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:
Student Works
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
Outliers: The Story of Success

312 | Patrick Lalonde | Key Mindset Concepts That Will Lead You to Success

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: 
SimpleTax
Student Works 
Chris Thomson LinkedIn
Jonathan Suter LinkedIn

311 | Jonathan Suter | How to Ditch your Corporate Job and Actually Start a Business

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:
Student Works
 
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 
 

310 | Luke Fenn and Devon Thomson | Inside The Student Works Management Program PART 4

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: 
Student Works 
Chris Thomson LinkedIn
Amer Abu Shakra LinkedIn

309 | Amer Abu Shakra | The Six Rules of Success that Helped me Break the All-Time Sales Record at Student Works

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
Student Works 
Chris Thomson LinkedIn

308 | Josh Campbell | How To Launch Cutting-Edge Businesses and Exploit The First-Mover Advantage

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
Bite the Ass off a Bear
Student Works 
Chris Thomson LinkedIn

307 | Garth Friesen | A Peek into the World of Investment Banking

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
Student Works 
Chris Thomson LinkedIn
Chris’s Email

306 | Patrick Lalonde | Integrity: The ONE Thing That Can Help Your Realize Your Biggest Goals

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
Student Works 
Chris Thomson LinkedIn
Chris’s Email

305 | Brett Bergmann | Lighting Up 140,000 Homes in Kenya

In today’s show, Chris interviews Chris Reynolds, Founder and Managing Partner at Venn Capital Partners.
Chris kickstarts today’s show by sharing a bit of a backstory. As a young professional, Chris was (and still is) a hustler with a big engine for work. 
Like most people at that young age, Chris wasn’t sure about what he wanted to do career-wise. So, to get clarity, he took up various summer jobs which helped him hone foundational skillsets that allowed him to grow as an individual.
During this stage of his career, apart from working a summer at Student Works, Chris started his own venture and also worked as an investment banking intern in London. In this segment of the show, listeners will learn the importance of picking the right summer job. Additionally, we discuss the importance of taking risks and putting yourself out there. 
He also shares how this phase gave him the confidence of tackling big challenges ahead in his life.
Chris started working as an intern at KPMG in 2009 and then slowly worked his way up to being a senior accountant/consultant by 2013. In this segment of the show, you will get a “peek” into the incredible work culture at KPMG. 
You will learn why it is important to go through the grind if you wish to get ahead in life. 
We also discuss why you should always strive for continuous improvement. Having realized that he possessed weak quantitative skills, Chris reveals how he got his chartered accountancy certification while at KPMG.
After KPMG, Chris moved on to another iconic organization – McKinsey in 2013. Here, Chris shares how his entrepreneurial spirit helped him get hired. As an associate partner here, Chris got a chance to hone his broad skillsets as a problem solver. Additionally, he also talks about the different pressures and challenges in the consultancy space.
We wrap up this show with Chis sharing his big WHY for donning the entrepreneurial hat with his latest venture, Venn Capital Partners. Why did Chris decide to start a hedge fund right in the middle of the pandemic? Tune in to find out!
We hope you enjoy this show!
 
What You Will Learn In This Show
How Student Works can equip you with foundational skillsets 
Importance of continuous improvement in the consulting space
Are organizations looking to hire folks with an entrepreneurial mindset?
The pressures and challenges of working within the consulting space
A “peek” into the incredible work culture at McKinsey and KPMG
Why I decided to start a hedge fund right in the middle of the pandemic
And so much more…

 
Resources
Student Works 
Chris Thomson LinkedIn
Chris’s Email

304 | Chris Reynolds | A “Peek” into the Incredible Work Culture at KPMG and McKinsey

In this show, Chris interviews, Andrew MacGillivray, Director, HomeDepot. Andrew reveals how he went from being lazy and uninspired to the top of the corporate chain at one of the largest organizations in the world. 
 
How did Andrew achieve this amazing personal transformation? In the first segment of the show, you will learn how his Student Works stint helped Andrew find focus and drive.
 
