest challenges: energy capacity.

“We know we have a shortage of power in the country, yet we're wasting 50 per cent of the power we produce,” she says, pointing to the increasing need for electricity to power new investments in Canada.

She shares how digital solutions, AI, and smart technology can help Canada reduce consumption, unlocking new electrical capacity and efficiency.

“I really feel like there's an opportunity for us to both expand the supply and go after that supply demand equation when it comes to energy.”

🎧 Tune in to Speaking of Business to hear how we can build the energy system Canada’s future needs.

Revealing conversations with influential innovators, entrepreneurs and leaders. Listen to more episodes here: thebusinesscouncil.ca/podcasts/

In this episode of Speaking of Business, Kevin shares how Sun Life grew from a Canadian insurer into a global financial services and asset management giant, and why Asia has become such a key part of that story. 

He also weighs in on one of Canada’s biggest challenges: adapting quickly enough to compete in a world of shifting trade and rising geopolitical tension. His advice? Move with speed, lead with purpose, and don’t be afraid to take risks or learn from failure.

"I actually think what I learned about failure is failure is just a step towards winning," he tells host Goldy Hyder

Listen to the full conversation about leadership, purpose, and the future of Canada on the Speaking of Business Podcast.

Revealing conversations with influential innovators, entrepreneurs and leaders. Listen to more episodes here: thebusinesscouncil.ca/podcasts/

“If we can speak the truth to the population, we can galvanize the nation even further… Because on a pure landscape basis, this country has it all,” he tells Goldy Hyder on the Speaking of Business podcast.

The founder and CEO of Forum Asset Management believes Canada has everything it needs to succeed, but unlocking that potential starts with getting comfortable with taking risks.  In fact he’s one of a group of business leaders behind the program Shift Failure, aimed at teaching high school students about entrepreneurship.

Tune in to hear more about his entrepreneurial journey and how he built Forum Asset Management to become a multi-billion dollar investor on the Speaking of Business podcast. 

Revealing conversations with influential innovators, entrepreneurs and leaders. Listen to more episodes here: thebusinesscouncil.ca/podcasts/

From semiconductor research to green chemistry breakthroughs, the Kingston, Ontario site is more than a lab, it’s a launchpad for commercialization. World class researchers are “inventing things, piloting things, figuring out how to scale it to ultimately commercialization,” Andrushko explains.

What makes the Kingston facility stand out in a crowded field of research? And how is Canadian innovation punching above its weight? Find out by listening to the full conversation.

Revealing conversations with influential innovators, entrepreneurs and leaders. Listen to more episodes here: thebusinesscouncil.ca/podcasts/

“Certainly for the first 30 years of my life, I think we were probably hanging our head a little bit low,” he tells Goldy Hyder on the Speaking of Business podcast. “But I think we started to pump our chest out when things really started to move ahead in the oil industry.”

Crosbie Group, a fourth-generation family business, plays a central role in the energy, marine and real estate sectors in Canada, the United States and Guyana. Collett has seen firsthand how quickly other countries have moved ahead with energy projects, while those in Canada have stalled.  “From 2014 to 2018, there were over $4 billion in commitments to explore offshore Newfoundland and Labrador,” he notes. “Since 2018, there’s been just $300 million.”

He attributes much of that slowdown to regulatory uncertainty. Despite the challenges, he believes the tide may be turning. “We need to seize the moment, seize the day,” he urges. “We have a very willing sentiment toward the industry right now.”

For Collett, the conversation isn’t just about energy, it’s about Canada’s future. “We spend an awful lot of time talking about our potential and tomorrow,” he says. “I'm personally at a place where I want to see things happening and happening now.”

🎧Listen to the full conversation with Mark Collett on the Speaking of Business podcast.

Revealing conversations with influential innovators, entrepreneurs and leaders. Listen to more episodes here: thebusinesscouncil.ca/podcasts/

“The status of our economy is red,” he said in a June 9 conversation with Goldy Hyder at the Conférence de Montréal.

The president and CEO of National Bank of Canada stressed the urgency for Canada to strengthen its economy in light of geopolitical uncertainty. But he’s optimistic the country will take action, saying now is the time to “get projects built across the country, get to the bottom of what are the causes of our economic performance, and move forward.”

Ferreira sees a major role for Canadian energy in Canada’s future. The Quebec-based bank recently acquired Alberta-based Canadian Western Bank, expanding the bank’s footprint into more markets across the country. He says nation-building projects, including energy, will keep the federation strong. And to land those projects, there’s an overriding need to reduce regulations. 

“I think that the biggest impediment to energy transition is regulation. It's not Alberta. It's regulation. That's the real problem.”

Listen to the full conversation on the Speaking of Business podcast.

Revealing conversations with influential innovators, entrepreneurs and leaders. Listen to more episodes here: thebusinesscouncil.ca/podcasts/

In early May, he retired as President and CEO of Manulife after eight years leading the international financial services group. The Canadian company has a massive global footprint, employing 40 thousand people around the world. 

Before leaving his post, Gori sat down with Goldy Hyder to reflect on his career and talk about what comes next.

“It has been the honour and privilege of my life to lead this great Canadian organization,” he says on the Speaking of Business podcast. “Never would I have imagined that the son of a coal miner could become the CEO … and I've never taken that responsibility lightly.”

In the wide-ranging conversation, Gori discusses his work ethic, lessons he’s learned through adversity, transformational changes at Manulife, and Canada’s global reputation.

Listen to the full interview, including how Gori ended up intercepting a pass from quarterback Tom Brady, on the Speaking of Business podcast.

Revealing conversations with influential innovators, entrepreneurs and leaders. Listen to more episodes here: thebusinesscouncil.ca/podcasts/

Born and raised in Oakville, Ontario, Balfour spent a year working on the assembly line at the local Ford plant before returning to Laurier University to complete his degree. He went on to work in commercial banking, corporate finance and infrastructure development before pivoting to the energy sector, becoming president and CEO of Emera. The Halifax-headquartered energy company serves more than 2.5 million customers across Canada, the United States and the Caribbean.

At Emera, Balfour has been at the forefront of the industry's transformation, overseeing the company's shift towards more renewable energy sources and modernizing its energy mix. He has navigated the complexities of policy, regulation, and customer needs, all while maintaining a commitment to reliability, affordability, and environmental stewardship. 

Listen to his full conversation – including his hopes for Canada’s future – on the Speaking of Business podcast with Goldy Hyder.

Revealing conversations with influential innovators, entrepreneurs and leaders. Listen to more episodes here: thebusinesscouncil.ca/podcasts/

The president and CEO of Keyera hopes momentum will build to get Canadian natural gas to more customers. “We have an opportunity to deliver the world’s most responsibly produced oil and natural gas in the world and we can help enrich people’s lives across the planet,” he says. “If we can get the right policy and regulatory framework, we can do great things.”

As a midstream infrastructure company, Keyera plays a vital role in processing and delivering natural gas across Canada and around the world. 

Reflecting on his own career journey, Setoguchi shares how he transitioned from accounting to the oil and gas industry, embracing the entrepreneurial spirit and "enterprise-level thinking" that he learned while working with smaller companies. 

He also discusses his deep ties to his hometown of Lethbridge, and the influence of his Japanese grandparents, who were interned during WWII. “I like that humble upbringing and being grounded no matter what position you are or what you do in life. At the end of the day, we’re all just people.”

Revealing conversations with influential innovators, entrepreneurs and leaders. Listen to more episodes here: thebusinesscouncil.ca/podcasts/

Those are some of the themes Goldy Hyder explores with bestselling author, columnist and CNN host Fareed Zakaria in a conversation recorded on January 13th – one week before the presidential inauguration.

Zakaria discusses his latest book Age of Revolutions and reflects on changes to the geopolitical landscape, including the potential impact of tariffs on countries around the world.

Revealing conversations with influential innovators, entrepreneurs and leaders. Listen to more episodes here: thebusinesscouncil.ca/podcasts/

In an interview with Goldy Hyder on the Speaking of Business podcast, Martel discusses why fostering innovation and growing Canadian champions requires a strong partnership between the private sector and government. He argues that Canada needs to take a more proactive approach to supporting its domestic industries, particularly in areas like defence, where the government can work closely with companies to identify future needs and collaborate on solutions. 

“It's about creating more jobs, creating more value for the country,” he says.

