The Virtuosity Podcast

Bill Furlong is a distinguished leader and expert in finance, governance and leadership. He served as Vice Chair at TD Securities, where he held senior global leadership roles from 1994 to 2012. Since retiring, Bill has been an Executive-in-Residence at the Ian O. Ihnatowycz Institute for Leadership at Ivey Business School, contributing to thought leadership on leader character, conduct, and organizational purpose. He is also a co-founder of the podcast Question of Character and has co-authored essays and the book, The Character Compass, on character-based leadership. He recently co-founded Leader Character Associates, a boutique consulting firm focused on the application of Leader Character into organizational contexts. Additionally, Bill is actively involved in governance, serving on the board of CAA Club Group, as an OSC Commissioner and as an adjudicator for the Capital Markets Tribunal.

Chuck is currently serving as the School Chief Warrant Officer at the Canadian Forces School of Aerospace Control Operations (CFSACO). He has experience from previous roles, including staff positions at the Canadian Forces Leadership and Recruit School (CFLRS) and the Royal Military College of Canada (RMC), as well as a Non-Commissioned Member Professional Development (NCM PD) at the Canadian Defence Academy (CDA). Highlights of Chuck’s career include completing the Nijmegen march four times, deploying on a NATO mission, and being inducted into the Order of Military Merit. Chuck completed the Leader Character Practitioner Certification Program through the Ivey Business School and he is deeply passionate about fostering character development and self-awareness in non-commissioned members and Officers, guiding them on their leadership journeys.

Dr. Christian Breede is a Research Analyst with the Department of National Defence working at the Canadian Defence Academy. A Canadian Army veteran of 25 years, Christian served with the Royal Canadian Regiment, with deployments to Haiti (2004) and Afghanistan (2008-09). He also was an Associate Professor of Political Science at the Royal Military College of Canada, A cross-appointed Professor of Political Science at Queen’s University, and an Adjunct Professor at Simon Fraser University’s Terrorism, Risk, and Security Studies Program. Concurrent with his work in DND, Christian is also an Honourary Research Associate at the University of New Brunswick. Christian’s research centres on the interaction between social cohesion, military culture, and technology. He has published over 25 articles, edited volumes, chapters, and monographs on these topics. Christian holds a PhD in War Studies from RMC.

Dr Mary Crossan is a Distinguished University Professor and Professor of Strategic Leadership at the Ivey Business School, Western University, Canada. Her recent research focuses on the development of leader character as a critical foundation to support and elevate leader competencies. In 2021, Mary earned recognition on a global list representing the top 2% of the most cited scientists in her field. Additionally, she has been honoured with the lifetime career achievement Academy of Management Distinguished Educator award. Mary‘s research on leader character, organizational learning and strategic renewal, and improvisation has been featured in more than 100 articles and books. She is coauthor of Developing Leadership Character and The Character Compass: Transforming Leadership for the 21st Century, cohost of the Question of Character podcast, cofounder of Leader Character Associates, and co-founder of Virtuosity Character.

Driven by a deep curiosity about human behaviour, emotions, and connection, Lorelei has built her life and leadership around service, compassion, and continuous learning. Her early years with the RCMP, responding to calls for help from all walks of life, shaped her belief that real leadership starts with heart.

Over 29 years with the RCMP, Lorelei has led teams, mentored leaders, and contributed to national initiatives focused on growth, character, and culture. Whether training women officers globally or championing mental health and inclusion, she leads with a people-first, character-driven approach.

A certified coach and character leadership practitioner, Lorelei helps others lead with self-awareness, kindness, and courage. She believes character bridges divides, lifts others up, and creates spaces where people feel valued and supported.

At her core, Lorelei knows leadership isn’t about titles—it’s about how we show up for ourselves and each other, every day.