In this powerful episode of Tune Up Your Warrior, host Jenny Chen sits down with the trailblazing Honorary Lieutenant-Colonel Judge Albert Wong—a retired citizenship judge, decorated Canadian Armed Forces Lieutenant Commander, peacekeeper, strategist, and proud father—whose career has been marked by a series of meaningful “firsts.”
Albert began his public-service journey in 1976, has dedicated 39 years to the Canadian military, and has sworn in over 300,000 new Canadians, embodying nearly five decades of continuous public service. From being the first of Chinese descent to serve as Chief Aide-de-Camp to the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario to his ongoing community leadership, Albert’s life work has centered on service, humanity, and transformational leadership.
But this conversation goes beyond titles. Jenny and Albert explore what it means to lead from behind—lifting others, challenging patriarchal systems, and creating space for people, especially Asian Canadians, to rise on their own terms.
Jenny reflects on meeting Albert at the Senate of Canada in 2023 during the centennial commemoration of the Chinese Exclusion Act—a moment that reignited her connection to her Chinese identity and deepened her commitment to storytelling, representation, and truth-telling.
Recorded shortly after Albert received his honorary doctorate from the University of Waterloo on October 24, this episode honours his legacy while looking forward—to the systems we need to transform, the people we need to champion, and the world we’re all responsible for shaping.
Albert will also be speaking and leading during the Canadian Armed Forces’ public apology for systemic racism on October 30 at Old City Hall in Ottawa—another pivotal moment in his lifelong commitment to service and change.
To find out more about Judge Albert Wong, follow him on LinkedIn here.
Fertility care has long been treated as a personal, private struggle. But what if we reframed it as a public health issue—rooted in equity, access, and modern realities?
In this episode, Dr. Rhonda Zwingerman—OB-GYN and co-founder of Twig Fertility—joins Jenny to talk about why it’s time we rethink reproductive care. Together, they explore why traditional systems haven’t kept pace with how people live, work, and plan families today—and what proactive, inclusive, compassionate fertility care could look like.
We discuss:
How career timelines and biological realities are colliding
Why education around fertility needs to happen before crisis
What equity really means in fertility care
And how we can move from reactive treatment to empowered planning
🎧 This episode is released in honour of World Fertility Day (Nov 2), because awareness is the first step to empowerment.
To find our more about Twig Fertility, visit https://twigfertility.com/
What happens when you build a business rooted in humanity—and still deliver elite-level results?
In this episode, Jenny sits down with Jenniffer Alvarenga, co-founder of Good Story Realty Group and one of Ottawa’s Forty Under 40, to talk about redefining success in real estate and beyond.
From immigrating to Canada as a student to launching a boutique real estate brand with her husband Leo, Jenniffer’s journey is one of resilience, leadership, and purpose. Together, they’re proving that luxury service doesn’t have to feel cold—and kindness is never a liability in business.
They discuss:
✔️ How Jenniffer turned her immigrant story into a leadership blueprint
✔️ Building a values-driven brand in a competitive industry
✔️ Why real estate is about relationships, not just transactions
✔️ What it means to be visible as a Latina entrepreneur in Canada
📍This is a story about integrity, excellence—and doing business differently.
For more information on Jenniffer and Good Story Real Estate Team, visit https://goodstory.ca/
In this special episode, Jenny sits down with her daughter, Trinity, just before she heads off to university—for a raw and beautiful conversation about motherhood, healing, and rewriting the story you came from.
Jenny reflects on how becoming a mother changed her, how anger and generational trauma shaped her early years of parenting, and how Trinity became the catalyst for the healing they both needed.
Together, they open up about:
💔 The pain of repeating patterns—and the power of choosing differently
💬 Forgiveness, growth, and the messy, honest work of breaking cycles
👩👧 What it means to evolve not just as parent and child—but as women
🌱 And how healing can happen across generations, when we do the work together
Whether you're a parent, a child, or someone trying to heal from what you were handed—this conversation is a reminder that transformation starts with truth.
🎧 Listen, share, and keep tuning up your warrior.
What if the way we talk about mental health is actually part of the problem?
Chris Ide is a father, advocate, and President of the Royal Ottawa Foundation for Mental Health—and in this powerful conversation, he shares why it’s time to stop treating mental health like a separate issue. As his son once asked, “If it’s your brain, isn’t it just… health?”
