Today’s guest is someone who embodies the true essence of courage in leadership—Janelle Aaker, founder of Janelle Aaker Consulting. With over 20 years of experience in the corporate world ranging from Nike, lululemon and more recently at Vancity, Janelle has worked across all aspects of HR. She has spent the last five years specializing in Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice.

In this episode, we’ll dive into how courage has shaped Janelle’s career and life, explore the role it plays in leadership, and uncover the ways in which courageous, inclusive leadership can foster authenticity and growth in teams. From challenging the status quo to leading with empathy, Janelle’s insights will inspire leaders to tap into their own bravery to make lasting impacts.

Get ready to learn how courage and leadership truly go hand-in-hand!

In today’s episode, we’re thrilled to welcome Naz Kullar, an expert in Human Resources who brings decades of experience and deep insights into leadership and organizational culture. Naz joined the Insurance Council in 2023 as Director of People and Culture and has been a member of the Chartered Professionals in Human Resources (CPHR) since 1988. Naz currently participates as member of the Board of Directors for CPHR BC & Yukon and currently serves as Board Chair.

Naz will share her career journey and provide practical advice on fostering connection within teams—especially in the new hybrid work model. As remote and hybrid work environments become more common, leaders face the challenge of maintaining a sense of connection, culture, and inclusivity across geographically dispersed teams. Naz will offer strategies for leaders and HR professionals to navigate these challenges, with a focus on helping new managers lead effectively in this changing landscape.

Tune in to hear from a true HR leader who’s here to help you build stronger, more connected teams in today’s hybrid world!

In this episode of For Leaders By Leaders, I sit down with Liane Davey, a New York Times bestselling author, speaker, and organizational psychologist, to explore a leadership skill that many shy away from—conflict. Liane is the author of The Good Fight: Use Productive Conflict to Get Your Team and Organization Back on Track among other books. With over 25 years of experience advising Global Fortune 500 companies and teams across industries, Liane has a unique perspective on how to turn conflict into a productive force that drives teams forward.

Liane explains what healthy conflict looks like in high-performing teams and shares actionable strategies to prevent dysfunction and build a culture where teams can engage in the "good fight"—the kind of conflict that leads to better collaboration and outcomes. We also explore the concept of "conflict debt" and the high cost leaders pay when they avoid dealing with conflict.

If you’ve ever wondered how to address the inevitable challenges that come with leading teams, this conversation will equip you with tools to embrace conflict and use it to create stronger, more effective teams.

In this episode of the For Leaders By Leaders podcast, I sit down with Steve Vanagas, Vice-President of Customer Communications and Public Affairs at TransLink, to explore the vital role of leadership during times of crisis. With a proven track record in leading through challenging situations, Steve shares his insights on maintaining calm, navigating unexpected events, and supporting teams under pressure.

We wrap up with a quick lightning round where Steve offers concise advice on what leaders should think, do, and say when faced with a crisis.

Join us as we uncover practical tools and lessons on leading through crises with resilience and clarity.