BES Insights

Leadership and Management

Explore practical insights and leadership perspectives from BES on talent strategy, organizational performance, and future-ready teams.

All Posts EDIA Future of Work HR Corner Indigenous Knowledge Industry Trends Leadership Professional Development Sustainability Talent Acquisition

Page 1 of 1

Leadership/Melissa Sumnauth
Perfectionism vs. Good Enough: Leading with Progress over Perfection
Perfectionism begins with a lie—that we are not enough as we are. It can paralyze leaders and organizations, stalling projects, delaying decisions, and undermining authentic voices. Yet perfectionism is not inevitable. Leaders can choose tools and practices that shift the focus from flawlessness to meaningful progress. The 80/20 Rule helps clarify where to invest energy for greatest impact. The Eisenhower Matrix trains attention on what truly matters, not just what feels urgent. Agile approaches remind us to learn through action rather than cling to rigid plans. Beyond frameworks, perfectionism also intersects with systems of oppression, amplifying the weight carried by equity-deserving groups. Naming this systemic critic allows us to challenge its power and move toward our inner champion: a voice of resilience, balance, and authenticity.
Read Perfectionism vs. Good Enough: Leading with Progress over Perfection
Leadership/Urmilla Mahabirsingh
Stewardship in Action: Corporate Responsibility and Policy Implications
In this article, Urmilla Mahabirsingh explores what responsible business leadership looks like today. She explains why environmental, social, and governance (ESG) issues are still essential, even as some companies shy away from them. Drawing from Canadian regulations, climate disclosure frameworks, and Patagonia’s business model, she lays out how boards and senior executives can stay focused, transparent, and aligned with their values. For companies that want to build long-term trust and success, she argues, stepping back from ESG is not an option.
Read Stewardship in Action: Corporate Responsibility and Policy Implications
Leadership/Melissa Sumnauth
Diversity of Thought: A Framework for Compassionate and Effective Leadership
In fast-paced, high-stakes environments, the greatest time-wasters are often not technical failures but interpersonal breakdowns: misunderstandings and conflict. In this article, Melissa Sumnauth explores how Edward de Bono’s ‘Six Thinking Hats’ framework offers leaders a practical, compassionate tool to bridge different thinking styles within teams. Through deeper understanding of facts, emotions, benefits, creativity, planning, and judgment, leaders can create more innovative, empathetic, and high-performing organizations.
Read Diversity of Thought: A Framework for Compassionate and Effective Leadership
Leadership/Helen Mekonen
Talent Acquisition Timeline: The Past, Present, and Future
Executive search has undergone a profound shift—from a network-driven process based on visibility and access to a technology-mediated landscape shaped by digital profiles, algorithmic tools, and evolving expectations of leadership. In this article, Helen Mekonen draws on her experience as a search consultant to examine the past, present, and future of talent acquisition. She explores the barriers historically faced by underrepresented leaders, the need for greater discernment in an era of performative visibility, and the legal and ethical concerns surrounding AI’s expanding role in hiring. With practical guidance for search professionals and employers alike, this piece calls for a more human-centred, equity-conscious approach to identifying talent.
Read Talent Acquisition Timeline: The Past, Present, and Future
Leadership/Erica Ing
How to Overcome Decision Fatigue: A Learner’s Guide
In today’s fast-paced world, leaders face the relentless challenge of decision fatigue—the mental exhaustion caused by making countless choices every day. This condition can diminish judgment, productivity, and overall well-being, ultimately impacting organizational success. To combat decision fatigue, leaders must adopt strategies that simplify processes, delegate wisely, and focus on what truly matters. Streamlining routine decisions, leveraging data for clarity, and setting boundaries around technology and rest are essential steps. By prioritizing energy and fostering a supportive environment, leaders can maintain sharp decision-making, set an example for their teams, and steer their organizations effectively toward long-term success.
Read How to Overcome Decision Fatigue: A Learner’s Guide
Leadership/Melissa Sumnauth
When Everyone’s Networked, But No One’s Connected: The emotional, cultural, and structural gaps keeping teams from truly working together
In a time of rising disconnection and quiet disengagement, Melissa Sumnauth explores how collaboration is being reshaped by the emotional, structural, and cultural shifts of our changed habits given the last 5+ years. Drawing on insights from behavioural economics, relational leadership, and public voices like Esther Perel, Amy Webb, and Trevor Noah, she shares that collaboration is no longer ambient; it must be consciously cultivated.
Read When Everyone’s Networked, But No One’s Connected: The emotional, cultural, and structural gaps keeping teams from truly working together
Leadership/Urmilla Mahabirsingh
Leading with Compassion in the AI Era: Fostering Human-Centred Leadership in a Digital World
Leadership in the AI era demands more than driving efficiency and innovation—it requires a deep commitment to the human element. As AI transforms industries, leaders face the challenge of guiding their teams through uncertainty, adapting to new roles, and addressing anxieties about rapid change. Compassionate leadership, centred on emotional intelligence, empathy, and inclusivity, bridges the gap between technology and humanity. By prioritizing mental health, fostering trust, and empowering employees through learning, leaders can create workplaces where technology enhances human potential rather than replacing it. In this era of transformation, it is the compassionate leader who will define a future where progress and people thrive together.
Read Leading with Compassion in the AI Era: Fostering Human-Centred Leadership in a Digital World
Leadership/Melissa Sumnauth
The Importance of Pronouncing a Name: An Act of Inclusive Leadership
Names are not just labels; they are powerful reflections of identity, culture, and history. In this article, Melissa Sumnauth explores the significance of correct name pronunciation in leadership and organizational culture. Drawing on her experience in executive coaching, executive search, facilitation, and people & culture she illustrates how mispronunciation can function as a microaggression and a barrier to inclusion, while intentional effort to say names correctly fosters dignity, belonging, and trust. With practical tools and a call to action for leaders, this article reframes name pronunciation as a vital practice in advancing equity and respectful engagement.
Read The Importance of Pronouncing a Name: An Act of Inclusive Leadership

