Jenoir® Leadership Podcast

Economic headwinds, market pressures and uncertain outlooks are taking companies back to the virtues of strategic focus, operational efficiency and organizational simplicity. In that context, many are (re)discovering the virtue of the “flat” organization marked by fewer layers of management, wider spans of control, and more collaborative vs. hierarchical structures. So, are (middle) managers indee...

How to get along with and “navigate” a powerful and demanding boss is one of the enduring questions of high performance leadership. The WSJ’s journal story about Zach Kirkhorn, the CFO of Tesla describes Mr. Kirkhorn as exceptionally capable in this domain. In fact, Mr. Kirkhorn’s ability to work well with “larger-than-life” CEO, Elon Musk, is a master class on the topic. Please join host Christia...

Richard C. Powers MBA, LLB, ICD.D, National Academic Director of the ICD-Rotman Directors Education Program (DEP), joins us as special guest to discuss what to expect when taking on a position on a board of directors, how to identify the right board for you, and how to go about pursuing a board appointment. Whether you're a seasoned executive or a young professional looking to make a difference, R...

We are thrilled to welcome renowned governance expert David Beatty, O.B.E. as a distinguished guest on the Jenoir leadership podcast. Our topic is board leadership at a time of great change. The pace of environmental, societal, technological, and geo-political change and disruption keeps accelerating, and this change and uncertainty has huge implications for boards of directors in the for-profit a...

We are thrilled to welcome renowned governance expert David Beatty, O.B.E. as a distinguished guest on the Jenoir leadership podcast. Our topic is board leadership at a time of great change. The pace of environmental, societal, technological, and geo-political change and disruption keeps accelerating, and this change and uncertainty has huge implications for boards of directors in the for-profit a...

After entering the Canadian market in 2014, American luxury retailer Nordstrom announced on March 2nd, 2023 that it would be closing its stores and winding down its operations in the country by June. A liquidation sale at six stores in the Toronto region began March 21st. So why did Nordstrom leave Canada? Were it the challenges of the local Canadian market, global economic headwinds, or both? And...

The demise of the Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) has sent shockwaves through the tech industry and the financial services industry prompting a televised reassurance from US President Joe Biden that “the US banking system is safe” and a statement from the Bank of England that “the wider UK banking system remains safe, sound, and well capitalized." While financial regulators, banking executives, tech inv...

In today’s episode of the Jenoir Leadership Podcast, host Christian Clement-Schlimm and I talk about the power of a narrative for your business, for your team and for yourself. A narrative is a “story with a purpose” that will help you connect with and engage your critical constituents. We will look at how a good narrative is constructed, how it can be adapted to different circumstances, and how w...

Conflict is a growth industry and senior teams or boards are no exception. In fact, at the top of the house dysfunction can be an even bigger issue because of the various personalities in the room. This ranges from brash, strong-willed characters ready to "duke it out" to skillful diplomats treading carefully to steer clear of conflict. But a battle of the wills or the avoidance of necessary conve...

On January 15th, 2023 Swedish activist Greta Thunberg was removed by police along with other protesters as they demonstrated against the razing of the German village of Lutzerath for the expansion of a coal mine. In and of itself, this might have been just another day in climate activism had it not been for the fact that the police action was supported by the governing Green party in Germany. The...

On January 7th, after four days of voting and 15 ballots, Representative Kevin McCarthy, a California Republican, finally clinched the speakership of the United States House of Representatives. It was the longest election since 1859 and - as an unexpected side effect - it caused a surge in the ratings of C-SPAN, the public affairs cable network televising the proceedings. While C-SPAN sometimes ha...

The release of ChatGPT, an AI enabled chatbot that does everything from answering questions, to writing essays, programming computers, and even generating art, has created a stir. Many have pointed to its transformative capacity and wide range of applications. With this and other technology advancements one may ask (again) whether technology is displacing people or whether technical skills are dis...

