The Chaos Navigator - Norman S Leach

06/28/2026

I had the pleasure of spending some time recently with the team from Leadership in Quarters, and I want to say thank you for the invitation. It was a great conversation, and I genuinely enjoyed the opportunity to share some of my experiences and perspectives.

We talked about leadership, entrepreneurship, education, and something I've believed throughout my career: people are not resources to be managed-they're human beings with ideas, potential, and the ability to change organizations when they're given the opportunity to succeed.

What I really like about Leadership in Quarters is the format. It's well worth adding to your playlist.

I'll share my episode here as soon as it's released, and I hope you'll give it a listen.

In the meantime, you can follow the podcast here:

🎥 YouTube: youtube.com/

🎙️ Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/leadership-in-quarters-15-minute-culture-insights/id1729298406

Thanks again to the Leadership in Quarters team for a thoughtful conversation. I look forward to sharing the episode with all of you soon.

Management Podcast · Josh Seldin is a seasoned Director of Manufacturing at a Fortune 50 company, with deep expertise in Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, TPM, and maintenance systems. With a proven track record of operation…

06/01/2026

Excited to share that my interview on the Curveball Living the Dream podcast is now live.

Huge thanks to host Curtis Jackson for creating a conversation that was wide-ranging, engaging, and completely unscripted.

We covered everything from AI and business disruption to leadership, lifelong learning, and even some stories and lessons from my grandfather that still shape how I think today.

It was one of those conversations where you just get to riff openly about change, opportunity, resilience, and navigating chaos in business and life.

You can listen here:

Curveball337 Podcast - https://www.podpage.com/living-the-dream-with-curveball/podcast

Direct episode link: - Lifelong Learning and Leadership – Norman Leach on Embracing Change and Opportunity - https://www.podpage.com/living-the-dream-with-curveball/lifelong-learning-and-leadership-norman-leach-on-embracing-change-and-opportunity/

Thank you again Curtis for the opportunity and the great conversation.

Send us Fan Mail Send us Fan Mail In this thought-provoking episode of Living the Dream with Curveball, we sit down with Norman Leach, a dynamic leader, educator, a…

05/30/2026

Leadership Thoughts from the Chaos Navigator

We need to talk about another form of workplace ghosting. Last week, we talked about ghosting fellow employees who had been laid off - treating unemployment like it was contagious.

In a world powered by AI, automation, and instant communication, why are so many HR departments and hiring managers still unable to send a simple email telling a candidate they did not get the job?

Most candidates are not asking for a detailed explanation. They are not demanding a personal phone call. They simply want the respect of knowing.

Ninety-nine percent of candidates would appreciate a short message so they can move on professionally and emotionally. Silence creates false hope - and that hope often exists when people are at their most vulnerable.

Not telling someone is often more cruel than telling them.

Years ago, after I didn’t get a position I had invested significant time pursuing, the company sent me a case of wine with a note thanking me for the hours I had put into the application and interview process. They recognized that candidates invest time, energy, preparation, and optimism.

To this day, I remember that organization positively because they treated people with dignity.

I am not suggesting every company send gifts. But if you are hiring, at a minimum, send the email.

Professionalism is not measured only by how we treat the people we hire.

It is also measured by how we treat the people we do not.

05/28/2026

Convocation Season - Celebrating the Next Generation

Convocation is one of my favourite times of year. It is a moment of pure celebration - of hard work, perseverance, growth, and achievement. Every graduate crossing that stage carries a story of challenges overcome and a future full of potential. As an educator, there is no greater privilege than witnessing this moment.

This convocation season, I want to offer a word to the graduates: the world you're entering is complex, uncertain, and full of opportunity. AI will reshape your careers in ways none of us can fully predict. But the skills you've developed - critical thinking, collaboration, communication, ethical reasoning - are timeless.

Lean on them. Build on them. And never stop learning.

To the families, mentors, and friends celebrating alongside graduates: your support made this possible. And to the faculty and staff who guided these students: your impact is immeasurable. Congratulations to all. The next generation is ready.

05/21/2026

Lifelong Learning as a Business Imperative

The half-life of skills is shrinking. What you learned five years ago may be obsolete today. What you learn today may need updating in three years. In this environment, lifelong learning is not a personal aspiration - it is a business imperative.

Organizations that invest in continuous learning and upskilling will outperform those that treat training as a cost to be minimized.

For postsecondary institutions, this creates a tremendous opportunity: to serve not just traditional-age students, but learners throughout their careers.

Micro-credentials, executive education, online programs, and corporate partnerships are all vehicles for delivering lifelong learning at scale. The institutions that embrace this mission will find new revenue streams, new audiences, and new relevance.

