Leaders Of Tomorrow Podcast

How do you transform self-doubt into leadership and uncertainty into confidence? In this episode of the Leaders of Tomorrow Podcast, Chris Thomson speaks with Joanna Cao, who shares her inspiring journey through the Student Works Management Program. Joanna shares how stepping into real-world responsibility transformed her perspective, built her confidence, and gave her the tools to achieve things...

What does it take to go from running a Student Works summer management job at university to leading high-performing teams across industries? In this episode of the Leaders of Tomorrow podcast, Chris Thomson sits down with proud Student Works Management Program alumnus Bob Repovs, whose leadership journey began as a student entrepreneur and evolved into decades of executive experience. Bob shares h...

What happens when two siblings challenge themselves to grow as leaders together? In this episode of the Leaders of Tomorrow podcast, host Chris Thomson sits down with Adriana and Cole Benoit, two exceptional student leaders who have thrived in the Student Works Management Program. What started as a summer job turned into a transformational journey of self-discovery, confidence, and leadership deve...

How do you go from being a shy, technically minded student to owning a wedding photography business that shoots over 250 events a year? In this episode of the Leaders of Tomorrow podcast, Chris Thomson speaks with Peter Bendevis, a Student Works Management Program alumnus whose story is a masterclass in personal transformation, entrepreneurial thinking, and taking bold risks early in life. Peter o...

What does it take to break through personal limitations and unlock your full leadership potential at a young age? In this inspiring episode of the Leaders of Tomorrow Podcast, Chris Thomson sits down with Justin Huschilt and Ben Marysiuk, two high-performing young leaders who are thriving in the Student Works Management Program. Both Justin and Ben reflect on their transformational journeys as ope...

What if a summer management job could become the foundation for a global career? In this inspiring episode of the Leaders of Tomorrow podcast, Chris Thomson sits down with Dan Desmarais, a standout alumnus of the Student Works Management Program, who has gone on to build a thriving virtual company that serves some of the world’s largest retailers. Dan shares how his time with Student Works in 1989...

What does it take to grow from frustration and failure to focused leadership in just one year? In this episode of the Leaders of Tomorrow podcast, Chris Thomson is joined by Louis Boivin and Joey Vari, two student entrepreneurs in the Student Works Management Program, who return for a second season with a powerful story of personal growth and business transformation. Louis and Joey share how their...

What happens when two young entrepreneurs commit to becoming the best versions of themselves through structure, humility, and relentless effort? In this episode of the Leaders of Tomorrow podcast, Chris Thomson sits down with Zach Weiler and Vincent D’Angelo, two returning operators in the Student Works Management Program. They reflect on their journeys from chaotic first seasons to running high-p...

How does a student entrepreneur evolve into a global executive leading billion-dollar projects? Jason Haelzle shares the mindset and milestones behind his rise from Student Works to the world stage. In this episode of the Leaders of Tomorrow podcast, Chris Thomson sits down with Jason—now Principal and Vice President at GHD—to explore how he balanced academics, competitive hockey, and running a St...

In this episode of Leaders of Tomorrow podcast, Chris Thomson chats with Ben Dorey, a standout participant in the Student Works Management Program. Ben reflects on his remarkable journey of growth and discovery, sharing his early struggles and the lessons he learned in the program. From juggling the pressures of team management to overcoming personal habits and embracing delayed gratification, Ben...

How do you go from painting homes as a student to becoming a top-producing real estate professional clients trust for life? In this episode of Leaders of Tomorrow, Chris Thomson sits down with Greg Kuchma, a successful real estate broker whose entrepreneurial journey started with the Student Works Management Program. Greg shares how he built confidence through hands-on leadership, developed strong...

What if your biggest missteps turned out to be the foundation of your success story? In this powerful episode, Chris Thomson has an inspiring conversation with Joe MacLean, a successful finance professional and lifelong learner. Joe reflects on the pivotal role that the Student Works Management Program played in shaping his mindset and career—pushing him to take risks, own his blind spots, and lea...

What does it take to completely shift your view of yourself, your goals, and your potential—all before finishing school? In today’s episode of the Leaders of Tomorrow Podcast, Chris Thomson welcomes Ella Hall-Smith, a standout participant in the Student Works Management Program, to share her remarkable story of growth, challenge, and leadership. As a full-time nursing student and business owner, E...

