Ken Smithard began working at Cogeco Connexion in 1999. He spent nearly two decades with the Montreal-area cable operator, holding various positions involving the oversight of sales and marketing, organizational performance, strategy, and process improvement before advancing to the role of president and chief executive officer. Ken Smithard developed an effective management team during his time as the leader of Cogeco, allowing him to focus on long-term strategic planning and business improvement goals.
Mr. Smithard has received several industry awards throughout his career, including honors for his accomplishments in marketing, branding, and product development. His businesses have ranked among the top 10 best employers in Quebec on several occasions, and he has received recognition as one of Canada’s most sustainable executive leaders.
Mr. Smithard became a doctoral candidate with the J.J. Strossmayer University of Osijek Faculty of Economics in 2023. He has focused his studies on innovation, with an emphasis on Canada’s gross domestic product growth compared to other G7 countries. He holds a master of business administration from Concordia University and a commerce degree from McGill University.
What is your typical day, and how do you make it productive?
Prioritization of activities is my key, based on long-term projects and goals and taking into account items that have risen. I bucket work and activities in what needs to be done, this quarter, month, week and day.
I always start my day by reviewing, adjusting items for these different buckets and tackle the work, tasks, meetings etc. accordingly.
How do you bring ideas to life?
Create a vision, try to attempt to bring complex thoughts into a clear and concise vision. One to three pages. Including why we need to do this, link to the strategic plan, and benefits to stakeholders.
What’s one trend that excites you?
Using technology (AI, cloud computing and high-speed networks) to improve productivity and quality of life.
What is one habit that helps you be productive?
Prioritization of effort and avoiding work that is not strategically aligned or adds minimal value.
What advice would you give your younger self?
Do not be a perfectionist, delegate more and trust the people around you.
Tell us something you believe that almost nobody agrees with you on.
Return to the office is not necessarily better. Hybrid and remote work has its place. It’s not one size fits all.
What is the one thing you repeatedly do and recommend everyone else do?
Check in with stakeholders: below, beside, above you. Include key vendors.
When you feel overwhelmed or unfocused, what do you do?
Take time to reprioritize and then move forward. Do not get paralyzed.
What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business or advance in your career?
Do not be a perfectionist, delegate more, and trust the people around you.
This made me much more productive. It motivated and created better engagement with the team around and improved work-life balance.
What is one failure in your career, how did you overcome it, and what lessons did you take away from it?
I should have managed relations with the board better. It’s not just about delivering the numbers.
What is one business idea you’re willing to give away to our readers?
One simple but effective business idea is to create a structured support or coaching program focused on helping people solve a specific, everyday problem—such as productivity, stress, career transitions or personal organization.
The concept is to take a common challenge and turn it into a repeatable experience: a series of sessions, resources and check-ins that guide people from confusion to clarity. This can be offered one-on-one, in small groups or as a digital program.
What is one piece of software that helps you be productive? How do you use it?
Cloud-based everything and tools that allow team collaboration. i.e. Google or Microsoft 360.
What is the best $100 you recently spent? What and why?
Take someone for a coffee, lunch dinner etc. What you learn in a more informal setting will be more insightful and honest that you learn in a meeting.
Do you have a favorite book or podcast you’ve gotten a ton of value from and why?
My favorite author is Harlan Coben. Really enjoyed the book “Run Away.”
What’s a movie or series you recently enjoyed and why?
A business-related series I recently enjoyed was “Dirty Money.” It’s a documentary series that dives into major cases of corporate fraud, greed and ethical failures across different industries. What stood out to me is how each episode breaks down complex business issues in a way that’s both engaging and informative, from financial misconduct to leadership decisions that had large-scale consequences.
I found it particularly interesting because it highlights the real-world impact of business decisions. It’s easy to focus on growth and profitability, but the series reinforces how important transparency, accountability, and ethical leadership are to long-term success. Seeing how quickly things can unravel when those elements are ignored was both eye-opening and practical.
Overall, it’s a series that goes beyond surface-level success stories. It provides a nuanced look at both the opportunities and risks in business, which I think is valuable for anyone interested in leadership, strategy or decision-making.
Key learnings
- The best way to be productive and succeed is to work collaboratively and trust the people around you.
- Engage with stakeholders and listen to their input to gain multiple perspectives.
- Never underestimate the importance of relationships—at all levels of the organisation.