The Mike Method

You can be the smartest person in the boardroom and still have zero impact. That idea sits at the heart of this conversation.In this episode of The Mike Method, Mike sits down with Elizabeth Watson, one of Canada’s most respected voices in governance. With more than three decades as a lawyer, over twenty years advising boards and CEOs, and board experience that spans Peterson, Shad, and the Institute of Corporate Directors, Elizabeth brings a clear and generous perspective on what truly defines an effective director.Together, they explore why personal competencies matter more than credentials, and how qualities like presence, curiosity, courage, and emotional intelligence can shift the entire tone of a boardroom. Elizabeth explains how impactful directors help others get unstuck, create meaningful moments of insight, and guide conversations toward clarity and action.They discuss the difference between healthy ideological debate and interpersonal tension that derails progress, along with how the chair and CEO can build a relationship rooted in trust and shared purpose. The conversation also looks at why “nice” culture can quietly limit board effectiveness and how directors can contribute more fully to strategy in a world shaped by disruption, uncertainty, and emerging technologies like AI.If you are a CEO, an aspiring director, or already serving on a board, this episode offers a grounded look at what great governance requires today and the personal attributes that set standout directors apart.Episode Resources:Elizabeth Watson: Website / LinkedInViRTUS: Website / Instagram / LinkedInSign up for our Newsletter: Sign Up

This episode of The Mike Method dives into the emotional side of selling a business and what really happens after an entrepreneur exits. Mike Desjardins sits down with Chad Nikkel, founder and CEO of Bold Instinct and creator of the Business Builder Group, who has started, scaled, and sold 11 companies. Chad shares how one clause in a contract cost him $6.5 million and why that lesson changed his entire approach to business ownership.Together they explore what Chad calls the “return on life” philosophy, a way of building companies that serve the founder instead of consuming them.The conversation looks at how burnout quietly shapes most business exits, why a sale that looks like a win can feel like a loss, and how attachment to a business can influence life long after the deal closes.Chad breaks down the emotional roller coaster many founders are not prepared for and explains how to create a business that grows without depending on you. He also offers practical insight into the transition period after a sale, how to protect your future well-being, and the clause every entrepreneur should understand before signing a deal.If you have ever thought about selling your company, are building toward an exit, or simply want to fall back in love with your business, this episode will shift how you think about ownership, freedom, and legacy.Episode Resources:Chad Nikkel: LinkedInBold Instinct CoachingViRTUS: Website / Instagram / LinkedInSign up for our Newsletter: Sign Up

This episode of The Mike Method explores how early conditioning shapes identity and why the mind and nervous system often keep people stuck in old patterns, even when life is going well. Mike sits down with Lynn Sumida, a master level social worker, trauma specialist, international facilitator, and founder of Expanding You.Lynn has spent decades helping people reset their nervous systems so they can move from surviving to thriving. Lynn shares a core idea: people are already whole, complete, and worthy. Many learn early in life that love and value must be earned. Those early messages form what she calls a constructed identity, a box built from family systems, formative moments, and “be good” expectations. Achieving, striving, and comparing inside that box often feels empty because the identity underneath is tied to performance.They dive into topics like..Why comparison is a thief of joy and how “me versus me” can still reinforce the same limits when worth is based on achievement.How the mind can present old information as truth because it is focused on protection.Why the nervous system often overrides rational thinking and continues to react to past experiences even when current circumstances are positive. Mike shares a personal example of this pattern during a period of business success.How early experiences can create long-lasting beliefs, such as associating self-expression with rejection, and how those beliefs influence adult choices.Lynn’s recent experience in a car accident and how she remained calm and grounded, illustrating what can shift when the system is reset.How presence becomes more accessible when old protective patterns lose their influence.This episode offers language, frameworks, and practical insight for anyone who has ever wondered why they repeat patterns they understand but have not yet changed! We know you will love it.Episode Resources:Lynn Sumida: LinkedInExpanding YouViRTUS: Website / Instagram / LinkedInSign up for our Newsletter: Sign Up

Most founders want two things: to raise their next round and to exit. Few will say it out loud, but Brian Wong will.In this episode of The Mike Method, Mike Desjardins sits down with Brian Wong, a prodigy who graduated from UBC’s Sauder School of Business at 18, raised more than $40 million in venture capital, and builtKkiip, one of the world’s largest mobile advertising platforms, before selling it in 2019. Now based in New York City, Brian leads Ascii Ventures, a next generation fund redefining what it means to be truly founder friendly.Together, they explore what makes great founders fundable, how humility and curiosity strengthen leadership, and why the future of venture capital is being shaped by people who have lived the startup experience themselves.Brian also shares how Ascii's founder focused model aligns incentives, creates a flywheel for liquidity, and helps early stage companies build culture, confidence, and sustainable growth. The conversation touches on the evolving landscape of crypto and stablecoins, how mainstream adoption is already underway, and why this shift matters for leaders and investors alike.If you have ever wondered how top founders think or how investors identify the qualities that predict success, this episode offers both insight and inspiration.Episode Resources:Brian Wong: LinkedInViRTUS: Website / Instagram / LinkedInSign up for our Newsletter: Sign Up

