The Collapse We Didn't See Coming - and What Happens Next

When any organization collapses, the public conversation turns immediately to the body count: how many jobs, how much revenue, how many programs, products, or locations are gone. Those are the visible losses, and they are real. But they are not what determines whether the organization recovers, or what it becomes if it does. That variable lives somewhere less visible: at the leadership table, in the quality of the culture among the people who have to make decisions together under pressure, often with fewer resources. This is a story anyone in leadership needs to pay attention to.

In January 2024, the federal government announced it would reduce international study permit approvals by 35%, sending shockwaves across Canadian higher education. A reasonable adjustment, by most accounts. The kind of policy correction that makes for a measured press release and a few cycles of sector commentary before the next news cycle arrives.

What followed was not a correction.
Approvals fell closer to 48%, overshooting the government's own target by nearly 100,000 permits. Ontario was projected to see a 41% reduction. It saw 75. Every province without exception landed well below its intended target, most by a margin that doubled or tripled the forecast decline. The government did not overshoot its policy. It did not understand the system it was adjusting.

Across Ontario's 24 publicly funded colleges, 23 reported a 48% decline in international enrolment. Over 8,000 jobs confirmed lost in Ontario alone, projections approaching 10,000. More than 600 programs suspended or cancelled. Four campuses closed. The sector has shed upwards of 12,000 positions nationally.

The word for this is collapse, not correction. Calling it a correction allows everyone involved to frame what happened as a policy that went slightly further than intended - and keeps the conversation inside a comfortable register. The harder conversation only opens when you use the accurate word. Because what collapsed was not just enrolment. What collapsed was a funding model that had been quietly hollowing out for two decades.

Provincial governments across the country, Ontario most acutely, had been withdrawing per-student funding for years while allowing international tuition to fill the gap. The province that now faces the deepest cuts had frozen domestic tuition since 2019 while its colleges built operating models on revenue that was, structurally speaking, one policy change away from disappearing. The cap didn't create the dependency. It exposed it.

Many leadership teams had no experience operating without dependency on international revenue. The instinct was to cut hard, cut fast, and in many cases cut far too deep. Some administrative teams, exercising leverage they had never had before, did so with gusto. The result has been not only the decimation of Canada's standing as an educational destination, but a crippling of internal capacity - faculty, programs, institutional knowledge - that may take years or decades to rebuild. The financial shock may prove easier to recover from than the human one.

And then there is what I call the ReOrg Echo - seldom discussed, consistently underestimated. It is the wave of attrition that follows an aggressive round of cuts. Faced with orphaned responsibilities, depressed colleagues, and eroded trust in leadership, many of your best people will quietly decide to leave. The institution that cut to survive finds itself understaffed for the recovery.​

Episode Summary: In this powerful episode, Tim Sweet unpacks the critical role of focus in leadership, especially when navigating the noise of political and economic uncertainty. With heartfelt clarity, Tim explores how today’s leaders can rise above the chaos by gaining altitude and stepping back to assess what truly matters. He invites us to let go of the busywork, choose the essential few priorities, and give ourselves permission to slow down and realign.

Episode Summary: In this episode of Sweet on Leadership, Tim Sweet introduces a four-part framework for navigating leadership in uncertain times. He begins with The Drift, identifying control, confusion, and collapse as signs of misalignment, not failure. In The Reset, he calls leaders to reconnect with purpose and energy by making small, aligned decisions. The Reach focuses on guiding teams with clarity and adaptability, while The Practice reframes transformation as a continuous, intentional discipline. Tim closes with a call to return to what truly matters, reshape ourselves, and lead the future with resilience and purpose.

Episode Summary: In this episode, Tim sits down with longtime friend and financial advisor Dave Appleton, who brings over 40 years of experience in financial planning. Dave shares insights on the importance of long-term financial strategies, emphasizing visualization as a powerful tool for understanding complex financial concepts. Beyond finances, Dave and Tim explore the importance of staying active and engaged in retirement to maintain both mental and physical well-being. Tune in for a conversation that blends financial wisdom with practical life lessons, helping you make smarter choices for a more secure and fulfilling future.

Travel has been a part of my work for 25 years. For the past nine years, I have treated every business trip like a stay at a sanitorium - a health retreat.

While life at home can be beautifully chaotic—kids, meals, schedules, the constant juggle—travel offers something rare: control. It’s a pocket of time where I can reset, simplify, and sharpen my focus.

It’s a new age. Ai has become a game-changer in how professionals (like me) approach providing value, networking, brand development, and task management. Discussions surrounding Ai continue to evolve, and so do the opinions about its appropriate use. I wanted to explore key themes and insights from a recent debate on Ai’s role in these domains, along with personal reflections on how Ai has transformed my workflow—not by replacing effort but by enhancing progress and creativity.
Still, there are fears, and many of them are not unfounded. It reminds me of what the Borg Queen in Star Trek: First Contact:

“We will add your biological and technological distinctiveness to our own. Your culture will adapt to service us. Resistance is futile.”
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Resistance is alive and well.

Episode Summary: In this episode of the Sweet on Leadership podcast, Tim chats with marketing expert and content creator Jared VanderMeer as he shares his proven approach to long-term brand success. He emphasizes the power of a well-structured touch point cycle, where consistent and authentic content builds trust and drives engagement. If you’re ready to shift your mindset from instant wins to building a brand that truly resonates, this episode is packed with actionable insights to help you make it happen.

