Leaders Of Tomorrow Podcast

Chris Thomson
  • 5.0 (3)
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  • Semiweekly

Are you an ambitious young entrepreneur? Do you consider yourself a role model and leader of tomorrow? If so, this is going to be the show for you. Leaders Of Tomorrow is a show dedicated young and ambitious entrepreneurs looking to forge their own path in this world. Each week, we will bring you an inspiring interview and share with you behind the scenes some of the values and beliefs of our 8-figure business; Student Works Management Program. From interviews with young millionaires and personal anecdotes from our head coach; Chris Thomson, this show will give you everything you need to know to become a Leader Of Tomorrow.

  1. 4d ago

    484 | Claire Thompson - How To Lead When You Are The Quiet One In The Room

    What if the quiet, reserved parts of you are actually your greatest professional advantage? Chris Thomson sits down with Claire Thompson, a Queen’s University graduate who joined Student Works as a self-described quiet, reserved 18-year-old and turned that into a two-decade career now leading business development at a Boston economics consulting firm. They get into why introverts can become powerful, trusted leaders, how a strong EQ and relentless networking opened doors, and why imposter syndrome can both fuel you and hold you back. If you have ever worried you are too quiet or too far behind to lead, this conversation shows you how to take the risk now and build a career day by day. Listen now. Timestamped Highlights03:48 – Who Claire was before Student Works, and the quiet trait she never outgrew05:00 – The out-of-character choice her parents still call her inflection point06:41 – The life most people miss by not working 20% harder for a season06:58 – “Complacency is death,” the commandment she still lives by08:45 – The skill she honed at 18 that became her strongest professional weapon14:06 – From the first US transplant to legal marketing: how her path really unfolded16:15 – Why she chose a corporate team over the entrepreneur dream she once had17:48 – The Scott Galloway line on the smartest risk-adjusted path to wealth21:38 – A “healthy” dose of imposter syndrome: how it helps and where it hurts25:55 – The day-by-day discipline a marathon taught her to trust28:13 – Turning “slower to respond” into the thing people value most33:14 – What the leader of tomorrow really needs, and it is not more screen time About the GuestClaire Thompson leads business development at Analysis Group, an economics consulting firm based in Boston, where she heads a team of about 15 people working with the firm’s partners on their growth and marketing plans. At the time of the interview, she was the Director of Business Development at The Brattle Group. A Queen’s University graduate, she joined the Student Works Management Program in 2003, was named Operator of the Year, and spent four years as an operator, coach, and general manager, leading the Ottawa region before becoming the program’s first transplant to the US side of the business. Over more than a decade in legal and professional services marketing, Claire has built a career defined by strong relationships, a sharp EQ, and a belief that quiet, thoughtful leaders can be the most effective ones. 🔗 LinkedIn Resources and Links MentionedQueen’s UniversityThe Brattle GroupScott Galloway Important LinksConnect with Chris: Website | LinkedInLearn more about the Student Works Management ProgramApply to be an Owner / Operator in the Management ProgramLooking for a fun job this summer? Summer Job OpportunitiesHear more Alumni Success Stories The Leaders of Tomorrow Podcast is an original production by Chris Thomson. Production and editing by Podcast Your Brand.