In this episode, Chris and Jenny explore:
🧠 Why the language we use around mental health matters more than we think
👨👨👦 His family’s powerful adoption story and the role of visibility in breaking stigma
🏥 How the Royal Ottawa is leading innovation for treatment-resistant depression
💡 What it looks like to lead with compassion—and still create lasting change
Whether you’re a healthcare leader, a parent, or someone trying to make space for healing—this episode reminds us that care isn’t a side issue. It’s the issue. And our path forward starts with how we see, support, and talk about health.
🎧 Listen, reflect, and share. To find out more about The Royal Ottawa Hospital Foundation, visit https://www.theroyal.ca/get-involved/about-foundation
What does it mean to lead as an immigrant woman of colour in spaces where you’re still seen as a “first” or an “only”?
In this episode, finance executive and bestselling author Nadine Niba joins Jenny to talk about rising through the ranks of corporate Canada with courage, conviction, and an unapologetic sense of self. From leaving Cameroon to writing Quarterbacking Your Life, Nadine shares her journey of building what didn’t exist—for herself and for the next generation.
We talk about:
Sponsorship vs. mentorship
Speaking up when it's risky
Leading with integrity in corporate
Lifting others as you rise
Redefining “merit” through a DEI lens
This conversation is honest, empowering, and a rallying cry for anyone who’s ever had to fight to be seen.
👉 Order Nadine’s bestselling book here.
👤 Connect with Nadine on LinkedIn.
When your child struggles with their mental health, parents often feel powerless, isolated, and unsure where to turn. For Michelle Crogie, that experience shaped not only her personal journey as a mother, but also her calling as the Executive Director of PLEO (Parents’ Lifeline of Eastern Ontario).
In this episode of Tune Up Your Warrior, Michelle shares how her daughter’s mental health challenges illuminated the loneliness parents face—and why peer-to-peer support is a lifeline for families navigating the unknown. Together, we explore:
The power of parent-led peer support and why lived experience matters
Common misconceptions about youth mental health and family support
How PLEO has grown into a 25-year grassroots movement supporting parents across Ontario
Michelle’s definition of leadership, hope, and resilience when it comes to both family and community
We also spotlight PLEO’s upcoming Art of Support Gala on October 9, 2025, celebrating 25 years of connection and advocacy.
If you’re a parent, caregiver, or ally who has ever felt alone in the journey of supporting your child’s mental health—you are not alone. Michelle’s story reminds us that hope is found in community.
👉 Learn more and get involved: pleo.on.ca
In this deeply moving episode of Tune Up Your Warrior, host Jenny sits down with Tamy Bell, founder of The Golden Society and mother to Griffin — a boy whose light continues to inspire a movement.
Tamy shares her family’s journey, from Griffin’s premature birth and early weeks in the NICU to his brave battle with pediatric cancer. Through raw honesty and remarkable resilience, she reveals what it means to turn unimaginable grief into advocacy, community, and hope.
Together, they explore:
The power of “golden moments” and how they keep Griffin’s spirit alive
The reality of pediatric cancer and why it remains deeply underfunded
What it means to be a caregiver, advocate, and parent navigating the unimaginable
How legacy is built not only through big campaigns but also in everyday acts of love
This episode is both a tribute to Griffin’s lasting impact and a call to action: to rally for better research, more funding, and brighter futures for children everywhere.
Follow Tamy’s work at @thegldnsociety on Instagram and join the movement to #MakeCanadaGold during Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.
What’s in a name? For many of us, it’s our beginning. Our legacy. Our first connection to where we come from.
In this episode, Jenny Chen sits down with Onome Ako—CEO, global development leader, and author of I Am Cherished—to talk about how names carry the weight of our culture, our identity, and our worth.
Named one of Canada’s Most Powerful Women, recipient of the RBC Canadian Women Entrepreneur Award for Social Change, and a lifelong advocate for global equity, Onome brings both lived experience and deep professional insight to this powerful conversation.
Together, we explore:
– Why names matter far beyond pronunciation
– The pressure to assimilate, and what it costs
– How preserving culture is an act of resistance
– The stories behind our names, and the people who gave them to us
Whether you’ve changed your name, reclaimed it, or are still figuring out what it means to you—this episode will stay with you long after it ends.
Get your copy of I Am Cherished today.
In this episode, Jenny Chen sits down with Craig Meeds, Head of BMO Private Wealth Canada, to explore what it really takes to lead with impact in today’s evolving world.
From transparency and trust to systemic change and sponsorship over mentorship, Craig shares how he's helping shift the finance industry—one honest conversation at a time.
Together, they dive into Malcolm Gladwell’s Revenge of the Tipping Point, discuss what legacy leadership looks like, and reflect on why empathy, courage, and accountability must be at the core of business strategy. If you’ve ever wondered what it means to lead with both head and heart, this conversation is for you.
