It’s Lonely at the Top Podcast
It’s Lonely at the Top Podcast

It’s Lonely at the Top Podcast

Nancy MacKay

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Episodes

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How to be an Unstoppable CEO in an AI World. It’s Lonely at the Top is a reimagined leadership podcast for CEOs and senior leaders navigating an AI-driven world. Hosted by Nancy MacKay, Founder & CEO of MacKay CEO Forums, this podcast explores the MacKay Mastery Model and what it takes to lead with clarity, confidence, and resilience as technology reshapes business. Each episode features real conversations with CEOs, executives, Chairs, and AI-forward leaders on leadership mastery, decision-making, human connection, and practical AI, so leaders stay relevant, grounded, and unstoppable.

Recent Episodes

#30: How to Surround Yourselves with Smarter People. Hear from Chris Taylor, CEO of Actionable.co
NOV 6, 2024
#30: How to Surround Yourselves with Smarter People. Hear from Chris Taylor, CEO of Actionable.co
Chris Taylor is the CEO of Actionable.co, which is at the leading edge of learning sustainment and impact measurement for progressive organizations. Described once by a client as “a curious blend of Boomer and Gen-Y”, Chris is often called upon to act as a bridge and translator between generations at work, our new state of constant change and the impact technology has on team dynamics. He brings a self-deprecating sense of humour and grounded-ness to his keynotes and workshops, ensuring attendees leave inspired and well-equipped to drive real change back in the workplace.  Through Actionable.co, Chris brings empirical evidence and stories to illustrate how, exactly, we measure ROI on corporate learning initiatives, and the systems to ensure every program creates lasting impact. He’s personally consulted to over 400 organizations across 6 countries, in almost any sector you can name. In addition to being a regular speaker for both public and private events, Chris has penned over 150 articles for dozens of publications, been quoted in The National Post, Toronto Star and Globe & Mail and hosted 90+ thought leader interviews for the iTunes #2 ranked business podcast, The 21st Century Workplace. Chris grew up in Richmond, BC. Chris’s mother was a teacher, and his father was in operations. Chris learned from an early age about education and problem solving. Hear an inspiring conversation with Nancy and Chris about career development, putting systems in place to succeed in business and in life, and continuous development personally and professionally.   Connect with Chris Taylor on social media: Chris Taylor LinkedIn  Actionable LinkedIn  Chris Taylor Twitter  Actionable Twitter  TODAY'S BOOK RECOMMENDATION: ⁠⁠⁠⁠“High Road Leadership: Bringing People Together in a World That Divides”, by John Maxwell JOIN A MACKAY CEO PEER GROUP TODAY: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠MacKay CEO Forums⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ brings results-oriented CEOs, Executives, and Business Leaders together to solve their toughest problems and maximize opportunity through peer learning and support. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Learn more.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ CONNECT WITH MACKAY CEO FORUMS: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn ⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Facebook⁠
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23 MIN
#29: From Success-Driven Childhood to CEO, hear from Louise Hendey, CEO of Erickson Coaching International
OCT 16, 2024
#29: From Success-Driven Childhood to CEO, hear from Louise Hendey, CEO of Erickson Coaching International
Louise is the CEO of Erickson Coaching International. Established in 1980, Erickson has trained over 55,000+ professional coaches and worked with leaders in 125+ countries. Louise has a 25-year career spanning across multiple industries including consulting, education, non-profit, financial services and coaching. She has a Master’s Degree in Business (summa cum laude and top student) and completed her published thesis on the topic of Work-Life Integration. She is a qualified teacher, counselor/coach and has a particular passion for human development, but she calls herself a chameleon leader.  Since its inception, Erickson has pioneered transformational change in individuals and organizations using a methodology of coaching techniques informed by neuroscience that are action-based and future-focused. Above all, Erickson is committed to empowering people by placing emphasis on solutions rather than problems. With a strong track record of implementing long lasting positive change in Fortune 500 companies such as SAP and Google, Erickson has earned a reputation as one of the most recognized human development institutes in the world.  Louise is a relational person, and this started when her mother drilled in the ‘importance of success’ in life, and in business which lead to Louise’s success in growing Erickson Consulting. Currently residing in South Africa, Louise is a scuba diving enthusiast, and strongly believes in a coach approach to leadership.  In this podcast, hear Nancy and Louise discuss Louise’s childhood, her family, how she leveled up to get the Erickson CEO role, and the importance of receiving coaching despite your professional role.   TODAY'S BOOK RECOMMENDATION: ⁠⁠⁠⁠The Worlds I See: Curiosity, Exploration, and Discovery at the Dawn of AI, by Fei-Fei Li.  JOIN A MACKAY CEO PEER GROUP TODAY: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠MacKay CEO Forums⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ brings results-oriented CEOs, Executives, and Business Leaders together to solve their toughest problems and maximize opportunity through peer learning and support. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Learn more.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  CONNECT WITH MACKAY CEO FORUMS: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn ⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 