Communication is the quintessential “multiplier skill:” No matter what it is that you do, it is one skill that will help you do it better. Thankfully you do not need to be or become an English major to communicate more effectively. Three habits - bringing people into the conversation, organizing your thoughts, and finishing strong - will help anyone to communicate with more impact in a business se...

Elon Musk taking the helm at Twitter is captivating the business press from around the world. His approach to business strategy, work culture, and decision making has provoked reactions ranging from disdain to admiration and everything in between. Some commentators even believe that Mr. Musk’s mode of operating requires a rewrite of the generally accepted rules of management. So is this really the...

Neil Cawse, founder & CEO, Geotab Inc., joins us as a special guest on the topic of business strategy. Geotab has been recognized by ABI Research as the world’s leading commercial telematics company with over 3 million connected vehicles and global presence in more than 160 countries. Neil shares his experience, insight and perspective on business strategy in this two part interview on the Jen...

Neil Cawse, founder & CEO, Geotab Inc., joins us as a special guest on the topic of business strategy. Geotab has been recognized by ABI Research as the world’s leading commercial telematics company with over 3 million connected vehicles and global presence in more than 160 countries. Neil shares his experience, insight and perspective on business strategy in this two part interview on the Jen...

If there is one organizational structure that continues to rankle managers around the world it is “matrix management.” The idea is easy enough in theory: Deal with the complexity of the modern enterprise by structuring hierarchy along multiple lines, such as functional, geographical, and/or product. But in practice this structure comes at the cost of clarity, and especially if managed poorly, the...

Different ownership models (entrepreneurial, publicly-traded, family-owned, state-owned) have huge implications for corporate culture, strategy and purpose). This can lead to friction when ownership models transition or get blended. The WSJ reports that “private-equity firms are joining family businesses” as part of the founders’ succession planning. Understanding the reality and power of corporat...

We are living at a time of great change, and leaders are challenged to manage in an environment of uncertainty and turmoil. While experts will point to the need to adapt, recalibrate and even reinvent, stability can add unexpected value as well and even become a competitive advantage. Recent business news from Starbucks and Target make the point and have broader lessons for us as managers. https:/...

The court battle between Elon Musk and Twitter over what was heralded as one of the biggest buy-outs in corporate history has all the makings of an epic legal drama; adjudicating it will not be for the faint of heart. But, by all accounts, Judge (“Chancellor”) Kathaleen McCormick, is the firm hand that is needed. Legal experts describe her as well-prepared, comfortable with complexity, and known f...

As of July 30th, Airbnb has closed its domestic business in China, so you can no longer use Airbnb to book your summer vacation or other travel in China. Host Christian Clement-Schlimm and I are using this story as a jump-off point for today’s episode of the Jenoir podcast. We reflect on how perseverance during tough times is an important and even essential quality; but so is the ability to call i...

Innovation is about more than just having a good idea, it is about making it happen. In today’s Jenoir podcast episode, Christian and I are talking the “100% recyclable running shoe that’s only available by subscription” as a case study for how innovation works and what we can learn for everyday application. We discuss (1) understanding the times we live in, (2) keeping the customer central, and (...

As we enter the 2nd half of 2022, policymakers and business leaders see a darkening global economic outlook. Yet economic experts are equally puzzled that the job market has remained strong, at least so far. But some high profile companies have already announced a slowdown in hiring and more may be to come. It seems wise therefore to start thinking about how to manage well in a downturn and to do...

Early on in my (Dirk's) career I asked a senior manager what it would take to succeed in my job. “Come early, and stay late,” he said. While at some level this remains good advice it (alone) is not sustainable. Other life responsibilities, a crushing workload, or a culture where “everything is important” demand that we “work smarter.” But if working smarter was easy we would have done it already....

The Art of First Impressions is our topic today. Are first impressions really that important? Whom are we trying to “impress”, and how do we do it? In addition to discussing the power of a good first impression in business, our host Christian Clement-Schlimm shares his experience from the world of academia. The conclusion: The power of a good first impression is much more than a cliché; good first...