What are some important values that Andrew learned as an operator at Student Works? Andrew shares some interesting anecdotes which reveal how he honed crucial management skills at Student Works. From marketing to recruiting to support, Andrew’s Student Works experience helped him prepare for a successful corporate career.
 
After Student Works, Andrew shares how he ended up working for one of the largest service providers in United States. Eventually, the business was bought out by Home Depot, a difficult transition for Andrew. Was it difficult for him to behave with grace and dignity in this difficult professional phase of his life?
 
Next, Andrew gives us a peek into the work culture and values at Home Depot. How has an organization, which started from scratch grown to become a $110 billion behemoth? In this segment, you will learn the importance of building a customer-centric business. You will learn the important values that a business needs to imbibe in order to stand the test of time.
 
Towards the end, Andrew shares some crucial good habits that help him constantly up-level himself to meet his end goals. We wrap up this excellent show by sharing some crucial attributes that define a “Leader of Tomorrow”. 
 
Tune in for some excellent nuggets!



What You Will Discover In This Episode:
 Why a customer-centric business model is critical for success
 How can Student Works help you prepare for a successful corporate career?
 Crucial attributes of top performers
 How can you become a “Leader of Tomorrow”?

 
Resources: 
Student Works 
Chris Thomson LinkedIn

303 | Andrew MacGillivray | How to Build a Customer-Centric and Values-Driven Business

In today’s show, Chris interviews Jamie-Lee Bongard, Team Leader, Keller Williams Experience. Jamie shares some of the best practices which make Keller Williams a force to reckon with within the real estate space.
 
This shows starts with Jamie recalling her life before Student Works. As a teenager, like many of her Student Works counterparts, Jamie, a motivated individual was always up for a good challenge. Even as a young girl of 17, Jamie shares how she always aspired to be a leader.
 
Next, Jamie shares some of her biggest learnings while at Student Works. Starting from cold calling to recruiting the right people to learning financial management, her 4 years at Student Works certainly laid the foundation for a successful career. 
 
After Student Works, Jamie decided to get her MBA from Switzerland before being appointed as the Director of Business Development, Keller Williams Realty. Jamie shares how she managed to sell 33 homes in her very first year. Are traditional sales techniques still effective in today’s day and age? And, did Jamie’s sales experience from her Student Works days help her at Keller Williams?
 
Further, listeners will also get a peek into the work culture at Keller Williams. Specifically, Jamie talks about Keller William’s unique profit-sharing and commission split arrangement which results in a win-win for both agents and the parent broker. We also reveal how delegation can allow real estate agents to scale up their business without disrupting their work-life balance.
 
The real estate industry is in state of flux as more and more people are preferring to go online for buying/selling real estate. What steps is Keller Williams taking to adapt to these changing times? Listeners will learn how Keller Williams is leveraging technology and intensifying internal training to provide the best possible service to its clients. 
 
Towards the end, Jamie has some excellent advice for aspiring entrepreneurs. If you are thinking of getting into real estate, you will learn how to create a passive income without over leveraging and taking undue risk. We also discuss the importance of cultivating prudent money habits. 
 
Finally, Jamie shares some positive habits that you MUST inculcate for leading a truly successful and balanced life.
 
Tune in for excellent insights!



What You Will Learn In This Show:
How can Student Works prepare you for a successful corporate career?
How to manage and grow a real estate business
The importance of exercising financial prudence

 
Resources: 
Life is Good: The Book
The Millionaire Real Estate Agent
Student Works 
Chris Thomson LinkedIn

302 | Jamie-Lee Bongard | The Biggest Challenges Facing Real Estate Agents, and How to Overcome Them

Nick R. Eaves served as the Chief Executive Officer and President at Woodbine Entertainment Group, Inc. Now, he is the Chief Venues & Operations Officer at Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment. 

Nick is an alumnus of Student Works, and today I had a chance to speak to him of the benefits the program provided him. He shared a lot on this episode. He talked about up until this day; he never does anything on his own. 

Let’s face it, doing business is like committing to a relationship. Nick give credits to Student Works and his past organizations on how he keeps his network active.

Plus, Nick talked about the component of success is the same even if you are running different businesses. 

This is one episode you do not want to miss! Listen up!
 
