S7 E8: What it Takes to Build an Exceptional Executive Team with Denis Ricard

The Inspire Podcast

In this episode of The Inspire Podcast, Bart speaks with Denis Ricard, CEO of iA Financial Group, about what it takes to cultivate a strong, cohesive executive team. Denis shares insights from his remarkable career journey within iA, from his early roles to the C-suite, and the leadership lessons that shaped his approach to building high-performing senior teams. He reflects on the guidance he offers to his senior leadership team, the importance of alignment at the executive level, and the culture he has intentionally fostered at iA. Through practical examples and candid reflection, Denis offers a clear perspective on the leadership principles that support long-term organizational success. Whether you're a CEO, team lead, or aspiring leader, this episode is packed with actionable takeaways on team cohesion, leadership development, and organizational culture. A must-listen for anyone looking to elevate their leadership impact. Show Notes: 00:13 Show intro 00:49 Introducing Denis 02:08 What do you look for in senior leaders? 02:35 Surround yourself with A+ players 03:24 Denis' career path 05:03 Key moment when he decided his big goal 05:24 What changed his goal? 06:16 Switch to marketing to learn the business better 06:37 The next move would be on purpose! 07:00 The CEO asked him, ever thought about taking my job? 07:48 When I became CEO, I was ready 08:38 Depth in executives 09:35 It's not about being an expert, but having a breadth of knowledge 10:15 Story about moving an exec out of their comfort zone 11:11 The best way to grow 12:19 We could leave people where they are. But it would not build capacity 13:40 Taught at Uni to become a better communicator 16:11 Simplifying the message 17:13 Figure out what you love and go for it 18:40 Essential leadership communication qualities 18:49 Let's make the problems visible 18:57 Energy into building trust 19:29 How do you build trust? 19:56 Recognize and thank an executive when they bring a problem 21:04 How to approach giving feedback 21:48 Example of feedback that he got 23:59 It's all about the greater good 25:34 If you work for the organization, you'll get noticed 26:08 An example of an executive hire that didn't fit the culture 28:12 Advice on cultivating a culture 28:54 Team building 29:48 Start with a group of like-minded people 31:03 How do you communicate principles to a large company 31:10 Be accessible 31:23 Virtual culture challenge 33:39 Leading by example 33:59 What's next for your team? 34:25 Foster a growth mindset 35:35 Thank yous