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In this episode, Munir Haque speaks with John Stevens and Jason Vandenberg, president and senior vice president of Camilla Advisory Group, about their approach to employee ownership and advisory services. John and Jason discuss Camilla’s three primary service areas: employee share plans, fractional CFO services, and merger and acquisition (M&A) advisory. They emphasize their focus on employee ownership trusts as a means for companies to empower employees and build business value.They explore the rising interest in employee ownership trusts (EOT), an interest which has gained momentum with recent Canadian legislation offering a $10 million capital gains exemption as a tax incentive. Modeled after U.S. and U.K. frameworks, the legislation aims to make employee ownership financially appealing, especially for small to mid-sized businesses. According to John Stevens, employee ownership helps to foster loyalty and alignment among employees, often leading to increased productivity and long-term growth.
John and Jason also discuss the practical benefits of EOTs with Munir, such as preserving a company’s brand, culture, and community presence. They highlight potential pitfalls, stress the importance of clear communication and financial literacy in EOTs, and detail some effective communication strategies that include using internal champions from various departments to address employee and family concerns about the trust structure. Additionally, they advise continuous involvement from advisors like themselves, especially for annual updates and administrative changes. Their approach can lead to transformative shifts in company culture, where employees feel invested in business growth and cost management.
About John Stevens:
John Stevens has had a distinguished career over the past 30+ years, holding titles including Senior Vice President, President, CFO, COO, and CEO of fast-growing organizations like Nilsson Bros. Inc, Eveready Inc., NC Services Group Ltd. and ENTREC Corporation. John was also a member of the Board of Directors of Eveready Inc. and NC Services Group Ltd. Other experience includes being an integral member of a senior management team of a company (Nilsson Bros. Inc.) in the agri-food and livestock industry that experienced annual sales growth from $242 million to $919 million in a four-year period.
In addition to his knowledge of employee ownership, John's expertise in mergers and acquisitions is extensive, having been involved in over 100 acquisitions throughout his career. John also holds a certification as an Executive Coach from Royal Roads University. The companies John has been part of have consistently been recognized for many awards including top employers, best workplaces and fastest growing.
In 2013, John was named a Business Leader of Tomorrow honoring Edmonton’s visionary business leaders. In 2013 and in 2015, John was named an E and Y Prairies finalist for Entrepreneur of the Year. In 2014 John was named one of the ten executives you need to know in the Oil sands by Oil sands Review Magazine.
John understands the need to give back to the community and has volunteered his time and has been actively involved in non-profit organizations such as Prostate Cancer Canada, Kids Up Front and the Christmas Bureau of Edmonton. John was awarded the very distinguished Canada Community Advocate Award from Prostate Cancer Canada. John was very involved with Financial Executives International for over a decade including serving as the local board chair. John served a two-year term on the Petroleum Service Association of Canada board. John currently is a board member of ESOP Association Canada.
About Jason Vandeberg:Jason Vandenberg is a senior finance leader with hands-on experience in a number of senior management roles working closely with Management and Boards of Directors. Jason has an established record of achievement with expertise in forecasting and budgeting, strategic planning, corporate governance, banking and finance, mergers and acquisitions, investor relations, accounting and administration, complex business and tax issues, staff management, internal controls, human resources management, financial reporting and regulatory compliance.
Jason also brings a wealth of experience in growing companies to maximize their potential. With over 20 years of management experience, Jason has been involved in the substantial growth of multiple companies both organically and through the acquisition and integration of over 60 businesses.
Jason was the Chief Financial Officer of ENTREC Corporation from 2011 until 2020. Prior to this Jason was CFO of Eveready Inc. and its predecessor companies until it was acquired by Clean Harbors in 2009. In these roles, Jason was responsible for all finance and administrative functions. During his tenure with ENTREC, the Company grew from annual revenue of $20 million in 2010 to $180 million in 2019 making ENTREC a leader in the provision of crane and heavy haul transportation services in Canada and the United States. At Eveready, Jason was an integral member of the senior management team that grew revenue from $90 million in 2004 to over $650 million in 2008 and completed over 30 business acquisitions. Eveready provided industrial maintenance and oilfield services from 80 locations in Canada, the United States and internationally.
Prior to joining Eveready in 2005, Jason spent six years as an accountant with Grant Thornton and from 2010 until 2011 was the Vice President, Finance with Afexa Life Sciences Inc.
Jason has also been a director and fractional CFO of Current Financial Corp., a leading provider of equipment financing and capital solutions to small and medium sized businesses in Western Canada, since 2013.
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Website: AEEDNow.comLinkedin: Action Edge Executive Development Inc.
Contact Munir Haque | ActionEdge Executive Development:Contact John Stevens:
Website: CamillaGroup.comLinkedInContact Jason Vandenberg:
Website: CamillaGroup.comLinkedInPodcast Production:
Recording: PushySix StudiosProduction Assistance: Astronomic Audio--
Transcript
John Stevens: [00:00:02] One of the things you need to do is tap into that informal channel of communication within organizations and find a champion within that, because there's lots of informal channels of communication that go on within an organization. That's almost as important, sometimes, as the formal channels of communication within the organization when you're trying to change cultures.Munir Haque: [00:00:26] Hello everyone, and welcome to another episode of The Boardroom 180 Podcast. I'm your host Munir Haque, an executive coach and senior board strategist. I have partnered with Action Edge Executive Development to lead their governance and political acumen division. In each episode, we meet with governance leaders and step into their boardrooms, where decisions shape the world arou...
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In this episode, host Munir Haque interviews the president and CEO of Shane Homes, Shane Wenzel. Shane Homes, of which Shane Wenzel is the namesake, has been the leading builder in the Calgary region for over 45 years. Shane Wenzel oversees policy advice through Building Industry and Land Development (BILD) Calgary as well as economic engagement with the Alberta Enterprise Group in addition to leading Shane Homes. As a leader in his industry, Shane offers great insight into company growth and governance.
Shane Wenzel explains how the branding and unified operation between the divisions of his company - Shane Homes, Shane Multifamily, Shane Communities, and Shane Investments - maintain the successful culture and growth of the Shane Homes name overall. The evolution of the corporate vision and mission that keeps growing the company in sync with the culture and the conscious work to maintain the vision in light of innovation and market shifts is something Munir addresses with Shane.
Munir delves into the challenges unique to the family-owned business aspect of Shane Homes and Shane explains the executive structure and biannual strategic planning sessions that help keep everything in balance. Shane talks about the seven pillars his company has developed as a way to drive long-range planning, the external advisors who help shape direction, and how he empowers people to run their respective departments as part of the overall keys to maintaining a growth-oriented business plan. In regards to personal balance, Shane acknowledges philanthropy and personal passions as necessary parts of the whole, as well as addressing the governance that is key to philanthropic endeavours.About Shane Wenzel:
Before you ask, yes, the company was named after Shane. Shane joined Shane Homes at a young age and learned the new home building industry from the ground up, first working in the field on job sites, then joining the Sales and Marketing department. While in the role of Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing, Shane was instrumental in leading innovation in marketing and design for the company.Now, Shane leads the Shane Homes Group of Companies as President, is a social media creative, a mentor, podcaster, speaker, and an active member of the LGBT community. "Earn it, don't expect it."
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Contact Munir Haque | ActionEdge Executive Development:Contact Shane Wenzel:
ShaneWenzel.comLinkedIn Twitter / XInstagramYouTubeContact Shane Homes
ShaneHomes.comFacebookTwitter / XInstagramYouTubeLinkedInPodcast Production:
Recording: PushySix StudiosProduction Assistance: Astronomic Audio--
Transcript
Shane Wenzel: [00:00:01] When you hire the executives or even the operators of specific divisions, their values have to align. I will always hire that first and foremost over a skill set. I'll openly say, we're trying to create something here more than just production factory, where we're turning out houses day in day out and developing land day in day out. You're trying to create something special. That all starts from the top, and if you don't have the people who are operating the company working within those same kind of boundaries, those values and creating that culture, then you're going to fail. You're just going to end up with the McDonald's version of housing.
Munir Haque: [00:00:41] Hello everyone, and welcome to another episode of The Boardroom 180 Podcast. I'm your host Munir Haque, an executive coach and senior board strategist. I have partnered with Action Edge Executive Development to lead their governance and political acumen division. In each episode, we meet with governance leaders and step into their boardrooms, where decisions shape the world around us. We'll hear the good, the bad and the ugly, but with a keen focus on where the gaps are, discover emerging best practices, and real world tools to better evaluate, guide and grow you and your boards.