What does it take to turn early leadership experiences into a foundation for long-term success—and why is "adding real value" the real goal behind every great career move? In today’s episode of the Leaders of Tomorrow Podcast, Chris Thomson sits down with Mitchell Lowry, a standout alumnus of the Student Works Management Program, to dive into the habits, mindset shifts, and leadership lessons that...

What do elite sports and elite entrepreneurship have in common? More than you might think. In today’s episode of the Leaders of Tomorrow Podcast, Chris Thomson sits down with Landon Roberts, a former varsity hockey player and standout participant in the Student Works Management Program, to dive into the mindset, habits, and leadership skills that drive success in both arenas.  Landon opens up...

How does a Western University student become a leader in biotech venture capital, with over 50 approved products under her belt? In this episode, Chris Thomson sits down with Michele Doig, partner at Omega Funds, to unpack the winding road from her early days at Student Works to becoming a key investor in life-saving medical breakthroughs. With authenticity and wit, Michele shares the inflection p...

What does it take to go from feeling lost and unconfident to becoming one of the top performers in a national leadership program? In this episode of Leaders of Tomorrow podcast, Chris Thomson sits down with Nikos Violetis, a fourth-year Western University student and standout participant in the Student Works Management Program. Nikos opens up about his difficult start in the program, the self-doub...

What does it take to build a thriving international finance career—and still make time to give back? In this episode of Leaders of Tomorrow, Chris Thomson sits down with Neil Johnson, a proud Student Works alumnus who went from summer painting manager to CEO of Duke Capital, a publicly traded firm based in England. Neil shares the pivotal lessons from his early Student Works days—leading a team of...

How do you go from being a shy student with no standout achievements to one of the top-performing operators in the Student Works Management Program. In this powerful episode of the Leaders of Tomorrow podcast, Chris Thomson is joined by Esfar Sarker, who shares his inspiring journey of transformation, grit, and growth. Esfar didn’t arrive with a long resume of accolades. In fact, he was initially...

What does it take to transform a history and English major into a global finance leader? In this episode of the Leaders of Tomorrow podcast, Chris Thomson chats with Zack Kembar, a Student Works alumnus who has scaled incredible heights in the world of finance.  From his beginnings at Western University to holding top leadership positions at firms like Goldman Sachs, BNP Paribas and Burke Nor...

How far can structure and self-discipline really take you? In this episode of Leaders of Tomorrow podcast, Chris Thomson sits down with Jadan Hauser, a standout second-year operator in the Student Works Management Program who's rewriting what’s possible as a young entrepreneur. After working as a window cleaner under a top operator, Jadan stepped into the program already knowing how demanding the...

How do you go from managing your first business as a student to becoming a top leader at one of the world’s most prestigious consulting firms? In this episode of the Leaders of Tomorrow podcast, Chris Thomson reconnects with Tina Pan, an associate partner at McKinsey & Company and one of our successful alumni.  Tina shares how her experience in the Student Works Management Program laid th...

What does it take to rise from burnout to breakthrough? In this powerful episode of Leaders of Tomorrow, Chris Thomson sits down with third-year Student Works Management Program operator, Jordan Pereira. Currently leading as the top operator of 2025, Jordan is on a mission to scale his business to $600K this season—and he's well on his way. Jordan opens up about his early struggles with discipline...

What does it take to turn ambition into impact? In this episode of the Leaders of Tomorrow podcast, Chris Thomson sits down with Chris Reynolds, an accomplished entrepreneur, former McKinsey partner, Founder and Managing Partner of Venn Growth Partners. Chris’s story takes us from his early days in the Student Works Management Program, where he first honed his leadership skills, to the heights of...

Every year, the Leaders of Tomorrow podcast highlights the top rookie operators in the Student Works Management Program—the ones who sell the most by the start of March.  In this episode of Leaders of Tomorrow, Chris Thomson sits down with Callum Lawlor and Mihai Oboroc, the top two rookie operators for 2024. Callum and Mihai open up about the biggest challenges they've faced and the transfor...