Episode 196: Leadership, Loss & the Courage to Keep Showing Up

Content Warning: This episode contains discussions about suicide and intrusive or negative thoughts. Listener discretion is advised. If you or someone you know is struggling, please seek support from a mental health professional or call a local crisis line. You are not alone.

In this powerful episode, Pari Johnston, President and CEO of Colleges and Institutes Canada (CICan), returns to the podcast to share a deeply personal and professional journey. As the national voice for publicly supported colleges, institutes, cégeps, and polytechnics, Pari brings decades of experience as a strategist, mentor, and coalition-builder in Canadian public life. She previously held senior leadership roles at Universities Canada and Genome Canada, where she advanced national priorities in research, talent, and innovation.

This is Pari’s second time on the podcast—her first, Episode 101: Lessons in Leadership, explored her career path and the barriers women face in senior public affairs roles.

Today, we go deeper. Pari opens up about stepping into her first CEO role and how she continues to lead with strength and vulnerability while navigating profound personal grief following the loss of her eldest son to suicide. She shares how she’s stayed resilient, the importance of openness and support in leadership, and why building networks and leaning on community matter more than ever.

Pari Johnston is the President and CEO of Colleges and Institutes Canada (CICan), the national association representing publicly supported colleges, institutes, cégeps, and polytechnics across the country. She previously served as Vice President at Universities Canada and Genome Canada, where she led national advocacy, public policy, and member relations.
Pari is widely respected as a strategist, mentor, and coalition-builder in Canadian public life. Her work has advanced national priorities in research, talent development, and innovation.
This is her second time joining the podcast. In her first appearance — Episode 101: Lessons in Leadership — we explored her career path and the challenges women face in senior public affairs roles.
Today, we’re going deeper. We’ll talk about what it’s like to take on a CEO role for the first time, and how she has continued to show up for her team and her life while facing unimaginable personal grief.

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