Munir Haque: [00:01:12] Today's guest is Shane Wenzel. Shane is the president and CEO of Shane Homes Group of Companies, and he's also its namesake. They are a leading builder in the Calgary region for over 45 years, and their mission is to create thriving communities with innovative design and customer centric services. His leadership focuses on building high quality, sustainable homes while advocating for industry friendly policies and economic growth. Shane oversees strategic direction, policy advice through BILD Calgary, which is Building Industry and Land Development, and economic engagement with the Alberta Enterprise Group, making him an industry leader in his field. Growing up with entrepreneurial parents, Cal and Edith, early on as a laborer within the company, then marketing assistant, moved up to director of marketing and then up through the ranks to president and CEO. He developed a strong foundation in sales and marketing, further enhanced by his involvement in a business advisory group. He is a self-proclaimed tech junkie, embracing technology and integrating smart systems and eco friendly practices. Under his leadership, they aim to grow and innovate, continually pushing boundaries into their new products and services. His commitment to excellence extends to his philanthropy and giving back to the community. Balancing professional responsibility with personal passion, he strives to lead with integrity and inclusivity, shaping a brighter future one home at a time. He's a proud member of the LGBTQ community and a social media influencer on various platforms. Hello Shane, and welcome to The Boardroom 180 Podcast. Thanks for making the time to get on our show.
Shane Wenzel: [00:02:45] Munir, thank you for having me.
Munir Haque: [00:02:46] I've been looking forward to this conversation. As you may or may not know, I cut my teeth in the land and real estate development industry in Calgary in the early 2000s, and the Wenzel name definitely was well known. We built homes in many of the same communities that I was heavily involved in, although I don't think we ever crossed paths. When we did launch this podcast, you were one of the people who reached out to me, responded with some positive messaging and feedback, and is very much appreciated on my part. So welcome.
Shane Wenzel: [00:03:16] Well thank you again for having me.
Munir Haque: [00:03:18] Before we get into it, is there anything else that I missed in your introduction that you want to tell people about?
Shane Wenzel: [00:03:23] No, I think that was pretty thorough. There's a lot to cover there. I've had enough time to at least cover all the ...
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In this episode, host Munir Haque interviews Collin Pullar, President of the Saskatchewan Construction Safety Association, in-demand speaker, contributor to Canadian business magazines, and host of The Bald Leadership podcast. The SCSA provides construction, safety training, advisory and auditing services for over 10,000 companies, and when combined with the whole of his career, this gives Collin insight into labor, economic development, government and public relations, and business leadership. Collin and Munir talk about governance, leadership, and learning from mistakes.
Collin Pullar states first and foremost that he enjoys governance for a variety of reasons and that enjoyment informs how he works to bring moments of levity into boards he’s involved with. He describes what the board of the Saskatchewan Construction Safety Association looked like before his arrival and how it has changed in functionality and grown in diversity through the years. In every board balance is important and Collin explains how every member will ideally bring multiple skill sets to the table so less experienced members can develop alongside more experienced ones.Munir delves into succession planning with Collin, the importance of the chair position, and Collin details key factors to consider in board strategizing. The importance of leadership and its crossover into governance is something Collin emphasizes as he discusses various boards and the Chamber of Commerce he has served on. He also highlights how dedication and development in sports excellence relate to leadership, drawn from his experiences in powerlifting. Collin’s vast experience, engaging conversational style, and keen insight make this episode an important listen for anyone in governance or, indeed, any facet of business leadership.
About Collin Pullar:
Collin Pullar has served as President of the Saskatchewan Construction Safety Association since May of 2014; providing construction safety training, advisory, and auditing services to some 10,000+ companies in the Saskatchewan construction sector. The SCSA employs 50 advisory, training, administrative and corporate staff in key operational bases in Saskatoon and Regina. SCSA has received a number of awards such as the Paragon Award for Business Excellence for Marketing and Promotional Achievement, the Saskatchewan Better Business Bureau’s Torch Award for Ethics due to its work in ethical leadership, in 2019 named one of Saskatchewan’s Top Employers and received international recognition being named Construction Safety Experts of the Year. His leadership includes experiences in labour and economic development, government/public relations and business leadership.Collin is an in-demand speaker for a range of business audiences. As a lifelong advocate for drug-free sports, Collin brings successful training and team philosophies to the business environment in his presentations. Collin is a regular contributor to Canadian business magazines including the Journal of Commerce, and Industry West Magazine. He is also co-host of the Bald Leadership Podcast alongside co-host Kavis Reed.
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Website: AEEDNow.comLinkedin: Action Edge Executive Development Inc.
Contact Munir Haque | ActionEdge Executive Development:Contact Collin Pullar:
Website: SCSAonline.caPodcast: Bald LeadershipCollin Pullar on LinkedInBald Leadership on LinkedInTwitter/XPodcast Production:
Recording: PushySix StudiosProduction Assistance: Astronomic Audio--
Transcript
Collin Pullar: [00:00:01] If you’re familiar with the Myers-Briggs Type Index, there’s 16 main personality preference types. 85% of the people who are in executive leadership, of which that’s usually the pool that gets pulled into the board, come from just those four types. The challenge is that you can get caught in the group think that we spoke about earlier. Right from the cognitive level, from the personality level, it can be important to look at that. Boards can, over time, begin to think about things like this. What’s the strengths that people bring?Munir Haque: [00:00:36] Hello everyone, and welcome to another episode of The Boardroom 180 Podcast. I'm your host, Munir Haque, an executive coach and senior board strategist. I have partnered with Action Edge Executive Development to lead their governance and political acumen division. In each episode, we meet with governance leaders and step into their boardrooms, where decisions shape the world around us.
Munir Haque: [00:00:56] Today's guest is Mr. Collin Pullar. For the past decade, Collin has been the president of the Saskatchewan Construction Safety Association. It's an organization providing construction, safety training, advisory and auditing services for over 10,000 companies in the Saskatchewan construction sector. Under his leadership, the SCSA has operations in Saskatoon and Regina and received numerous awards. With expertise in labor, economic development, government and public relations, and business leadership, Collin is an in-demand speaker for a wide range of business audiences. Collin is a regular contributor to Canadian business magazines, including the Journal of Commerce and Industry West Magazine, and is the host of the Bald Leadership Podcast. We're very excited to have him today on the podcast, hopefully pick his brain and have a bit of fun doing it. Hi, Collin.
Collin Pullar: [00:01:43] Hello, thanks for having me.
Munir Haque: [00:01:45] Thanks for being on the show. Our listening audience probably doesn't know this, but they will now. I'm officially designating this 'the lost episode'. We recorded it once before and we had some technical difficulties, but Collin has graciously accepted the offer to try to reenact that first podcast.
Collin Pullar: [00:02:04] We can call that the practice episode, how about we call it that.
Munir Haque: [00:02:08] It is a bit of a warm up, because it was the first interview that I did. I had reached out to Collin to do that because Collin and I have known each other for years, and I know that, as I mentioned in his intro, that he's been on a podcast. He understands how they work, and I thought I could get some tips and tricks from him. When I was doing a bit of background research on him to get ready for this podcast, I came across a picture of you. I think it was, of all places, it was on IMDb. International movie database. It's a picture of you from, I can tell that you're topless and all you have on, essentially, is a bow tie, and you're kind of dressed like a bit of a Chippendale there.
Collin Pullar: [00:02:53] I think I had cufflinks, I think I had cuffs on.
Munir Haque: [00:02:58] That's your modesty showing through. Where did that come from?
Collin Pullar: [00:03:04] That's funny. That was pretty well 20 years ago, Munir. There was a wonderful show called Corner Gas, it was just in its infancy at the time. A Canadian comedy show. I didn't know much about it. I was reached out to and said, hey, would you be interested in, first, being an extra? Then they said, hey, we've got th...
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In this episode, host Munir Haque interviews Melinda Park, a partner at Borden Ladner Gervais LLP, who made history as the first woman to chair the firm's board. With over 20 years of legal experience in corporate governance, securities, and capital markets, Melinda discusses how her career journey has been driven by a fascination with how corporate entities operate. She addresses the unique role of a corporate lawyer in boardrooms and explains to Munir how they provide objective counsel and help guide critical business decisions.