Listen to the full interview with Éric Martel, including leadership lessons he learned as an 18-year-old cadet, on the Speaking of Business podcast.

Revealing conversations with influential innovators, entrepreneurs and leaders. Listen to more episodes here: thebusinesscouncil.ca/podcasts/

“It's incredible how many fantastic things we do that we don't talk about,” she tells Goldy Hyder on the Speaking of Business podcast.

Speaking at IBM Canada’s Software Lab in Markham, Ontario, Pimentel expresses great pride in the innovation that happens there. The Canadian-developed software is being used around the world. 

Keeping high-tech jobs in Canada is one of Pimentel’s top priorities. “I’m creating an environment where it’s exciting for this next generation to come in and want to work here in Canada for Canada.” 

In the wide-ranging conversation, Pimentel also shares how her immigrant parents, who ran a grocery store in downtown Toronto, instilled in her the values of perseverance, customer service, and a strong work ethic – lessons she has used throughout her 29-year career at IBM. 

Revealing conversations with influential innovators, entrepreneurs and leaders. Listen to more episodes here: thebusinesscouncil.ca/podcasts/

Back then, John Graham was a research scientist with a PhD in physical chemistry. He spent nine years working in a lab before he jumped from the world of science to the world of finance, joining CPP Investments.

Now, as president and CEO of one of the world’s largest pension funds, he recognizes that investing in financial markets is more art than science.

“One of the few things I definitively know today is I don't do science anymore,” he tells Goldy Hyder on the Speaking of Business podcast. “Finance is about investing in the real world, in a system that is constantly in flux, constantly changing. At times it can be irrational, requires quantitative, qualitative methods, art … and some science.”

Speaking in front of an audience at the Toronto Global Forum in October, Graham discusses how CPP Investments has adapted and grown in its 25-year history, navigating through changing circumstances. 

Taking the long view, he says, means avoiding getting swept up in FOMO (fear of missing out) but instead building a stable, long-term portfolio. “Canadians should be proud that CPP investments is either the number one or two best-performing pension plans in the world.”

Revealing conversations with influential innovators, entrepreneurs and leaders. Listen to more episodes here: thebusinesscouncil.ca/podcasts/

Host Goldy Hyder wanted to know: how do you maintain a startup mindset, even in organizations that are decades old and employ thousands of people?

“If you want people to be innovative and risk-takers, you can't punish failure,” said Linda Hasenfratz, executive chair of the board of Linamar. 

She joined former CEO of Air Canada Calin Rovinescu and chairman of Aspire Mohammed Ashour to talk about the ingredients companies need to succeed over the long-term.

“Many of the characteristics and drivers for a startup business are absolutely exportable to mature businesses,” said Rovinescu, pointing to the need to communicate widely and to empower frontline workers.

As the co-founder of a new startup, Ashour also discussed the challenges of launching a new business that is unlike any that have come before – Aspire grows insects as a protein source. “You are inventing the plane and flying it at the same time, which is a very thrilling but also terrifying reality.”

Hosted by the Ivey Business School’s Ian O. Ihnatowycz Institute for Leadership at the school’s Toronto campus and recorded in front of a live audience, the three guests discussed their own career journeys, their hopes for Canada, and offered advice for the students in the audience.

Revealing conversations with influential innovators, entrepreneurs and leaders. Listen to more episodes here: thebusinesscouncil.ca/podcasts/

“It makes you think in decades, not in quarters,” he says. “You think about what is this company going to be not just a year from now, but 10 years from now, 20 years from now, 30 years from now.”

In a frank and revealing conversation with Goldy Hyder on the Speaking of Business podcast, Weston discusses what he calls “patient capital” – his long-view approach to ensuring the company remains strong and vibrant for generations to come. 

It’s a mindset he says Canada needs to adopt as a country, calling on public policymakers to think about how to create long-term prosperity. And he urges business leaders to be part of the discourse. “That unguarded dialogue about what's in the national interest could pay some meaningful dividends,” he says.

Listen to the full interview, including his reflections on inflation, food prices and the challenges of leadership in the face of public scrutiny, on the Speaking of Business podcast.

Revealing conversations with influential innovators, entrepreneurs and leaders. Listen to more episodes here: thebusinesscouncil.ca/podcasts/

Luongo is encouraging all KPMG employees to experiment with and learn from AI.

“Businesses need to help their people develop skills around AI,” he says. “That is probably one of the most fundamental things that we can be doing right now.”

In an interview on the Speaking of Business podcast, Luongo reflects on what he has learned and how he has adapted to technological change during his decades-long career.

Effective leaders, he says, open doors for employees to develop their skills, continually. “This is what's going to change the productivity and the prosperity for people in Canada and we all have that responsibility to help develop our people's skillset.”

Listen to the full interview – including why he describes leaders as HEPA filters – on the Speaking of Business podcast.

Revealing conversations with influential innovators, entrepreneurs and leaders. Listen to more episodes here: thebusinesscouncil.ca/podcasts/

But the former senior deputy governor of the Bank of Canada has made a career out of it, and she is inviting everyone else to get in on the conversation – because it’s the very lifeblood of our quality of life. 

“The economy is the foundation of peoples' financial and social well-being,” she says. “The kind of jobs people have, how much money they have at the end of the week, whether they can afford a vacation, that all depends on the state of the economy.”

In a conversation with Goldy Hyder on the Speaking of Business podcast, Wilkins takes the pulse of Canada’s economy and discusses the impact it’s having on Canadians’ standard of living. 

She brings a unique perspective that reflects both her Canadian professional history and her current work beyond Canada’s borders. She draws on her experience as an external member of the Bank of England’s Financial Policy Committee and senior research scholar at Princeton University’s Griswold Center for Economic Policy.

She says she sees countries around the world working hard to rebuild their economies to be more competitive in a post-COVID world. “When I look at Canada from the outside, I can see the competition better, and it worries me because I think we need to up our game.”

How? She has lots of ideas.

Listen to the full podcast to hear Carolyn Wilkins’ solutions to strengthen Canada’s economy.

Revealing conversations with influential innovators, entrepreneurs and leaders. Listen to more episodes here: thebusinesscouncil.ca/podcasts/

Back then, his company, TransAlta, relied heavily on coal plants to generate electricity for Albertans. The Alberta government had other plans. It announced a phase-out of coal-fired electricity plants and gave TransAlta until 2030 to comply.

Rather than challenging the government’s decision, Kousinioris says TransAlta decided to embrace the change. Over the next six years the company converted all its Alberta coal plants to natural gas, dramatically cutting its greenhouse gas emissions – years ahead of schedule. “It’s been an incredible journey for all of us,” he says.

In an interview with Goldy Hyder on the Speaking of Business podcast, Kousinioris, president and CEO of TransAlta, discusses the company’s energy transition and speaks frankly about what it will take to meet Canada’s emissions targets.

“People are intuitively in favour of decarbonization,” he says, but “I don't think we've had honest discussions about what it costs to get there and the challenges associated with getting there.”

In the wide-ranging conversation, Kousinioris also discusses lessons learned from his immigrant parents, his love of motorcycles, and his passion for the Calgary Stampede. 

“It doesn't matter where you came from, what your background is, where you've lived. When you've got a pair of jeans on, cowboy boots, and a cowboy hat, you belong,” he says.

Revealing conversations with influential innovators, entrepreneurs and leaders. Listen to more episodes here: thebusinesscouncil.ca/podcasts/

Little did she know then that she would one day become CEO of the iconic Canadian company.

With humble beginnings in Toronto in 1973, Roots has grown into an international brand, sharing Canadian-inspired products around the world and outfitting the likes of athletes, celebrities and presidents.

Despite its global imprint, Roots still makes all its leather goods by hand at the Roots Leather Factory in Toronto.

In a conversation with Goldy Hyder on the Speaking of Business podcast, Roach provides a tour of the factory and discusses the Roots legacy.

“My father said to me never forget where you came from, and this is exactly what I think of when I come to this factory every day,” she says. “This is a 50-year-old business and a 50-year-old brand and I'm a steward of it. I want to build and strengthen the foundation of this business so it's here for another 50 years.”

Revealing conversations with influential innovators, entrepreneurs and leaders. Listen to more episodes here: thebusinesscouncil.ca/podcasts/

It’s a story of how John and his business partner Colin MacDonald started selling lobsters in a store on the Bedford highway in 1976 … and how they grew Clearwater into a global seafood giant. 

