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  • Life Reimagined: Tammy Janes on Transformation & Letting Go
    2026/05/27
    Tammy Janes spent nearly 15 years at Unilever, built a global transformation practice from a team of two to roughly 30 people, and then was told her role was being eliminated — not because she failed, but because she succeeded so completely that the organization no longer needed her. What do you do when doing your job well is the thing that ends it? And what does it take to rebuild, network from scratch, and lead a team through a redundancy you didn't choose — all at the same time? This is that story.In This Episode:How Tammy went from wanting to be a lawyer to spending six years in management consulting across three verticals — CPG, financial services, and pharma — before finding a home at Unilever for nearly 15 years, holding 10 or 11 different roles in that timeWhat it actually felt like to tell her team their roles were being eliminated — and how she coached half of them into other positions inside the organization while processing her own exit at the same timeThe six-month sabbatical she took after Unilever: why she chose to stop, what she did with the time (a personal trainer, five books, and time with her then-toddler daughter), and why she says she would tell anyone going through the same thing to do the sameWhy networking is the one career investment Tammy says she neglected when she felt safe — and the specific coffee chat tip her career coach gave her that made every meeting less about asking and more about givingHer personal purpose statement developed through a full-day Unilever workshop: "To be perfect enough to raise the bar" — and what the "perfect enough" qualifier means for how she avoids analysis paralysisWhy organizational transformation fails when it's either rushed (60 days) or too slow (endless meetings), and the phased, win-by-win approach she believes actually sticksEpisode Highlights:00:00 - Redundancy and Pivoting00:19 - Podcast Premise01:00 - Meet Tammy01:41 - Law to Business Pivot03:35 - Consulting Beginnings05:28 - Choosing Unilever And Purpose09:21 - Proudest Wins At Unilever10:27 - Agile Ways Of Working13:24 - Team Made Redundant16:06 - Sabbatical and Networking21:10 - Empathy Led Leadership23:36 - Purpose and Motivation26:28 - Transformation Advice27:30 - Timelines That Stick29:59 - Career Vision Flexibility31:20 - Life Reimagined Mindset33:06 - Impact Beyond The Job34:21 - Gut Check Corporate Return36:08 - Networking Anxiety Trust45:12 - Energy Regeneration And Balance50:56 - Learning Through Podcasting52:30 - Questions After Layoffs53:37 - Closing and Call to ActionResources Mentioned:Unilever — multinational consumer packaged goods company and Tammy's employer for nearly 15 yearsSofina Foods — one of Canada's leading manufacturers of primary and further processed protein products and Tammy's current employerLeaders Eat Last, book by Simon SinekNext Up — Toronto-based women's professional organizationSchulich School of Business at York University — where Tammy completed her undergraduate business degreeKnorr What's for Dinner campaign — in-store marketing campaign Tammy worked on during her Canadian trade marketing role at UnileverDove Self-Esteem Program — Unilever's self-esteem workshops for young girls; Tammy delivered workshops in schoolsPaul Polman — referenced as Unilever CEO during Tammy's early years; credited with embedding purpose into the businessQuotes:“ If you do your job well, you should make yourself redundant in the hope that you go onto the next thing. “ - Tammy Janes“ So I took about six months off, sabbatical, just took a break. You know, I figured I'm not gonna get this time back with my daughter. I got a personal trainer, I read five books. Like, it was just a good break that I needed.” - Tammy Janes“ Why is, why are we all so scared to talk about this when it happens to people all the time?” - Sarah Jeanneault“ A really good tip of just do some quick homework before you meet with the person. Find out what they're working on, what's going on with them, and, you know, offer up, "Hey, I might know someone that does this, and would you be interested?" Or even asking the question of, "Is there any way I can help you? Thank you for your time.'" - Tammy Janes“ Come out with a purpose statement. And mine was, "To be perfect enough to raise the bar."” - Tammy Janes"People don't fear fear, they fear the unknown that fear brings." - Tammy JanesTammy Janes is a transformation and strategy leader whose career spans management consulting, nearly 15 years at Unilever in 10-plus roles, and her current position as Director, Business Performance at Sofina Foods. At Unilever she built and led the global agile ways-of-working practice, growing a capability team from two people to approximately 30 before the function was successfully embedded into the organization. She is known for leading with empathy, driving continuous improvement, and building teams that outlast her.Connect with Tammy Janes: https://www.linkedin.com/...
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    54 分
  • Brand Builder, Risk Taker: Jennifer Blackburn on Knowing When to Leap
    2026/05/13
