Shift podcast: Helping you rethink business transformation

Designing Insurance for Real Life

erin.mcdonald@pwc.com (PwC Canada) — Thu, 07 May 2026 00:01:00 -0400

Insurance is meant for life’s hardest moments — illness, loss, the unexpected. It’s one of the most human promises we make. And yet, for many Canadians, the experience still feels confusing, impersonal, and slow.

In this episode of Shift, we speak with Rohit Thomas, CEO of BMO Insurance, about what it really takes to transform an insurance company from the inside out — the culture, the legacy systems, and the organizational muscle memory — without losing empathy at the centre of the promise.

Over the past year, BMO Insurance has launched Canada’s first bank-led digital insurance storefront, introduced RovrAI, an industry-first AI tool for advisors, and rolled out a new purpose and identity. Together, these moves raise a bigger question that sits at the heart of this conversation: how do you bring digital and AI in the moments that matter most — and still keep it human?

The Vulnerability Advantage — An International Women’s Day Conversation

erin.mcdonald@pwc.com (PwC Canada) — Thu, 19 Mar 2026 00:01:00 -0400

To mark International Women’s Day, Shift goes beyond celebration — and into the reality of leadership. Gillian Stein, CEO of Sluyter Manufacturing, joins the podcast for a candid conversation on what leadership truly demands. From stewarding a 115-year-old family business to stepping into a new industry, Gillian reflects on leading through uncertainty, carrying the unseen emotional labour at the top, and navigating the double binds women continue to face in the C-suite.

She also speaks openly about living publicly with bipolar disorder — and how vulnerability and psychological safety have reshaped her leadership, relationships, and impact. A powerful International Women’s Day conversation for anyone ready to lead with greater humanity, courage, and truth.

The new economics of sovereignty: AI, Capital and Canada’s next advantage

erin.mcdonald@pwc.com (PwC Canada) — Thu, 12 Feb 2026 00:01:00 -0500

In this episode of Shift, investor and innovation leader John Ruffolo offers a bold, forward‑looking take on the forces reshaping Canada’s economic future and the massive opportunity ahead. From digital sovereignty and the evolving implications of the U.S. Cloud Act to strengthening industrial strategy and anchoring homegrown innovation, Ruffolo highlights why now is the moment for Canada to rethink how it builds wealth and scale its brightest ideas.

Candid, optimistic, and deeply pragmatic, this conversation offers a roadmap for how Canada can seize this moment and build world‑leading companies on its own soil. A must‑listen for executives, investors, and builders shaping Canada’s next chapter.

The human edge in AI: Balancing creativity, innovation and responsible adoption

erin.mcdonald@pwc.com (PwC Canada) — Mon, 12 Jan 2026 00:00:00 -0500

In this episode of the Shift podcast, David Usher, Founder & CEO of Reimagine AI, shares his journey from Juno-winning Canadian musician to technology innovator, exploring how curiosity can help leaders navigate innovation, ethics, and disruption. He discusses practical approaches for building responsible AI—including human-led design, consent, and regulation—and highlights projects like Second Echo and virtual companions for dementia patients, showing how technology can create value and meaning without replacing human connection.

Harnessing growth opportunities from shifting supply chains

erin.mcdonald@pwc.com (PwC Canada) — Wed, 15 May 2024 05:00:00 -0400

Joining us for the first episode of the third season of CEO Viewpoints is Canadian National Railway CEO Tracy Robinson, who talks to PwC Canada’s Sébastien Doyon about the drivers of growth in the rail industry and how CN is harnessing emerging opportunities. They explore the growing need for rail carriers to partner with both each other and other modes of transport like trucking companies to serve evolving supply chains. They also discuss key industry challenges like climate change as well as the leadership attributes required to steer organizations through complex and uncertain times.

(00:00)- Sébastien introduces CEO Viewpoints and Tracy Robinson
(01:00)- Sébastien and Tracy discuss the CEO Survey and CN railway’s perspective on the responses
(03:09)- Sébastien and Tracy turn their attention to the future of rail
(05:51)- Tracy discusses how railroads remain competitive while working together to create resilient supply chains
(11:04)- Sébastien asks Tracy about allocating resources to important new initiatives while delivering on existing commitments
(17:33)- Tracy explains the changes at CN under her leadership
(22:13)- Sébastien asks Tracy about the energy transition and climate change
(26:39)- Sébastien shares his closing thoughts and conclusions

Building consensus on large infrastructure projects

erin.mcdonald@pwc.com (PwC Canada) — Wed, 13 Mar 2024 06:00:00 -0400

Join host Jon Finkelstein and guest Ron Jaikaran to discuss Ontario’s Accelerated High-Speed Internet Program. Ron is the Director of Commercial Projects at Infrastructure Ontario, where he is driving progress on Ontario’s 4 billion dollar investment in high-speed internet. The program aims to bring high-speed connectivity to some of the hardest-to-reach communities in the province, to deliver this essential service to all Ontarians. A project of this size requires consensus between partners and collaboration between the public and private sectors to deliver results by 2025, something Ron and his team manage. Ron discusses the opportunities and challenges in undertaking such a large project, how Infrastructure Ontario is managing various partnerships at the municipal and provincial levels, and how the private sector is helping the government tackle some of the largest challenges.