Melinda talks about the importance of governance in corporate settings, particularly in preventing decision paralysis and effectively managing risks. Good governance provides a framework that allows boards and management teams to make informed decisions and work through complex issues, even when outcomes are not necessarily perfect. Melinda stresses the value of healthy tension, maintained by governance, between boards and management. She says that such tension ensures that decisions are vetted completely and not just passed without thorough consideration.
Munir and Melinda explore the evolution of governance practices and Melinda highlights how important diversity is in boardrooms. She stresses that diversity of thought is needed, which comes from varied backgrounds and perspectives that include factors of age, experience, and gender. She argues that diversity is key to addressing modern challenges such as cybersecurity and AI. The conversation ranges from how governance has changed through the years, shaped by legal developments and case law, to why having policies is not the same as acting on them, to the importance of governance in ESG. Melinda enjoys these topics and is a passionate and informed speaker, making this interview an essential listen.
About Melinda Park
Melinda has practised securities and corporate law for over 20 years, with a focus on securities, corporate finance and commercial transactions.
She represents corporate clients on securities and corporate matters, including mergers and acquisitions and reverse takeovers (RTOs), going public in Canada, and financings by way of prospectus and private placement offerings.
She regularly advises boards of directors and committees of public and private companies.
Melinda has extensive experience advising corporate clients and structuring business transactions. She regularly provides expertise on corporate governance and continuous disclosure for companies listed on both the TSX Venture Exchange and the TSX.
Melinda is a senior member of BLG’s management, and is the immediate past Chair of the firm’s Partnership Board – the first woman at BLG to hold the position. She served on the board for six years.
Melinda is also a member of BLG's Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) initiative. She was appointed to the King's Counsel in 2024.Melinda provides legal services through a Law Corporation.
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Website: AEEDNow.comLinkedin: Action Edge Executive Development Inc.
Contact Munir Haque | ActionEdge Executive Development:Contact Melinda Park:
Website: BLG.comEmail: [email protected]
Recording: PushySix StudiosProduction Assistance: Astronomic Audio
Podcast Production:--
Transcript
Melinda Park: [00:00:03] And I think unfortunately, when situations, especially when they get tense, everybody starts to think they need the perfect solution. Everybody is perceived either pro or con or this or that, and we don't really give ourselves the grace to act as human beings in a tense situation and then try and resolve it. What governance can do is provide some of the framework such that when things are tense, when things are coming at you that you couldn't have anticipated, it gives you a bit of a framework and a guide such that some of the bad and some of the really ugly can be avoided.Munir Haque: [00:00:42] Hello everyone, and welcome to another episode of The Boardroom 180 Podcast. I'm your host, Munir Haque, an executive coach and senior board strategist. I have partnered with Action Edge Executive Development to lead their governance and political acumen division. In each episode, we meet with governance leaders and step into their boardrooms, where decisions shape the world around us.
Munir Haque: [00:01:01] Hello, everybody. Today's guest is Melinda Park. Melinda is a partner in the Securities and Capital Markets group for the law firm of Borden Ladner Gervais LLP in Calgary. She's the first woman to serve as a chair of the firm's board in their history. She's practiced law for over 20 years, representing corporate clients on securities and corporate matters, including mergers and acquisitions, reverse takeovers, going public in Canada, and financing by way of prospectus and private placement offerings. She advises clients on structuring business transactions, corporate governance and continuous disclosure for companies listed on both the TSX Venture Exchange and the TSX. Melinda regularly advises boards of directors and committees of public and private companies. In 2017, the Women's Executive Network named Melinda one of the 100 Most Powerful Women in Canada. She's also been recognized in the 2015, 2017, 2018, and 2019 editions of The Best Lawyers in Canada. And she has her ICD.D designation from the Institute of Corporate Directors. Welcome to the show, Melinda. Thanks for joining us.
Melinda Park: [00:02:16] Thank you very much. Pleasure to be here.
Munir Haque: [00:02:18] Maybe what we can do is start a little bit more about your background and BLG the law firm, what kind of services you provide.
Melinda Park: [00:02:26] Oh, sure. Well, the beautiful thing about BLG, it's Borden Ladner Gervais, but BLG rolls off the tongue a little easier, is that we are one of Canada's largest law firms, and sometimes we are the largest. I think it all depends on how the numbers go on any given day and how many students we have, and that gives us the luxury of being able to provide our clients with access to legal advice all the way across the country, both our national and international clients. So even if you're regionally based, but you have something that gets impacted in another province, we can be there. And definitely if you're international, we can be there on a national platform. So that's a real, I think, valuable platform for me as an individual lawyer then, because when we're giving counsel to our clients, specifically when you know you have the whole team behind you in all areas of expertise, it makes it a little easier to go through the complexities that corporate clients are having nowadays.
Munir Haque: [00:03:25] I can imagine that. I'm sure you didn't start out in corporate governance, or maybe you did, but what drew you to the corporate end or spectrum of the profession?
Melinda Park: [00:03:36] So my career has been going for quite a while, a...
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In this episode of The Boardroom 180 Podcast, host Munir Haque invites the Honourable Ralph Goodale, Canada's High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, to share insights on diplomatic relations and governance. The conversation covers the importance of anticipating global trends and how challenging it has become with the increasing pace of change and interconnectedness. They also discuss Goodale's extensive political career, spanning over four decades, and his current role in strengthening Canada-UK relations.
Not only does Mr. Goodale highlight the complexities and responsibilities of diplomacy, but he also discusses his experiences as High Commissioner in London, describing the city's vibrant cultural and political landscape. He reflects on the rapid and efficient political transitions in the UK, contrasting them with those in Canada and the US, and praises the UK’s ability to switch governments swiftly and without turmoil. There is professionalism in the British public service in preparing for potential leadership changes that could serve as a model for other democracies, including Canada, which is effective but moves at a slower pace during transitions.
Munir and Mr. Goodale explore the role of diplomats in fostering international relationships. The significance of maintaining strong ties with the new UK government following the recent election was stressed by Mr. Goodale, along with the importance of building relationships and ensuring Canadian interests are effectively represented. The episode provides a comprehensive look at the intricacies of diplomacy, the value of strong governance, and the critical role of international relationships in shaping global affairs.About Ralph Goodale
Raised on a family farm near Wilcox, Saskatchewan, Ralph Goodale received a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Regina in 1971, and a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Saskatchewan in 1972. He has practical experience in business, agriculture, law, and broadcasting, as well as federal and provincial politics.
He was first elected to the Parliament of Canada in 1974 at the age of 24, representing Assiniboia in Saskatchewan. In the 1980s, he served as leader of the provincial Liberal Party, and was elected to the Saskatchewan Legislative Assembly in 1986.
Mr. Goodale returned to the House of Commons in 1993 as the Member of Parliament for Wascana, and was subsequently re-elected in 1997, 2000, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2011 and 2015. He served in the federal Cabinet as Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, Minister of Natural Resources, Leader of the Government in the House of Commons, Minister of Public Works and Government Services, Minister of Finance, and Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness.In March of 2020, Mr. Goodale became Special Advisor to the Government of Canada with respect to Iran’s deadly attack against Ukraine International Airlines Flight PS752 which claimed many innocent Canadian lives. In December of 2023, Mr. Goodale was named Canada’s official representative to the Ismaili Imamat. He continues in both of these roles.
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Website: AEEDNow.comLinkedin: Action Edge Executive Development Inc.
Contact Munir Haque | ActionEdge Executive Development:Contact Ralph Goodale:
Website: International.gc.caParliament of CanadaTwitter / XPodcast Production:
Recording: PushySix StudiosProduction Assistance: Astronomic Audio--
Transcript
Ralph Goodale: [00:00:03] If you really want to score, skate to where the puck is going to be, not to where the puck is, because you'll always be after the fact. But you have to make those judgments about where the world is going, and making those judgments is harder now because it's all going faster and faster and faster and there are interconnecting circles and everything is more complicated.
Munir Haque: [00:00:29] Hello everyone, and welcome to another episode of The Boardroom 180 Podcast. I'm your host, Munir Haque, an executive coach and senior board strategist. I have partnered with Action Edge Executive Development to lead their governance and political acumen division. In each episode, we meet with governance leaders and step into their boardrooms, where decisions shape the world around us.
