The Inspire Podcast
Hosted by Bart Egnal, President & CEO of The Humphrey Group, this podcast aims to help listeners influence and lead others through effective speaking. Each episode features a guest who shares practical insights and stories on inspiring others in work and life. The first season includes perspectives from a former TOPGUN instructor, a port CEO, and the company's founder.
Episodes
S8 E8: Curiosity Over Fear: Leading in the Age of AI with Stéphanie Butt Thibodeau
In this episode of the Inspire Podcast, Bart Egnal sits down with Stéphanie Butt Thibodeau, EVP Talent and Corporate Affairs at iA Financial Group, to explore how leaders and organizations can embrace artificial intelligence while keeping people at the center of transformation.
She begins by sharing how AI has fundamentally reshaped her own work, helping her rethink long-established habits and in
S8 E 7: What Every Leader needs to Know about Challenging Conversations with Sandra Bekas
Every leader knows how to have conversations. Far fewer know how to lead them.
In this episode, Bart Egnal speaks with Sandra Bekas, Senior Learning and Development Manager at The Humphrey Group, about why conversations have become one of the most important leadership skills in today's workplace and how THG helps leaders prepare for and excel in these critical communication moments. Drawing on he
S8 E6: The Future of Communication Training: Where AI Meets Human Facilitation with Rachel Cossar
In this episode of the Inspire Podcast, Bart Egnal speaks with Rachel Cossar, co-founder and CEO of Virtual Sapiens, about how AI is transforming leadership communication training. Drawing on her own journey from the professional world of ballet to expert in non-verbal communication, Rachel explains how her experience in performance and body awareness led to the creation of an AI-powered communica
S8 E5: The Secret to Creating True Connection with Barry Moline
In this episode, Bart Egnal speaks with executive, author, and leadership expert Barry Moline about what it takes to create authentic human connection in an increasingly disconnected world.
Drawing on decades of leadership experience, including mediating high-stakes conflicts and leading organizations through crisis, Barry shares the lessons that inspired his book Connect: How to Quickly Collabor
S8 E4: Embrace the Power of a Growth Mindset with Breann Kelly
In this episode of The Inspire Podcast, Bart Egnal speaks with Breann Kelly, Chief Operating Officer and General Counsel at Ewing Morris, about why a growth mindset is more important than ever.
Breann reflects on her career journey and the choices that shaped it, sharing how a consistent focus on learning and curiosity guided her path from law into the world of investment management. She discusse
S8 E3: How to Tap into the Power of Public Speaking with Sebastian Uzcategui
Public speaking sits at the heart of leadership, influence, and growth.
For Sebastian Uzcategui, founder of SpeakUp Express, it also became the turning point that shaped his career. What began as a way to promote his work in finance quickly evolved into a deeper focus on speaking, as he discovered a passion for being on stage, telling stories, and connecting with an audience.
In his conversation
S8E2: From the Headlines What It Takes to Tell Stories That Hit Home with Melanie Marshall
In this episode of The Inspire Podcast, Bart Egnal speaks with award-winning journalist and producer Melanie Marshall about what it really takes to tell stories that resonate.
Drawing on more than 20 years with the BBC, reporting from conflict zones, covering global crises, and leading editorial teams, Melanie shares practical lessons for leaders who want their messages to truly connect.
They ex
S8 E1: The Inner and Outer Work of Inclusion with Carolyn Lawrence & Jennifer Laidlaw
Season 8 kicks off with a timely conversation on what it takes to lead in today’s high-pressure environment.
Bart sits down with Carolyn Lawrence, founder of ClearPath and former Global Head of DEI at Deloitte, and Jennifer Laidlaw, founder of Cre8 Coaching, to explore the growing pressure leaders are facing today, particularly those from diverse backgrounds. As expectations rise and roles contin
S7 E16: The Power of Differentiation with Barry LaBov
In this episode of The Inspire Podcast, Bart speaks with Barry LaBov—CEO, founder, author, and former rock musician and producer—about his new book The Power of Differentiation. Barry explains why differentiation is critical for brands, businesses, and leaders, and how clarity around what makes you unique is essential in today’s crowded marketplace
He shares stories from his early days in the mus
S7 E15: If You Want to Go Far, Go Together with Bernard Letendre
Exciting news: The Humphrey Group has been acquired by Humance!
