From the snow-lined avenues of Winnipeg to the vibrant pulse of Toronto, our guest Craig Swistun has navigated a path as diverse as the Canadian landscape. His story, a tapestry woven from threads of English literature, economics, marketing, and design, reveals the rich patterns of a professional life dedicated to bridging creativity and business. Join us as Craig details his evolution through these worlds, offering a perspective that champions the strength found in community connections, even as one makes their way through the anonymity of a bustling metropolis.This episode isn't just about personal journeys—it's about making a tangible impact. We delve into the intricacies of charitable giving in Canada, sifting through the multitude of options to unearth the most effective ways to support the causes close to our hearts. With Craig's insight, we navigate the financial literacy needed to make smart donation decisions, like opting for appreciated securities over cash to benefit both donor and charity. Then, we switch gears to highlight the entrepreneurial spirit through the compelling narratives shared on the "Before the Business" podcast. These stories are not just lessons in entrepreneurship; they're a clarion call to the importance of mentorship and community support in the tumultuous seas of business ownership.

Have you ever wondered what a professional dancer and a tech efficiency guru might have in common? Look no further, as we sit down with Francois Sauro, the dynamic founder and CEO of Improov, who leapt from the stage to the tech scene with a mission to revamp workplace productivity. Francois lets us in on the transformative power of mastering everyday tools like Outlook, underscoring how intuitive tech training can make an extraordinary difference in our daily work grind. He also casts a spotlight on the burgeoning role of AI tools such as ChatGPT, advocating for accessible training that allows these innovations to truly flourish in a professional setting.Transitioning to an online business model in the face of adversity, especially one as formidable as a global pandemic, can be a make-or-break moment. This episode pulls back the curtain on how a company can rally from losing 90% of its operations to charting a course in the virtual training sphere. Francois and I share our insights into the delicate balance of live videos and interactive platforms, the essence of diverse team skills, and the art of managing an inbox that just won't quit. We also celebrate the unexpected but invaluable leadership qualities that artists contribute to business—empathy, creativity, and an intuitive grasp of human connections.Wrapping up our eye-opening conversation, we challenge the myth that juggling multiple tasks at once is the key to productivity. Instead, we focus on the profound effects that targeted software training can have on a company's bottom line—from significant time savings to bolstering employee retention. Whether it's understanding the role of stakeholders in recognizing the value of tech fluency or embracing the possibilities AI integration brings to the table, this episode is packed with takeaways that can help steer any business towards a future of streamlined success. And if networking is your game, listen to Francois's insights on building corporate connections and the engaging community at Improve.

CorporateConnections Canada National Director Trevor Botkin sits down with Montreal member and Founder of SERO Growth, David Solomon, to talk about the journey from salesman to entrepreneur.

Trevor sits down with the CEO and President of the Old Mission Brewery to discuss homelessness in Montreal and Canada and the role that Canadian business owners should play in helping to be a solution to this growing problem.

Trevor sits down with Montreal member and Quebec City resident Dave Couture about his journey from building his business, to selling it and now what excites him in his role as Vice-President of LaRochelle Groupe. https://www.linkedin.com/in/davecouture-conseillers-ti/

Trevor sits down with Montreal member and president of Maïeutyk, Elke Steinwender to discuss her journey to entrepreneurship, the Socratic philosophy, and how she has adopted it to help business owners understand their customer's journey.

Heather and Trevor sit down with NEO MTL founder Sergio Pannunzio to talk about building community, his incredible work ethic, and the importance of family.

We sit down with Edmonton Native and President of Mission Computers, Connie Clark to discuss her journey to building a computer training company, becoming an author and navigating the ever changing world of computer software.

Heather and Trevor sit down with the CEO of GoMaterials and Montreal member Michael Bellows to talk about the rocket ride that he and his company is currently enjoying. Named one of the fastest-growing businesses in Canada, Go Materials is revolutionizing the landscaping industry and Michael shares a little about his experience scaling up the business.

This week we celebrate Mothers Day by sitting down with two members who are business owners and entrepreneurs and who both balance that with raising children. From Montreal, we have one of the Partners from Cartier et Lelarge, Judy Murphy and from Ottawa, we have from the ownership group at Lowe-Martin, Jill Bobula.

Heather and Trevor catch up with Chris Bryce, the Founder, and CEO of Dotfusion Digital, a Toronto-based agency designing and building world-class websites, apps, and eCommerce solutions. Chris has been a pioneer in this field for well over 20 years and recently took the enormous step to make Dotfusion a certified B-Corp aligning his belief that business owners can and should be doing more to take responsibility for the planet.

Heather and Trevor sit down with Toronto resident and South African native Brian Litvin to discuss how his journey through international accounting and taxation while also being an accomplished musician has led him to where he is today.  Brian is the principal at Litvin Muir and Associates, helping companies recoup sales taxes otherwise buried deep within transactions, receipts, and financial statements. Heather likened him and his work to a modern Robin Hood!

Heather and Trevor sit down with Digital Link Founder and Edmonton native Derrick Meyer to discuss his path to entrepreneurship, what keeps him up at night in our ever-evolving and interconnected digital world as well as how he has built a culture that people love working in.

On this episode of Where Leaders Connect®, Heather Auther and Trevor Botkin sit down with Hamilton member and CEO of Tripian.com, to discuss his business, how tragedy led him from the comfort and safety of being #2 to running his startup with strategy, empathy, and a passion to see everyone on his team win.

David O'neill and Heather Arthur sit down with Craig Swistun, a seasoned portfolio manager with Raymond James Investment Council, to discuss how his time in the creative arts as a marketing professional has shaped his unique perspective of developing and fostering relationships in the financial services.

Episode description not available.

In celebration of International Women's Day, CC National Director Trevor Botkin sits down with three incredible women who are members of the community.

David O'neill and Heather Arthur sit down with serial entrepreneur and Edmonton Native Jason Vance to discuss running multiple business, inspiring teams and empowering clients to create lasting impacts.

David O'Neill and Trevor Botkin sit down with Montreal member and President of Réseau-Bureautique to discuss his journey from Junior sales executive 20 years ago to buying the company and charting new ground as a newly minted owner/ operator while still finding time for fun and family.

Just in time for Valentine's Day 2022 our team sits down with Hamilton/ Toronto Power couple Sandy Mackay (Mackay Realty Network) and his wife and business Partner Kate Mackay (Executive Properties) to talk about the choices couples need to make to successfully work, live and love together.