(00:02)- Jon’s introduces Shift and Ron Jaikaran
(01:29)- Ron introduces himself and Ontario’s Accelerated High-Speed Internet Program
(03:54)- Ron discusses the teams and partners involved in the program
(06:15)- Ron discusses how the private and public sector are working together to implement high speed internet
(09:05)Ron and Jon discuss why access to high-speed internet is so important, and the challenges posed by the geography of Ontario
(14:49)Jon asks Ron about the legislation involved in the project
(15:44)Ron talks about the importance of setting expectations with the market
(19:22)Ron and Jon talk about the project’s quick timeline,
(24:33)- Ron shared the challenges that had to be overcome along the way, and how this project can be used as an example for future Infrastructure Ontario projects
(28:06)Ron and Jon discuss the importance of building consensus
(29:56)- Jon and Ron share their closing thoughts and conclusions

Navigating large scale transformation as a business leader

erin.mcdonald@pwc.com (PwC Canada) — Wed, 17 Jan 2024 00:00:00 -0500

Welcome back to a new season of PwC Shift. In this episode, host Jon Finkelstein, Executive Creative Director, PwC Canada, interviews Pierre Miron. Pierre is the Executive Vice-President and Chief Growth Officer Canadian Operations at Industrial Alliance (IA), where he has been at the helm of a variety of impactful transformations. Pierre and Jon dive into these transformations, specifically the pivot that IA has made in its thinking around its customers, and its new approach to I.T and the cloud. Jon and Pierre discuss how to convince people within the organization that these changes are worth it, how to set meaningful KPIs during periods of transformation, and what’s next for Industrial Alliance.

(00:01)- Jon’s introduces Shift and Pierre Miron
(02:02) - Pierre explains how he established the digital ambition of IA when he first joined
(05:16)- Pierre discusses why I.T is central to the transformations at IA, and to business transformation generally
(07:32)- Pierre explains his current role of Chief Growth Officer
(12:03)- Jon and Pierre discuss navigating the ramifications of large transformations on company culture, and how to set meaningful KPIs for a transformation
(16:52)- Pierre explains Industrial Alliance's growth strategy
(21:15)- Pierre dives into how he implemented key transformations, and his strategy for getting executives on board
(23:56)- Pierre explains how to get buy-in from employees who don’t think change is needed
(26:50)- Jon and Pierre share their closing thoughts and conclusions

Accelerating your Energy Transition - From Idea to Action A conversation with John Cleland, CEO of Australia’s Essential Energy

erin.mcdonald@pwc.com (PwC Canada) — Mon, 20 Nov 2023 05:00:00 -0500

In the latest episode of our CEO Viewpoints podcast series, host James McLean sits down with John Cleland, CEO of Australia’s Essential Energy. This year, the annual CEO survey focuses on critical questions facing leaders today including how to balance reinventing the business to succeed in a changing world with the need to manage short-term pressures and challenges. In the podcast discussion John shares his experiences and learnings of leading and accelerating a utility through the energy transition, balancing customer and stakeholder expectations, his commitment to sustainable and safe energy, and his outlook on where the sector is headed.

(00:01)- James’s introduction to CEO Viewpoints and John Cleland
(01:34)- John shares more about his career background so far
(03:02)- John explains more about Essential Energy in terms of scale, customers and employees
(04:29)- John shares more about what enticed him towards his current role
(06:49)- John explains some of the challenges he’s faced along the way in his role, and how he’s navigated those challenges
(11:18)- John explains the implications of the major cultural and digital changes that have taken place in recent years
(13:32)- John explains how the company’s recruitment strategy has evolved over time
(15:17)- John sheds light on his stakeholder management strategy
(17:59)- John shares some of the critical investments and surprises along the way during the company’s transformation
(22:53)- John explains how the company is being cost-effective while still innovating
(25:50)- John shares some of the things he might have done differently when looking at the journey in hindsight
(28:13)- John and James share their closing thoughts and conclusions

How an engaging and agile culture strengthens resilience

erin.mcdonald@pwc.com (PwC Canada) — Wed, 14 Jun 2023 15:00:00 -0400

In this episode of the CEO Viewpoints podcast, host Allan Buitendag, a Partner in PwC’s Financial Services practice, speaks with Kevin Strain, President and Chief Executive Officer of Sun Life about his approach to staying ahead of the accelerating pace of change while navigating increasingly complex and volatile conditions. Kevin shares his approach to building a bright future for Sun Life during these challenging times and talks about the power of creating an engaging and agile culture as a key to navigating disruption and strengthening resilience.

Show Notes:

(00:01)- Allan’s introduction to CEO Viewpoints and Kevin Strain
(01:12)- Kevin explains how Sun Life handles crises and changes in today's economic climate
(04:59)- Allan and Kevin discuss SunLife’s recent acquisitions and expansion plans
(07:45)- Kevin shares how SunLife balances long-term goals with immediate pressures
(08:48)- Allan and Kevin discuss how hybrid work affects productivity as well as the lasting impact of COVID on workplaces
(10:35)- Kevin explains how he plans to build and strengthen SunLife’s internal culture across its global business
(16:34)- Kevin shares his thoughts on generative A.I
(19:42)- Allan and Kevin share their closing thoughts and conclusions

Vancity: Leading with purpose in an increasingly complex world

erin.mcdonald@pwc.com (PwC Canada) — Wed, 31 May 2023 15:40:00 -0400

This podcast mini-series is dedicated to discussing Canadian insights from PwC’s 26th Annual Global CEO Survey. In this episode of CEO Viewpoints, host Andrew Dooner, a partner in PwC’s global corporate strategy practice, sits down with Christine Bergeron, President and Chief Executive Officer of Vancity to discuss the power of being a purpose-led organization while navigating key issues like economic uncertainty, transforming for the future and ESG matters like climate change. Christine talks about Vancity’s integrated approach to thinking about people, planet and profit and how embedding purpose into the business strategy enables sustainable outcomes.

Show Notes:

(00:01)- Andrew’s introduction to CEO Viewpoints and Christine Bergeron
(01:12)- Christine shares her background and career experience so far
(02:37)- Christine explains Vancity’s mission and vision for thriving communities and businesses
(03:16)- Christine explains her outlook on the current macroeconomic situation and the survivability of organizations over the next ten years
(06:55)- Christine shares what it means for Vancity to be a purpose driven organization and how individuals and teams can become purpose driven
(10:30)- Christine explains her stance on whether organizations are on track in terms of climate goals, and how individuals and organizations can make a difference
(12:37)- Christine shares how organizations can keep up with the changes surrounding climate action while being inclusive in their approach
(18:30)-Christine explains how Vancity navigates the tensions between ESG driven organizations and profit driven organizations
(21:04)- Christine and Andrew share their closing thoughts and conclusions

Building trust in telecom with a human-led, tech enabled approach

erin.mcdonald@pwc.com (PwC Canada) — Wed, 26 Apr 2023 16:09:00 -0400

In this episode, host Jon Finkelstein, Executive Creative Director at PwC Canada sits down with Pamela Snively, Chief Data and Trust Officer at TELUS, and Ojas Rege, SVP and GM of Privacy and Data Governance at OneTrust. Together, they discuss the trending topics of trust and privacy, and why they’re so essential to a company’s revenue, reputation and overall success.

