The Voice of Retail

In the first episode of The Voice of Retail for 2026, host Michael LeBlanc is joined by John Bayliss, Chief Executive Officer of Mastermind Toys , for an in-depth conversation on specialty retail, the evolving toy category, and why franchising has become a central pillar of the brand’s next phase of growth. Bayliss brings a rare operator’s perspective shaped by a global career in consulting and se...

In this timely episode of The Voice of Retail , host Michael LeBlanc is joined by Aamir Lakhani, Global Director of Threat Intelligence and Artificial Intelligence at Fortinet, for a deep and sobering conversation on the evolving cyber threat landscape facing retailers as they close out 2025 and prepare for 2026. Lakhani leads adversarial AI research within FortiGuard Labs, Fortinet’s global R&D a...

In this episode of The Voice of Retail , host Michael LeBlanc sits down with Mat Povse, President of Best Buy Canada , live on the stage in Vancouver at Retail Council of Canada's Retail West stage for a wide-ranging and candid conversation on leadership, innovation, omnichannel retail, and the future of consumer technology in Canada. Povse begins by unpacking what is currently working at Best Buy...

The Voice of Retail welcomes back Sean McCormick, Vice President, Business Development, Moneris Data Services , for a fast-moving, data-rich breakdown of the most closely watched retail moment of the year: Black Friday 2025 . As the executive helping steer Moneris’s industry-leading data capabilities, McCormick offers a uniquely authoritative look at what Canadians actually did when the doors open...

In the latest episode of The Voice of Retail , host Michael LeBlanc sits down with Liza Amlani, Chief Merchant and Principal of Retail Strategy Group , who returns to the podcast to share timely insights from her new book, "The Material Life: Process Innovation for Retailers and Brands" Recognized globally as a retail thought leader, Amlani brings her two decades of merchandising expertise to a pr...

In this engaging and wide-ranging episode of The Voice of Retail , Michael reconnects with Selwyn Crittendon, CEO and Chief Sustainability Officer for IKEA Canada , nearly two years after his arrival in the Canadian market. Selwyn reflects on his remarkable journey through IKEA over the past 23 years—from his early days in the Washington, D.C. store to leading Canadian operations—and offers an ins...

In this highly anticipated annual episode of The Voice of Retail , host Michael LeBlanc welcomes back Eric Morris, Managing Director of Retail at Google Canada , to unpack Google’s 2025 Holiday Retail Insights Report —a tradition that has become a favourite among Canadian retailers. Eric brings more than two decades of experience helping brands leverage Google Search, YouTube, and AI-driven techno...

In this episode of The Voice of Retail , host Michael LeBlanc sits down with Elisa Swern, National Consumer Markets Leader at PwC Canada , to unpack the insights behind PwC’s newly released 2025 Canadian Holiday Outlook —a comprehensive view into how consumers plan to shop, save, and celebrate amid an uncertain economy. Elisa shares her journey from family retail roots to leading PwC’s national co...

Recorded live in person at Hopson Grace in Toronto, this inspiring episode of The Voice of Retail features host Michael LeBlanc sitting down with two leaders who are shaping the intersection of craftsmanship, culture, and commerce: Martha McKimm , Co-Founder of Hopson Grace , and Shelley Simpson , Founder of Mud Australia . Together, they unpack the art and business of building brands that thrive...

In this insightful episode of The Voice of Retail podcast, host Michael LeBlanc welcomes Malin Andrée , EY Global, EMEIA and Nordics Retail Leader , and Jon Copestake , EY Global Consumer Senior Analyst , to unpack the latest findings from EY’s Future Consumer Index —a global study tracking the shifting habits and expectations of 20,000 consumers across 27 countries. Now in its fifteenth edition,...

In this compelling new episode of The Voice of Retail , host Michael LeBlanc sits down with Jean-Pierre Lacroix, President of SLD (Shikatani Lacroix Design) —a global design visionary whose work has shaped retail and brand experiences for more than three decades. Lacroix joins the podcast to share insights from his groundbreaking new book, Think Blink: Creating Deep, Lasting, Emotional Brand Conne...

In this must-listen episode of The Voice of Retail , host Michael LeBlanc welcomes back Rob Garf , now VP and Head of Industry Strategy at Cordial , to discuss how artificial intelligence is reshaping marketing, consumer engagement, and the future of retail personalization. A longtime retail strategist and thought leader, Garf brings decades of experience “at the intersection of retail, consumer,...

