Owners Circle

In this episode, we sit down with Shawn Kanungo, one of North America's most sought after speakers, a globally recognized innovation strategist and bestselling author. With 12 years of experience at accounting behemoth Deloitte, Shawn brings unparalleled insights into disruptive trends and opportunities.

Shawn opens up about how a traumatic loss in his early days shaped his life and current trajectory. His engaging style and insights come through in our entertaining interview.

Don't miss his favourite book reco In the Rapid Fire Response segment where he also briefly turns the microphone on Owners Circle host Shawn Hass.

Through his firm Queen & Rook, he advises leading organizations and executives, helping them navigate the ever-evolving landscape of business and technology.

Subscribe to the Owners Circle Podcast now and embark on this interesting journey with Shawn Kanungo.

Click here for Shawn's website and link to his Apple TV special "The Bold Ones"

Thank you to the University of Lethbridge and RBC Family Business Summit organizers for allowing access to Shawn at their event.

Shawn and David start by briefly sharing their experience on a recent trip to Mexico with Homes of Hopehttps://www.ywamhomesofhope.org/mexico#baja David is candid about the mistakes he made as a young CEO of Dominion Construction and reflects on the necessary traits great leaders need to focus on acquiring. David shares how his grand dad designed the largest building in the British empire in 1911. The family also built landmark projects such as the Rogers Arena home of the Vancouver Canucks and Bentall Centre in downtown Vancouver. His story enforces that it was always first and foremost about the relationships and that the work they earned and success the family experienced was a by-product of their open and transparent approach with customers. David has authored 2 family business books; Leaving A Legacy & Dear Younger Me... His Company Next Step Advisors is a sought after resource by business families throughout Canada. https://www.nextstepadvisors.ca/

We start our adventure with a strange twist on a multi-million dollar project bid that the company lost the moment we arrived to record this episode. Colin then takes us back to the company's roots and shares the important lessons his dad and company founder Cecil shared with him in those early days.  Colin reveals his favourite project from the many iconic buildings the company has built over the years, and provides one of the most bizarre book recommendations in Owners Circle history!  

We start our adventure with a strange twist on a multi-million dollar project bid that the company lost the moment we arrived to record this episode. Colin then takes us back to the company's roots and shares the important lessons his dad and company founder Cecil shared with him in those early days.  Colin reveals his favourite project from the many iconic buildings the company has built over the years, and provides one of the most bizarre book recommendations in Owners Circle history!  

A pilot, city councillor, member of the Italian military and partner in NXGEN Payments, Giuseppe shares how he and his business partner, Tom Napitopili, built an international payment powerhouse based in Whitefish, Montana.  He shares the values their company follows for hiring and attracting high-quality employees.  Giuseppe gives insights into what giving up ownership control felt like for he and Tom, and also shares the secret to why he sleeps better now.  Giuseppe has recently resigned his executive postion with Payroc (formerly NXGEN) to pursue his passion, Angel Flight.

Shawn gets the back story on Jack DeHeer’s time at The Lake Placid Olympic hockey tournament, as well as entertaining stories on how Jack’s wife, Laura, acted as his hard line agent.  This story goes much beyond the game of hockey, and shares how Jack and Laura ventured back to Canada to take over Jack’s second-generation family print business.

Shawn engages in a dynamic conversation with Doug Lipp the man responsible for running Disney University and launching Tokyo Disney.   Doug's wisdom from inside one of the most creative, customer centric companies of our era will provide valuable lessons for all entrepreneurs.

We get the skinny on how Serfas Farms has evolved over the past three generations.  Kevin Serfas shares his thoughts on the future of farming and gives some background into the rationale for their newest project, a 40,000 head feedlot in Southern Alberta that opened earlier this year.

Find out how entrepreneur Joelle Faulkner of Area One Farms is partnering with medium size farm operations to ramp up their growth.  See why her investors take an uncommonly patient and long term approach that gives her a unique edge in agriculture.

Ken Hitchcock, the third-winningest coach in NHL history shares his valuable experiences having coached the Dallas Stars, Philadelphia Flyers, Columbus Blue Jackets, St. Louis Blues, and most recently the Edmonton Oilers. Hitch shares lessons he learned from other sports including NFL football coach Andy Reid and Hall of Fame baseball manager Tony Larussa.

In this episode, Ken reveals how you know when you have a winning team, what it takes to motivate the players, and one of his top coaching decisions he made the year Dallas won the Stanley Cup.