Show Notes:

(00:02)- Jon’s introduction to CEO Viewpoints, Pamela Snively and Ojas Rege
(02:03)- Pamela and Ojas provide a brief overview of their careers and backgrounds so far
(03:35)- Ojas explains the difference between privacy and trust
(04:16)- Pamela describes some of the recent changes she’s seen in the data trust and privacy world
(06:45)- Ojas shares his advice for organizations hoping to make their programs successful
(09:24)- Pamela describes the meaning of “human-led, tech-powered”
(11:28)- Ojas shares more about the work they’re doing at OneTrust, and how tech is powering trust
(13:49)- Pamela explains why it’s important to encourage data literacy across the entire organization
(16:34)- Pamela explains how businesses can think about trust holistically instead of as just another a compliance check box
(20:40)- Jon shares his closing thoughts and conclusions

Using data to transform legal risk management and drive organizational value

erin.mcdonald@pwc.com (PwC Canada) — Wed, 22 Feb 2023 21:54:16 -0500

After a brief hiatus, the Shift podcast returns with a new episode featuring Michaël Hassan, the Managing Director and Divisional General Counsel at PSP Investments. He and host Jon Finkelstein, Executive Creative Director at PwC Canada Digital Services, discuss how data can transform legal risk management and drive value for your organization.

Show Notes:

(00:02)- Jon’s introduction to CEO Viewpoints and Michaël Hassan
(01:02)- Michaël shares more about his career journey and his role at PSP Investments
(02:15)- Michaël shares his perspective on how the legal function is typically perceived
(04:04)- Michaël explains the kind of reactions he received when he began to move away from the functions of a traditional legal department
(07:04)- Michaël explains how he began the shift to a more data-driven legal department
(11:06)- Michaël explains how his data-driven approach impacts the company
(13:50)- Michaël shares his perspective on how to transform a legal function to provide value for the organization
(14:53)- Michaël shares his tips for anyone looking to take a more data-driven approach
(17:53)- Jon shares his closing thoughts and conclusions

CEO Viewpoints Episode 8: Exploring the future of banking in Canada

erin.mcdonald@pwc.com (PwC Canada) — Thu, 17 Nov 2022 00:33:00 -0500

In this episode, host Jason Boggs, the National Banking and Capital Markets Leader for PwC Canada, sits down with Anthony G. Ostler, the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Canadian Bankers Association (CBA), as of February 2022. After sharing his perspective on what he’s most looking forward to accomplishing in his new role, Anthony discusses some of the key opportunities for open banking and payments modernization for Canadian banks and the broader marketplace.

Show Notes:

(00:00)- Jason’s introduction to CEO Viewpoints and Anthony Ostler
(00:55)- Anthony shares what he’s most excited about in his new role
(02:24)- Anthony shares his perspective on how the finance industry has changed over the past five years, and where he sees it going in the future
(04:35)- Anthony shares his thoughts on how banks can leverage their technology investments
(06:36)- Anthony discusses current opportunities for open banking in Canada
(08:44)- Anthony shares his thoughts on the opportunities and challenges cryptocurrencies will bring to the Canadian marketplace
(13:29)- Anthony shares his thoughts on the banking industry’s commitment to net zero
(16:34)- Anthony shares his thoughts on being future ready, both from a banking context and more broadly in terms of the Canadian marketplace
(17:31)- Jason shares his closing thoughts and conclusions

CEO Viewpoints Episode 7: Leveraging people and agility for digital transformation

erin.mcdonald@pwc.com (PwC Canada) — Thu, 27 Oct 2022 04:00:01 -0400

In this episode, host Keegan Iles, the national insurance consulting leader for PwC Canada, leads a discussion with Rowan Saunders, the President and CEO of Definity Financial Corporation, about how CEOs can leverage their people and agility for transformation, and ultimately create more sustained outcomes for their organizations.

Show Notes:

(00:00)- Keegan’s introduction to CEO Viewpoints and Rowan Saunders
(00:55)- Rowan shares more about his journey as CEO of Definity Financial Corporation
(04:07)- Rowan explains the role of corporate culture when it comes to enabling a successful transformation
(05:33)- Rowan shares his perspective on some of the other factors that have contributed to the company’s rapid transformation
(05:51)- Rowan elaborates on why it’s important for leaders to reimagine their organizations to prepare for the future
(09:58)- Rowan shares some of the company’s plans for operating within the ecosystem in the near future
(12:01)- Rowan shares some final advice for listeners to consider when it comes to their own successful business transformation
(13:39)- Keegan’s closing thoughts and conclusions

CEO Viewpoints Episode 6: The role of culture in navigating cybersecurity challenges

erin.mcdonald@pwc.com (PwC Canada) — Thu, 13 Oct 2022 04:00:14 -0400

In this episode, host Richard Wilson, a partner in PwC Canada's Cybersecurity, Privacy and Financial Crime practice, leads a discussion with Ken Hartwick, President and CEO at Ontario Power Generation (OPG), on managing cyber risk, integration of technologies and how to build an effective cyber culture.