    Jennifer Blackburn has held roles at Unilever, Nando's, Canadian Tire, Skip, and is now CMO of Clearly Canadian — and not one of those moves was a straight line. The pivot that surprised her most wasn't a bold leap toward opportunity; it was a quiet moment doing virtual homework with her three-year-old daughter at 3am from a different time zone, realizing the right role at the wrong time in your life is still the wrong role. This episode is for anyone who's ever wondered whether ambition and a good life can actually coexist. In This Episode Why Jennifer left a successful six-year run at Canadian Tire to join a hyper-competitive tech company — and how walking into an interim CEO, a new CEO, and two different bosses in her first six months taught her more than any stable role could The Nando's lesson: how a global brand with deep purpose and a dream job on paper became the clearest signal that career decisions can't be made without factoring in where you are in your personal life Why Jennifer puts almost no weight on how long someone stayed at a company when she's hiring — and what she looks for instead (hint: it's not the polished pitch) How Jennifer thinks about the career ladder versus the career zigzag — and why she believes knowing your north star matters more than following a prescribed path upward What it actually takes to revive a nostalgic legacy brand like Clearly Canadian for a generation that never grew up with it — and why that challenge is the one she's most excited to unlock The interview process at Nando's that included a five-hour psychology assessment in London with jet lag — and what Jennifer says she learned about herself from it Episode Highlights: 00:00 - Reviving a Legacy Brand 00:25 - Podcast Premise and Intro 00:50 - Meet Jennifer Blackburn – Clearly Canadian CMO 01:42 - Nostalgia Stories and Brand Magic 04:56 - From Doctor Dreams to Marketing 06:19 - Unilever Training Ground 08:36 - Marketing Then vs Now 10:26 - Pivot to Tech at Skip 12:23 - Risk Support and Overwhelm 13:35 - Choosing Growth Together 16:02 - From Skip to Clearly Canadian 16:51 - Wrong Turns in Life 21:52 - Hiring Mindset on Short Tenures 23:26 - Interviewing for Authenticity 25:41 - Most Intense Interview Experience 27:00 - Working Parenthood and Energy 27:57 - Work Life Balance Lessons 29:18 - Career Pivots And North Star 30:47 - Transition Season At Home 32:31 - Favorite Clearly Canadian Flavor 33:09 - Gut Check On C Suite Paths 35:16 - Switching Industries And Growth 39:10 - Travel For Work Reality Check 42:25 - Remote Work And Productivity Debate 44:04 - Sleep Time Zones And Car Rules 46:58 - What We Missed And Wrap Up 48:09 - Podcast Wrap Up Resources Mentioned: Clearly Canadian — the brand Jennifer currently leads as CMO; https://clearlycanadian.com/ SkipTheDishes — Canadian food delivery tech company Canadian Tire — Canadian retail company Nando’s — global restaurant brand Unilever — global consumer goods company PepsiCo — multinational food and beverage corporation, referenced as a training ground for CPG marketers alongside Unilever Kroger — US grocery retailer Quotes: “And I think there’s tends to be scrutiny on that versus why stay longer if it's not working for you?” - Jennifer Blackburn “ Doing virtual homework with my daughter at three in the morning buy time. And she's like, mommy, why is it dark where you are? And it's bright where I am.” - Jennifer Blackburn “ I think sometimes you think the trajectory must go straight up at all times or else I'm not achieving.” - Sarah Jeanneault “ It is really kind of looking internally first to say like, what do you want, like what's your north star in what your career, and this might be a stepping stone to your end. It may not be, you know, the, the, the whole way there.” - Jennifer Blackburn “ It's not just about the job, it's not just about the company. It's also about how does this fit into your, your lifestyle and what tradeoffs are you able or willing to make or not.” - Jennifer Blackburn “ People being honest and genuine versus trying to be pitchy and selling of their experience. I really try and look for that humbleness, that authenticity.” - Jennifer Blackburn Jennifer Blackburn is the CMO of Clearly Canadian, where she leads the work of evolving a beloved legacy brand for the next generation of consumers. Her career spans CPG, retail, foodservice, and tech — including brand leadership roles at Unilever, PepsiCo, Nandos, Canadian Tire, and SkipTheDishes. Known for building high-performance teams and revitalizing iconic brands, she brings an entrepreneurial mindset to every organization she joins, whether it's a multinational or a private equity-backed startup. Connect with Jennifer Blackburn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-blackburn-9b5958a/ Connect with Us! http://www.whytotheway.com whytotheway@gmail.com Instagram YouTube Linked In Linked In- Sarah Jeanneault Linked In - Heather ...
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    49 分
  • Leaping Over Obstacles: Carolyn Lawrence on Leading Change
    2026/04/29
