Wiser by Choice

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Wiser by Choice

Reading is optional. Staying relevant isn’t.

If you are a leader who:

  • wants to stay well-informed
  • is strapped for time
  • struggles to keep up with reading all the books you wish you could
  • loves a lively conversation with other bright people
  • is willing to invest in your own professional development

…then become Wiser by Choice.

  • Cutting edge content.
  • Interesting people.
  • Relevance to your context.
  • Professionally facilitated conversation.
  • Efficient use of time.

I read the books so you don’t have to.

Feed your curiosity and stay up-to-date on the latest business thinking from bestselling authors, without leaving home and without reading the books!

Grab your favourite mug, sit in your favourite chair, and join an online, one-hour conversation focused on leadership lessons relevant to today’s busy leaders who want to up their game. We’ll feature highlights from three or four curated titles that I have read so you don’t have to.

Details

  • Three Friday mornings from 7:30-8:30 a.m. Eastern Time
  • Winter 2023: January 20, February 17 and March 24
  • Cost: $199 $149 (plus tax) for the remaining conversations — less than the cost of buying the books. You don’t have to buy them and don’t have to read them!
  • Conversations are recorded and made available if you’re unable to join the live session

Full payment is due with your registration (online via PayPal). Payment is non-refundable but your registration can be transferred to a future session or gifted to someone else. Contact Rebecca for details.

Learn more about me… Dr. Rebecca Sutherns.

Testimonials from past participants

Wiser by Choice is a monthly dose of inspiration. Rebecca shares great reflections on each book that spark discussion with participants from diverse sectors. I leave with many a-ha moments that help pull me out of the day to day weeds and think like a leader. Having a high-level overview of each book not only gives me those a-ha moments but also helps me decide which books I want to read cover to cover.

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Catherine Wassmansdorf

Catherine Wassmansdorf is the Education Program Manager at The Riverwood Conservancy.

Pivoting work in experiential outdoor education during the pandemic was a lesson in adaptability for Catherine, who adjusted her personal practices, relied on the support and confidence of her organization’s leadership and colleagues, and leaned on their shared mission. She discovered new ways of delivering dynamic and effective programs digitally—including unexpectedly popular online Turtle Time—some of which allowed new participants to join in the fun. She also learned about the limits of adaptability, when constraints did not allow programs to translate well to online environments. “We now have a new capacity,” Catherine says. “We have a sense that we have forged multiple pathways that will help us if and when we have to adapt again.”

Jay Reid and Hayley Kellett

Jay Reid and Hayley Kellett are co-founders of the improv-based corporate training organization The Making-Box.

From roots in theatre, Hayley and Jay use improv principles and skills to help their clients experience change as energizing rather than depleting. The principle of letting go equips teams for uncertainty, while the skill of noticing distinguishes between faux adaptability and factors needed for real change. “’Yes-and’ helps us work together in polarized situations,” says Hayley while Jay says, “There are deeper outcomes in the notion of practicing playfulness together,” pointing to studies demonstrating the practical value of humour in creating psychological safety for teams. The Making-Box itself draws on these principles and over the last few years has itself been a case study in adaptability as it shifted its model and service delivery methods.

Terry Cooke and Annette Aquin

Terry Cooke is the President and CEO, and Annette Aquin is Executive Vice President Finance and Operations of the Hamilton Community Foundation. 

Rather than likeability being a goal, Annette says it’s an outcome of the work they do—and how they do it. Because community foundations engage in potentially divisive issues, Terry and Annette say decisions must be firmly rooted in research and their organization’s values. Relationships past, present and future drive their work as they acknowledge their debt to those before them. They work hard at building trust, inclusivity, and true collaboration with their community and look to a solid future by hiring well, mentoring, responding to emerging opportunities, and, as Terry says, “creating space for the next person to do what is best.”

John Neufeld 

John Neufeld is the Executive Director of the House of Friendship. 

Building strong rapport is important to John because of his personal story as an immigrant. “I just didn’t fit in. That’s why I’m passionate about House of Friendship—because we make sure everyone belongs.” Investing in relationships and culture, connecting at a human level and tapping into the strengths of his team are key elements of likeability. But John recognizes that rather than seeking to be liked, leaders need to harness courage and passion to make tough decisions, work hard and deliver on their promises. Likeability is a proxy for that kind of integrity. He says, “One of the best pieces of leadership advice I was ever given was to look for ways to add value to other people’s lives.”

Jim Moss and Dave Whiteside

Jim Moss and Dave Whiteside are longtime colleagues, first at Plasticity Labs and now at YMCA of Three Rivers's YMCA WorkWell where Jim is the Leader of Community Development and Dave is the Director of Insights. 

YMCA WorkWell has a mandate to build healthier, thriving organizations and their work offers relevant, evidence-based, recent Canadian data on how organizations can help their people find the right stretch. In their work, Jim and Dave engage in practical and fresh thinking on depletion, burnout, managing your own and your employees' energy. "An elastic needs to be engaged to be useful," says Jim while Dave adds that the last few years have been "a natural experiment that's allowed us to know where we could stretch and where it's not optimal." 

Emma Rogers 

Emma Rogers is the CEO of the Children's Foundation of Guelph and Wellington and the co-founder of the community philanthropy charity Guelph Gives. 

In a social good sector devoted to making every dollar have impact and where everyone is working harder than ever, Emma has a new appreciation of the currency of energy. "It's the most valuable thing I can give someone, and vice versa." Her own energy is admirable and is fueled by her passion for innovation and by the stories of impact from her work, but she leads her team with more than inspiring stories. Instead, Emma implements innovative practices and knows that enabling team members to show up as their best selves is an excellent investment in accomplishing their mission.