The Leadership Standard

On Part One of this special edition of The Leadership Standard, recorded live at the TEC Canada National Member Conference in Calgary, Jamie Mason Cohen sits down with Canadian entrepreneurs, CEOs, TEC Chairs, and business leaders to explore what leadership looks like when strategies, technologies, and expectations keep changing.Across industries ranging from healthcare technology and digital media to manufacturing, construction, and outdoor services, these leaders share how they’re navigating artificial intelligence, acquisitions, multigenerational ownership, expansion, talent, innovation, culture, and the human challenges that come with leading through change.Andrée-Anne Chevalier discusses second-generation leadership, completing a first acquisition, and protecting a company’s purpose while transforming how it operates. Anthony Kowalczyk explores AI, critical thinking, strategic partnerships, and why leaders should question the incentives behind the digital platforms they rely on.Steve Lendt, Sahiza Hossenbaccus, Brian Brennan, and John Richards dive into marketing, psychological safety, continuous improvement, expansion, and the value of building a business around people. Brian also shares why leadership coaching begins with curiosity rather than answers—and how asking the right questions can uncover potential that might otherwise go unnoticed.Byron Veldjesgraaf shares lessons from multigenerational family business and giving the next generation room to lead differently, while Chris Burns explores innovation, environmental change, mentorship, trusting your team, and learning to respond rather than react.Part One closes with Chris Hardwick and Alex Yakovyshenko discussing AI, loneliness at the top, succession, human connection, and the role communities like TEC play in giving leaders a place to challenge their thinking and speak openly with people who understand the responsibility of leadership.Throughout these conversations, one idea keeps returning: leaders don’t need to have every answer. They need the curiosity to ask better questions, the willingness to listen, and the courage to stay open to what becomes possible.Chapters00:00 Introduction & The Human Work of Leadership02:15 Andrée-Anne Chevalier — Second-Generation Leadership, Growth & Acquisition08:10 Anthony Kowalczyk — AI, Critical Thinking & Strategic Growth13:55 Steve Lendt, Sahiza Hossenbaccus, Brian Brennan & John Richards — Culture, Psychological Safety & Growth23:10 Brian Brennan — Curiosity, Resilience & Unlocking Team Potential31:05 Byron Veldjesgraaf — Family Business, Generational Change & Expansion36:15 Chris Burns — Innovation, Mentorship & Responding Instead of Reacting44:20 Chris Hardwick & Alex Yakovyshenko — AI, Loneliness, Succession & Human ConnectionLearn more about TEC Canada:https://bit.ly/3INwmxq

On this episode of Signature Leadership, Jamie Mason Cohen sits down with communication expert, bestselling author, and body language authority Mark Bowden to explore one of leadership's biggest questions: What happens to trust, influence, and human connection in a world increasingly shaped by AI?Mark explains why the future of leadership depends less on technology itself and more on our ability to create authentic human experiences that AI cannot replicate. As artificial intelligence becomes more capable of mimicking our voices, faces, and personalities, genuine face-to-face connection may become our greatest competitive advantage.The conversation explores AI, digital identity, authenticity, and what it truly means to be human in an increasingly digital world. Mark also shares how movement, presence, and emotion influence trust and credibility—often more than the words we say.Jamie and Mark discuss why curiosity and experimentation are essential leadership traits, how AI can become a valuable thinking partner, and why the best leaders are often the first to explore new ideas before others recognize their value.They also dive into storytelling, with Mark revealing a simple principle for connecting with any audience: stories become powerful the moment another person enters them because listeners immediately begin relating the story to their own lives.If you're navigating rapid change, looking to communicate with greater influence, or wondering how to remain deeply human in an AI-driven world, this conversation offers practical insights that will reshape how you think about leadership.Chapters00:00 Introduction & The Future of Human Connection01:45 Meet Mark Bowden04:52 The Science of Trust, Presence & Communication10:20 AI Avatars and the Question of Authenticity16:02 Can Technology Capture the Human Spirit?22:10 Why Real Human Experiences Will Become More Valuable27:35 Communication, Credibility & Cognitive Bias33:00 Experimentation, Curiosity & Leading Through Change39:18 Using AI as a Thinking Partner45:10 The Power of Storytelling and Human Connection49:45 Leadership, Innovation & Taking Creative Risks54:30 Final Reflections & Closing ThoughtsLearn more about TEC Canada:https://bit.ly/3INwmxqConnect with Mark BowdenWebsite: https://truthplane.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markbowden1/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCY392nFI08uc-qxUs5hDusQ