As the Chairman and CEO of CFFI Ventures, Risley has been involved in many other enterprises throughout his career – including telecommunications, space technology and green hydrogen – but Clearwater is what started it all.

So it was big news when, in 2020, Clearwater was sold to a joint venture that included a coalition of Mi’kmaw First Nations. It was described as “the single largest investment in the seafood industry by any Indigenous group in Canada.”

In a candid conversation with Goldy Hyder on the Speaking of Business podcast, John Risley recounts that historic sale, reflects on the business risks he’s taken, and reveals why the world is now courting Atlantic Canada’s ocean economy.

Revealing conversations with influential innovators, entrepreneurs and leaders. Listen to more episodes here: thebusinesscouncil.ca/podcasts/

Hatch is an engineering and professional services firm that employs 12,000 people in 150 countries around the world, all from its perch in Mississauga, ON.

But you may have never heard of them, and that’s by design.

“It's true that we're not a household name,” says Hatch Chairman and CEO John Bianchini. “We're employee-owned and we don't feel the need to advertise other than – in the good old Canadian way – based on what we do.”

Hatch may shun the spotlight, but the company loves a challenge, and has taken on some of the world’s toughest problems. 

When it comes to climate change, Bianchini says it’s an existential threat. “We're in the climate change economy,” he explains. “Pretty much everything that drives the economy today is around our battle to remove carbon from the atmosphere and making sure we don't put too much more in there.”

In a colourful and wide-ranging interview with Goldy Hyder on the Speaking of Business podcast, Bianchini also discusses ways to unleash Canada’s entrepreneurial spirit, the importance of mentoring the next generation, why he is a big supporter of arts and culture, and he weighs in on the work-from-home vs work-from-the-office debate.

Revealing conversations with influential innovators, entrepreneurs and leaders. Listen to more episodes here: thebusinesscouncil.ca/podcasts/

Three decades later, she became Chief Executive Officer of the clothing retail giant that now boasts 117 stores in two countries, plus a global online presence.

“My journey has really been about figuring things out, learning new things and overcoming problems,” she tells Goldy Hyder in the Speaking of Businesspodcast. 

It helps that she knows the business from the shop floor up, an experience that gives her a unique approach to dealing with the ups and downs of the marketplace. “I like to seek to understand,” she says.

That problem-solving approach helped Aritzia weather the COVID-19 pandemic. When retail stores were closed, employees pivoted to working for the company’s online business, resulting in no layoffs.

Wong says the staff felt they were part of a bigger common goal, which was to keep Aritzia going during the pandemic. “That's another thing that I love about Aritzia,” she says, “we have a lot of heart.”

Listen to the full conversation – including how Aritzia expanded to the United States, and why it makes a point of supporting women throughout its supply chain – on the Speaking of Business podcast.

Revealing conversations with influential innovators, entrepreneurs and leaders. Listen to more episodes here: thebusinesscouncil.ca/podcasts/

Last April, the iconic Canadian company marked another first, when – in Kansas City, Missouri – a ceremonial final spike connected Canadian Pacific with Kansas City Southern. The new railway, now named CPKC, became the first and only single-line railway connecting Canada, the United States and Mexico. It stretches across more than 32,000 kilometers of track and employs 20,000 people. 

“This company is not new to change,” says Keith Creel, CPKC President and CEO. “We're ready for it and we're going to embrace it and unlock some unique opportunities that our network has created for us.”

In an interview with Goldy Hyder on the Speaking of Business podcast, Creel discusses the benefits of the new North American line and delves into some of the challenges of operating across three countries.

“We're going to celebrate the things that are similar, we're going to recognize the differences, we're going to never compromise our principles and we're going to create a common culture that I call a constant pursuit of safety and operational excellence," he says.

Listen to the full interview, including what military service taught him about leadership, on the Speaking of Business podcast.

Revealing conversations with influential innovators, entrepreneurs and leaders. Listen to more episodes here: thebusinesscouncil.ca/podcasts/

Skip ahead a few decades and Rencheck is now the President and CEO of Bruce Power. The nuclear plant on the shores of Lake Huron produces 30 per cent of Ontario's electricity – that’s half of all the province’s nuclear power.

Rencheck recognizes the important role nuclear will play as Canada transitions to lower emissions energy sources. “We really need to progress forward if we're going to have a clean energy transition and have abundant energy that's reliable, clean, and affordable,” he tells Goldy Hyder on the Speaking of Business podcast. It’s why Bruce Power is looking at adding more production capacity at its site – an additional 4,800 megawatts of electricity (Bruce Power currently produces 6,550 megawatts).

And Bruce Power doesn’t stop there. The company is, in Rencheck’s words, a “superpower” in the production of medical isotopes. The life-saving products are used to sterilize medical equipment worldwide and to treat some forms of cancer.

In a wide-ranging conversation, Mike Rencheck and Goldy Hyder also discuss Indigenous reconciliation, the value of asking questions, and how to unleash Canada’s “get ‘er done” mentality. 

“We have great people in Canada. We have great people here at Bruce Power. And when we choose to work together, we simply get things done.”

Revealing conversations with influential innovators, entrepreneurs and leaders. Listen to more episodes here: thebusinesscouncil.ca/podcasts/

Domagalski is the President and CEO of Wajax, a Canadian industrial products and service company. With 3000 employees working in 120 branches across the country, a strong corporate culture that embraces positivity is a big priority for him. That’s why you might run into a foosball table or an impromptu basketball game at a Wajax office.

“You spend more than half your waking life with your teammates at work,” he says. “Why can't that be enjoyable?”

Domaglaski believes happiness and fulfillment at work can permeate into the larger community. “Business can be a real power for good.”

In a wide-ranging conversation with Goldy Hyder on the Speaking of Business podcast, Domagalski discusses his approach to leadership, how he embraced entrepreneurship at an early age, the importance of mentors and why Wajax is dedicated charitable giving.

Revealing conversations with influential innovators, entrepreneurs and leaders. Listen to more episodes here: thebusinesscouncil.ca/podcasts/

The problems are many, and familiar to anyone who follows North America’s energy industry. 

• The need to reduce emissions from traditional energy sources like oil and natural gas. 
• The need to transition to lower-carbon sources without raising prices for consumers. 
• The need for energy security in a world that is increasingly unpredictable.

It’s a tall order, but Poirier – President and CEO of Calgary-based TC Energy – is optimistic that his company and others in the industry can meet the challenge. Not only that, he’s convinced that Canada can play an outsized role in solving the world’s energy problems. 

In a conversation with Goldy Hyder in the Speaking of Business podcast, Poirier points to Canada’s natural resources, private sector leadership and energy expertise as key ingredients that can help countries around the world lower greenhouse gas emissions.

In addition, Poirier says Canada’s energy sector has a lot to contribute to a coordinated North American energy strategy. “It's through collaboration, cooperation, and commerce that North America can underpin the security and the prosperity of billions of people,” he says.

In a wide-ranging conversation, Poirier also explains why mental wellness is a priority at TC Energy, why he enjoys competing in triathlons, and what career advice he’s shared with his two sons.

Revealing conversations with influential innovators, entrepreneurs and leaders. Listen to more episodes here: thebusinesscouncil.ca/podcasts/

Overseeing the operation is CEO Alexis von Hoensbroech. He's a newcomer to Canada but not to the industry, having spent two decades working for and running airlines in Europe. 

When he arrived in Canada last year, he was struck by the country’s rugged geography and “sheer size”, which brought home to him the importance of air travel. 

“In Europe, if you want to get from city A to city B, you have tons of options,” he says, including air, rail and road. “You can even take a bicycle in many cases. [Cities are] not very far apart.” That’s hardly the case in Canada, where the alternative to air travel is often a journey lasting several days. 

“Aviation and airlines are an absolute essential service for thousands and thousands of communities … This is just a geographical fact,” he tells Goldy Hyder on the Speaking of Business podcast.

Given that, von Hoensbroech says he’s surprised that government-imposed surcharges on air travel – including airport rent, security and navigation fees, and federal taxes
– are “far more expensive” in Canada compared to other countries.

“I’m surprised that the government is not putting more effort into making aviation more affordable,” he says. “Actually, they’re doing the exact opposite.”

