Snippets with Leon Goren

Tune in as Leon chats with Alex Talmor, the President of the Canadian Operations at GlassHouse Systems, a North American company that provides IT infrastructure, security, cloud, and managed services for large corporations and governments. Starting as a sales executive, Alex rose in the ranks, becoming President in 2022. He offers key insights into career advancements within organizations and provides observations regarding recruiting talent in both small and large organizations. He also shares with us reflections on working while having a young family and favourite travel destination. If you’re interested in our Snippets podcasts or The Way Forward live webcasts, please take a moment and visit us at peo-leadership.com. Guests have included Morgan Housel, Professor Janice Stein, Michael Beer, Rob Chesnut, Dr. Jason Selk, and Mitchell Goldhar. We’ve covered such topics as growth, uncertainty, mental health, leadership, the new world, and a host of others. If you’d like to learn more about our leadership community, please feel free to contact lgoren@peo-leadership.com. If you enjoyed today’s podcast, please subscribe and give us a review on Apple podcasts, or wherever you find your favourite podcasts.

Join us in today's Snippets episode as Raj Tandon shares his unexpected leap from the world of philosophy and mathematics to the banking industry and the founding of Algonquin Capital. Raj also provides insights into the intricacies of fixed-income investing and their role in diversification and wealth preservation. Beyond his professional endeavors, Raj discusses his active involvement in philanthropic initiatives, particularly in victim services. He shares his experiences as a volunteer crisis counselor and emphasizes the importance of giving back to the community. If you’re interested in our Snippets podcasts or The Way Forward live webcasts, please take a moment and visit us at peo-leadership.com. Guests have included Morgan Housel, Professor Janice Stein, Harvard's Rosabeth Kanter, Michael Beer, Rob Chesnut, and Dr. Greg Wells. We’ve covered such topics as growth, uncertainty, mental health, leadership, the new world, and a host of others. If you’d like to learn more about our leadership community, please feel free to contact lgoren@peo-leadership.com. If you enjoyed today’s podcast, please subscribe and give us a review on Apple podcasts, or wherever you find your favourite podcasts.

In this Snippets episode, David King, Senior Managing Director for Canada and South America at Robert Half—the world’s first and largest specialized talent solutions and business consulting firm—takes us on a deep dive into the post-pandemic landscape of talent recruitment and labor markets. Don't miss this opportunity to stay ahead of the curve and make informed decisions for your organization. With an astounding tenure of 29 years at Robert Half, David shares his take on current labor market trends and predictions for 2024. He also shares valuable insights on talent decision-making factors and priorities, the dynamics of hybrid work environments, the impact of AI on the workforce, and strategies for achieving high levels of engagement in a workplace. Additionally, he highlights the advantages of adopting a six-quarter forecast strategy. If you’re interested in our Snippets podcasts or The Way Forward live webcasts, please take a moment and visit us at peo-leadership.com. Guests have included Stephen Poloz, Avi Goldfarb, Dr. Michael Roizen, Morgan Housel, and Professor Janice Stein. We’ve covered such topics as growth, uncertainty, mental health, leadership, the new world, and a host of others. If you’d like to learn more about our leadership community, please feel free to contact lgoren@peo-leadership.com. If you enjoyed today’s podcast, please subscribe and give us a review on Apple podcasts, or wherever you find your favourite podcasts.

Ready to enhance your investment strategy? Tune in as Leon sits down with Liam O’Sullivan, Principal Co-Head of Client Portfolio Management at RPIA. An expert in alternative investments and risk management, Liam shares insight on managing an investment portfolio, current market paradigm shifts, the crucial role of fixed income, and the importance of differentiating between high-grade and high-yield bonds. If you’re interested in our Snippets podcasts or The Way Forward live webcasts, please take a moment and visit us at peo-leadership.com. Guests have included Stephen Poloz, Avi Goldfarb, Dr. Michael Roizen, Morgan Housel, and Professor Janice Stein. We’ve covered such topics as growth, uncertainty, mental health, leadership, the new world, and a host of others. If you’d like to learn more about our leadership community, please feel free to contact lgoren@peo-leadership.com. If you enjoyed today’s podcast, please subscribe and give us a review on Apple podcasts, or wherever you find your favourite podcasts.