Most people think nervous system regulation means being calm — it doesn’t; it means not getting stuck. In this episode, Mike Desjardins talks with Anna Brooks, a guide in deep transformation whose work blends somatics, nervous system regulation, and “soul truth.”They explore how your nervous system shapes every experience and how flexibility—not calm—is the real goal. Anna shares simple tools like the one-breath hum and butterfly taps, plus the ABC path: Awareness. Breathe. Choose. This conversation is a deep exhale and a practical guide to feeling steady in motion.PS Here is a wonderful resource from Anna, discussed in this episode Shift & IntegrateEpisode Resources:Anna Brooks: Website / LinkedIn / Newsletter SignupFall (6 weeks) women's circlePartnerships for 2026Power of the Pause (free resource!)A special playlist that tends to Nervous System soothingViRTUS: Website / Instagram / LinkedInSign up for our Newsletter: Sign Up

What if the moments that knock you down are the very ones that set you up for what’s next?In this week's episode of the Mike Method, Mike sits down with Carly Moir, founder and CEO of White Canvas Design, a powerhouse design agency rooted in heart and led with purpose. A former national softball team captain turned entrepreneur, Carly shares how resilience, vision, and a triple-threat mindset helped her turn creative passion into impact.Together, Mike and Carly explore the emotional intelligence behind great branding, how misalignment can shape team culture, and why learning to use AI well might just be the next creative superpower. They dive into what it means to stay authentic in a world of change, and how lessons from sports, leadership, and life remind us that even our hardest moments can become our greatest teachers.This conversation is about creativity, authenticity, and the courage to keep showing up, both in business and in life.Episode Resources:Carly Moir: LinkedInWhite Canvas Design: Website / InstagramViRTUS: Website / Instagram / LinkedInSign up for our Newsletter: Sign Up

“We didn’t know when our lessons would arrive, but they did. And for us, they came when everything was falling apart.”In this episode of The Mike Method, host Mike Desjardins sits down with Zach Berman, co-founder of The Juice Truck, Canada’s first cold-pressed juice bar.Zach shares how he and his co-founder, Ryan Slater, transformed a global crisis into a moment of reinvention—pivoting from brick-and-mortar shops to a thriving wholesale business now found in over 300 stores across Canada.From backpacking through Nepal and India to pioneering a movement around health, community, and conscious consumption, Zach’s story is one of heart, hustle, and perspective.Together, they explore:The mindset that nothing is good or bad until we assign it meaningHow the team at The Juice Truck reimagined their business model overnight during COVIDWhy having too many ideas can be both a gift and a challengeThe power of leading with curiosity, trust, and listening before sellingWhether you’re an entrepreneur, a creative, or someone navigating change, this conversation is a reminder that sometimes the biggest disruptions become the clearest invitations to evolve.Episode Resources:Zach Berman: LinkedIn / A Little More Good Podcast The Juice TruckViRTUS: Website / Instagram / LinkedInSign up for our Newsletter: Sign Up

In this episode, Mike Desjardins sits down with Robert Glazer to explore the power of core values and how living in alignment with them shapes both leadership and life.Robert is the founder and chairman of Acceleration Partners, a global leader in partnership marketing, and the author of several Wall Street Journal and USA Today bestselling books, including Elevate and Friday Forward. He’s also the host of the Elevate Podcast, a top-ranked show on business and leadership, and a global speaker known for helping individuals and organizations elevate their performance.Together, Mike and Robert discuss how clearly defining your core values can serve as a compass for decision-making, reduce burnout, and strengthen relationships. Robert shares how identifying your triggers can reveal what truly matters, and how the “core value compass” can help navigate life’s toughest choices with clarity and confidence.They also explore how values evolve through experience, the essential role of community in reinforcing them, and why core values should be intrinsic rather than aspirational. The conversation highlights the ripple effect that occurs when leaders live authentically in alignment with their values, creating deeper fulfillment and meaningful impact in the world.Episode Resources:Robert Glazer: Website / BooksThe Compass Within by Robert GlazerViRTUS: Website / Instagram / LinkedInSign up for our Newsletter: Sign Up

We’re re-releasing one of our most listened-to and loved episodes! A timeless conversation that hits just as hard today as when it first aired.What if the real reason your sales team isn’t closing deals has nothing to do with the market and everything to do with your company’s diluted genius?In this episode of The Mike Method, Mike sits down with international business mentor and Models Method creator, Simon Bowen, for a deep dive into what truly sets high-performing companies apart. Spoiler: it’s not just about having a great product. It’s about clarity, believability, and staying connected to your company’s core brilliance — what Simon calls your “genius.”Simon breaks down how that genius can fade as a company grows, especially when the founder’s original thinking gets lost across departments. He shares how complex ideas become instantly more persuasive when they’re visualized instead of just talked about — using frameworks, models, and even simple drawings to make the message stick.Mike and Simon also explore why believability often matters more than trust in complex sales, and how showing (not telling) your story makes all the difference. The conversation offers practical insight into adapting to changing markets without losing your company’s soul.Whether you’re leading a global team or refining your own message, this episode is a masterclass in clear communication, strategic positioning, and protecting what makes your business unique.Episode Resources:Connect with SimonThe Models MethodViRTUS: Website / Instagram / LinkedInSign up for our Newsletter: Sign UpLeadership CirclePeloton