Making a Play for Diversity: Weyni Mengesha

Karen Robinson is one of Canada's most recognizable and beloved actors.  She played Ronnie Lee, the quick-witted, sharp-tongued voice of reason on Schitt's Creek. She's also the clever, small-town sheriff on Netflix's Echoes, among other notable roles. The Jamaican-born, small-town girl from rural Alberta speaks to Wes about finding success by bringing her truest self to every role and every audition – a lesson for every aspiring leader.

Can strong leadership save an organizing facing a major crisis? This is what Wes Hall asks of Weyni Mengesha, Artistic Director of SoulPepper Theatre, in a sweeping conversation about  commitment to real change and breaking down systemic barriers. What role does the Board of Directors play in shifting a narrative? Listen for real talk from a leader who turned a crisis into an opportunity for lasting change.

Hockey culture is experiencing major issues. Racial slurs on the ice, homophobia in the locker room, and a constant stream of allegations of sexual assault at the hands of players and coaches. But the sport itself is a game we love. How can we make things right? Wes sits down with Renee Hess, founder of The Black Girl Hockey Club and Mark Fraser, a former Toronto Maple Leaf who is now on their Diversity, Equity and Inclusion team, for a conversation about the future of the sport they love. 

Wes Hall sits down with Emily Mills, one of Canada's 100 Most Powerful Women. Emily is the founder of How She Hustles - a networking, mentorship and support network for women. Emily and her company epitomize the idea of "lifting as you climb". The "hustle" in How She Hustles refers to the determination of women across all vocations but it especially applies to women and women of colour who embrace an entrepreneurial spirit.

As the founder of Paramount Foods and the Fakih Foundation, Mohamad Fakih brings his beliefs into every boardroom. Mohamad Fakih is an outspoken proponent of what he calls 'kinder capitalism'. What does that mean and how can it be achieved? First, leaders have to ask themselves some hard questions.

Cameron Bailey, CEO of the Toronto International Film Festival, joins Wes Hall for a deeply personal and open conversation. Cameron is one of the most influential voices in international film. Together, they talk about everything from #OscarsSoWhite to "micro humiliations." The two leaders chart Cameron's inspiring 30-year journey to bring a diverse range of stories to the big screen.

In season two of Between Us with Wes Hall, we'll highlight the voices of those working hard to drive real, long-term societal change. We'll talk to people who still experience challenges in their own lives or businesses, as well as those who champion positive change and challenge where we continue to fall short.

For leaders in the Black community, 2020 marked a year of vowing to move forward with unflinching honesty. On this episode of Between Us with Wes Hall, Wes is in conversation with TV host Tyrone Edwards about vulnerability, mental health and unmuting yourself in front of the camera and in the boardroom. 

Host Wes Hall speaks with Sage Paul, the Founding Executive and Artistic Director of Indigenous Fashion Week in Toronto and a fashion designer whose Dene roots are in English River First Nation. Listen as they talk about the business of fashion, being a role model, and what it means to carry the responsibilities of being a leader in your community.

Wes Hall speaks to Olympian, broadcaster and author of the national bestseller, My Mother's Daughter: A Memoir of Struggle and Triumph, Perdita Felicien. The two get real about overcoming life's obstacles and the importance of having the right people in your corner.