Shift podcast: Helping you rethink business transformation

Join host Jon Finkelstein and guest Ron Jaikaran to discuss Ontario’s Accelerated High-Speed Internet Program. Ron is the Director of Commercial Projects at Infrastructure Ontario, where he is driving progress on Ontario’s 4 billion dollar investment in high-speed internet. The program aims to bring high-speed connectivity to some of the hardest-to-reach communities in the province, to deliver this essential service to all Ontarians. A project of this size requires consensus between partners and collaboration between the public and private sectors to deliver results by 2025, something Ron and his team manage. Ron discusses the opportunities and challenges in undertaking such a large project, how Infrastructure Ontario is managing various partnerships at the municipal and provincial levels, and how the private sector is helping the government tackle some of the largest challenges. (00:02)- Jon’s introduces Shift and Ron Jaikaran(01:29)- Ron introduces himself and Ontario’s Accelerated High-Speed Internet Program(03:54)- Ron discusses the teams and partners involved in the program (06:15)- Ron discusses how the private and public sector are working together to implement high speed internet (09:05)Ron and Jon discuss why access to high-speed internet is so important, and the challenges posed by the geography of Ontario (14:49)Jon asks Ron about the legislation involved in the project (15:44)Ron talks about the importance of setting expectations with the market (19:22)Ron and Jon talk about the project’s quick timeline, (24:33)- Ron shared the challenges that had to be overcome along the way, and how this project can be used as an example for future Infrastructure Ontario projects (28:06)Ron and Jon discuss the importance of building consensus (29:56)- Jon and Ron share their closing thoughts and conclusions

Welcome back to a new season of PwC Shift. In this episode, host Jon Finkelstein, Executive Creative Director, PwC Canada, interviews Pierre Miron. Pierre is the Executive Vice-President and Chief Growth Officer Canadian Operations at Industrial Alliance (IA), where he has been at the helm of a variety of impactful transformations. Pierre and Jon dive into these transformations, specifically the pivot that IA has made in its thinking around its customers, and its new approach to I.T and the cloud. Jon and Pierre discuss how to convince people within the organization that these changes are worth it, how to set meaningful KPIs during periods of transformation, and what’s next for Industrial Alliance. (00:01)- Jon’s introduces Shift and Pierre Miron(02:02) - Pierre explains how he established the digital ambition of IA when he first joined(05:16)- Pierre discusses why I.T is central to the transformations at IA, and to business transformation generally(07:32)- Pierre explains his current role of Chief Growth Officer (12:03)- Jon and Pierre discuss navigating the ramifications of large transformations on company culture, and how to set meaningful KPIs for a transformation(16:52)- Pierre explains Industrial Alliance's growth strategy (21:15)- Pierre dives into how he implemented key transformations, and his strategy for getting executives on board(23:56)- Pierre explains how to get buy-in from employees who don’t think change is needed(26:50)- Jon and Pierre share their closing thoughts and conclusions

In the latest episode of our CEO Viewpoints podcast series, host James McLean sits down with John Cleland, CEO of Australia’s Essential Energy. This year, the annual CEO survey focuses on critical questions facing leaders today including how to balance reinventing the business to succeed in a changing world with the need to manage short-term pressures and challenges. In the podcast discussion John shares his experiences and learnings of leading and accelerating a utility through the energy transition, balancing customer and stakeholder expectations, his commitment to sustainable and safe energy, and his outlook on where the sector is headed.(00:01)- James’s introduction to CEO Viewpoints and John Cleland(01:34)- John shares more about his career background so far(03:02)- John explains more about Essential Energy in terms of scale, customers and employees(04:29)- John shares more about what enticed him towards his current role(06:49)- John explains some of the challenges he’s faced along the way in his role, and how he’s navigated those challenges(11:18)- John explains the implications of the major cultural and digital changes that have taken place in recent years(13:32)- John explains how the company’s recruitment strategy has evolved over time(15:17)- John sheds light on his stakeholder management strategy(17:59)- John shares some of the critical investments and surprises along the way during the company’s transformation(22:53)- John explains how the company is being cost-effective while still innovating(25:50)- John shares some of the things he might have done differently when looking at the journey in hindsight(28:13)- John and James share their closing thoughts and conclusions

