Your go-to guide for business leadership, offering an insider look into the world of business and entrepreneurship through interviews with industry shaping leaders and CEO’s.
From starting a small business to running a large corporate organization - from finances to mindset, to building community, we cover it all; diving into the principles and practices that can help you understand and navigate the ever - changing business landscape.
While sharing story’s, business leader to business leader - it is our Mission to also deliver actionable + meaningful advice on a wide array of topics, that will elevate the lives and businesses of our audience with each episode - including our signature “Hotseat Segment” when guests reveal their Top 3 Best Success Strategies, within their chosen topic or area of expertise.
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Données mises à jour le 04/07/2026
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15 - Speaking Truth, Leading Boldly: Natalie Bell on Presence, Power, and People-First Leadership
Saison 2 · Épisode 15
mardi 14 octobre 2025 • Durée 48:59
The Exact Hot Seat Podcast | Episode 15
Featuring: Natalie Bell, Founder of Natalie Bell Consulting
In Episode 4 of our RRC Polytech Alumni Series, Amanda Buhse and Lisa Thompson sit down with Natalie Bell, Founder of Natalie Bell Consulting, for a powerful conversation about leadership, authenticity, and the power of using your voice with purpose.
With over 25 years of experience in People & Culture, Natalie shares how speaking from lived experience — especially as a Black woman in HR and leadership spaces — has shaped her approach to coaching, consulting, and building workplaces that actually work for people. From facilitating leadership sessions and guiding executive teams through change, to moderating panels and showing up authentically online, Natalie’s message is clear: human connection is at the heart of great leadership.
What does it take to lead with listening instead of assumptions?
How does authenticity become your most powerful strategy?
And why does presence matter more than polish or perfection?
This isn’t your typical business podcast — it’s thoughtful, real, and full of wisdom you can apply right now.
Key Highlights:
🎙️ How Natalie uses her voice as a superpower to lead, coach, and influence change 🎙️ The importance of authenticity, listening, and presence in leadership 🎙️ Building inclusive, people-first workplaces rooted in connection and trust
👉 Tune in now on Spotify, Apple, Amazon, and iHeart to hear the full episode!
14 - From Brow Queen to Resilient Mentor: How Giovanna Minenna Rose Beyond Cancel Culture to Build with Strategy, Spirituality, and Soul
Saison 2 · Épisode 14
mercredi 1 octobre 2025 • Durée 51:26
Show Notes
The Exec Hot Seat Podcast | Episode 14
Featuring: Giovanna Minenna, Founder of Brows by G
In Episode 3 of our RRC Polytech Alumni Series, Amanda Buhse and Lisa Thompson sit down with Giovanna Minenna — the original Brows by G. Brow queen. Beauty mogul. And now, for the first time ever, unfiltered truth-teller.
CANCEL CULTURE. DRAGONS’ DEN. ANONYMOUS ACCOUNTS.
You’ve heard the whispers. You’ve seen the headlines. Now, you’ll hear her side.
From building a seven-figure beauty brand and landing on Dragon’s Den, to becoming the target of the viral NotMyBrowsByG account — Giovanna opens up about what really happened, how it broke her down, and how she rose again with a new mission rooted in strategy, spirituality, and soul.
This isn’t business as usual. It’s raw. Honest. Messy. Powerful. And it’s a conversation you won’t want to miss.
🔑 Key Takeaways:
The rise of Brows by G: from a local brow bar to a national beauty powerhouse.
The reality of cancel culture: what happens when an anonymous account takes aim — and how Giovanna survived it.
Life beyond the brand: selling her businesses to focus on family, mentoring, and leading transformative retreats.
Rebuilding with purpose: why her next chapter blends entrepreneurship with healing, growth, and truth.
👉 Tune in now on Spotify, Apple, Amazon, and iHeart to hear the full episode!
____
Connect with Giovanna!
