194: Former Shaw President Reveals the One Trait That Built a $10B Company | Peter Bissonnette
Release Date:Β
July 22, 2025
Release Date: July 22
β What happens when you lead with humility, consistency, and careβinstead of ego? In this uplifting and candid episode, Damon sits down with Peter Bissonnette, the former president of Shaw Communications and author of Count on Me. Peter pulls back the curtain on his remarkable leadership journey, from seminary days and military service to helming a $5.5B telecom powerhouse. Together, they explore the habits and values that shaped Shawβs exceptional culture, why empathy and fairness matter most, and how leaders can be βcounted onββno matter their background.
Jam-packed with real stories, hard-won tools, and lessons from both the boardroom and the bandstand, this episode is a blueprint for anyone looking to become a leader people believe in. Get ready to rethink what makes a lasting legacyβnot just for companies, but for familiesβthrough the power of values-driven leadership.
What Youβll Learn:
The culture-building power of shining a light on others, not yourself
How Peterβs βGood Shepherdβ philosophy (inspired by seminary days) became the foundation of his leadership style
What it means to truly be βcounted onββand how personal adversity shaped Peterβs drive and fairness meter
Practical tools for overcoming imposter syndrome and building self-belief, including the science of affirmations and visualization
Why fit trumps credentials during hiring, and how to handle mis-hires with candor
Inside Peterβs βleadership toolboxββrelationship-building, chameleon skills, candor, and the art of constructive feedback
Behind-the-scenes negotiation stories, including a $2B Wall Street face-off and the lessons of win-win bargaining
How music, photography, and creative passions make you a better leader and problem solver
Tangible strategies to boost employee engagementβand transform dysfunction into unity
Why leaders should be hero creators, not the heroes themselves
In This Episode:
00:00 β The power of focusing on the good in others
00:24 β Damon introduces Peter Bissonnette and episode themes
01:38 β How Shawβs βwe companyβ values fueled its success
03:07 β First meeting with founder J.R. Shaw
04:30 β The legacy-driven origins of Count on Me
08:37 β Seminary days and the βGood Shepherdβ approach to leadership
11:09 β Peterβs tough childhood and the drive to be βcounted onβ
15:57 β Advice for new leaders struggling with self-belief
16:26 β Affirmations, visualization, and owning your own learning
22:25 β How to handle a mis-hire (the βDead Pillowβ story)
26:33 β Building your leadership toolbox: tools and traits that matter
30:07 β How to accelerate leadership experience: Mentorship & reading
32:01 β Lessons from Wall Street: The $2B Goldman Sachs negotiation
44:29 β Taking risks, responsibility and earning founderβs trust
47:57 β Win-win negotiations, fairness, and long-term relationships
49:32 β How music and creativity fuel leadership
54:59 β The role of photography and βextra languagesβ in solving problems
57:32 β Transforming employee engagement at Shaw
60:08 β Listening and acting on feedback to create belonging
63:56 β Shining the spotlight and building trust-driven teams
66:18 β How Peter personally connected with Shawβs customers
70:13 β Why Count on Me is a case study for young leaders
72:50 β Where to find Peter and his book
About Peter Bissonnette:
Peter Bissonnette is the former president of Shaw Communications, where he helped transform the company into a national powerhouse with more than 10,000 employees and $5.5 billion in annual revenue. Known for his humility, candor, and people-first leadership, Peterβs career took him from boarding school and seminary, through military service, to leading large organizationsβall without a traditional academic background. He now serves on the board of the Shaw Family Trust and is the author of Count on Me, a candid memoir and leadership case study.
