Do you ever wonder what truly separates successful business owners from the pack? What hidden habits, tough pivots, and real-life lessons matter in the long run?

In this energizing episode, Chris Thomson sits down with Ted Duncan, an accomplished real estate leader and Student Works Management Program alum, whose career took him everywhere from high-stakes sailing in Muskoka to leading top-performing teams and even chasing his acting dreams in New York.

Together, they reveal proven systems, the discipline myth most young leaders get wrong, and what it really takes to create success worth loving plus the unexpected tools Ted still uses from his earliest entrepreneurship days.

If you’re hungry to skip regret, build real impact, and become the kind of leader people rave about, listen right now. Don’t wait for perfect. You’ll miss secrets you can’t find anywhere else.

1. [00:00:21] – From motorboat newspapers to sailboats: Ted’s unexpected origin story
2. [00:01:09] – Getting up at 4:30 AM… is this how ambition feels before business?
3. [00:02:04] – A “not-salesy” mentor sparks Ted’s real entrepreneurial leap
4. [00:03:12] – The sales technique that transformed Ted’s life (use it in any field)
5. [00:05:44] – What most young operators miss about systems and how it costs you
6. [00:09:53] – “Wish I’d done it again”—Why experience multiplies results
7. [00:14:15] – From real estate to acting in NYC: surprising career pivots, customer skills
8. [00:18:07] – Why acting wasn’t just a wild detour, but a key self-discovery
9. [00:24:49] – The honest truth: why failure usually points in the mirror
10. [00:29:36] – How Ted built lasting habits, resilience, and real rewards

Ted Duncan is a top-performing real estate agent in Washington D.C., celebrated for leading high-volume, high-impact teams and guiding clients through life-changing home purchases. A longtime Student Works Management Program alum, Ted’s journey spans business launches, district management, entrepreneurship, and seven years as a working actor in New York, making him a powerful mentor for ambitious young leaders.

🔗 Website

1. Atomic Habits by James Clear
2. Net Promoter Score (Bain & Company)
3. Rick Eastwood (entrepreneur, Student Works...

Ever wonder why health feels like a losing battle for high achievers even when you “know what to do”?

If you’re tired of the Monday restarts, toxic self-criticism, and feeling like your energy never matches your ambition, this episode is your permission slip to break the cycle and reclaim your power.

Chris Thompson welcomes health and mindset coach Steph Kawaja, founder of She’s Better Than Ever, to reveal the surprising psychology and revolutionary frameworks behind creating sustainable healthy habits without all-or-nothing thinking or burnout. From healing your relationship with food to unlocking career-changing energy through unshakable routines, discover why the Future Ready Framework is helping leaders (and their teams) perform at their best, in and out of the gym.

Listen now or risk repeating another year of the same-old struggles. Don’t wait! These exclusive mindset and habit shifts aren’t found in any generic fitness guide. This episode is your unfair advantage to lead, love, and live your best.

1. [00:00] – What is the “Future Ready Framework,” and why healing beats hustle for high achievers?
2. [00:08:39] – Why do so many ambitious women (and men) secretly struggle with food and confidence?
3. [00:12:49] – High performers and the hidden cost of being too hard on yourself
4. [00:17:20] – How your health is quietly derailing your career performance—and how to fix it
5. [00:22:35] – Plan A, Plan B: The secret to staying consistent (even when life hits)
6. [00:29:31] – Why doing “more” isn’t always better—and trusting the power of small, relentless wins
7. [00:34:10] – The 3 (surprisingly simple) non-negotiable habits every hustler needs
8. [00:44:43] – What would be possible—in business, life, and love—if you truly trusted yourself?

Stephany Kawaja is the founder and lead coach of She’s Better Than Ever, a results-driven program helping ambitious women (and men) heal their relationship with food, master sustainable routines, and achieve peak health without sacrificing career success. Drawing on her experience as a top Student Works alum and sales leader, Steph’s Future Ready Framework has transformed 100+ lives by unraveling perfectionism, toxic diet culture, and burnout cycles.

🔗 LinkedIn | Website

1. She’s Better Than Ever (Steph Kawaja’s program)
2. Atomic Habits by James Clear

What if the ONLY thing standing between you and extraordinary success is how you leverage your values and your time? Whether you dream of leading high-impact teams, building a thriving business, or setting yourself apart as a transformative entrepreneur, this episode is your inside pass to leadership mastery.

Chris Thompson welcomes back talent optimization expert Rob Friday, live and unscripted. They break down the true ROI of writing books and core values, unveil “buying back your time” strategies, and reveal how predictive tools fuel massive growth and retention across businesses and sports teams. If you want actionable tools to smash your limits, boost retention, and win with a team of A-players, this conversation is your unfair advantage.

Don’t wait for “one day.” Listen now, because the leaders who act today are the ones tomorrow admires, and this episode unlocks insights few ever hear straight from Canada’s proven leadership trenches.