  2. Oct 20

    483 | Mathis Paquette - How To Commit 100% or Stay Stuck Forever

    What really separates the operators who break records from the ones who stall out? In this episode, Chris Thomson sits down with Mathis Paquette, a Student Works operator who grew his business from $180,000 to a $750,000 operation in three seasons and is now stepping in as a full-time coach. Mathis opens up about the habits behind that climb: committing to a calendar for the first time, learning to lead through real conversations, and the move to a new city that tested everything he thought he knew. He and Chris dig into why commitment, not talent, is what sets top performers apart, and how the right environment quietly shapes your results. If you have ever felt stuck grinding alone, this conversation is your reminder that community and commitment change everything. Listen now. Timestamped Highlights04:03 – The part of the program that caught Mathis completely off guard in year one07:16 – The simple tool he had never touched before that became the backbone of his success08:13 – How to win customers almost no one else reaches, deep in cottage country10:58 – The non-negotiable that gave him the confidence to take on giant chalet jobs14:11 – The unglamorous habit that unlocked his second-year jump past a quarter million18:08 – The program outside Student Works that rewired how he has hard conversations22:44 – Moving to a city where he knew no one, and the skill it forced him to master30:30 – What really separates top operators from everyone else, and it is not skill32:48 – The moment a $1 million, then $2 million, then $3 million business stopped feeling impossible35:46 – The daily practice he leans on when he is too hard on himself Resources and Links MentionedLandmark ForumFierce Conversations by Susan Scott (book)Govindh Jayaraman, Paper Napkin WisdomEntrepreneurs’ Organization (EO) About the GuestMathis Paquette is a Student Works Management Program operator from Montreal who is stepping into a full-time coaching role. Over three seasons, he grew his business from $180,000 to roughly $750,000, earned the program’s Mexico trip, enrolled his younger brother into the business, and relocated to Quebec City to build in a brand new market. Known for his commitment, his belief in community, and leading from the front, Mathis is now focused on developing the next generation of operators. 🔗 LinkedIn Important LinksConnect with Chris: Website | LinkedInLearn more about the Student Works Management ProgramApply to be an Owner / Operator in the Management ProgramLooking for a fun job this summer? Summer Job OpportunitiesHear more Alumni Success Stories The Leaders of Tomorrow Podcast is an original production by Chris Thomson. Production and editing by Podcast Your Brand.

  3. Oct 13

    482 | Best of: Dollar Milestones

    What if the number you are chasing is already closer than you think? Every guest on Leaders of Tomorrow can tell you the exact number they were sold at on a given day. That is not an accident. In this best-of, host Chris Thomson pulls the moments where the number became real: the goal set before anyone believed it, the week sales went to zero, and the week everything turned around. You will hear James Ward on believing a six-figure summer before he could prove it, Colby Wilson on breaking a $250K target into a weekly number, Ashley Ayles on refusing to stop at $200K, Andrew Woodruff on nearly doubling to $335K, and Aris Lloshi on the team behind a half-million-dollar year, with Brayden Willmott, John Morgan, and Mathieu Champagne on the mindset shifts that made the leap possible. If you have ever needed proof that your number is possible, this is it. Listen now. Timestamped Highlights00:50 Chris Thomson on why every guest can name the exact number they were sold at, and why that is not an accident.01:22 James Ward on the gap between saying you will run a million-dollar business and believing you can, starting from $40,000 sold.03:02 Brayden Willmott on coming into the year chasing $600,000, and the one thing that changed from last year.03:28 Colby Wilson on making a $250K target real by breaking it into a weekly number.05:25 Ashley Ayles on hitting $200K by June and why she refused to stop there.06:26 Andrew Woodruff on nearly doubling to $335K, and the shift from working hard to working smart.07:28 Aris Lloshi on crossing half a million and why the team behind the scenes was the real engine.08:27 John Morgan on going from a $72,000 first summer to betting he could one day do $750,000.09:16 Mathieu Champagne on three straight weeks of zero sales, then one $30,000 week that shifted his mindset. About the GuestsJames Ward, a Student Works operator who ran a window cleaning business, on believing the number before you hit it and proving it to everyone who doubted you. Episode 349 | From $40,000 to $110,000: Key Activities for SuccessBrayden Willmott, a Student Works operator, entered the year with a $600,000 goal and the momentum and alignment behind it. Episode 458 | Proven Ways Elite Student Leaders Crush $250K GoalsColby Wilson, a Student Works operator, on making a $250K revenue target tangible week to week. Episode 438 | How To Turn Failure into a $275K ComebackAshley Ayles, a Student Works operator, on blowing past her $200K goal and refusing to set the bar too low. Episode 455 | How Grit and Planning Made $280K PossibleAndrew Woodruff, a Student Works operator, on nearly doubling from $180K to $335K by shifting from working hard to working smart. Episode 436 | When You Bet on Yourself and Build a $370K BusinessAris Lloshi, a Student Works operator, on crossing half a million and crediting the team and the weekly habits that got him there. Episode 434 | How to Build a $460K Business as a StudentJohn Morgan, a Student Works franchisee, on going from a $72,000 first summer to planning for $750,000. Episode 148 | How I am Planning to Achieve My 2020 Sales Goal of $750,000Mathieu Champagne, a Student Works operator, on three weeks of zero sales, the $30,000 week that turned it around, and the leap that followed. Episode 450 | Unveiling the Secrets Behind an $800K Leap Important LinksConnect with Chris: Website | LinkedInLearn more about the Student Works Management ProgramApply to be an Owner / Operator in the Management ProgramLooking for a fun job this summer? Summer Job OpportunitiesHear more Alumni Success Stories The Leaders of Tomorrow Podcast is an original production by Chris Thomson. Production and editing by Podcast Your Brand.

