

Rotman Visiting Experts
Rotman School of Management
Big ideas. Bold conversations. Hosted by Brett Hendrie, this monthly podcast takes you behind the scenes of Rotman’s acclaimed Speaker Series to explore transformative ideas about business and society. Each episode features global thinkers, bold business leaders and influential scholars sharing insights on how we work, lead and live in a rapidly changing world. From leadership in uncertain times to failing smarter, you’ll get sharp, practical takeaways and fresh perspectives you can apply right away — no MBA required.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Feb 27, 2024 • 29min
The problem with perfect: When chasing perfection is bad for your career
There's nothing wrong with having high standards. But when does chasing perfection start to damage your mental health and career? Thomas Curran joined host Brett Hendrie to talk about his new book The Perfection Trap: Embracing the Power of Good Enough. They explore how to identify perfectionist tendencies, the danger in increased social pressure to be perfect, and how to break the habit.

Jan 30, 2024 • 27min
What not to do when you buy a company: Lessons from Twitter
What can we learn from Elon Musk, his takeover of Twitter and its downward spiral? Author Ben Mezrich joined host Brett Hendrie to talk about the new book Breaking Twitter: Elon Musk and the Most Controversial Corporate Takeover in History; exploring what businesses - and CEOs - can take away from the ordeal to avoid the same fate. It's a must-listen for anyone looking to better understand how the whims of a single individual can derail even the most powerful of organizations.

Jan 3, 2024 • 28min
Fail smarter: What the research tells us about failure and growth
Can you get better at failure? Amy Edmondson joined Rotman Visiting Experts to explore the good kind of failures, the kind we need to avoid, and what we can learn from it all.

Nov 21, 2023 • 34min
Saying 'no' is a superpower; here's how to hone that talent
Vanessa Patrick joined host Brett Hendrie to talk about how we can hone our skills when it comes to saying "no," how we can reject requests more scientifically, and why we all benefit when we learn the art of refusal.

Oct 24, 2023 • 28min
Bob Joseph unpacks the legacy of the Indian Act
Nearly 150 years old, the Indian Act continues to shape relations with Indigenous People across Canada. As communities, businesses, institutions and individuals begin or continue their paths of reconciliation, it's important to critically evaluate the role the legislation has played in getting us to where we are today. Bob Joseph, founder of Indigenous Corporate Training Inc and author of 21 Things You Didn't Know About the Indian Act joined us to talk about the lasting impact its had, and the role businesses and individuals play in dismantling its harmful legacy.

Sep 26, 2023 • 28min
Michael Bungay Stanier on how to work with almost anyone
You can improve almost any working relationship...really! It just takes time, effort and some good conversations. Michael Bungay Stanier joins host Brett Hendrie to talk about how to approach a sometimes difficult question: Can our working relationship be better? It's a must listen for anyone looking to create a better connection with, well, anyone.

Jun 27, 2023 • 30min
Rose Patten explores intentional leadership
Rose Patten brings her decades of expertise on leadership to the Rotman Visiting Experts studio, exploring the eight key competencies leaders of tomorrow need today, and how we can all be more intentional in our leadership styles.

May 30, 2023 • 37min
Kelly Richmond Pope's lesson from the pervasive world of fraud
Fraud may seem pervasive, but that doesn't mean we need to fall victim to it. Kelly Richmond Pope joins Rotman Visiting Experts to explore what we can learn from fraudsters and their victims, and what steps individuals and organizations can take now to avoid become victims ourselves.

Apr 25, 2023 • 26min
David McRaney on the science of persuasion
The world feels more divided than ever. Left versus right. Anti-vaxxer versus doctors. Marvel versus DC. But can you change someone's mind and bring them over to your side? Author and journalist David McRaney joins host Brett Hendrie to talk about why we dig into our beliefs and how, with the right approach, we can actually change people's minds, including our own.

Mar 28, 2023 • 34min
David Sax on the benefits of limiting technology
From shopping to work to education — what do we lose when digital takes over all aspects of our lives? Author David Sax joins host Brett Hendrie to talk about the myth of a digital utopia, how the pandemic helps us understand the limits of technology, and how we can all add a bit more analog back into our daily routines.