Show Notes:

00:00- Richard’s introduction to CEO Viewpoints and Ken Hartwick
01:29- Ken shares his perspective on managing cyber risk as a CEO
03:04- Ken shares tips for keeping board members comfortable during the risk management process
05:40- Ken shares why he believes integration is a strength when it comes to cybersecurity
08:37- Ken shares his advice for building an effective cyber culture within your company and setting the right tone from the top-down
13:02- Ken shares his thoughts on how we can keep cybersecurity from becoming just another corporate buzzword and put it into practice instead
14:39- Richard’s closing thoughts and conclusions

CEO Viewpoints Episode 5: How leaders can take a systematic approach to cybersecurity

erin.mcdonald@pwc.com (PwC Canada) — Thu, 06 Oct 2022 04:00:00 -0400

In this episode, host Richard Wilson, a partner in PwC Canada's Cybersecurity, Privacy and Financial Crime practice, leads a discussion on how CEOs are addressing and prioritizing cybersecurity today. He’s joined by Indrani Butany-DeSouza, President and and CEO at Elexicon Energy Inc., a local distribution power company in Ontario.

Show Notes:

00:00 - Richard’s introduction to CEO Viewpoints and Indrani Butany-DeSouza
01:46 - Indrani shares her perspective on how leaders should be thinking about cybersecurity
07:53 - Indrani shares her thoughts on the CEO’s role when it comes to cybersecurity
11:55 -Indrani offers her advice on how CEOs can effectively engage with the board of directors to effectively lead a cybersecurity program
15:52 - Indrani shares her strategies for building and maintaining trust with stakeholders as it relates to cybersecurity
19:07 - Richard’s closing thoughts and conclusions

CEO Viewpoints Episode 4: Boldly stepping forward on the path to net zero (part 2 of 2)

erin.mcdonald@pwc.com (PwC Canada) — Thu, 25 Aug 2022 04:00:07 -0400

In the second part of a two-part discussion focusing on the path to net zero, host Elliott Cappell, Partner and National Climate Change Leader at PwC Canada, continues his conversation with Jason Storah, CEO at Aviva Canada. Elliott and Jason discuss strategies for inspiring Canadian leaders to take action, the importance of leading by example and more.

Show Notes:

00:00 - Elliott’s introduction to CEO Viewpoints and Jason Storah
00:57 - Jason shares his perspective on what is holding Canadian CEOs back when it comes to climate change initiatives
04:37 - Jason shares his thoughts on how we can inspire Canadian leaders to take bold action
09:16 - Jason shares his perspective on building a unified senior leadership team and breaking down the silos when it comes to ESG
12:04 - Jason discusses the importance of leading by example
15:37 - Jason shares some final words of wisdom for leaders when tackling ESG
17:51 - Elliott’s closing thoughts and conclusions

CEO Viewpoints Episode 3: Boldly stepping forward on the path to net zero (part 1 of 2)

erin.mcdonald@pwc.com (PwC Canada) — Wed, 10 Aug 2022 22:17:17 -0400

In this first of a two part episode, host Elliott Cappell, a Partner and the National Climate Change Leader at PwC Canada, sits down with Jason Storah, CEO at Aviva Canada. Together, Elliott and Jason continue the conversation surrounding ESG initiatives, diving into strategies to get to net zero and why leaders need to take bold action today.

Show Notes:

00:00- Elliott’s introduction to CEO Viewpoints and Jason Storah
01:19- Jason discusses his experience as CEO of Aviva Canada
03:33- Jason explains the impacts of climate change on the insurance industry
06:18- Jason discusses Aviva’s ambitious climate change goals
09:53- Jason explains why he chose to prioritize ESG as a leader
12:18- Jason shares key strategies for engaging people within your industry to learn about climate change
17:29- Jason discusses the importance of continuing the dialog surrounding climate change in the insurance space
18:51- Jason explains how the industry can build back better post-pandemic
23:01- Jason shares his perspective on Canada’s role in the fight against climate change
24:24- Elliott’s closing thoughts and conclusions

CEO Viewpoints Episode 2: Trust, transparency and making an impact through ESG

erin.mcdonald@pwc.com (PwC Canada) — Thu, 28 Jul 2022 04:01:16 -0400

In this episode, host Shelley Gilberg, Canadian Platforms Leader and a member of the extended leadership team at PwC Canada, sits down with Rania Llewellyn, the President and Chief Executive Officer at Laurentian Bank. Rania shares her perspective on ESG strategy, transformation, and where trust and leadership factor into the equation. She also shares more about her own career journey, including how she became the first woman to head a major Canadian chartered bank in 2020.

- 00:00- Shelley’s introduction to CEO Viewpoints and Rania Llewellyn

-01:17- Rania discusses more about her journey to becoming the first woman to head a major Canadian chartered bank

-07:02- Rania explains why she believes ESG is such a critical responsibility at the bank, and the specific values she drives forward

-08:46- Rania explains how she and the team decided what to prioritize in terms of ESG strategy

-12:04- Rania shares her perspective on where trust and values factor into the ESG equation

-15:43- Rania explains the importance of shared values in attracting and retaining top talent

-19:10- Rania summarizes her best advice for ESG and values disclosure

-22:10- Rania reflects on some of Laurentian’s recent accomplishments that she’s most proud of

-23:23 - Shelley’s closing thoughts and conclusions

CEO Viewpoints Episode 1: Driving business transformation through ESG

erin.mcdonald@pwc.com (PwC Canada) — Thu, 14 Jul 2022 04:00:01 -0400

This new podcast mini-series is dedicated to discussing Canadian insights from PwC’s 25th Annual Global CEO Survey. Environment, social and governance, known as ESG, has risen to the top of the CEO agenda today as a key component of transformation. The success of an organization is no longer measured solely by its financial results: leaders must also know how to respond to issues of climate change, workforce diversity, supply chain ethics, economic inequality and much more. In the first episode of the CEO Viewpoints podcast series, host Shelley Gilberg, PwC Canada Partner and ESG Markets and Consulting Leader, sits down with Heather Chalmers, the President and CEO of GE Canada, to discuss why ESG is the biggest transformational opportunity of our time, how leaders can take bold actions to reach sustained outcomes, and Canada's path to net zero.