In this episode of the CEO Viewpoints podcast, host Allan Buitendag, a Partner in PwC’s Financial Services practice, speaks with Kevin Strain, President and Chief Executive Officer of Sun Life about his approach to staying ahead of the accelerating pace of change while navigating increasingly complex and volatile conditions. Kevin shares his approach to building a bright future for Sun Life during these challenging times and talks about the power of creating an engaging and agile culture as a key to navigating disruption and strengthening resilience.Show Notes: (00:01)- Allan’s introduction to CEO Viewpoints and Kevin Strain(01:12)- Kevin explains how Sun Life handles crises and changes in today's economic climate(04:59)- Allan and Kevin discuss SunLife’s recent acquisitions and expansion plans(07:45)- Kevin shares how SunLife balances long-term goals with immediate pressures(08:48)- Allan and Kevin discuss how hybrid work affects productivity as well as the lasting impact of COVID on workplaces(10:35)- Kevin explains how he plans to build and strengthen SunLife’s internal culture across its global business(16:34)- Kevin shares his thoughts on generative A.I(19:42)- Allan and Kevin share their closing thoughts and conclusions

This podcast mini-series is dedicated to discussing Canadian insights from PwC’s 26th Annual Global CEO Survey. In this episode of CEO Viewpoints, host Andrew Dooner, a partner in PwC’s global corporate strategy practice, sits down with Christine Bergeron, President and Chief Executive Officer of Vancity to discuss the power of being a purpose-led organization while navigating key issues like economic uncertainty, transforming for the future and ESG matters like climate change. Christine talks about Vancity’s integrated approach to thinking about people, planet and profit and how embedding purpose into the business strategy enables sustainable outcomes.Show Notes: (00:01)- Andrew’s introduction to CEO Viewpoints and Christine Bergeron(01:12)- Christine shares her background and career experience so far(02:37)- Christine explains Vancity’s mission and vision for thriving communities and businesses(03:16)- Christine explains her outlook on the current macroeconomic situation and the survivability of organizations over the next ten years(06:55)- Christine shares what it means for Vancity to be a purpose driven organization and how individuals and teams can become purpose driven(10:30)- Christine explains her stance on whether organizations are on track in terms of climate goals, and how individuals and organizations can make a difference(12:37)- Christine shares how organizations can keep up with the changes surrounding climate action while being inclusive in their approach(18:30)-Christine explains how Vancity navigates the tensions between ESG driven organizations and profit driven organizations(21:04)- Christine and Andrew share their closing thoughts and conclusions

In this episode, host Jon Finkelstein, Executive Creative Director at PwC Canada sits down with Pamela Snively, Chief Data and Trust Officer at TELUS, and Ojas Rege, SVP and GM of Privacy and Data Governance at OneTrust. Together, they discuss the trending topics of trust and privacy, and why they’re so essential to a company’s revenue, reputation and overall success.Show Notes: (00:02)- Jon’s introduction to CEO Viewpoints, Pamela Snively and Ojas Rege(02:03)- Pamela and Ojas provide a brief overview of their careers and backgrounds so far(03:35)- Ojas explains the difference between privacy and trust(04:16)- Pamela describes some of the recent changes she’s seen in the data trust and privacy world(06:45)- Ojas shares his advice for organizations hoping to make their programs successful(09:24)- Pamela describes the meaning of “human-led, tech-powered”(11:28)- Ojas shares more about the work they’re doing at OneTrust, and how tech is powering trust(13:49)- Pamela explains why it’s important to encourage data literacy across the entire organization(16:34)- Pamela explains how businesses can think about trust holistically instead of as just another a compliance check box(20:40)- Jon shares his closing thoughts and conclusions

After a brief hiatus, the Shift podcast returns with a new episode featuring Michaël Hassan, the Managing Director and Divisional General Counsel at PSP Investments. He and host Jon Finkelstein, Executive Creative Director at PwC Canada Digital Services, discuss how data can transform legal risk management and drive value for your organization.Show Notes: (00:02)- Jon’s introduction to CEO Viewpoints and Michaël Hassan(01:02)- Michaël shares more about his career journey and his role at PSP Investments(02:15)- Michaël shares his perspective on how the legal function is typically perceived (04:04)- Michaël explains the kind of reactions he received when he began to move away from the functions of a traditional legal department(07:04)- Michaël explains how he began the shift to a more data-driven legal department(11:06)- Michaël explains how his data-driven approach impacts the company(13:50)- Michaël shares his perspective on how to transform a legal function to provide value for the organization(14:53)- Michaël shares his tips for anyone looking to take a more data-driven approach(17:53)- Jon shares his closing thoughts and conclusions

