In this episode of Success Leaves Clues, hosts Robin Bailey and guest co-host Corey Chadwick sit down with Margot Perlmutter, Head of HR at CEX Financial and certified executive coach. With more than 25 years of experience spanning advertising, camp leadership, SaaS, and fintech, Margot has built a reputation as a people-first leader who blends strategy, empathy, and business growth into every role she’s taken on.

From her early days directing summer camps to navigating acquisitions in the tech world, Margot shares the lessons that shaped her career and the people-first philosophy that defines her leadership.

You’ll hear about:

• Treating people like people: Why authentic human connection is the foundation of engagement and motivation.
• The power of kindness: Why being kind, not just “nice”, is the most underrated leadership superpower.
• Creating high-performing cultures: How saying “yes” more often than “no” can unlock trust, energy, and retention.
• Transparency and communication: Why setting clear expectations and sharing openly is critical to keeping great employees.
• Business growth = people growth: How aligning HR with business strategy drives real impact.
• Planting future trees: Margot’s vision for a ripple effect of kindness, mentorship, and creating safe spaces for people to thrive.

If you’ve ever wrestled with the balance between business goals and people needs, wondered how to retain top talent without “big firm” resources, or wanted to know what truly fuels a thriving culture, this conversation is packed with insights you can put into practice.

We talk about:

• 00:00 Introduction
• 03:02 Fostering Employee Engagement
• 05:23 The Power of Human Connection
• 09:26 Navigating Team Dynamics
• 13:47 Building a High-Performing Culture
• 14:23 The Importance of Saying Yes
• 22:20 The Cost of Retention
• 22:30 Real-Life Success Stories
• 23:17 Strategies for Retaining Employees
• 31:41 Aligning People Strategy with Business Goals
• 35:39 Advocating for People Strategy
• 37:30 The Ripple Effect of Kindness

Connect with Margot

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/margot-perlmutter/
• Book: Camp Food Matters: Revolutionizing camp food, one happy camper at a time



Connect with Us

• LinkedIn: Robin Bailey and Al McDonald
• Website: Aria Benefits and Life & Legacy Advisory Group

In this episode of Success Leaves Clues, hosts Robin Bailey and Al McDonald sit down with Cheryl Kerrigan, award-winning Chief People Officer at BlueCat and one of Canada’s most admired HR leaders. With more than two decades of global experience, Cheryl shares her journey of stepping into roles before she felt “ready,” embracing failure as a teacher, and shaping workplace cultures where people and performance thrive.

You’ll hear about:

• The power of courage and curiosity: Why putting your hand up before you’re fully prepared can accelerate growth.
• The role of mentorship: How strong leaders and female role models shaped Cheryl’s career, and why she’s passionate about sending the elevator back down.
• Building high-performing teams: From over-communicating strategy to enabling leaders with coaching and development.
• Supporting resilience in tech: Wellness days, flexible policies, and innovative benefits that prioritize employee well-being in a fast-paced industry.
• Planting future trees: Why Cheryl is committed to connecting new graduates with opportunities and helping the next generation step confidently into business.

If you’ve ever struggled with imposter syndrome, wondered how to foster a culture where people truly thrive, or wanted practical insights from one of Canada’s top HR leaders, this episode is filled with clues you’ll want to follow.

We talk about:

• 00:00 Introduction and Podcast Overview
• 04:15 Cheryl's Career Journey and Leadership Insights
• 11:31 Building High-Performing Teams
• 15:35 Balancing Business Growth and Employee Well-being
• 21:10 Innovative Employee Benefits and Support
• 25:07 Future Trends in Employee Benefits
• 30:24 Cheryl's Mentorship and Giving Back
• 33:19 Conclusion and Contact Information

Connect with Cheryl

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cherylkerrigan
• Website: https://bluecatnetworks.com/

Connect with Us

• LinkedIn: Robin Bailey and Al McDonald

• Website: Aria Benefits and Life & Legacy Advisory Group

What if the real challenge the second time isn’t how to build, but why you’re building?

In this episode of the Success Leaves Clues podcast, host Robin and co-host Al sit down with Sameer Dhar, CEO and co-founder of NiaHealth. Sameer shares his journey as a second-time founder, revealing the unique challenges of building again, this time with a deeper focus on purpose and impact. The conversation dives into how NiaHealth is reimagining healthcare by combining advanced diagnostics and a nurse-practitioner-led model with human empathy and proactive care.

From leadership lessons to wellness rituals, Sameer opens up about what it takes to build something meaningful while staying grounded. The episode also explores how values like generosity, integrity, and service shape not just businesses, but legacies.

Key Takeaways

✨ Starting a second business can be even harder, especially when you’re more intentional about doing it right.

✨ Meditation, journaling, and self-care are the secret weapons of resilient leadership.

✨ NiaHealth combines personalized testing and nurse-practitioner care with empathy at the core.

✨ Proactive Health is the Future. People want more than reactive care.

✨ Success isn’t just growth or exits, but also generosity, impact, and building with values.

Connect with Sameer

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sameerdhar/
• Website: https://www.niahealth.co/

Connect with Us

• LinkedIn: Robin Bailey and Al McDonald

• Website: Aria Benefits and Life & Legacy Advisory Group