This week's main presentation, “The Strong Mind: Leadership Lessons from Boxing,” featured former professional boxers Cian Dalton and Bob McAdam, introduced by William Donnellan.
Cian, originally from Ireland with a background in corporate wind power, described returning to his childhood passion for boxing, eventually opening The Stretch Space wellness and recovery studio in Kitsilano with his wife, a professional dancer.

He shared highlights from his career, including sparring with then–world number one Andre Ward, and drew out lessons on resilience, humility, and fundamentals: surrounding yourself with good people, learning from those who have gone through hardship, and continuously refining basic skills even at the highest level. For motivation, Cian emphasized the power of clear goals and deadlines (like an upcoming fight) and recommended “movement snacks” instead of an all‑or‑nothing approach to fitness—brief, non‑negotiable practices such as a 3–5 minute “boxer’s bounce” while the coffee brews to release tension and reset the nervous system. He also spoke about mental health, stressing the importance of understanding the nervous system (the ability to both “rise and rest”), having a supportive community or “third place” outside home and work, and allowing ourselves to sit with difficult emotions before rushing to turn adversity into a “hero’s journey.”

Bob, who owns two boxing gyms in Metro Vancouver and previously boxed for Britain, focused on resilience, survival, and adaptive mindset. He shared a powerful personal story of being misdiagnosed with an autoimmune disorder before learning he had advanced cancer, being placed on palliative care, and told he would not live to Christmas. Drawing directly on his boxing mentality, he chose to “leave no stone unturned,” combining conventional oncology care with intensive self‑directed research, fasting, supplements, and alternative therapies, and approaching treatment with the same discipline and determination he had used in the ring. Bob explained that in his boxing days he was never afraid of opponents—only of losing—and that this fear of losing drove him to extraordinary levels of preparation, from long‑distance running to marathon skipping sessions. He now applies these principles in coaching: pushing athletes to be as strong, fit, adaptable, and intelligent as possible, able to adjust their strategy mid‑fight instead of waiting for instructions between rounds. Both speakers underscored the relevance of boxing lessons to business and leadership: staying humble and curious even when successful, working harder than those around you, being willing to pivot when circumstances change, and recognizing that sport is not just about competition but about shaping character, discipline, and life skills that serve young people long after they leave the ring.