Speaking of Business with Goldy Hyder

Scott Balfour has some simple career advice for his three sons: stay humble, work hard and be kind. It’s what he learned from his mother and grandmother and he maintains those “fundamental skills” have been the most important throughout his career.

Born and raised in Oakville, Ontario, Balfour spent a year working on the assembly line at the local Ford plant before returning to Laurier University to complete his degree. He went on to work in commercial banking, corporate finance and infrastructure development before pivoting to the energy sector, becoming president and CEO of Emera. The Halifax-headquartered energy company serves more than 2.5 million customers across Canada, the United States and the Caribbean.

At Emera, Balfour has been at the forefront of the industry's transformation, overseeing the company's shift towards more renewable energy sources and modernizing its energy mix. He has navigated the complexities of policy, regulation, and customer needs, all while maintaining a commitment to reliability, affordability, and environmental stewardship.

Listen to his full conversation – including his hopes for Canada’s future – on the Speaking of Business podcast with Goldy Hyder.

Revealing conversations with influential innovators, entrepreneurs and leaders. Listen to more episodes here: thebusinesscouncil.ca/podcasts/

When the last spike was driven into the Canadian Pacific Railway track on November 7th, 1885 in British Columbia, CP became the first transcontinental railway to connect Canada from east to west.

Last April, the iconic Canadian company marked another first, when – in Kansas City, Missouri – a ceremonial final spike connected Canadian Pacific with Kansas City Southern. The new railway, now named CPKC, became the first and only single-line railway connecting Canada, the United States and Mexico. It stretches across more than 32,000 kilometers of track and employs 20,000 people.

“This company is not new to change,” says Keith Creel, CPKC President and CEO. “We're ready for it and we're going to embrace it and unlock some unique opportunities that our network has created for us.”

In an interview with Goldy Hyder on the Speaking of Business podcast, Creel discusses the benefits of the new North American line and delves into some of the challenges of operating across three countries.

“We're going to celebrate the things that are similar, we're going to recognize the differences, we're going to never compromise our principles and we're going to create a common culture that I call a constant pursuit of safety and operational excellence," he says.

Listen to the full interview, including what military service taught him about leadership, on the Speaking of Business podcast.

Revealing conversations with influential innovators, entrepreneurs and leaders. Listen to more episodes here: thebusinesscouncil.ca/podcasts/

What can we expect from a second Trump presidency and how should countries like Canada respond?

Those are some of the themes Goldy Hyder explores with bestselling author, columnist and CNN host Fareed Zakaria in a conversation recorded on January 13th – one week before the presidential inauguration.

Zakaria discusses his latest book Age of Revolutions and reflects on changes to the geopolitical landscape, including the potential impact of tariffs on countries around the world.

Revealing conversations with influential innovators, entrepreneurs and leaders. Listen to more episodes here: thebusinesscouncil.ca/podcasts/

Jeffrey Orr has a simple message for business students: live your values. “I think people have the impression that there's a different set of ethics and values that apply in business than apply in their personal lives,” he says. “That’s not the case.”

The CEO of Power Corporation says in his experience, successful leaders turn to personal values and instincts when faced with tough business decisions.

In a wide-ranging conversation with Goldy Hyder on the Speaking of Business podcast, Orr discusses lessons he has learned as a business leader. Key to his philosophy is that consistent approach in his personal and professional lives. It’s an idea he’s eager to pass along to others, gently mentoring the next generation of leaders.

“Mentoring is not about doing, mentoring is about letting other people do and then coaching, guiding and sharing your own personal lessons,” he says.

Listen to the entire conversation with Goldy Hyder on the Speaking of Business podcast.

Revealing and insightful conversations with Canada’s top innovators, entrepreneurs and business leaders. Listen to more episodes here: thebusinesscouncil.ca

Tabatha Bull, President & CEO of the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business discusses the impact of the federal government’s wage subsidy plan, the unique challenges faced by indigenous companies during the pandemic and what we can learn from elders during a time of crisis.

Revealing conversations with influential innovators, entrepreneurs and leaders. Listen to more episodes here: thebusinesscouncil.ca/podcasts/