Host: Carrie Tuttle Guest: Zahid Junejo

In this episode, I sit down with Zahid Junejo, a seasonedfinancial consultant with over 30 years of international experience. He held roles such as Vice President at Mashreq Bank and Citigroup Samba. He has also served as SVP of Sales at Saudi Home Loans.

Zahid shares how he connected with his team on a personal level and has “re-launched” himself multiple times. He explains his experience building a new team from scratch at Western Union in Calgary, achieving full-year targets within eight months. He led by example with his feet on the ground and mentored his team to achieve their goals.

Imagine moving to Dubai without knowing a word of Arabic! Yes, he did that. Not only that, but he went on to build a team of diverse cultural backgrounds and grew their cash management book size to $250 million. He’s a master networker and has maintained many of his overseas and localrelationships with clients, his leaders and direct reports over the years.

Zahid is a big believer in continuous learning and growth. He is incredibly generous with his time and energy, as evidenced by his current projects. Zahid teaches at the Toronto School of Management and advises career development with The Career Foundation.

QUOTE-WORTHY MOMENTS:

"Always be in learning mode. Adapt and upgrade.""Leaders must always ask: Why am I doing this? How may I help you? And how can this be improved?"

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS:

• Zahid emphasizes the importance of adapting and upgrading oneself in a career.
• He believes in the power of teamwork and collective success.
• Supporting struggling team members is crucial for overall team performance.
• Cultural understanding enhances team dynamics and business success.
• Networking is essential for building relationships andopportunities.
• Mistakes are valuable learning experiences that shape career paths.
• Inspirational leaders can have a profound impact on personal and professional growth.
• Continuous learning is vital, regardless of one's position.
• Helping others leads to mutual support and success.
• Zahid's commitment to nonprofit work reflects his desire to give back to the community.

LINKS FROM EPISODE:Zahid Junejo on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zahidjunejo/

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Host: Carrie Tuttle
Guest: Phil Putnam

The theme of this episode is leading cross-generationally. With four generations currently in the workforce, everyone needs to be aware of how to influence and motivate the people we work with. You don’t want to miss this!

Phil Putnam, speaker and author of 'Desired Based Leadership' is on the cusp of Gen X and Millennial groups. In his 20 years as a team member and executive leader within world-class tech organizations including Apple and Adobe, he now shares his most valuable lessons.

He talks about the importance of prioritizing employee desires to drive business results, because the investment has a multiplier effect in productivity and loyalty. By contrast, the cost of attrition is crippling and he explains the math. Phil's experiences and understanding of the evolving workforce dynamics highlight the need for leaders to adapt their strategies to build safety and satisfaction among employees.

Phil gives a short historical background of why each generation has a different relationship with work, different motivators and different way of viewing hierarchy. He calls out how positional power is changing and emphasizes the necessity for empathy and adaptability in leadership.

How we work is changing, particularly as the workforce majority shifts from Baby Boomers to the Millennial / Gen Z group. In this conversation, we discuss how understanding the needs and values of different generations can lead to better workplace engagement and results. Listen in to understand how this applies to your world!

QUOTE-WORTHY MOMENTS:

“A leader’s function is to drive results through people.”

"You don't get results by putting the employers' needs first. You get the results you want by putting the employees' needs first and… what they want for their life.”

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS:

• Leaders should prioritize employee desires to drive results.

• Desire-Based Leadership focuses on what employees want in life.

• The cost of employee attrition is significant.
• Generational differences in their relationship with employment impact leadership and motivation strategies.
• Toxic loyalty in Gen X-ers can hinder employee satisfaction and retention.
• Effective leadership requires understanding and adapting to generational needs.
• Leaders must navigate their styles based on audience and context.
• Appealing to self-focused loyalty yields better results.
• GenZ-ers are open to a patchwork of income sources.
• Boomers value authority and title more than younger generations.
• Work-life balance is a significant concern for younger generations.
• Millennials and Gen Z prioritize their time over loyalty to employers.
• Communication styles differ greatly across generations.
• Generational trauma influences work attitudes.

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LINKS FROM EPISODE:

Phil Putnam on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/philputnamspeaks/

Website: https://www.philputnam.com/

Book:

Desire-Based Leadership: A Manager’s Unexpected Key to Driving Top Performance https://amzn.to/3EUROhP

Note: We use affiliate links for recommended resources and might receive a few pennies if you choose to buy something.

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Host: Carrie Tuttle
Guest: Tracey Nyholt

Tracey Nyholt, founder and CEO of TechJutsu Inc., a cybersecurity company celebrating its 10th anniversary in 2025. With her small but mighty team, she has established a "professional on top, party on the bottom" remote work culture and shares her thoughts on building a company without boundaries.

Tracey’s open heart is humbling. She shares about experiencing and supporting her team through the loss of a team member and the impact grief had. From handling profound leadership challenges to supporting team members in pursuing their dreams, Tracey shares the details of stories from her journey and how a personalized approach creates loyal team members.

She gives some great examples of the kind of candid conversations Tracey has with her team about performance and how the team sometimes surprises her – like one who asked to be punished! This episode offers valuable insights for leaders managing remote teams and building company culture while scaling an award-winning technology business.

QUOTE-WORTHY MOMENTS:

• “No mistake, no bad decision is so bad that you can't fix it, adjust or change. So don't beat yourself up too much.”
• "Everyone has a ‘performance love language’.”

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS:

• Leadership requires adapting to the diverse needs of team members
• Creating a sense of belonging enhances team loyalty and performance
• Supporting employees' personal dreams is more achievable than you think
• Coping with loss is a shared experience that can strengthen team bonds when you talk openly
• Fostering creativity and problem-solving is essential in a tech environment
• Empowering women in technology is a key focus
• Setting clear objectives and checking in regularly is vital for team alignment
• Remote work can be productive if managed effectively
• Building personal connections within a team enhances overall morale

LINKS FROM EPISODE:

Tracey Nyholt on LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracey-nyholt-226b2115/

TechJutsu Website:https://www.techjutsu.ca/

CallerVerify:https://www.callerverify.com/

Resources:

Canadian Cybersecurity Network: https://canadiancybersecuritynetwork.com/

Women in Communications & Technology: https://wct-fct.com/

Books Mentioned:

Unapologetically Ambitious – Shellye Archambeauhttps://amzn.to/4gBqNgc

The 5 Languages of Appreciation in the Workplace - Gary Chapman and Paul Whitehttps://amzn.to/4jQJWxM

The 5 Love Languages – Gary Chapmanhttps://amzn.to/40T0mwP

Note: We use affiliate links for recommended resources and might receive a few pennies if you choose to buy something.

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Tell us a topic you’d like to hear more about in the comments.

Want to share your leadership story? Be a guest. APPLY HERE