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Are you an ambitious young entrepreneur? Do you consider yourself a role model and leader of tomorrow? If so, this is going to be the show for you. Leaders Of Tomorrow is a show dedicated young and ambitious entrepreneurs looking to forge their own path in this world. Each week, we will bring you an inspiring interview and share with you behind the scenes some of the values and beliefs of our 8-figure business; Student Works Management Program. From interviews with young millionaires and personal anecdotes from our head coach; Chris Thomson, this show will give you everything you need to know to become a Leader Of Tomorrow.
Episodes
Tuesday Feb 14, 2023
Tuesday Feb 14, 2023
In today's episode of Leaders of Tomorrow, Chris Thomson chats with Chris Mills, an amazing young leader who was an operator and a business coach in our program between 2009 and 2013.
After graduating from our program, he got involved in the hospitality business and worked as a senior market manager at Airbnb for about five years.
Today, Chris is the vice president of sales at Rented — A TravelNet Solution, a company that provides revenue management technology, tools, and services to help vacation rental managers optimize their portfolio of properties and gives them an opportunity to make more money and maximize their business opportunity.
In today’s show, Chris is going to talk about the incredible progression he has made since joining the program and how this experience shaped him into the successful young leader he is today.
You will find out more details about Chris's background, who he was before Student Works, how he heard about the program and what made him decide to join.
Chris will share more details about his experience at Student Works, the most important lessons he took from it and what he still uses today from what he learned in our program
He will also talk about his experience as a senior market manager at Airbnb and the lessons he took from it and then he will share more about what Rented does and what his role in this company involves.
Chris will also talk about his failures and the lessons he took from those experiences, will share some of his key habits, will reveal some of the most important qualities a leader of tomorrow should have and so much more.
Enjoy!
What You Will Learn In This Show:
- What was Chris’ experience at Student Works and what does he still use from what he learned in our program
- How Student Works helped Chris be successful in many different roles
- About Chris’ experience as a senior market manager at Airbnb and the lessons he took from it
- Developing the opportunity to inspire and develop business on stage
- What Rented does and more about what Chris’ role in this company involves
- And so much more...
Resources:
Tuesday Feb 07, 2023
Tuesday Feb 07, 2023
In today’s show, Chris interviews Simon Miller, Senior Principal Managing Partner at Workday Canada. Simon shares the most important attributes which enabled him to overcome personal challenges and rise through the corporate ranks.
This show starts with Simon sharing his background information. Growing up in abject poverty and being subjected to emotional and mental abuse by his step-father fueled Simon’s desire for success. Ambition and hard work paid off big time as Simon was awarded a full scholarship to Trent University. In this segment of the show, we learn how to avoid giving in to feeling overwhelmed and anxious and face challenges head-on.
Next, Simon shares why he chose to enroll at Student Works. Simon reveals how he chanced upon Student Works at an opportune time when he had lost his scholarship. Again, with his back to the wall, Simon put in all his efforts to make his painting business a success. Was it difficult for someone with zero business experience to manage a painting business?
After Student Works, Simon became interested in the internet and its immense potential. Starting as a junior salesperson, Simon gradually transitioned to IT consultancy. His first job in IT involved Analytics and he gradually mastered programming, training and project management.
He was thrown into some large analytics implementations where he learned to lead people he had no direct line management over. He was not afraid to move from one job to the next when he saw a dead end. In one case, he was willing to quit a job after recognizing the need for better work-life balance.
Simon shares some interesting anecdotes about his 13 year stint at Oracle. An insider’s account of the work culture at one of the largest software companies in the world is sure to keep you hooked. Here, Simon discusses how continuous learning can help you adapt to new technologies and survive in a tough industry. Specifically, we share how the industry and its employees struggled to adapt to cloud technology in the initial years.
In this segment of the show, listeners will learn how Student Works can equip you with transferable skill sets that can help you immensely in your corporate career.
Along with his corporate career, Simon is also a successful real estate investor, having started with nothing and ending up with a mortgage-free million dollar private cottage island. He shares his experiences and provides a reality check for those who are looking to make a quick buck in real estate. Should you attempt to time the real estate market? Can you generate handsome returns by investing in residential properties? What was the effect of declining interest rates over the years? Whether you are a real estate investor or aspiring to be one, this segment of the show is sure to interest you greatly.
Throughout his journey, Simon has worked to balance the pressures of a 20-year marriage and four children with the pressures of generating a single income needed to simply pay the bills in Oakville, ON. Part of the journey has been from working hard to working smart to learning when and how to back off to enjoy life. While not explicitly discussed, a large part of this journey has been one of faith, volunteering, the importance of friends and mentors, and giving back through charitable donations.