  4. Oct 6

    481 | Jeff Gunhus – Why Great Leaders Never Just Report the News

    What separates a leader who builds a winning team from one who just reports bad news? In this episode, Chris Thomson hands the mic to College Works alumnus Jeff Gunhus, Co-Founder and CEO of Home Genius Exteriors, who scaled the company from $2.7 million in year one toward a $500 million target, all while chasing a billion-dollar goal. Jeff lays out the framework his leaders live by, Teach, Track, and Inspire, and why fastest growing means nothing without most respected. He gets into leading from the front, the difference between leading and lagging indicators, and why world-class customer service is a desire, not a training issue. If you want the mindset and the system behind teams that grow people and profit at the same time, this one is for you. Listen now. Timestamped Highlights03:51 – The secret behind the company name, and why everyone secretly works for his wife04:44 – The Jim Collins principle that turned a departing leader into a business partner07:42 – Fastest growing or most respected? Why he refuses to pick one09:10 – The billion-dollar goal that started as a someday dream11:59 – Why you should chase adversity instead of running from it14:17 – Teach, track, and inspire: the entire framework on one pie chart14:48 – The three leadership traps: the professor, the tracker, and the cheerleader19:20 – The Jocko Willink rule that Home Genius leans on hard24:26 – Why “what gets measured gets measured” is a trap for new leaders34:04 – The truth about customer service that no training can fix38:19 – The Jim Rohn line he closes meetings with About the GuestJeff Gunhus is the Co-Founder and CEO of Home Genius Exteriors, one of the fastest growing home improvement companies in America, and Co-Founder of its parent company, National Services Group. A College Works Painting alumnus who started as a first-year operator before becoming a coach and then a partner, Jeff has grown Home Genius from $2.7 million in its first year toward a $500 million target, while holding the company to being both the fastest growing and most respected in its industry. He is known for his Teach, Track, and Inspire leadership framework, his focus on culture, and giving back through the Home Genius Cares program, all under a standard he calls happy but not satisfied. 🔗 LinkedIn | Website Resources & Links MentionedExtreme Ownership by Jocko Willink (book)The Dichotomy of Leadership by Jocko Willink (book)Jim Collins (author)College WorksOwens Corning (roofing provider)Ronald McDonald HouseFortuneTony Robbins Important LinksConnect with Chris: Website | LinkedInLearn more about the Student Works Management ProgramApply to be an Owner / Operator in the Management ProgramLooking for a fun job this summer? Summer Job OpportunitiesHear more Alumni Success Stories The Leaders of Tomorrow Podcast is an original production by Chris Thomson. Production and editing by Podcast Your Brand.

  5. Sep 29

    480 | Phil Lombardo – How to Stop Negotiating With Yourself and Win

    What if the trait you thought made you strong is the very thing holding your growth back? Chris Thomson welcomes back Phil Lombardo, a Student Works veteran who went from a $125,000 rookie business to coaching a $4.4 million team, and who is now stepping into a role helping run a $50 million company. Phil opens up about the ego that once held him back, why your minimum acceptable standard matters more than your goals, and the daily discipline of negotiating with yourself less. If you have ever wondered what actually separates the people who keep leveling up from the ones who stall, this conversation is your blueprint. Listen now. Timestamped Highlights02:52 – Who Phil was before the program: YMCA shifts and a gap year of 60-hour minimum-wage weeks04:27 – The referral that got him in, and the info-session moment that lit up the phone05:59 – The biggest surprise of a first-year run during COVID06:41 – The ego realization that changed how he ran his business11:05 – Why your minimum acceptable standard matters more than the goals you set13:53 – The one thing top performers negotiate away far less than everyone else16:09 – The call where Luke first saw Phil as a future coach19:28 – Going from a $125K business to a $4.4 million coaching team20:33 – "Everyone can always see you": the accountability truth most people miss30:11 – Inside the new role and the push to double a $50 million company35:29 – The light-side, dark-side exercise behind Most Accountable Coach44:53 – What a real leader of tomorrow actually is, in Phil’s words About the GuestPhil Lombardo is a Student Works Management Program veteran stepping into his eighth year, a four-time Mexico-level operator who built roughly $800,000 in the field before moving into coaching. As a coach, he was named top mini coach, top rookie coach, and Most Accountable Coach, leading a team to $4.4 million this year and reaching about $9 million in all-time coaching revenue. He is now stepping into a company-wide role focused on operations, training, and curriculum, AI initiatives, safety, and field support as Student Works pushes to double its business. 🔗 LinkedIn Resources and Links MentionedThe Founders Club (Luke Fenn and Joe Kim)Luke Fenn on LinkedIn Important LinksConnect with Chris: Website | LinkedInLearn more about the Student Works Management ProgramApply to be an Owner / Operator in the Management ProgramLooking for a fun job this summer? Summer Job OpportunitiesHear more Alumni Success Stories The Leaders of Tomorrow Podcast is an original production by Chris Thomson. Production and editing by Podcast Your Brand.

