Shannon Talbot

MACKAY CEO FORUMS CHAIR
Toronto, Ontario

A bit about Shannon

  • Human Connection & Leadership Expert
  • Experienced Corporate Leader With Practical Insight
  • Transformational Communicator & Speaker

Meet Shannon Talbot

Forum Chair
Toronto, Ontario

Shannon Talbot is a leadership speaker and facilitator who helps leaders navigate pressure, complexity, and the moments where leadership actually gets tested.

With over 15 years of corporate leadership experience in financial services and advertising, Shannon brings a grounded, real-world perspective to the challenges leaders face every day. Her work is further shaped by her experience mentoring incarcerated men in a medium-security prison, where accountability and leadership behaviours are exposed without titles, politics, or excuses.

This unique combination of boardroom experience and firsthand insight allows Shannon to deliver powerful, story-driven keynotes that challenge leaders to confront hard truths, stop avoiding difficult conversations, and lead with clarity when it matters most.

Shannon has worked with organizations including Nestlé, BMO, Publicis Groupe, and Loblaw. She is the author of Breaking Free, a finalist for the National Indie Excellence Awards, and her work has been featured on CBC Radio, Breakfast Television, Business Insider, and Today’s Parent.

Shannon's Group Overview

Shannon is deeply passionate about helping people and organizations move forward. She coaches CEOs and helps leadership teams level up their performance.

Group Member Overview

Shannon leads and mentors her Forum Group of executives and CEOs to help them resolve their biggest challenges.

Engineering

Real Estate Development & Management

Financial Services

Transportation and Logistics

Industrial Supplies

Health Care Product Manufacturing

Software Development & Licensing

Meeting Location

Meeting Locations

Shannon’s forum group meets 7 times per year. Each member hosts the meeting at their preferred location, which is hosted within the Greater Toronto Area.

Special Advisors

MacKay Chairs engage a committee of Special Advisors in their professional and group development, expanding the network and support available to our members and Chairs. These seasoned experts bring a wealth of knowledge and experience, elevating the quality of our Forums. By collaborating closely with Forum Chairs, they enhance the peer support system, tapping into a deeper pool of connections and expertise to foster even greater leadership development and business success.

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Andrew Webster

Managing Partner, Webster Financial

Andrew Webster is a seasoned financial services leader and Managing Partner at Webster Financial, where he helps individuals and businesses navigate complex financial decisions with clarity and confidence. Based in Hamilton, Ontario, Andrew combines deep expertise in wealth management, retirement and estate planning, and insurance strategy to build personalized financial plans that support clients’ long-term goals.

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Carly-Anne Fairlie

CEO & Executive Recruiter, Catalyst Search

Carly-Anne is the Founder and CEO of Catalyst Executive Search, a boutique executive search and recruitment firm supporting organizations through senior- and executive-level hiring and talent advisory. With over 15 years of experience in executive search and recruitment, she is most often engaged when roles are business-critical, the market is highly competitive, and leadership alignment truly matters. Her focus is helping leaders make sound, long-term people decisions—reducing risk, strengthening leadership teams, and avoiding costly mis-hires.

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Gus Markou

CEO, 30 Degrees Management

Gus Markou is a seasoned sales and business development leader with deep experience in the aviation industry. Based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, he has built a strong track record in driving revenue growth, cultivating client relationships, and leading high-performing sales teams. Known for his strategic mindset and customer-focused approach, Gus combines industry expertise with a passion for delivering tailored solutions that meet complex business needs.

WHAT CAN PEER LEARNING DO FOR YOU?

Vision

The collective group will be able to provide valuable insights as to future outcomes.

SHARED EXPERIENCE

A valuable platform for creating a collective narrative that strengthens connections and promotes a sense of community.

SUPPORT

Members find a supportive community that offers insights, understanding and creates a valuable network for navigating challenges and fostering personal growth.

THE 7 SKILLS OF EXPONENTIAL LEADERS

Leadership is about inspiring people to take positive action. Exponential Leadership requires the following 7 critical skills to thrive in an exponential world. Which description best describes your leadership right now?

PEER LEARNING IS A GAME CHANGER

Peer Learning is a collaborative platform for high-level executives and business leaders to engage in knowledge sharing and mutual support. It provides a unique opportunity for CEOs and top-level professionals to come together in a confidential and trusted environment to discuss challenges, exchange ideas, and gain insights from their peers.

WHO IS THIS FOR?

MacKay CEO Forums are designed for CEOs, presidents, business owners, and senior executives of large enterprises who are dedicated to personal and professional growth. These peer group forums offer a supportive and collaborative environment where leaders from various industries can come together to share experiences, tackle challenges, and enhance their leadership skills. It’s a platform for those who are committed to continuous improvement, innovation, and achieving sustainable success in their organizations.

We provide you instant access to a confidential, best-fit peer group, the best business practices, and the best connections.

FIND THE MACKAY MEMBERSHIP THAT’S RIGHT FOR YOU

Become a Member of MacKay CEO Forums

MacKay CEO Forums’ effective peer learning has helped over 40,000 CEOs, Executives, and Business Owners become better leaders. We welcome you to join our community of Game Changers.

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