Towards the end of this show, listeners will learn about Simon’s role at Workday, his current employer. A leading provider of enterprise cloud applications, Workday delivers financial management, human capital management, planning, and analytics applications designed for the world’s largest organizations. Simon reveals what he cares about the most at Workday – first his team, and then his customers. Simon has benefitted from world-class management training at Workday.
We wrap up this show with some excellent advice for aspiring and young entrepreneurs. Topics discussed include cultivating empathy, developing hobbies and reflecting on your past actions.
Tune in for some excellent nuggets!
What You Will Discover In This Episode:
- How to cultivate a good work-life balance
- How to avoid yielding to stress and overwhelm and face challenges head-on
- An Insider’s account of today’s biggest and most successful software companies
Resources:
Tuesday Jan 31, 2023
Tuesday Jan 31, 2023
In today's episode of Leaders of Tomorrow, Chris Thomson has another fascinating and inspiring interview with Patrick Lalonde, VP at Student Works.
In today’s show, Patrick is going to talk about the nature of being successful in the world, some important mindset concepts that we use regularly at Student Works and the way those different concepts work together to really pull people towards success and impactful lives.
You will learn what the iterative feedback process is and why it is so critical to the nature of success.
Chris and Patrick will talk about the importance of being aware of the nature of feedback loops and why you need to change your perspective on failure.
You will learn how we make decisions and will find out what the first-order, second-order and third-order consequences are. You will also discover one of the reasons why being really successful is such a challenge
Chris and Patrick will also reveal a perfect example of the exponential nature of results, will talk about the flywheel effect and how it works, will dive into the concept of cause and effect and why it is so important and so much more. And so much more...
Enjoy!
What You Will Learn In This Show:
- What is the iterative feedback process and why it is critical to the nature of success?
- Why do you need to change your perspective on failure?
- The importance of taking 100% responsibility for your life and actions
- Choosing your hard: Making the right decisions in life
- What is the flywheel effect and how it works
- The concept of cause and effect and why it is so important
- And so much more...
Resources:
207 | Patrick Lalonde | Shedding the Victim Mindset and Taking Charge of Your Life
Books:
Principles: Your Guided Journal (Create Your Own Principles to Get the Work and Life You Want)
Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones
Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap...And Others Don't
Tuesday Jan 24, 2023
Tuesday Jan 24, 2023
In this episode, Chris interviews Jonathan Suther, co-founder, SimpleTax. Jonathan shares how grit, ingenuity and focus can help you quit your corporate job, follow your dreams, and start your business.
This show starts off with Jonathan sharing his background information and his life before Student Works. Did Jonathan always have a huge appetite for hard work? Jonathan shares some inspiring (and funny) anecdotes that are sure to interest you. You will also learn about Jonathan’s first work stint at Nortel, touted back then as “a safe haven” for those looking for a stable career. What lessons did Jonathan learn when his entire department was axed overnight?
Next, Jonathan shares his Student Works experience and reveals the important and universally applicable lessons that he learned while there. Particularly, Jonathan highlights the need to cultivate unwavering focus. Listeners will learn how focus is necessary for delivering a successful and sustainable product. Chris and Jonathan also remind listeners that the road to success is laden with many challenges – challenges that test our patience, courage, and ingenuity.
After Student Works, Jonathan worked in the technology sector for a while now. While this experience was rewarding for Jonathan, he always harbored entrepreneurial ambitions. However, like most of us, Jonathan was not willing to give up his job security unless the “perfect business opportunity” knocking on his door. So, did that eventually happen? What led Jonathan to finally give up the comfort of his job and don the entrepreneurial hat?
In our last and perhaps, more interesting segment, you will hear Jonathan talk about SimpleTax, a company that he co-founded along with his wife, Allison. Jonathan reveals his strong “Why” behind starting SimpleTax. He also reveals his amazing “pay what you make like” business model. How has SimpleTax managed to survive (and thrive) with such a unique payment model? What position does SimpleTax hold in the DIY tax space today?
Towards the end, Jonathan shares some crucial attributes that define a “Leader of Tomorrow”. For all this and much more, tune in to our latest show now!
What You Will Learn In This Episode:
- Is “job security” a myth?
- How to quit your job, follow your passion, and start a business
- The ART of cultivating unwavering FOCUS for meeting your entrepreneurial goals
- How to build a great product that alleviates common pain points
Resources:
Tuesday Jan 17, 2023
Tuesday Jan 17, 2023
In today's episode of Leaders of Tomorrow, Chris has another conversation with Luke Fenn and Devon Thomson, business coaches at Student Works Management Program.