In this special episode of The Inspire Podcast, Bart Egnal speaks with Bernard Letendre, Managing Partner, Ontario and Western Canada at Humance, about the story behind this decision and the journey that led him there.
Bernard shares his remarkable career path from practicing law to leading major divisions in Canada’s financial ser
S7 E14: Developing Foundational Leadership with Robert Buckingham
What does it really take to build great leaders? In this episode of the Inspire Podcast, Bart Egnal sits down with Rob Buckingham, Executive VP at Quest Window Systems Inc and retired Canadian Forces Captain, to unpack how leadership is intentionally developed in both the military and business.
Rob shares powerful lessons from his time in uniform when he was first exposed to foundational leadersh
S7 E13: How Communication Shapes Success at Every Level with Janet Drysdale
In this episode, Bart sits down with Janet Drysdale, Interim Chief Commercial Officer at CN, to explore her career journey through progressively senior roles and how communication has been the key differentiator at every level. Janet reflects on the different skills required at each step of a career, and how even today, in a new senior role, it’s critical that she continues to hone her ability to
S7 E12: How to Create Real Buy-In with Your Employees with Dave Garrison
In this episode, Bart speaks with Dave Garrison, Founder and Chief Navigating Officer of Garrison Growth, about his new book The Buy-In Advantage. They explore why employee engagement is at a decade low, the forces driving disengagement, and why it’s critical for leaders to overcome these challenges to build a fully committed workforce. Dave shares practical, no-cost strategies leaders can use to
S7 E11: Build Your Presence with Intention: Lessons from a Theatre Professor with Noah Drew
In this episode, Bart speaks with longtime THG consultant and Professor of Voice, Acting, and Performance Research at Concordia University, Noah Drew, about the deep connection between presence, performance, and leadership. Noah shares how his journey through theatre and voice work shaped his understanding of what presence really means, and why it matters for both actors and leaders.
Bridging his
S7 E10: From Darkness to Leadership: An Entrepreneur's Lessons with Phil Neil
In this episode, Bart speaks with entrepreneur Phil Neil, who shares his extraordinary story of building his company from $200K in revenue to $70 million and the gauntlet of challenges he faced along the way. Phil opens up about the painful realities behind the headlines: a $5M scam during the pandemic, a devastating warehouse fire, and the collapse of major contracts.
He reflects on what he call
S7 E9: How to Become a People-Centric Leader with Vanessa Bragg
In this episode of The Inspire Podcast, Bart welcomes Vanessa Bragg, Leadership Coach and consultant at The Humphrey Group to talk about why and how you should be a people centric leader.
Vanessa shares the story of her own career transformation and the profound impact that people-focused leadership has had on her growth. She unpacks what it means to be a people-centric leader, why this mindset i
S7 E8: What it Takes to Build an Exceptional Executive Team with Denis Ricard
In this episode of The Inspire Podcast, Bart speaks with Denis Ricard, CEO of iA Financial Group, about what it takes to cultivate a strong, cohesive executive team. Denis shares insights from his remarkable career journey within iA, from his early roles to the C-suite, and the leadership lessons that shaped his approach to building high-performing senior teams.
He reflects on the guidance he off
S7 E7: Lessons for Leaders from Hollywood with Karina Michel
In this episode, Bart speaks with Karina Michel, an accomplished actor, director, and producer, about the powerful lessons leaders can learn from the creative world. Karina shares insights drawn from her experience across film and television, exploring what leadership can gain from the disciplines of acting, directing, and producing. She reveals surprising parallels between performance and leaders
S7 E6: Understanding & Unlocking the Power of NLP with Lara Hernandez
In this episode, Bart speaks with Lara Hernendez, a THG consultant and NLP expert. They discuss what Neurolinguistic Programming (NLP) is and why it matters, not just for leaders, but for anyone who wants to communicate with greater authenticity and impact.