Featuring: Craig Meeds, Head of BMO Private Wealth Canada
Topics: Trust, equity in leadership, sponsorship, systems change, empathy in action
Bonus: A little Ted Lasso wisdom (because football is life)
As kids return to school this fall, the conversation around youth mental health is louder than ever—and one question keeps coming up:
Should we ban social media for kids under high school age?
To kick off Season 2 of Tune Up Your Warrior, Jenny sits down with high school teacher and mom Tara Borowiecki to unpack what’s really happening in today’s classrooms—and homes—when it comes to screens, stress, and overstimulation.
Drawing on Jonathan Haidt’s The Anxious Generation and their own lived experiences, they explore:
Why today’s youth are more anxious, distracted, and overwhelmed
What teachers are witnessing on the front lines of education
Whether social media bans help—or hinder—students and families
The importance of informed, not fear-based, decision-making
And how to support young people in a world that rarely slows down
This episode isn’t about choosing sides. It’s about rethinking the systems we’ve built—and asking how we can create space for kids to thrive inside of them.
Because building stronger kids isn’t about control.
It’s about responsibility.
"In the end, we are all stories — so let’s make it a good one."
In this special solo season finale, I open up about the journey that shaped me: from immigrating to Canada, to navigating a childhood where I never felt I belonged, to breaking generational cycles as a mother, to walking away from a 16-year career to launch Catalais Consulting and the Tune Up Your Warrior podcast.
🎧 What you won’t hear: perfection, watered-down lip service, platitudes, or empty buzzwords.💡 What you will hear: truth, vulnerability, and the story of a warrior who found her voice — and chose to use it.
This is not a story about pain — it’s about the spark that inspires change.
I share why I believe respecting people as human beings is the foundation of every thriving business, why leaders need to evolve with the world we live in today, and the powerful lessons I’ve learned from my Season One guests.
Whether you’re a leader, a changemaker, or someone navigating your own transformation, I hope this episode sparks something in you.
Season 2 drops September 10.Thank you for being here.This podcast is as much yours as it is mine.
🎙 Hosted by Jenny Chen
🌐 Learn more: catalais.com
📩 Consulting inquiries: jenny@catalais.com
On this episode of Tune Up Your Warrior, Jenny sits down with her friend, longtime journalist and community builder Sam Laprade for a raw and courageous conversation about emotional abuse, reclaiming your identity, and what it takes to rebuild a life on your own terms.
Sam opens up about the disconnect between who she was publicly and the pain she endured privately—and how finding her voice changed everything.
This episode is about more than leaving a difficult chapter. It’s about rediscovering yourself, leading with authenticity, and inspiring change from a place of truth.
Released on International Forgiveness Day, this story is a powerful reminder: forgiveness isn’t always about others. Sometimes, it’s the first step in setting yourself free.
For more information about Sam Laprade, visit https://samlaprade.com/
What does it really take to be an inclusive leader in today’s world—especially when conversations around equity and belonging are being challenged, politicized, or dismissed?
In this episode, Jenny sits down with Silvio Stroescu—President of BMO InvestorLine and Head of Digital-First Wealth Management at BMO, transformational executive, and one of her greatest career mentors—to explore the core of leadership grounded in purpose.
Silvio was the one who taught Jenny the Three Cs of Inclusive Leadership: Curiosity, Courage, and Collaboration. And this conversation reveals why those values aren’t just principles—they’re a way forward.
Together, they talk about: ✔️ The difference between mentorship and sponsorship—and why performance unlocks both ✔️ How storytelling can shape identity and career agency ✔️ What it means to lead with fortitude when the world pushes back ✔️ Why inclusion isn’t about noise—it’s about intentionality
This is a conversation for anyone leading a team, a mission, or their own path forward.
📍Because real leadership isn’t loud. It’s thoughtful. And it’s earned.
In this episode of Tune Up Your Warrior, host Jenny Chen sits down with Aki Temiseva, President and CEO of the United Nations Association in Canada, to explore the global talent crisis—through a systems lens, not a diversity checkbox.
With over two decades of leadership experience spanning four continents and organizations like World Vision and Right To Play, Aki brings a powerful global perspective on workforce development, inclusion, and international collaboration. Born in Finland and raised in Zambia, he now champions equity and peacebuilding through Canadian diplomacy and global partnerships.
Together, they unpack why outdated systems—not a lack of talent—are the real crisis, how global models are leading where North America is lagging, and why allyship means using privilege to open doors for others.