  6. Sep 22

    479 | Nick Eaves – Why Leading With Humility Beats Chasing the Spotlight

    What if the leaders who rise fastest are the ones who insist they are not that important? Chris Thomson sits down with Nick Eaves, Chief Operating Officer at Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment and former President and CEO of Woodbine Entertainment, in the conversation that started it all: the very first Leaders of Tomorrow interview. A Student Works alum, Nick built his career on a counterintuitive idea: none of us are that important. They get into humility as a competitive edge, the patience of the long game, why there is no job too small, and how Nick kept saying yes to the next opportunity until he reached the C-suite. He also opens up about the setbacks that shook his confidence and what pulled him through. If you are waiting for permission or a perfect plan, this conversation will change how you think about getting started. Listen now. Timestamped Highlights● 05:40 – The one thing Nick still leans on from his summer business years ● 07:06 – Why “there is no job too small” became the rule that built a 21-year run ● 10:29 – “None of us are that important”: the humility test behind every team he leads ● 12:33 – The risky call to put racing on TV, and why shrinking your own crowd can grow the business ● 15:59 – What a government-run business taught Nick about irrational stakeholders ● 18:17 – Why the best fans behave like owners, and how great venues earn that trust ● 24:35 – The setbacks Nick regrets most, and the confidence gap behind them ● 28:44 – How to tell when your natural style stops working, and switch gears ● 29:36 – The long game: patience, network, and never doing it alone ● 38:17 – The real path into a world-class organization like MLSE, and why rushing backfires About the GuestNick Eaves is the Chief Operating Officer at Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment, where he oversees operations, revenue, and the LIVE events division across MLSE’s venues. He previously spent 21 years at Woodbine Entertainment, including five as President and CEO, where he led the transformation of the company’s business model. A Student Works Management Program alumnus and Western University graduate, Nick is known for a leadership style rooted in humility, patience, and the long game. 🔗 LinkedIn Resources and Links MentionedMaple Leaf Sports & Entertainment (MLSE)Scotiabank ArenaWoodbine Entertainment (formerly the Ontario Jockey Club)Western University Important LinksConnect with Chris: Website | LinkedInLearn more about the Student Works Management ProgramApply to be an Owner / Operator in the Management ProgramLooking for a fun job this summer? Summer Job OpportunitiesHear more Alumni Success Stories The Leaders of Tomorrow Podcast is an original production by Chris Thomson. Production and editing by Podcast Your Brand.