-00:00- Shelley’s introduction to CEO Viewpoints and Heather Chalmers

-01:29- Heather shares more about her career background

-03:30- Heather explains why ESG is more important now than ever before

-07:59- Heather shares advice on how organizations can position themselves for that long-term growth when it comes to ESG and net zero

-12:12- Heather shares her perspective on why we need to reimagine collaboration to reach our goals

-15:02- Heather expands on GE’s approach to ESG investing and how they measure success

-17:02- Heather describes the process of getting started with ESG reporting

-20:08- Heather shares some final advice for organizations across Canada to take away

-21:33- Shelley’s closing thoughts and conclusions

Valuing customer experience and helping Canadians make better choices

erin.mcdonald@pwc.com (PwC Canada) — Wed, 11 May 2022 11:55:00 -0400

Hear how Walmart is committed to innovation and digital transformation, in our recent conversation with John Bayliss, Executive Vice President and Transformation Officer at Walmart Canada.

Personalizing your HR technology transformation with change champions

erin.mcdonald@pwc.com (PwC Canada) — Thu, 14 Apr 2022 11:00:00 -0400

How the LCBO’s HR Transformation supports not only their existing employee experience, but also the attraction of new talent.

Driving value for the organization and driving value for the environment

erin.mcdonald@pwc.com (PwC Canada) — Thu, 17 Mar 2022 11:52:56 -0400

Why getting the balance of ESG right is the right thing to do for both BMO and for Canada.

Exploring the benefits of community tourism

erin.mcdonald@pwc.com (PwC Canada) — Mon, 07 Feb 2022 11:55:00 -0500

How G Adventures is redefining the travel & tourism industry – and connecting customers to their destinations

Enabling Canadian businesses to evolve and grow

erin.mcdonald@pwc.com (PwC Canada) — Fri, 21 Jan 2022 20:56:59 -0500

How Rogers is helping businesses to innovate and grow, now and in the future – what it means to be a strategic advisor to their customers.

Using technology as a force for change

erin.mcdonald@pwc.com (PwC Canada) — Tue, 07 Dec 2021 21:38:00 -0500

The global pandemic has shed light on the need to address a number of crises and inequities our society faces. Solutions won’t be immediate, but Vancity understands that we must start to work on ways to address the climate crisis as well as bring people who have been left behind back into the economy.

In this episode of Shift, join Kirsten Sutton, Chief Technology and Information Officer at Vancity, as she speaks with PwC Canada’s Jon Finkelstein about how her organization plans to use technology as a force for change.

Learn about Kirsten’s journey navigating the early days of the pandemic as Vancity’s new Chief Technology and Information Officer. We’ll also discuss Vancity’s bold commitments to address climate and the economy and how Kirsten is implementing her organization’s digital transformation journey.

The era of empowerment

erin.mcdonald@pwc.com (PwC Canada) — Tue, 07 Dec 2021 21:37:47 -0500

In this episode, we sit down with Rizwan Khalfan, Chief Digital & Payments officer from TD Bank Group, to discuss how he is focused on empowering customers and employees. The importance of ingesting empathy into personalization. And the value FinTech partnerships and acquisitions can provide in the ability to be agile, as the world around us is shifting.

Understanding what your customer needs today and tomorrow

erin.mcdonald@pwc.com (PwC Canada) — Thu, 08 Apr 2021 17:11:24 -0400

For retailers, the pandemic upended much of what they knew about doing business. With ever-changing customer needs and an unclear road map, the industry had to evolve and adapt on the fly.

On the latest episode of the Shift podcast, we sit down with Stephen Gordon, Director of Multi Channel Logistics at Best Buy Canada, to discuss how he navigated the early days of the pandemic and remarks on what he sees as the enduring changes to supply chain logistics and retail.

He talks about how strong communication combined with outside-of-the-box thinking paved the way for Best Buy Canada’s successful response to the pandemic’s challenges from a supply chain perspective and beyond.

Trends, Tweets & 2020

erin.mcdonald@pwc.com (PwC Canada) — Tue, 16 Mar 2021 17:52:05 -0400

For many Canadian’s, Twitter served as a daily utility to participate in a real-time public health conversation when the COVID-19 pandemic hit. In the latest episode of the Shift podcast we are in conversation w/ Paul Burns, Twitter Canada’s Managing Director. Paul takes us behind the scenes of one of the world’ largest social media companies during a global pandemic.
He shares his top social media tips for organizations, the importance of adopting an agile mindset, and his key tips to successful leadership in a remote world.

Connecting Canada

erin.mcdonald@pwc.com (PwC Canada) — Fri, 12 Feb 2021 20:15:19 -0500

Canadian telecommunications providers were at the forefront of the pandemic. Having to deal with record-breaking demands for network capacity across the nation; COVID-19 truly put our wireless and fixed networks to the ultimate test.

On the latest episode of Shift we sit down with Ibrahim Gedeon, CTO at TELUS to get a behind-the-scenes look of what was going on when the pandemic hit. TELUS shares their compelling story on the importance of culture and leadership during unprecedented times; the art of the possible when it comes to project delivery during a time of crisis, and what the future of Canadian telecommunications looks like in a post-pandemic environment.

Unprecedented growth in unprecedented times

erin.mcdonald@pwc.com (PwC Canada) — Tue, 19 Jan 2021 18:25:42 -0500

For certain sectors like tech, digital health, e-commerce - the last few months have been a time of unprecedented growth with many of these companies now considering an IPO as part of their growth strategy.

On the latest episode of the Shift podcast we sit down with Asha Bakshani, SVP of Finance at Lightspeed and Colin Ryan, Managing Director of Investment Banking at National Bank to discuss the IPO marketscape amid a pandemic.

Lightspeed shares their successful IPO journey and lessons learned, while Colin adds key trends and insights on what organizations who want to IPO need to be considering.

In the driver’s seat: How Porsche Canada is accelerating change in the automotive industry

erin.mcdonald@pwc.com (PwC Canada) — Thu, 10 Dec 2020 21:38:15 -0500

In the third Covid edition of the Shift podcast we are in conversation with Marc Ouayoun, President & CEO of Porsche Canada. Marc virtually sits down with Jon Finkelstein to share how Porsche is reimaging their brand and consumer experience while keeping people at the centre of Porsche Canada. Marc shares more about his career journey in the automotive industry and takes our audience through Porsche’s past, present and future with increasing consumer expectations in the digital world.

