It’s Not A Straight Line (Jordan Harding)

In this episode, Kevin Craig shares his remarkable journey across continents, careers, and personal transformations. Kevin's life has been anything but a straight line. From growing up in the UK and Muscat to establishing a call centre in Delhi, India to venturing into a scuba diving business, to building a thriving coaching business in Bahrain, and much more in between.

Kevin is a Master Certified Coach and a Professionally Certified Kinesiopractic. His engaging personality, combined with his cheekiness and unwavering courage, enables him to challenge his clients with tough love and guide them toward their highest potential. He is an Executive Coach to esteemed clients ranging from Government Entities and Royal Family Members to Senior Business Leaders throughout the Gulf in the GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council).

In a candid moment, Kevin reveals two major challenges he faced, including being caught up in a fraudulent investment scheme, where a shadow trading scam left him in immense debt. He recalls calling on a group of people in his network each morning by 9 am for nine months to get him through this incredibly challenging time. He also recounts a near-death experience resulting from being in a car accident, which propelled him onto a profound spiritual path. These personal trials have shaped his purpose, driving him to focus on his two purposes.

His external purpose is to raise the consciousness of leadership and his internal purpose is to hand his soul back in its best possible condition.

Kevin's company has received multiple consecutive awards for "Best Executive Coaching Company - Middle East," while he himself was recently honoured as one of the "Best 100 Global Coaching Leaders" by CHRO Asia.

Tune in to this thought-provoking episode as Kevin Craig shares his extraordinary life experiences, profound wisdom, and invaluable lessons on conscious leadership.

We're thrilled to welcome Wayne Hannah, the mastermind behind "Mindful'Ish" on YouTube and "@goodmorningassholes" on TikTok. Wayne is a humorist, content creator, firefighter, and veteran of the Canadian Armed Forces. After serving 20 years as an artillery soldier, Wayne's journey took him from counteracting Somali pirates to injecting humour into the "dry morning announcements" on a Naval Vessel during one of the longest at-sea deployments since World War II.

Wayne's passion for bringing laughter to others has earned him a massive online community of over 230,000 followers on TikTok. As a dedicated mental health advocate, Wayne's iconic "Good Morning Assholes" greeting is a reminder that we often treat ourselves more harshly than anyone else. He created this content during the pandemic, realizing the importance of self-compassion as he was his own biggest critic and he was saying hi to himself, referring to himself as an asshole.

Wayne Hannah, CD, holds the Canadian Forces' Decoration, awarded to members of the Canadian Armed Forces who have completed twelve years of service under specific conditions. While Wayne values his military experiences and the leaders he encountered, he also candidly discusses the deep-rooted belief of not being good enough that led to ongoing mental health struggles.

Join us as we dive into Wayne's incredible and diverse journey, exploring the challenges and rewards that have shaped his life. Don't miss this inspiring conversation filled with humour, resilience, and valuable insights.

Tune in now to It's Not A Straight Line!

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@Wayne.Hannah

Instagram - @goodmorningassholes

TikTok - @goodmorningassholes

Join us for an inspiring episode as I sit down with Matty and Alex Hill, better known as the Hill Brothers. Matty, Founder and Commissioner of Niagara Youth Flag Football (NYFF), is celebrated as one of Canada's top flag football coaches, having led teams to two World Championships. Meanwhile, Alex, a Sales Representative at RE/MAX Escarpment Realty and renowned for his dynamic career in real estate, shares his journey from High School and University Quarterback to Night Club Promoting before finding his stride and career in Real Estate.

Matty's passion for sports and community led him to establish NYFF, now boasting 1200 players per season and fostering championship-winning teams. Learn how Matty's personal challenges, including a shoulder injury, fueled his dedication to youth sports and community building.

Alex, recognized as one of RE/MAX Canada's Top 30 under 30, offers insights into his real estate career, including navigating challenges like rising interest rates and debt management. Discover how Alex's diverse experiences in promoting, investing, and running an Airbnb business have enriched his professional journey and client relationships.

From coaching triumphs to entrepreneurial pursuits, Matty and Alex embody resilience and leadership in their respective fields. Tune in to uncover their secrets to success and their vision for the future of youth sports and real estate in Niagara, Hamilton and beyond.

Follow Matty and NYFF's journey on Instagram @niagarayouthflagfootball and Alex's real estate and personal ventures @AlexHill14. For a glimpse into Alex's Airbnb cottage, visit @kawartha_lakescape.

Join me for an insightful and energizing conversation with Olympic Figure Skating champion and On-Air Broadcast Commentator, Kaetlyn Osmond.

In this episode, Kaetlyn shares the highs and lows of her incredible journey, from winning a silver in the Figure Skating Team Competition at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi to winning bronze in the Women’s Singles event and gold in the team competition at the 2018 Games in PyeongChang. Soon after her successful 2018 year, she retired in May of 2019 at the age of 25, which is something unique to high-performing athletes. You'll hear how Kaetlyn is exploring what’s next, taking Media Studies at the University of Alberta, coaching Figure Skating and working as a Broadcast Commentator with Skate Canada (Patinage Canada).

Born in Marystown, Newfoundland, she made history as the first Canadian to win the Women’s Singles Figure Skating Competition in 45 years.



Kaetlyn's story is one of determination, talent, and being intentional about her expectations and focusing on her performance, while blocking out the “noise”. This episode is a must-listen for all fans of sports, figure skating, media and career transitions.

Kaetlyn's Instagram @kaetkiss

On this episode of It’s Not A Straight Line, I’m joined by Clayton Peters, producer, writer, and long-time manager of his brother, global comedy icon Russell Peters. For almost 20 years, Clayton has been at the helm of Russell’s remarkable career, managing one of the longest and most successful runs in comedy, with Russell selling out venues worldwide since 2005.

Clayton’s journey into management is rooted in a promise made to his father on his deathbed when he told Clayton to take care of and always look out for his younger brother. After years of working in corporate jobs where he felt like a “square peg in a round hole,” Clayton transitioned into the comedy and entertainment space around the age of 40. From early work in international business and managing other acts alongside his brother like Joe Koy, to focusing fully on Russell’s career, Clayton’s path to manage one of comedy’s stars has been anything but a “straight line”.