This time they discuss getting off to an unbelievably fast start for 2023, what they have seen from the incredible results that they've co-created with all the operators they worked with, and will share some lessons they’ve learned and some tips on how you can create and launch something new and achieve success in our program.
You will find out why making sacrifices is crucial if you want to achieve success and why it is important to create great relationships with the other operators in our program.
Luke and Devon will talk about the importance of having a coach and will; share some effective time management strategies you need to know.
You will find out that the most important thing is not falling behind and having a holistic view of your life.
You will also discover how to become an excellent marketer by combining three microelements, how to get your body and your mind in a peak state to attract good things and so much more.
Discover how Student Works Management Program enables our leaders to excel with Chris, Luke, and Devon! Enjoy!
What You Will Learn In This Show:
- Why making sacrifices is crucial is you want to achieve success
- The importance of creating great relationships with the other operators
- The most important thing is not falling behind and having a holistic view of your life
- The three microelements that make a great marketer
- How you can create and launch something new and achieve success in our program
- And so much more...
Resources:
Books:
Sell or Be Sold: How to Get Your Way in Business and in Life
How to Win Friends & Influence People
How to Stop Worrying and Start Living
The Closer's Survival Guide: Over 100 ways to ink the deal
Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones
Tuesday Jan 10, 2023
Tuesday Jan 10, 2023
In this episode, Chris interviews Amer Abu Shakra, Business Owner, Student Works Painting. Amer shares his SIX rules of success that helped him hit the all-time high sales record of $500,000 at Student Works.
This show starts with Amer sharing some background information with listeners. Born in Jordan, Amer is truly thankful for the excellent opportunity that Student Works has given him. Amer was incredibly focused from the get go and shares how he managed to generate half-a-million dollar worth of business without compromising on his studies.
To define his SIX rules of success, Amer drew inspiration from entrepreneurs like Mark Zuckerberg, Elon Musk, and Jeff Bezos. These are his rules:
- Always keep your word – no matter what
- Trust your team
- Trust the power of input
- Have someone hold you accountable
- You promote what you permit
- Have the will to conquer and dominate
As Amer explains each of these rules, he shares some interesting anecdotes that will surely pique your interest.
For instance, he shares how he managed to build a dream team whom he trusts explicitly. He also reveals his process of breaking down large tasks into tiny and attainable bits. Amer reveals that he has an accountability buddy in Austin, another member of the Student Works community.
If you are failing to meet the audacious goals that you have set for yourself, tuning in to this show will give you loads of value.
What You Will Learn in This Show:
- Why rigid structure is necessary for financial freedom
- Time-blocking techniques to get more done
- Importance of cultivating your integrity, and keeping your word
- Why trusting your team implicitly is the only way forward
- The power of having an accountability partner
- And so much more!
Resources:
Tuesday Dec 06, 2022
Tuesday Dec 06, 2022
In this day and age, is it even possible to launch greenfield projects that allow you to exploit the first-mover advantage?
On today’s show, we interview the incredibly successful serial entrepreneur Josh Campbell who shares with us his wisdom on exploration, product differentiation, and taking the path less trodden.
We start this show with Josh revealing some of the biggest lessons that he learned from his Student Works stint. A soup to nuts experience for him, Josh shares how Student Works laid a firm foundation for an extremely successful career.
Upon graduation, Josh first decided to try his luck in the world of finance. But he soon realized that he was more interested in people development and tangible creations.
So, what followed was an extremely successful stint at Starbucks where he overlooked construction and facility management. In this segment of the show, Josh gives us an insider peeks and reveals what makes Starbucks such a unique and special place.
After 5 years of working at Starbucks, Josh ran into the owners of Saje Natural Wellness, and he was blown away by their business model.
The ability to make “sales per square feet higher than Apple” had Josh stoked, and he transitioned into his new role as VP, Retail.
Learn how Josh and his team managed to raise profitability and get an exit in 18-months flat!
Currently, Josh is at the helm of two extremely innovative businesses.
His first business, Dosist is a health and wellness company providing cannabis-based solutions. And his second business, Health Improvement manufactures protein power from…you will never guess it…organic crickets.
Enjoy!
What You Will Learn In This Show
- How to fail cheap, and pivot quickly
- How to take a commoditized product and create an experience around it
- Dispelling some common misconceptions surrounding cannabis-based solutions
- And so much more…
Resources
Tuesday Nov 29, 2022
Tuesday Nov 29, 2022
Ever wondered what the world of investment banking looks like? And about the pressures and challenges that bankers go through on a daily basis?
On today’s show, we have with us Garth Friesen who shares with us distilled wisdom on resilience, investing vs. trading, and risk management.