This conversation is a masterclass in quiet, grounded leadership—and a powerful call to reimagine what inclusive, sustainable systems could look like for the next generation.
To find out more about Aki and the United Nations Association of Canada, visit www.unac.org.
Stage-four cancer, chronic illness, blended-family life—Jenny and her husband Dan MacMillan have seen every side of what happens when there’s no plan in place. In this candid conversation they unpack:• Why naming an executor or Power-of-Attorney is a burden, not a badge of honour• The five starter questions that kick-off any solid estate plan — no lawyer required • Lived lessons from navigating diagnosis, divorce, and raising kids while paperwork lagged behind
If you think “I’m too young” or “it’ll all go to my spouse,” this episode is your wake-up call. It’s not legal advice—it’s the real-life playbook that could spare your loved ones heartbreak (and a mountain of paperwork). Tune in, take notes, and plan while you can.
This week, we’re breaking the rules and letting a Nepo Husband have the mic. (It’s his birthday week — we’re letting him cook.)
Dan MacMillan — or as he’s known in the industry, Danny Mac — is a top-ranking wealth advisor, cancer survivor, loving dad and dog dad, and the person I admire more than anyone I’ve ever worked with. Oh, and my husband. ❤️
In this episode, we unpack:
We also talk about the tribunal moment that changed how I saw integrity in this business forever, and why Dan’s version of success was never about flashy wins — but about consistent character.
This one’s for the sales professionals and leaders-not just in finance but across sectors, the mentors, the next generation of sales leaders trying to navigate pressure without losing themselves… and for anyone wondering if they can succeed without selling their soul.
Spoiler: You can. Just ask Danny Mac.
In this episode, Jenny sits down with one of the most interesting people she’s ever met—Tony Garcia, Director of Academic Operations at George Brown College’s Centre for Hospitality and Culinary Arts. With a career spanning over 80 countries, Tony’s insights into the future of hospitality, innovation, and inclusive leadership are not to be missed.
From prestigious kitchens in New York to wine panels, the White House lawn, and now the classroom, Tony’s journey is a masterclass in how to honour tradition while driving transformation.
But this episode is more than professional—it’s deeply personal. Tony is Jenny’s best friend’s husband, the father of her godson Rafael, and the person she calls anytime she needs to know where to eat—anywhere in the world. He’s grounded, global, deeply kind, and someone who makes everyone feel seen.
Fittingly, this episode airs while Jenny and Tony are in Spain together, celebrating Rafael’s baptism in the small northern town Tony grew up in—Celanova, where he’s known as something between the mayor and a crown prince.
Tony once shared a quote that’s never left Jenny:
“When you want what you’ve never had, you have to do what you’ve never done.”
Whether you're in hospitality, leading change in your own industry, or passionate about food and culture—you’ll want to hear what Tony has to say.
To learn more about Tony and his work through Northern Hospitality, visit https://northernhospitality.ca/.
At Linebox Studio, design is just the beginning.
Founded in 2007 with a mission to approach architecture differently, Linebox has grown into one of Canada’s most respected boutique design studios. Today, COO Melissa Reeves is helping lead the firm into its next chapter—infusing equity, purpose, and people-first values into how they build, lead, and evolve.
In this episode, Melissa shares her journey from finance to design, how she’s helping challenge outdated industry norms, and why staying boutique is a strategic decision—not a limitation.
We also explore why architecture is often misunderstood, undervalued, or treated as optional—and what’s at stake when we fail to recognize its cultural and structural impact.
This isn’t just a story about buildings. It’s about redefining success, reimagining leadership, and building a future that reflects the world we live in.
To find out more about Linebox Studios, visit their website: https://linebox.ca/
As summer begins, so does a seasonal surge in visible homelessness across Canadian cities.
But homelessness doesn’t begin—or end—with what we see on the streets.It’s a reflection of systems that fail the most vulnerable, and a test of how deeply we value dignity, equity, and care.
In this timely episode, Jenny sits down with David Gourlay, President & CEO at Shepherds of Good Hope, to unpack the root causes of homelessness, the complexity behind policy change, and the human stories behind every statistic.
Together, they explore:
Why homelessness isn’t just a housing issue—it’s a systems failure
How stigma and misunderstanding fuel policy inaction
The critical role of compassion in solving big societal challenges
What it truly means to meet people where they are
🎯 With shelter systems overwhelmed and encampments in the news, this episode invites a deeper, more human conversation about what real solutions look like.
To find out more about David Gourlay and Shepherds of Good Hope, visit https://www.sghottawa.com/.