In this episode, Clayton shares thrilling stories about their successes and challenges—especially navigating the pandemic, while not spending time in person together—and the time they defied critics by filling the Air Canada Centre (now Scotiabank Arena) despite being told they’d fail. Clayton’s insights are inspiring, and his advice to “not take it personally” is a lesson anyone can apply to life and career, and one he has learned in Entertainment.

We also discuss his thoughts on what would happen if Russell ever wanted to go with another manager and the life lessons Clayton now passes on to his own son. Recorded in-person in August 2024, this conversation is full of insights, honesty, and candid moments.

Plus, don’t miss seeing Russell’s upcoming Canadian and World Tour, Relax It’s Not That Serious, which hits Toronto this December 2024. For tour information, head to https://www.russellpeters.com/

What stood out about Eric's story - aside from his tenures at entertainment powerhouses like Cirque du Soleil and Just For Laughs - was the lessons he learned from the record label (Grenadine Records) that he started in University and ran for six years. If he could go back in time, he said he wouldn't have been so strict with what the record label had to be. They were "after" two sounds, and it restricted their progress. In the early days, Sam Roberts Band's manager came to them, and even though they loved the songs that would eventually be on Sam Roberts' first EP, they decided to pass on it. It didn't fit what they were trying to create. How often do we try to make things fit with who we think we should be? And who we think we should be is many times influenced by others and not ourselves.

Another key part of the conversation was Eric leaving Quebec to move to Vancouver for family reasons. He knew three people in Vancouver, was leaving a dream job and didn't know how his skillset would fit into Vancouver. He was even told that Vancouver is a "production town", not a content sales and distribution "town", and there are no jobs for you here. But Eric persevered and has gone on to launch "And Now Global", the Global VID Podcast and helps his hometown BIA program and facilitate the White Rock 5 Corners Buskers & Comedy Festival.

Eric is the founder of Greater Vancouver's international TV/Digital distribution & development consulting company "And Now Global" and brings over 15 years of content sales experience with major brands Just For Laughs and Cirque du Soleil, where his primary focus has been on Foreign TV & VOD sales (over 4000 TV hours licensed in over 100 countries).

Eric's LinkedIn profile

AndNowGlobal.com

On this episode of "It's Not A Straight Line," we are joined by Lauren Ammon, a former athlete turned mental performance coach. Lauren's journey in sports began at the young age of five when she was "thrown" into the pool with her older sisters and swam her first race. She went on to achieve remarkable successes, including winning a U.S. High School Championship, a top three finish in the Mid-American Conference, and swimming at the Division 1 NCAA Level while also serving as the Captain of the Swim Team at Eastern Michigan from 2003-2004.

As Lauren touched the wall for the final time in her last race in the NCAA, she realized that her 17-year athletic career had come to an abrupt end. She went on to complete a Master's degree at the University of Cincinnati and worked for over a decade in Human Resources, but she felt that something was missing. In 2019, Lauren received her professional coaching certification and founded her own practice called Performance Reimagined.

In this episode, Lauren shares with us how her coaching focus changed after a pivotal moment during the 2020 Olympics (which took place in 2021). She recalls watching as Simone Biles pulled out of competition, noticing the expression on Katie Ledecky's face during her gold medal win, and listening to Michael Phelps, the world's greatest swimmer of all time, speak about mental health and the need for athletes to have someone to listen to them. It was at that moment that Lauren knew she was being called to help athletes master the mental part of the game and perform at the highest level in all aspects of life's competition.

Join us as Lauren Ammon shares her inspiring story and insights on mental performance coaching for athletes of all ages and levels.

Learn more about Lauren Ammon and her coaching practice, Performance Reimagined, at https://www.performancereimagined.com/

Follow Lauren on Instagram: @mrslaurenammon and @performance_reimagined_

Lauren's LinkedIn profile

What amazed me about Andrew Case's story was how his entrepreneurial journey unfolded. After two years in Sales at Xerox, Andrew and his colleague from Xerox took the sales skills and training they learned and launched a sales consulting company.

They focused on going to small and medium-sized businesses and would offer sales training based on their Xerox sales training. Andrew and his partner would ask for a reasonable rate of pay (less than many of their competitors) and a percentage of the sales lift. When they would visit their clients six months later, they would find out that some of the businesses did not experience the increase in revenue that they initially expected.

They realized to be successful, they needed a way to assess the people on the sales team to make sure the right people were in the right roles. Even with excellent sales training, some people were not meant to be in those types of roles. This led Andrew to meet Dr. Herb Greenberg, learning about the Caliper profile and a long and successful career in talent assessment.

Andrew Case is the Country Manager of Talogy Canada, previously Caliper. The business has a Caliper Profile, which delivers critical insights to leaders and managers to put the right people in the right place at the right time. It is about assessing employees, leaders, athletes and personalities to find out how their strengths will fit into a new role, venture, spot on a professional sports team, etc.

Discover the inspiring journey of Monique Giroux, a former corporate banker turned soulful guide. Once the powerhouse behind sponsorship at a major Canadian bank, Monique's path took a surprising turn after nearly two decades in the corporate world. Now, as the founder of Flourish with Monique, she's dedicated to helping others find peace and purpose in life.

Join Monique as she shares her transformational story, from her prestigious role at CIBC to her recent adventures in Thailand, where she became a certified yoga teacher and learn how she embraced the practice of silent meditation in Ontario and the Netherlands. Through her experiences, including profound moments during Vipassana Meditations, Monique discovered a deeper calling to share her insights and wisdom with those struggling with anxiety and mental health challenges.

Explore Monique's journey of self-discovery and spiritual growth, including the profound impact of Vipassana meditation and the loving-kindness teachings of her mentor, Dhamma Sukha.

