115: Elegant Strength: The Executive Mindset Behind France Margaret Bélanger’s Success

In Part 2 of this conversation, Dwayne Kerrigan and France Margaret Bélanger, President of Sports & Entertainment for the Montreal Canadiens, go deep into the personal side of leadership, discussing courage, conviction, and composure.

France Margaret shares how calm strength and self-awareness guide her through high-stakes decisions, what she’s learned about emotional control in negotiation, and why courage means making the right choice even when it’s unpopular. Together, she and Dwayne explore what it truly means to lead with heart, to face criticism with elegance, and to never let labels define who you are.

Whether you’re leading a team, a business, or your own personal evolution, authenticity, self-mastery, and grace under pressure are key.

Episode Highlights

00:00 – Making the right decision even when it’s unpopular.

03:00 – Balancing intensity with standards.

05:00 – Lessons from France’s father.

07:00 – The power of calm, and why letting anger take over gives control to others.

09:00 – France on staying poised as a woman in leadership without labeling herself.

11:00 – When to walk away from conflict and preserve professionalism.

12:00 – The balance between courage, compassion, and tolerance for “the gray.”

15:00 – Political parallels, and why real leadership requires vision and unity.

17:00 – Inside the Canadiens rebuild.

25:00 – Leadership lessons from rebuilding a legacy brand under scrutiny.

33:00 – How Jeff Molson’s bold decisions shaped new success.

41:00 – France recounts how she stepped into leadership unexpectedly.

47:00 – Dwayne connects France’s story to business owners everywhere.

49:00 – Navigating gender in business. 

57:00 – “No excuses.” Dwayne and France on identity, congruence, and living your values.

01:05:00 – Closing reflections on family, legacy, and leading with heart.

Notable Quotes

"The minute that you, France, is getting mad or angry or whatever, you lost. Might as well give up right now because this other person that managed to get you in that position, won." - France Margaret Bélanger

" Hopefully we do things elegantly, right. Firmly, with determination, but elegantly." - France Margaret Bélanger

 "You show up as who you are, and that's what people will know about you, and that's what people will talk about you. You gotta be authentic and honest to who you are" - France Margaret Bélanger

" It's the ultimate control. If somebody can influence your emotion into, especially into anger, you're done. They are now in control of you." - Dwayne Kerrigan

“The most powerful force in the human psyche is to remain congruent with how you identify yourself.” - Dwayne Kerrigan

Key Takeaways

1. Control Your Emotions: The moment you react in anger, you lose your influence.
2. Elegance Wins: Deliver hard messages with composure and respect.
3. Authenticity Over Labels: Show up as yourself; skill and preparation speak louder than gender.
4. Rebuilding Takes Vision and Grit:True progress comes from honest assessment and bold change.
5. Stay Grounded in Values: Your identity and integrity are your anchors under pressure.

Resources Mentioned

• The Rebuild – Behind-the-scenes documentary series on the Montreal Canadiens
• Jeff Molson, Jeff Gorton, Kent Hughes, and Martin St. Louis – leadership and culture case study
• NHL Board of Governors and Executive Inclusion Council

France Margaret Bélanger is President, Sports and Entertainment at Groupe CH since 2020, which includes the Montreal Canadiens, the Laval Rocket, evenko and L’Équipe Spectra. She joined the organization in 2013 as Senior Vice-President and Chief Legal Officer, and has held several executive positions over the years.France Margaret is the first woman to sit on the...