A process spanning four months since its commencement in October 2017 finally culminated with a day that I will vividly remember for years to come. On February 14, 2018, I had the utmost privilege of shadowing Frederic Landtmeters, CEO of Molson Coors Canada. After being informed about the opportunity, hundreds of thoughts raced through my head regarding my day; however, nothing could have prepared me for the experience I had.
Following a rigorous selection process which included an online leadership assessment, phone interviews as well as a series of 5-minute speed interviews, I was eager to meet Fred and his team. From the moment I entered, I was greeted with unparalleled energy and smiles all around the office.
My agenda for the day was jam-packed and consisted of various meetings with key personnel from the organization, a Q4 earnings call with the global leadership team and external stakeholders, an eye-opening brewery tour, and a town hall meeting for all Toronto employees.
Later, I had a chance to sit down with Fred and have 1-on-1 time discussion about his path to success as well as tips he had for aspiring business leaders. As a 44-year old CEO, Fred has accomplished many feats and led teams across the globe. Chatting with him taught me three lessons that I hope to apply as I embark on my career in the world of business.
- Resourcefulness and trustfulness is extremely important
Prior to my day with Fred, I had known that CEOs were incredibly intelligent due to their numerous years of technical experience. After meeting Fred, one thing I was amazed at was how frequently he acknowledged and empowered his team which were instrumental in the organization’s success. Fred referred to his role as a “people” role where he was aware of his strengths and had full confidence in his team to mitigate any of his weaknesses.
- No matter how busy you are, you can always make time
My expectation going into the day was that a CEO is always short on time with a tight schedule. After the day, however, I was in awe of Fred’s ability to build relationships with employees through simple actions such as greeting his peers and always having a warm smile on his face. Fred winds down after work by spending time with his family and catching the Leafs game whenever he can; he makes time for the people he loves and gives them his undivided attention.
- There is no substitute for hard work
This is the statement which left me motivated following an eventful day. As simple as it sounds, pushing forward and striving for improvement despite facing challenges is what leads to greatness. For Fred, he has yet to wake up not wanting to be at work – he loves his role and the challenges that arise from it.
My day with Fred was inspiring beyond words; I hope to use everything I learned to pursue my passions in the classroom and my future workplace(s).
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My expectation going into the day was that a CEO is always short on time with a tight schedule. After the day, however, I was in awe of Fred’s ability to build relationships with employees through simple actions such as greeting his peers and always having a warm smile on his face. Fred winds down after work by spending time with his family and catching the Leafs game whenever he can; he makes time for the people he loves and gives them his undivided attention. 