Delve into her newly released book, "Lost Intentionally," offering a roadmap for navigating life's twists and turns with intention and grace. The book was officially released on June 11th, and is available on Amazon - Lost Intentionally: The Inner and Outer Journey of a Spiritual Nomad https://a.co/d/3d2RwaG

You can learn more on Dhamma Sukha’s website - https://www.dhammasukha.org/ and the Plum Village Monastery https://plumvillage.org/about/plum-village 

Monique’s website is https://flourishwithmonique.com

Instagram - @flourishwithmonique      

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/moniquefgiroux/

Sherry Pedersen-Ajmani is a Principal and Organizational Development Consultant at Talent Craft, a Human Resources firm specializing in Organizational Design, Talent Management, and Culture Change. 

Sherry's trademarks include versatility, innovation and collaboration. She is known as a quick study who is agile and credits that agility to her move to Japan when she was 18 years old. She is a graduate of Sophia University in Tokyo, has an MBA from the University of Toronto's Rotman School of Business, and has worked for Toyota, Maple Leaf Foods, and Walmart.

We chat about:

• moving to Japan at 18 and learning the language and fully immersing herself 
• the power of a networking meeting 
• redefining herself with an MBA, targeting a strategy role and deciding on another path
• career assessment and her own 1 year re-assessment 
• executive career transition and more! 

Mark Drager and I get "real" quick - something he does best. If you've ever felt like you're not enough, this episode is for you. Mark is the host of the podcast - "We Do Hard Things with Mark Drager", his YouTube channel has over 25,000 subscribers and counting, and he founded Phanta Media taking it from $0 to a 7-figure revenue per year business. On today's episode, we discuss: how he launched Phanta Media; why running the branding and creative agency has been anything but a straight line; his podcast, "We Do Hard Things with Mark Drager"; and the strategies he uses to feel worthy. Believe it or not, with all Mark's successes, he still wakes up some days not feeling good enough or that he has to prove himself.

Michael Rossi was the valedictorian of his graduating class at Ivey Business School yet graduated without a job. As his classmates went on to highly respected companies, Michael wanted to pursue his passion and find a role in sports and business. After stints with the NHL and Nestle Canada, Michael went on to have an 18-year career with adidas Canada, where he ultimately became President of adidas Canada before the age of 40.

After 15 years at adidas, Michael reflected and started to find a new passion for Coaching. He completed his Coaching Certification (Certified Professional Co-Active Coach) and in 2020, he announced he would leave his post at adidas, the following year. Michael is an executive leadership coach, the founder of Voce Leadership, Speaker, and Board Member of the Terry Fox Foundation. He enthusiastically believes "Everyone has a voice, and truly discovering yours leads to a life of fulfillment and purpose."

Voce Leadership website
Michael Rossi LinkedIn

Show notes:

• 1:00 - Michael's job through high school was the Blue Jays batboy. He was there during the 1992 and 1993 World Series Championships
• 3:10 - The potential Michael saw in himself at a young age
• 7:00 - If you choose experiences and jobs where you can learn and grow... it won't backfire
• 7:40 - His corporate career - the first ~25 years
• 8:00 - Getting on board with change 
• 13:30 - The importance of culture
• 18:00 - Leaving Adidas and starting Voce Leadership, reflecting on 15 years, and connecting with his purpose
• 24:30 - Why Voce Leadership 
• 29:45 - The Terry Fox Foundation and what philanthropy means to Michael's life
• 36:45 - Purpose and why someone who has a "voice" and wants to give something to the world, must do it 
• 40:00 - Is there an impact you're focusing on for the remainder of 2022
• 43:30 - How do you regulate and keep stress and pressure "at bay"
• 46:00 - Where can people connect with you? 
• 48:00 - It's actually the name in front of the title that matters

Founder and steward of the Dovetail community where she curates experiences for women entrepreneurs as well as building a very special community for these women.

She’s an entrepreneur, a speaker, community builder and podcast host of the “Think About This” podcast.

Show notes:

• 2:00 - Early career ideas, thoughts about travelling the world, and teacher’s college
• 3:00 - early signs of entrepreneurship and building mini-business initiatives as a young adult
• 6:00 - the idea that you can travel the world and have friends in different countries and learn new things. Working and living all over the world in her 20s and early 30s.
• 9:45 - the book “a year of yes” - “I feel like that was my life for a bit” and skydiving in New Zealand. 5 times at 10,000 feet in New Zealand
• 11:00 - did any of those experiences scare you... jumping out of a plane over New Zealand for example
• 15:40 - "It's easy to get stuck" and the feeling of "stuckness" and the same old pattern
• 18:50 - things changed for me when I stopped waiting for that "one moment" that would change "my life". "Home is within me." 
• 23:30 - giving her entrepreneurial journey a fair shot. The start of Dovetail 
• 26:00 - how the Dovetail community started to build momentum
• 33:00 - where you can find out more information about Alexis and Dovetail  - Instagram @Alexis.Dovetail and @DovetailCommunity; website - CampTailwind.com
• 34:15 - advice from Alexis on building cool communities and how to start!
• 37:45 - Is there something you do to regulate stress, pressure and your mental health?
• 42:20 - what is your focus or 1 goal for 2022 - starting a camp for girls and young women is a future goal

@Alexis.Dovetail
@CampTailwind
www.camptailwind.com

Rob Thompson has spent time with major entertainment conglomerates like The Walt Disney Company and the National Football League. In his early 20s after playing Lineman on his College Football team, Rob launched a Football Recruitment Agency based in the NorthEast U.S. He sold the agency within 18 months and says he was taken advantage of and his biggest piece of advice is to make sure you have mentors that have been "there" before, who you trust. He was instrumental in building NFL Flag and Grassroots programs globally, and it all started by volunteering for an NFL Flag event in the early 90s. He is the founder of ConnexSports, works in Athletic and Economic Development at the University of New Haven, and wrote the book "Sports Dream Job Playbook (How To Land A Dream Job If Your Dad Doesn't Own The Team)".