In this episode, host Jason Boggs, the National Banking and Capital Markets Leader for PwC Canada, sits down with Anthony G. Ostler, the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Canadian Bankers Association (CBA), as of February 2022. After sharing his perspective on what he’s most looking forward to accomplishing in his new role, Anthony discusses some of the key opportunities for open banking and payments modernization for Canadian banks and the broader marketplace.Show Notes: (00:00)- Jason’s introduction to CEO Viewpoints and Anthony Ostler(00:55)- Anthony shares what he’s most excited about in his new role(02:24)- Anthony shares his perspective on how the finance industry has changed over the past five years, and where he sees it going in the future(04:35)- Anthony shares his thoughts on how banks can leverage their technology investments(06:36)- Anthony discusses current opportunities for open banking in Canada(08:44)- Anthony shares his thoughts on the opportunities and challenges cryptocurrencies will bring to the Canadian marketplace(13:29)- Anthony shares his thoughts on the banking industry’s commitment to net zero(16:34)- Anthony shares his thoughts on being future ready, both from a banking context and more broadly in terms of the Canadian marketplace(17:31)- Jason shares his closing thoughts and conclusions

In this episode, host Keegan Iles, the national insurance consulting leader for PwC Canada, leads a discussion with Rowan Saunders, the President and CEO of Definity Financial Corporation, about how CEOs can leverage their people and agility for transformation, and ultimately create more sustained outcomes for their organizations.Show Notes: (00:00)- Keegan’s introduction to CEO Viewpoints and Rowan Saunders(00:55)- Rowan shares more about his journey as CEO of Definity Financial Corporation(04:07)- Rowan explains the role of corporate culture when it comes to enabling a successful transformation(05:33)- Rowan shares his perspective on some of the other factors that have contributed to the company’s rapid transformation(05:51)- Rowan elaborates on why it’s important for leaders to reimagine their organizations to prepare for the future(09:58)- Rowan shares some of the company’s plans for operating within the ecosystem in the near future(12:01)- Rowan shares some final advice for listeners to consider when it comes to their own successful business transformation (13:39)- Keegan’s closing thoughts and conclusions

In this episode, host Richard Wilson, a partner in PwC Canada's Cybersecurity, Privacy and Financial Crime practice, leads a discussion with Ken Hartwick, President and CEO at Ontario Power Generation (OPG), on managing cyber risk, integration of technologies and how to build an effective cyber culture. Show Notes: 00:00- Richard’s introduction to CEO Viewpoints and Ken Hartwick01:29- Ken shares his perspective on managing cyber risk as a CEO03:04- Ken shares tips for keeping board members comfortable during the risk management process05:40- Ken shares why he believes integration is a strength when it comes to cybersecurity08:37- Ken shares his advice for building an effective cyber culture within your company and setting the right tone from the top-down13:02- Ken shares his thoughts on how we can keep cybersecurity from becoming just another corporate buzzword and put it into practice instead14:39- Richard’s closing thoughts and conclusions

In this episode, host Richard Wilson, a partner in PwC Canada's Cybersecurity, Privacy and Financial Crime practice, leads a discussion on how CEOs are addressing and prioritizing cybersecurity today. He’s joined by Indrani Butany-DeSouza, President and and CEO at Elexicon Energy Inc., a local distribution power company in Ontario.Show Notes: 00:00 - Richard’s introduction to CEO Viewpoints and Indrani Butany-DeSouza01:46 - Indrani shares her perspective on how leaders should be thinking about cybersecurity07:53 - Indrani shares her thoughts on the CEO’s role when it comes to cybersecurity11:55 -Indrani offers her advice on how CEOs can effectively engage with the board of directors to effectively lead a cybersecurity program15:52 - Indrani shares her strategies for building and maintaining trust with stakeholders as it relates to cybersecurity19:07 - Richard’s closing thoughts and conclusions