    Carolyn Lawrence walked away from her dream job — Global DEI Leader at Deloitte — not because it wasn't working, but because she could no longer see what was next. What followed was a masterclass in exactly what she'd spent her career teaching others: how to read a system, resist the urge to fight it head-on, and move through obstacles with strategy instead of force. If you've ever felt the fire to change something but watched it fizzle the moment you walked back to your desk, this episode is the one you've been waiting for.In This Episode:Why pushing hard for change inside an organization can backfire — and what to do instead (the "what we resist persists" principle Carolyn learned the hard way at Deloitte)The exact tactic she used to get a skeptical senior leader to voluntarily open up their hiring process — and how that single conversation unlocked 19 of 20 DEI KPIs moving in the right direction over four yearsHow Carolyn embedded inclusion scores into annual performance reviews tied to variable compensation — and why the COO sitting in on those reviews changed everythingThe four maturity levels of organizational inclusion, from "checking a box" to "this is just how we do business" — and what it looks like when a company truly doesn't need a DEI strategy anymoreWhat it actually felt like to leave a dream job at Deloitte Global: the fear, the six months of community conversations, the third-of-asking-price first client, and the pivot to "impact strategist" that changed how she talks about her workWhy equity at home directly creates equity at work — and the Deloitte study that proved men carry hidden burdens tooEpisode Highlights:00:00 - Change That Backfires00:30 - Podcast Premise Intro00:56 - Meet Carolyn Lawrence02:51 - Purpose And Career Path03:58 - Early Equity Awakening05:26 - Role Model Eureka Moment07:53 - From Inspiration To Systems09:25 - Curiosity Over Confrontation12:46 - Deloitte Strategy Story17:47 - Accountability That Works22:10 - Coaching Passionate Teams23:58 - Finding Your Voice27:41 - Leaving Deloitte To Leap31:20 - First Pitch To New Positioning34:00 - DEI Maturity Levels35:26 - DEI Maturity Integrated36:36 - Equity Starts At Home38:18 - Flexible Work Inclusion39:41 - Hybrid Work Preference40:31 - Sport For Wellbeing42:19 - Meditation For Clarity43:55 - No Regrets Lessons45:06 - Leaping Over Obstacles46:12 - Where To Find Carolyn46:39 - Gut Check Debrief48:24 - Building Teams Mentorship53:28 - Podcasting Career Path59:28 - Purpose And Impact01:01:53 - Question We Missed01:03:43 - Final Sign OffResources Mentioned:Heather Reisman — CEO of Indigo Books & Music (referenced as Carolyn's early inspiration)Deloitte — the global consulting firm where Carolyn led DEI strategy and global people leadershipWomen of Influence — the social enterprise Carolyn previously ledA Clear Path — Carolyn's own company - https://clearpathtoimpact.com/Quotes:"If I want to inspire change, resisting or fighting it is actually going to strengthen it. Like what we resist persists." - Carolyn Lawrence“So I tracked the numbers at Deloitte. I was in that role for four years. Our numbers on literally 19 out of 20 KPIs that we measured. In the right direction. So that method works and I can prove it.” - Carolyn Lawrence“I was very afraid and thought multiple times that I perhaps had lost my mind because here I was global diversity, equity and inclusion leader for Deloitte. Where do you go from there?” - Carolyn Lawrence“You can't go from a great inspiring talk and then go and stand in a boardroom and yell off the top of your lungs. Hey everybody, I am completely inspired. I'm gonna change everything. Everybody come and listen.” - Sarah Jeanneault“This year I’ve been looking at obstacles a little differently and trying to think about them as stepping stones and that I'm leaping over them, not with effort and strength, but with this internal lightness and power within.” - Carolyn LawrenceCarolyn Lawrence is an Impact Strategist who helps leadership teams eliminate the invisible barriers blocking results. With a decade at Deloitte — where she built Canada's inclusion consulting practice and served as its first Global DEI Leader — plus firsthand experience as a purpose-driven business owner, she's a sought-after advisor for organizations navigating growth and change.Connect with Carolyn Lawrence: https://clearpathtoimpact.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolyn-lawrence-619bb16/Connect with Us!http://www.whytotheway.comEmail: whytotheway@gmail.comInstagram - Why To The WayYouTube - Why To The WayLinkedIn - Why To The WayLinkedIn - Sarah JeanneaultLinkedIn - Twisted Spur MediaThis show is produced by Twisted Spur Media Ltd.Disclaimer: The views, information, or opinions expressed by guests during Why To The Way Podcast are solely those of the individuals involved and do not necessarily represent those of Sarah Jeanneault, Twisted Spur Media Ltd. and/or her affiliates. Sarah ...
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    1 時間 4 分
  • Why to the Way
    2026/04/21

    Why to the Way is hosted by Sarah Jeanneault. Each episode explores a real dilemma, crossroads moment, or personal crisis that forced someone to make a defining choice. Together, they unpack what happened, what the guest ultimately chose, and the deeper reasons behind that decision. Then Sarah and Heather weigh in themselves, debating what they would have done if faced with the very same situation. This is a podcast about perspective, decision-making, and the moments that shape who we become. Every episode invites listeners into the tension with one central question: What would you have done?

    Connect with Us!

    www.whytotheway.com

    whytotheway@gmail.com

    Instagram

    YouTube

    Linked In

    Linked In- Sarah Jeanneault

    Linked In - Heather McPherson

    This show is produced by Twisted Spur Media Ltd.

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    1 分