Mission Critical with Lance Chung

Laurie May has long been a guiding force that continues to shape the narrative voice of the film industry. As co-founder and co-president of Elevation Pictures, a Canadian distribution and production company, Laurie's vision has always been to make an impact by telling a wide range of independent stories that resonate with audiences—to help viewers feel acknowledged and represented. (After all, ci...

In a world that is increasingly becoming defined by technological advancements and endless content scrolling, what role does a symphony orchestra play in the big picture of it all? It's a question that Mark Williams has had to confront in his role as CEO of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra (TSO).   The challenge ahead is an interesting one—how do you honour the rich legacy of a century-old cult...

Leonard Brody is an award-winning entrepreneur, venture capitalist, and bestselling author. As co-founder of Caravan, a venture with Creative Artists Agency (CAA), the two-time Emmy-nominated media visionary shares insights with Lance about the intricacies of building ventures for global icons like Carrie Underwood and Tom Hanks, and what brands should consider before entering into a partnership w...

You may know SKIMS for its celebrity co-founder, Kim Kardashian, but are you aware of its other co-founder? On this episode of Mission Critical, SKIMS CEO and co-founder Jens Grede joins Lance to talk about his fascinating entrepreneurial journey, his experience working with Kim, and the evolution of the celebrity-driven brand. Here's what you can expect from this episode: What makes a great brand...

In GLORY Features, we're expanding our podcast to bring you more guests and their expert advice on what small business owners, entrepreneurs, and leaders should know, today. In this episode, host Lance Chung sits down with Leigh Tynan, Director of Online Security at TELUS. Tynan brings her wealth of experience to the table, offering a comprehensive overview of the current state of cybersecurity, d...

Over the years, society has had to reckon with much-needed change in order to build a more equitable future. Like many other cultural institutions, the fashion industry has not been quick to change. Thankfully, there are those within the ecosystem who have pushed for progress by empowering others and embracing innovation. At the forefront of this change stands supermodel Coco Rocha, a name syn...

George Soleas is the President and CEO of the Liquor Control Board of Ontario (LCBO), one of the world’s most influential forces in the world of spirits. In this special live recording of Mission Critical Live: The Bold Conversations (presented by Veuve Clicquot), George chats with Lance and shares his extraordinary journey from a refugee in Cyprus to the C-suite. Starting as a chef in Ontario, he...

Amidst the ever-evolving landscape of the fashion industry, where institutionalized norms have often stifled progress and diversity, a crescendo of voices is challenging the status quo. At the helm of this movement stands Lauren Chan, a powerful advocate for inclusivity and genuine representation. Her journey has been multifaceted—from her tenure as a magazine editor, where she championed diverse,...

Barbora Samieian is the co-founder of SUNDAYS, a Vancouver-based e-commerce brand that's revolutionizing the furniture industry. The first of our Bold Conversations series (presented by Veuve Clicquot) to be recorded on the road, we headed to Vancouver and gathered a group of the city's leaders at the Carlino (located inside the Shangri-La Hotel) for this week's episode. Barbora is no stranger to...

In a world of fast fashion and fleeting trends, San Francisco-based Everlane has emerged as a beacon of ethical elegance, redefining the industry with its commitment to transparency, sustainability, and style. At the heart of this groundbreaking brand is its visionary founder, Michael Preysman, whose mission to revolutionize the way we consume and think about fashion has captured the hearts of con...

Jenn Harper is the CEO and founder of Cheekbone Beauty, an Indigenous-owned and founded cosmetics company that creates sustainable beauty products with the added goal of making a difference in the lives of Indigenous youth.  In front of a live audience, Lance and Jenn sat down to discuss her entrepreneurial journey, the core tenets of Indigenous business, and how she got Cheekbone Beauty onto...

In this episode of Mission Critical, we dive into the world of sustainability, innovation, and entrepreneurship with a true industry pioneer, Stuart Lombard, the visionary CEO and founder of ecobee. Stuart and Lance discuss his remarkable story of how he transformed his passion for environmental sustainability into the groundbreaking smart thermostat company, ecobee; the pivotal moments that shape...