🔗 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/giovannaminenna
13 – From Marketing Maven to Mission-Driven Founder: How Justine McDonald is Helping Women Reclaim Their Time, Confidence, and Dreams
Saison 2 · Épisode 13
vendredi 19 septembre 2025 • Durée 52:17
The Exact Hot Seat Podcast | Episode 13
Featuring: Justine McDonald, Founder of Goal Chasers & Stay at Home Legends
In this 2nd episode of our RRC Polytech Alumni Series, Amanda Buhse and Lisa Thompson sit down with Justine McDonald - an RRC Polytech alum, former marketing manager, and the magnetic force behind Goal Chasers and Stay at Home Legends. What began with a viral planner and a chaotic post-conference breakdown has since evolved into a movement: helping women simplify their businesses, build success on their terms, and reclaim time, autonomy, and ambitio without burning out.
Justine opens up about the rollercoaster of entrepreneurship: the “accidental” launch of her planner business, bootstrapping her way into Jillian Harris’s Jilly Box, and the quiet strength of building with intimacy, intention, and deep community ties. From basement beginnings to supporting 70+ female founders in Manitoba, Justine’s story is packed with unfiltered wisdom and practical clarity for anyone building a life beyond default settings.
🔑 Key Takeaways:
Entrepreneurship doesn’t need permission - just a planner and a fire in your gut. Justine’s first launch came out of frustration, burnout, and a refusal to shelf her dreams one more day.
Connection > Crowds. Whether it’s one-on-one sessions, brown paper strategy days, or gluten-free pizza, Justine believes in small, deep containers over large, impersonal programs. Her model is community-first and referral-powered.
Her path wasn’t linear and that’s the point. From aspiring kindergarten teacher to marketing manager to in-demand coach and speaker, Justine followed curiosity, not a business plan.
She’s rewriting the narrative for working moms. The Stay at Home Legends brand is a call to redefine success - balancing ambition with presence, and choosing what motherhood and business look like in every season.
Real leadership starts in the in-between. Justine shows up for women between the wins and the breakdowns - when confidence is shaky and clarity is foggy. That’s where transformation happens.
12 - From Small-Town Roots to Inland Port Leadership: How Carly Edmundson Is Moving Manitoba
Saison 2 · Épisode 12
mercredi 3 septembre 2025 • Durée 50:26
The Exec Hotseat Podcast | Episode 12
From Classroom to CentrePort: Reframing Leadership, Collaboration, and Economic Growth
Featuring: Carly Edmundson, President & CEO, CentrePort Canada
In this first episode of, not only Season 2 of The Exec Hotseat Podcast, but also of our RRC Polytech Alumni Series, hosts Lisa Thompson and Amanda Buhse sit down with Carly Edmundson - a proud RRC Polytech alumni and the president & CEO of CentrePort Canada, the country’s trimodal inland port. Carly unpacks her path from a class of seven in tiny Pearson, Manitoba to the helm of a 20,000-acre logistics ecosystem (about the size of Manhattan), sharing how curiosity, community, and disciplined growth shaped her leadership.
Recorded in person at RRC Polytech, the conversation ranges from reframing imposter syndrome as normal leadership doubt to building cultures where collaboration is safe, feedback flows, and discomfort is part of skill-building. Carly also lifts the curtain on CentrePort’s value proposition - where rail, air, and road converge to reduce supply-chain costs and help companies scale smarter - plus the personal routines, mentors, and mindset shifts that helped her step confidently into the CEO seat.
🔑 Key Takeaways:
Carly’s career arc - from airport operations to manufacturing, finance, commercial real estate, and back to CentrePort - shows how diverse experiences compound into strategic leadership.
Leadership isn’t about removing discomfort; it’s about creating safe stretch zones. Growth feels awkward in real time, and that’s normal.
Collaboration works best when leaders empower teams to set the table - not just “press the button.” Psychological safety plus honest feedback beats perpetual comfort.
Carly’s hot-seat advice:
Embrace discomfort as part of the journey.
“Don’t ask, don’t get” - raise your hand; the worst answer is no.
Aim for consistent one-degree shifts; small, steady moves add up to big change.
She reframes imposter syndrome as natural doubt amplified by scarce feedback at senior levels.