Show Notes: 

• 1:50 - Rob's lifestyle and how it has changed over time (working out, his relationship with alcohol, entertaining clients)
• 6:00 - early days, from a College Football Player to Coaching to launching a Football Recruiting Agency (1991) 
• 10:30 - find mentors and people that you trust who have been there before
• 13:00 - NFL Flag (a chance encounter in Biddeford, Maine) and how volunteering can be the way "in" for a lot of people who want to work in the business of sports
• 18:45 - some of the big lessons from working at Disney, and mentorship from the President (at the time) of ABC News
• 22:30 - careers not being a straight line and linear careers, Rob's real estate projects
• 25:45 - regrets - I wish I had the opportunity to work with Disney and the NFL earlier in my career
• 30:00 - What's Rob up to now?

Twitter and Instagram @RobThompsonLife and LinkedIn - Rob Thompson
Website - www.myconnexsports.com

After practicing law for a couple of years, Oliver J. Gleeson knew he needed to make a change. He didn't want to wake up 10 years later, miserable with his career.  

Oliver quit his job at the law firm and set off on his travels, ending up in Japan and in his words, he was living the perfect life! After spending some time with ex-Pats he realized he enjoyed travelling but wanted to get back to Canada. 

Oliver accepted a role at Second Dimension International Marketing, joining a 7-person event marketing firm. Over 14 years, Oliver would rise to the position of Executive Vice-President and Corporate Counsel. Even though it was 14 years, Oliver said it was like working for 7 different companies as they continually evolved and his responsibilities changed. Oliver is currently the President of Salient Map Executive Consultancy, which provides Executive Consulting, Coaching and Training for privately-owned companies that believe they are great at what they do, but not great at growing their business (and don’t possess the internal ability to fix it themselves).

Recently he decided to add a new offering and made coaching early career professionals a key part of his business. Oliver's goal is to impact 10 million early career professionals with the belief that - "Wherever you are in your career, you can think, act and perform like a C-level executive right now."

You can follow or connect with Oliver on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/olivergleeson/

Show notes: 

• 1:30 - 3 Universities in 3 different provinces… early education and playing College Football
• 9:10 - Law and why go to Law School
• 10:45 - Practicing Law and the decision that it may not be the path for Oliver
• 14:30 - “get out…get out while you can [from your career practicing law]”
• 15:15 - making the commitment and decision to go travel the world; 21 Countries
• 16:05 - “it showed me I had value” - a conversation with the law firm’s Sr. Partner
• 20:50 - returning from Japan and embarking on a career with a 7-person company at the time called SDI Marketing (formerly Second Dimension International)
• 27:10 - was there something that stood out over the 14 years at SDI that helped you continue to grow and evolve? 
• 29:30 - launching an event in Dohar and pitching for Shell to become a key partner 
• 33:10 - Oliver's focus on supporting early career professionals and his passion for helping others grow and wanting to impact 10 million early career professionals. 
• 39:30 - stepping out of your comfort zone. As a lawyer by training, were you always a natural speaker?  

"Take a leap of FAITH and have a bit of FUN with it"? That's the mantra Matt Haze follows. From growing up in Cleveland to a short stint in L.A., a few years in New York, and now Puerto Rico. 

Matt is the Host and Creator of the "Meet a Stranger" podcast, a content & podcast consultant and the voice behind the @30RockTree Twitter account (a first-person perspective of the famous Rockefeller Christmas Tree).

Twitter and Instagram - @MattHaze
Meet A Stranger podcast link

 Tony Chapman built two internationally renowned communications and marketing agencies, founded a research firm, and was one of the youngest to be inducted into the Marketing Hall of Legends. After selling his remaining business interests, transitioning to conference host and speaker, and seeing those appearances dry up in the early days of the pandemic, Tony launched the top-ranked podcast, Chatter That Matters podcast.

You may remember some of his agency's (Capital C) award-winning campaigns like Bring Home the Stanley Cup with Mark Messier and Kraft Hockeyville.

Tony explains his confidence in the episode and why he believes we should approach life with conviction, take the "im" out of impossible, the "un" out of uncertainty, and the "in" out of insecurity.

Tony Chapman on LinkedIn
Chatter That Matters

After his college football career and University undergraduate degree, Andy Vasily and his wife moved to Hiroshima, Japan. What they thought would be a six-month adventure turned into ten years in Japan and over 25 years working globally.

Andy is a cognitive coach, educator, workshop facilitator and the host of the Run Your Life Podcast (200+ episodes). 

What amazed me about Andy is his understanding of "surrendering to his own path." He isn't religious, but he believes in the power of the universe. I was also struck by Andy's comment - "the attempt to escape pain is what creates more of it."

In this episode, we speak about Andy's life and how his experiences have revealed to him the beauty of the human spirit. We also dig into Andy's family challenges with mental health and addiction, as well as an accident that nearly took his life while at a kid's soccer tournament in Cambodia.

Andy Vasily on LinkedIn
runyourlifepodcast.com

Jennifer Nunes is the definition of someone with strength, #resiliency, #vulnerability and self-awareness.

On this episode, Jen states “This is our upbringing too...this is intergenerational stuff where we are taught [to be] stoic and strong, and being non-emotional is strength and the reality is actually quite the opposite. It's when we get in touch [with ourselves] and the truth is, we need to be honest with ourselves. We can't be self-aware and grow, if we aren't honest with ourselves."

Jennifer is a Registered Social Worker, Author and Public Speaker. She is the founder of Nourished Soul Therapy - a collective of independent clinicians that work collaboratively to provide comprehensive, evidence-informed care to clients across Ontario with virtual therapy and counselling services. 

Jennifer’s life was turned upside down after the birth of her son. Not once but twice. And not for a few days but for months and years. Her son is healthy, in school and doing well but my heart sank when she had to ask the Nurse “should I be preparing for end-of-life arrangements for my son”. The response she received was - I wish I could assure you one way or the other but I cannot.

Jennifer will be releasing her first book in March 2023 and it will be called “Making it to Monday” which has an important dual meaning.

Jennifer, you are an inspiration. Thank you for sharing your story, helping others with their journey and being a “bright” light. 

Have you ever jumped in “ice-cold” water…

“I am a big believer in jumping in the cold water and letting it warm up around you… but I won’t lie, there were sleepless nights" - Jason on jumping into entrepreneurship from the corporate world.

