In this episode of the CEO Global Network Podcast, host John Wilson sits down with Vincent Travaglini, retired President & CEO of StackTeck. With over three decades of leadership in engineering, operations, and executive management, Vince shares the innovations that transformed the mold-making industry, the cultural mindset that fueled StackTeck’s growth, and the role of automation in shaping the future of manufacturing.

From moving beyond “black and white” engineering thinking to navigating crises with persistence and innovation, Vince offers candid insights into leadership, decision-making, and continuous learning. He also reflects on the importance of relationships, networking, and what he’d tell his younger self starting out in his career.

Whether you’re an engineer aspiring to leadership, a CEO facing uncertainty, or a leader committed to lifelong learning, Vince’s reflections are filled with valuable lessons you can apply today.

In this episode of the CEO Global Network Podcast, host John Wilson sits down with Daniel Wigdor - Professor, inventor, tech entrepreneur, and CEO of AXL: Human Potential, AI Super Powered.

Daniel shares insights on why Canada leads in AI research but struggles to commercialize it, the missing “middle layer” of applied research, and how AXL is bridging that gap. He discusses misconceptions about AI, what it truly means to unlock human potential, and how AI can empower - not replace - people.

They also dive into Daniel’s journey as a professor, researcher at Meta, and entrepreneur, as well as his views on policy changes that could accelerate Canadian AI innovation. Finally, Daniel offers a fascinating glimpse into how human-computer interaction will evolve over the next decade.

This is a must-listen for leaders navigating the intersection of innovation, AI, and business transformation.

In this episode of the CEO Global Network Podcast, George Torok, an executive speech coach and presentation skills trainer, shares invaluable insights on how to perfect your public speaking for high-stakes situations. From the biggest mistakes CEOs make in presentations to how you can transform your approach, George breaks down the essentials of effective communication. Whether you’re preparing for a major sales pitch, a crisis presentation, or speaking at a product launch, George provides actionable tips to improve your delivery and engage your audience. Tune in for powerful lessons on presentation skills, including the importance of perspective, the art of the pause, and how to use "you" to capture your audience’s attention.

In this episode of the CEO Global Network Podcast, we sit down with Jennifer La Forge, General Manager of Rakuten Rewards Canada, to dive deep into how consumer behavior has drastically shifted in the digital age. Jennifer shares insights into how the rise of social commerce, influencer-driven purchasing, and seamless mobile shopping experiences are reshaping the retail industry.
We also explore Jennifer's leadership philosophy - how she builds autonomous, high-performing teams by leading with transparency, trust, and a commitment to consistency. As a recipient of the Globe and Mail's Best Executive Award in 2022, Jennifer reflects on the lessons that have shaped her career, the importance of aligning values with leadership, and how to make decisions with both data and gut instinct.

Tune in for a rich conversation on leadership, innovation, and the future of retail.

Chef-founder Jose Hadad built Mad Mexican from a tiny condo kitchen into a beloved, handcrafted, chemical-free food brand - without compromising on freshness or integrity. In this quick-hit conversation with host John Wilson, Jose shares the “against all odds” decisions that shaped the company, why Viva la revolución is more than a tagline, how he engineered a just-in-time distribution model to protect quality, and the dish that tells his life story.

You’ll learn:

• The pivotal moment Jose refused preservatives and chose the hard path
• How to design operations backwards from the customer’s first bite
• Why “revolution” means returning food to your grandmother’s table
• The role of faith and grit when the nos outnumber the yeses

How do you build a workplace that people love—enough to be ranked the #1 restaurant employer in Canada? In this episode of the CEO Global Network Podcast, host John Wilson sits down with Nick Dean, President & Director at The Keg Restaurants Ltd. Nick shares practical leadership lessons from a “zigzag” career spanning agencies, cannabis, and hospitality - plus the timeless principles that let “wild ducks fly in formation.”

You’ll learn:

• The cultural foundations behind The Keg’s long-running people-first reputation
• Why focus and discipline beat “growth for growth’s sake”
• How curiosity and asking great questions unlock better decisions
• A playbook for aligning complex stakeholders with transparency and integrity
• The surprising leadership lessons Nick learned from being a dad of three

Highlights: owner’s-mindset empowerment, sharing bad news quickly, acting to create opportunity (and pivoting fast), and leading like a coach who sets the vision - then gets out of the way.

How do you lead an organization through crisis, double its size, and still stay true to your core values?

In this episode of the CEO Global Network Podcast, host John Wilson speaks with Dustin Heise, CEO of Canada Snowboard, about the leadership lessons he’s learned guiding his team to record-breaking results—even in the middle of a global pandemic.

Dustin shares how values, trust, and resilience powered Canada Snowboard to become the world’s top Olympic snowboard nation. He also reveals the surprising parallels between risk and flow on the mountain and decision-making in the boardroom, as well as his approach to scaling fast without losing culture.

Whether you’re leading in sport, business, or life - this conversation is packed with insights on faith, perseverance, and raising the bar after big wins.

Can free snacks and ping pong tables really make employees happy? Not according to Dr. Adam Stoehr, award-winning university professor and employee happiness researcher.

In this episode of the CEO Global Network Podcast, host John Wilson sits down with Adam to unpack the myths around workplace happiness—and what leaders should really be focusing on instead. Adam shares insights from his PhD research, teaching thousands of students, and delivering talks to more than 30,000 people.

From why excellence drives happiness across every level of an organization, to the surprising role of connection in leadership, to three simple daily habits anyone can use to increase happiness—this conversation is filled with practical takeaways for CEOs and leaders at every stage.