11 - From Classroom to Clubhouse: How Karli Colpitts is Remixing Entrepreneurship & Community
Saison 1 · Épisode 11
jeudi 5 juin 2025 • Durée 53:14
The Exec Hotseat Podcast | Episode 11
From Classroom to Clubhouse: How Karli Colpitts is Remixing Entrepreneurship & Community
Featuring: Karli Colpitts, Founder: Tempo Collective
In this high-energy episode of The Executive Hotseat, hosts Lisa Thompson and Amanda Buhse sit down with Karli Colpitts, also known as DJ K Chedda, the powerhouse behind Tempo Collective, a dynamic music entertainment company rooted in community, creativity, and joy.
Karli’s journey is anything but conventional. From her early days as a choir singer and elementary school teacher to spinning funk, RnB, and soul at major festivals like Winnipeg Folk Fest, Festival du Voyageur, and Harvest Moon, she shares how she carved out a vibrant career in music, entertainment, and entrepreneurship - all while raising a family.
You’ll hear how DJ K Chedda and her partner Tim created the unforgettable Wackydoodle Dance Party, how she leveraged her training at Mama Cutsworth’s DJ Academy, and why making space for joy and inclusion is central to her business.
This conversation explores the powerful intersection of parenting, artistic expression, and entrepreneurship - and how Karli’s unique blend of ADHD-fueled creativity, optimism, and hustle is reshaping what it means to build a business from the heart.
🔑 Key Takeaways:
Karli’s love for music began with childhood dance parties and grew into a full-fledged DJ career.
She launched Tempo Collective to offer inclusive, high-quality entertainment for families, weddings, and festivals.
A master of wearing many hats, Karli balances teaching, DJing, parenting, and entrepreneurship with clarity and care.
Her mission includes supporting emerging DJs and fostering community through joyful, shared musical experiences.
Karli’s approach is a reminder that passion, purpose, and a little bit of funk can take you farther than you ever imagined.
10 - Building Community with Intention: Leilah Perchaluk on Curated Connections and Conscious Growth
Saison 1 · Épisode 10
mercredi 21 mai 2025 • Durée 34:28
The Exec Hotseat Podcast | Episode 10
Building Community with Intention: Leilah Perchaluk on Curated Connections and Conscious Growth
Featuring: Leilah Perchaluk, Founder, Knew House
In this episode, hosts Lisa Thompson and Amanda Buhse sit down with Leilah Perchaluk, founder of Knew House - a private membership community for high-achieving women. Leilah shares her journey from archaeologist and insurance professional to entrepreneur, emphasizing how diverse life experiences led her to build Knew House with purpose and intention.
From launching in Winnipeg to expanding into Toronto and Vancouver, this conversation explores the power of meaningful networks, conscious scaling, and how showing up consistently fuels both personal and professional transformation.
🔑 Key Takeaways:
Leilah founded Knew House after identifying a gap in professional groups for women already established in their careers.
Her journey, from anthropology and archaeology to insurance, showcases how a range of experiences can shape unique business ideas.
Knew House focuses on curated, intentional networking that fosters meaningful, supportive relationships.
The company’s growth strategy is rooted in thoughtful expansion and preserving its community-focused DNA.
Leilah’s advice: be intentional with your network, show up consistently, and stay open to evolution.
Her disciplined morning routine (starting at 4:45 a.m.) highlights the structure and mindset of successful entrepreneurs.
09 - Kevin Selch on Operating in Winnipeg’s Unique Craft Beer Market
Saison 1 · Épisode 9
vendredi 25 avril 2025 • Durée 45:35
Executive Hotseat Podcast | Episode 09: Kevin Selch on operating in Winnipeg’s unique craft beer market
In this episode, hosts Lisa Thompson and Amanda Buhse sit down with Kevin Selch, Founder of Little Brown Jug Brewing Company. Kevin talks about the transition from being a senior economist in the federal government to founding a local brewery in Winnipeg.
Key Points:
- Kevin says he was driven by a desire to create something meaningful in Winnipeg and solve the interesting business challenge of operating in the historic Exchange District.
- Starting with just one beer (1919) to build brand recognition, Keving emphasized the importance of sticking to a detailed business plan and not getting distracted by multiple product ideas.
