ConquerCast: Real Leadership & Personal Growth Lessons

Is it just me? Or does it feel like every week there's a new AI tool, platform, update, or prediction.   Some people believe AI will transform everything. Others are wondering if it'll eventually replace us altogether.    But a recent conversation on ConquerCast got me thinking about a different question:  ➤ As technology becomes more powerful, what will leadersneed to do to remain human?...

Can a volunteer ever make it to the "top"? Most leaders struggle with distance. As they move "up" in seniority, they move further away from the work .. And that's when things tend to break. This is one of the biggest gaps I see in leadership development and team engagement as I continue to work closely with leaders, teams and organizations. I recently spoke with my good fri...

Most people think they need to get better at networking. Maybe more events, conversations or connections. This should do the trick right? NOPE. That’s not the problem. You don’t have a networking problem. You have a strategy problem. I recently recorded this ConquerCast episode with ⁠Stacy Brooks ⁠, and after it ended, three things became very clear to me. If you get these right, your entire appro...

In this episode of ConquerCast episode, I sat down with Dr. Manjeet Prewal (owner of Kartar Health ) to unpackwhat holistic leadership actually looks like in real life. Here’s one core idea that stayed with me: 💥 When leaders don’t do the inner work, it shows up in how they lead others .. especially in their energy, presence, and decision-making . Chronic stress doesn’t stay hidden. It leaks into...

In this episode, Dr. Ravinder Singh , General and Minimally Invasive Surgeon at North Bay Regional Health Centre, walks through what leadership looks like in surgical environments. Whether it’s building trust with patients to guiding teams through crisis and making decisions when resources are limited. We talked about accountability, communication, patient-centered care, and what’s actually wrong...

Ever notice how the best salespeople aren’t “selling” at all?   They’re connecting. Listening. Asking questions that make you think. Not just about their product, but about your own possibilities.   That’s what my guest, Anna Granic , and I explored on this episode of ConquerCast. Anna’s a powerhouse in sales, motivation, and LinkedIn strategy. Her story’s one of grit and growth .. moving from hea...

If you think you “arrive” as a leader once you land the big role, think again.   Do you know any leaders who believe that once they get the title, the corner office, or the fancy red sports care ..  that’s it. They’ve “made it.” ? Here’s the truth: leadership isn’t about arrival. It’s about growth. Stop growing, and you stop leading. This is exactly what Laura Johnston and I unpacked on this episo...

This time, the tables were turned. Instead of me doing the interviewing, I was in the hot seat, joining Mansi, host of Elevate: A DBNC Leadership Podcast. Here’s the truth: newcomers often underestimate the leadership skills they already bring with them. But think about it .. when you’re new to a country, every single day requires courage and making decisions without certainty. 🎧 Check out the fu...

Two leaders. Two worlds. One conversation that will change how you think about communication. When two Master of Communications Management (MCM) alumni share their stories … and one other MCM alumni layers in his perspective, you get more than theory. You get expert lessons you can use right away! In this ConquerCast episode, I speak with Eileen Marlowe and Sara Goldvine .. leaders in completely d...

Let’s face it .. job searching today isn’t what it was even a year ago.   AI tools, hidden opportunities, resume scanners… it’s a lot.   And for many, working a 9-5 job is either the preferred option or what they're choosing for the moment. That's ok! In fact, my family and I have all worked/are working 9-5.   That’s why in this special episode of ConquerCast, I brought together three powe...

Ever wonder what it REALLY takes to lead a municipal government team? Vision. Strategy. HEART? What? Yup!   Specifically, heart-centred leadership! This is why I want you to listen to the latest episode of ConquerCast, where we don't just TALK leadership, we LIVE IT. I sat down with Annette, a Chief Administrative Officer who's doing it differently. She’s not just leading a team. She’s bui...

Meet my new friend Kamika. A mother of six. 16 years of frontline healthcare experience. Founder of Perfect Selection. An advisor to East Toronto Health Partners. Hold up! These are accomplishments of ONE person? YUP!   This is what makes this next episode of ConquerCast so good! HOT DAMN!   We talked about Kamika's experiences as a leader, highlighting patience and the ability to listen as ke...