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25 MIN
#28: From Retail Clerk to CEO: David Poirier on Growth, Peer Learning, and Leading The Poirier Group
OCT 2, 2024
#28: From Retail Clerk to CEO: David Poirier on Growth, Peer Learning, and Leading The Poirier Group
We’re pleased to have connected with David Poirier, CEO, The Poirier Group. David is an accomplished leader having progressed in his earlier career from retail clerk (while in University), to Executive and C-Suite roles in major National Grocery and Retail organizations, as well as an International Health and Life Sciences corporation.  The Poirier Group is a boutique management consulting firm operating throughout North America. They focus on executing your strategy, optimizing your processes, increasing your productivity and reducing your costs. David’s innate ability to navigate organizational bottlenecks that impede progress, and his influential style for conflict resolution across all levels of an organization have been key to instilling a culture of teamwork, focus and accountability leading to lasting change for his clients. David is a CEO, Professional Engineer and Professional Logistician. David has won numerous awards for contributions to The University of Toronto, Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers and for his career achievements in engineering and management. Partner of 20 years to Tina and together they have 10 children and 11 grandchildren. In this episode, Nancy and David discuss how The Poirier Group grew from 5 to over 50 people while having maintained an enviable record of 100% positive client experience, the power of peer learning, and David’s elevation in business and science.  TODAY'S BOOK RECOMMENDATION: ⁠Rocket Fuel: the one essential combination that will get you more of what you want from your business, by Geno Wickman and Mark Winters. JOIN A MACKAY CEO PEER GROUP TODAY: ⁠⁠⁠⁠MacKay CEO Forums⁠⁠⁠⁠ brings results-oriented CEOs, Executives, and Business Leaders together to solve their toughest problems and maximize opportunity through peer learning and support. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Learn more.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ CONNECT WITH MACKAY CEO FORUMS: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn ⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
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23 MIN
#26: Leadership Unveiled: A Conversation with Sara Daw, Group CEO of The CFO Centre
SEP 4, 2024
#26: Leadership Unveiled: A Conversation with Sara Daw, Group CEO of The CFO Centre
Join us in this episode as we sit down with Sara Daw, the Group CEO of The CFO Centre. With over 19 years at The CFO Centre, Sara has spearheaded the growth of her organizations, revolutionizing the landscape of C-suite services across 17 countries. A graduate in Chemistry from Oxford University, Sara's journey from Chartered Accountant at Deloitte to earning an MBA from The London Business School, and most recently, a Specialized Masters in Consulting and Coaching for Change jointly run by Oxford University and HEC Paris, showcases her relentless pursuit of knowledge and expertise. As the author of "Strategy and Leadership as Service: How the Access Economy Meets the C-Suite" (published with Routledge) and co-author of "Executive Freedom" (2019), Sara offers invaluable insights into the evolving dynamics of leadership in the modern era. But beyond her professional achievements, Sara opens up about her personal life, sharing stories of her 25-year marriage to Andrew and her pride in raising three almost grown-up daughters. Tune in as Sara Daw shares her journey, wisdom, and passion for leadership, offering inspiration and guidance for aspiring leaders everywhere. TODAY'S BOOK RECOMMENDATION: ‘⁠Strategy and Leadership as Service: How the Access Economy Meets the C-Suite’, by today’s podcast guest, Sara Daw.  JOIN A MACKAY CEO FORUMS GROUP TODAY: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠MacKay CEO Forums⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ brings results-oriented CEOs, Executives, and Business Leaders together to solve their toughest problems and maximize opportunity through peer learning and support. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Learn more.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  CONNECT WITH MACKAY CEO FORUMS: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn ⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 
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22 MIN