Jason is a President, Leadership Coach and Professional Speaker that works with companies on their talent strategy. He believes in strategy to results through people.

With all the “apparent” talent management and hiring issues out there, this is a must-listen as Jason’s business, Predictive Success Corporation has a two-question survey that can help you better understand who you are and make more insight-driven hiring decisions.

I was a bit skeptical at first as I’ve done many of these surveys, and it was ONLY two questions, but it “nailed me” and was accurate.

Jason has three boys, uses meditation to ground himself and makes decisive, quick decisions (he admits sometimes that has been positive and sometimes not so much).

Jason on LinkedIn

This is my inaugural "solo" episode. After 29 episodes, I reflect on the learnings, advice and thoughts that have been generously and vulnerably shared with you and me.

From guest to guest, there have been consistent themes: 

1. Have patience and trust the process
2. Develop grit, persistence and focus
3. Be authentic to self

Almost each of the 29 episodes is referenced in this insight-packed 30 minutes.

After close to ten years working at marketing agencies, John Sime decided he wanted something new. Him and one of Canada's leading ad agencies "broke up" only a month before the global pandemic, he was in for a lengthy job search during a time that challenged all of us.

John wanted to break into another industry and he stayed true to that desire, ignoring the external "noise." Many people asked him - why don't you just go back to being an Account Director at an agency. You're good at it they said. 

John admitted that at one point, you start thinking you might be wrong thinking you can break into a new industry. It's kind of like you saying the "sky is green" and everyone saying "no John, it's blue."

He is now at Shopify Capital, a division of Shopify - one of Canada's most valuable businesses. 

We discuss why three years later, John wanted a mulligan on the podcast. Why he felt "guarded" when answering my questions the first time around? He commented - "what scares me the most is talking about myself... the last two years have been pretty humbling and turbulent. 

John on LinkedIn

Chris Coulter co-led a successful business that went bankrupt after 18 years, he tragically lost his 14-year-old daughter to mental health, and he is the Executive Director of "How Are You Feeling?" and Owner of the Finish Line Group. 

Chris' life mission is to scale "How Are You Feeling?" to get it into as many schools as possible. He knows the importance of kids being able to understand their mental health, and his organization uses TV shows and movies that kids will relate to for educational purposes. 

Sumerlee Office Solutions reached $35 million in revenue before the financial crisis of 2008/2009, which was the catalyst that forced him and his partner to declare bankruptcy. From $2 million in revenue to $35 million, to winding down its operations.   

Closer to the end of the episode, I asked Chris an important question and he kindly answered. How do we approach someone who has just lost a close friend, daughter, son, father, mother or sibling to mental health? 

Chris Coulter on LinkedIn
HowAreYouFeeling.org

Andrea Shaw is the owner and founder of TTG Canada, one of Canada's leading sponsorship and marketing agencies. She started TTG (formerly TwentyTen Group) around her kitchen table after working as the Senior Vice-President Sponsorship, Sales, and Marketing at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics and Paralympic Games. 

What strikes me about Andrea is her passion for partnerships, sports marketing and her ability to stay true to her heart's desire. 

Andrea was diagnosed with colon cancer shortly after launching her second business, and she had to decide whether to wind down the operations or keep going. She chose to push forward, and since day 1 of her career, Andrea has decided to challenge herself and face adversity head-on.

Our discussion ranges from her early career to the Olympic Games, a tragedy in the early days of the Games, uniting a Country, and bringing her learnings from the Olympics to the Canadian sponsorship industry.

Andrea Shaw LinkedIn Profile
TTGCanada.com

Kevin Rempel made a major shift at the end of 2022. He sold his beloved business, the Sledge Hockey Experience, shifted his speaking business, started to build new training programs, and moved from Canada to the Dominican Republic.

What strikes me about Kevin is his mindset and his ability to say "yes" to things that will improve his life. When speaking with his sister about how good he felt on vacation in the Dominican Republic, he said - I wish I could live here all the time. Her response was -  well, why don't you? And that's when Kevin thought - well, what's stopping me?! 

Our discussion ranges from Kevin "letting go" of the Sledge Hockey Experience,  the challenges of moving to a new country, and his mindset as he faced setbacks.

Kevin is a 2014 Paralympic Bronze Medalist, a speaker, an expert on mental health, and an entrepreneur.  

Kevin Rempel on LinkedIn
KevinRempel.com

I sat down with Eduek Brooks, a Financial Educator & Coach and the Founder of Two Sides of a Dime. As an immigrant to Canada from Nigeria, Eduek completed her Master's degree in Chemical Engineering and has a certificate in Business Technology from the University of Waterloo.

From working in Engineering to Lifestyle Creep and finding herself in $47,000 of debt, Eduek takes us behind the scenes as to how she made a goal to pay off her debt in 3 years. As reported in the Toronto Star and other media outlets, Eduek paid off her debt in an incredible 20 months and she built a social media following as she showed others how she "hacked" savings and debt payments. From there, Eduek started educating and coaching people on how to pay down debt, money-saving tips, investing and more. Now it's her full-time business! Listen in as she explains why she never considered leaving an engineering career as a sunk cost, what being from Nigeria instilled in her, and her thoughts on budgeting.

You can follow Eduek on Instagram @twosidesofadime

On this episode, I had a captivating conversation with Igor Lukač, an inspiring entrepreneur who navigated life's challenges with resilience and determination. Igor shares his journey from fleeing the former Yugoslavia with his family during the tumultuous Yugoslav Wars to building a successful career in Canada.

After earning degrees in Engineering and Business from the prestigious Ivey Business School at Western University, Igor embarked on a path of entrepreneurship. From selling printers door-to-door in Niagara, Ontario, to owning a Marble Slab Creamery and founding Kingswood Engineers, Igor's entrepreneurial spirit has always burned bright.

What sets Igor apart is his unwavering composure and his embrace of failure as a stepping stone to success. His story is a testament to the power of perseverance and the importance of a positive mindset.

