TORONTO, ON Tuesday, December 16, 2025
At LEAD for Growth, we've had the privilege of working alongside Clients as they navigate the changing world of work.
Again and again, we've seen the same truth emerge: how you show up and coach your teams really matters.
That shared experience has compelled us to write ‘LEAD for Growth: Inspiring Stories and Practical Tools for Leaders Coaching Their Teams to the Next Level.’
This book brings together real stories and practical tools leaders can apply to coaching individuals and teams to grow.
This book showcases the lived experience of 16 certified executive coaches from the extended LEAD for Growth community. Practitioners who work with leaders in the real moments that shape teams, cultures, and performance.
Inspired by LEAD for Growth Mentor and Executive Coach Nancy Dewar M.Ed, PCC, ACMC, CSL. We have loved collaborating with Nancy as a lead author.
'LEAD for Growth' launches during International Coaching Week in May 2026.
We’ll be sharing perspectives from the authors in the months ahead. We hope they spark reflection on what leading for growth means to you.
Pre-orders now open!
Hybrid Work Isn’t Working? Here’s How HR Can Help
TORONTO, ON Wednesday, April 15, 2026
Hybrid work was meant to offer the best of both worlds, but for many organizations, it’s creating new challenges instead. In this recent article for HR Brew, Kim Rowan explores why hybrid models often fall short and what HR leaders can do to reset the approach.
From clarifying expectations to strengthening accountability and connection, Kim outlines practical ways organizations can move from friction to alignment in today’s evolving workplace.
A timely read for leaders navigating the realities of hybrid work.
Click the link to read the full article: https://www.hr-brew.com/hybrid-work-article
Nancy Dewar Featured in Canadian HR Reporter on Leading in a Hybrid World
TORONTO, ON Friday, March 20, 2026
At LEAD for Growth, we’re seeing firsthand how hybrid work is reshaping not only where we work, but how leaders need to show up for their teams.
Our own Nancy Dewar was recently featured in Canadian HR Reporter, sharing her perspective on why coaching is becoming an essential leadership capability in today’s evolving workplace.
Many leaders are still navigating this shift. What worked before - relying on visibility, presence, or informal check-ins - doesn’t always translate in a hybrid environment. And for many, that’s where the challenge lies.
These ideas are just a glimpse of what we explore more deeply in our upcoming book, launching May 14, 2026 — focused on helping leaders grow people, teams, and cultures in a way that drives meaningful and sustainable results.
Pre-orders are now available: https://leadforgrowth.com/book-pre-order
Read the full article: https://www.hrreporter.com/focus-areas/culture-and-engagement/hybrid-work-makes-coaching-a-musthave-skill-for-leaders-expert/394192
Building Coaching Cultures: A Strategic Advantage for Growth
TORONTO, ON Wednesday, March 11, 2026
At LEAD for Growth, we believe that leadership today is about more than strategy and operational execution—it’s about inspiring people, developing talent, and creating organizations that thrive in complexity and change.
Last week, our Co-Founder and Principal, Drew Munro, CMC, CEC, ICP-ACC, C.Dir., joined a powerhouse panel hosted by The Talent Company for their Future Ready Session: Building a Coaching Culture to Drive Performance. Drew shared insights on how coaching can serve as a high-velocity multiplier for business performance and a critical tool for mitigating leadership and succession risk.
Moderated by Zahra Hirji, the session featured global experts:
Drew Munro, CMC, CEC, ICP-ACC, C.Dir. | LEAD for Growth
Linda Iriah, SPHRi, GPHR | Global HR Integration Leader, Ipsos Canada
Natasha Skolny, CHRL | High-Growth Culture Specialist, Calix
The panel explored how effective coaching isn’t just a nice-to-have, it’s a strategic lever that accelerates growth, strengthens teams, and fosters resilient organizations. As Drew emphasized during the discussion, “The leaders who thrive are those who understand that growth—individual, team, and organizational—begins with how we lead.”
See the insights in action—watch the full webinar here: https://bit.ly/4l3BOuD
International Women’s Day: A Leadership Perspective
TORONTO, ON Saturday, March 7, 2026
In recognition of International Women’s Day, Kim Rowan, Co-Founder and Principal at LEAD for Growth, contributed an article to Women in Optometry reflecting on the experiences, progress, and ongoing challenges facing women in leadership.
In her piece, Kim shares perspectives on the leadership journeys many women navigate and why intentional leadership, mentorship, and supportive cultures remain essential for advancing opportunity and impact for women across industries.
You can read the full article here: https://www.womeninoptometry.com/views/article/international-womens-day-26/
Published in Women in Optometry | March 2026
LEAD for Growth Welcomes Sharon Pitawanakwat to the Community
LEAD for Growth Welcomes Lissa Appiah to the Community
TORONTO, ON Thursday, August 14, 2025
LEAD for Growth is proud to announce that Lissa Appiah has joined the community as an Executive Coach.
Lissa has held leadership positions at the United Nations and, more recently, with the Government of Canada. She is based in Ottawa, is an ICF PCC-certified coach, and is English/French bilingual.
Lissa is a Career Strategist and Executive Coach. In her words, she is passionate about "Guiding introverts to leadership success while staying true to themselves."
She has been recognized as a Top 20 Career Coach in Canada in 2025, a LinkedIn Top Voice of 2024, and one of Canada’s Top 100 Black Women to Watch in 2022.
We look forward to collaborating with Lissa Appiah and welcome her to the LEAD for Growth community.
LEAD for Growth Enters Strategic Partnership with The Talent Company
TORONTO, ON Thursday, June 12, 2025
We are thrilled to announce an exciting development in line with our Strategic Plan and our commitment to building a community of Client service professionals who share the same mindset and values.
We have been on executive coaching and consulting engagements over the last few years. The Talent Company is a leading independent human capital consulting and service provider. They offer solutions across the total talent lifecycle, including but not limited to recruitment, coaching, leadership development, compensation consulting, HR on-demand, career transition, and outplacement services.
Where it makes sense, based on Client needs, we will now be able to offer, with a trusted partner, services that we do not offer, and vice versa, in service of our respective Clients' objectives and goals.
“We’re proud to announce a strategic partnership between The Talent Company and LEAD for Growth – uniting two market leaders to deliver a fully integrated approach to HR and organizational strategy. Through this collaboration, HR and business leaders gain seamless access to strategic planning, board development, culture assessments and transformation, and end to end talent solutions – all from one trusted source. This means fewer handoffs, faster execution, and greater impact across the entire lifecycle.” – Richard Antosik (Chief Client Officer & Chief Operating Officer, The Talent Company)
About The Talent Company
The Talent Company is a proudly Canadian management consulting firm specializing in Human Resources solutions. Trusted by leading organizations, we offer deep expertise in executive search and recruitment, leadership and talent development, total rewards consulting, career transition, and on-demand HR services. We partner with clients to design and deliver practical, customized solutions that drive meaningful and measurable impact.
