Defining Moments with Dustin
Defining Moments with Dustin Heise is where leadership meets high-performance sport. Dustin, CEO of Canada Snowboard, sits down with the athletes, coaches, and leaders who know what it takes to build strong teams and values-driven cultures. Expect real conversations, practical insights, and a closer look at the world of snowboarding, from Olympic drama to grassroots beginnings.
Defining Moments with Dustin
Michael Naraine: Chairperson, Canada Snowboard
In this episode of Defining Moments, Dustin Heise sits down with Dr. Michael Naraine, a trailblazing leader in sport management and marketing, to explore what it takes to drive meaningful change in the Canadian sports system. As the Board Chair of Canada Snowboard, President of the North American Sport Management Association, and Associate Professor at Brock University, Michael shares his insights on leadership, innovation, and the future of sport in Canada.
They discuss how Canada Snowboard navigated transformational growth, the importance of adaptability and strategic risk-taking, and the role of universities as incubators for innovation in sports. Michael also reflects on his personal journey as the first racialized chair of Canada Snowboard and his vision for inspiring the next generation of sport professionals.
Whether you’re in non-profit sports, professional athletics, or just passionate about leadership and innovation, this conversation is packed with actionable insights and real-world lessons.
Tune in to hear how strategy, vision, and people come together to define success in Canadian sport - and beyond.
00:00 – 00:33
Dustin Heise: All right, all right. Well, it's so good to be here with a good friend, longtime colleague, Dr. Michael Naraine... Welcome, Michael, and thanks so much for taking some time with us today.
Michael Naraine: Yeah, thanks so much for having me, DH. Boss is a little bit of a stretch, but...
00:38 – 01:29
Dustin Heise: He doesn't treat it like that, but let's be honest... Michael, what would you say is some of the key pieces that you see today with some of your experience that is gonna be game changing for some of the next steps in sport and digital marketing kind of space?
Michael Naraine: Yeah, I mean... Fundamentally, the most important thing is adaptability. You have to bet on yourself, pick a lane, and anticipate the next two to three steps…
03:03 – 04:01
Dustin Heise: Can you just give me a little bit of a sense of… You use that lane analogy—how do you see what Canada’s Snowboard did right and where we can continue to perpetuate that going forward?
Michael Naraine: Fundamentally, it starts with having the brand champion. And that’s you… You need to walk the talk, live up to your values, and continue to beat the drum…
08:05 – 09:42
Dustin Heise: From a board perspective, how did you guys make the strategy real? What was it like to have that “my gosh, we made it real” moment and the challenges that ensue?
Michael Naraine: We saw the big jump in numbers, and the board needed to understand sustainability… It wasn’t about a one-time shock—it was about creating a long-term, measured cadence…
15:35 – 16:46
Dustin Heise: Where are you seeing some of the biggest opportunities in the sport marketplace—both marketing or revenue generation?
Michael Naraine: The biggest opportunity is sport innovation and technology—creating synergy between universities as incubators and industry practitioners…
21:52 – 22:27
Dustin Heise: What impact do you hope to have on the next generation of sport business professionals?
Michael Naraine: Being visible as the first racialized chair of Canada Snowboard, I hope to inspire diversity and inclusion… My role is to empower people and ensure strategic visions are executed…
29:40 – 29:54
Dustin Heise: Nice, beauty. Great chat. Thank you for taking the time to do this today, Michael.
Michael Naraine: Yeah, thanks man. Thanks for having me and thanks Matt for doing all the work on the back end.