In this episode, Leon chats with Dan Carmichael, the president of Whitecap. Dan tells us about his motivations for leaving a 20-year-long big corporate job at Dell Technologies to join the small business world. Leon and Dan discuss staying on the forefront of emerging technology and Dan gives advice to business leaders on getting involved with AI. If you’re interested in our Snippets podcasts or The Way Forward live webcasts, please take a moment and visit us at peo-leadership.com. You'll find on our site various previous recorded webcasts with guests such as Stephen Poloz, Avi Goldfarb, Dr. Michael Roizen, Morgan Housel, Jason Selk, and Mitchell Goldhar. We’ve covered such topics as growth, uncertainty, mental health, leadership, the new world, and a host of others. Check out our upcoming PEO Leadership Conference: Adapting to a World of Opportunity, taking place on November 13th and 14th in Toronto. If you’d like to learn more about our leadership community, please feel free to contact lgoren@peo-leadership.com. If you enjoyed today’s podcast, please subscribe and give us a review on Apple podcasts, or wherever you find your favourite podcasts.

Bryan Jaskolka is a serial entrepreneur and the visionary founder and CEO of the CMI Financial Group. Bryan is a driving force in the Canadian private lending and mortgage financing industries and has been recognized for his leadership and innovation. CMI is Canada’s premier private mortgage lender, a leading provider of mortgage funding and investment solutions, and one of Canada's fastest-growing companies. In the Snippets episode, Bryan tells us how he grew a booming business from only $1,000. He describes the importance of exponential thinking over linear thinking, inspiring through bust periods, and thriving as a leader when meeting online. If you’re interested in our Snippets podcasts or The Way Forward live webcasts, please take a moment and visit us at peo-leadership.com. You'll find on our site various recorded webcasts with guests such as Morgan Housel, David Rosenberg, Professor Janice Stein, Jason Selk, Mitchell Goldhar, and Vanessa Bohns. We’ve covered such topics as growth, uncertainty, mental health, leadership, the new world, and a host of others. If you’d like to learn more about our leadership community, please feel free to contact lgoren@peo-leadership.com. If you enjoyed today’s podcast, please subscribe and give us a review on Apple podcasts, or wherever you find your favourite podcasts.

Abby Gnanendran is the CEO and co-founder of Earth Rated, a B Corp-certified company that provides dog lovers with eco-friendly poop bags. In this Snippets episode, Abby tells us how Earth Rated grew from a direct-to-consumer ‘pet project’ to serving 4.5 million people daily worldwide. Earth Rated stands out with its dedication to a supportive, performance-driven work environment. Abby and Leon discuss leading with integrity and why creating a workplace that feels more comfortable than the home is a smart and equitable business investment. If you’re interested in our Snippets podcasts or The Way Forward live webcasts, please take a moment and visit us at peo-leadership.com. Guests have included Morgan Housel, Professor Janice Stein,and Harvard’s Rosabeth Kantor. We’ve covered such topics as growth, uncertainty, mental health, leadership, the new world, and a host of others. If you’d like to learn more about our leadership community, please feel free to contact lgoren@peo-leadership.com. If you enjoyed today’s podcast, please subscribe and give us a review on Apple podcasts, or wherever you find your favourite podcasts.