Munir Haque: [00:00:48] Welcome to another episode of The Boardroom 180 Podcast. Our guest today is the Honourable Mr. Ralph Goodale, High Commissioner for Canada in the United Kingdom of Britain and Northern Ireland and the Permanent Representative on the International Maritime Organization. He's been in this position since 2021, since retiring from Canadian politics. He was first elected to the Parliament of Canada in 1974 at the age of 24, representing Assiniboia and Saskatchewan. This was only two years after receiving his law degree. In the 1980s, he served as a leader of the provincial Liberal Party, and was elected to the Saskatchewan Legislative Assembly in 1986. Mr. Goodale returned to the House of Commons in 1993 and was Member of Parliament for Wascana, and was subsequently reelected in 1997, 2000, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2011 and 2015. He has served many federal cabinet positions, including Minister of Agriculture and Agri foods, Minister of Natural Resources, Leader of Government in the House of Commons, Minister of Public Works and Government Services, Minister of Finance and Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, just to name a few. According to CBC, he is the only MP to serve under both Trudeau prime ministers. So, Mr. Goodale, I was truly honored to have you join our podcast today. Ralph is joining us from London, UK. So it's morning here in Calgary and it's late afternoon there in London? I think it's about seven or eight hour time difference. So welcome.
Ralph Goodale: [00:02:23] Very nice to be on your program and very good to see you again, Munir. It's been a few years since we've had a visit. But glad to be on your podcast.
Munir Haque: [00:02:32] Good. The UK is looking good on you.
Ralph Goodale: [00:02:35] Well, this is a terrific assignment. One that I'm very grateful to have. London is a wonderful venue. There's art and culture and history and something fascinating or completely outrageous on virtually every street corner. The whole world passes through London as international affairs, politics, diplomacy, economic matters. This is an international intersection. We have excellent relationships with the UK government, whether it's the former conservative government or now the new labor government. The relationship between Canada and the UK is strong and deep and we work together on a whole vast variety of matters and we get a lot of things done together. And this last three years and four months that I have been in London in this role has been an incredibly busy period. When I arrived, they were grappling with Brexit and struggling to get out from under COVID, and then that evacuation from Afghanistan came along, and then there was the AUKUS situation. T...
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Munir Haque is joined by Gary Mar, President and CEO of the Canada West Foundation and former Member of the Legislative Assembly in Alberta from 1993 to 2007. Gary discusses the Canada West Foundation’s work and shares with Munir the differences between governmental governance and governance in industry. With his experience across different types of boards, Gary understands what makes a good one and what the purpose of a board truly is.
Governance is as good as the people holding board seats, much like the captain of any ship relies on a quality crew to know each of their jobs intimately. The stronger your hiring, the more your board can accomplish, and Gary’s experiences highlight this truth. In addition to his knowledge of governance, however, Gary understands the nuance of the natural resources sector as well as oil and gas interests, and the conversation Munir and Gary have is enlightening.
Gary Mar shares an intimate understanding of politics, policy-making, the needs of Western Canada, and trade agreements. His expertise extends into international corporations and he sheds light on how boards function in China and abroad. The needs of a well-functioning board come down to specific personality types and skill sets, and an understanding of the relationship between a CEO and the board is key. Munir avails himself of Gary Mar’s experience and knowledge to our benefit in this expansive interview.
About Gary Mar
Gary G. Mar is President and CEO of the Canada West Foundation, an independent, non-partisan policy organization working to improve the lives of Canadians in the West and the country as a whole.
Gary’s background in government and business provided him with experience in the Canada West Foundation’s primary policy areas of trade and investment, natural resources and human capital. The foundation conducts evidence-based research and analysis to develop policy recommendations in areas such as international trade relationships, trade infrastructure, workforce development and the nexus of energy, environment and the economy.
Prior to joining the foundation, Gary served as President and CEO of the Petroleum Services Association of Canada where he represented the service, supply and manufacturing sectors within the upstream petroleum industry. He also had a successful career in government serving as a Member of the Legislative Assembly in the Province of Alberta from 1993-2007 and holding several Cabinet portfolios. He then served as the Official Representative of the Province of Alberta at the Canadian Embassy in Washington D.C. and as the Province of Alberta’s Representative in Asia.
Gary, who has a law degree from the University of Alberta, was appointed as an Adjunct Professor at the institution’s School of Business in Marketing, Business Economics and Law and is also Adjunct Professor at the University of Calgary’s Haskayne School of Business. In 2022 he was appointed as a member and chair of the Council of the Alberta Order of Excellence and was also awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal for public service.
Resources discussed in this episode:
“The Battle of the Billionaires” on YouTube__
Contact Munir Haque | ActionEdge Executive Development:
Website: AEEDNow.comLinkedin: Action Edge Executive Development Inc.Contact Gary Mar:
Website: CWF.caLinkedInPodcast Production:
Recording: PushySix StudiosProduction Assistance: Astronomic Audio--
Transcript
Gary Mar: [00:00:03] It’s a reciprocal obligation to provide to your board what you believe are the best strategies to move forward, but it’s also your board’s responsibility to bring in their body of experience to instruct the CEO so it really goes both ways. If you’ve got a good board, there should be no fear at all of the exchange of ideas and instruction.Munir Haque: [00:00:27] Hello everyone, and welcome to another episode of The Boardroom 180 Podcast. I'm your host Munir Haque, an executive coach and senior board strategist. I have partnered with Action Edge Executive Development to lead their governance and political acumen division. In each episode, we meet with governance leaders and step into their boardrooms where decisions shape the world around us. We'll hear the good, the bad and the ugly, but with a keen focus on where the gaps are, discover emerging best practices and real world tools to better evaluate, guide and grow you and your boards.
Munir Haque: [00:00:58] Welcome to The Boardroom 180 Podcast. Today we'll be speaking with Gary Mar. Gary is the president and CEO of Canada West Foundation, he's been that since 2020. He's an accomplished and respected leader with the deep knowledge of government and business and expertise in key policy areas of resources, environment and economy, skills, innovation and productivity, trade and trade infrastructure. Previously, Gary served as president and CEO of the Petroleum Services Association of Canada, the national trade association representing the service, supply and manufacturing sector within the upstream petroleum industry. Gary has broad expertise in government, having served as a member of the Legislative Assembly for the Province of Alberta from 1993 to 2007, so about 14 years. During this time, Gary held several cabinet portfolios including community development, health and wellness, education, environment, and international and intergovernmental relations. Gary has also served as the official representative or the Minister Counselor of Alberta at the Canadian Embassy in Washington, DC, and as a Province of Alberta's representative in Asia from 2011 to 2015. After leaving government, Gary was an independent consultant, working with both Chinese and Canadian companies seeking assistance with trans pacific trade and investment. In 2016, he co-founded Canadian Advantage Petroleum Corporation, which successfully purchased heavy oil in Alberta and sold it directly to refineries in China. In 2022, Gary was appointed as a member of the chair of the Council of Alberta Order of Excellence, and was also awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal for public service. Welcome to the podcast there, Gary. Thanks for making the time to be with us today.
Gary Mar: [00:02:47] It's my pleasure to be here, Munir. Thank you for having me.
Munir Haque: [00:02:50] We were challenged to find time with you. I think, when I first reached out to you, you were on a trip overseas, and so we had to wait for you to get back. But it sounds like you're a very popular guy. The mutual acquaintance that we have that had recommended you for this show, he said that anywhere he goes, you can't go to McDonald's with Gary and not have everybody stop and try to have a conversation with him. A couple weeks back, I ran into an old university colleague at the Global Energy Show here in Calgary, and I hadn't seen him for 14 years. I was mentioning people I was trying to get on the show, and I told him about you. And of course, he had a Gary Mar story...
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Munir Haque is joined by exit plan advisor and co-founder of Village Wellth, Elizabeth MacRae, to talk about the buying and selling of business and why Village Wellth was founded to facilitate those needs. What is the board of directors’ role in an acquisition or sale? What is typically overseen by the board? Liz sheds light on how they operate in her world and what makes exit planning such a vital necessity.
The manner in which businesses seek growth is varied, whether they consider growth through acquisition, by taking the traditional path through organic growth marketing and sales, or via accessing debt to grow capacity. The viability of different growth options is discussed and Liz explains the factors that lead even smaller companies to consider acquisitions, which is where Village Wellth’s role is significant.