1. [00:00] – Why “Happy, Not Satisfied” Is the Mindset That Sets Elite Leaders Apart
2. [00:01:44] – Rob Friday’s whirlwind 21% growth, marrying in France, and building family and business resilience
3. [00:03:33] – Unlocking Freedom: How “Buy Back Your Time” Turns Stress Into Strategic Focus
4. [00:06:29] – Painful Truths: Why Writing a Book Is the Ultimate Entrepreneur’s Calling Card
5. [00:10:10] – Talent Optimizer Revealed—The Proven Blueprint for Attracting and Keeping A+ Team Members
6. [00:18:36] – Scare the Wrong People Away: How Radical Clarity in Values Creates Great Teams
7. [00:24:12] – NHL Teams, Predictive Index, and the Art of Placing Winners in Their Sweet Spot
8. [00:41:31] – Flywheels, Net Promoter Scores, and the Secret Sauce That Keeps Alumni Raving Long After Graduation
9. 
   

Rob Friday is the Managing Principal of Predictive Success and author of “Talent Optimizer” and the forthcoming “The Core Value Code.” Known for pioneering data-driven hiring and strategizing with Fortune 500 clients (and Stanley Cup-winning coaches), Rob specializes in unlocking the hidden levers that drive extraordinary performance, alignment, and growth. He is also a student works alumnus who has become an influential force in leadership development worldwide.

🔗 LinkedIn | LinkTree

1. Talent Optimizer by Rob Friday
2. The Core Value Code (Up-and-coming book by Rob Friday)

Are you still trying to do everything alone, risking burnout and missing your true potential?

This episode features Kaleb O'Very, the three-time “Operator of the Year” who scaled his student business to unprecedented heights, and Chris Thompson, Student Works Management Program Head Coach.

You’ll hear Kaleb’s raw and inspiring journey from self-doubt and bad habits to elite leadership and record-breaking business growth. Together, they reveal how building a winning team, mastering the art of integrity, and leveraging habit-breaking techniques can propel any young entrepreneur toward industry-defining results.

If you want to avoid years of struggle and discover what it really takes to lead a high-performing team, this episode is your unfair advantage. Listen now before everyone else catches up. These lessons might just be the missing blueprint to your next breakthrough.

1. [00:00] – Why trying to do it all nearly killed Kaleb’s growth (and what triggered a 300% leap)
2. [00:04:17] – From follower to leader: The surprising catalyst that flipped Kaleb’s mindset
3. [00:07:17] – Mistakes most young entrepreneurs make hiring and leading their first team
4. [00:08:42] – The unexpected business impact of personal habits (sleep, nutrition, mindset)
5. [00:13:15] – How true delegation and coaching unlocked six-figure results for Kaleb’s team
6. [00:16:27] – “Restoring integrity”: The proven method for fixing breakdowns and building trust
7. [00:21:02] – The uncommon team ritual behind this year’s Mexico-bound and President’s Club superstars
8. [00:34:32] – Daily commitments and Kaleb’s single best tip for energizing and bonding a winning team

Kaleb O’Very is a multi-year “Operator of the Year” with the Student Works Management Program who shattered regional business records by leading his team from $120K to over $1.4M. In 2023, he managed and coached five rookie operators to collective President’s Club and Mexico trip success, embodying what next-level delegation and leadership can achieve. Known for his relentless grit, fierce team-building, and the ability to turn high-pressure opportunities into thriving growth engines for all involved.

🔗 LinkedIn

1. ABR – Always Be Recruiting strategy
2. LinkedIn Learning

1. Connect with Chris: Website |

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

What happens when success meets humility and life throws you the ultimate curveball?

In this deeply personal conversation, Chris Thomson sits down with Jakob Graham, a three-year veteran of the Student Works Management Program and incoming coach, to unpack how entrepreneurship, ego, and family challenges shaped him into a grounded, mature leader.

Jakob shares his journey from being a confident 21-year-old who thought he had it all figured out to facing a family health crisis that changed everything. Through heartbreak, hard lessons, and real growth, he learned the value of integrity, vulnerability, and showing up even when life feels uncertain.

Listen now because if you’ve ever wondered what true leadership looks like beyond the numbers, this episode will remind you that success starts with who you become when things get hard.

• [00:03:36] – Jakob’s early years in painting and his first taste of entrepreneurship
• 
  
• [00:07:12] – The harsh truth about “luck” and the myth of overnight success
• 
  
• [00:10:34] – How Student Works improved his time management, focus, and grades
• 
  
• [00:12:02] – The ego check that changed how he handled conflict and coaching
• 
  
• [00:15:03] – Building systems and auditing his business for long-term growth
• 
  
• [00:17:38] – How self-awareness and vulnerability became his superpowers
• 
  
• [00:22:48] – The life-changing family crisis that reshaped his priorities
• 
  
• [00:30:33] – Rebuilding a $260K business with a “we not me” mindset
• 
  
• [00:34:00] – Why integrity and consistency separate the top performers
• 
  
• [00:39:20] – Becoming a mini coach: why you’ll never feel fully ready—and that’s okay
• 
  
• [00:42:37] – Advice for new entrepreneurs: fail fast, ask for help, and keep swinging
• 
  

Jakob Graham is a three-year Student Works Management Program veteran and an incoming coach for the 2026 season. A graduate of the University of Guelph, Jakob has grown his business to over $260K while building a reputation for consistency, humility, and servant leadership. After stepping away from his business to support his family through a major health challenge, Jakob returned stronger—with a renewed sense of purpose and a focus on developing others.

🔗 LinkedIn | Website | Facebook

• Ego Is the Enemy by Ryan Holiday
• The Coaching Habit by Michael Bungay Stanier
• Gary Vaynerchuk on failure and time
• Alex Hormozi on focus and execution

• Connect with Chris: Website | LinkedIn
• Learn more about the