In the second part of a two-part discussion focusing on the path to net zero, host Elliott Cappell, Partner and National Climate Change Leader at PwC Canada, continues his conversation with Jason Storah, CEO at Aviva Canada. Elliott and Jason discuss strategies for inspiring Canadian leaders to take action, the importance of leading by example and more.Show Notes: 00:00 - Elliott’s introduction to CEO Viewpoints and Jason Storah00:57 - Jason shares his perspective on what is holding Canadian CEOs back when it comes to climate change initiatives 04:37 - Jason shares his thoughts on how we can inspire Canadian leaders to take bold action09:16 - Jason shares his perspective on building a unified senior leadership team and breaking down the silos when it comes to ESG 12:04 - Jason discusses the importance of leading by example15:37 - Jason shares some final words of wisdom for leaders when tackling ESG17:51 - Elliott’s closing thoughts and conclusions

In this first of a two part episode, host Elliott Cappell, a Partner and the National Climate Change Leader at PwC Canada, sits down with Jason Storah, CEO at Aviva Canada. Together, Elliott and Jason continue the conversation surrounding ESG initiatives, diving into strategies to get to net zero and why leaders need to take bold action today.Show Notes: 00:00- Elliott’s introduction to CEO Viewpoints and Jason Storah01:19- Jason discusses his experience as CEO of Aviva Canada03:33- Jason explains the impacts of climate change on the insurance industry06:18- Jason discusses Aviva’s ambitious climate change goals09:53- Jason explains why he chose to prioritize ESG as a leader12:18- Jason shares key strategies for engaging people within your industry to learn about climate change17:29- Jason discusses the importance of continuing the dialog surrounding climate change in the insurance space18:51- Jason explains how the industry can build back better post-pandemic23:01- Jason shares his perspective on Canada’s role in the fight against climate change24:24- Elliott’s closing thoughts and conclusions

In this episode, host Shelley Gilberg, Canadian Platforms Leader and a member of the extended leadership team at PwC Canada, sits down with Rania Llewellyn, the President and Chief Executive Officer at Laurentian Bank. Rania shares her perspective on ESG strategy, transformation, and where trust and leadership factor into the equation. She also shares more about her own career journey, including how she became the first woman to head a major Canadian chartered bank in 2020.- 00:00- Shelley’s introduction to CEO Viewpoints and Rania Llewellyn-01:17- Rania discusses more about her journey to becoming the first woman to head a major Canadian chartered bank-07:02- Rania explains why she believes ESG is such a critical responsibility at the bank, and the specific values she drives forward-08:46- Rania explains how she and the team decided what to prioritize in terms of ESG strategy-12:04- Rania shares her perspective on where trust and values factor into the ESG equation-15:43- Rania explains the importance of shared values in attracting and retaining top talent-19:10- Rania summarizes her best advice for ESG and values disclosure-22:10- Rania reflects on some of Laurentian’s recent accomplishments that she’s most proud of-23:23 - Shelley’s closing thoughts and conclusions

This new podcast mini-series is dedicated to discussing Canadian insights from PwC’s 25th Annual Global CEO Survey. Environment, social and governance, known as ESG, has risen to the top of the CEO agenda today as a key component of transformation. The success of an organization is no longer measured solely by its financial results: leaders must also know how to respond to issues of climate change, workforce diversity, supply chain ethics, economic inequality and much more. In the first episode of the CEO Viewpoints podcast series, host Shelley Gilberg, PwC Canada Partner and ESG Markets and Consulting Leader, sits down with Heather Chalmers, the President and CEO of GE Canada, to discuss why ESG is the biggest transformational opportunity of our time, how leaders can take bold actions to reach sustained outcomes, and Canada's path to net zero.-00:00- Shelley’s introduction to CEO Viewpoints and Heather Chalmers-01:29- Heather shares more about her career background-03:30- Heather explains why ESG is more important now than ever before-07:59- Heather shares advice on how organizations can position themselves for that long-term growth when it comes to ESG and net zero-12:12- Heather shares her perspective on why we need to reimagine collaboration to reach our goals-15:02- Heather expands on GE’s approach to ESG investing and how they measure success-17:02- Heather describes the process of getting started with ESG reporting-20:08- Heather shares some final advice for organizations across Canada to take away-21:33- Shelley’s closing thoughts and conclusions

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