Learn how governance is affected by a merger or sale, how the choice of growth pathway will affect the governance and board decisions and why. There are reasons to consider a change of governance if the business is to become more profitable before the sale, or to form a board if investors require it. Liz delves into how a board of directors can lead a company to success by guiding the processes and procedures and a certain standard and quality of financial reporting, important factors if a company is changing hands. This episode reveals the importance of governance from an exit plan and acquisition perspective.
About Elizabeth MacRae
Liz is a certified exit plan advisor and co-founder of Village Wellth, an acquisition management platform supporting entrepreneurs in accessing deal flow and capital for business acquisitions. Her journey into entrepreneurship stemmed from a pivotal moment when she missed the chance to take over her father's family business due to a lack of succession planning. Together with her husband Scott, they embarked on business ownership by purchasing a franchise. Their experience of navigating the inception and the eventual sale of the franchise sparked Liz's passion for business succession. Over the past decade, Liz has acquired and successfully exited two companies. Her expertise spans transaction services running a boutique, business brokerage, facilitating deals between buyers and sellers, and as an exit planning advisor.
Drawing from her client interactions and personal ventures, Liz is an avid speaker dedicated to empowering aspiring entrepreneurs and founders by sharing insights into business acquisition and the strategies for proper exit planning. Her commitment to simplifying and enhancing the business acquisition process underscores her vision for improving access to entrepreneurs and business sustainability. She also serves as co-president of the Calgary M&A Club.
--Contact Munir Haque | ActionEdge Executive Development:
Website: AEEDNow.comLinkedin: Action Edge Executive Development Inc.Contact Elizabeth (Liz) MacRae:
Website: VillageWellth.comLinkedIn
Recording: PushySix StudiosProduction Assistance: Astronomic Audio
Podcast Production:--
Transcript
Elizabeth MacRae: [00:00:03] I'm a big philosopher of this too, is if you plan to exit someday, have those exit strategies in mind because if you understand how you can exit a company, you'll make different decisions every single day. At the micro level, because you'll understand that when you get to due diligence, how those decisions are going to be looked at. I'm a huge proponent for understanding, even if you don't plan to exit yourself for 10, 15 years, if you're not necessarily raising capital today, but you plan on raising capital, understand how that works now, because it's a tremendous amount of work if you have to get prepared for due diligence.
Munir Haque: [00:00:48] Hello everyone, and welcome to another episode of The Boardroom 180 Podcast. I'm your host Munir Haque, an executive coach and senior board strategist. I have partnered with Action Edge Executive Development to lead their governance and political acumen division. In each episode, we meet with governance leaders and step into their boardrooms where decisions shape the world around us. We'll hear the good, the bad and the ugly, but with a keen focus on where the gaps are, discover emerging best practices and real world tools to better evaluate, guide and grow you and your boards.
Munir Haque: [00:01:18] Our guest today is Elizabeth MacRae. Liz is a certified exit plan advisor and co-founder of Village Wellth. That's w-e-l-l-t-h. It's an acquisition management platform supporting entrepreneurs in accessing deal flow and capital for business acquisitions. Her journey into entrepreneurship stemmed from a pivotal moment when she missed the chance to take over the father's family business due to a lack of succession planning. Together with her husband Scott, they embarked on business ownership by purchasing a franchise. Their experience of navigating the inception and the eventual sale of the franchise sparked Liz's passion for business succession. Over the past decade, Liz has acquired and successfully exited two companies. Her expertise spans transaction services running a boutique, business brokerage, facilitating deals between buyers and sellers, and as an exit planning advisor. Drawing from her client interactions and personal ventures, Liz is an avid speaker dedicated to empowering aspiring entrepreneurs and founders by sharing insights into business acquisition and the strategies for proper exit planning. Her commitment to simplifying and enhancing the business acquisition process underscores her vision for improving access to entrepreneurs and business sustainability. She also serves as co-president of Calgary M&A Club. Hello Liz, and thanks for taking the time. I know you've got a busy schedule. Thanks for joining us on The Boardroom 180 Podcast.
Elizabeth MacRae: [00:02:56] Thanks for having me, Munir. It's a pleasure to be here.
Munir Haque: [00:02:58] Is there anything in the intro that I missed or that you wanted to expand a little bit on?
Elizabeth MacRae: [00:03:02] No, that pretty well sums it up. I think one of the missing pieces is that I'm not originally from Calgary. I know we're recording this in Calgary. I'm originally from the East Coast, which coming from that community in such a close knit community fostered in me the support local, the sustainability philosophy. And a lot of the businesses in that area are farms and family enterprises. I was raised in that environment which certainly plays into how I conduct my business and what drives me.
Munir Haque: [00:03:41] Nice. Maybe we'll just jump right into it right now and maybe ask you a little bit more about Village Wellth. What led you and why did you see that there was a need for it?
Elizabeth MacRae: [00:03:49] We started Village Wellth, the conversation for Village Wellth started in 2019, and one of my business partners comes from a wealth management background. At the time I was in transaction services and the business brokerage space and conducting exit planning and working with business owners on their succession plans. When my business partner and I collided, we just started talki...
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Join us for a compelling conversation with Karen Smith as we delve into the essentials of ethical decision-making and governance across corporate and municipal boards. Our speakers shed light on the critical importance of fostering an ethical culture, maintaining transparency, and ensuring accountability. Listeners will discover why effective governance is a must in today's complex communities, where trust and well-established frameworks can help mitigate risks.
In this episode, we tackle the complexities of managing votes of no confidence and addressing ethical violations through targeted training and one-on-one meetings. We also explore the diverse responsibilities of board members, from fiduciary duties to the need for continuous education, particularly in dynamic fields like cybersecurity.
Learn about the differences between various types of boards and the importance of representing diverse perspectives while aligning with organizational values. Tune in for valuable insights on ethical decision-making, performance measurement, and stakeholder engagement, all underscored by the power of open communication and conflict resolution to build lasting, effective governance.
About Karen Smith
Karen currently serves as Chair of Access Communications Co-operative, is a Board Member of the Regina Community Clinic, is on the board of the Saskatchewan New Home Warranty Program, and is Co-Chair of the Saskatchewan Advisory Board of the Institute for Corporate Directors. She is also available to consult on governance, ethics, and other matters since 2022.
Karen recently retired as full-time CEO for Better Business Bureau of Saskatchewan, serving in this capacity from October 2015 to December 2023. Her professional background includes Director of Employee Benefit Plans for the Saskatchewan School Boards Association. Karen's activity in the business community includes serving as the employer representative on the WCB’s former Early Intervention Program Advisory Committee and as a member of the Human Resources Committee for the Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce. Previously carried the CHRP designation in both Saskatchewan and Manitoba.
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Contact Munir Haque | ActionEdge Executive Development:
Website: AEEDNow.comLinkedin: Action Edge Executive Development Inc.
Linkedin: Karen Smith
Contact Karen Smith:--
Transcript:
Karen Smith: [00:00:03] And in the end, the board is the one who has the fiduciary responsibility over those organizations. So the board has to keep up. We have to keep up with the training. So it's not just about understanding the financial statements anymore. We have to do better than that. And if you need to bring in experts to help you with the training, then do so.Munir Haque: [00:00:33] Hello, everybody. Today's guest is Karen L. Smith. Karen is a governance and ethics consultant. She's a governance specialist with Chartered Director designation from McMasters University and the Conference Board of Canada. She's a specialist in administrative justice with a certificate in Tribunal Administrative Justice. She's a certified employee benefits specialist with designations from Dalhousie University and the International Society of Employee Benefits. Karen has a long history of serving on boards and committees. Essentially too long for me to mention in this introduction, but to name a few, currently she is a chair of Access Communications Co-operative. She's a board member of the Regina Community Clinic. She's on the board of the Saskatchewan New Home Warranty Program. She's a co-chair of the Saskatchewan Advisory Board of the Institute of Cooperative Directors. Karen is also the founding member and served as president of the Saskatchewan Administrative Tribunal Association. Professionally, she was the CEO of the Saskatchewan Better Business Bureau, recently retired in 2023, she was there in that position for eight years. Before that, she was the director of employee benefits plan for the Saskatchewan School Board Association. She was also a member of council for the Village of Buena Vista and a life member of PARKS. That's the Provincial Association of Resort Communities of Saskatchewan. Hello, Karen. Thank you so much for being on The Boardroom 180 Podcast. Is there anything that you want to make special note of that I missed in the introduction?
Karen Smith: [00:02:03] The only one is, for ten years, I was on the Workers Compensation Board. So that was a paid board member position. Full time board work.