On this episode of Signature Leadership with Jamie Mason Cohen, negotiation expert and bestselling author Fotini Iconomopoulos delivers a practical and eye-opening conversation about communication, fear, and the hidden dynamics behind the conversations leaders struggle to have.Known globally for her work in negotiation and persuasion, Fotini challenges the outdated belief that negotiation is about dominance, pressure, or winning at all costs. Instead, she reframes negotiation as something far more human: two people trying to find agreement while navigating emotion, trust, uncertainty, and perception.Throughout the conversation, Fotini reveals why so many leaders avoid difficult conversations—not because they lack skill, but because they fear damaging relationships, looking incompetent, or losing control of the outcome. She explains how fear quietly shapes leadership behavior and why learning to reframe pressure as excitement can dramatically improve performance in high-stakes moments.Jamie and Fotini also explore the growing role of AI in communication and why technology still struggles to understand the emotional nuance that defines real human interaction. While AI can help leaders prepare, it cannot fully detect hesitation, discomfort, tone, or the subtle signals that often determine whether a conversation succeeds or fails.What makes this episode especially valuable is how actionable it becomes for leaders and business owners. Fotini shares practical frameworks for preparing for difficult conversations, using role play effectively, understanding what truly motivates the other party, and learning how to listen beyond words. The discussion moves beyond theory into the everyday realities leaders face with employees, clients, partners, and teams.The episode also dives into one of the most overlooked leadership skills: listening. Not surface-level listening, but the ability to recognize pauses, emotional shifts, hesitation, and the meaning underneath what is being said. Fotini explains why many negotiations are won or lost not through clever persuasion, but through the ability to pay attention more deeply than everyone else in the room.This conversation is not about manipulation or aggressive tactics. It is about becoming more aware, more prepared, and more emotionally intelligent in the moments that matter most.If you are leading through uncertainty, avoiding a difficult conversation, managing complex relationships, or simply wanting to become a stronger communicator, this episode will change the way you think about negotiation—and leadership itself.Connect with Fotini Iconomopoulos:Website: https://fotiniicon.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fotiniiconomopoulos/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fotiniicon/The Leadership Standard, hosted by TEC Canada speaker and leadership development and resilience expert Jamie Mason Cohen, features in-depth conversations with subject matter experts all across the business spectrum. Featuring thought leadership and actionable insights to challenge your assumptions—and inspiring stories of business triumphs, struggles, and perseverance that provide a motivational push—every episode of The Leadership Standard is a revealing discussion about the life of business and the business of life.

On this episode of Signature Leadership with Jamie Mason Cohen, Dr. Liane Davey delivers a powerful reframe on what’s really driving burnout, overwhelm, and underperformance inside today’s teams—and it’s not what most leaders think.While many organizations continue to focus on reducing workload, Dr. Davey reveals a deeper issue: thought load — the invisible combination of cognitive overload, emotional burden, and depleted energy that quietly erodes focus, trust, and productivity.Drawing on decades of experience in organizational psychology, Dr. Davey explores why leaders often rush to tactics while overlooking the emotional reality their people are experiencing. She makes the case that emotional validation is not a “soft skill,” but a critical leadership capability.At the heart of the conversation is a memorable metaphor: when emotions rise, don’t get distracted by the fire—look for the treasure. Beneath every moment of tension, resistance, or conflict is something that matters deeply to someone.Dr. Davey also shares insights on navigating constant change, reducing overwhelm through ruthless prioritization, and why creating intentional space—what she calls “Do More Nothing”—may be one of the most important disciplines for modern leaders.Chapters:00:00:00 Welcome to the Leadership Standard00:01:17 Meet Dr. Liane Davey / What If Burnout Isn’t About Workload?00:03:28 Why Emotions Override Logic / The Missing Conversation in Leadership00:06:24 The Big Idea: Thought Load vs Workload / Why Work Isn’t Working00:09:55 Case Study: When Teams Try to Do Everything at Once00:13:07 Mentorship That Sees the Whole Person / How to Handle Emotional Conversations00:16:15 The Fire vs The Treasure / Understanding What Emotions Protect00:19:55 Why Leaders Misread Emotions / Thought Load Beyond Work00:23:52 Appreciation and Community / Strengthening Connection in a Busy World00:26:11 Do More Nothing / The Counterintuitive Habit for Clarity and Energy00:27:15 Final Takeaways / The Leadership Shift That Changes EverythingTEC Canada is where the brightest minds in leadership gather. Learn more:https://bit.ly/3INwmxqLiane's Upcoming Book:https://lianedavey.com/books/thoughtload/Connect with Dr. Liane Davey:Website: https://lianedavey.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lianedavey/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lianedavey/