To listen to more interesting Shift podcasts, please visit our website:

https://www.pwc.com/ca/en/services/consulting/transformation/shift-podcast.html

For more about PwC’s automotive team and how we are helping our clients:

https://www.pwc.com/ca/en/industries/automotive.html

https://www.pwc.com/ca/en.html

How BMO is prioritizing the emotional and physical wellbeing of their employees during the COVID-19 pandemic

erin.mcdonald@pwc.com (PwC Canada) — Mon, 29 Jun 2020 14:20:09 -0400

It’s now or never for organizations to prioritize the mental health of their employees. As we experience unprecedented times with a myriad of stressors; organizations need to step up with the tools and support that will help their employees manage their mental health. In the latest “quarantine edition” of the Shift podcast; guest host Sofia Theodorou, Chief People Officer of PwC Canada, is in conversation with Mona Malone: Chief Human Resource Officer and Head of People & Culture, BMO Financial Group talking all things mental health amid COVID-19. BMO shares their lessons learned on how best to support your employees and customers during the crisis. Mona also shares tactical tips that you can implement into your organization to help create a healthy working environment that fosters open communication, equality, and support.

Pivoting in a pandemic: TD bank’s showcase of operational resilience during the COVID-19 crisis

erin.mcdonald@pwc.com (PwC Canada) — Tue, 19 May 2020 19:05:38 -0400

Within the last six weeks, Canada’s TD Ban has been able to mobilize approximately 70,000 working from home due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In this episode of the podcast we are in conversations with Michael Rhodes, Group Head, Innovation, Technology & Shared Services, from TD Bank Group. Michael talks about the challenges of pivoting to a remote workforce rapidly, how they were able to mobilize quickly to get ahead of COVID-19, and re-imagining what a return to work may look like.

The future is bright with Sun Life

erin.mcdonald@pwc.com (PwC Canada) — Thu, 27 Feb 2020 14:18:35 -0500

The future is bright for the 154 year old organization Sun Life - in this episode of Shift podcast we sit down with Jacques Goulet, President of Sun Life Canada. Jacques shares how Sun Life has created a culture that truly embraces change. From using emerging technologies to create their digital assistant Ella, to their commitment to upskilling their workforce, all while delivering an elevated experience for their customers. Explore the conversation to learn more.

City of Ottawa: Playing the game of innovation as a team

erin.mcdonald@pwc.com (PwC Canada) — Mon, 13 Jan 2020 11:40:53 -0500

In the public sector, it often takes a spark to ignite innovation but somuch more to keep it burning. In this episode of Shift - we share a great Canadian innovation story about the City of Ottawa, who learned the secret sauce on how to deliver innovation and service excellence to their front line employees and citizens. Live from FWD50 2019, Canada’s digital government conference, we sit down with Kim Ennis, Program Manager from the City of Ottawa to chat about how her team worked with PwC Canada to deliver the magic ingredient - “innovation at the edges”. Kim shares how her team adopted a citizen centric mindset to better understand their staff and citizens and transform the city’s parking experience.

TD Bank: community, confidence, and customer experience

erin.mcdonald@pwc.com (PwC Canada) — Thu, 28 Nov 2019 10:25:27 -0500

Three C’s: customer experience, confidence and community. That’s what we are talking about in the latest episode of the Shift podcast ft. the iconic Canada brand of TD Bank. In this episode of Shift we are in conversation with Tyrrell Schmidt the Global Brand and Customer Experience Officer at TD. Jon and Tyrrell chat about what it takes a large scale brand relaunch takes, creating a customer experience centred around confidence, and the importance of giving back.

ecobee: a smart thermostat buzzing with innovation

erin.mcdonald@pwc.com (PwC Canada) — Thu, 31 Oct 2019 11:41:15 -0400

Complex ideas often begin with answers to everyday problems. And when, Stuart Lombard’s family returned home from a winter getaway to find their house at a chilly temperature of 50°F, he knew something had to change. In this episode of PwC Canada’s Shift podcast, we are in conversation with Stuart Lombard, CEO and founder of ecobee; a smart thermostat company that is revolutionizing how people interact with their homes. Stuart shares his Canadian startup success story and what excites him most about the future of technology.

Rebranding Scotiabank Arena

erin.mcdonald@pwc.com (PwC Canada) — Thu, 19 Sep 2019 13:25:28 -0400

Clinton Braganza, CMO, of Scotiabank, was tasked with one monumental marketing challenge: changing the nomenclature of a nation. After the 2017 acquisition for the naming rights of the former ACC arena, Braganza and team started a full-scale campaign to reprogram the vocabulary of the Canadian people. In the Season Two premiere of the Shift podcast, host Jon Finkelstein sits down with Clinton to learn how he took Scotiabank’s alignment with sports beyond the scoreboard. Clinton shares how through the acquisition of the arena he was able to tap into the minds and hearts of Canadian people to create lasting change and a stellar customer experience that reaches beyond the bank.

Best of Shift podcast: Season 1

erin.mcdonald@pwc.com (PwC Canada) — Wed, 17 Jul 2019 14:05:06 -0400

Jon Finkelstein, takes a walk down memory lane with some of the Shift podcast’s most memorable guests. In the season finale of the Shift podcast season one, Jon highlights some of his favourite lessons learned from the leaders of some of Canada’s most high profile organizations. Guests from the LCBO, Move the Dial, Canadian Bankers Association, and more discuss topics surrounding customer experience, driving innovation, thriving in disruption and more.