- He says the most significant challenge in business is building and maintaining team culture as the organization grows.
- Kevin sees Winnipeg as a city with tremendous potential where entrepreneurs can make a real difference, with a supportive community that's willing to try and support new local businesses.
- Despite the overall decline of the mainstream beer market, Kevin says craft beer is growing. Consumers are becoming more selective, preferring quality over quantity, creating opportunities for local breweries.
- He believes entrepreneurship is fundamentally about problem-solving, being a generalist who can do many things adequately, and being comfortable with the possibility of failure as part of the growth process.
OUR SPONSOR A big shout-out to our 2025 presenting sponsor, RRC Polytech. Their support makes this conversation, and many more, possible!
Guest’s Links:Check out Little Brown Jug - https://www.littlebrownjug.ca
08 - Speak Up & Rise: Jessica Dumas on Mastering Public Speaking & Leadership
Saison 1 · Épisode 8
vendredi 11 avril 2025 • Durée 50:35
In this inspiring episode, hosts Lisa Thompson (BRD | Brand Revival & Design Inc.) and Amanda Buhse (Coal & Canary) welcome Jessica Dumas - a trailblazer in public speaking, speaker coaching, and leadership development. Jessica shares her powerful journey from overcoming personal doubts and imposter syndrome to becoming the first Indigenous woman to chair a chamber of commerce. With an impressive career that spans award-winning speaking engagements, a robust coaching practice, and hosting two dynamic podcasts, Jessica delivers actionable advice that both emerging and seasoned leaders can use to elevate their communication and confidence.
About Jessica Dumas:
Jessica is a professional speaker, speaker coach, and the host of both Speaking Up with Jessica Dumas on NCI FM and The Confidence and Communication Podcast. Among her accolades, she is a recipient of the Manitoba 150 Women Trailblazer Nellie McLung Foundation Award, has been recognized as one of Manitoba’s top 40 under 40, and has led transformative initiatives as chair of the Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce. Her story, from growing up in a challenging neighborhood to taking the stage and inspiring others is a testament to resilience, authenticity, and the power of showing up even when fear looms.
In This Episode, Jessica Dumas Discusses:
Her Journey & Leadership: • Becoming the first Indigenous woman to chair a chamber of commerce and the lessons learned along the way. • The challenges of stepping into leadership roles and overcoming the “I don’t belong” mindset with consistent practice and courage.
Public Speaking Mastery: • Techniques for transforming nervous energy into powerful, authentic presentations. • Strategies such as deep breathing, visualization, and EFT tapping to calm nerves and maintain presence on stage. • Tips to prepare for speaking engagements - knowing your default speech patterns and intentionally adjusting them to enhance clarity and engagement.
07 - Derek Earl on Turning Business into Climate Action
Épisode 7
jeudi 20 mars 2025 • Durée 39:55
Executive Hotseat Podcast | Episode 08: Derek Earl on Turning Business into Climate Action
In this episode, hosts Lisa Thompson and Amanda Buhse sit down with Derek Earl, the President of Biz for Climate, to discuss how businesses can take meaningful action against climate change. With nearly 20 years of experience in ESG, corporate strategy, and economic development, Derek shares his journey from corporate leadership at KPMG Canada and the World Trade Center Winnipeg to launching a nonprofit that’s empowering businesses to be part of the climate solution.
Derek highlights how Biz for Climate has grown into a movement of over 200 businesses signing a Climate Action Pledge, advocating for sustainable policies, and helping companies reduce their environmental footprint. He also dives into the challenges businesses face when adopting sustainability practices and how they can start making an impact—without feeling overwhelmed.
From navigating government policies to building a network of climate-conscious companies, this episode is packed with insights for business leaders looking to align profitability with sustainability.
Favorite way to unwind? Spending time with his family.
The moment he knew Biz for Climate needed to go full-time? When businesses kept showing up, eager to take action.
