The Exec Hotseat Podcast [Executive]

From Piano Teacher to Global Entrepreneur: Glory St. Germain on Coaching, Courage & Creating Opportunity Featuring: Glory St. Germain, Founder & CEO of Ultimate Music Theory In this episode of The Exec Hotseat Podcast , host Lisa Thompson sits down with visionary entrepreneur, TEDx speaker, bestselling author, educator, and business coach Glory St. Germain . What started as teaching piano lessons...

Featuring: Fred Meier, President and CEO of RRC Polytech In this episode of The Exec Hotseat Podcast, Lisa Thompson and Amanda Buhse connect with Fred Meier, President and CEO of RRC Polytech for a thoughtful conversation about leadership, public service, innovation, and the future of education in Manitoba. Fred shares his journey from growing up in Winnipeg as the child of immigrants to spending...

Featuring:  Rachael Hatala , Founder and Designer of The Laughing Sparrow   In this episode of The Exec Hotseat Podcast, Lisa Thompson and Amanda Buhse sit down with Calgary entrepreneur Rachael Hatala, the creative force behind The Laughing Sparrow. Known for her minimalist, handcrafted jewelry and bold personality, Rachael has built a brand that blends artistry with entrepreneurship while stayin...

Featuring:  Lisa Windsor , lead singer of Mach 10, the official band of the Winnipeg Jets.   In this episode of the Exec Hotseat Podcast, Lisa Windsor shares the story behind the voice that now energizes thousands of Jets fans every game night. Known for her powerhouse vocals and high-energy performances, Lisa has built a career performing across Manitoba with her band Flatland Famous and, more re...

Featuring: Nicole Dubé, owner of Dubé Media Consulting and Storytelling, former host of CTV Morning Live Winnipeg, and founder of Winnipeg StorySlam.   Nicole Dubé spent two decades in broadcast news living the "viewer first" mindset, chasing clarity, and learning how to hold attention in a world that moves fast. Then the questions started. During the pandemic, with burnout creeping in and the ind...

Executive Hotseat Podcast | Episode 22 Featuring: Zak Biggs, Director of Marketing, Goodlawyer   This isn't your average legal story. From pounding lawns in high school with his future co-founder to leading the marketing charge for one of Canada's boldest legal tech startups, Zak Biggs is helping Goodlawyer rewrite the rulebook - by being unapologetically human. In this episode, Zak shares how a s...

Executive Hotseat Podcast | Episode 21 | Calgary Series Featuring: April Brown, Founder & Visionary behind Rootbar   From playing with Barbies to founding one of the most innovative salon concepts in Canada, April Brown has always had a vision and she's making it real. In this episode, April shares how Rootbar was born during COVID as a response to time-starved clients and outdated models. But thi...

Executive Hotseat Podcast | Episode 20 Featuring: Harman Dhaliwal & Gabrielle Zoppa, Co-Founders of Spa Botanica What happens when two near-strangers launch a wellness spa with no money, no safety net, and no backup plan? You get Spa Botanica - one of Winnipeg's most beloved spas, built on Ayurvedic principles, natural skincare, and unshakable trust. Harman and Gabby didn't just grow a business. T...

Episode 19 | Christine Thiessen, Founder of the Winnipeg Women's Conference & Community What started as an idea during lockdown is now Canada's largest women's conference. In this episode, Christine Thiessen shares how trusting her gut (while pregnant, no less), ignoring the naysayers, and leaning on her love for Excel turned a vision into a movement. As the driving force behind both the Winnipeg...

Episode 18 | Your Idea Is Enough: Jane Helbrecht & Margaux Miller on TEDx Talks, Storytelling, and Building a Speaking Career In this episode of Executive Hotseat, we sit down with two globally recognized speakers - Jane Helbrecht, leadership expert and founder of Uplift Engagement, and Margaux Miller, TED-featured MC and connection strategist - to unpack how they each built and delivered standout...

Episode 17 | RRC Polytech Alumni Series episode 6 Todd Burns of Cypher Environmental and Terry Sulpher of Mountainside Earthworks share how a single project sparked a two-decade partnership that's now transforming how Canada thinks about sustainability. From Red River Polytech beginnings to global clean-tech impact, this conversation dives into education, innovation, and the relationships that mak...

Executive Hotseat Podcast - Episode 16 | RRC Polytech Alumni Series - Episode 5 Featuring: Doug Darling, CEO and Executive Creative Director, Tripwire Media Group   Doug's friends tease him for talking about story all the time. He wears it as a badge. In this conversation, Doug traces a very Winnipeg arc: meeting his future wife at RRC Polytech, launching a small video outfit in the Exchange durin...

The Exec Hotseat Podcast | Episode 15 Featuring: Natalie Bell, Founder of Natalie Bell Consulting   Amanda Buhse and Lisa Thompson sit down with Natalie Bell, Founder of Natalie Bell Consulting, for a powerful conversation about leadership, authenticity, and the power of using your voice with purpose. With over 25 years of experience in People & Culture, Natalie shares how speaking from lived expe...