If you're in Burlington, Oakville, or Hamilton and need structural engineering expertise for your renovation project, visit https://www.kingswoodengineers.com/ and follow Kingswood Engineers on Instagram @kingswoodengineers for more insights and updates.

On this episode, I sat down with Chris Reynolds - the Co-Founder and Executive Chair of Investment Planning Counsel (IPC). When Chris co-founded IPC in 1996, he set out on a mission to help entrepreneurial financial advisors build better businesses. Since then, he has remained committed to this mission, which continues to be the focus at IPC, which was acquired by Canada Life in 2023.

Chris has spent over 25 years in the Finance and Investment industry, and he believes at the heart of any great business is a remarkable client experience. Chris is a life-long learner who is always learning from the best of the best, from within his industry, as well as outside/new perspectives.

Chris Reynolds is the Host of the "Turning The Page" Podcast, a big fan of live music and rock n' roll, and his former radio show on a popular Toronto radio station was syndicated across ten other stations. When asked what gets him "out of bed in the morning", he stated "it is the people that get me most excited!"

You'll hear why Chris is a huge advocate for entrepreneurship and why to him, there is no safer way to go.

Enjoy the episode!

Turning The Page Podcast - Spotify Link

Investment Planning Counsel - Website

On this episode of It’s Not A Straight Line, I was joined by Michael Downey, a leader who left his mark on Tennis in Canada. His career journey started far from the courts and it is anything but a straight line.

He is the former CEO of Tennis Canada and the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) in Britain, and currently serves as Chair of the Advisory Committee for the greater (a strategy consulting firm) and as a volunteer board director for Canada’s most successful community tennis hub.

Michael started his career in Consumer Packaged Goods Marketing and worked for Labatt, MLSE, Skydome, and Molson before a career pivot into tennis that would change the trajectory of the sport in Canada.

During his tenure at Tennis Canada, tennis pros like Milos Raonic, Bianca Andreescu, Denis Shapovalov, and Genie Bouchard broke through on the world stage, and there was a significant emphasis from Michael to fostering the grassroots development of the sport, add training facilities across the country, and secure key long-term partnerships

During the episode, Michael reflects on the lessons he learned early in his career, the challenges, and the moment when he joined the Toronto Raptors during their inaugural year.

We also discuss his cancer diagnosis, when Michael heard the words “you have cancer” twice in one day.

You'll hear behind-the-scenes stories from the LTA, including attending Wimbledon management meetings, sitting in the Royal Box, and seeing first-hand the tournament's focus on perfection.

This episode is filled with inspiring insights: from navigating career transitions and building resiliency, to Michael’s advice for anyone facing a job loss.

On Episode 46 of the It’s Not A Straight Line podcast, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Hugh Lawson, a business development expert, Vanier Cup football champion, and leadership advisor. As the Principal at Lawson Leadership Advisory, Hugh is a purpose-driven, people-centric leader who embodies the principles of Ikigai—finding the intersection of what the world needs, what you love, what you're good at, and what you can get paid to do.

During our conversation, Hugh shares his journey towards living a life of purpose, emphasizing the importance of making a positive impact while also earning a living. We delve into his experience as a University football player at Laurier, where he won the Vanier Cup, and how his successes have always been achieved through teamwork. We also explore his involvement in socially impactful companies like the grocery buying platform, Tre’dish, and how African proverbs have shaped his leadership philosophy.



With over 25 years of experience in business development, enterprise sales, and leadership, Hugh’s insights on resilience, relationship-building, and teamwork are invaluable. Join us as we discuss his pursuit of Ikigai, the wisdom he’s gained from his career, and his commitment to creating positive change in the world.

This episode is an exploration of grief and resilience with Dina Bell-Laroche, a Partner at Sport Law and the Founder of Grief Unleashed. Dina shares her journey through grief, triggered by the untimely passing of her younger sister Tracy (when Dina was 31 years of age).

You'll hear how Dina initially navigated her sister's death by trying to be stoic, brave and courageous, but found hope, meaning and a way forward through a deeper understanding of grief and death (and her studies in Thanatology). Dina helps unpack the non-linear nature of grieving, and her insights offer a refreshing perspective on living a meaningful and rewarding life.

As the driving force behind Grief Unleashed, Dina guides individuals in re-imagining their relationship with loss. Dina shares valuable advice and thoughts on coping with loss, especially during the challenging holiday season, drawing upon her experiences and expertise.

Beyond her work in grief support, Dina dives into her extensive career in high-performance sports. With a remarkable background as a media attache and press chief at numerous national and international events, including five Olympic Games, Dina brings a unique perspective on what it takes to perform at the highest levels.

A published author of "Grief Unleashed" and a parent of three, Dina's multifaceted life unfolds in this episode.

Proceeds from Dina's book sales contribute to bringing a Wind Phone to Ottawa through the Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundation. To learn more about the Wind Phone Project and contribute, visit this link.

Connect with Dina on Instagram (@grief.unleashed) and explore the transformative work of Grief Unleashed on their website.

Steven Fry's goal is "to be the wild card that ups the ante and redefines the game."

It wasn't an easy start for Steve. He was the youngest of 6 siblings and his family was just scraping by financially. His poor grades early in high school pointed toward a bleak future but a high school guidance councillor allowed him to take academic courses in grade 11 and Steve was determined to get the grades he needed to be accepted into University.

Through these early obstacles, Steve learned a thing or two about advocating for himself, negotiation and hard work. He worked two jobs to pay for University. 

Steve is the guy that was featured in Toronto Life's 2019 story - "Confessions of a Legal Pot Dealer". After University, he entered the world of health care and climbed the ladder at Shared Services West becoming the Vice-President of Operations. 

Bonus content from my conversation with Gavin Roth, Founder and Managing Partner of Gavin Roth + Associates. We discuss mental health, a topic he cares deeply about, and the advice he offers his children about careers and life. 

