Winnipeg’s business leaders are in the hotseat.

In a good way.

RRC Polytech is title sponsor of the Exec(utive) Hotseat Podcast. It’s a new venture featuring entrepreneurs and CEOs in conversation with hosts Lisa Thompson and Amanda Buhse – both proud RRC Polytech alumni and successful business owners in their own right.

“It motivates me when I see executives around the world getting their message out,” said Thompson, president and creative force behind Brand Revival & Design Inc. (BRD), a marketing and design agency that helps B2B brands stand out.

 “There isn’t a lot of attention on the many great leaders in Winnipeg and from Winnipeg. They’re doing interesting things; for example, one of our guests is doing important environmental work, while also giving back to causes that save wild animals.”

“We want to make our Winnipeg leaders findable.”

Some twenty years or so into her sales and marketing career, Thompson remains eager to keep learning about business. She studied Business Administration in 2006, with her final year focusing on entrepreneurship. She describes herself as “obsessed” with entrepreneurs, drawing inspiration from their passion.

“Entrepreneurs are on an island. Once you build a community of fellow entrepreneurs, of peers, you’ve got help. I could not have gotten where I did in business without those people, but I had to really fight to find them.”

She came up with the Hotseat concept in part to address that gap, launching the podcast on her own in 2024.

An early guest was Amanda Buhse. A 2006 graduate of RRC Polytech’s Advanced Graphic Design program (now Communication Design), Buhse went on to co-found the upscale scented-candle brand Coal and Canary in 2014. With an aesthetic including cheeky product descriptions and a cheery graphic identity, Coal and Canary has achieved widespread success across Canada and internationally.

Though Lisa and Amanda had met in passing over the years (because Winnipeg!), it was during a pre-episode meet-up that the two felt their good chemistry. Thompson invited Buhse to become co-host and the answer was an enthusiastic “yes!”

“It was so cool because I’ve been wanting to get into podcasting,” said Buhse. “It’s an emerging medium for business. Lisa had done the legwork.”

“We have a lot in common. Even though my company provides a product and Lisa’s provides a service, it’s the same fundamental processes and passion. And the same pressure points. That drew us together.”

Thompson appreciated Buhse’s willingness to take a risk.

“We clicked right away; we could be sisters. Our feeling was ‘Let’s go for it!’.”

Together they’ve leaned into the medium with the drive that led to their individual successes in business. Along with the humility to learn what they don’t know.

“At first it was a little bit like ‘what are we doing?’,” said Thompson.” But because of our backgrounds and because we’ve had a lot of meetings with entrepreneurs, we have a comfort level with those conversations. But we are still learning the world of podcasting.”

“We’re both networkers and we talk to people,” added Buhse. “In my head, it’s easy to converse. But a podcast – there’s a lot that goes into it. In front of the mic, you need to be ten steps ahead but also be present. Having a partner is challenging too, in a fun way. We need to be in sync with each other and make sure the spotlight is on the guest.”

Episodes touch on a wide range of business topics, including startup advice, global brand management, finances, mindset, and community building.

The aim is for listeners to get tangible takeaways in less than an hour, Thompson said. Thus the signature “Hotseat” segment of each episode, when guests share their top three strategies for success in their areas of expertise.

Candor is another goal.

“We want guests to be real. I want them open up and share some failures, some lessons. Let’s hear those nuggets of wisdom.”

The hosts agree there’s no single type of Hotseat listener they have in mind.

“There’s a place for young, up-and-coming entrepreneurs, Polytech students, people in leadership roles, and people in marketing, media, and public relations,” said Thompson. “And in general, CEOs, business owners, and professionals. We want to reach a lot of people.”

“We aim to interview all kinds of people. You’re going to take away something from every episode no matter what. We strive for a cross-section of guests.”

The quest for guests brought the pair back to RRC Polytech, as they sought help reaching other successful alumni to come on the podcast.

“We were thinking of an alumni series,” said Thompson. “We noticed all the (Polytech Proud) billboards around the city. What an inspiring campaign.”

The conversation(s) led to RRC Polytech coming aboard as title sponsor.

Along with a stellar lineup of podcast guests, RRC Polytech is lending capital, an on-campus recording studio, and a producer – Creative Communications instructor and fellow RRC Polytech grad Dan Vadeboncoeur, a podcaster himself.

On-campus production has ushered in some nice changes for the Exec Hotseat Podcast. Where guests once did the interviews by video conference, now they’re in the studio face-to-face with the hosts.

“Being in-person completely changes the energy and the flow,” said Buhse. “It’s such an improvement.”

As producer, Vadeboncoeur adds music and other sound elements. He also edits out any extraneous content that breaks the flow of conversation. As well, the podcast now incorporates a video element, providing a learning experience for Vadeboncoeur himself.

“I’m happy to do it. I love producing,” he said. “They are very natural together in their energy. They’re having great conversations about business, entrepreneurship, about things that are important to them.”

“The goal is to have students involved in production. We hope this is the first of many podcasts that we will record here. And that the room will be a really well-used community space.”

Thompson and Buhse recorded their first five episodes at RRC Polytech over three days, sitting down with fellow alumni including Creative Communications grad Carly Edmundson, President and CEO of CentrePort Canada.

While the Exec Hotseat Podcast has a local focus first, the hosts intend to broaden their net to find guests located elsewhere in Canada, whether it’s RRC Polytech alumni here in Winnipeg or across the country. They’re even taking the show on the road this month, recording with entrepreneurs in Calgary while at a conference.

Both born and raised in Winnipeg, Thompson and Buhse are proud boosters of the city, province, and RRC Polytech.

“I always tell people what a great place Winnipeg is for starting and building a business.,” said Buhse. “We have a great business community. And I owe a lot of my success to the school. I have a lot of opportunities to speak and I always credit RRC Polytech. It propelled me to where I am today. They’re a dream partner.”

You can listen to the RRC Polytech Alumni series and all Exec Hotseat Podcast episodes on Spotify and at https://exechotseatpodcast.libsyn.com/.

Profile by Randy Matthes (Creative Communications, 1993).