  7. Sep 15

    478 | Best of: Scaling Your Business

    Most young entrepreneurs hit the same ceiling. The business can only grow as far as they can personally reach. The ones who break through stop trying to do it all and start building something bigger than themselves. In this collage episode, host Chris Thomson pulls together the operators who did exactly that. You will hear how they planned the number before chasing it, recruited the right people instead of the available ones, learned to delegate and actually train, and made the shift from doing the work to leading it. Five operators, five different paths, one through-line: you cannot scale alone. If you are ready to run a bigger business, start here, then come build one with us. Timestamped Highlights 00:00 – Chris O'Rourke sets the frame: real leadership is accomplishing great things through people, not as an individual01:12 – Alex Irvine on the shift that let him grow, letting go and bringing in people who do what he should not02:45 – What hands-off actually looks like once the systems hold and the business runs itself03:02 – Colby Wilson on making a $250K target real by breaking it into what you sell every week04:00 – Why Colby stopped trying to hit the number alone and built a team that owned it with him04:43 – Kaleb O'Very on always be recruiting, and the two hires that drove almost 300% growth06:44 – Jamie Lee Bongard on moving from knocking doors to leading, adding 61 agents without working full tilt08:15 – Chris O'Rourke on the tools and role clarity that let you lead through people at scale About the GuestsAlex Irvine is a Student Works operator and President's Club performer who ran a $275,000 painting business. | Episode 388 | Unlocking Growth: The Power of Delegation, Systems, and Coaching Colby Wilson is a fourth-year Student Works operator and an incoming mini coach. | Episode 438 | How To Turn Failure into a $275K Comeback Kaleb O'Very is a Student Works operator who grew his business 300% and stepped into a coaching role. | Episode 444 | How to Grow 300% and Love Every Challenge Jamie Lee Bongard is a five-year Student Works alum and a Keller Williams operating principal in real estate. | Episode 350 | Path to Personal Growth and Business Success Chris O'Rourke is a Student Works alum and the Chief Revenue Officer at Zeus Fire and Security. | Episode 397 | From Student Works to Building a Legacy of Success Important LinksConnect with Chris: Website | LinkedInLearn more about the Student Works Management ProgramApply to be an Owner / Operator in the Management ProgramLooking for a fun job this summer? Summer Job OpportunitiesHear more Alumni Success Stories The Leaders of Tomorrow Podcast is an original production by Chris Thomson. Production and editing by Podcast Your Brand.

  8. Sep 8

    477 | Matt Celeste – How One Outsider Built a Six-Figure Machine

    What happens when a self-described average kid walks into a room full of high performers and refuses to get left behind? Chris Thomson sits down with Matt Celeste, a fourth-year University of New Brunswick student who joined Student Works knowing no one and got two leads in his first three hours of marketing. They dig into the mindset shift Matt calls an ego death, the leverage move that let him focus almost entirely on sales, and the Facebook ad system that booked nearly $300,000. In two seasons he went from roughly $196,000 to $433,000, all while in full-time school. If you have ever wondered whether you can figure entrepreneurship out with no head start, this one is your proof. Listen now. Timestamped Highlights02:38 – The “normal average kid” from a town of 8,000 who was sure he had life figured out03:54 – The med-school path Matt was headed down before Student Works04:39 – Two leads in three hours: the shaky first session that nearly shook his confidence05:12 – The moment watching Caleb close deals made the business feel real11:11 – The “ego death” that reset how Matt saw his own ceiling12:07 – How Matt doubled his business to $433K by changing where he spent his time13:19 – The ad-spend jump from $3K to $30K that booked nearly $300K22:48 – Why Matt's eyeing a house down payment while most peers sit in $50K of debt24:29 – The one piece of advice Matt gives anyone thinking about entrepreneurship About the GuestMatt Celeste is a fourth-year student at the University of New Brunswick in Fredericton and a two-year operator with the Student Works Management Program, running window cleaning and interlock restoration. Discovered on campus with no prior ties to the business, he was named the program’s top rookie and went on to double his business from roughly $196,000 to $433,000 in his second season, finishing as the fifth-highest returning operator in the program. Known for his level head, dependability, and competitive edge, Matt is now focused on developing leaders on his team as he targets $600,000 next year. 🔗 LinkedIn | Website Resources and Links MentionedContractor Marketing Mastermind (John Cameron)University of New BrunswickFacebook Ads (Meta) Important LinksConnect with Chris: Website | LinkedInLearn more about the Student Works Management ProgramApply to be an Owner / Operator in the Management ProgramLooking for a fun job this summer? Summer Job OpportunitiesHear more Alumni Success Stories The Leaders of Tomorrow Podcast is an original production by Chris Thomson. Production and editing by Podcast Your Brand.

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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

Are you an ambitious young entrepreneur? Do you consider yourself a role model and leader of tomorrow? If so, this is going to be the show for you. Leaders Of Tomorrow is a show dedicated young and ambitious entrepreneurs looking to forge their own path in this world. Each week, we will bring you an inspiring interview and share with you behind the scenes some of the values and beliefs of our 8-figure business; Student Works Management Program. From interviews with young millionaires and personal anecdotes from our head coach; Chris Thomson, this show will give you everything you need to know to become a Leader Of Tomorrow.

Information

  • Creator
    Chris Thomson
  • Years Active
    2019 - 2026
  • Episodes
    484
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Student Works Management Program™
  • Show Website
    Leaders Of Tomorrow Podcast

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