Brian Cotter is the President of Durham Artificial Grass (established 2018) and Lloyd’s Grounds Management Professionals (established 1963). He and Leon discuss the lessons he’s learned growing a family business and the effects of climate change, employee shortage, and COVID-19 on both his well-established business and new but rapidly growing business. If you’re interested in one of our Snippets podcasts or our The Way Forward live webcasts, please visit https://peo-leadership.com/. Please reach out to Kelly May kmay@peo-leadership.com. If you’d like to listen to some of our past webcasts, we have recordings on our COVID-19 resource page (https://peo-leadership.com/covid-19-resource-centre/). Guests have included University of Toronto’s Janice Stein and Harvard’s Rosabeth Kantor. We’ve talked about such topics as mental health, leadership, the new world, and a host of others. If you’d like to find out more about our leadership community, please feel free to reach out directly to lgoren@peo-leadership.com. If you enjoyed today’s podcast, please subscribe and give us a review on Apple podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Glenn Poulos is the Co-Founder, Vice President, and General Manager of Gap Wireless Inc. He has 30 plus years of experience in sales and has started and sold two successful companies. He has also just published his first book 'Never Sit in the Lobby: 57 Winning Sales Factors to Grow Business and Build a Career Selling.' In this episode, Glenn and Leon discuss the book-writing process and go through three of his sales factors: sitting is not selling, don’t confuse marketing with selling, and you only get forever to make another impression. If you’re interested in one of our Snippets podcasts or our The Way Forward live webcasts, please visit https://peo-leadership.com/. Please reach out to Kelly May kmay@peo-leadership.com. If you’d like to listen to some of our past webcasts, we have recordings on our COVID-19 resource page (https://peo-leadership.com/covid-19-resource-centre/). Guests have included University of Toronto’s Janice Stein, Harvard’s Rosabeth Kantor. We’ve talked about such topics as mental health, leadership, the new world, and a host of others. If you’d like to find out more about our leadership community, please feel free to reach out directly to lgoren@peo-leadership.com. If you enjoyed today’s podcast, please subscribe and give us a review on Apple podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Leon sits down with Peng Lin, CEO and founder of VIVA Scandinavia, a consumer-centric glassware and accessories brand. Peng has a wealth of experience in manufacturing high-end products and managing consumer and sales data. Peng and Leon discuss Peng's unique background, his entrance into the glassware market, and why Kickstarter is such a powerful tool for product design and development. If you’re interested in one of our The Way Forward live webcasts, please visit https://peo-leadership.com/. Please reach out to Kelly May kmay@peo-leadership.com If you’d like to listen to some of our past webcasts, we have recordings on our COVID-19 resource page (https://peo-leadership.com/covid-19-resource-centre/). Guests have included University of Toronto’s Janice Stein, Harvard’s Rosabeth Kantor. We’ve talked about such topics as mental health, leadership, the new world, and a host of others. If you’d like to find out more about our leadership community, please feel free to reach out directly to lgoren@peo-leadership.com. If you enjoyed today’s podcast, please subscribe and give us a review on Apple podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Scott Cooper made the move a year ago from Molson Coors to the start up, truss beverages, to reimagine what the cannabis market could look like. An experienced business leader, marketer and innovator with a track record of breathing new life into businesses & brands and unlocking new opportunities, Scott brings great insight into his new chosen path and what kinds of generational opportunities and limitations he faces in changing the landscape of cannabis-infused beverages. If you’re interested in one of our The Way Forward live webcasts, please visit https://peo-leadership.com/. Please reach out to Kelly May kmay@peo-leadership.com If you’d like to listen to some of our past webcasts, we have recordings on our COVID-19 resource page (https://peo-leadership.com/covid-19-resource-centre/). Guests have included University of Toronto’s Janice Stein, Harvard’s Rosabeth Kantor. We’ve talked about such topics as mental health, rent negotiations, the stimulus package and a host of others. If you’d like to find out more about our leadership community, please feel free to reach out directly to lgoren@peo-leadership.com. If you enjoyed today’s podcast, please subscribe and give us a review on Apple podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Leon sits down with Michael Sherrard, recognized as one of Canada’s leading employment and labour lawyers, to talk about the return to work, both in terms of legal mandates but also social and moral ones: how do we best support our employees health and safety, while seeking to build company connection? Michael also wades into the murky waters of vaccine mandates and whether or not such measures are needed or legally possible. Acclaimed for his broad range of expertise and strategic excellence, Chambers Global® says “Michael draws praise for satisfying the needs of even the most demanding