Lara shares practical insights into the power of non-verbal communication, how emotions can unintentionally shape the signals we send to our
S7 E5: Building the Women of Burgundy with Anne Maggisano
In this episode, Bart is joined by Anne Maggisano, Vice President, Investment Counsellor at Burgundy Asset Management. Anne shares the story behind founding The Women of Burgundy—an initiative that has reached over 1,000 individuals and is dedicated to building a community that inspires women to make investing a priority and take a leadership role over their wealth.
She reflects on the early spark
S7 E4: Why Leaders Need to Tap into the Power of Stories with Patricio Larrea and Athulya Pulimood
In this episode, Bart welcomes two members of The Humphrey Group to talk about the rise of storytelling as a leadership imperative and why great stories exist inside you.
Patricio opens the conversation by sharing why storytelling has become an increasingly critical skill for leaders in this day and age. A trend that the rise of AI has only accelerated. Athulya builds on this by explaining why s
S7 E3: New Imperatives for Talent Management with Peter Zukow
In this episode of The Inspire Podcast, Bart welcomes Peter Zukow, Managing Partner at IQ Partners, a leading search firm, for a conversation on the evolving world of talent management.
Peter unpacks why talent management has changed in recent decades, driven by trends like remote work, the great resignation and now AI. He emphasizes that while talent management has always been important, it’s no
S7 E2: Eradicating Toxic Leadership with Alex Draper
In this episode of The Inspire Podcast, Bart sits down with Alex Draper, founder and CEO of DX Learning, to tackle a critical issue in the workplace: toxic leadership. Alex starts with a simple truth—bad leadership is toxic and has negative impacts. So why does it persist when no one sets out to be a bad leader?
Alex explains that most toxic leadership isn’t intentional—it’s unintentional, and it
S7 E1: In a World of AI, Lean into Your EQ with Dr Robin Hills
To kick off season 7 of The Inspire Podcast, Bart speaks with Dr Robin Hills, a renowned business psychologist and the director of Ei4Change, an internationally acclaimed, award-winning company that has empowered over 500,000 people across 200+ countries through its expertise in emotional intelligence for change.
Robin shares why in this age of automation and disruptions, EQ is the uniquely huma
S6E18: Great Lessons in Storytelling with Khe Hy
In this episode of The Inspire Podcast, Bart speaks with Khe Hy about the power of stories and how leaders can unlock their inner storyteller. Bart learns how Khe left a successful career on Wall Street and turned his self-reflection into a highly read newsletter on career, money, life, and a wide range of other topics. Khe explains why so many stories suck, what qualities make for engaging storie
S6 E17: What Leaders can and should Learn from Great Marketers with Nathan Yeung
What do leadership and marketing have in common? In this episode of The Inspire Podcast, Bart sits down with renowned marketing expert Nathan Yeung to uncover surprising parallels between these two disciplines. Nathan talks about why "customers are lazy", shares a powerful 3-step process for building trust that's at the heart of marketing effectiveness, and reveals how leaders can adopt marketing
S6 E16: Looking for Talent in Faraway Places and Helping them Thrive with Yoni Kozminski
In this episode of The Inspire Podcast, Bart Egnal speaks with Yoni Kozminski, founder of MultiplyMii, about the opportunity he saw to bring highly educated, talented professionals from the Philippines to companies around the world. Yoni shares his own story of building a company by tapping into the skills of Filipino professionals and what he learned along the way.
He offers insights on effecti
S6 E15: The Power of Tenure in Your Career and Company with Rob Diplock
In this episode, Bart meets with Rob Diplock, Senior Vice President at Kumon North America, the sixth-largest franchise in the world, to explore the value of long employee tenures. Rob shares his personal journey with Kumon, who has become the employer of his entire career. He discusses the advantages of remaining with one organization—for both employees and employers—and the unique challenges tha
S6 E14: The Evolution of Leadership Communication with Scott Simmons
In this episode, Bart is joined by a fellow CEO of a leadership communication training company, Scott Simmons of Ariel. Together, they explore Scott's unique career path—from healthcare to Gallup, and now to leading Ariel.
They dive into the evolving landscape of leadership communication, examining what has changed and what remains the same. The conversation touches on the new expectations place
S6 E13: The Power of Helping Women Find their Voice with Yusra Qadir
In this episode of the Inspire Podcast, Bart welcomes Yusra Qadir, Chief Programs and Advocacy Officer at Mothers Matter Canada, to share her incredible life journey and how she is empowering women to find their voices.
Yusra starts by reflecting on her childhood in Pakistan, her work in community and social development, and her education in human rights. She describes how she found her voice but
S6 E12: Mastering Communication Skills with Sarika Singh
In this episode, Bart is joined by Sarika Singh, host of a top communication skills podcast in India and a seasoned coach with 25 years of experience. Sarika shares her journey from her early career to becoming the Chief Operating Officer of an Indian artisanal sugar company, driven by her passion for communication. She coaches a diverse audience, including
children, young adults, and corporate t
S6 E11: Finding Your Authentic Voice with Nancy Hicks
In this episode, Bart welcomes Nancy Hicks, an accomplished vocal performer, founder of a global ministry, shopping channel host, leadership coach, and now a consultant for The Humphrey Group.
They begin by exploring Nancy's early journey in developing her voice and discovering a passion for singing, which eventually led her to take on leadership roles in the church and, ultimately, to become a
S6 E10: How to Build Relationships that Transform your Career Mo Bunnell
In this episode, Bart welcomes Mo Bunnell, founder of The Bunnell Idea Group, back to The Inspire Podcast to discuss his new book, Give to Growth.
Mo highlights a fundamental truth: relationships are the foundation of long-term business success. But he also dives into the often overlooked aspect—how to effectively build these relationships.
If you've ever felt too busy, hesitant, or worried ab
S6 E9: Play Your Way to Inspiring Leadership with Kirsten Anderson
In this episode, Bart speaks with Kirsten Anderson about the power of play and how integrating play can make you a more effective and inspiring leader. Kirsten, a certified LEGO(r) Serious Play(r) specialist and consultant with The Humphrey Group, talks about why playfulness is so important for leaders, how we often miss opportunities to incorporate play into our work and how to go about adopting
S6 E8: Using AI to Make Yourself a Better Speaker with Esha Joshi
AI is transforming every facet of work and life, including how we improve and build leadership communication skills. In this episode, Bart speaks with Esha Joshi, co-founder of Yoodli, an AI-powered speech coach. The Humphrey Group has partnered with Yoodli to create a unique version that not only analyzes your speaking but also incorporates The Humphrey Group's intellectual capital and guidance t
S6 E7: How to Inspire Salespeople with Ryan Precious
Helping sales professionals excel requires a unique and innovative approach. But what exactly does that entail? How can you attract top sales talent and elevate their performance? What strategies do the best sales leaders employ?
To explore these questions, Bart is joined by Ryan Precious, SVP of Worldwide Sales at ClickUp. Ryan shares his inspiring journey from BlackBerry to leading U.S. tech co
S6 E6: How To Practice Impactful Leadership with Mosongo Moukwa
In this episode, Bart welcomes Mosongo Moukwa, PhD, executive, author and leadership & business coach. Mosongo shares his journey from academia to the corporate world, and explains how he came to leadership accidentally. During this career, he developed a philosophy he calls “leadership of significance” which is transformational and audience-focused. He explains that you must begin with purpose, e
S6 E5: Building Self-Belief with Brooke Sophia Ramsay
This week Bart speaks with Brooke Sophia, an executive coach, jiujiteira, and consultant with The Humphrey Group about the mindset required to build the confidence it takes to inspire others.
Brooke shares her journey into coaching and martial arts and how she’s learned that self-doubt and the inertia of imposter syndrome can hold you back. She explores how to flip this mindset to embrace change
S6 E4: Why Understanding The Setback Cycle is Key to your Growth as a Leader with Amy Shoenthal
In this episode, Bart speaks with journalist Amy Shoenthal about her new book, The Setback Cycle. Amy explains how setbacks aren't always fuel for success, why not everything "happens for a reason" and the real lessons to take when you're in the middle of a difficult period in life or career. She shares her four-part setback cycle (Establish, Embrace, Explore, Emerge) and explains how it can be a
S6 E3: How Asian Professionals can find their Voice and Shine with Rebecca Pang
!!A special episode for Asian Heritage Month!! In this episode, Bart speaks with Rebecca Pang about the unique stereotypes and challenges Asian professionals face and how they can overcome them. Rebecca, a Vice President with RBC and co-founder of the Asian Professionals Network at the bank, shares some startling numbers that illustrate how Asian professionals are not well-represented in leadershi
S6 E2: Tap Into Your "Adaptagility" To Thrive - With Pablo Fernandez de Bobadilla
In this episode, Bart speaks with Pablo Fernandez de Bobadilla about his two-decade career at Pfizer and how the ability to adapt and thrive has been crucial to his success. Pablo provides his perspective on how today's rapidly changing world and business landscape has put pressure on leaders to change, learn and grow more quickly than ever before. He then talks about the concept of Adaptagility,
S6 E1: What is Fundamental to Managing Talent in a World Where Everything Has Changed-Melanie Burns
In this kickoff episode of Season 6 Bart is joined by Melanie Burns, Deputy Chief Human Resources Officer of TD Bank, to discuss the vast array of changes in the last five years in the world of talent, and the foundational principles that leaders can still build their relationships on. Melanie explains how COVID, remote work, the Great Resignation, return to office, and now AI are all transforming
Replay S5 E2 - The Future of Leadership is...Analog? with David Sax
Check out our last rewind before we launch season 6 of The Inspire Podcast next week! This episode is from season 5, and explores the heart of human connection in a digital age.
Despite the promise of a digital future, staff and leaders are increasingly seeking human connection. In this conversation, author David Sax discusses why analog has proven so durable in a world filled with the promises
Replay: S4 E1 - To Overcome Wicked Problems Lean into Inspirational Leadership with Susan Black
We're diving back into another favorite episode from #TheInspirePodcast archives.
In season 4, Bart spoke with Susan Black of The Conference Board of Canada about the challenges facing today's leaders. Drawing on the CBOC's deep research capabilities, Susan shares insights into the major pressures facing leaders across all sectors – from talent management, to a return to premises, to DEI and the
Replay: S3 E19 - How to Build a more Inclusive Cycling Team with Casper Wong
We're getting closer to season 6 of The Inspire podcast! While the countdown continues, we're bringing you standout episodes from our archives. Stay tuned for more as we continue to countdown to the new season!
In this episode Bart speaks with Casper Wong about his journey to create the United Nation of Cyclists, a race team whose mission it is to promote diversity and inclusion. Casper, whose da
Replay: S2 E6 - Creating a Culture of Responsibility with Richard Rooney
In this episode of the Inspire Podcast, Bart Egnal speaks with Richard Rooney. Richard is the President and Chief Investment Officer at Burgundy Asset Management Ltd.
Listen in to learn how Burgundy has been able to create a culture of responsibility with authority for its employees.
Replay: S1 E4 Why Every Leader must be a Storytelling with Margo Gouley
In a data-driven economy, it can sometimes be tough to cut through the statistics and generate genuine connections with our audiences.
In this episode, we hear from Margo Gouley on how you can create better audience engagement by integrating Storytelling into your everyday interactions. With real world examples and concrete tips, this episode is a must listen for anyone seeking to have a lasting
S5 E19 - Communication Lessons from an Award-Winning Investor Relations Executive with Paul Butcher
In this episode Bart welcomes Paul Butcher, who recently retired as head of investor relations for Canadian National, where he twice won IR executive of the year. Paul, who has just joined The Humphrey Group to launch an investor relations practice, speaks with Bart about the world of IR communications and what companies really do day in and day out to define and communicate their story to analyst
S5 E18 - Become A Leadership Powerhouse with Dr. Greg Wells
In this episode of the pod Bart welcomes back best selling author and human performance expert Greg Wells to talk about his new book, Powerhouse. Drawing on leading research, Greg explains how your ability to perform in the boardroom and in life is based on healing and boosting the mitochondria that power your body. He explains simple ways to do this using breath, focus and movement so you can thr
S5 E17 - Walk Your Own Path To Leadership with Shamin Mohamed Jr
Bart welcomes Shamin Mohamed Jr, founder of LetsStopAIDS and co-founder of Deciem to the podcast. Drawing on his unique journey Shamin shares perspectives on how to be inspired in your own career and life, and how to avoid being bound by stereotypes of career success that hem in so many of us. He also explains how important communication has been in his advocacy work and provides some tips to impr
S5 E16 - New Imperatives — and Tools — for Today's Inspirational Leaders with Anya Wood
In this episode of The Inspire Podcast, Bart welcomes Anya Wood, The Humphrey Group's Vice President of Product. Drawing on their combined decades of experience in the leadership training business they explore the evolving demands and priorities of leaders and how those imperatives are redefining the key skills required today. Anya then shares insights into how leaders can respond to these demands
S5 E15 - Leadership Lessons From The Schoolyard with Mike McDonald
In this episode, Bart welcomes Mike McDonald, Founder of the charity Recess Guardians and CEO of Activ8, a new play-based educational company helping kids and adults move and learn. Mike shares his experiences creating a school-based leadership charity that empowers youth to lead and teach younger kids, He explains why kids embrace leadership opportunities, different styles of leadership, how to u
S5 E14-New Leadership Imperative for Canadian Business Leaders-Joe Manget, Walid Hejazi & Dany Assaf
In this episode of The Inspire Podcast, Bart speaks with Joe Manget, Walid Hejazi and Dany Assaf about their new book, Everybody's Business. The three authors, an accomplished business leader, a business school professor and renowned Competition lawyer and author of the bestseller Say Please and Thank You & Stand in Line, share how their research shows Canadian businesses are falling behind and wh
S5 E13 - How To Thrive In A New Role with Brenda Harrington
The "Great Resignation" has led to unprecedented worker mobility. But whether you are thinking of changing roles, leaving your company, or have already started a new role, there are some important things to know and prepare for if you want to thrive. In this episode Bart speaks with Brenda Harrington of Adaptive Leadership, who shares how she coaches executives in anticipation of new moves, and wh
S5 E12 - What We Can Learn About Presence From Journalism and TV with Ash Kay
In this episode of the Inspire Podcast Bart welcomes Humphrey Group Consultant Ash Kay to talk about executive presence. Ash draws on her background as a reporter and broadcast news producer to explain what presence is and how to project it authentically. She explains that the foundation of connection is to be unselfish, how the best connectors are like detectives, and that there’s no substitute f
S5 E11 - How to Work With (Almost) Anyone with Michael Bungay Stanier
All our working relationships tend to focus on WHAT we want to do together -- what deals to close, what processes to improve, what products to build -- yet we invest comparatively little time in HOW to do that work together. In his new book the incomparable Michael Bungay Stanier argues we're doing it all wrong, and should instead focus on the foundations of working relationships. In a far ranging
S5 E10 - Practice Compassionate Accountability with Nate Regier
In this episode, Bart is joined by Dr. Nate Regier to speak about his new book, Compassionate Accountability. Nate explains that kindness and high performance are not mutually exclusive but actually deeply interwoven. He explains how to embrace the yes and mindset of compassionate accountability, and how to practice it day in and day out as an individual leader. He also explains how companies can
S5 E9: The Qualities that Define Exceptional Leaders with James Caan CBE
In this episode Bart speaks with James Caan about what he looks for in entrepreneurs he wants to back and invest in. James has had an incredible career, creating and selling multiple companies in the human capital space including Alexander Mann and Humana Capital, as well as serving the British government in multiple capacities including Chairman of the Startup Loans initiative, which invested in
S5 E8 - How To Script Yourself as a Job Seeker with Judith Humphrey
In this episode, Bart interviews Judith Humphrey, Founder of The Humphrey Group, about her new book, The Job Seeker’s Script. In the interview Judith discusses how candidates can successfully advocate for themselves, whether they want to move up in their present company or move to a new firm. Her book shows job seekers how to tell their story, by first setting their goals, and then using her book’
S5 E7 - The New Realities of Remote Work Leaders Need to Embrace with Wayne Berger
What exactly is work today, and how should leaders manage and engage their teams in this unsettled new reality? In this episode of the Inspire Podcast Bart speaks with Wayne Berger, CEO of the Americas at IWG, the world's largest provider of flexible workspaces about these questions. Drawing on IWG's research, Wayne explains what the future of work looks like, why it's not the office but rather th
S5 E6 - How Entrepreneurs and Leaders Can Manage Difficult Emotions with Dr. Sherry Walling
In this episode, Bart speaks with psychologist, podcaster and renowned speaker Dr. Sherry Walling about the emotional challenges facing entrepreneurs and leaders today. In her practice, Sherry helps clients navigate transition, rapid growth, loss and other complex human experiences. She draws on this work to share with Bart why leaders are facing the highest levels of burnout, stress and anxiety i
S5 E5 - The Transformative Power of Culture with William Kilmer
In this episode of the podcast, Bart welcomes William Kilmer, entrepreneur, venture capitalist and author of a new book, Transformative. William’s book looks at how great companies do more than produce great products and instead transform markets they can enter and win in. Yet William explains that in his experience, leaders spend too little time on their culture, to their detriment. He explains h
S5 E4 - The Conversations You Need to Have as You Return to the Office - with Alan Richardson
In this conversation, Bart speaks with Alan Richardson, SVP of Talent Strategy & Solutions at RBC, about the bank's approach to bringing workers back to premises. Alan discusses why the bank decided last fall to ask employees to come together in person more, and what they've learned since. He discusses how to think about closing the "communication distance" and not just "physical distance", the es
S5 E3 - Why you Need to Make your Communication Accessible if you want to Lead
In this episode of the podcast, Bart speaks with The Humphrey Group's Director of Learning Experience Design about the often-overlooked importance of making your communication accessible. Justyna explains why it's never been more important – and easier – to think about how to reach all audiences. She explains what accessible communication is, why it's overlooked, tools and technology you can use (
S5 E2 - The Future of Leadership is... Analog? with David Sax
Despite the promise of a digital future, staff and leaders are increasingly seeking human connection. In this conversation author David Sax discusses why analog has proven so durable in a world filled with the promises of a digital transformation. He explains why being in person is something that calls to us, what leaders should do to maximize connection in a hybrid world, and lessons for those st
S5 E1: The Road To Equality Is Paved With Equity - A Conversation With THG in support of IWD 2023
The Inspire Podcast is back! Season 5 kicks off with a special episode in support of the 2023 International Women’s Day, whose theme is to #embraceequity. Bart welcomes three members of The Humphrey Group — Marissa Dyck, Angie Park and Claudia Villaran — for a wide-ranging panel discussion. The group tackles why equity is still far off, and what organizations and individuals can do to close the ga
S4 E19 - How To Write Your Leadership Story with Christine Miners and Rick Lash
If you've ever said, "I don't feel like I have the same joy in my job as I used to..." or, "I always thought I'd love it when I made it to this role, and now I'm not as happy as I thought I'd be" or, "the demands on me in this position are too much." then you need to listen to my conversation with Christine and Rick. Crisis or major life changes can shatter the inner stories that give our life mea
S4 E18 - How Leaders Delegate with Todd Randall
In this episode, Bart speaks with serial entrepreneur and business coach Todd Randall about why delegation usually fails and how to be better at this critical skill. Todd begins by sharing why he struggled to delegate in his career and the mistaken assumptions (only you can do it! You'll be fired if others do the work!) that hold us back from delegating effectively. Then he outlines the system he
S4 E17 - How Talking About Culture is the Ultimate Way To Attract And Retain Talent
In this episode, Bart speaks with Craig Taylor, CEO of Iapetus Holdings, about what it takes to attract and retain employees in this incredibly tight labour market. In sharing his personal leadership journey, Craig talks about how today it's harder than ever to compete for talent and then keep people engaged. His solution: Culture. Define it. Commit to it. Communicate it. Engage the whole organiza
S4 Ep16 - Building the Resilience You Need To Lead In Today's Hybrid World with Dean Becker
In this conversation with Dean Becker of Adaptiv Learning, Bart learns why the unprecedented uncertainty of the past few years has drained and tested leaders like never before, and what they can do to build resilience for the years to come. Dean talks about how uncertainty and stress heightens your signature emotions, drains your energy, and leads to cognitive distortions that impact decision-maki
S4 Ep 15 - How To Build Trust To Drive High Performance with Marie-Claire Ross
In this episode, Bart speaks with Marie-Claire Ross, author of Trusted to Thrive, about how leaders can drive high performance in their teams through a balance of high safety and high accountability cultures. She outlines why humans are wired to seek psychologically safe environments, and why it's so hard to build. Then she explains why safety without accountability leads to atrophy, why accountab
S4 Ep 14 - The Dress for Success Ambassador Program: Empowering Women To Tell Their Stories
If you aren't familiar with the power and impact of Dress for Success you need to listen to this episode, where Bart meets with Amy Robichaud, Executive Director and Natasha Irvine, Communications Director, both of Dress for Success Vancouver. Over the course of the pod Bart learns about the impact and mission of Dress for Success Vancouver, and how it goes so far beyond providing women with suits
S4 E13 - Managing Your Energy to Lead Sustainably with Shubhayan Sanatani
The last few years have been draining for leaders as pressures have increased from employees under strain, organizations asking more, and the relentlessness of virtual meetings. Many leaders are burning out and finding their level of energy slipping. In this episode, Bart speaks with Dr. Shubhayan Sanatani, Pediatric Cardiologist and Electrophysiologist of BC Children’s Hospital about his research
S4 E12 - The Conversations You Must Have to Lead Change with Jennifer Campbell
In today’s world, change is happening faster and more frequently than ever before. Leaders are under pressure to explain change and create buy in… while employees and stakeholders are becoming more vocal about their own needs. Yet there are ways to have better conversations about change that create common ground and understanding between all key parties. Jen Campbell, author of Talking Change: Mus
S4 E11 - Leading in the Age of Uncertainty with Stephen Poloz
In this episode Bart is joined by Stephen Poloz, the former head of the Bank of Canada, to discuss his new book and its implications for leaders. Stephen explains that the world is facing unprecedented change at a pace that will only increase, driven by five major trends that collide. He explains that those leaders who attempt to wait for a return to normalcy or to create plans that will guide the
S4 E10 - Story Living: How to Tell Stories that Inspire with Megan Fielding
In this conversation Bart speaks with Megan Fielding, Vice President, Brand and Culture Communications at Nutrien, about Story Living. Megan explains how you can turn clarity of purpose into powerful stories that inspire employees, customers, stakeholders and yourself. She shares how the concept has guided her own career, leading her to choose -- and leave -- jobs that allowed her to connect more
S4 E9 - How You Can Integrate ESG Into Your Leadership with Larissa Maxwell
Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) is an increasingly-used term.... but what does it mean and how should leaders think about its objectives? In this conversation Bart speaks with Larissa Maxwell about why companies are embracing ESG and how they begin integrating it into their work (proactively and reactively). She then explores what role leaders have to play in ESG and what kind of leade
S4 E8 - How Teck is Creating A More Equitable and Inclusive Company with Jackie Scales
In this episode Bart is joined by Jackie Scales, Director of Inclusion and Diversity at Teck Resources. Jackie talks about the historic barriers to inclusion that have been common in the mining industry, what the impact of those barriers have been, and how different cultural norms across geographies can pose additional challenges to organizations seeking to create more equitable workplaces. She ta
S4 E7 - How to Master Q&A with Dr Brian Glibkowski
Answering questions is one of the most challenging leadership communication tests for a leader. The time pressure, unstated assumptions and even audience emotion can all make it a fraught situation; yet leaders who can master this high stakes interaction can influence and inspire their listeners. In this episode Bart is joined by Dr. Brian Gibkowski, Associate Professor of Management at North Cent
S4 E6 - How To Stop Asking The Wrong Questions About Creating A More Inclusive Organization
This special episode is released on the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia - IDAHOTB. Bart is joined by Colin Druhan, Executive Director of Pride at Work Canada/Fierté au travail Canada, to discuss what questions we should be asking to create more equitable, inclusive organizations. Colin shares his own journey and how he came to head up PaWC, why research demonstrates
