The Messy Leadership Podcast

Host Christi Scarrow talks to Scott Lorimer, VP of Sales at Campbell's. Scott shares leadership insights rooted in his early work at McDonald’s. He emphasizes how combining hard work with fun has been foundational in shaping his career. Lorimer reflected on the challenges of team motivation and giving feedback.  He advocates for strategies that "create flight, not drag" and tailoring support to individual motivations....

Host Christi Scarrow and Judy Whittaker explore the challenges and lessons of leadership, with a focus on people management. Judy shares her evolution from entrepreneur to corporate leader, emphasizing the role of coaching and vulnerability. A pivotal conversation between the two—over 20 years ago—sparked Judy's commitment to better leadership. The discussion highlights emotional intelligence, mental health, and aligning leader...

Host Christi Scarrow and Stéphane Grenier, founder of Mental Health Innovations Consulting, discussed his leadership journey, emphasizing the “leaders eat last” philosophy—putting employee needs before personal interests. Grenier criticized rigid organizational policies and stressed flexible, people-first leadership. He also called out token mental health initiatives like Mental Health Awareness Week and Bell Let's Talk Day, advoca...

Host Christi Scarrow is joined by Tracy Nolan, Senior Vice President at Humana and Board Member at Dress for Success, who discusses her leadership journey, emphasizing the importance of understanding individual motivations and respecting different career goals. She highlights the value of listening and asking questions to foster understanding. Nolan shares a story about a goose that illustrates how you might be missing what truly m...

Host Christi Scarrow talks to Preet Makkar, the Head of Human Resources at Haleon, who emphasizes authenticity in leadership. She discusses managing personal and professional stressors, advocating for emotional regulation and self-awareness. Preet highlights how leaders' emotional states impact employee retention, noting how negativity can increase turnover. She stresses candid conversations, prepared feedback, and continuous growt...

David Singer, President of Thomas Large and Singer, emphasizes the importance of listening in leadership, drawing from his sales background. He stresses the value of patience and active listening to understand employee concerns, leading to better outcomes. Singer suggests focusing on building empathy in his employees, advocating for regular constructive feedback and trust-building through personal connections. He highlights the nee...

Teri Kingston, founder and CEO of Real Impact Speaking and TEDx coach, shares her entrepreneurial journey and the importance of storytelling in leadership. She emphasizes continuous learning in marketing and public speaking. Teri recounts her transition from volunteer coaching to a paid business model, guided by a business coach's advice, and underscores storytelling's role in team building and corporate culture, drawing on her wor...

Bryan Clayton, CEO of GreenPal, joins Host Christi Scarrow and discusses his journey from realizing his initial leadership failures to understanding the importance of self-improvement and genuine care for employees, emphasizing that leadership is about servitude. He highlights the necessity of investing in company culture and the importance of being authentic and present and shares that it took him seven years to recognize and addr...

Host Christi Scarrow and Lorrey Arial Bonilla, Executive Director at ECCDC, discuss key lessons in leadership, emphasizing the importance of relationships, networking, and work-life balance. She highlights the need for strong communications with boards, staff, funders, and stakeholders, and the value of seeking external support to avoid isolation. Lorrey stresses the importance of resiliency, time management, and prioritizing tasks...

Yves Dalcourt, Managing Director at Miele in Australia and New Zealand, discusses his leadership experience during the COVID-19 pandemic. He emphasizes the importance of personal connection, daily communication, and creating a positive culture. Dalcourt highlights initiatives like the "song of the day" and consistent email updates to maintain morale. He also shares his philosophy of valuing employees as "heartbeats&q...

Jennifer Braganza (VP of Operational Excellence at Pontoon Solutions), sits down with host Christi Scarrow and discusses the importance of passion and the necessity of learning from failures. She highlights the significance of connecting organizational goals to employees' interests and the value of timely, specific recognition. Braganza also stresses the importance of building teams, not just finding outstanding talent, and the...

Host Christi Scarrow and Guest Ryan Labong (Chief Commercial Officer at Nature’s Path) have a conversation centered around the importance of executing strategy and fostering an environment where team members feel comfortable sharing their thoughts and concerns. Ryan shares how performance culture can negatively impact long term growth and the importance of empathy to counterbalance this. Christi and Ryan discuss the importance of d...

Host Christi Scarrow sits down with Pina Melchionna, President and CEO at CITT Canada's Logistics Association, and shares insights on leadership with an emphasis on authenticity and inclusivity. Pina recounts a pivotal moment in her career where asking for clarification led to positive feedback, teaching her the value of vulnerability and authenticity. She highlights the importance of mindful language to avoid exclusion, sugges...

Guest Bruce Tunnicliffe of VEI Contracting shares his insights on effective leadership, emphasizing the importance of communication and vision in leading a team. Bruce highlights the importance of task management, delegation, and fostering a positive culture. Host Christi Scarrow added to this by emphasizing the need for open communication and a supportive leadership style in navigating toxic workplace cultures and leading growing ...

Host Christi Scarrow and guest Shelly Anwyll, Vice President, Business Development & Member Experience at the Ontario Chamber of Commerce and Executive Co-Chair of NextUp Toronto, discuss the importance of active listening, empathy, and proactive communication in leadership. They emphasize the need to recognize and respect the perspectives of others, foster trust, and prioritize stakeholders' priorities. They also share the...

Messy Leadership Host Christi Scarrow and guest Nima Fotovat (President and Co-Founder of Riverside Natural Foods) discuss effective leadership styles and approaches, emphasizing the need to balance holding people accountable, while also providing support and engagement. Christi and Nima highlight the distinction between reacting and responding in a leadership role, and share their journey of learning to balance these aspects. 

Host Christi Scarrow and Guest Stacey Kravitz, President of UNFI Canada, discuss how leaders must be open to feedback and personal development to reach their full potential. The gap in knowledge and training between leaders and lower levels of an organization highlights the need for adapting approaches. They discuss how in a hybrid work environment, understanding generational differences and prioritizing ongoing learning and self-a...

Guest Luc Mongeau, President and CEO of eSolutions Furniture, and Host Christi Scarrow discuss the importance of combining emotional intelligence with intellect for effective leadership. They emphasize the need for authenticity, courage of conviction, and self-awareness to lead with heart and mind. Luc offers strategies for younger leaders to overcome their fear of vulnerability and discusses the challenges of leading in difficult ...

Welcome to Messy Leadership, a safe space where people-managers can tell the hard truth – that leadership is messy.  Host Christi Scarrow is an author, Tedx speaker, consultant, trainer, executive coach, and leader who finds the ‘people’ part of managing people very difficult.  Join her on this podcast where she has candid conversations with seasoned leaders who share their personal stories, struggles, and strategies to navigate th...