In Episode 50 of It’s Not a Straight Line, I sit down with a longtime friend: Whitney Bell, Chief Marketing Officer of the Toronto Tempo — Canada’s first WNBA franchise, tipping off in May 2026.

We talk about motherhood, building Canada’s first WNBA team, and why women’s sports is a movement — not just a moment.

Whitney takes us behind the scenes of launching a brand-new franchise, including the moment the Tempo name leaked early and the team had to pivot fast to truly “own the narrative.” We explore what it’s like to market a startup sports brand in a world that moves at full speed and how you build real brand love, not just awareness, while staying rooted in values and community.

Beyond the job title, Whitney opens up about her career journey through her experiences at Lyft, Unilever, and startups, and how those experiences shaped her resilience and leadership under pressure. She also shares candidly about IVF, miscarriage, postpartum, and the reality of balancing an executive role with two young children while building a “village” in Toronto without family nearby.

This conversation is a reminder that careers don’t move in straight lines and neither does life. Whitney is proof that you can chase big ambitions, lead with empathy, and still make space to give back and mentor the next generation.

https://tempo.wnba.com/

@TorontoTempo on Instagram

Kendra Fisher was on track for Olympic greatness—a standout goaltender with Team Canada’s hockey program who once heard the words every athlete dreams of: You made the Olympic team. But during those tryouts, her mental health had a different plan and her life changed directions.

In this episode of It’s Not A Straight Line, Kendra opens up about the five-year stretch that nearly broke her, and the moment she decided to take giving up off the table. From working tirelessly just to survive the day to actively choosing to participate in her mental health, Kendra’s story is about reclaiming power, rewriting identity, and learning how to move forward.

Now a professional speaker, podcaster, and mental health coach, Kendra draws from her experience as a firefighter, 3x inline hockey world champion, and her experience with her own mental health journey. She speaks candidly about the courage it takes to show up for ourselves and for each other.

If you’ve ever wondered how to keep going when it feels like everything is falling apart, this conversation is a masterclass in vulnerability and redefining success on your own terms.

Follow Kendra on Instagram @kfisher30 and learn more at kendrafisher.com.

On this episode of It’s Not A Straight Line, I was joined by Michael Downey, a leader who left his mark on Tennis in Canada. His career journey started far from the courts and it is anything but a straight line.

He is the former CEO of Tennis Canada and the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) in Britain, and currently serves as Chair of the Advisory Committee for the greater (a strategy consulting firm) and as a volunteer board director for Canada’s most successful community tennis hub.

Michael started his career in Consumer Packaged Goods Marketing and worked for Labatt, MLSE, Skydome, and Molson before a career pivot into tennis that would change the trajectory of the sport in Canada.

During his tenure at Tennis Canada, tennis pros like Milos Raonic, Bianca Andreescu, Denis Shapovalov, and Genie Bouchard broke through on the world stage, and there was a significant emphasis from Michael to fostering the grassroots development of the sport, add training facilities across the country, and secure key long-term partnerships

During the episode, Michael reflects on the lessons he learned early in his career, the challenges, and the moment when he joined the Toronto Raptors during their inaugural year.

We also discuss his cancer diagnosis, when Michael heard the words “you have cancer” twice in one day.

You'll hear behind-the-scenes stories from the LTA, including attending Wimbledon management meetings, sitting in the Royal Box, and seeing first-hand the tournament's focus on perfection.

This episode is filled with inspiring insights: from navigating career transitions and building resiliency, to Michael’s advice for anyone facing a job loss.