What You Will Learn In This Show:
Nick recounting the days when he was doing a summer business through Student Works and how it prepared him for his future business
Ability to start on your own; find out why this is what Nick rely on from the program back in the day
After Student Works, Nick joined Woodbine Entertainment, and he shared the lessons he learned from that experience
Why leading with humility is Nick’s core value
The critical role of a leader in adapting to change
One of the challenges of having a regulated or government-controlled business
Nick thinking back about failures or setbacks in his career, what did he learn and his takeaways from that

 
Resources:
Student Works
Nick's LinkedIn

301 | Nick Eaves | Leading With Humility

Today we wanted to offer you something really special for our 300 episode of Leaders of Tomorrow podcast. And because many of our leaders listening to the show asked Chris to turn the microphone around and speak about his own experience with the Student Works Management Program, we thought it would be a great idea to do exactly that.
 
So, today’s episode is going to be led by John Cameron, one of our Business Coaches and he is going to interview the podcast’s host, Chris Thomson, the Head Coach of Student Works.
 
They will have a fantastic conversation about the history of Student Works, his own experience in the program and how he got to where he is today.
 
You will discover how Chris found out about Student Works and what made him decide to join the program.
 
You will learn what the Student Works training was like when Chrisstarted.
 
Chris will talk about his favourite memories from his early days as an operator, as well as about some of his first major setbacks and how he managed to overcome those challenges.
 
You will find out what are some of the skills Chris developed in the program that he still relies on today.
 
Chirs will also reveal one of the best ways to deal with customers when they get angry and the key secret to developing and maintaining lifelong relationships with other leaders.
 
Chris will talk about what made him want to become a coach, he will reveal the most important qualities he believes a leader of tomorrow should have and so much more.
 
Listen now and enjoy!
 
What You Will Learn In This Show:



What was the Student Works training like when Chirs first came in? 
Chris’ favorite memories from his early days as an operator
What made Chris want to become a coach?
What was the culture like back then and how has it evolved? 
What was one of Chirs’s first major setbacks early on and how he managed to overcome that challenge?
The most important qualities a leader of tomorrow should have
And so much more...



 
Resources:
Student Works
 

300  | John Cameron Interviews the Head Coach Chris Thomson

In today's episode of Leaders of Tomorrow, Chris Thomson talks to Chris Chapman, an amazing leader whose journey to success started some decades ago with Student Works Management Program.
 
Today, Chris has an incredible career. He is a partner & managing director at MNP,  the largest, national and mid-market focused accounting and advisory firm in Canada
 
Previously he worked as a national leader for growth companies at KPMG and Deloitte,  he's been a founder and a part of the founding group of numerous businesses and much more.
 
In today’s show, Chris is going to talk about all these important roles he had over the years and how his experience with Student Works was the catapult that helped him become the successful leader he is today.
 
You will find who Chris Chapman was before joining Student Works and how the program changed his life.
 
Chris will share the important lessons he took from the program that he still relies on today.
 
He will talk about the first job opportunity he took after leaving the program and how this internship helped him get that job.
 
He will also talk about some of the most significant roles Chris has played over the years and he will reveal how he got started in the technology industry.
 
Chris will share some valuable advice for those who want to start their own business, will talk about the importance of being data-driven in business and so much more.
 
If you're interested in potentially developing your own business and want to hear some valuable advice from a professional, take a notepad and a pen, cause you will want to take some notes from this amazing episode! 
 
Enjoy!







What You Will Learn In This Show:



Chris’ most important takeaways from the program that he still relies on today
Stepping outside Student Works: The first job opportunity Chris took after leaving the program
What are some of the most significant roles Chris has played over the years?
Chris’ advice for those who want to start their own business.
The importance of being data-driven in business
Chris’ biggest mistakes and failures and the lessons he took away from them
And so much more...



 
Resources:
Student Works
 

299  | Chris Chapman | An Incredible Career That Started with Student Works

In today's episode of Leaders of Tomorrow, Chris continues his conversation with Luke Fenn and Devon Thomson, Business Coaches at the Student Works Management Program.
 
