EP 301 – Cancer is a Journey - Chris Thomson (Part 1 of 2)
Release Date: 09/30/2025
EP 314 - Believing Is Seeing (Edge of the Napkin Series #12)
Paper Napkin Wisdom
There’s a phrase we’ve all inherited without ever asking whether it serves us: “I’ll believe it when I see it.” It sounds reasonable. It sounds mature. It sounds like the responsible stance of someone who has been around long enough to be cautious. But anyone who has ever built something meaningful — a business, a team, a movement, or even a new version of themselves — knows the truth beneath that old saying: “Seeing” has never created belief. Belief is what creates the ability to see. That’s the heart of today’s napkin thought:...
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EP 313 - Listening & Learning with Shivani Dhamija
Paper Napkin Wisdom
In this episode of Paper Napkin Wisdom, Govindh Jayaraman sits down with Shivani Dhamija, founder of Shivani’s Kitchen — a culinary brand rooted in authentic Indian flavors and fueled by a passion for empowering others through food. From her humble beginnings selling spice blends and sauces at local markets in Nova Scotia to building a thriving food-manufacturing business, Shivani’s journey is as flavorful as her recipes. At the heart of her success lies a simple napkin message: “Listening & learning.” Two small words that capture a massive truth about...
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EP 312 - Build for Value — Not for the Hype: How some AI Companies are Winning, and others aren't (Edge of the Napkin #11)
Paper Napkin Wisdom
Edge of the Napkin #11 There’s a feeling that sweeps through every era of innovation — that electrifying sense of this is it. The next big wave. The one that’s going to change everything. In this episode of Edge of the Napkin, Govindh Jayaraman dives into what happens when high-expectation innovation collides with reality — when the future we bet on becomes today’s proving ground. The AI boom, once the unstoppable tide lifting every boat in sight, is now pulling back. Markets are correcting. The water is getting choppy. And what’s being revealed isn’t failure — it’s truth....
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EP 311 - Dr. Jenny Hoffmann: Open Up! Lead with Curiosity, Empathy, and Connection
Paper Napkin Wisdom
Today on Paper Napkin Wisdom, we welcome Dr. Jenny Hoffmann, a leader in health-tech innovation who currently serves as Executive Director at the New England Medical Innovation Center (NEMIC). With a rich background in healthcare strategy and technology deployment, Jenny has spent her career bridging clinical insight with entrepreneurial energy, helping organizations turn innovative ideas into meaningful patient-outcomes. In this episode, we dive deep into how leaders can lean into vulnerability, curiosity, empathy and connection — the key themes captured on her paper...
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EP 310 - Make Believe: The Stories Entrepreneurs Tell Themselves (Edge of the Napkin #10)
Paper Napkin Wisdom
Make Believe: The Stories Entrepreneurs Tell Themselves (Edge of the Napkin #10) Every entrepreneur lives inside a story — the question is, who’s writing yours? If you’ve ever had a morning where nothing goes right — you stub your toe, drop your keys, spill coffee on your white shirt before 8 a.m. — you know the script that starts to play in your mind: “It’s gonna be one of those days.” And somehow, it is. Everything that follows seems to prove the story true. But the opposite happens too. You walk out the door feeling light, ...
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EP 309 - Jon Rosemberg — Survival Is Instinct, Thriving Is a Choice
Paper Napkin Wisdom
When you meet Jon Rosemberg, you immediately sense two things — depth and discipline. He’s a behavioral scientist, author, and executive coach who has spent years exploring how we, as humans, can move beyond mere survival into a state of thriving. His work combines neuroscience, psychology, and lived experience, and it’s reflected powerfully in his new book, A Guide to Thriving: The Science Behind Breaking Old Patterns, Reclaiming Your Agency, and Finding Meaning. On his paper napkin, Jon wrote just seven words: “Survival is instinct, thriving is a choice.” At...
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EP 308 - Flexibility Is the Only True Hedge – Edge of the Napkin #9
Paper Napkin Wisdom
In a world where volatility has become the norm — prices swing, markets shake, politics polarize, and technology rewrites the rules daily — one question stands out for leaders, entrepreneurs, and anyone simply trying to navigate life: How do we hedge against uncertainty? Not with gold. Not with cash. Not with control. But with flexibility. That’s the essence of this week’s Edge of the Napkin. On my napkin, a single word runs across the center: RISK. Below it — Rigidity → Fragility. Above it — Flexibility →...
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EP 307 - Simone Kelly - Build a Business You Love (But Not Your Hobby)
Paper Napkin Wisdom
When Simone Kelly first began helping families navigate the complexities of senior care, she didn’t just build a company—she built a movement. As the founder and CEO of Seniornicity, Simone’s mission is rooted in empathy, connection, and empowerment. Her company bridges the gap between older adults, families, and trusted care providers, making it easier for people to age well, together. But the napkin she brought to Paper Napkin Wisdom goes deeper than business strategy—it’s about protecting your passion and preserving your peace. “Build a business that you love,...