Listen to Goldy Hyder’s full conversation with Alexis von Hoensbroech – including his thoughts on the Calgary Stampede, and which NHL superstar hails from his hometown in Germany – on the Speaking of Business podcast.

Revealing conversations with influential innovators, entrepreneurs and leaders. Listen to more episodes here: thebusinesscouncil.ca/podcasts/

The company has expanded quickly. “We're a 50-year-old company, yet 80 per cent of our employees joined us within the last four to five years,” says Bob Espey, Parkland’s president and CEO.

While Parkland is best known as a distributor and retailer of petroleum products, the company is preparing for the energy transition.

In the summer of 2021 Espey drove an electric vehicle from Calgary to Vancouver, stopping five times to recharge the battery. Each stop took between 15 and 30 minutes.

That charging time might be a problem for some, but Espey saw opportunity.

“What became apparent is the consumer experience is underserviced,” he tells Goldy Hyder on the Speaking of Business podcast. “You hear things like range anxiety and time-to-charge anxiety, and there's an opportunity there that – as we see more EVs come into the market – we can address.”

Espey recognizes the change will happen gradually and will vary depending on the country in which Parkland operates. “We have some markets like B.C. which are starting to transition quickly and others where it’s not on the agenda yet.”

Listen to Goldy Hyder’s conversation with Bob Espey on the Speaking of Business  podcast.

Revealing conversations with influential innovators, entrepreneurs and leaders. Listen to more episodes here: thebusinesscouncil.ca/podcasts/

She spent 27 years working at Canadian Pacific Railway before switching to the energy sector for almost a decade. Last year she returned to her roots when she was appointed President and CEO of CN, a job she calls “the best in the world.”

Overseeing 30,000 km of track across Canada and the United States, Robinson understands the integral role rail plays in North America’s complex supply chain.

“We need the supply chains to be effective, highly performing, and resilient,” she tells Goldy Hyder on the Speaking of Business podcast.  “Things are moving quickly. Trade flows are changing quickly. And if we want to be able to participate the way we know we can as a country, we need to be able to move with it.”

Robinson sees great opportunity for Canada to share its resources and its ingenuity with the rest of the world provided the country adopts a more ambitious approach to economic development. Among other things, that means ensuring greater regulatory certainty and predictability for infrastructure investments. “Whether it be economic or whether it be climate, environment, we are part of a much bigger community and we can be a much more important part if we step into it.”

Listen to Goldy Hyder’s full conversation with Tracy Robinson on the Speaking of Business podcast.

Revealing conversations with influential innovators, entrepreneurs and leaders. Listen to more episodes here: thebusinesscouncil.ca/podcasts/

The inability to walk through the office and meet people created unique challenges, she says. “Organizations are made of people. You need to be a really good listener to be a good leader.”

In a wide-ranging conversation with Goldy Hyder on the Speaking of Business podcast, Llewellyn discusses how she built a new culture at the Bank despite a remote work environment, and how it contributed to the development of a digital first strategy. 

“We flipped the conversation. [Rather than saying] ‘let's go back to the office and figure out what tasks we do at home,’ it was ‘what is it that we need the office for?’"

Thinking differently and challenging the status quo is something Llewellyn has done throughout her career, because, as she says, “why fit in when you can stand out?”

Listen to the full conversation with Rania Llewellyn, including her experience as an immigrant to Canada and her hopes for the country’s future.

Revealing conversations with influential innovators, entrepreneurs and leaders. Listen to more episodes here: thebusinesscouncil.ca/podcasts/

“Being a family enterprise for 125 years, we think across generations – we think in 25-year chunks,” she tells Goldy Hyder on the Speaking of Businesspodcast.

Zumwalt challenges her team to be bold when charting the company’s future. “Whatever we're doing today, we won't necessarily be doing in the future. We’ve got to figure out what that future looks like.”

Zumwalt discusses her hopes for her company, the transformation she’s seeing in her hometown of Calgary, and her vision for Canada – one that embraces diversity and difference. She also speaks candidly about the lessons she has learned from her four children, three of whom were adopted from Haiti. “I always say to my children, ‘Listen for, not against.’ Listen for what you believe in. Listen for something that's in common and then build on that.”

Revealing conversations with influential innovators, entrepreneurs and leaders. Listen to more episodes here: thebusinesscouncil.ca/podcasts/

“There are major shifts occurring in the geopolitical landscape,” she says. “Canada will either come out as losing or winning from an economic and security perspective, but we need to have a plan.”

Blais served as a senior diplomat in Canadian embassies and consulates around the world including Tokyo, Paris, Washington and the United Nations. She is now senior special advisor to the Business Council of Canada on U.S. and international affairs.

In a conversation with Goldy Hyder on the Speaking of Business podcast, Blais emphasizes that Canada’s foreign policy must be rooted in a strong relationship with the United States, which buys 70 percent of Canada’s exports.

Even though the two countries’ economies are interdependent, many in the United States don’t recognize the importance of Canada, she says. “We have to do a better job at making sure the Americans realize just how beneficial the relationship has been to them and their own prosperity.”

Revealing conversations with influential innovators, entrepreneurs and leaders. Listen to more episodes here: thebusinesscouncil.ca/podcasts/

The bet paid off. Today Canada Goose is recognized around the world for its luxury clothing. Reiss credits part of that success to the decision to stick with a “Made in Canada” label. 

For international customers, he says, “a Canada Goose jacket made in Canada was like a Swiss Watch made in Switzerland. It's a quintessential Canadian product when the place of manufacturing cannot be separated from the product itself.”

In conversation with Goldy Hyder on the Speaking of Business podcast, Reiss urges other Canadian businesses to “leverage the power of the Canadian brand.” He also reflects on being named to AMA Toronto’s Canada’s Marketing Hall of Legends, which honours business excellence within the marketing profession. 

Revealing conversations with influential innovators, entrepreneurs and leaders. Listen to more episodes here: thebusinesscouncil.ca/podcasts/

In a conversation with Goldy Hyder on the Speaking of Business podcast, Wise points to three ingredients that should be part of the country’s economic recovery. 

First, she urges the country to develop an industrial strategy that capitalizes on Canada’s strengths and potential. 

Second, Wise emphasizes the importance of getting women fully engaged in the economy again, including in leadership positions, pointing to the large number who left the workforce during the pandemic. 

Third, we need a stronger focus on teaching science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), and on ensuring under-represented groups have access to that education. “Our future lies in making sure those people who want to pursue STEM — who want a job, who want a career — that we are providing them with the opportunities to make that happen,” Wise says.

Listen to Goldy Hyder’s conversation with Penny Wise – including the career advice she gives to young women – on the Speaking of Business podcast

Revealing conversations with influential innovators, entrepreneurs and leaders. Listen to more episodes here: thebusinesscouncil.ca/podcasts/

Charles Brindamour, the CEO of Intact Financial Corporation – the country’s largest provider of property and casualty insurance – is convinced that Canada has everything it needs to be a global leader in the drive to net-zero greenhouse gas emissions. 

He points to the country’s highly skilled and diverse workforce, its robust energy supplies and its abundant natural resources as areas in which Canada has huge advantages. 

“Whether it's around industrial and natural carbon capture, whether it's about building on our strengths in renewable energy, or playing a massive role in the electrification of transportation, these are great opportunities for the country,” Brindamour tells Goldy Hyder in the Speaking of Business podcast.

Brindamour says he began to see the effects of climate change more than a decade ago. His company responded by creating the Intact Centre on Climate Adaptation to help communities become more resilient to climate-related natural disasters.

In February Brindamour was named Canada’s Outstanding CEO of the Year, an award he says he shares with his entire team. “We very much think about Intact as a collective project to build a Canadian champion. And I'm hoping that this prize will help inspire others to do that – because we need more Canadian champions.”

Listen to Goldy Hyder’s conversation with Charles Brindamour on the Speaking of Business podcast.

Revealing conversations with influential innovators, entrepreneurs and leaders. Listen to more episodes here: thebusinesscouncil.ca/podcasts/

The risk, she points out, is that many women’s career trajectories will be hindered or knocked off course. She cites a recent study that concludes global GDP could be one trillion dollars lower by 2030 if action isn’t taken to mitigate pandemic-related job losses for women.

In a wide-ranging conversation with Goldy Hyder on the Speaking of Business podcast, Yule discusses solutions to ensure all employees are engaged and supported – including through mentorship and hybrid work options.