06 - Insights from Winnipeg Mayor Scott Gillingham
Saison 2 · Épisode 6
jeudi 6 février 2025 • Durée 35:41
The Executive Hotseat Podcast | Episode 07: Insights from Winnipeg Mayor Scott Gillingham
In this episode, hosts Lisa Thompson and Amanda Buhse sit down with Winnipeg’s 44th Mayor, Scott Gillingham, for an in-depth conversation about leadership, innovation, and community. Elected in October 2022, Mayor Gillingham shares his journey from growing up on a Manitoba farm to serving as a pastor for over 20 years and, ultimately, stepping into politics to serve his community.
With a deep commitment to improving Winnipeg, Mayor Gillingham discusses his vision for the city, highlighting key initiatives such as the Center Plan 2050, affordable housing development, and infrastructure improvements. The mayor also offers insights into his leadership philosophy, emphasizing service, long-term decision-making, and the importance of community engagement.
From sharing personal anecdotes to tackling pressing issues like homelessness and economic growth, this episode provides a comprehensive look at what it takes to lead a growing, vibrant city. Don’t miss this inspiring and insightful conversation with a leader who is shaping Winnipeg’s future.
Key Points:
Mayor Gillingham’s journey from farm life to politics.
How his pastoral background influences his leadership style.
The Center Plan 2050: revitalizing Winnipeg’s downtown.
Tackling challenges like homelessness, crime, and infrastructure.
His commitment to affordable housing and fostering economic growth.
Engaging with local businesses, and reducing red tape for entrepreneurs.
Visionary projects shaping Winnipeg’s future.
Rapid-Fire Questions with Mayor Gillingham:
If Winnipeg were a person, how would you describe its character? Rugged yet elegant, with surprising sophistication.
Dream job if not Mayor? Ambassador of Canada.
Favorite local restaurant? The legendary Segovia.
Best advice received? “Leave well” when transitioning roles.
Hidden gem in Winnipeg? The breathtaking VIA Rail Station.
📷 Instagram: instagram.com/giovannaminenna
🌐 Website: giovannaminenna.com
👉 Thank you to our amazing Presenting Sponsor, RRC Polytech!
As a morning-leaning leader (yes, those 7:30 a.m. inbox bursts), Carly anchors her day with simple rituals, proving routines don’t have to be fancy to work.
👉 Tune in now on Amazon, Apple, Spotify, and iHeart to hear the full episode!
> Interested in sponsoring or partnering with the podcast? Connect with us on our website or social media to learn more about 2025 opportunities!
Disclaimer: The views and opinions shared on The Exec Hotseat Podcast are those of the hosts and guests and are for informational purposes only. Nothing shared on this podcast should be taken as professional, legal, medical, or financial advice. Listeners are encouraged to do their own research and seek qualified guidance. We are not liable for any decisions made based on this content.
Also - Lisa Thompson does not think Canada should become the 51st state :)
Money Manifestation & Mindset: • Jessica’s unique take on money manifestation that involves trusting the process and staying committed without obsessing over numbers. • Practical exercises to shift mindset, including the importance of inner work, journaling, and replacing limiting beliefs with empowering affirmations.
Networking & Connection: • The art of effective networking by focusing more on genuine questions and building connections rather than self-promotion alone. • How asking the right questions can flip the script from discomfort to meaningful engagement at events and board meetings.
Mentorship and Growth: • The value of investing in yourself and learning from mentors, accessing professional coaching, and using feedback to continuously evolve. • The role that overcoming personal challenges plays in shaping authentic leadership and entrepreneurial success.
Jessica’s Top Takeaways for Aspiring Leaders & Entrepreneurs:
Trust Your Intuition: Follow your inner calling even when it defies conventional norms.
Embrace Vulnerability: Sharing your fears and authentic self paves the way for genuine connection and growth.
Leverage Professional Support: Don’t hesitate to work with experts (lawyers, accountants, therapists) to build a stable foundation for your endeavors.
Special Thanks to Our Sponsor: A big shout-out to our 2025 presenting sponsor, RRC Polytech. Their support makes this conversation, and many more, possible!
Interested in sponsoring or partnering with the podcast? Connect with us on our website or social media to learn more about 2025 opportunities!
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