The MNL Adaptive Leaders Podcast

Episode 04: Economic Readiness in an AI Era

Dr. Lev Gonick, Mark Patterson, Alberto Velasco-Acosta (Winnipeg Economic Development & Tourism), Dr. Yogendra Chaudhry (ECO Canada)
Economic readiness in an AI era isn’t a single question, and it doesn’t have a single vantage point. Dr. Lev Gonick and Mark Patterson are joined by Alberto Velasco-Acosta of Winnipeg Economic Development and Tourism and Dr. Yogendra Chaudhry of ECO Canada to examine how regions and sectors are positioning for a shift already underway. With a place-based economic lens alongside a national sector perspective, the conversation explores what it takes to read change early, coordinate across organizations, and build the trust and workforce readiness that durable adaptation requires.

Episode 03: Institutional Realignment in an AI Era

Dr. Lev Gonick, Mark Patterson & Sandy MacDonald (Holland College)
Post-secondary institutions are navigating pressures that would be daunting in isolation: demographic shifts, fiscal constraints, changing immigration policy, and accelerating AI transformation. Dr. Lev Gonick and Mark Patterson are joined by Holland College President Sandy MacDonald for a frank discussion about what leadership actually requires at this moment. Drawing on ASU’s experience of leaning into disruption rather than retreating from it, the conversation explores how institutions can stop waiting for stability that may not come, and start building the partnerships, mindsets, and adaptive capacity the moment demands. 

Episode 02: Trust and Adaptation amid Transformation

Dr. Lev Gonick, Mark Patterson, Rob Henderson (BioTalent) & Jean-Pierre Giroux (EMC)
What does AI adoption actually look like inside the small and medium-sized enterprises? Dr. Lev Gonick and Mark Patterson are joined by Rob Henderson of BioTalent Canada and Jean-Pierre Giroux of EMC to examine where sector leaders genuinely are, and what’s getting in the way. From IP uncertainty in biotech to a widening skills mismatch in manufacturing, the conversation surfaces a shared tension: the tools are increasingly accessible, but the confidence and leadership to act on them aren’t. The discussion points to mindset and sector-level coordination as the levers that matter most, and to Canada’s concentration of nimble SMEs as an underrecognized competitive strength. 

Episode 01: Emerging Impacts

This conversation explores what it means to navigate a moment of profound technological change, as AI rapidly reshapes how we live, learn, and work. Mark Patterson and Dr. Lev Gonick move beyond the hype to examine AI as a long-term transformation already underway, highlighting the need for institutions, communities, and individuals to actively shape what comes next. From the importance of experimentation and local “labs” to the role of mindset, adaptability, and participation, the discussion ultimately points to a critical shift in how we prepare for the future, centring on the ability to ask better questions as the defining skill of the AI era.