Thought Leadership Videos

Watch recent thought leadership videos on inclusive leadership, workplace culture, and transformation.

Watch on YouTube

Why Confidence Stops Working at Executive Level

When interviewing for jobs at the executive level, confidence is expected—and so it’s no longer a differentiator. In this short, Jason Murray shares tips on what executive hiring committees are listening out for, which includes evidence of sound judgment and being able to navigate ambiguity.

Watch on YouTube

The Interview Mistake Strong Leaders Make

When interviewing for executive roles, strong delivery is expected—so it’s no longer what sets you apart. In this short, Jason Murray shares a common mistake leaders make: answering like high performers instead of future peers.

Watch on YouTube

What Executive Presence Actually Is

In this short, Jason Murray breaks down why hiring committees look for calm, clarity, and restraint, and how presence often comes through in what you don’t say.

Sustainability/Stephanie La

Green AI: The Role of AI in Sustainability

Green AI emphasizes the importance of balancing innovation with environmental responsibility, addressing the significant environmental and ethical challenges posed by AI development, such as high carbon emissions, energy consumption, and data privacy concerns. While AI offers transformative benefits, including climate change prediction, pollution monitoring, and public health insights, its rapid advancement often prioritizes speed over sustainability. By adopting Green AI practices—such as energy-efficient algorithms, renewable energy sources, and sustainable development goals—organizations can reduce their environmental impact, align with sustainability objectives, and foster long-term growth while contributing to a more sustainable and equitable future.

Learn more

Leadership/Melissa Sumnauth

The Importance of Pronouncing a Name: An Act of Inclusive Leadership

Names are not just labels; they are powerful reflections of identity, culture, and history. In this article, Melissa Sumnauth explores the significance of correct name pronunciation in leadership and organizational culture. Drawing on her experience in executive coaching, executive search, facilitation, and people & culture she illustrates how mispronunciation can function as a microaggression and a barrier to inclusion, while intentional effort to say names correctly fosters dignity, belonging, and trust. With practical tools and a call to action for leaders, this article reframes name pronunciation as a vital practice in advancing equity and respectful engagement.

Learn more

BES Insights

Leadership

Perfectionism vs. Good Enough: Leading with Progress over Perfection

Stewardship in Action: Corporate Responsibility and Policy Implications

Diversity of Thought: A Framework for Compassionate and Effective Leadership

Talent Acquisition Timeline: The Past, Present, and Future

How to Overcome Decision Fatigue: A Learner’s Guide

When Everyone’s Networked, But No One’s Connected: The emotional, cultural, and structural gaps keeping teams from truly working together

Leading with Compassion in the AI Era: Fostering Human-Centred Leadership in a Digital World

The Importance of Pronouncing a Name: An Act of Inclusive Leadership

Thought Leadership Videos

Why Confidence Stops Working at Executive Level

The Interview Mistake Strong Leaders Make

What Executive Presence Actually Is

Green AI: The Role of AI in Sustainability

The Importance of Pronouncing a Name: An Act of Inclusive Leadership