And she offers her own lessons in leadership. “There is a privilege that comes with leadership – and an obligation. We need to pay it forward by helping young leaders and blazing the trail for future generations.” 

Listen to the full conversation – including how and why HP Canada is investing in the circular economy – on the Speaking of Business podcast.

Revealing conversations with influential innovators, entrepreneurs and leaders. Listen to more episodes here: thebusinesscouncil.ca/podcasts/

And yet in a volatile and unpredictable world, his challenge is anything but simple.

Take, for example, the fund’s investments in the energy sector. Recently CPP Investments committed to achieving a net-zero portfolio by 2050. But that doesn’t mean it is divesting its holdings in Canada’s oil and gas industry. 

“We believe fundamentally in a path of engagement,” Graham tells Goldy Hyder in the Speaking of Business podcast. “Divesting takes responsible owners away from the table. Divesting basically puts these assets in the hands of people who may not have the same values.”

Graham says Canada is poised for an “economic transition”, not just an energy transition, because the shift to low-carbon energy sources will affect almost everything we produce and consume.

And he sees a significant leadership role for Canada. “Canada knows how to do these types of initiatives at scale. I think we very much have the resources and the scientific and technical know-how.”

Find out more – including why John Graham switched careers from research scientist to pension manager – by listening to this engaging and wide-ranging episode of Speaking of Business

.

Revealing conversations with influential innovators, entrepreneurs and leaders. Listen to more episodes here: thebusinesscouncil.ca/podcasts/

For Sonja Volpe, part of the answer lies in bringing staff together through volunteerism. “Volunteering is taking on an even more important role in the future hybrid work environment,” says the CEO of BNP Paribas in Canada. “It provides us the opportunity to engage with each other, to build out the internal network and strengthen the team dynamic while, of course, helping those in need.”

In conversation with Goldy Hyder on the Speaking of Business podcast, Volpe outlines how BNP Paribas – an international bank operating in 65 countries – is planning for what it calls “organized flexibility”. In practical terms, that means bringing employees back to the office 50 per cent of the time as COVID-19 restrictions ease.

“Even though we've been extremely efficient and productive in a remote environment during the pandemic, that's not the way of the future. We need to spend time together and hence time at the office is important,” she says.

Volpe also explains how BNP Paribas is addressing climate change through sustainable financing … and why the bank’s Montreal office includes an urban farm!

Revealing conversations with influential innovators, entrepreneurs and leaders. Listen to more episodes here: thebusinesscouncil.ca/podcasts/

At the time, the federal government and many private sector leaders were concerned that carbon pricing would erode Canada’s ability to compete internationally. “In 2007 there weren’t many countries anywhere talking about carbon price or any meaningful climate policy. There was a worry that a price on carbon could impact our competitiveness.”

Dillon has been working on energy and climate policy for three decades. In that time he has seen many changes. 

In conversation with Goldy Hyder on the Speaking of Business podcast, Dillon reflects on what he has learned, why Canada’s business leaders have embraced the fight against climate change, and what the country must do it meets its net-zero goals. 

For more information on the business case for emissions reductions, check out the Business Council of Canada’s report Clean Growth 3.0: Achieving Canadian Prosperity in a Net Zero World.

Revealing conversations with influential innovators, entrepreneurs and leaders. Listen to more episodes here: thebusinesscouncil.ca/podcasts/

In a January 25th conversation with Goldy Hyder on the Speaking of Business podcast, Masrani points to strengths – such as Canada’s education system and highly skilled workforce – as key ingredients to help the country succeed in a post-pandemic world.

He also sees an important role for Canada’s energy sector as the country transitions to net-zero emissions. “You look at what those [energy] companies are doing – they're on the leading edge of technology, the leading edge of how we reduce carbon,” he says.

Finally, Masrani points to the cooperation between the public and private sectors during the pandemic as a model for Canada to follow in the years ahead. “We are a country that is united in its vision. We want to be successful and we want success for all.”

Listen to Goldy Hyder’s conversation with Bharat Masrani on the Speaking of Business podcast.

Revealing conversations with influential innovators, entrepreneurs and leaders. Listen to more episodes here: thebusinesscouncil.ca/podcasts/

The discussion, “Seizing Canada’s Clean Growth Opportunity,” focused on the steps we need to take now to secure a low-carbon energy future.

Presented in partnership with the Business Council of Canada, the event featured key decision-makers from Canada’s mining, agriculture, financial services and energy sectors: 

• Don Lindsay, President and CEO of Teck Resources;
• Karn Manhas, Founder and CEO of Terramera;
• Dave McKay, President and CEO of RBC; and 
• Susannah Pierce, President and Country Chair of Shell Canada. 

The conversation was moderated by Nadia Theodore, Senior VP of Maple Leaf Foods.

In Don Lindsay’s words, “We have all of the competitive pieces to address climate change, to stimulate economic growth and to build a nation where our kids can thrive.”

Listen to the conversation on the Speaking of Business podcast.

Revealing conversations with influential innovators, entrepreneurs and leaders. Listen to more episodes here: thebusinesscouncil.ca/podcasts/

OMERS is one of the largest defined benefit pension plans in Canada, with net assets of more than $114 billion. So it’s good to know that when Hutcheson looks to the future, he’s optimistic about what he sees. 

“This is one of those times where there are outsized opportunities ahead – lots of reasons to believe in tomorrow, lots of reasons to believe in this country, and lots of reasons to believe in the future.”

In conversation with Goldy Hyder on the Speaking of Business podcast, Hutcheson discusses the challenges of leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

He also shares some of the lessons he learned growing up 200 km north of Toronto in the town of Huntsville. “To me the ticket for getting ahead as a society is putting [aside] differences and working together in a trusting way. Small towns do that.”

Listen to Blake Hutcheson’s conversation with Goldy Hyder – including his 2022 Stanley Cup prediction – in the Speaking of Business podcast.

Revealing conversations with influential innovators, entrepreneurs and leaders. Listen to more episodes here: thebusinesscouncil.ca/podcasts/

The President and Country Chair of Shell Canada points to innovation and investments in new technology by Shell and others – including renewable fuels, biofuels and carbon sequestration – as significant steps toward helping Canada meet its net-zero commitments.

She also recognizes the need for the private sector to work with all levels of government to reduce emissions. 

“Standing on opposite sides, fighting over things, is never going to allow us to move forward,” she says in conversation with Goldy Hyder on the Speaking of Business podcast. “The challenge is real, but the solution is one that we have to work on together. Let's make sure we roll our sleeves up collectively and get after it.”

Listen to Susannah Pierce’s conversation with Goldy Hyder, including her thoughts on supporting women in the workplace, on the Speaking of Business podcast.

Revealing conversations with influential innovators, entrepreneurs and leaders. Listen to more episodes here: thebusinesscouncil.ca/podcasts/

Times have changed.

“We’ve got an internet-of-things evolution happening in our industry,” says the President and CEO of PCL Construction, Canada’s largest general construction company. “It goes way beyond measuring things like temperature and humidity. [It includes] air pressure, sound levels, concrete strength, vibration – all with internet-connected sensors in our buildings as we build them.”

Modern building design and engineering also has to take into account climate change. For companies like PCL, that includes using low-carbon, energy-efficient products and materials, sourced locally when possible. Buildings must also be capable of withstanding extreme weather events.

For all the changes, Filipchuk says the fundamentals remain the same. “I often talk about it as the food, clothing and shelter business,” he says. “We meet the needs of human existence going into the future. How we do things will evolve, and we’re going to need to adapt in smart ways to define that better future for our kids and the generations after us.”

Listen to Dave Filipchuk’s conversation with Goldy Hyder on the Speaking of Business podcast.

Revealing conversations with influential innovators, entrepreneurs and leaders. Listen to more episodes here: thebusinesscouncil.ca/podcasts/

John Chen knows it better than many.

Long before the pandemic, BlackBerry’s Executive Chairman and CEO led the storied Canadian company through what he calls “a 180-degree flip” – from a hardware-centric business to a software-focused one.

In a conversation with Goldy Hyder on the Speaking of Business podcast, Chen shares his experience and advice on adapting to change.

For Chen, lesson number one is the need for patience. Major transformations, he says, often take longer than expected.

He also emphasizes the need to focus on the end goal: “If you keep pivoting without a central theme, you definitely are going to fail.”

