Welcome to The Voice of Retail podcast. My name is Michael LeBlanc, and I am your host, I believe in the power of storytelling to bring the retail industry to life. I'll bring insights, perspectives and experiences from some of the retail industry's most innovative and influential voices each week. This podcast is produced in conjunction with Retail Council of Canada.

In this episode Meet Rose Patten, O.C., one of Canada's pre-eminent business and strategic thinkers, special advisor to the CEO at BMO, an inductee to the Hall of Fame of Canada's Top 100 Most Powerful Women, an honorary colonel of the Canadian Forces College and the 34th Chancellor of the University of Toronto.  

Rose is now the author of Intentional Leadership: The Big 8 Capabilities Setting Leaders Apart. We chatted in person at her UofT offices to explore the principles and concepts of leadership well articulated in her popular new book.

About Rose

Rose Patten is Special Advisor to the CEO and Senior Executives at BMO Financial Group. In this role she partners with and advises Group Heads on select strategies with a particular emphasis on strategy execution, leadership development and succession for top leaders.

Rose’s career has spanned the four financial sectors - banking, trust, insurance and investment banking - with responsibilities for Canada, U.S. Europe and Asia.  Previous key roles at BMO include Head of Strategy (Senior Executive President), Global Head of Human Resources (Senior Executive President), Senior Vice President of Corporate Services and the first woman member and long-time Member of the Bank’s Executive Committee. Earlier roles include Executive Vice President of BMO Nesbitt Burns, Senior Vice President of Manulife and General Manager of Lloyds Bank Canada.

Rose Patten was named the Chancellor of the University of Toronto in May of 2018. She is also an Adjunct Professor at Rotman School of Management, teaching Senior Leadership, Talent and Succession, and Governance.  She is member of Massey College, Honorary Patron of Kings College Circle Heritage Society and a member of the Boundless Campaign Cabinet. She was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree for Corporate Leadership and a University Program has been named in her honour - The Rose Patten Leadership Program.

Directorships:

• Chair of the Board of Directors of Hospital for Sick Children (2014-2017)
• Chair of Governance and H.R. Committee, BMO ChinaCo (Asia) (2009-2017)
• Chair of Governing Council, University of Toronto (2004-2007)
• Chair of Task Force on Governance (2007-2010)
• Director of Board and H.R. Committee of Metrolinx
• Director of Videotron, National Ballet of Canada, and Heart and Stoke Foundation
• Appointed Officer of the Order of Canada (2017)
• Honorary Doctor of Laws for Corporate Leadership - University of Toronto (2009)
• Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Medal (2012)
• Woman of Distinction - YWCA for Corporate Leadership (2008)
• Lifetime Achievement (first time granted) by Canadian H.R. Industry (2014)
• University of Toronto Arbor Award for Outstanding Service and the Tony Graham Award for Outstanding Achievement
• Consistently recognized as one of Canada’s most powerful women and one of the 25 Most Powerful Women in Banking by U.S Banker Magazine

About Michael 

Michael is the Founder & President of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc. and a Senior Advisor to Retail Council of Canada and the Bank of Canada as part of his advisory and consulting practice. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience with Levi's, Black & Decker, Hudson's Bay, Today's Shopping Choice and Pandora Jewellery.   

Michael has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. He has delivered keynotes, hosted fire-side discussions with C-level executives and participated worldwide in thought leadership panels. ReThink Retail has added Michael to their prestigious Top Global Retail Influencers list for 2023 for the third year in a row. 

Michael is also the president of Maven Media, producing a network of leading trade podcasts, including Canada's top retail industry podcast, The Voice of Retail. He produces and co-hosts Remarkable Retail with best-selling author Steve Dennis, now ranked one of the top retail podcasts in the world. 

Based in San Francisco, Global eCommerce Leaders podcast explores global cross-border issues and opportunities for eCommerce brands and retailers. 

Last but not least, Michael is the producer and host of the "Last Request Barbeque" channel on YouTube, where he cooks meals to die for - and collaborates with top brands as a food and product influencer across North America.

Michael LeBlanc is the president and founder of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc, a senior retail advisor, keynote speaker and now, media entrepreneur.  He has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. 

Michael has delivered keynotes, hosted fire-side discussions and participated worldwide in thought leadership panels, most recently on the main stage in Toronto at Retail Council of Canada’s Retail Marketing conference with leaders from Walmart & Google.  He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience with Levi's, Black & Decker, Hudson's Bay, CanWest Media, Pandora Jewellery, The Shopping Channel and Retail Council of Canada to his advisory, speaking and media practice.

Michael produces and hosts a network of leading retail trade podcasts, including the award-winning No.1 independent retail industry podcast in America, Remarkable Retail with his partner, Dallas-based best-selling author Steve Dennis; Canada's top retail industry podcast The Voice of Retail and Canada's top food industry and one of the top Canadian-produced management independent podcasts in the country, The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois from Dalhousie University in Halifax.

Rethink Retail has recognized Michael as one of the top global retail experts for the fourth year in a row, Thinkers 360 has named him on of the Top 50 global thought leaders in retail, RTIH has named him a top 100 global though leader in retail technology and Coresight Research has named Michael a Retail AI Influencer.  If you are a BBQ fan, you can tune into Michael’s cooking show, Last Request BBQ, on YouTube, Instagram, X and yes, TikTok.

Michael is available for keynote presentations helping retailers, brands and retail industry insiders explaining the current state and future of the retail industry in North America and around the world.