Show Notes The Exec Hotseat Podcast | Episode 14 Featuring: Giovanna Minenna, Founder of Brows by G   In Episode 3 of our RRC Polytech Alumni Series, Amanda Buhse and Lisa Thompson sit down with Giovanna Minenna — the original Brows by G. Brow queen. Beauty mogul. And now, for the first time ever, unfiltered truth-teller. CANCEL CULTURE. DRAGONS' DEN. ANONYMOUS ACCOUNTS. You've heard the whispers....

The Exec Hot Seat Podcast | Episode 13 Featuring: Justine McDonald, Founder of Goal Chasers & Stay at Home Legends In this 2nd episode of our RRC Polytech Alumni Series, Amanda Buhse and Lisa Thompson sit down with Justine McDonald - an RRC Polytech alum, former marketing manager, and the magnetic force behind Goal Chasers and Stay at Home Legends. What began with a viral planner and a chaotic pos...

The Exec Hotseat Podcast | Episode 12 From Classroom to CentrePort: Reframing Leadership, Collaboration, and Economic Growth Featuring: Carly Edmundson, President & CEO, CentrePort Canada In this first episode of, not only Season 2 of The Exec Hotseat Podcast, but also of our RRC Polytech Alumni Series, hosts Lisa Thompson and Amanda Buhse sit down with Carly Edmundson - a proud RRC Polytech alumn...

The Exec Hotseat Podcast | Episode 11 From Classroom to Clubhouse: How Karli Colpitts is Remixing Entrepreneurship & Community Featuring: Karli Colpitts, Founder: Tempo Collective In this high-energy episode of The Executive Hotseat, hosts Lisa Thompson and Amanda Buhse sit down with Karli Colpitts, also known as DJ K Chedda, the powerhouse behind Tempo Collective, a dynamic music entertainment co...

The Exec Hotseat Podcast | Episode 10 Building Community with Intention: Leilah Perchaluk on Curated Connections and Conscious Growth Featuring: Leilah Perchaluk, Founder, Knew House In this episode, hosts Lisa Thompson and Amanda Buhse sit down with Leilah Perchaluk, founder of Knew House - a private membership community for high-achieving women. Leilah shares her journey from archaeologist and i...

Executive Hotseat Podcast | Episode 09: Kevin Selch on operating in Winnipeg's unique craft beer market In this episode, hosts Lisa Thompson and Amanda Buhse sit down with Kevin Selch, Founder of Little Brown Jug Brewing Company. Kevin talks about the transition from being a senior economist in the federal government to founding a local brewery in Winnipeg. Key Points:  - Kevin says he was driven...

In this inspiring episode, hosts Lisa Thompson (BRD | Brand Revival & Design Inc.) and Amanda Buhse (Coal & Canary) welcome Jessica Dumas - a trailblazer in public speaking, speaker coaching, and leadership development. Jessica shares her powerful journey from overcoming personal doubts and imposter syndrome to becoming the first Indigenous woman to chair a chamber of commerce. With an impressive...

Executive Hotseat Podcast | Episode 08: Derek Earl on Turning Business into Climate Action In this episode, hosts Lisa Thompson and Amanda Buhse sit down with Derek Earl, the President of Biz for Climate, to discuss how businesses can take meaningful action against climate change. With nearly 20 years of experience in ESG, corporate strategy, and economic development, Derek shares his journey from...

The Executive Hotseat Podcast | Episode 07: Insights from Winnipeg Mayor Scott Gillingham In this episode, hosts Lisa Thompson and Amanda Buhse sit down with Winnipeg's 44th Mayor, Scott Gillingham, for an in-depth conversation about leadership, innovation, and community. Elected in October 2022, Mayor Gillingham shares his journey from growing up on a Manitoba farm to serving as a pastor for over...

Ace Burpee on Building a Brand, Giving Back, and Staying Grounded The Executive Hotseat Podcast | Episode 06: Ace Burpee with Virgin 103.1   In this episode, hosts Lisa Thompson and Amanda Buhse sit down with the legendary Ace Burpee, celebrated radio personality and host of Winnipeg's premiere morning show on Virgin 103.1. Ace shares his fascinating journey from small-town beginnings in Cooks Cre...

The Executive Hotseat Podcast | Episode 5 Human-Centric Leadership: Empowering Community through Innovation, Collaboration & Heart - Insights from Loren Remillard, CEO, Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce.    In this episode, hosts Lisa Thompson and Amanda Buhse engage in a compelling conversation with Loren Remillard, President and CEO of the Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce. Loren shares his inspiring jour...

The Exec Hotseat Podcast | Episode 4: Dr. Norman Silver / Dave Berkowits of QDoc In this episode, hosts Lisa Thompson and Amanda Buhse dive into an inspiring conversation with Dr. Norman Silver and Dave Berkowits, CEO + CTO, of QDoc Virtual Healthcare. Dr. Silver, a seasoned healthcare leader and innovator, shares his journey from pediatric emergency physician to entrepreneur, along side his broth...