Listen to John Chen’s conversation with Goldy Hyder, in which they also discuss talent, risk-taking, and why pagers were once seen as a “badge of honour.”

Revealing conversations with influential innovators, entrepreneurs and leaders. Listen to more episodes here: thebusinesscouncil.ca/podcasts/

In a conversation with Goldy Hyder in the Speaking of Business podcast, Vachon says Canada is facing four areas of transformation: technology, demographics, geopolitics and climate change.

Connecting them all, he says, is “clearly the economy … you need to get it absolutely right, and fast.”

Vachon retired from National Bank of Canada on October 31, following almost 15 years at the helm. 

After navigating many challenges, including the 2008 financial crisis, he says he hopes he leaves behind an employee culture that is able to adapt to change. “I kept saying to my employees ‘as a CEO, the only thing I can promise you is more change.’”

Listen to Louis Vachon’s full conversation with Goldy Hyder.

Revealing conversations with influential innovators, entrepreneurs and leaders. Listen to more episodes here: thebusinesscouncil.ca/podcasts/

But it paid off. Now, Cowan-Dewar’s Cabot Cape Breton golf courses are ranked among the best in the world and the company is expanding, building new courses and resorts in Revelstoke, B.C. and Saint Lucia. 

In a conversation with Goldy Hyder in the Speaking of Business podcast, Cowan-Dewar credits part of his success as a young entrepreneur to the advice and support he received from experienced business people. “I would watch these great Canadians in their 60s, 70s and 80s take a really long view and I thought ‘well it's easy for them, they've already been successful.’ But what you realize is, it's easy for them because they've been through cycles.”

Learning how to take a long view and adapt to economic cycles helped Cowan-Dewar, co-founder and CEO of Cabot, weather the COVID-19 pandemic – a crisis that had a devastating impact on Canada’s tourism sector, including the golf industry. 

Now he’s sharing what he’s learned with younger entrepreneurs. His advice? – keep a level head, use problem solving skills, and remember “you have people who are really cheering for your success.”

Listen to Ben Cowan-Dewar’s full conversation with Goldy Hyder.

Revealing conversations with influential innovators, entrepreneurs and leaders. Listen to more episodes here: thebusinesscouncil.ca/podcasts/

“Long term planning is harder,” McLellan told Goldy Hyder in the Speaking of Business podcast, “but that doesn't mean you can't get big things done.  It actually requires you to make common cause with your fellow parliamentarians across the aisle … issue by issue the governing party has to find its support.” 

With a new minority parliament set to assemble in Ottawa, the two former politicians are searching for common ground. They are co-chairs of a new initiative aimed at developing a long-term vision for Canada. 

The Coalition for a Better Future brings together more than 100 organizations across the private and not-for-profit sectors. Their goal? To help shape a plan for long-term inclusive, sustainable economic growth.

Raitt and McLellan know finding common ground among a wide range of interests won’t be easy. But they both see the need to give it a try.

“There's big change happening around us and we really need to be ready for it,” says Raitt. “And if part of being ready is making sure that we can scoop up as many voices in society to give an idea of what economic growth they think is needed, then I think that's going to be a very worthwhile experiment and one that will be welcomed.”

Listen to Goldy Hyder’s full conversation with Anne McLellan and Lisa Raitt.

Revealing conversations with influential innovators, entrepreneurs and leaders. Listen to more episodes here: thebusinesscouncil.ca/podcasts/

“We are still a startup because we are in a $3 trillion industry and it's changing,” says Swamy Kotagiri. “Every time there is change, there is opportunity.”

The Aurora, Ont.-based auto parts manufacturer knows it has to stay nimble to keep pace with the evolving needs of the industry. That’s especially true when it comes to the development of electric and autonomous vehicles.

Kotagiri points to Magna’s “rich heritage of innovation” as the foundation of its extensive research and development activities. But the company also maintains a raft of partnerships with universities, research institutions and fledgling companies. 

It’s a “symbiotic relationship”, he says. “They bring the idea, they bring the fundamental science, the tech or the concept. We can take that and find the right application.”

So what can customers expect from Magna when it comes to next-generation electric vehicles?

“I am very optimistic about the next steps that the industry will go through,” Kotagiri says. “This is just the beginning -- and the right beginning.”

Revealing conversations with influential innovators, entrepreneurs and leaders. Listen to more episodes here: thebusinesscouncil.ca/podcasts/

The CEO and co-founder of Kitchener, Ont.-based Bridgit Inc. says Canadians have a “level of discomfort” when it comes to taking risks, but it’s essential when scaling up a business.

She should know. Over the past eight years Brodie and co-founder Lauren Lake have built their construction software startup into one of Canada’s fastest-growing companies – one that more than doubled its revenue growth last year.

She’d like to see Canada embrace a similar startup mindset.

“There’s an opportunity for us to become much more aggressive when it comes to innovation,” she says. “We should really determine as a country what are our strengths, how do we double down on those strengths and then really become confident in them.”

Listen to Goldy Hyder’s conversation with Mallorie Brodie, including a discussion of what it’s like to be a woman working at the intersection of two male-dominated professions – construction and information technology.

Revealing conversations with influential innovators, entrepreneurs and leaders. Listen to more episodes here: thebusinesscouncil.ca/podcasts/

“Capitalism has lifted a lot of people out of poverty,” he says. “[But] at the same time, I think it's quite obvious that there is some collateral damage.” 

Cormier points to climate change and income inequality as examples of the myriad social challenges facing Canada. He says it’s time “to give capitalism a do-over” by ensuring that the post-pandemic recovery includes a strong focus on sustainable growth.

The pandemic brought home the importance of looking after one another, he says. In tandem with governments, businesses large and small stepped up to support their communities. Many people are now looking to corporate leaders to help tackle other pressing global issues.

“Citizens, employees, clients, suppliers will be key people … to remind all of us that we must try to see the future differently than it was before.”

In conversation with Goldy Hyder, Guy Cormier also talks about the importance of addressing mental health, and mentoring youth.

Revealing conversations with influential innovators, entrepreneurs and leaders. Listen to more episodes here: thebusinesscouncil.ca/podcasts/

But that’s not all. CAE designed online training programs to teach healthcare workers how to protect themselves from infection. It also started manufacturing air sanitizers for use in healthcare settings, workplaces and schools.

Now the company has pivoted again, opening Quebec’s first workplace vaccine centre. The goal is to vaccinate 50,000 people by August.

“In every war, industry has always played a key part as a partner to the government in fighting the fight and this one was no different,” says Marc Parent, president and CEO of CAE.

He says the company adapted quickly by drawing on the skills and creativity of its workforce. And he thinks a similar approach can benefit Canada as a whole.

“We have in Canada the ingredients to succeed,” he says. “At CAE, we invest in creating a culture where innovation can occur. I think the trick is, how do we do this as a country?”

Listen to Goldy Hyder’s conversation with Marc Parent to hear how CAE is using that same spirit of innovation to tackle climate change.

Revealing conversations with influential innovators, entrepreneurs and leaders. Listen to more episodes here: thebusinesscouncil.ca/podcasts/

For Bell Canada, the pandemic spurred a rapid increase in network capacity.  

“It was clear right away that people needed to communicate in a different way to keep the economy going,” says Mirko Bibic, president and CEO of Bell Canada and BCE. “Audio conferencing, video conferencing … we saw huge surges in usage of our network. We had to invest in more capacity, so we leaned in right away.”

Revealing conversations with influential innovators, entrepreneurs and leaders. Listen to more episodes here: thebusinesscouncil.ca/podcasts/

But the digital economy requires new skills. Is Canada’s workforce ready?

“There is this stat that 40% of work is going to be impacted by automation,” says Sabrina Geremia, VP and Country Manager of Google Canada. “The misnomer is it’s 40% of jobs.  It’s actually 40% of WORK. Which means every single person will have an aspect of their job that will [involve] working alongside digital tools … so every worker needs to continuously train as these tools evolve.”

For Geremia, lifelong learning is essential to helping Canadians adapt to an ever-evolving work environment.

Revealing conversations with influential innovators, entrepreneurs and leaders. Listen to more episodes here: thebusinesscouncil.ca/podcasts/

But Jon Love, founder and CEO of KingSett Capital, believes Canadian cities will bounce back after the pandemic.

The reason? Connection.