On this episode of The Leadership Standard, Bob Anderson delivers a profound and future-focused conversation about evolution, awareness, and what leadership must become in a world that no longer offers clear answers.As the founder of The Leadership Circle and a pioneer in leadership development for over three decades, Bob has helped leaders uncover the hidden systems that drive how they think and lead. But this conversation goes far beyond frameworks and assessments. It explores the edge of leadership itself where logic alone is no longer enough.Bob introduces a powerful shift: leadership is moving beyond reactive and even creative stages into what he calls “integral” or “unity-based” leadership. At this level, leadership is no longer just about executing a vision; it’s about becoming receptive to a future that is still unfolding. In a world shaped by accelerating complexity and disruption, the ability to “figure it out” is being replaced by the capacity to sense, listen, and respond to what is emerging.The conversation also dives into the deeper inner work of leadership. Bob explores the relationship between growth and shadow, revealing that as leaders expand their awareness, they must also confront the parts of themselves they’ve avoided. True leadership development, he suggests, is not just about gaining new skills but about increasing the capacity to hold both clarity and uncertainty at the same time.What makes this episode especially compelling is its intersection of science, intuition, and human potential. Drawing from quantum physics, timeless wisdom traditions, and decades of real-world experience, Bob makes the case that intuition is not a soft skill; it’s a critical leadership capability — especially in moments where data runs out and decisions still need to be made.This episode is not about incremental improvement. It’s about transformation. It challenges leaders to rethink how they lead, how they decide, and how they prepare for a future that cannot be predicted, only created.If you are navigating uncertainty, leading through change, or sensing that the old ways of thinking are no longer enough, this conversation will expand how you see leadership and what is now possible.Chapters:00:00 Welcome to The Leadership Standard01:33 Meet Bob Anderson / The Mind Behind The Leadership Circle 360 Assessment03:47 Bob Anderson's Personal Journey and Recent Transformation04:58 Moving Beyond Reactive to Unity-Informed Leadership06:42 The Power of Listening to the Unknown for Breakthroughs08:03 Quantum Physics and Spiritual Traditions: A Meta Pattern09:21 Accessing Higher Capacities: Intuition, Manifestation, and Geometry12:04 The Vision of E=MC^2 and Physics as a Source of Insight13:23 Integrating Physics and Spiritual Wisdom for Leadership Development15:58 Stalking Longing and Following Intuition16:17 Enhancing Leadership Intuition: Practices and Techniques18:22 Developing Deeper Awareness and Accessing the Quantum Field22:26 The Role of Heart, Head, and Gut in Intuitive Leadership24:35 Leadership and Shadow: The Unseen Inner Work28:14 The Unity Academy: Purpose and Benefits30:53 Target Audience and Next Steps for the Unity Academy32:36 Why Moving Beyond Reactive Leadership is Urgent34:00 The Disruption of Complexity and AI in Leadership35:58 Final Reflections and Key TakeawaysTEC Canada is where the brightest minds in leadership gather. Learn how membership supports growth-minded executives:https://bit.ly/3INwmxqConnect with Bob Anderson and explore the Unity Academy:https://leadershipcircle.com/leadership-coach-certifications/unity-academy/