Leaders Of Tomorrow Podcast

How do you transform a record-breaking summer into the foundation for a multimillion-dollar business? In this episode of Leaders of Tomorrow, Chris Thomson sits down with Amer Abu Shakra, a dynamic entrepreneur and alumnus of the Student Works Management Program.  From breaking a $500,000 business record in the program to founding Contracting.com, a multimillion-dollar business that empowers...

How do you push past your limits and unlock your full potential? In this episode of Leaders of Tomorrow, Chris Thomson is joined by two remarkable senior operators from the Student Works Management Program—Ariana Varas and Brandon Skubel. Ariana is in her third year with the program, having started as a painter, crew chief, and production manager before stepping into the role of a mini coach. Bran...

Ever wondered how vision and perseverance can shape a billion-dollar career? In this episode of Leaders of Tomorrow, Chris Thomson speaks with Jamie-Lee Bongard, a successful entrepreneur and a Student Works Management Program alumni.  Jamie-Lee shares how her experience as a 17-year-old in the program laid the foundation for her remarkable journey to owning three Keller Williams franchises a...

What separates good leaders from truly exceptional ones? In this episode of Leaders of Tomorrow podcast, Chris Thomson sits down with Quinton Carroll and Angela Lister, two standout senior coaches in the Student Works Management Program, to uncover the lessons that transformed them from top-performing operators into influential mentors. Quinton and Angela discuss the pivotal moments that shaped th...

What does it take to turn adversity into success and build companies that make a positive impact on the world? In this inspiring episode of the Leaders of Tomorrow podcast, Chris Thomson sits down with Payam Zamani, entrepreneur, investor, author, and proud alumnus of the Student Works Management Program. Payam shares his extraordinary journey from escaping religious persecution in Iran at 16 to c...

How do you go from a disorganized student to a thriving director in mergers and acquisitions? In this episode of Leaders of Tomorrow, Chris Thomson speaks with Will Malouf, an inspiring alumnus of the Student Works Management program.  Will shares his journey from running a Student Works franchise to becoming a Director at Valsoft, one of the most prominent players in the software acquisition...

How can one summer completely change your career and life trajectory? In this episode of Leaders of Tomorrow, Chris Thomson speaks with Tarik Ali, a successful alumnus of the Student Works Management Program and a standout leader at Accenture.  Tarik shares how his time in the program gave him the courage to take risks, develop trust-centric relationships, and reimagine his career path—all le...

In this episode of the Leaders of Tomorrow podcast, Chris is joined by Guy Metcalfe, former Managing Director and Global Chairman of Morgan Stanley, and now a board member for many boards including CBRE Group Inc During the conversation, Chris and Guy explore the art of building a thriving and cohesive team, highlighting how authentic leadership and a well-nurtured culture drive success. You'll di...

What does it take to grow from a student unsure of their future to a leader in business and entrepreneurship? On this episode of Leaders of Tomorrow, Chris Thomson reconnects with Chris O’Rourke, a remarkable alumnus of the Student Works Management Program, to discuss his inspiring journey.  Chris reflects on how the skills and network he built during his time in the program shaped his career...

How do life’s toughest lessons shape the leaders of tomorrow? On this episode of the Leaders of Tomorrow Podcast, host Chris Thomson interviews Bruce Hodges, an accomplished entrepreneur, global leader, and proud alumnus of the Student Works Management Program. Bruce shares his incredible journey, starting from running a student franchise to becoming a CEO with extensive international experience....

In today's episode of Leaders of Tomorrow, Chris talks to Zak Lefevre, co-founder and CEO at ChargeLab, a company that builds OCPP-Compliant software for managing EV charging stations. They are the back-end software behind North America's leading EV fleets, charging networks, and charging sites. Zak’s entrepreneurial journey started with Student Works back in 2011 and, like most of our alumni, he...

How can mastering sales transform your career and elevate your business? In this episode of the Leaders of Tomorrow podcast, Chris Thomson sits down with Mark Cox, one of our alumni, founder of In The Funnel (ITF) Sales Coaching , and a seasoned sales expert with over 25 years of experience.  Mark shares his incredible journey from being a top operator in the Student Works Management Program...

