INSIDE
NATIONAL MEMBER
CONFERENCE
INSIDE
NATIONAL MEMBER CONFERENCE
The Conversations, Perspectives, and Breakthroughs Shaping Canada’s Leaders
The Conversations, Perspectives, and Breakthroughs
Shaping Canada’s Leaders
Shaping Canada’s Leaders
A Different Kind of Room
What happens when hundreds of leaders from across Canada step away from their businesses and spend two days in the same room?
At TEC Canada’s National Member Conference 2026 in Calgary, it felt like a reset. Not just a break from the day-to-day, but a chance to think differently, challenge assumptions, and have the kinds of conversations that rarely happen in the middle of a busy week.
From the start, there was a noticeable shift in pace. Leaders weren’t rushing between meetings or half-listening between emails. They were present. Listening. Engaged. That energy carried through everything that followed.
Georges St-Pierre on Discipline and Performance
Georges St-Pierre set the tone early, and not in the way people might expect.
There was no hype. No big performance. Just a clear, grounded look at what it takes to operate at a high level for a long time.
He spoke about doing the work when no one is watching, building systems you can rely on, and learning how to understand fear instead of avoiding it.
“Success is built in what you do consistently.”
It was simple. And that is why it landed.
Leadership and Responsibility
Dr. Jody Carrington on Leadership and Responsibility
That focus on performance shifted quickly into something more personal.
Dr. Jody Carrington brought the room back to people.
“As leaders, we have to be the emotional regulator.”
It changed the lens. Leadership is not just about outcomes. It is about presence, especially when things get hard.
She grounded it in three priorities:
You | Your team | Those you serve
It was the kind of reminder that does not stay in a notebook. It shows up later, in how you lead.
Where It Got Real: Inside the Breakouts
The shift from listening to doing happened in the breakouts.
This is where conversations got smaller, more specific, and a lot more honest. Leaders stepped into sessions focused on the real work behind growth, operations, and leadership.
Across both breakout blocks, topics ranged from M&A and AI to cybersecurity, funding, and leadership development, led by operators and advisors working in these spaces every day.
Some of the conversations included:
Preparing for Exit: Market Trends and Value Creation with Erica McGuinness and Kira Gregson of Sequeira Partners, focused on what “sale ready” actually looks like and how buyers are thinking in today’s market
The Magic AI CEO with Sean Stephens of Treefrog, demonstrating in real time how AI can be applied across sales, marketing, operations, and reporting
Seeing the Whole Picture: An Integrated Wealth Diagnostic with Sophie Blais of WealthCo., highlighting how disconnected financial advice can create gaps without a coordinated strategy
The Talent Advantage with Paul Gibbons of McDermott + Bull, breaking down how top CEOs design leadership teams that drive real enterprise value
Never Ask Security Questions Again with Tracey Nyholt of TechJutsu, alongside CCN, exploring how cyber threats are evolving and how organizations need to rethink security at the front lines
Creating Strong Teams at Work and at Home with Kristi Kraychy, in partnership with Strathcona-Tweedsmuir School, connecting leadership principles across business and life
The M&A in Practice with Terry Mocherniak of Apex Capital, walking through how deals are structured from due diligence to close
Accelerate Growth Through Government Funding with Theron Williamson and the Ryan team, focused on using grants and incentives as a strategic growth lever
What stood out was how practical it all felt.
This is where “interesting” turned into “what am I doing differently next week.”
The Conversations Between Sessions
Some of the most valuable moments did not happen on stage.
They happened in between.
In quick conversations over coffee. In introductions that turned into something more. In the moments where someone shares a perspective that reframes how you are thinking.
That is the part you cannot replicate.
Peter Mansbridge on Perspective
To close the conference, Peter Mansbridge brought a different kind of insight.
After decades reporting on the moments that shaped Canada, his focus was on understanding, not reacting.
“Strong leadership is not just about moving quickly. It is about seeing clearly.”
In a constant stream of information, that landed.
What Carried Forward
By the end of the two days, there was a sense that something had shifted.
Not dramatically. But meaningfully.
The kind of shift that shows up later:
- In how decisions are made
- In how conversations are handled
- In how leaders show up with their teams
That is what makes NMC different.
THANK YOU TO THE COMMUNITY
A sincere thank you to our speakers, sponsors, partners, and every member who made NMC 2026 what it was.
Your willingness to share openly, engage fully, and contribute to the conversations is what makes this community so impactful.
National Member
Conference Sponsors
Conference Sponsors
Production Partner & Keynote Sponsor
Exhibitor & Keynote Sponsor
Legacy Leader
Breakout Session Sponsor
Breakout Session Sponsor
Breakout Session Sponsor
Growth Champion
Exhibitor & Breakout Session Sponsor
Breakout Session Partner
Breakout Session Sponsor
Breakout Session Sponsor
Keynote Sponsor
Barista Coffee Bar Sponsor
Welcome Host
Conference Supporter
looking ahead
The momentum built in Calgary does not stay there.
It carries forward into leadership, decisions, and businesses across the country.
If you were in the room, you felt it.
If you were not, we hope to see you next year.
Discover what’s next with TEC Canada—explore upcoming events and sponsorships.