Paper Napkin Wisdom · Leadership & Entrepreneurship Insights for Founders and Executives

For nearly three decades, Michael Walsh  has helped owners of $2-$100 M companies escape the "growth trap" and win back their freedom. As founder of Walsh Business Growth Institute  and author, the Vancouver-based adviser has guided leaders across North America and Europe to scale profitably without sacrificing culture or lifestyle.   A former competitive rower turned consultant, Michael blends st...

David Umansky is the CEO and co-founder of Civic Builders, a nonprofit organization that designs, finances, and builds public charter schools in underserved communities across the United States. Since its inception in 2002, Civic Builders has helped create over 65 schools serving more than 30,000 students. But David's impact goes far beyond buildings. He is an architect of opportunity, an operator...

In this powerful return to Paper Napkin Wisdom, the bestselling author of  Networking Is Not Working  and the new book Let's Retire Retirement  dives into a game-changing mindset shift: what if retirement was never the goal?  Derek is a financial advisor, entrepreneur, community builder, and father. With decades of experience advising high-performing individuals and leading powerful networking com...

In Episode 268 of Paper Napkin Wisdom , we continue the Freedom by Design  series with leadership expert and business growth strategist Michael Walsh. Michael has helped countless organizations align leadership and team development with sustainable growth—and in this tenth installment, he delivers a crucial message for anyone leading people: Develop a career development growth plan that's not abou...

Marc Dann is no stranger to high-stakes leadership. As a former Ohio Attorney General and now a tireless advocate for consumer rights, Marc brings a seasoned perspective on accountability, resilience, and purpose. In Episode 267 of Paper Napkin Wisdom, he shares a deceptively simple, yet profoundly powerful mantra that has anchored his professional and personal comeback: "Get up. Get dressed. Go t...

Darren Hickman has spent decades navigating the complex terrain of branding, marketing, and emotional engagement. A former Disney executive and seasoned marketing strategist, Darren brings an uncanny ability to see how the unseen emotional levers drive business outcomes. In this episode of Paper Napkin Wisdom, Darren shares a deceptively simple truth scrawled on his napkin:  "Nearly all decisions...

Michael Walsh returns for Part 9 in the  Freedom by Design  series to continue building out a powerful framework for leaders seeking lasting impact — not just in their businesses, but through them. In this edition, we dive deep into the core of high-performance organizations: people development  as the engine of profit and customer value.  Michael Walsh, founder of Walsh Business Growth, has spent...

In his return to Paper Napkin Wisdom, Todd Palmer—renowned executive coach, keynote speaker, and founder of Extraordinary Advisors—brings with him a powerful reframe that resonates deeply with anyone navigating tough leadership terrain: "Everything happens 4 me, NOT 2 me."  Todd isn't new to turning adversity into opportunity. As a CEO who once faced near-bankruptcy before rebuilding a multi-milli...

David Herle, a political strategist, pollster, and principal at The Gandalf Group, has spent decades helping shape public opinion and advising leaders in the highest circles of Canadian politics. From managing campaigns for Prime Minister Paul Martin to shaping the narrative through his influential podcast The Herle Burly , David knows what it means to engage with power—not as an abstract concept,...

Michael Walsh is back with another profound insight in episode 262 of Paper Napkin Wisdom, continuing our "Freedom by Design" series. As the founder of Walsh Business Growth, Michael brings decades of experience helping companies build freedom within their businesses by designing scalable, people-first systems. In this episode, he shares a deceptively simple yet deeply strategic napkin: "Train & G...

When Ross Albers found himself fired just two weeks before his wedding, most people would have panicked. Instead, Ross did something remarkable: he founded his own law firm. What started as a necessity quickly became a proving ground for building a business with intention—and more importantly, with vision.  In this episode of Paper Napkin Wisdom , Ross shares a powerful lesson written on a napkin:...

In Episode 260 of Paper Napkin Wisdom, we sit down with Toni Harrison, the powerhouse CEO of  Etched Communication , a nationally recognized communications firm. Toni brings not only decades of experience in high-stakes PR and crisis management, but also a deeply personal and refreshingly honest take on what it means to be resilient in business and life. Her napkin reads:  "Toni's 4 Pillars of RES...

Michael Walsh is no stranger to the Paper Napkin Wisdom podcast. As a seasoned leadership strategist, business growth expert, and founder of  Walsh Business Growth , Michael returns with another powerful idea that challenges how we think about hiring in today's knowledge-driven economy.  In part 7 of our Freedom by Design  series, we dive into the human side of performance—and Michael's handwritte...