This time they discuss the different steps and processes of the program that happen between June and the end of the season.
 
You will find out more details about the most important focuses of the program in June and August.
 
Luke and Devon will talk about the first taste of freedom after hard work and the benefits of working with a company that is so large.
 
They will also discuss one of our key values: relationships are everything. You will find out why relationships are so important and the crucial role your network can play in your professional life.
 
You will learn what are some of the types of people that are attracted to this program,  how do you know if you have what it takes to start a business and so much more.
 
Join Chris, Luke and Devon as they explore the Student Works Management Program's systems that enable our leaders to excel.




What You Will Learn In This Show:
The most important focuses of the program in June and August
What are the most challenging months of our season
The first taste of freedom after hard work
One of our key values: Relationships are everything
What are some of the types of people that are attracted to this program?
How do you know if you have what it takes to start a business?
And so much more...



 
Resources:
Student Works
 

298 | Luke Fenn and Devon Thomson | Inside The Student Works Management Program PART 4

In today's episode of Leaders of Tomorrow, Chris talks to Zak Lefevre, co-founder and CEO at ChargeLab, a company that builds OCPP-Compliant software for managing EV charging stations. They are the back-end software behind North America's leading EV fleets, charging networks, and charging sites.
Zak’s entrepreneurial journey started with Student Works back in 2011 and, like most of our alumni, he believes that this experience played a big role in his professional and personal development.
You will learn a little bit about Zak’s background and who he was before joining our program.
Zak will share the best part about Student Works and the invaluable lessons he took with him from this experience.
He will also talk about the first business he ever started when he was very young.
You will find out what made Zak interested in electric vehicles, how he started ChargeLab and he will also share some of his early ideas about how to make money with this company.
Zak will also talk about the importance of not getting too greedy, why you should learn as much as you can about the business before you start anything, the most important qualities the leader of tomorrow should have and so much more.
Listen now and enjoy another fascinating discussion with one of our amazing alumni!
 
What You Will Learn In This Show:
The best part about Student Works and the invaluable lessons Zak took with him
What made Zak interested in electric vehicles and how did he start ChargeLab?
Why you should learn as much as you can about the business before you start anything
The most important qualities the leader of tomorrow should have
And so much more...

 
Resources:
Student Works
Chargelab.co

297 | Zak Lefevre | From Student Works to ChargeLab

In today's episode of Leaders of Tomorrow, Chris talks to Austin Trudeau one of our amazing alumni who believes that our program changed his life and made it possible to become who he is today.
Austin is a franchise owner at Rydel Franchise Group and he is very passionate about business development, systemization, and leadership. 
You will find out a little bit about Austin’s background and how Student Works changed his life on a personal and professional level.
Austin will talk about why getting short-tempered or upset with yourself holds no value.
He will discuss the impact of the Covid recession on his business at Student Works and how he managed to overcome the challenges he had to face. 
He will also share more details about his role as a business coach and will talk about the difference between attachment and commitment.
You will find out more details about Austin’s experience as a franchise partner at Rydel Franchise Group, the importance of having a front-stage operations team to run your business, how franchises are an investment in accomplishing bigger and better things and so much more.
Listen now and enjoy another insightful conversation with one of our amazing young leaders!



What You Will Learn In This Show:
A little bit about Austin’s background and how Student Works changed his life
The impact of the Covid recession on Austin’s business at Student Works
Why coaching your own business is a choice
The difference between attachment vs. commitment
About Austin’s experience as a franchise partner at Rydel Franchise Group
How franchises are an investment in accomplishing bigger and better things
And so much more...

 
Resources:
Student Works
117 | Austin Trudeau | How I Beat My Yearly Goal of $300,000 as a Student Painter
Austin’s LinkedIn

296 | Austin Trudeau |  Maintain The School of Thought Across Any Different Situation

In today's episode of Leaders of Tomorrow, Chris talks to Cade Savoy from Frederington, one of our amazing operators and rookie of the year who completed  $340,000 with the business.
Cade started as a painter in his first year and became a production manager, sales manager and Operations Manager in his second year. As a result of his experience, he managed to build a profitable business from the first year as an operator.
You will find out a little bit about Cade’s background, how he heard about Student Works Management Program and what made him decide to join us.
Cade will talk about the important lessons he learned along the way and about the great impact Student Works had on his self-confidence and self-esteem.
You will find out more about Cade's experience as a production manager in Dustin’s business, as well as his experience as a business owner in our program and the secrets to his success.
Cade will also talk about some of the setbacks and challenges he had to face during the program and how he managed to overcome them, and much more.
Listen now and enjoy another insightful conversation with one of our exceptional young leaders!
 