“We can connect digitally, but it's so different than connecting live,” he says.  “Relationships are the currency of business. And connection and relationships are built in person. They can be maintained digitally. But the fact is, new relationships or building relationships or the nuances of relationships are very tough online. You cannot schedule spontaneity and creation.”

Revealing conversations with influential innovators, entrepreneurs and leaders. Listen to more episodes here: thebusinesscouncil.ca/podcasts/

What will it take to build a stronger, healthier and more resilient economy after the pandemic?

In a timely conversation at the Canadian Club Toronto, Goldy Hyder discusses the path forward with Monique Leroux, Chair of the Industry Strategy Council, Mark Little, President and CEO of Suncor Energy and Darryl White, CEO of BMO Financial Group.

Revealing conversations with influential innovators, entrepreneurs and leaders. Listen to more episodes here: thebusinesscouncil.ca/podcasts/

On today’s podcast, Senior Vice President of Policy, Robert Asselin, walks us through the framework, and discusses why it’s needed now more than ever.

Revealing conversations with influential innovators, entrepreneurs and leaders. Listen to more episodes here: thebusinesscouncil.ca/podcasts/

Since then he’s been finding creative ways to connect with employees and clients, while developing solutions to help the country respond to the economic and health crisis.

How do you stay agile as a leader in a world of disruption?  What role will innovation play in helping Canada rebuild?  And what needs to happen to ensure the future workforce has the training and skills the country needs?

Claude Guay joins us with his unique insight and perspective.

Revealing conversations with influential innovators, entrepreneurs and leaders. Listen to more episodes here: thebusinesscouncil.ca/podcasts/

She is also a Director of the BlackNorth Initiative and a founding member of the Black Opportunity Fund.  And she is a passionate advocate for diversity and inclusion.

This summer, over 200 business leaders gathered to participate in the BlackNorth Summit, making commitments to address anti-Black racism in their workplaces.  

But change doesn’t happen overnight.

What do companies need to do to keep the momentum going over the coming months and years?

As we start a new season of Speaking of Business, Jaqui Parchment joins us to talk about how to bring about change, the importance of mentorship, and why businesses need to move from inclusion to creating a sense of belonging in the workplace.

Revealing conversations with influential innovators, entrepreneurs and leaders. Listen to more episodes here: thebusinesscouncil.ca/podcasts/

Over the past few months we’ve heard from many business leaders as they have responded to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Guests on this podcast have told us how they have overcome unique challenges and we’ve heard about the many ways corporate Canada has supported communities through the crisis. 

Today, in our final podcast of the season, we’re continuing on the theme of leadership and resilience … but this time the story is much more personal.

Ten years ago Lisa Lisson was named President of Federal Express Canada – the first woman and the first Canadian to head the company.

She’d worked her way from the ground floor to the corner office – but just as her career was catching fire, she suffered a devastating personal loss that would have frankly stopped many people in their tracks. Instead, Lisa channelled her grief into an inspiring memoir and has gone on to help countless others deal with life’s challenges.

Revealing conversations with influential innovators, entrepreneurs and leaders. Listen to more episodes here: thebusinesscouncil.ca/podcasts/

Revealing conversations with influential innovators, entrepreneurs and leaders. Listen to more episodes here: thebusinesscouncil.ca/podcasts/

Revealing conversations with influential innovators, entrepreneurs and leaders. Listen to more episodes here: thebusinesscouncil.ca/podcasts/

Revealing conversations with influential innovators, entrepreneurs and leaders. Listen to more episodes here: thebusinesscouncil.ca/podcasts/

Revealing conversations with influential innovators, entrepreneurs and leaders. Listen to more episodes here: thebusinesscouncil.ca/podcasts/

Revealing conversations with influential innovators, entrepreneurs and leaders. Listen to more episodes here: thebusinesscouncil.ca/podcasts/

Revealing conversations with influential innovators, entrepreneurs and leaders. Listen to more episodes here: thebusinesscouncil.ca/podcasts/

Revealing conversations with influential innovators, entrepreneurs and leaders. Listen to more episodes here: thebusinesscouncil.ca/podcasts/

Revealing conversations with influential innovators, entrepreneurs and leaders. Listen to more episodes here: thebusinesscouncil.ca/podcasts/

Revealing conversations with influential innovators, entrepreneurs and leaders. Listen to more episodes here: thebusinesscouncil.ca/podcasts/

Revealing conversations with influential innovators, entrepreneurs and leaders. Listen to more episodes here: thebusinesscouncil.ca/podcasts/

Revealing conversations with influential innovators, entrepreneurs and leaders. Listen to more episodes here: thebusinesscouncil.ca/podcasts/

Revealing conversations with influential innovators, entrepreneurs and leaders. Listen to more episodes here: thebusinesscouncil.ca/podcasts/

Revealing conversations with influential innovators, entrepreneurs and leaders. Listen to more episodes here: thebusinesscouncil.ca/podcasts/

Revealing conversations with influential innovators, entrepreneurs and leaders. Listen to more episodes here: thebusinesscouncil.ca/podcasts/

Revealing conversations with influential innovators, entrepreneurs and leaders. Listen to more episodes here: thebusinesscouncil.ca/podcasts/

Revealing conversations with influential innovators, entrepreneurs and leaders. Listen to more episodes here: thebusinesscouncil.ca/podcasts/

Revealing conversations with influential innovators, entrepreneurs and leaders. Listen to more episodes here: thebusinesscouncil.ca/podcasts/

Revealing conversations with influential innovators, entrepreneurs and leaders. Listen to more episodes here: thebusinesscouncil.ca/podcasts/

Revealing conversations with influential innovators, entrepreneurs and leaders. Listen to more episodes here: thebusinesscouncil.ca/podcasts/

Revealing conversations with influential innovators, entrepreneurs and leaders. Listen to more episodes here: thebusinesscouncil.ca/podcasts/

Revealing conversations with influential innovators, entrepreneurs and leaders. Listen to more episodes here: thebusinesscouncil.ca/podcasts/

Revealing conversations with influential innovators, entrepreneurs and leaders. Listen to more episodes here: thebusinesscouncil.ca/podcasts/

Revealing conversations with influential innovators, entrepreneurs and leaders. Listen to more episodes here: thebusinesscouncil.ca/podcasts/

Revealing conversations with influential innovators, entrepreneurs and leaders. Listen to more episodes here: thebusinesscouncil.ca/podcasts/

Revealing conversations with influential innovators, entrepreneurs and leaders. Listen to more episodes here: thebusinesscouncil.ca/podcasts/

Revealing conversations with influential innovators, entrepreneurs and leaders. Listen to more episodes here: thebusinesscouncil.ca/podcasts/

Revealing conversations with influential innovators, entrepreneurs and leaders. Listen to more episodes here: thebusinesscouncil.ca/podcasts/

Revealing conversations with influential innovators, entrepreneurs and leaders. Listen to more episodes here: thebusinesscouncil.ca/podcasts/

Revealing conversations with influential innovators, entrepreneurs and leaders. Listen to more episodes here: thebusinesscouncil.ca/podcasts/

Revealing conversations with influential innovators, entrepreneurs and leaders. Listen to more episodes here: thebusinesscouncil.ca/podcasts/

Revealing conversations with influential innovators, entrepreneurs and leaders. Listen to more episodes here: thebusinesscouncil.ca/podcasts/

Revealing conversations with influential innovators, entrepreneurs and leaders. Listen to more episodes here: thebusinesscouncil.ca/podcasts/

Revealing conversations with influential innovators, entrepreneurs and leaders. Listen to more episodes here: thebusinesscouncil.ca/podcasts/

Revealing conversations with influential innovators, entrepreneurs and leaders. Listen to more episodes here: thebusinesscouncil.ca/podcasts/

The company supplies more than a half a million growers around the world with everything from fertilizer and seed, to the latest digital tools that increase crop production.

Chuck is hardly your stereotypical CEO - he's a die hard heavy metal fan! Yep, a metal head. Still walks around town in a Metallica t-shirt. He wakes up every morning at 4am to write in his journal. And he doesn't golf, he shoots! 

In today's episode, Chuck talks about his optimism for Canada and Canadians, why the fight against climate change is a great business opportunity, and the importance of prioritizing home life and family.

 Follow us on Twitter, join our mailing list, or visit our website.

Revealing conversations with influential innovators, entrepreneurs and leaders. Listen to more episodes here: thebusinesscouncil.ca/podcasts/

TransAlta started with a single hydro generating station more than a century ago. It now operates more than 70 power plants in Canada, the United States, and Australia.