Munir Haque: [00:02:13] There's one thing that pops up a couple of times in your bio and that's tribunal administrative justice. Do you want to explain that a little bit to those of us who don't know exactly what it means?
Karen Smith: [00:02:24] It's the final level of appeal. It was part of the Workers Compensation Board responsibilities. So besides the normal governance duties that you see when you're a part of a board that's providing oversight for an organization, in addition, with the Workers Compensation Board in Canada, the Saskatchewan Board also had tribunal responsibilities. So when a worker or an employer is looking for the Worker's Compensation Board for either benefits or coverage of some kind, one of the softs that were made when the legislation was first put into place, is that workers would not be able to sue employers if they had a dedicated insurance scheme to protect them from workplace injuries. So part of that mechanism then, to protect both the rights of both parties is to make sure that there was a final level of appeal and then if it needed to go to the courts, it would be on issues of jurisdiction or something that was patently wrong. So very limited instances during the ten years when I was on the board, there was always a tribunal. I sat on well over 2000 appeals in that ten year period. And I would say that less than five went to the court. So that's a pretty good number that there was no need for an additional review.
Karen Smith: [00:04:11] And those that did go to the court, generally speaking, they would look at it and then return it back to us and ask us to consider a certain part of that particular decision. So the process in the tribunal work is really about a worker. Let's say it's a worker. The worker appeals the decision to the first level, and we always encourage going up the chain just the same as if you were in a retail store and you had a complaint, you'd go up the chain. You don't go to the corporate headquarters until you've exhausted the local ones. And it's the same principle with workers compensation benefits, whether it's a worker attempting to get benefits or they think the benefits that were given weren't full enough or missing, or if it was an employer who was either appealing a worker's claim or they were appealing the payroll assessment that was made, because the payroll assessment is what funded the worker's compensation scheme. So as a tribunal, we were the final level of appeal. There was internal levels through whatever department it was organized through. They had an internal appeals department as well that looked at both worker and employer appeals. And then if they still weren't satisfied, then they would have came to the board appeal tribunal.
Munir Haque: [00:05:35] Well thanks for that little bit of education there. It's helpful for me to put a framework around it. So I want to talk about ma...
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Host Munir Haque, in partnership with ActionEdge Executive Development, welcomes guest Brad Sugars to the show. Brad Sugars is the world’s number-one business coach with a 30-year career. He is a found and chairman of Action Coach and has written 18 books on business, marketing, and leadership, including The Wealth Coach and Pulling Profits Out of a Hat. Brad discusses the nuances and necessities of governance management with Munir.
In his book Pulling Profits Out of a Hat, Brad addresses the five disciplines of a successful business, which he details for Munir. A successful business necessarily must also have a well-organized board representing the needs of all customers, staff, suppliers, lenders, banks, shareholders, and the community. Brad identifies how board governance has been perceived as a pain for a CEO but in reality, the role of the board is to assist the CEO and the growth of the business which means being a proactive board rather than a reactive one.
Munir and Brad discuss board member roles, what makes a great chairman, and how the five disciplines of a successful business can be applied to board governance and coaching boards. Brad has coached boards, giving him insight into what it takes to coach the different members of a board effectively, and he shares what it takes to maintain board functionality and unity while simultaneously identifying what individual members need and what’s best for the company. Governance management can be an intricate process but Brad Sugars addresses exactly the type of work that must be invested into a board’s success.About Brad Sugars:
Professionally, nobody has created a bigger impact on Brad Sugars' life than Jim Rohn. As a teen, Brad scrimped and saved his allowance in order to afford tickets to a Rohn seminar, and despite being the youngest person in the audience, what he learned there has informed his own business practices and philosophies throughout his life.
Now, internationally known as one of the most influential entrepreneurs, Brad Sugars is a bestselling author, keynote speaker, and the #1 business coach in the world. Over the course of his 30-year career as an entrepreneur, Brad has become the CEO of 9+ companies and is the owner of the multi-million dollar franchise ActionCOACH®.
As a husband and father of five, Brad is equally as passionate about his family as he is about business. That's why, Brad is a strong advocate for building a business that works without you - so you can spend more time doing what really matters to you.
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Website: BradSugars.comWebsite: ActionCoach.comBooks: Books By Brad SugarsLinkedInInstagramYouTube
Contact Brad Sugars:Contact Munir Haque | ActionEdge Executive Development:
Website: AEEDNow.comLinkedin: Action Edge Executive Development Inc.Podcast Production:
Recording: PushySix StudiosProduction Assistance: Astronomic Audio—
Transcript
Brad Sugars: [00:00:04] When the CEO dreads board meetings, if the CEO dreads the board meeting, you know that there's a challenge going on. There's a lack of support for the CEO. They're not being supported to get the job done type thing. If you don't, if you as a board don't believe in the CEO, then move on. Don't just punish them for 9, 12 months and then move them on type thing. It's not going to grow the organization. The second is when you see the sidebars happening, when the board is not operating as an inclusive group, when the meeting happens, and then people go outside and do their little chats with each other, and instead of saying it in the room, they say it outside of the room. A board that is open, trusting, believing in each other is necessary for it to be the case. There has to be that level of willingness to have the hard discussions in the room.
Munir Haque: [00:01:02] Hello everyone, and welcome to another episode of The Boardroom 180 Podcast. I'm your host Munir Haque, an executive coach and senior board strategist. I have partnered with Action Edge Executive Development to lead their governance and political acumen division. In each episode, we meet with governance leaders and step into their boardrooms where decisions shape the world around us. We'll hear the good, the bad and the ugly, but with a keen focus on where the gaps are, discover emerging best practices and real world tools to better evaluate, guide and grow you and your boards.
Munir Haque: [00:01:37] In today's episode, we have Brad Sugars. Brad Sugars is a seasoned entrepreneur and world's number one business coach, known for his captivating storytelling and actionable insights from his 30-year career. As a chairman and founder of Action Coach, 1000 plus globally franchised company, Brad has personally experienced scaling of business through marketing, leadership, franchising and global expansion with 18 authored books on business, marketing and leadership, including The Wealth Coach, The Real Estate Coach, Billionaire and Training and Pulling Profits Out of a Hat, Brad's message is packed with practical strategies for success. His engaging and hands-on style leaves readers and audiences inspired and equipped with actual takeaways. Brad's journey from being mentored as a teenager to becoming an internationally renowned speaker and CEO of multiple companies, underscores his passion for education and motivating entrepreneurs. He emphasizes building businesses that work without constant oversight, allowing for a better work-life balance. Brad's commitment to helping others achieve success is evident in a straightforward approach and dedication to sharing his expertise through speaking engagements, podcasts, and business forums. So thanks, Brad, for joining us today. I know you've got a very busy schedule. I'm glad that you found some time to fit us into it, and I'm really looking forward to the conversation we're going to have today.
Brad Sugars: [00:03:00] You know, it's an interesting subject, and there's a lot of boards that you know, I guess it's new to some people managing a board, working with a board, getting the whole result. So yeah, great to be here.
Munir Haque: [00:03:12] Oh, and so I think we'll just kind of jump into it just to kind of make best use of your time, you know, kind of in preparation for this meeting, I did go through your book, the Pulling Profits Out of a Hat. And in that book, you talk about the five disciplines of successful business. And so, you know, just to give kind of our listeners who aren't familiar with you a bit of a background of it. I was wondering if you could kind of go through those five disciplines and maybe give a little bit of an example to kind of so that our listeners can picture what you're getting at.
Brad Sugars: [00:03:42] Yeah. So what we did when we wrote that book, it took us about two and a half years. We studied our clients ...
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Host Munir Haque, in partnership with ActionEdge Executive Development, welcomes Mark Docherty, a former Saskatchewan Party MLA and Speaker of the House to the podcast. Mark details his extensive career in human services, working in various roles from youth centers to positions in ministries dealing with health, social services, and immigration. Mark and Munir discuss Mark’s transition into politics, driven by a desire to continue serving his community in a broader capacity.
Mark Docherty reflects on his experiences with different organizational structures, comparing government roles with non-profit governance. He underscores the importance of having staff involved in creating an organization's vision and mission to ensure genuine commitment. Munir welcomes Mark’s insight into the intricacies of board dynamics, the differences between operational and governance boards, and the necessity of transparency and clear communication within an organization. The organizations function differently but the necessity of communication and serving the organization’s purpose is something they all share.