What You Will Learn In This Show:
When was the first time Cade heard about Student Works and what made him decide to join
The impact Student Works had on Cade's self-confidence and self-esteem
About Cade’s experience as a production manager in Dustin’s business
Some of the setbacks and challenges Cade had to face during the program and how did he overcome them
About Cade’s experience as a business owner in our program and the secrets to his success
The importance of having a great culture in building a strong team
And so much more...

 
Resources:
Student Works

295 | Cade Savoy | The Secret to Becoming the Rookie Operator of Year

In today's episode of Leaders of Tomorrow, Chris talks to Luke Den Tandt, one of our alumni who works as a Strategic Account Manager at Stromcore, a cutting-edge lithium battery manufacturer based out of the GTA. 
Luke was one of our top operators back in 2017, he sold and produced over $250,000 in house painting and staining projects and completed 40+ projects over the course of 2 summers.
In his current position at Stromcore, Luke works with professionals in the Food and Beverage/Cold Storage industry to help increase the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of their material handling operations.
You will find out more about who Luke was before joining Student Works and how our program changed his life, both professionally and personally. Luke is going to share his most important takeaways from the program and will also talk about some of the challenges he had to overcome and the lessons he took away from those experiences.
Luke will talk about how he discovered the secret to becoming more productive and why it is important to work not only hard but also smart.
You will find out how Luke got the job at Stromcore. He will talk about the hiring process and how his experience with Student Works helped him.
You will learn how you can use LinkedIn as a sales tool, why it is important to know your client’s pain points and much more.
Listen now and enjoy another insightful conversation with one of our exceptional young alumni!
 
What You Will Learn In This Show:
Some of the challenges Luke had to overcome during the program and the lessons he took away from those experiences
Hard work vs smart work: How Luke discovered the secret to becoming more productive
How structure gives you freedom and why it is important to develop your organizational skills
How Luke got the job at Stromcore: the hiring process and how his experience with Student Works helped him
Some key habits that led Luke to success
And so much more...

 
Resources:
Student Works

294 | Luke Den Tandt |  From Student Works to  Stromcore

In today's episode of Leaders of Tomorrow, Chris talks to Alexandre Tashdjian, one of our amazing leaders who is now going into his fourth year in the program.
Tash is running a really large and very successful operation in Montreal, he is also coaching some other operators and he is going to be one of our coaches who's going to jump the fence and move over to our window cleaning side of our business.
You will find out a little bit about Tash’s background, how he found out about Student Works Management Program and what made him decide to join.
Tash will talk about his first summer experience on the painting side of the business as well as about the challenges he had to overcome as a rookie during the pandemic, and the lessons he learned from that experience
You will also learn more details about Tash’s second season in the program, his goals and his results.
Tash will also share his experience with his first mini-coaching role and will talk about the challenges and the lessons he learned from it.
You will find out when and why Tash created his Youtube channel,  what made him decide to move into the window cleaning side of the business, how our program changed his life both personally and professionally and much more.
Listen now and enjoy another powerful conversation with one of our young leaders!
 
 
What You Will Learn In This Show:
Tash’s first summer experience in working on the painting side of the business
The challenges Tash had to overcome as a rookie during the pandemic and the lessons he learned from that experience
Tash’s second season in the program: What were his goals and his results?
The reason why Tash decided he wants to start coaching young entrepreneurs
What made Tash decide to move into the window cleaning side of the business?
How did our program change Tash’s life both personally and professionally?
And so much more...

 
Resources:
Student Works
Tash’s LinkedIn
Tash’s YouTube Channel

Leaders Of Tomorrow Podcast

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