Fostering a culture of creativity within your organization

erin.mcdonald@pwc.com (PwC Canada) — Wed, 03 Jul 2019 16:49:30 -0400

Shift podcast hits the road to attend the Adweek Brandstar Awards. During the event, host and PwC Canada’s , Executive Creative Director Jon Finkelstein sat down with three of the honorees who are changing the game in Canada when it comes to creating a captivating, customer-centric brand. The conversation featured:

Uwe Stueckmann: SVP, Marketing at Loblaw Companies Limited
Claudette McGowan: Chief Information Officer, Enterprise Technology Employee Experience at BMO
Stuart Lombard: Founder & CEO, ecobee

In the episode, these Canadian leaders define what innovation means to them, how to foster a culture of creativity, and focusing not only on the customer experience, but the employee experience to create a holistic brand culture that delivers on ROI.

Digital Transformation of Banking in Canada

erin.mcdonald@pwc.com (PwC Canada) — Thu, 24 Jan 2019 14:00:00 -0500

In this episode of Shift join Neil Parmenter, President and CEO of the Canadian Bankers Association (CBA), as he speaks with PwC Canada’s Jon Finkelstein about the digital transformation of the financial services industry. Learn how customer’s expectations of their banking experience is evolving and influenced by efficiencies created by Big Technology in other aspects of their lives. Neil and John discuss the future of financial services, why Canada can take the lead in transformation and the need for greater innovation to meet escalating customer expectations.

The future of proptech

erin.mcdonald@pwc.com (PwC Canada) — Thu, 22 Nov 2018 14:00:00 -0500

The convergence of real estate and technology (proptech) is no longer a niche phenomenon. Though still dwarfed by its older cousin Fintech, investment in proptech has soared sky high. In the latest episode of Shift podcast we sat down with George Carras, Founder & CEO, R-Labs Canada Inc. to discuss the growing interest in proptech, how focusing on a problem not the technology is the way forward, and how R-Labs is working with real estate business owners, investors and startups to solve industry issues such as affordability.

Using privacy to build customer trust

erin.mcdonald@pwc.com (PwC Canada) — Wed, 07 Nov 2018 14:00:00 -0500

In this episode of the Shift podcast join Pam Snively, the Chief Data and Trust Officer at TELUS as she sits down with host, Jon Finkelstein. The two discuss navigating the data driven landscape of today’s business climate in a way that maintains customer privacy as a top priority. Pam offers insights on how to remain agile in a digital landscape that continually evolves, adapting and innovating to new data regulations, and how to balance delivering on rising customer expectations with maintaining trust and transparency.

Keeping humans at the centre of the equation: enabling accessibility in dispute resolution

erin.mcdonald@pwc.com (PwC Canada) — Thu, 27 Sep 2018 14:00:00 -0400

In this special episode of the Shift podcast we are joined by Shannon Salter, Chair at the Civil Resolution Tribunal in British Columbia. Salter sits down with Jon Finkelstein and breaks down how she and her team have revolutionized the way citizens interact with the legal system; becoming the first tribunal to go completely digital in Canada. The two discuss implementing a large-scale transformation while still keeping citizens at the core, governing change management and various stakeholders, and plans for scalability in the future. Plus, find out how this leading-edge transformation led to winning the V2R Award in the Accelerator category. To find out more about PCL Constructions winning innovation visit the V2R Awards website! Applications for the 2019 V2R Awards program are now open.

Thinking big to drive enterprise-scale transformation

erin.mcdonald@pwc.com (PwC Canada) — Thu, 27 Sep 2018 14:00:00 -0400

In this episode of Shift join CIO of PCL Construction and V2R Award winner Mark Bryant and PwC Canada’s Jon Finkelstein as they discuss becoming a digital-first business. Learn about PCL’s journey: eliminating data centres, delivering field-focused solutions that save time and enabling data-driven decisions on the job site. Plus, find out how this leading-edge transformation led to winning the V2R Award in the Reinventor category. To find out more about PCL Constructions winning innovation visit the V2R Awards website! Applications for the 2019 V2R Awards program are now open.

Taking a simple idea and scaling it big

erin.mcdonald@pwc.com (PwC Canada) — Thu, 27 Sep 2018 14:00:00 -0400

David Lloyd, CEO and Co-Founder of FREDsense Technologies, sheds light on the revolutionary science and technology he’s used to change the way water utilities and mining companies across Canada test their water resources. In this episode of Shift, David and Jon discuss driving innovation in the age-old mining and utilities sectors, the social impact of this progressive technology, and what David has to say about being the winner of this year’s V2R awards in “The Visionary” category. To find out more about FREDsense Technologies’ winning innovation, visit the V2R Awards website! Applications for the 2019 V2R Awards program are now open.

Enabling citizens with digital

erin.mcdonald@pwc.com (PwC Canada) — Thu, 23 Aug 2018 14:00:00 -0400

When it comes to smart cities, the City of Vancouver is leading the way by creating a citizen experience powered by digital. From offering the largest public wifi hotspot in Canada to creating an online portal for citizens and business, they are continuing to drive innovation the public sector. Chief Technology Officer, Jessie Adcock, sits down with Jon to discuss building a “connected” city, managing citizen trust in the process, and what the future of Vancouver and smart cities looks like.

Keeping the customer at the center of your growth strategy

erin.mcdonald@pwc.com (PwC Canada) — Thu, 26 Jul 2018 14:00:00 -0400

In this episode of the Shift podcast, host Jon Finkelstein is joined by Cody Green, Founder of Canada Drives, who is transforming the way Canadians get car loans. The two discuss the growing pains and lessons learned of a start-up, creating a culture of customer centricity from the ground up, and remaining agile in the ever-evolving world of emerging technologies. Listen and subscribe here.

Building an agile cybersecurity strategy

erin.mcdonald@pwc.com (PwC Canada) — Wed, 13 Jun 2018 14:00:00 -0400

Data breaches and cybersecurity vulnerabilities have been all over the news, elevating these issues in the mind of organizations and consumers. When it comes to cyber threats and attacks it’s not a question of “if” but “when” they’ll happen. Being prepared for evolving threats is a must to stay in business and establish customer trust. In this episode of Shift Sean Joyce, PwC US Cybersecurity and Privacy leader offers insights into how organizations can better prepare outlining steps they can take today to improve their cybersecurity readiness and response capabilities.