In this episode of The Voice of Retail , host Michael LeBlanc sits down with Chris Parsons, VP Partner Growth & Marketing at Hale Performance Marketing and author of the new book Retail Rewired: How Modern Retail Leaders Drive Growth and Reinvention , for a compelling conversation about the future of retail leadership, customer experience, and loyalty. With more than 25 years of retail experience...

In this episode of The Voice of Retail Podcast , host Michael LeBlanc sits down with Michael Zabaneh, Vice President, Sustainability at the Retail Council of Canada , for an in-depth discussion on the future of sustainability in Canadian retail. With over 15 years of experience spanning global recycling ventures, luxury brands, and corporate advocacy, Michael shares a front-row perspective on how...

In this episode of The Voice of Retail podcast , host Michael LeBlanc sits down in person with Sebastian Picardo, President & CEO of Holt Renfrew , to explore the evolution of luxury retail in Canada and the global forces shaping the industry. Sebastian begins by sharing his personal journey from Buenos Aires to London, where he launched his luxury career at Alexander McQueen, followed by senior r...

In this episode of The Voice of Retail , Michael LeBlanc sits down with Mark Ryski, Founder & CEO of HeadCount and three-time retail author , to explore why store traffic remains one of the most underutilized and misunderstood metrics in modern retail. With over two decades of experience pioneering traffic and conversion analytics, Mark shares insights from his new book, Store Traffic is a Gift ,...

In this dynamic episode of The Voice of Retail , host Michael LeBlanc welcomes Fawad Baig, Retail Industry Lead, Accenture Canada , to unpack Accenture’s latest global consumer report: Me, My Brand, and AI . With insights drawn from over 18,000 respondents worldwide, including Canadians, this research sheds light on how uncertainty and generative AI are reshaping consumer trust, loyalty, and shopp...

In this episode of The Voice of Retail podcast, host Michael LeBlanc welcomes back retail strategist, educator, and thought leader David Ian Gray , Principal of DIG360 Consulting Ltd. and retail faculty at Capilano University’s School of Business. Together, they explore the latest Angus Reid survey on Canadian shopping habits and the rapidly evolving pre-owned and circular retail economy . David b...

On this encore episode Michael LeBlanc welcomes Carson Arthur, media personality and independent retailer, and the founder of Carson’s Garden & Market in Prince Edward County . Carson’s career journey is anything but traditional—moving from launching brands at Procter & Gamble, to building a television career as a design and gardening expert, and now into the world of retail entrepreneurship. Cars...

In this captivating episode of The Voice of Retail , host Michael LeBlanc sits down with Cameron Conn , CEO of Champlain Apparel , to explore an extraordinary career journey that spans Las Vegas casinos, tech startups, and Canada’s emerging entry-level luxury menswear scene. Raised in a third-generation casino family, Cameron’s early career in hospitality taught him the art of customer service, lo...

Retail success isn't just about having a fantastic product—it's about understanding the business of selling. On this special encore episode of The Voice of Retail , I welcome Liza Amlani, renowned retail strategist and co-author of The Whole Sale: Profitable Wholesale Strategies for Brands . Liza shares insider insights from her 20+ years in buying, merchandising, and retail consulting, helping br...

On this Encore episode of The Voice of Retail , host Michael LeBlanc speaks with retail strategist, professor, and author Carl Boutet about his journey in academia and his latest book, Blind Spot: Navigating the Unforeseen Effects of Technology on Commerce . Carl discusses his evolving role in retail education, including his work at McGill University and teaching in Asia. He shares how his exposur...

In this episode of The Voice of Retail , I’m thrilled to welcome back Chris Jones, Founder and CEO of Cannabis Xpress, for his third appearance on the show. Chris offers an insider’s view of the fast-changing cannabis retail landscape in Canada. Since we last spoke, Cannabis Xpress has grown to 21 stores—14 in Ontario and 7 in New Brunswick—becoming the largest private cannabis retailer in New Bru...

In this special live episode of The Voice of Retail , recorded at RCC STORE 2025 , I sit down with two retail thought leaders: Simone Lumsden , Senior Vice-President, Triangle Customer Loyalty and Triangle Retail Media, Canadian Tire Corporation , and Sandra Duff , Founder and Principal at Another Story Consulting . Together, we explore what it takes to deliver loyalty, excitement, and differentia...

In this episode of The Voice of Retail, I’m joined by James B. Smith, Founder and CEO of Rare Placement, for a wide-ranging conversation on modern leadership, executive search, and the future of talent in the retail industry. James brings an exceptional career journey to the mic, beginning in advertising with agencies like Grey and Ogilvy, moving into marketing leadership at Citibank, in leadershi...