clients and his specialist knowledge of union contract and negotiation issues where he is described as “exceptional” and impresses with his “phenomenal” work.” Michael is frequently published and asked to chair or speak at international and national conferences. He is the recipient of several awards including the Construction Institute of Canada’s Chancellor’s Award of Excellence, University of New Brunswick Alumni Award of Distinction, USports Lester B. Pearson Award, and Canadian Franchise Association Volunteer Leadership Excellence Award. Sherrard Kuzz LLP is one of Canada’s leading employment and labour law firms exclusively representing the interests of employers. Recognized nationally and internationally our team is consistently named among Canada’s Top 10 Employment and Labour Boutiques (Canadian Lawyer®), Canada’s Leading Employment & Labour Law Firms (Chambers Global®, Best Lawyers®, Who’s Who® and Legal 500®) and Repeatedly Recommended (Lexpert®). If you’re interested in one of our The Way Forward live webcasts, please visit https://peo-leadership.com/. Please reach out to Kelly May kmay@peo-leadership.com If you’d like to listen to some of our past webcasts, we have recordings on our COVID-19 resource page (https://peo-leadership.com/covid-19-resource-centre/). Guests have included University of Toronto’s Janice Stein, Harvard’s Rosabeth Kantor. We’ve talked about such topics as mental health, rent negotiations, the stimulus package and a host of others. If you’d like to find out more about our leadership community, please feel free to reach out directly to lgoren@peo-leadership.com. If you enjoyed today’s podcast, please subscribe and give us a review on Apple podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Les Mandelbaum, CEO of Umbra and long-time member of PEO Leadership has not only been predicting the reinvention of the retail industry, he and his global team have been executing their vision of a digital economy for many years. Umbra has transformed itself from a primarily retail-driven platform to one of the world’s leading houseware companies with e-commerce accounting for more than 50% of their overall sales. An incredible story of a company reinventing itself, listen to Les as we speak about the future of retail, the hybrid workforce, and the pressure to increase prices. If you’re interested in one of our The Way Forward live webcasts, please visit https://peo-leadership.com/. Please reach out to Kelly May kmay@peo-leadership.com If you’d like to listen to some of our past webcasts, we have recordings on our COVID-19 resource page (https://peo-leadership.com/covid-19-resource-centre/). Guests have included University of Toronto’s Janice Stein, Harvard’s Rosabeth Kantor. We’ve talked about such topics as mental health, rent negotiations, the stimulus package and a host of others. If you’d like to find out more about our leadership community, please feel free to reach out directly to lgoren@peo-leadership.com. If you enjoyed today’s podcast, please subscribe and give us a review on Apple podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Keith Beckley, CEO of Novx Systems, long-time member of PEO Leadership, physicist, engineer and climate activist, talks passionately about his “night gig” – following the EV industry. Keith took delivery of the 2nd Tesla Model S in Canada and spends his nights actively learning everything about EVs and the energy industry. Thinking about purchasing a new or used combustion engine vehicle in the coming months? Be sure to listen to this interview. If you’re interested in one of our The Way Forward live webcasts, please visit https://peo-leadership.com/. Please reach out to Kelly May kmay@peo-leadership.com If you’d like to listen to some of our past webcasts, we have recordings on our COVID-19 resource page (https://peo-leadership.com/covid-19-resource-centre/). Guests have included University of Toronto’s Janice Stein, Harvard’s Rosabeth Kantor. We’ve talked about such topics as mental health, rent negotiations, the stimulus package and a host of others. If you’d like to find out more about our leadership community, please feel free to reach out directly to lgoren@peo-leadership.com. If you enjoyed today’s podcast, please subscribe and give us a review on Apple podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Master cyclist and longtime PEO member, Tim Collins, joins Leon Goren on the Snippets podcast to talk about the world of recruiting - now in the period of looking beyond the pandemic. Tim is the CEO and founder of Stafflink is a boutique IT staffing company in Toronto, Canada, which helps companies hire mobile web developers, project managers, data analysts and IT staff. If you’re interested in one of our The Way Forward live webcasts, please visit https://peo-leadership.com/. Please reach out to Kelly May kmay@peo-leadership.com If you’d like to listen to some of our past webcasts, we have recordings on our COVID-19 resource page (https://peo-leadership.com/covid-19-resource-centre/). Guests have included University of Toronto’s Janice Stein, Harvard’s Rosabeth Kantor. We’ve talked about such topics as mental health, rent negotiations, the stimulus package and a host of others. If you’d like to find out more about our leadership community, please feel free to reach out directly to lgoren@peo-leadership.com. If you enjoyed today’s podcast, please subscribe and give us a review on Apple podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