Retail evolution & customer experience

erin.mcdonald@pwc.com (PwC Canada) — Tue, 29 May 2018 14:00:00 -0400

How does a crown corporation remain agile through change? In this episode of Shift, LCBO’s Chief Executive Officer George Soleas shares how the LCBO is driving innovation in the way it operates and delivers its products and services. From digital adoption and creating narratives for the customer, to leveraging data to transform the customer experience and improve operations across the supply chain, we examine the LCBO’s evolution into an ambidextrous, digitally enabled, organization.

Driving customer centricity in complex organizations

erin.mcdonald@pwc.com (PwC Canada) — Thu, 19 Apr 2018 14:00:00 -0400

Being one of the largest municipal utility providers in Canada can prove to be a challenge. Jon Finkelstein sits down with Eileen Campbell, VP of Customer Service for Alectra Utilities, which is using new technology to better equip energy producers and consumers in making informed energy decisions. They talk about balancing emerging technology with quality customer care, and what the future of utilities looks like.

Change and Innovation in the public sector

erin.mcdonald@pwc.com (PwC Canada) — Tue, 20 Mar 2018 14:00:00 -0400

Equipping the largest Canadian enterprise to thrive in a digitally disrupted world is complex and challenging. In this episode, Jon Finkelstein and Alex Benay CIO of the Government of Canada talk about the steps to create a digital government and fundamentally change how the government operates balancing technology, policy, and legislation, with the need to be more collaborative and more open to the innovation ecosystem..

Gender diversity in tech—from awareness to action

erin.mcdonald@pwc.com (PwC Canada) — Thu, 01 Mar 2018 14:00:00 -0500

In this episode of Shift join #movethedial CEO Jodi Kovitz as she speaks with PwC Canada’s Jon Finkelstein about how #movethedial is changing the landscape for women in technology. Learn about her journey in creating an organization dedicated to improving gender diversity in tech, why it’s critical to business imperatives and innovation to have greater gender representation at the table, and the tactical steps you can take today to move your organizations dial in the right direction. Visit the website: www.movethedial.ca to find out more on #movethedial, and to check out the report!.

Building a City of Innovation

erin.mcdonald@pwc.com (PwC Canada) — Tue, 13 Feb 2018 14:00:00 -0500

In this episode of Shift, Councillor Michelle Holland, Chief Advocate for the Innovation Economy, joins Jon Finkelstein to discuss building Toronto as a city of innovation and a global technology hub. They examine the challenges that come along with building an innovation ecosystem, attracting investment and talent, transforming to a smart city, and why Toronto is a prime tech destination.

Investing in innovation

erin.mcdonald@pwc.com (PwC Canada) — Mon, 15 Jan 2018 14:00:00 -0500

In this episode of Shift, guest Brice Scheschuk, CEO at venture capital firm Globalive speaks with PwC Canada’s Jon Finkelstein about the innovation ecosystem in Canada. They discuss what differentiates successful start-ups, the opportunities and challenges that organizations face to realize innovation, including new funding mechanisms and the bright prospects for the innovation economy in Toronto. This podcast has been prepared for general guidance on matters of interest only, and does not constitute professional advice. You should not act upon the information contained in this publication without obtaining specific professional advice. No representation or warranty (express or implied) is given as to the accuracy or completeness of the information contained in this podcast, and, to the extent permitted by law, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, its members, employees and agents do not accept or assume any liability, responsibility or duty of care for any consequences of you or anyone else acting, or refraining to act, in reliance on the information contained in this publication or for any decision based on it. “PwC” refers to PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an Ontario limited liability partnership, which is a member firm of PricewaterhouseCoopers International Limited, each member firm of which is a separate legal entity.

Three key factors for a successful digital transformation

erin.mcdonald@pwc.com (PwC Canada) — Tue, 28 Nov 2017 15:00:00 -0500

In this episode of Shift, guests Jimmy Bremner, Innovation and Transformation Executive at Salesforce and Christine Robertson, Senior Marketing Director at PwC Canada speak with PwC Canada’s Jon Finkelstein about enabling a successful digital transformation. They offer insights and lessons learned from leading a 100 year old organization’s transformation, and discuss the importance of thinking differently, user adoption and leadership buy-in. This podcast has been prepared for general guidance on matters of interest only, and does not constitute professional advice. You should not act upon the information contained in this publication without obtaining specific professional advice. No representation or warranty (express or implied) is given as to the accuracy or completeness of the information contained in this podcast, and, to the extent permitted by law, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, its members, employees and agents do not accept or assume any liability, responsibility or duty of care for any consequences of you or anyone else acting, or refraining to act, in reliance on the information contained in this publication or for any decision based on it. “PwC” refers to PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an Ontario limited liability partnership, which is a member firm of PricewaterhouseCoopers International Limited, each member firm of which is a separate legal entity.

The journey to omni-channel

erin.mcdonald@pwc.com (PwC Canada) — Mon, 27 Nov 2017 14:00:00 -0500

In this episode of Shift, guest Claire Bara, Vice President Strategy & Business Intelligence at Lowe’s Canada speaks with PwC Canada’s Jon Finkelstein about the journey to omni-channel, the need for each organization to define what it means, align teams to the overall vision and balance performance with innovation to deliver differentiated experiences to consumers. This podcast has been prepared for general guidance on matters of interest only, and does not constitute professional advice. You should not act upon the information contained in this publication without obtaining specific professional advice. No representation or warranty (express or implied) is given as to the accuracy or completeness of the information contained in this podcast, and, to the extent permitted by law, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, its members, employees and agents do not accept or assume any liability, responsibility or duty of care for any consequences of you or anyone else acting, or refraining to act, in reliance on the information contained in this publication or for any decision based on it. “PwC” refers to PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an Ontario limited liability partnership, which is a member firm of PricewaterhouseCoopers International Limited, each member firm of which is a separate legal entity.