Transitioning into his political career, Mark describes how his previous roles prepared him for public service, providing a unique perspective on government operations. He touches on the ongoing debate about electoral reform, specifically proportional representation versus the current first-past-the-post system, noting the complexities and potential future directions of this conversation in Canadian politics. Throughout, he emphasizes the importance of service, accountability, and ensuring that all voices are heard in governance.About Mark Docherty:
Mark Docherty was the MLA for the constituency of Regina Coronation Park, the area where he was born and spent his early life. First elected to the Saskatchewan legislature in 2011, he was re-elected in 2016. He served as Speaker of the House from 2018 to 2020, and in 2023 he stepped down from the legislative assembly.
Mark has worked in many human service roles, including director of Dales House, director of Immigration Settlement, supervisor for the Health-Community Care Branch, team leader at the Paul Dojack Youth Centre, and clinical director for Leading Thunderbird Lodge.
He has earned three degrees, including a Bachelor of Science (FNUC), a Bachelor of Human Justice (U of R) and a Masters of Social Work (U of R). Mark’s interest in education has also led him to teach several courses at the University of Regina and Saskpolytec (SIAST).
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Contact Mark Docherty:Contact Munir Haque | ActionEdge Executive Development:
Website: AEEDNow.comLinkedin: Action Edge Executive Development Inc.Podcast Production:
Recording: PushySix StudiosProduction Assistance: Astronomic Audio—
Transcript
Mark Docherty: [00:00:04] “Everybody's honorable. Okay, you got to come from a perspective of everybody's honorable and they're here for the right reasons, okay? That's true. You know, when you walk into that chamber, everybody's honorable, nobody's a liar, okay? Everybody is sincere. You got to come from that perspective. Everybody is honorable. And now, okay, but everybody's trying to call each other names, and they're, so how do you call somebody a liar without calling him a liar?”
Munir Haque: [00:00:40] Hey everyone, and welcome to another episode of The Boardroom 180 podcast. I'm your host, Munir Haque, an executive coach and senior board strategist. I lead the governance and political acumen division with Canada's top executive development firm, ActionEdge Executive Development. In each episode, we meet governance leaders as they take us into boardrooms where decisions shape the world around us. We'll hear the good, the bad and the ugly, but with a keen focus on where the gaps are, discover emerging best practices, and real-world tools to better evaluate, guide and grow you and your boards.
In today's episode, we have the pleasure of talking to Mr. Mark Docherty. So Mark was a Saskatchewan Party MLA, a member of Legislative Assembly for the constituency of Regina Coronation Park. That's the area where he was born and spent his early life. He was first elected to the Saskatchewan legislature in 2011. He was reelected in 2016 and again in 2020. And then while he was in there, he was elected by both parties to serve as Speaker of the House of legislature in 2018 until 2020, and in 2023 he stepped down. Mark has worked in many human service roles, including director of Dales House, director of Immigration and Settlement, supervisor for a health community care branch, team leader at the Paul Dojack Youth Center, and clinical director for the Leading Thunderbird Lodge. He's a founding member of the Street Culture Kids Project, Inc. and has served on boards of Regina North Central Community Association. So welcome to the podcast, Mark.
Mark Docherty: [00:02:19] Thank you very much, Munir, and good to see you. Always a pleasure.
Munir Haque: [00:02:23] Nice to see you too. I don't know if you know that, but you probably know this, but I don't live in Regina anymore. I'm in Alberta.
Mark Docherty: [00:02:30] I've heard that. So I think it's Calgary, correct?
Munir Haque: [00:02:33] Yes, I'm in Calgary.
Mark Docherty: [00:02:34] Excellent, excellent. No, thanks. Thanks for having me.
Munir Haque: [00:02:38] So I gave you a pretty brief intro there, considering all that you've done. So I think maybe we can go into it a little bit more. And I thought maybe we could start out with starting out a little bit more about your life before politics. So if you give me a bit of a breakdown of, you know, what you referred to as human services career.
Mark Docherty: [00:02:56] True enough. Yeah. So I've certainly would be an extensive career. I've been involved with a number of different ministries. I think it's four actual ministries that I was a part of. And a number of non-profits and First Nation organizations and such. So, yeah, as you said, I mean, I started out at Paul Dojack Youth Center, and at the time I was doing, it was a great shift, just four on, four off. It was fantastic. And I didn't start till 3 p.m. and I got to be a triathlete. Right? So I mean, I was, I represented Canada at the World Championships a number of times and which was fantastic. And then I left Paul Dojack Youth Center and went to Dale's House and which was children who needed protection, apprehended status, assessment, stabilization. So I did that again for a number of years. I ended up being the director. And during that time I got, I was diagnosed with MS. So I decided to take a shot at the Maritimes. So I left and I lived in the Maritimes for a number of years, and that was all well and good. Ended up, started in Truro, moved to Halifax and then moved to PEI. And so I was at Holland College, which was the, which is basically the SIAST...
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Host Munir Haque, in partnership with ActionEdge Executive Development, welcomes guest Rachel Mielke, Founder and CEO of Hillberg & Berk, recipient of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Medal for 2023, Top 40 Under 40 2017, and co-chair of Women Leading Philanthropy, among many other achievements. Rachel talks with Munir about the challenges of starting and growing Hillberg & Berk, and what makes for good governance on a board of directors.
Rachel Mielke’s success story has made her somewhat-of-a Saskatchewan legend, but it isn’t simply the fiscal achievements and scale-up of Hillberg & Berk that Rachel celebrates. From the beginning, her desire has been to work from a social enterprise model and to that end, Hillberg & Berk have made combatting gender-specific issues their mandate and part of the company values. Rachel tells Munir which organizations Hillberg & Berk supports, why, and how she and the board work to ensure every level of the company is infused with these same values.
By forming her own board of Advisors and sitting on the boards of several other organizations, Rachel has honed a keen understanding of what makes a good board run well and what stumbling blocks a board can encounter. She shares insights that may seem fundamental but can profoundly impact a board’s success and discusses with Munir what effective governance looks like in her experience. Rachel’s determination to maintain Hillberg & Berk’s social and community commitments is instrumental to how she and her board make decisions and this conversation shines a light on how she and her company have inspired such loyalty and success.
About Rachel Mielke:
Rachel Mielke, CEO & Founder of Hillberg & Berk, began the company at her kitchen table. Over 17 years, H&B has expanded to 15 retail stores across Canada, gaining recognition from Dragon's Den to the Olympics and even Queen Elizabeth.
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Resources discussed in this episode:
'Dragons' Den Update: Hillberg & Berk - Flagship' CBC YouTube video uploaded November 10, 200—
Contact Munir Haque | ActionEdge Executive Development:
Website: AEEDNow.comLinkedin: Action Edge Executive Development Inc.Podcast Production
Recording: PushySix StudiosProduction Assistance: Astronomic AudioContact Rachel Mielke:
Website: HillbergAndBerk.comInstagramLinkedin—
Transcript
Rachel Mielke: [00:00:13] I will always go into a board meeting fully convicted on whatever I'm presenting, whatever my beliefs are, and I try and balance that with the reason why I am spending time with them is to learn from their experiences and their, quite often, their failures. We've always managed to be able to get to like a consensus and a good place through, like, respectful dialogue and conversation and debate. And I try and just like always balance my conviction of what to do with just hearing out advice and really thinking through feedback and advice that I'm given from my board.
Munir Haque: [00:00:52] Hello everyone, and welcome to another episode of The Boardroom 180 podcast. I'm your host Munir Haque, an executive coach and senior board strategist. I have partnered with Action Edge Executive Development to lead their governance and political acumen division. In each episode, we meet with governance leaders and step into their boardrooms where decisions shape the world around us. We'll hear the good, the bad and the ugly, but with a keen focus on where the gaps are, discover emerging best practices and real world tools to better evaluate, guide, and grow you and your boards.