What does it take to transform from a young person with a bit of ego to a powerful, inspiring leader? On this episode of the Leaders of Tomorrow podcast, Chris speaks with Andrew Solomon, an exceptional young leader who has been through Student Works as both a top operator and a coach, and now runs an $8 million division of Rydel Roofing.  Andrew shares how his experiences at Student Works sh...

How do you go from facing major setbacks to finishing the season strong? In this episode of the Leaders of Tomorrow podcast, Chris Thomson sits down with three high-achieving operators from Student Works: Zach Weiler, Chris Bennett, and Landon Roberts. Each of these young leaders faced significant challenges in their first year with Student Works but turned things around with determination and str...

Ever wonder how skills from one discipline can shape your success in a completely different field? In this episode of the Leaders of Tomorrow podcast, Chris Thomson talks to Victor Turcanu, who made the leap from being a national-level athlete to a thriving career in law.  Victor shares how his experience in the Student Works program laid the groundwork for his legal career, teaching him inva...

What does it take to set a record and break the limits you thought you had? On this episode of the Leaders of Tomorrow podcast, Chris Thomson welcomes Chris Caruso, one of our operators who broke the all-time window cleaning record. Chris shares his journey from being a window cleaner for Student Works to breaking the all-time window cleaning sales record—earning over $210,000 in a single season.&...

What does it take to build a successful business from the ground up and turn it into a multi-million dollar enterprise? In this episode, I sit down with one of the most remarkable entrepreneurs I know, my close friend and longtime colleague, Rick Eastwood. You’ll hear how friendships, like the one we’ve shared since our Student Works days, can shape not only your personal life but also your profes...

What if the things you thought you were good at turned out to be your biggest blind spots? In this episode, Chris talks to Alex Irvine, a top performer in the program. He built a $275,000 business and earned a place in the President’s Club. Now, as a full-time coach, he shares how his experience with Student Works helped him grow as a leader and develop the systems that allow him to thrive in busi...

What separates successful entrepreneurs from those who give up? It’s not just talent or luck—it’s mindset and strategy. In this episode, we explore how building systems, taking risks, and embracing setbacks can set you on a path to long-term success. It’s about more than making money—it’s about designing a life you love. Today, I sit down with Cameron Herold, an entrepreneurial coach, keynote spea...

In this episode of the Leaders of Tomorrow podcast, Chris is joined by Julia Murphy, a young leader whose journey highlights the challenges and rewards of personal and professional growth.  Throughout the conversation, she shares how embracing responsibility, managing teams, and handling multiple tasks helped her navigate both her business and academic life. You'll learn about her development...

Have you ever wondered what transitioning from a corporate leader to a successful entrepreneur takes? In this episode, I sit down with David Barron, one of our former Operators of the Year from the early 90s, who has done just that—and more. David shares his journey from leading sales teams at some of the world’s biggest tech companies to building and selling his own business, CertaPro Painters. B...

In this episode of the Leaders of Tomorrow podcast, Chris is joined by Dianne McCoubrey, Vice President of Global Business Development for Grypp Corp Ltd., as well as the mother of Hailey and Taylor McCoubrey, a pair of successful operators in the program.   Dianne shares invaluable insights on career development and the importance of selecting the right opportunities. She highlights how understan...

Are you in your 20s and wondering how to make the most of this pivotal decade? In this episode, I dive deep into why your 20s are the "defining decade" and how the decisions you make now can set you up for a lifetime of success. Whether it's choosing the right career path, building a network that matters, or understanding the power of patience, I share insights that can help you navigate this peri...

What does it take for a young entrepreneur to thrive in a challenging business environment? In this episode, I sit down with two proud parents, both successful entrepreneurs, who share their unique perspectives on their children's journeys through the Student Works Management Program.    From the initial doubts to the proud moments of watching their kids overcome challenges, these stories will res...

In this episode of the Leaders of Tomorrow podcast, Chris is joined by Tristan Parent and Zachary Rogers, two ambitious young entrepreneurs who are navigating the challenges and triumphs of growing their ventures while balancing full-time academic commitments.    During the conversation, you'll discover the transformative power of mindset shifts, disciplined self-improvement, and the importance of...