Dinah Chapman is not your average entrepreneur. A fierce advocate for bold living, Dinah's energy is magnetic, and her insights are ignited by a lifetime of choosing purpose over pretense. She's a keynote speaker, creative strategist, and self-described "disruptor with intention." Her Paper Napkin packs a punch — literally:  "If it doesn't set your f*cking soul on fire, it's not worth it."   This...

In Episode 257 of Paper Napkin Wisdom, Adam Olalde, entrepreneur and founder of the Xtreme Xperience, shares a piece of guidance that captures the heart of adaptive leadership in a fast-paced world:  "Move fast and (try not to) break things."   It's a nuanced remix of the famous Silicon Valley adage, but with a leadership lens honed by experience. Adam's journey is marked by transformation—both pe...

In the sixth installment of the  Freedom by Design  series, Michael Walsh distills a transformative idea on a literal paper napkin: The Social Contract . It's a powerful reframing of the unspoken expectations that define the relationship between companies and their employees. More than a list of responsibilities, it's a shared agreement—designed not just for performance, but for mutual growth.  Mi...

In episode 255 of  Paper Napkin Wisdom , we're joined by the brilliant Seema Dhanoa — a transformational coach, conscious leadership facilitator, and author of the powerful book The Path to Conscious Leadership.  Seema's work is rooted in helping people return to themselves and lead from a place of inner truth. Her napkin might be simple in form, but it holds an entire operating system for alignme...

In Episode 254 of Paper Napkin Wisdom, Govindh Jayaraman sits down with Rick Williams — board director, leadership coach, and author of  Create the Future: For Your Company and Yourself . A man of strategic clarity and quiet conviction, Rick shares a deceptively simple yet profoundly powerful message: "Give Before Asking."   This phrase, written on a paper napkin, becomes the cornerstone of a conv...

In the next installment of the  Freedom by Design  series, Michael Walsh brings us back to the heart of sustainable business growth: the core of your organization. His napkin, boldly titled "Rethink the Core,"  offers a deceptively simple yet profoundly important shift in how entrepreneurs and leaders define what really drives performance.  On one side of the napkin: a traditional model where team...

Christine McDannell is a serial entrepreneur, author of  The Resilient Founder , and a passionate advocate for building businesses that align with long-term legacy and personal purpose. She's launched and sold multiple companies, including a 7-figure exit, and now focuses her energy on guiding purpose-driven founders through her work at Kindred Quarters and Kndrd.io .  In Episode 252 of Paper Napk...

In Part 4 of the Freedom by Design series, Michael Walsh — growth strategist and founder of Walsh Business Growth — returns to the Paper Napkin Wisdom podcast with another deceptively simple, powerfully transformational idea. This time, Michael outlines what he believes to be the four core driving influences of all human behavior : Survive, Thrive, Connect, and Adapt .   Michael's frameworks aren'...

Heads up: this is a live recording, and the audio has some echo due to a tech glitch. Still, John's wisdom shines through—and we think it's worth it. Hope you agree. In this special final chapter of a three-part series, we return to Paper Napkin Wisdom  with legendary entrepreneur John Sleeman , founder of Sleeman Breweries and Spring Mill Distillery. But this time, he's not alone — John is joined...

Heads up: this is a live recording, and the audio has some echo due to a tech glitch. Still, John's wisdom shines through—and we think it's worth it. Hope you agree. This episode marks the second chapter in a three-part journey through the life and legacy of John Sleeman, the iconic Canadian entrepreneur behind Sleeman Breweries. And in this moment, we move from the grind of building a business to...

This episode is personal.  Just after college, I started a small business with my friend Matt Fox. We launched a student-focused magazine called Fingertips  — hunting down wing nights and drink deals before smartphones made that easy. Money was tight. Hustle was everything. And our first cold call was to Sleeman Brewing in Guelph.  John Sleeman said yes.  That early "yes" stuck with me — and now,...

Michael Walsh returns for part three of our special Freedom by Design  series on Paper Napkin Wisdom, and this one might be the most visually striking yet. If you're a fan of simple visuals that unlock big thinking, you're going to love this napkin. It's a 10x10 grid—just 100 dots—but what it represents could be the unlock for transformational leadership and next-level scale.  Michael is the found...