In an age when Canadian talent feels more prominently featured in mainstream Hollywood than ever before, actor Jay Baruchel stands as a distinct directorial and acting voice. From an early age, it was clear that he was destined for the spotlight. His breakthrough role came in the late 1990s with the critically acclaimed Canadian TV series, Popular Mechanics for Kids , where he first had the chan...

Ashley Alexis McFarlane is the creative visionary and founder behind Omi Woods, a luxury jewelry brand that focuses on creating contemporary and sustainable heirlooms that celebrate African culture. In front of a live audience, Lance and Ashley sat down to discuss her entrepreneurial journey, the significance of precious metals in African culture, and what the heirlooms of the future will look lik...

Known as the ‘Olympics of Tech,’ Collision is the brainchild of founder Paddy Cosgrave, who has built the annual tech conference into one of the biggest global gatherings of tech founders, entrepreneurs, startups, and world leaders. Since 2019, Collision has welcomed over 70,000 people to Toronto and is forecasted to have a total economic impact of $188 million over the course of its residency in...

This episode is presented by Bold by Veuve Clicquot as part of the Mission Critical: The Bold Conversations series, which celebrates pioneering and visionary women leaders. Check out the Bold Open Database: www.boldopendatabase.com Reetu Gupta is an activist, philanthropist, co-founder of Rogue Insight Capital Ltd., President of the Gupta Family Foundation, and Ambassadress of The Gupta Group. Und...

Apply for the Veuve Clicquot Bold Woman Award: https://www.veuveclicquot.com/en-ca/bold-by-veuve-clicquot/about What is it that draws us to comedy? Some of our favourite experiences and memories center around moments of laughter. But beyond the obvious, perhaps another reason that explains the magnetic effect of comedy is its ability to speak to the human experience—to illuminate ways in which we...

When Turning Red debuted in early 2022, Canadians rejoiced. Directed by Canadian filmmaker, animator, and Academy Award winner Domee Shi (who became the first woman to solo direct a Pixar feature film), the animated film told the story of a young Chinese-Canadian tween girl torn between meeting the expectations of her immigrant parents and her experience navigating the changes that we must confron...

According to a 2021 survey conducted by The Podcast Exchange, the potential for podcasts continues to grow. Nearly 12 million Canadian adults (or 38% of the 18+ population) have listened to podcasts in the past year. Podcast listeners also over-index for being young and diverse, have higher educations, and live in households of over $100K. In the US, these numbers are even larger with over 82 mill...

If you’re a basketball fan and a Canadian, few experiences will ever be able to match what happened in the summer of 2019. In the best-of-seven playoff series, the Toronto Raptors (Canada’s only basketball team) went on to defeat two-time defending and six-time NBA championship winners the Golden State Warriors. It was a season of many firsts, including the first championship win for the Toronto R...

There are a handful of consumer brands here in Canada that have established themselves as captains of their respective industries. Iconic institutions that have not only withstood the test of time but have also known how to adapt and evolve with the changing tides of culture and commerce. Harry Rosen is one of them.  Take a stroll in any high-end mall, financial district, or along a luxurious...

When it comes to real estate, everyone has an opinion on the matter. To buy or not to buy? Invest now or wait for the bubble to burst? Rent or own? And let’s not even get started on these interest rates… One thing that remains largely unanimous is the increasing difficulty of being able to tap into the market, to get your foot in the door and assume the mantle of property owner. That’s where today...

Hotels are so much more than places where we choose to rest our heads. Traveler or not, today they serve as cultural institutions—multi-hyphenate anchors within our communities that serve as a destination to break bread, share drink, collaborate, inspire, build, and forge cherished memories. Brad Wilson is the CEO and co-parter of Ace Hotel Group and the brand’s in-house creative agency Atelier Ac...

Rami Atallah is the CEO and co-founder of SSENSE, a technology platform that focuses on nurturing emerging talent while simultaneously championing today’s most powerful and established luxury brands. What started as part of his computer engineering graduate thesis, Rami founded SSENSE alongside his brothers, Firas and Bassel, to address the needs of the new generation of consumers. They wanted to...

Like any other industry that has remained largely unchanged in the way it operates and functions, it’s an exciting time to talk about real estate right now. Not just because of how hot this or that market is or rising interest rates, but because of the increasing impact that technology and innovation are having on the sector. Real estate agents are, by any measure, entrepreneurs. And entrepreneurs...