An interview with my sister, Allison Lukač. As a well-respected educator, Allison is always seeking opportunities to learn and challenge herself. She shares her advice and experiences on her way to becoming a full-time teacher and opens up about her year teaching abroad in Switzerland. After 5 years in a steady teaching role, Allison and her husband moved to Europe, shortly after their wedding. Many would have seen this as a risk but Allison explains her decision-making process and why this was something she felt so strongly about pursuing.

Matthew Logue is the co-founder of the greater, a marketing strategy consultancy with the goal of achieving new heights for businesses through purpose-led strategy. 50% of the agency's net profit is invested back into meaningful causes. 

After graduating from the Ivey School of Business at Western, Matt spent 4 years at Maple Leaf Foods and then took a chance on a small sponsorship agency to work with sports business legend Brian Cooper. 

Matt was continually promoted (over 10 years) to the position of Executive Vice-President and Chief Operating Officer of S&E Sponsorship Group. He played a significant role in quadrupling the size of the agency and had the opportunity to work with major properties like the NHL, Toronto Maple Leafs, Toronto Raptors, CFL and more. He had an impact on global deals like the Scotiabank Arena naming rights partnership and the Sun Life jersey patch on the Raptors uniform.  

Matt played a role in the sale of S&E to Dentsu Aegis Network and stepped down as President of MKTG Canada (the new agency name) in 2019. He explored different opportunities - even considered buying a restaurant - before co-founding the greater, which has a different type of agency model. 

Beyond work, Matt believes strongly in being on the front lines of not-for-profits. He's been a long-time volunteer with The 519, Sponsorship Marketing Council of Canada and other great organizations. 

You can find out more about his business at thegreater.ca

During the Northeast blackout of 2003, Pete Bombaci noticed something he hadn't seen in years. He observed people getting together for a BBQ, hanging out with their neighbours and relying on their community. Prior to the blackout and even up to the COVID-19 pandemic, Pete had been noticing that people were focused on themselves and even believed that they didn't need each other. 

While working as a bartender at Yonge & Eglinton in Toronto, Pete learned the power of human connection and relationships. He went onto work in Marketing and Sales at Molson Coors, then grew a "hilarious" moustache, and ran Movember Canada. When his five years at Movember came to an end, he decided if he didn't start the movement, known as the GenWell Project, he may regret it for the rest of his life. Check out this episode, and learn how Pete put up a website and just went for it!  

Marc Petitpas was seven courses short of earning his University degree. His honest acknowledgement about something that could have been perceived negatively likely built trust with the CEO of one of the world's biggest sports and entertainment companies, leading to becoming employee #1 at BMO Field a few years later.  Marc discusses lessons from his first job at McDonald's to a career in retail, sports and entertainment, real estate development and the launch of Marc Petitpas Business Coaching.  He believes that he is here to serve his employees, clients and customers. Marc wants to change the way executives and founders lead, and he wants to improve the state of mental health in the workplace.

In part 2 of our conversation, Matt Logue explains why volunteering is important to him and how helping out charities on the "front lines" can bring value and new perspectives.

We also speak about hiring transparency and why it can save you a lot of time and make sure the process is equitable. 

Michelle Robertson has spent 20+ years building and enhancing finance functions across multiple industries - media, events, not-for-profit and technology. As a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA, CA), Michelle always had what society deems as "that" well-respected finance job. She worked for top-tier companies such as PwC, the Globe & Mail and the PanAm Games, and thought climbing the ladder would lead to happiness and admiration. That wasn't the case.

From 2017-2020, Michelle had to overcome significant challenges - two job restructurings, divorce and losing her dog to her former partner. In her own words, "the universe" kept pushing her to do something new. 

In late 2020, Michelle launched her business as a Wealth & Money Coach - Ms. Money & Math. Her mission is to help people find, keep, grow and work confidently with money both personally and professionally. Follow her on Instagram @Ms.Money&Math!

A "can do" attitude and having the self-confidence that he will perform (if he can get his "foot in the door") has led Rishi to overcome career and personal challenges and thrive as a business professional, entrepreneur, speaker and coach. Rishi's life has included periods of family tension, dealing with high expectations at a young age, and re-invention as he balances his entrepreneurial interests while serving as an Associate Director at the Smith School of Business (Queen's University). Find out how Rishi Behari went from a Pre-med Student to a Psych grad, then Entertainment Commentator to Career Coach and Associate Director at a top-ranked Canadian University. 

In this episode, Dr. Alyssa Hayes opens up about the health, education and professional challenges that tried to get in between her and her goals. Alyssa would not let an early failure in University stop her from becoming a dentist; although it led her on the adventure of a lifetime where she would practice dentistry in New South Wales, Australia and subsequently face difficulties returning to Canada.

Alyssa now works for the federal government and has to consider millions of Canadians as she makes decisions on dental policy for Indigenous communities. Listen as Alyssa explains how she bounced back from career and health obstacles. 

Nicol Kalman (aka Ni) is the Recruitment Lead and Founder of aNIthing is Possible. After a degree in hospitality and tourism, Nicol got an offer to be a producer at an ad agency while bartending and decided to take the extra money and go for it. She spent the next 17 years in marketing at agencies and with one of the world's top brands, Coca-Cola. After declining an opportunity to become a partner at a multi-national ad agency, she realized that she wanted to market people she believed in rather than brands.

That led to resigning from the ad agency and working with her former boss to replace herself. Ni was able to put together several different gigs and after being told, she shouldn't go into recruiting and the name "aNIthing is Possible" would never fly, Ni went for it anyways. 

Ni is a born connector, authentic and real. She takes challenges head on and learned at a young age "not to go too deep on things" because you might not be here tomorrow.

Lara Brown is a multimillion-dollar sales girl, a mom, a breast cancer survivor and 2x Ironman! She has worked at Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment since 2003 as a leader on the Executive Suites Sales team.

Born in South Africa, Lara has been through more setbacks and triumphs than I can imagine. In 2016, as she was just learning how to navigate life as a single mother, Lara was diagnosed with Breast Cancer. She had no direct family history, did not eat red meat, and was very active.