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EP 306 - HOW? The Freedom to Create the Future - Edge of the Napkin #8
Paper Napkin Wisdom
Sometimes, the smallest words hold the biggest weight. In this episode of Edge of the Napkin, Govindh Jayaraman dives deep into one of the most overused — and misunderstood — words in leadership: “How.” We use it constantly. We think it’s helpful. But as Govindh reveals, how can be both the key to progress — and the invisible wall that keeps us from growing. We say things like: “That’s not how it’s done.” “That’s not how we do things here.” “Let me show you how I want that done.” “We tried that how before...
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EP 305 - Solve a Real Problem. Make It Beautiful. Care Like Hell. - With Nancy Johnston
Paper Napkin Wisdom
When you meet Nancy Johnston, you can immediately sense the combination of depth and purpose behind everything she touches. She’s the founder and CEO of Truuce, a company built around reimagining human connection, well-being, and design in the modern world. Her leadership bridges the emotional and the practical — weaving care, creativity, and clarity into every solution she creates. In this episode of Paper Napkin Wisdom, Nancy shares a simple but transformative philosophy written on her napkin: “Solve a real problem. Make it beautiful. Care like...
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In this very personal and powerful episode of Paper Napkin Wisdom, I sit down with one of my oldest friends, Chris Thomson, Head Coach of the Student Works Management Program. Chris has spent decades shaping young leaders, building more entrepreneurs in Canada than perhaps anyone else. His story has always been one of creating opportunity and pushing boundaries—but today, his napkin is not about business.
His wife, Helen Thomson, is his business partner and CEO of the Student Works Management Program and together they are among the most dynamic pairs of entrepreneurs in the country. Their program has likely help forge more Canadian entrepreneurs than any other program.
He is also the host of the very popular Leaders of Tomorrow podcast where he features young and dedicated entrepreneurs on their journey to forge their own path in the world.
Chris brings forward a message that is raw, human, and deeply resonant: “Cancer is a journey.” After being diagnosed three years ago, Chris has learned to see this experience not just as a challenge but as a pathway filled with lessons, clarity, and growth.
This is part one of a two-part conversation where Chris shares not just his fight with cancer, but the wisdom he’s drawing from it—wisdom that will change how you see your own challenges.
The Napkin: Cancer is a Journey
When Chris chose those words for his napkin, he wasn’t sugarcoating the reality. He acknowledged the fear, the uncertainty, and the deep personal impact of living with cancer. But he framed it in a way that shifts perspective: instead of a battle to be fought or a curse to be endured, it’s a journey—one with lessons along the way.
He explains how friends and mentors encouraged him to share his experience, and how openness helped him overcome the fear of other people’s opinions. That fear, he says, doesn’t disappear just because you’ve achieved success. It lingers until you confront it directly.
Lessons from the Journey
Through this conversation, Chris highlights a few themes that entrepreneurs and leaders can apply far beyond the context of illness:
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Openness Creates Connection
By sharing his cancer journey publicly, Chris found a new depth of support, love, and community. Leaders often think they must project strength at all times, but true strength is often in vulnerability.
Take Action: Start small. Share one struggle you’ve been carrying alone with someone you trust. Notice the connection it creates.
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Fear of Opinions Is Universal
Chris notes that even people at the top—CEOs, entrepreneurs, public figures—still wrestle with the fear of how others perceive them. That fear doesn’t vanish with success; it must be challenged intentionally.
Take Action: Write down one opinion you’ve been afraid to face. Ask yourself: “What if it didn’t matter?” Then act as though it doesn’t.
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Challenges Are Teachers
Cancer, as devastating as it is, has been a teacher for Chris. It forced him to slow down, reframe priorities, and find meaning in places he might have overlooked before.
Take Action: Reframe your current obstacle as a teacher. What lesson is it offering you right now?
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Gratitude in the Face of Hardship
Chris repeatedly emphasizes gratitude—gratitude for support, for medical care, and even for the perspective the journey brings. Gratitude doesn’t deny difficulty; it reshapes how we meet it.
Take Action: Each night, write down three things you’re grateful for—even on your hardest days.
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Legacy Is Built in Real Time
For Chris, the Student Works program has always been about creating leaders who impact the world. His cancer journey has deepened that sense of legacy. What you do today—how you treat people, how you face challenges—is the legacy you’re already leaving.
Take Action: Ask yourself, “What will people remember about me from this season of my life?” Adjust accordingly.
About Chris Thomson
Chris Thomson is the Head Coach and Leader of the Student Works Management Program, an organization dedicated to building the next generation of entrepreneurs through hands-on business experience. Over decades, Chris has coached thousands of university students to run their own businesses, building a legacy of leaders across Canada. Connect with Chris on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-thomson-swp/) and follow the Student Works Management Program (https://management.studentworks.com/) for more insights. Follow the Leaders of Tomorrow Podcast (https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/leaders-of-tomorrow-podcast/id1448651718) as well.
Final Thoughts
This is not an easy conversation. Talking about cancer never is. But Chris reminds us that even the hardest realities can carry wisdom if we’re willing to see them differently. His napkin—“Cancer is a journey”—is a challenge to every leader and entrepreneur: don’t just endure your obstacles, learn from them.
Now, it’s your turn. Grab a napkin and write down your takeaway from Chris’s story. What lesson can you draw from your own challenges? Post it on social media with the hashtag #PaperNapkinWisdom and join the conversation.
Because small ideas—like words on a napkin—can lead to big shifts.