What is it like to work in the family business? How do you make it your own and work with confidence and autonomy? Jason Goemans of Goemans Appliances joins Leon to talk about how his mentor and father, the late and great Tony Goemans, enabled him to succeed in his role. Jason also discusses how his business has adapted and grown tremendously amidst a real estate boom. https://www.goemans.com/home/ If you’re interested in one of our The Way Forward live webcasts, please visit https://peo-leadership.com/. Please reach out to Kelly May kmay@peo-leadership.com If you’d like to listen to some of our past webcasts, we have recordings on our COVID-19 resource page (https://peo-leadership.com/covid-19-resource-centre/). Guests have included University of Toronto’s Janice Stein, Harvard’s Rosabeth Kantor. We’ve talked about such topics as mental health, rent negotiations, the stimulus package and a host of others. If you’d like to find out more about our leadership community, please feel free to reach out directly to lgoren@peo-leadership.com. If you enjoyed today’s podcast, please subscribe and give us a review on Apple podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

President & CEO of Church + State, Robin Whalen, joins Leon to talk about the past year in her business and how companies are differentiating themselves by moving past marketing cliches and offering their customers a clear vision and set of values. If you’re interested in one of our The Way Forward live webcasts, please visit https://peo-leadership.com/. Please reach out to Kelly May kmay@peo-leadership.com If you’d like to listen to some of our past webcasts, we have recordings on our COVID-19 resource page (https://peo-leadership.com/covid-19-resource-centre/). Guests have included University of Toronto’s Janice Stein, Harvard’s Rosabeth Kantor. We’ve talked about such topics as mental health, rent negotiations, the stimulus package and a host of others. If you’d like to find out more about our leadership community, please feel free to reach out directly to lgoren@peo-leadership.com. If you enjoyed today’s podcast, please subscribe and give us a review on Apple podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Leon Goren speaks with GNI's CEO, Bill Maginas, who made the transition in the fall of 2020 from the large multinational Johnson Controls to the Canadian firm, Great Northern Insulation. Bill discusses the challenges and opportunities of making the switch and what his experience has been working with fewer resources and bringing new employees onboard. If you’re interested in one of our The Way Forward live webcasts, please visit https://peo-leadership.com/. Please reach out to Kelly May kmay@peo-leadership.com If you’d like to listen to some of our past webcasts, we have recordings on our COVID-19 resource page (https://peo-leadership.com/covid-19-resource-centre/). Guests have included University of Toronto’s Janice Stein, Harvard’s Rosabeth Kantor. We’ve talked about such topics as mental health, rent negotiations, the stimulus package and a host of others. If you’d like to find out more about our leadership community, please feel free to reach out directly to lgoren@peo-leadership.com. If you enjoyed today’s podcast, please subscribe and give us a review on Apple podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Many of our members are wondering how government relief spending may change what happens at tax time. Leon Goren speaks with Sam Tabrizi of RSM to figure out what the next 12-24 months might look like for addressing the deficit, including changes to Capital Gains and other measures. With more than 12 years of experience handling key taxation portfolios, including specialized roles focused on personal, corporate and real estate tax, Sam provides his clients with tactical solutions to address their business needs. In his recent roles at accounting, tax and business consulting firms, Sam has served as a trusted advisor to private companies on a broad range of tax matters including estate planning, complex tax structuring, tax compliance and transaction tax advisory. If you’re interested in one of our The Way Forward live webcasts, please visit https://peo-leadership.com/. Please reach out to Kelly May kmay@peo-leadership.com If you’d like to listen to some of our past webcasts, we have recordings on our COVID-19 resource page (https://peo-leadership.com/covid-19-resource-centre/). Guests have included University of Toronto’s Janice Stein, Harvard’s Rosabeth Kantor. We’ve talked about such topics as mental health, rent negotiations, the stimulus package and a host of others. If you’d like to find out more about our leadership community, please feel free to reach out directly to lgoren@peo-leadership.com. If you enjoyed today’s podcast, please subscribe and give us a review on Apple podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

As the national chief operating officer of RSM Canada, Rhonda Klosler oversees the firm’s finance, human resources and growth initiatives. In a conversation with Leon about how she has envisioned leadership in the COVID era, Rhonda brings years of experience in keeping core to the mission of a company, while being open to the new ideas brought forward. In addition, Rhonda leads the Toronto office in her role as office managing partner and executes the firm's growth plans in the Toronto market. Rhonda is a graduate of Brock University, and a CPA, CA, having earned her designation in 1993. That same year, she joined the predecessor firm, and was made a partner in 2001. In 2012, Rhonda completed the Harvard Business School Professional Services program. If you’re interested in one of our The Way Forward live webcasts, please visit https://peo-leadership.com/. Please reach out to Kelly May kmay@peoleadership.com If you’d like to listen to some of our past webcasts, we have recordings on our COVID-19 resource page (https://peo-leadership.com/covid-19-resource-centre/). Guests have included University of Toronto’s Janice Stein, Harvard’s Rosabeth Kantor. We’ve talked about such topics as mental health, rent negotiations, the stimulus package and a host of others. If you’d like to find out more about our leadership community, please feel free to reach out directly to lgoren@peo-leadership.com. If you enjoyed today’s podcast, please subscribe and give us a review on Apple podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.