19-year-old Garth got into Student Works just because “his friends were doing it”. And while he already had the book smarts, running a painting business helped Garth develop the life smarts that laid the base for a spectacular career.
Inspired by a friend of his, Garth decided to get into investment banking, and his first employer was a Japanese Bank based out of Toronto.
After getting some experience under his belt, Garth was quick to figure out that he was lacking in certain important skills. And he decided to pursue a full-time MBA.
Having a full-time MBA did not make it any easier for Garth to get his “foot inside the door”. And he had to go through 12 interviews to get accepted at Merrill Lynch.
This segment of the show is particularly interesting as Garth emphasizes the importance of resilience when you are going after your dream job.
And once you snag your dream job, you have to start at the bottom, and work your butt off to prove yourself – and differentiate yourself from your peers who are equally capable and hard-working as you.
Garth’s attitude towards failures, or setbacks, as he prefers to call them, is particularly refreshing.
We talk about the importance of EQ vs. IQ, risk management, and the difference between investing and trading in today’s show.
Enjoy!
What You Will Learn In This Show
- Why trading is NOT a solo sport (The importance of collaboration and EQ in trading)
- Understanding the dynamics of the trading world
- Trading vs. Investing – why they are fundamentally different
- How a reluctance to cut your losses can lead you to lose your shirt
- And so much more…
Resources
Tuesday Nov 22, 2022
Tuesday Nov 22, 2022
What is the ONE thing that could help you realize your most audacious goals? If you want your life to get better and better, you can’t do it without integrity.
But, what does integrity really mean?
In the simplest terms, integrity means that you are honoring your word. However, in today’s show, Chris and Patrick share a more thoughtful and detailed definition of “integrity”:
Doing what to do, doing it as was meant to be done, and doing it on time.
Doing what others expect you to do, even when others don’t expect you to do it, and doing it on time.
Doing what you said you would do, and you do it on time.
If you sincerely strive to keep your integrity 100% of the time, the impact can be truly exponential. But it is not always possible to keep your word, especially when you take on something challenging.
So, what should you do when you falter and fail to keep your word?
Rather than sliding your failures under a rug, you need to own them – and hold yourself accountable. You need to be fully present to the impact that your actions are having.
Chris and Patrick also remind us why clear communication is important for preventing regular breaches of integrity. You will learn how setting clear ground rules can help you steer clear of conflict.
Enjoy!
What You Will Learn In This Show:
- Leading your life with integrity, and why it’s the one thing that can help you led a better life
- How clear communication can help you steer clear of conflict
- Holding yourself accountable for your actions, and being fully present to the impact of your actions
- And so much more…
Resources
Tuesday Nov 15, 2022
Tuesday Nov 15, 2022
In today’s show, Chris interviews, Brett Bergmann, COO, Solar Panda.
Growing up, young Brett was totally confused by the myriad of options available in front of him. There were a whole bunch of ways he wanted to go, but he had little idea how to get there.
This is when the Student Works opportunity came knocking.
Running a painting business and managing a crew of people at a young age had a transformational impact on young Brett. Rather than looking at business through a dispassionate and practical lens, Brett realized that, at the end of the day, it was all about great people.
The important SUCCESS DRIVER in business was something so rudimentary yet often-ignored…a team of happy, productive people.
Other than learning these important, foundational skills, working at Student Works also helped Brett snag his first corporate job.
While working as a Students Painter, Brett took on a garage painting job for the CEO of McCain Foods. Impressed by his passion, collaborative approach, and leadership skills, he offered Brett his first job in corporate development at McCain.
Certainly, if you show up in a consistent and unique way, the opportunity will come knocking sooner or later…and when you least expect it.
After McCain Foods, Brett joined another iconic organization, General Mills as a marketing manager. Notably, Brett worked on some well-known brands like Nature’s Valley and Green Giant.
Lighting up 140,000 homes in Kenya
“I don’t have to worry about my kids coughing on kerosene fumes.”
Currently, Brett works as the COO of Solar Panda. Solar Panda sells solar kits in Africa – thus providing Kenyans with a much-needed and far healthier alternative to kerosene. Brett talks about their unique micro-financing structure which has made it possible to scale up their business in Africa.
In this segment of the show, Brett also talks about the different challenges of remotely managing their 198 people team in Kenya.
We also draw some interesting comparisons between working in start-ups and extremely large organizations.
If you thinking of switching over from a start-up to a large organization or vice-versa, this segment of the show will be particularly interesting to you!
Enjoy!
What You Will Learn In This Show
- Working in a large organization vs. start-up – a comparison
- How solar energy is proving to be an affordable solution for thousands in Africa
- Why great people are the most important success driver for any business
- And so much more…
Resources