Leaders Of Tomorrow Podcast

Ever wondered how some leaders rise from devastating beginnings to shatter records and inspire others? This episode is a full-access pass into the life and mindset of Ashley Ayles, a Student Works Management Program operator from Fredericton, who went from a turbulent childhood to boldly aiming for a million-dollar business, all while in university. Host Chris Thomson peels back the layers on Ashl...

Have you ever felt like your biggest obstacle is your own uncertainty about the future? In this electric conversation, Chris Thomson welcomes powerhouse alum Chad Humphrey, a history grad who became a national leader in medical device sales after nearly walking away from his dreams as a young entrepreneur. Chad unpacks hard-won truths about relentless resilience, life-changing mentorship, and the...

What if your biggest growth breakthrough is just one bold decision away? In this exclusive episode, Chris Thomson sits down with 2024’s top StudentWorks rookies, Christian Corben and Mikhail Lopez, to uncover the hidden habits, resilience rituals, and mindset strategies that propelled them to nearly $50K in sales before winter’s end. These up-and-coming leaders reveal the real obstacles—internal a...

What truly separates the leaders who inspire and elevate from those who simply manage? Are you ready for the kind of wisdom that makes uncomfortable ownership, integrity, and humility not just buzzwords, but daily practices that build winning teams? In this exclusive Leadership Collage episode, host Chris Thomson brings together the most impactful moments from alumni and operator conversations, fe...

Ever feel like the success you crave is just out of reach, blocked by self-doubt or a lack of clarity? This exclusive episode features Eric Fullerton, a lightning-fast riser who went from average student to Adobe’s youngest Enterprise Account Director in New York by harnessing failure, radical ownership, and a playbook he first tested as a Student Works operator. Host Chris Thomson dives deep with...

What would it feel like to finally break through your limits and know for certain you belonged at the top? In this energizing episode, Chris Thomson welcomes star operator Mathieu Champagne, fresh off scaling his student enterprise from rookie status to a high-performing, multi-hundred-thousand-dollar juggernaut. Their no-holds-barred conversation unpacks the REAL story behind radical growth: why...

Ever wonder what separates a thriving leader from the crowd, especially when the stakes are sky-high? In this riveting episode, Chris Thomson sits down with Darryl Leroy, a corporate trailblazer who rose from small-town roots and student jobs to powerhouse roles at P&G, Maple Leaf Foods, and high-impact consulting. Together, they unveil the real-life playbooks, risks, and victories behind buil...

Do you ever wonder if you’re holding yourself back just because you haven’t found your spark yet? In this revealing conversation, Chris Thomson sits down with Charles Bédard, the University of Ottawa student who turned a “lazy worker” mentality into a $200,000+ business breakthrough. Together, they explore how ruthless self-reflection, competitive drive, and a surprising ability to make work fun f...

Do you ever wonder what truly separates successful business owners from the pack? What hidden habits, tough pivots, and real-life lessons matter in the long run? In this energizing episode, Chris Thomson sits down with Ted Duncan, an accomplished real estate leader and Student Works Management Program alum, whose career took him everywhere from high-stakes sailing in Muskoka to leading top-perform...

Ever wonder why health feels like a losing battle for high achievers even when you “know what to do”? If you’re tired of the Monday restarts, toxic self-criticism, and feeling like your energy never matches your ambition, this episode is your permission slip to break the cycle and reclaim your power. Chris Thompson welcomes health and mindset coach Steph Kawaja, founder of She’s Better Than Ever,...

What if the ONLY thing standing between you and extraordinary success is how you leverage your values and your time? Whether you dream of leading high-impact teams, building a thriving business, or setting yourself apart as a transformative entrepreneur, this episode is your inside pass to leadership mastery. Chris Thompson welcomes back talent optimization expert Rob Friday, live and unscripted....

Are you still trying to do everything alone, risking burnout and missing your true potential? This episode features Kaleb O'Very, the three-time “Operator of the Year” who scaled his student business to unprecedented heights, and Chris Thompson, Student Works Management Program Head Coach. You’ll hear Kaleb’s raw and inspiring journey from self-doubt and bad habits to elite leadership and record-b...

