In this end-of-year solo episode, Chris Thomson reflects on one of the most transformational chapters in the history of Student Works. From smashing revenue records to reinventing the company’s systems, 2025 marked massive progress for the team and set the stage for an even stronger 2026.

Chris walks through the company’s growth, the evolution of the Leaders of Tomorrow podcast, breakthroughs in technology (including the full rebuild of SIMON), increases in operator success metrics, and the continued expansion of fundraising efforts for MS.

He also shares a personal milestone: becoming a grandfather and redefining his vision for the future.

If you want a snapshot of what makes this community powerful…and what’s coming next…this is the episode to hear.

[00:00:00] – The power of a competitive and cooperative culture

[00:01:10] – Why recognizing progress is a leadership best practice

[00:02:00] – From $10M to $43M: how Student Works accelerated after the pandemic

[00:03:15] – Seven years, 70,000 downloads: the evolution of the podcast

[00:03:40] – Shoutout to Podcast Your Brand for bringing the show to life

[00:04:45] – “I’m a proud grandfather”: welcoming Ella Rae Manje

[00:05:20] – New record averages in both painting and window cleaning

[00:06:30] – Eight million-dollar painting operators…and the first million-dollar window cleaner

[00:07:00] – $2.3M raised for MS: a legacy of impact

[00:08:00] – Five years of system building…and now a full-scale cleanup

[00:09:00] – Introducing SIMON 3.0: a complete rebuild of the company CRM

[00:12:50] – New estimating module + automated profitability safeguards

[00:14:13] – Daily production plans generated instantly inside SIMON

[00:14:50] – Major upgrades to safety, compliance, and team training

[00:18:00] – Final recruitment window: why December is the deadline

[00:19:35] – A call to future leaders: this is your moment to get on the bus

• SIMON CRM – Student Works Information Management Organizational Network

• Connect with Chris: Website | LinkedIn
• Learn more about the Student Works Management Program
• Apply to be an Owner / Operator in the Management Program
• Looking for a fun job this summer? Summer Job Opportunities
• Hear more Alumni Success Stories

The Leaders of Tomorrow Podcast is an original production by Chris Thomson. Production and editing by Podcast Your Brand.

This week, we’re sharing the first part of a recast of Chris Thomson’s powerful conversation on Paper Napkin Wisdom with host Govindh Jayaraman.

In this second part of “Cancer Is a Journey,” Chris opens up about the next chapter of his cancer experience, from jaundice and hospitalization to finally receiving a confirmed diagnosis and beginning chemotherapy.

What unfolds is a story not just of treatment, but of mindset, gratitude, and the expansion of purpose. Chris reflects on reframing chemo as healing, finding meaning in mortality, and discovering an even greater reason to live: to be present for his family, his team, and now his first grandchild.

[00:00:00] – Picking up where Part 1 left off: from feeling great to noticing symptoms

[00:01:43] – Turning yellow: the first signs of jaundice and the rush to the hospital

[00:03:00] – Emergency biopsy, stent surgery, and the fear of what’s next

[00:05:26] – Finally, a diagnosis: follicular lymphoma — and why Chris calls it “fantastic news”

[00:06:40] – The entrepreneur’s instinct: “Tell me what I need to do. Put me in, coach.”

[00:07:32] – Overcoming fear of chemo and reframing it as a healing process

[00:08:46] – “Chemo made me feel better.” How mindset and gratitude shaped recovery

[00:10:42] – Seeing chemo not as poison, but as partnership with medicine

[00:11:23] – Gratitude for Canada’s healthcare and perspective from others’ stories

[00:12:30] – The day of the banquet: from biopsy to public speaking in one day

[00:13:38] – What’s changed: health, priorities, and becoming a grandfather

[00:14:49] – “I want to have with my grandkids what I have with my kids.”

[00:16:41] – Turning lemons into lemonade — how cancer expanded his mission

[00:17:46] – Living beyond the physical: how loved ones continue through legacy

[00:19:59] – Staying in the moment and letting go of unrealistic expectations

[00:21:00] – A powerful goodbye: honoring his late friend Wendy Porter

[00:23:21] – Facing death daily — a Stoic approach to living fully

[00:26:29] – The ROI of a life of contribution: “Profit follows purpose.”

[00:27:46] – Climbing new mountains — redefining success after survival

[00:30:00] – Reaching out and finding connection: “We’re better together.”

[00:32:00] – Closing reflections: remembering who you are and being there for others

• Princess Margaret Hospital (Toronto) – oncology and liver specialists
• Dr. Sapisochin, liver surgeon at PMH
• Wellspring – support network for cancer patients

• Connect with Chris: Website | LinkedIn
• Learn more about the Student Works Management Program
• Apply to be an Owner / Operator in the Management Program
• Looking for a fun job this summer? Summer Job Opportunities
• Hear more Alumni Success Stories

Paper...

This week, we’re sharing the first part of a recast of Chris Thomson’s powerful conversation on Paper Napkin Wisdom with host Govindh Jayaraman.

In this deeply personal episode, Chris opens up about his cancer journey, from the moment he was told he had a large mass on his liver and bile ducts, through the confusion of a terrifying working diagnosis, to the mindset and gratitude practices that helped him stay grounded. It’s an intimate look at courage, leadership, and the choice to live with purpose no matter what life brings.

Far more than a medical story, this conversation is about resilience, mindset, and reframing fear into purpose. Chris shares practical lessons on advocacy, communication, receiving support, and choosing the story you tell yourself when life turns upside down.

[00:00:00] – Govindh introduces Chris Thomson and their 30-year friendship

[00:01:35] – Chris explains why he’s sharing his cancer journey and overcoming fear of others’ opinions

[00:03:40] – “Who am I to tell this story?” — Chris on realizing the importance of sharing hope

[00:06:30] – The day everything changed: learning about a grapefruit-sized mass near his liver

[00:08:10] – Turning to his network — how relationships became a lifeline

[00:09:40] – Hearing the words “cholangiocarcinoma” — a supposed 12-to-18-month death sentence

[00:10:10] – The importance of not buying the “working diagnosis” until confirmed by biopsy

[00:13:00] – Why doctors give worst-case estimates and what patients should really hear

[00:16:00] – Choosing perspective: getting affairs in order and communicating with his team

[00:18:20] – “You can tell people you don’t know.” — transparent leadership during crisis

[00:21:50] – The power of reframing: asking “Why is this happening for me?” instead of to me

[00:23:03] – Lessons from Seneca: “We suffer more often in imagination than in reality.”

[00:25:35] – A conversation with his son, living the same mindset he teaches others

[00:27:34] – Meeting another survivor and finding hope in community

[00:30:00] – How giving first in relationships came back as support when he needed it most

[00:33:00] – The art of receiving help with gratitude and grace

[00:36:00] – “Bring good energy.” — why kindness helps healing

[00:37:25] – Mindfulness, meditation, and radical self-care during crisis

[00:41:00] – “My job was to be as healthy as possible for the fight of my life.”

[00:42:00] – The plot thickens: ongoing uncertainty and inconclusive biopsies

[00:44:09] – Closing part 1 — the unknown ahead