After the diagnosis, Lara made a key decision to ask "why not me" instead of "why me"? Instead of feeling sorry for herself, she chose to jog to her appointments or do a spin class before them, walking into the Cancer Centre feeling strong. After being told she probably shouldn't run (as her energy would drop during treatment), she decided that she was going to do an Ironman.

16 months after being diagnosed, Lara Brown heard those words - "Lara Brown, you are an Ironman!"

This episode is with my buddy, John Sime - a proud native of Halifax, Nova Scotia. John shares his lessons, challenges and advice from a career that has included being in the Reserves, at a start-up (that didn't end with an IPO), ad agencies, and becoming a UI/ UX Strategist. One of my biggest takeaways from John was to plan for the plan not to go to plan. 

During this interview, Kevin wore a shirt that had Sledgendary emblazoned across the front. A nod to his sport, Sledge Hockey, and Kevin (IMO) is legendary!

After a terrible accident, Kevin was told he was an incomplete paraplegic and may never walk again. He was determined to show the world that there was another chapter to his story, and he walked almost one year to the day of his accident. Kevin went on to win Paralympic Bronze, founded and operates the Sledge Hockey Experience and speaks across the country. If you've ever struggled with re-inventing yourself or mental health, please listen and share this podcast with others who it could help. 

Angela Champ has been named one of Canada's top 20 Human Resources (HR) leaders on the HDR Global 100 and she's been recognized on the Most Inclusive HR Influencers List. As the President of Lean in Canada Vancouver, former Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) of Prospera Credit Union and Intact Insurance (Western Canada), Angela knows a thing or two about how to build high-performing teams. 

Her book titled "Squiggly Line Career" comes out in November 2020, and focuses on why you should think of your own "squiggly" line career as a positive. She speaks about her own career and how she applied to become a Director of HR with next to no Human Resources experience. 

What struck me most about Angela is how she has a little cheerleader in her head that has been there for as long as she can remember. It always says "go try this" and "give that shot"! Also, Angela is not afraid to fail or feel embarrassed. 

Angela also discusses that looking at the "squiggly line career'ist" is an excellent way to find great candidates from diverse backgrounds.

This is a must-listen as we navigate our careers and hire others.  

In this episode, Brad Furtney offers his thoughts on sales, networking and career management. He's one of the top sales and networking experts that I know, who is authentic, motivational and always looking to improve himself and those on his team.

After a successful 28 year career in beer, media, and technology, Brad had to dig deep to find his next role. He deservingly landed as a President overseeing a 50 person team, but the journey did not come without its challenges. Listen to this episode if you want to learn how to become a better colleague, leader and networker as you navigate the ups and downs of your career. 

This episode was recorded in late June 2020. 

In the face of risk - with a second child on the way and a spouse not working at the time - Bobby Sahni launched Ethnicity Matters.

Bobby is the Co-Founder and Partner of Ethnicity Matters, a multicultural marketing and advertising agency. He has been a pioneer in developing, executing and managing diversity and multicultural marketing initiatives for a number of top brands.

We discuss Bobby's career journey; what led to multicultural marketing (it happened in Sault Ste. Marie of all places!); his love for speaking; acting in commercials; entrepreneurship; his MBA; and his love for hockey and his Hockey Canada board appointment.

Michele Ferrari dropped out of University after a mental breakdown; in her first job, the males walked off the factory floor when she showed up; her family didn't always have enough money growing up... BUT Michele did not let her situation define her. In her own words "based on the rules it shouldn't have been possible... I am not supposed to be respected, I am not supposed to be listened to, I am not supposed to be significant in my field, and I AM because I never believed people when they told me that it wasn't possible."

Michele leads MF Consulting and has always believed that one individual can be the catalyst for monumental change. Some of the most rewarding years of her career were spent as a part of an executive team building a mid-sized travel firm into an organization recognized as one of the 50 Best Employers in Canada. Fourteen years later, Michele became the President of L(earn)2 Inc where she was able to live her purpose and also got to coach the 2010 Canadian Olympic Team on how to live a gold medal life.

Never one to shy away from a challenge, Michele jumped into a role in Digital Media in 2010 heading one of Canada's largest English portals, Sympatico.ca. 

Now as a Certified Professional Co-Active Coach (CPCC) and a certified administrator of The Leadership Circle Profile, Michele brings her knowledge gained from working with many of Canada’s leading companies to her clients at MF Consulting.

I am grateful that Michele chose to share her life story with us on this episode. Be sure to check it out!

Gavin Roth's resume reads like a dream career to many who aspire to work in sports and entertainment. He is the Founder and Managing Partner of Gavin Roth + Associates and an accomplished sales & marketing executive with over 25 years of success in the sports, entertainment and media industries. 

He started out working for two globally recognized ad agencies, before joining World Wrestling Entertainment in a marketing role. Gavin's career trajectory changed when the Head of WWE Canada asked him to take on the Director of Sales position. He didn't think 'sales' was for him, but he went on to work in revenue/sales roles for iconic Canadian properties like the CFL, Canadian Broadcast Consortium, Rogers Media and Golf Canada.

We also discuss his parents immigrating to Canada from South Africa, his leap into podcasting as the host of The Influencers of Sponsorship Marketing and the importance of relationship building/networking.

Andre Kaden Black had major music management at the age of 17 and signed his first record deal soon after. It was his first big break and difficult for him to fathom just how well his career was going at the time. He was on his way to the success and fame he had dreamed about until his band broke up soon after signing that record deal.

Whether it was too many egos, the stress of the music industry, or differing opinions from band members - the early taste of success in the highly competitive industry quickly vanished. 

Andre didn't let that stop him. He went on to tour with the likes of One Republic, Alicia Keys, Jason Mraz and others. He has also worked alongside countless other artists including multi-platinum artist Fefe Dobson (Island/Def Jam), Francesco Yates (Atlantic Records), and Walk Off The Earth (Columbia Records), and many others. 

When music isn't taking up his time, Andre is training to compete in his first Triathlon. Athletes have always inspired him and when he sets a goal, he is all in!

Check out this episode to learn about why Andre believes you need to be obsessed with your goals, have an insatiable work ethic and invest in yourself to achieve your goals in the competitive music industry.