Leadership Insights

How many times have you in the past attended a workshop, received a workbook and then, upon returning to your office, placed it on a shelf…where it likely still sits. While organizations invest heavily in learning and development ($332 billion in 2019, projected to...

We are now in Q3 and approaching Q4 when many organizations and businesses begin to develop their strategic plans for the year(s) ahead. Organizations place a high value on strategic planning, evidenced by the fact that they can spend anywhere between 50 and 1000...

You’ve probably been there.  Faced with developing a strategic plan—for your company, your department, or a non-profit board that you sit on.  You need to involve others, but how?  You need a meaningful, practical approach, but what does it look like?  You need to end...

In my previous two blogs, I explored the reasons why Refinery decided to design a leadership development program focused on psychological health and safety in the workplace; a two-module program that would focus specifically on psychological resilience (leading self)...

In my previous blog, I shared some context around what we understand are challenges facing leaders today and a little about how Refinery decided to design a program that focuses on supporting them through those challenges – with focused development around mental...

In my role as Director of Design at Refinery, I’m often asked to describe our approach to leadership development and even more often asked to comment on what sets our work apart from other offerings. Because these are frequently asked questions, I like to think I’ve...

Refinery Leadership is excited to announce that Julie Butcher will be stepping into the role of VP of Consulting.   Julie has been with Refinery as an external consultant for the past four years, however her journey in the “people industry” started more than 30 years...

People often ask us what they can expect when they sign up their organization to engage in a Refinery Leadership Program. They know – more or less – what they want and what they are looking to achieve. What they don’t know is what it’s going to take to get there, what...

In this edition of NedTalks, Susan Eick, CEO of Refinery and a former senior retail banker, discusses how to lead through difficult times. She highlights the importance of showing up, communicating effectively, and being authentic in developing relationships with team...

In this NedTalks, Susan Eick, the CEO of Refinery, discusses how leaders can create an environment of psychological safety for team members. Drawing on her experience as a banker, Susan shares how a supportive manager can make a tremendous difference in creating a...

In this article found in Western Exteriors Magazine, Refinery CEO Susan Eick, wrote about a recent construction tragedy in Kelowna, British Columbia that claimed five lives, a stark reminder that even mandatory safety training cannot completely mitigate critical...

Leaders have faced many challenges they never expected over the past two years.  And today, many are not only still dealing with the fallout of the pandemic, but they are also facing a labour shortage that for some is already reaching crisis levels. And these same...