As a business leader and an educator, I see lifelong learning as the thread that connects everything I do. The leaders who invest in their own learning - and who create cultures of learning in their organizations - will be the ones who navigate the AI economy with confidence.

05/16/2026

Thoughts on Leadership

We treat unemployment like it’s contagious - and it’s time we admit it.

I’ve been thinking a lot about how we treat people after a layoff - and I need to say this out loud:

Unemployment isn’t contagious. But the way we treat people going through it can be.

I remember the first time a colleague I cared about was let go. One day we were grabbing coffee, laughing about deadlines, sharing the kind of conversations you only have with people you spend more waking hours with than your own family. And then suddenly… they were gone.

And I disappeared too.

Not because I didn’t care.
Not because they did anything wrong.

But because somewhere along the way, we learned to treat unemployment like something we might “catch.”

We ghost people at the exact moment they need connection the most.

I’m not proud of that. I’ve done it. More than once.

But it stops now.

If I ever pulled away from you after a layoff, you have my sincere apology. Truly. I would welcome the chance to reconnect.

Going forward, I refuse to abandon people in their hardest moments.

Relationships don’t end when employment does.



Reconnect With Me

05/12/2026

I’m honoured to share that I’ll be a guest on the Amplifying Leadership Podcast with Tara Lehman, where we will dive deep into one of the most powerful and misunderstood leadership philosophies: Servant Leadership.

As someone who has led organizations, chaired boards, built businesses, and taught leaders across sectors, I’ve seen firsthand how servant leadership transforms teams, strengthens culture, and drives real performance. It’s not theory - it’s a discipline rooted in accountability, humility, and service that creates resilient, high‑trust organizations.

Tara and her team create an incredible space for a thoughtful, high‑impact conversation, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to share my experiences and the lessons learned from decades of leadership in business, education, and community sectors.

I’ll share the exact release date as soon as it’s confirmed - and I’m looking forward to bringing this conversation to all of you.

A huge thank‑you to Tara Lehman and the entire Amplifying Leadership team for having me on the show.

https://amplifyingleadership.ca/

LEADERSHIP MATTERS!

05/11/2026

I’m excited to share that I’ll be taping an episode of the Curveball337 Podcast with Curtis Jackson this Saturday. Curtis said he wanted to talk about my story and “all things AI,” and I’m looking forward to a powerful conversation.

As someone who has taught business intelligence and AI at the post‑secondary level - and who is currently writing a publisher‑commissioned textbook on AI Marketing - I’m passionate about helping leaders understand how AI is reshaping strategy, decision‑making, and the future of work.

We’ll be diving into:

• How AI is transforming marketing and business

• What leaders need to know to stay ahead

• Why this moment represents a new industrial shift

• How organizations can prepare their teams for what’s coming

A huge thank‑you to Curtis Jackson and his team for the invitation. I’ll share the exact release date and time as soon as it’s confirmed - and I’m looking forward to bringing this conversation to all of you.

Learn more about the Curveball337 Podcast: www.curveball337.com

Stay tuned - this is going to be a great one.

teach, motivate, inspire

05/10/2026

I’m looking forward to joining Joshua Seldin on the Leadership in Quarters Podcast for an upcoming conversation on leadership, values, and the real work of building people‑first organizations.

Joshua has created something special with this series. Each 15‑minute episode delivers practical, grounded insights drawn from his 13+ years as a people leader. From values‑based leadership to building trust cultures, finding your voice, and overcoming self‑limiting beliefs, the show is packed with the kind of guidance that helps leaders grow with intention.

My episode won’t air for a little while yet, but I encourage you to start listening now. If you’re committed to becoming a stronger, more emotionally intelligent, people‑focused leader, this podcast is well worth your time.

You can find Leadership in Quarters on all major podcast platforms, and on Joshua’s YouTube interview series at YouTube.com/.

Looking forward to sharing more soon.

04/09/2026

I had a fantastic time joining The Water Trough – We Can’t Make You Drink, But We Can Make You Think with host Ed Drozda, The Small Business Doctor.

Ed, thanks again for the invitation and the great conversation. You set the tone perfectly with: “Norman, we are live.”

We dug into leadership, resilience, the realities of small business, and the mindset shifts that help people and organizations thrive. Ed brings a rare mix of curiosity, humour, and practical wisdom - the kind that sparks real reflection.

If you’re looking for insights that challenge assumptions and sharpen your thinking, give the episode a listen:

🔗 https://www.buzzsprout.com/1213811/episodes/18933181

Always grateful for opportunities to share ideas, learn from great hosts, and contribute to conversations that matter.

🚀 At this tumultuous moment in history, how can businesses pivot for success? Norman Leach, a veteran in strategic marketing and organizational leadership shares his experiences and thoughts on motivating teams and strategic planning with Ed Drozd...