Munir Haque: [00:01:22] Today, our guest will be Rachel Mielke. Rachel is a founder and CEO of Hillberg and Berk Jewelry, an iconic Canadian company that was founded at her kitchen table in 2007. She grew her one-woman brand to a multi-million dollar enterprise that now has stores across Western Canada and customers globally. Hillberg and Berk goes beyond fashion. Rachel is using her company as a tool for combating gender-specific issues women face through philanthropy campaigns and organizing her business around a social enterprise model. Hillberg and Berk has proudly supported hundreds of organizations across the globe that uplift women, and has contributed over $10 million in cash and products. She's been recognized numerous times, to name a couple of them, she has a Queen's Diamond Jubilee Medal for 2012, the Queen's Platinum Jubilee Medal for 2023, class of winning women for 2015, Top 40 under 40 2017, Canada's 100 Most Powerful Women in 2016 and 2017. She has an honorary Doctor of Law and she is an honorary captain in the Canadian Royal Navy. She is the honorary Chair of the Women's Leading Philanthropy and sits on various boards and committees which support economic development. We're happy to have her with us today. Welcome, Rachel.
Rachel Mielke [00:02:40] Thanks. Great to be here.
Munir Haque: [00:02:41] Yeah. No, thanks for coming on. You know, I'm from Saskatchewan too, and Rachel's a bit of a kind of a local hero there, a homegrown hero. Everybody in Saskatchewan knows who Rachel is. And I think that's evidenced by, you know, the kind of the amount she's been able to accomplish over a very short time. So let's start a little bit, well I'll tell a little bit of story about how I kind of know you. I actually bought a used car from Rachel's husband. And Rachel's husband, and Rachel contested Rachel's husband's a great guy, and he still texts me every once in a while when he comes across a hack that's good for the car and stuff like that. But I do remember when I brought the car home and I opened the glove box, he'd actually put three jewelry boxes in there, and he had left some jewelry for each of my three children. So if you get a chance, buy a used car from Rachel. It was a pretty good experience.
Rachel Mielke: [00:03:39] That's funny.
Munir Haque: [00:03:41] So I don't know if you, you know, maybe we can start a little bit of your, kind of your start, your background. Admittedly, I got your intro from the Dress for Success website. That was your bio. Is there anything else that you want to bring to that, or?
Rachel Mielke: [00:03:55] Yeah. I mean, my story is starting this business sort of in a way that was really unknown. The industry was unknown to me. Corporate governance was something I had learned from a textbook in university, but I would say I had pretty limited knowledge on and over the course of the last almost 20 years that I've been growing this business, I've learned by making a lot of mistakes. But I think that's also the, like, richest knowledge that you can get is just really going through it and learning things. So yeah, I would say to anyone who's listening, you...
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Host Munir Haque and partner Action Edge Executive Development welcome everyone to the inaugural episode of The Boardroom 180 Podcast. In this first episode, Munir welcomes guest Cadmus Delorme, former Chief of the Cowessess First Nations in Southern Saskatchewan and CEO and Founder of OneHoop, to the show. Munir and Cadmus discuss governance within the First Nations Council and the experiences Cadmus has had leading through challenges.
Opening with a sensitive subject, Cadmus addresses being Chief of Cowessess First Nation in 2021 during the discovery of the 751 unmarked graves on the residential school land. He talks about breaking the news to the Cowessess members and then the public, and how the emotional strain on the Cowessess council required focused and communicative leadership. Cadmus asked the question “What is our duty of care” to each member to guide decisions.
Munir and Cadmus address the goals of the National Center for Truth and Reconciliation, the Cowessess First Nations focus on economic self-sustainability through renewable solar, wind, and battery development, Cadmus’s experience as a board chair for the University of Regina board of governors, the roles of elected officials, and the truth about governance. The conversation is deep, vulnerable, and informative, full of insight and wisdom shared by Cadmus Delorme and one that gives an inside look at leadership through difficult times.
About Cadmus Delorme:
Cadmus Delorme, a Cree and Saulteaux, is the former Chief of Cowessess First Nation in Southern Saskatchewan. Cadmus graduated from Cowessess Community Education Centre in 2000. He later moved to Regina to pursue a Bachelor of Business Administration and a Certificate in Hospitality, Tourism and Gaming Entertainment Management from the First Nations University of Canada (FNUniv), and a Master of Public Administration from the Johnson Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy. He has also received an ICD.D. designation from the Institute of Corporate Directors and its affiliate institution, Kenneth Levene Graduate School of Business.
Under Cadmus's leadership, Cowessess First Nation prioritized economic self-sustainability and progressed renewable energy, agriculture, and land use efficiency initiatives to create current and future business opportunities.
Cadmus is the Chair of the Residential Schools Document Advisory Committee and the University of Regina Board of Directors, serves on the Saskatchewan Gaming Corporation Board of Directors and is a 2023 Banff Forum delegate.
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Contact Cadmus Delorme:
Website: OneHoop.caCadmus Delorme on LinkedInContact Munir Haque | ActionEdge Executive Development:
Website: AEEDNow.comLinkedin: Action Edge Executive Development Inc.Podcast Production:
Recording: PushySix StudiosProduction Assistance: Astronomic Audio—
Transcript
Cadmus Delorme: [00:00:05] Residential schools impacted each of us differently. And so when you talk about unmarked graves around a board level, around a council level, it triggered people differently. It was very emotional. It was something that you could talk policy, you could talk strategy, but the personal stories would come out as well. And so, just referencing it to challenges around a board table, this is as emotional that it could get. And so not everybody agreed to it. Not everybody wanted it. But everybody knew that you couldn't ignore it anymore.Munir Haque: [00:00:47] Hello everyone, and welcome to another episode of The Boardroom 180 podcast. I'm your host Munir Haque, an executive coach and senior board strategist. I have partnered with Action Edge Executive Development to lead their governance and political acumen division. In each episode, we meet with governance leaders and step into their boardrooms where decisions shape the world around us. We'll hear the good, the bad and the ugly, but with a keen focus on where the gaps are, discover emerging best practices and real world tools to better evaluate, guide and grow you and your boards. Today's guest is Cadmus Delorme. He's a former chief of the Cowessess First Nations in southern Saskatchewan. He is a graduate from the First Nations University and has a master's of Public Administration from the Johnson Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy. He has received his ICD.D Designation from the Institute of Directors, and under his leadership, Cowessess First Nations prioritized economic self-sustainability and progressed renewable energy, agriculture and land use efficiency initiatives to create current and future business opportunities. Cadmus is a chair of the Residential Schools Document Advisory Committee, and also the chair of the University of Regina Board of Governors. Through his work as a volunteer and committed athlete, Cadmus has a number of achievements which include. He was a member of the Saskatchewan golf team for 2009 to 2012. He is a mid-amateur, Saskatchewan golf champion for 2011. He has the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal recipient for 2012, as well as he received the CBC Saskatchewan's Future 40, which recognizes builders and changemakers under the age of 40.
Munir Haque: [00:02:24] Welcome, Cadmus. Thanks for joining us today on the Boardroom 180 Podcast. I don't know if you remember this, but we met a number of years back. I think it was at the mayoral debates in Regina, and I think you were sitting as a guest at the chamber table, the Regina Chamber of Commerce. So you're sitting a guest, I was sitting beside you there. So I was a kind of a first exposure to you. I think that was just recently, after you became chief. And so it was kind of nice to see you kind of at the beginning of that trajectory and kind of your launch into becoming a fairly common name in kind of political circles in Saskatchewan. So I recently kind of, in preparation for this, I listened to one of your Ted talks and, you know, you talk a little bit about your name and the challenge, not challenges, but, you know, you had to have a bit of a sense of humor growing up with a name like Cadmus.
Cadmus Delorme: [00:03:31] Thank you. My dad got my name out of an old Western book. I love it today. There was a bad cowboy named Cadmus Steele. So that's my name today. Cadmus Dale Delorme.
Munir Haque: [00:03:42] Dale. Okay. Middle name Dale. Okay. You know, our kind of pre-interview, you said that kind of God gave you the gift of gab. And I'm going to maybe put that to the test today. So I'm going to let you do most of the talking, but we'll try to keep it, you know, light and interesting. But I am going to kind of start with some stuff that's a little bit darker. It's one of the reasons where, you know, when I thought about doing this, your name was one of the first names that came onto the list just about in 2021. You were chief of the Cowessess First Nations, when kind of were launched into international headlines with the discovery of 751 unmarked graves at the residential schools in Saskatchewan. I don't know if you want to walk us a little bit through that, and it's been a little while. Just kind of give a little bit of a reminder to some of our listeners.
Cadmus Delorme: [00:04:30] In our country today, in 2024, we all inherited a history together as Canadians ...
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Board Governance Best Practices and Stories/Experiences Shared
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Website: AEEDNow.comLinkedin: Action Edge Executive Development Inc.
Contact Munir Haque | ActionEdge Executive Development:
