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 intersectio…

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 Realt…

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 …

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 purpo…

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…

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 …

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…

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…

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 st…

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, an…

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 Schoo…

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 …

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 thei…

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 spe…

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 h…

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 imp…

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, i…

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: Have patience and trust the process Develop grit, persistence and focus Be authentic to self Almost each of the 29 episodes i…

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 stra…

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 tou…

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+ episo…

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 pand…

"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-pe…

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 …

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 b…

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 teac…

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 Cana…

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.…

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 t…

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 …

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.By jordan.jw.harding@gmail.com (Jordan Harding)

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 too…

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 li…

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. …

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 …

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.By jordan.jw.harding@gmail.com (Jordan Harding)

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…

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 gr…

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 w…

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 re…

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 t…

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…

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 nex…

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 th…

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-inv…

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 walke…

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 a…

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 …

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 husban…