Brian Foley
Brian Foley is passionate and exceptionally dedicated to the field of leadership development. A TEC Canada Chair for 20 years, Brian proudly supports his members by guiding them in determining personal and professional goals, and by emphasizing basic principles of self-management and personal accountability. His approach has consistently generated solid strategies for change and action plans that result in great success.
Brian’s specific accomplishments in mentorship and coaching are numerous as he works in contributing significant insight to his members in the Greater Toronto Area. Throughout the years, his wealth of experience and committed efforts have made a valuable impact on TEC Canada, as described by TEC’s President, Catherine Osler.
Brian has proved to be the perfect model of dedication and strength for our organization over the past two decades. I have been fortunate enough to work directly with Brian over the past 10 years as his colleague and as a TEC Chair have first-hand exposure to his relational style and mentorship talents. His members learn by his example, or by simply spending a few minutes listening to his always insightful and straightforward guidance. Brian is funny, warm, pleasant, enthusiastic, energetic and professional and is the sort of colleague anyone would be lucky to have on their team.
Beyond his work with TEC Canada, Brian is well-known for initiating and participating in Project Life, the first and, to date, only clinical research on the cardiac wellness of Canada’s business leaders. The study indicated that candidates whose diet, exercise and stress management interventions were supported by coaching and mentoring achieved better health results. He also developed The Resilient Leader: From Success to Significance, a program designed to help business leaders embrace and build their legacy in order to find real meaning and purpose.
In addition, Brian founded Foley Management in 1989, a business advisory and coaching consultancy. Over the years, he has helped scores of business leaders, participating in more than 7,000 hours of one-to-one coaching, as well as facilitating over 300 peer group sessions and workshops.
Prior to entering the field of executive development, Brian worked for 23 years in the broadcast industry. As corporate vice-president, he led an organization of 600 employees and was responsible for revenues in excess of $400 million. Brian earned his MBA from the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Business. He also holds an undergraduate degree in Communication Arts from the University of Montreal.
A true leader in his community, Brian also currently serves as a member of the Board of Directors of various companies, associations and non-profit organizations. He enjoys a wide range of avocations, particularly live theatre, having acted in several large productions in the past. Throughout his studies with Theatre Ontario, he has thoroughly enjoyed exploring several disciplines in dramatic art. He has been able to turn his passion for drama into a secondary business - a theatrical group that focuses on entertaining and supporting specially challenged children.
Currently, he lives in Toronto with his life partner, Monica. Together, they are very proud parents to three sons and grandparents to three grandchildren.