I had the pleasure of joining my friend Hammad on his podcast to share my story and some key communication lessons I've learned along the way. If you're looking to level up your communication, presentation, or public speaking skills, check out this blog post where I share even more tips: MAGIC ON THE MIC. 💥 Subscribe to the Conquer Leadership weekly email newsletter for the latest insight...

I'm excited for this latest episode of ConquerCast where I sit down with Tonia Bennett.   I've had the pleasure of coaching Tonia who is a seasoned leader in municipal government, serving in various roles in the municipal sector, with an impressive 17 years of experience.  Her most recent position held, a Municipal CAO/Clerk.   What I appreciate the most about Tonia is her ability to take...

In this episode, I speak with Shequille Gayle, the founder and CEO of SJG Workplace Consulting and Investigations Inc. Shequille has completed more than 100 workplace investigations. He specializes in handling cases related to harassment, violence, discrimination, and human rights. Shequille is passionate about creating respectful workplace cultures.   We also talk about lessons we've learned...

Meet my new friend Andrew who served in the Canadian and U.S. Armed Forces. He now serves in a different way, in municipal government. As the Chief of Staff at Town of Oakville, Andrew and I had a powerful conversation, re-thinking leadership. We were able to draw from his experiences in the military and politics, and talk about what true leadership means - qualities that go beyond titles and acco...

Another episode of ConquerCast is out and we're focusing on NOT apologizing for authentic leadership. In my recent conversation with Nancy, we discussed themes connected to leadership, personal growth and excellence. Nancy is a retired Detective with the Durham Regional Police Service and a trailblazer in her field. She has spent over 30 years shaping not just her own career but also the environme...

Another episode of ConquerCast is out and we're focusing on retirement and un-retirement!   I'm excited to introduce to you all, Sonya Sokoliuk. After over 30 years in the airline industry, she didn’t just retire—she switched gears completely and re-hired herself in the mortgage and financial services world. 🚀 Talk about a career 180!   Sonya is now a mortgage agent and has teamed up with The Mor...

I had a blast speaking with my good friend, Harneak. He's the founder of HSB Visualz Inc. Harneak and I have done some coaching together and his entrepreneurship journey is truly inspiring!   During our conversation, Harneak shared how our coaching sessions helped him set clear goals and appreciate the power of human connection. He also offered practical advice for entrepreneurs on enhancing their...

Here's a short and sweet conversation with Carolyn from Noomi. We talked about the types of people I work with for 1:1 coaching, my process, client outcomes/feedback and my background. 💥 Subscribe to the Conquer Leadership weekly email newsletter for the latest insights and tips on leadership development, team engagement and personal excellence! Visit: ⁠conquerleadership.ca.

I had a blast speaking with Doreen and Sandra . They host a weekly LinkedIn live session, "CRAFT YOUR PATHWAY TO SUCCESS", talking about different topics related to personal growth, professional development and more!   I was asked to talk about values, as it relates to personal values exploration perspective and organizational values. One of the things I talked about is an exercise/proce...

Up until a few years ago, I didn’t know another communications leader that looked like me. Then I met Rashpal Rai during a virtual conference hosted by the Master of Communications Management program (MCM) . He had me at “hello” 😁. A few months ago I had the pleasure of having a very real and open conversation with Rashpal about our experiences as communication and PR leaders. From our initial in...

I was a guest on The MacCast podcast not too long ago, a space for alumni of McMaster University to share more about their journey after graduation. We talked about starting my educational journey thinking I would find my dream career in computer science, but nothing in the program seemed to click for. It wasn’t until I started working that I discovered the possibilities of a career in PR and comm...

I recently had the pleasure of talking with Nicole from Prospect2Win about how personal development has a direct link to sales outcomes. Working on your self-development can impact all areas of your life, including business. Here's some of what we discussed: What makes a great leader in business? How does personal development relate to effective sales? What inspires you to do what you do? I al...

I had the pleasure of talking with my buddy Luki not too long ago. He is the founder of FOCUS INSPIRED , looking to elevate education and positively impact a billion people. He does this by helping elevate and accelerate your job, career and life. In this conversations we discuss my journey from computer science to business and finally finding my calling in leadership coaching through a surprising...