In this end-of-year solo episode, Chris Thomson reflects on one of the most transformational chapters in the history of Student Works. From smashing revenue records to reinventing the company’s systems, 2025 marked massive progress for the team and set the stage for an even stronger 2026. Chris walks through the company’s growth, the evolution of the Leaders of Tomorrow podcast, breakthroughs in t...

This week, we’re sharing the first part of a recast of Chris Thomson’s powerful conversation on Paper Napkin Wisdom with host Govindh Jayaraman. In this second part of “Cancer Is a Journey,” Chris opens up about the next chapter of his cancer experience, from jaundice and hospitalization to finally receiving a confirmed diagnosis and beginning chemotherapy. What unfolds is a story not just of trea...

This week, we’re sharing the first part of a recast of Chris Thomson’s powerful conversation on Paper Napkin Wisdom with host Govindh Jayaraman. In this deeply personal episode, Chris opens up about his cancer journey, from the moment he was told he had a large mass on his liver and bile ducts, through the confusion of a terrifying working diagnosis, to the mindset and gratitude practices that hel...

What happens when success meets humility and life throws you the ultimate curveball? In this deeply personal conversation, Chris Thomson sits down with Jakob Graham, a three-year veteran of the Student Works Management Program and incoming coach, to unpack how entrepreneurship, ego, and family challenges shaped him into a grounded, mature leader. Jakob shares his journey from being a confident 21-...

This week, we’re sharing a recast of Chris Thomson’s feature on Canadians Leading With Impac t, where he sat down with Troy Treleaven and Kevin Robert Crone from Dale Carnegie Canada to talk about leadership, mindset, and building Canada’s next generation of entrepreneurs. Chris shares how he’s spent over three decades developing thousands of young Canadian entrepreneurs, turning ambitious student...

What happens when early success turns into your biggest obstacle? In this powerful conversation, Chris Thomson sits down with Colby Wilson , a Wilfrid Laurier business student and three-year Student Works Management Program veteran who’s now preparing to become a mini coach. After a strong rookie season and a complacent second year that nearly derailed his progress, Colby shares the turning point...

What happens when a lost university student decides to go all-in on himself? In this inspiring conversation, Chris Thomson sits down with James Ward , a three-year Student Works Management Program veteran and newly appointed full-time coach, who went from feeling directionless at Western University to becoming one of the top-performing young entrepreneurs in the country. James reveals how he overc...

What if the hardest job you ever had wasn’t laying bricks in the blazing sun, but learning how to lead people? In this powerful conversation, Chris Thomson sits down with Andrew Woodruff, a multi-year veteran of the Student Works Management Program, to unpack the staggering transformation he experienced while balancing Queen’s University engineering with running a business that exploded past $300K...

How can running a student painting business set you on the path to becoming a corporate lawyer at one of the top firms in Canada? In this episode of the Leaders of Tomorrow Podcast, host Chris Thomson speaks with Elyse Ardiel, a Student Works Management Program alumna who went on to graduate from McGill, attended law school, started her legal career in New York, and returned to Toronto to become a...

How do you go from being a first-year student who’s unsure of what direction to take to running a $460,000 business while still in university and preparing to coach the next generation of entrepreneurs? In this episode of the Leaders of Tomorrow Podcast, Chris Thomson speaks with Aris Lloshi, a veteran operator with the Student Works Management Program who is now stepping into a part-time coach ro...

What does it take to build and exit multiple eight-figure businesses, and what lessons carry through from a student painting summer to leading tech startups? In this episode of the Leaders of Tomorrow Podcast, host Chris Thomson speaks with Dave Hanley, a Student Works Management Program alumnus who went on to co-found and scale several successful companies. Dave shares his journey from discoverin...

What happens when an average student with no clear direction takes a chance on running a business and discovers a passion for leadership and coaching? In this episode of the Leaders of Tomorrow Podcast, Chris Thomson speaks with Paul Prevost, an amazing participant in the Student Works Management Program. Paul shares how his journey began with self-development books during the pandemic and quickly...

How do you go from running a student painting business to building and scaling global brands, launching innovative ventures, and investing in groundbreaking startups? In this episode of the Leaders of Tomorrow Podcast, Chris Thomson reconnects with Josh Campbell, a proud alumnus of the Student Works Management Program. Josh shares his remarkable career journey, from his early days in private equit...