Dawn is a fascinating, introspective leader who really speaks her mind - and that makes for one hell of an interview.

In this episode she opens up about her humble childhood, how she and her husband built their family through adoption, and why despite her success, she still considers herself a lousy leader. Dawn has strong opinions about Canada’s energy future, the ever-shifting regulatory environment, and what it will take for men and women to truly share the leadership podium in business.

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Revealing conversations with influential innovators, entrepreneurs and leaders. Listen to more episodes here: thebusinesscouncil.ca/podcasts/

Stephan knows all about risk and reward. In 1995, he sold his car and took out a second mortgage to start the company. Since then, he’s faced bankruptcy four times, nearly losing his home in the process. But thanks to Stephan’s incredible entrepreneurial spirit, the company today is worth more than $10 billion.

In this episode we’ll talk about Stephan’s early years as a baseball umpire, his illicit high school business, and the number of fugitives on the island of Montreal.

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Revealing conversations with influential innovators, entrepreneurs and leaders. Listen to more episodes here: thebusinesscouncil.ca/podcasts/

Victor grew up in a tough inner-city neighbourhood, the child of working-class immigrants. One of his earliest jobs was hanging pork bellies in a meat-packing plant. Humble beginnings for the man who now leads one of Canada’s largest financial institutions.

Our conversation touches on the kindness of strangers, the mentors who shaped his career, and how there’s no room at Victor’s bank for big egos and swinging for fences. Plus: why one of Canada’s top bankers makes a trip to Disney World every year.

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Revealing conversations with influential innovators, entrepreneurs and leaders. Listen to more episodes here: thebusinesscouncil.ca/podcasts/

Pelmorex has more than 60 million users around the world, with operations and services that go far beyond local weather forecasts. Sam’s personal journey is a story you won’t want to miss.

Born in Ohio, he first made his mark in this country as head of Google Canada. Then, in 2017, he joined Pelmorex, succeeding founder Pierre Morrissette as CEO.  Sam has never been afraid to change things up and take big risks. We’ll talk about that. We’ll also explore the reasons behind his decision to apply for Canadian citizenship, and how and why he overcame his introverted nature.

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Revealing conversations with influential innovators, entrepreneurs and leaders. Listen to more episodes here: thebusinesscouncil.ca/podcasts/

Sun Life is one of the world’s top insurance companies, and Dean is one of Canada’s most decorated CEOs. He was Ivey Business Leader of the Year in 2018, CEO of the Year in 2017, and Top New CEO in 2014.

But the path of Dean’s career wasn’t inevitable. In this episode, we’ll hear how a much-loved hobby nearly led him in a different direction. We’ll also talk about Sun Life’s strategy to stay ahead at a time of digital transformation, and why it’s so important for Canadians to match the accelerate “clock speed” of business in the United States and Asia.

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Revealing conversations with influential innovators, entrepreneurs and leaders. Listen to more episodes here: thebusinesscouncil.ca/podcasts/

John was a 22-year-old student at the University of Waterloo when he started D2L. Fast forward two decades and the technology he created is helping millions of customers around the world in schools, colleges, universities, government and business.  

In this episode we’ll hear how a young man with a dream helped launch a learning revolution.  

We’ll also talk about John’s biggest entrepreneurial regret – and the mistake that almost cost him the company. 

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Revealing conversations with influential innovators, entrepreneurs and leaders. Listen to more episodes here: thebusinesscouncil.ca/podcasts/

Before I sat down with Darryl I talked with a lot of his friends and colleagues. They all described him as a generous and thoughtful leader with a fierce competitive edge. He became CEO at a time of intense disruption in banking, while facing incredible adversity at home.

In this wide-ranging interview he shares his outlook on competitiveness, global trade, and the role of purpose in business.

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Revealing conversations with influential innovators, entrepreneurs and leaders. Listen to more episodes here: thebusinesscouncil.ca/podcasts/

Linamar is a true Canadian success story. Linda’s father, a refugee from Hungary, started the company as a one-man machine shop in his basement in the mid-1960s. Today, it’s a diversified manufacturer with 61 plants around the world and revenues closing in on $10 billion a year. In this episode we talk about Linda’s path to the C-suite, the challenges she faced in her early years as CEO, and the lessons she’s learned along the way about life and leadership.

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Revealing conversations with influential innovators, entrepreneurs and leaders. Listen to more episodes here: thebusinesscouncil.ca/podcasts/

Goldy Hyder is President and CEO of the Business Council of Canada. Before taking on his current role, Goldy was CEO of Hill+Knowlton Strategies Canada. Earlier in his career he served as Chief of Staff to Catherine's father, The Right Honourable Joe Clark.

In this episode we discuss Goldy’s childhood as an Indian-born Calgarian, the experiences that have shaped his life and career, and Canada’s changing political and business landscape.

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Revealing conversations with influential innovators, entrepreneurs and leaders. Listen to more episodes here: thebusinesscouncil.ca/podcasts/

Calin was just five years old when his parents fled the Communist regime in Romania and settled in Montreal – an experience that profoundly shaped his identity and values. As you’ll hear, his dedication to the success of his company – and the country – is unshakeable.

I spoke with Calin in April, prior to news of the company’s Air Transat takeover bid. But the deal reflects many of the themes of today’s podcast, including Calin’s approach to leadership, calculated risk, and competition.

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Revealing conversations with influential innovators, entrepreneurs and leaders. Listen to more episodes here: thebusinesscouncil.ca/podcasts/

In just five years, Wealthsimple has grown to more than four billion dollars in assets. And shortly after our conversation, the company announced another big funding round – the latest step on the road to an eventual public stock offering.

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Revealing conversations with influential innovators, entrepreneurs and leaders. Listen to more episodes here: thebusinesscouncil.ca/podcasts/

In this episode, Alex shares his views on family, on leading in tough times, and on the fight to protect Canada’s place in the global energy market.

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Revealing conversations with influential innovators, entrepreneurs and leaders. Listen to more episodes here: thebusinesscouncil.ca/podcasts/

Today he leads the Canadian operations of the world's largest chemical producer. He brings a truly international perspective to his role at BASF Canada, but as you'll hear, he has also developed a strong personal connection to this country. And he has some equally strong opinion about Canada's place and potential in the global economy.

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Revealing conversations with influential innovators, entrepreneurs and leaders. Listen to more episodes here: thebusinesscouncil.ca/podcasts/

Mining has traditionally been seen as a tough, gruff and hardnosed industry, but Don himself doesn’t fit any stereotype. In fact, his reputation as one of the most admired CEOs in Canada’s resource sector owes a lot to the care he consistently shows for his family, employees, country, and the global community.

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Revealing conversations with influential innovators, entrepreneurs and leaders. Listen to more episodes here: thebusinesscouncil.ca/podcasts/

OMX is a tech startup that helps companies access procurement opportunities and measure their economic impact. Nicole grew up in a family-owned manufacturing business and learned the risks of entrepreneurial life first-hand. She ran her own manufacturing firm before launching OMX at the age of 27.

In this episode, Nicole shares the challenges of attracting top talent; her experience as a female founder; and why she believes technology has the potential to make us all more human.

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Revealing conversations with influential innovators, entrepreneurs and leaders. Listen to more episodes here: thebusinesscouncil.ca/podcasts/

Follow us on Twitter, join our mailing list, or visit our website

Revealing conversations with influential innovators, entrepreneurs and leaders. Listen to more episodes here: thebusinesscouncil.ca/podcasts/

Follow us on Twitter, join our mailing list, or visit our website

Revealing conversations with influential innovators, entrepreneurs and leaders. Listen to more episodes here: thebusinesscouncil.ca/podcasts/

Follow us on Twitter, join our mailing list, or visit our website

Revealing conversations with influential innovators, entrepreneurs and leaders. Listen to more episodes here: thebusinesscouncil.ca/podcasts/

Follow us on Twitter, join our mailing list, or visit our website

Revealing conversations with influential innovators, entrepreneurs and leaders. Listen to more episodes here: thebusinesscouncil.ca/podcasts/

Follow us on Twitter, join our mailing list, or visit our website

Revealing conversations with influential innovators, entrepreneurs and leaders. Listen to more episodes here: thebusinesscouncil.ca/podcasts/