Episode Summary: In this episode, Tim welcomes Amreesh Khanna, a visionary entrepreneur and the founder of OraQ, a company revolutionizing the dental industry through clinical AI solutions. Amreesh shares how OraQ is standardizing patient exams, empowering patients with transparency, and strengthening the patient-clinician relationship through informed decisions and trust. Tune in for an inspiring conversation about innovation in healthcare, leadership lessons, and the power of community impact.

Episode Summary: In this inspiring episode, Karen Dommett, Manager of Games and Competition at Special Olympics Canada, joins the podcast to share her journey from rural Saskatchewan to her impactful role in inclusive sports. Karen shares with Tim and listeners how her love for boxing not only shaped her sense of community and resilience but also empowered her to compete and win the Western Canadian championships. She highlights the transformative power of sports in fostering belonging, building confidence, and creating opportunities for connection.

Episode Summary: Tim Sweet chats with Harold Horsefall, an Indigenous issues strategist from the Pasqua First Nation, about his inspiring path from firefighter to cultural leader. Harold shares his journey rooted deeply in traditional values and leadership principles. Harold highlights the importance of preserving language, place names, and cultural landmarks and how they shape the understanding of the land. Tune in to learn more about Harold’s inspiring story, his current projects, and his vision for the future of Indigenous relations.

Episode Summary: In this final retrospective episode of the year, Tim Sweet delves into the concept of capacity, exploring how it extends beyond time and energy to include personal priorities, relationships, and intentional choices. Drawing on insights from past guests, Tim underscores the importance of leaders prioritizing themselves to avoid burnout and make space for personal and professional growth, learning how to take steps outside the comfort zone for new challenges, and focusing on key goals while relying on facts instead of hope. Tim concludes the episode with a call to action, encouraging listeners to evaluate their current state, identify areas of over-commitment, and align their choices with their goals and values.

Episode Summary: In this special retrospective episode, Tim Sweet takes listeners on a journey through the most profound moments shared by past guests, all centered around the transformative power of "vision" in leadership. Through inspiring clips, guests reveal how they discovered their vision, how it shaped their leadership decisions, and why having a clear vision is vital for success in both business and life. Whether you're seeking inspiration or looking to craft a roadmap for the future, this episode is a compelling guide to creating clarity and purpose.

Episode Summary: In this special retrospective episode, Tim Sweet revisits past guests' most profound moments to explore the idea of “arriving” — that deep sense of alignment when purpose, values, and actions converge. Through compelling anecdotes from leaders across diverse fields, this episode sheds light on how moments of arrival are not endpoints but significant milestones that shape our journey. From navigating authenticity to redefining success, Tim unpacks how leaders grow into their roles and discover their impact.

Episode Summary: In this episode, host Tim Sweet and business stylist and image consultant Melanie Potro delve into the unique challenges women face in maintaining their careers during their 40s, 50s, and 60s. Noting that 66% of women cite family obligations as a reason for leaving the workforce and 40% believe menopause negatively impacts their careers, Melanie highlights the often-overlooked physical and emotional toll on women in these age groups. Through Tim’s coaching and Melanie’s style of guidance, women can gain the support and expertise they need to stay on top of their careers at any age.

Episode Summary: Imagine a world where leaders don’t just direct but inspire—where every conversation sparks growth and trust. In this episode, Tim and Sehaam explore how modern leaders can use coaching skills to foster collaboration, innovation, and stronger team connections. Sehaam discusses the rise of younger leaders eager to embrace a different model of leadership—one that prioritizes understanding individual team members, building mutual trust, and supporting personal growth over command and control.

Episode Summary: In this episode, outdoor adventurers Tim Beissinger and Renee Miller, known as the “Thru Hikers,” dive into their transformative journey from academia to the trail. They share stories of how they re-prioritized their lives to pursue hiking, including Renee’s incredible achievement of completing the Oregon section of the Pacific Crest Trail in a record 14 days and Tim’s memorable solo hike around the Tahoe Rim Trail. Along the way, they reflect on the mental and physical challenges of such feats, the unexpected influence they've had on others, and how hiking opened new doors in both their personal and professional lives.

Episode Summary: Ready to explore how small fitness tweaks can boost your energy and enhance your leadership skills? In this episode of Sweet on Leadership, Tim Sweet talks with personal trainer Erin Ashbacher about the vital connection between physical wellness and leadership performance. They explore simple strategies for incorporating exercise into busy routines, offering tips for executives and caregivers alike to recharge their energy and mental resilience.

Episode Summary: In this episode, Tim Sweet explores the challenge of authenticity in leadership. He discusses the importance of truth and integrity, even when feeling overwhelming pressure to compromise. Tim elaborates on how most fears stem from ignorance or fallacy and explains that facing fear, embracing discomfort, and staying aligned with reality are essential to building trust with others and oneself.

Episode Summary: In this episode, Time Sweet and leadership coach Massimo Backus discuss the journey of leadership through the lens of self-discovery, curiosity, and self-compassion. Massimo shares his personal transformation from an objectively bad manager to a transformative leader, emphasizing the importance of curiosity and working within the natural laws of leadership. The episode concludes with a call to action for leaders to practice self-compassion and kindness towards themselves, with Massimo encouraging listeners to reach out for book collaborations.

Episode Summary: Join Tim Sweet in episode 38 of the "Sweet on Leadership" podcast as he interviews Peter Root, co-founder of Wildfire Robotics. Learn how Peter's innovative technology is revolutionizing wildfire management and how building strong relationships with fire, technology, and community can drive meaningful change. Discover how leaders can achieve success by focusing on building and maintaining key relationships.

Episode Summary: In this episode of the Sweet on Leadership Podcast, Tim Sweet hosts leadership coach, Jeff Massone. Their conversation explores the impact of distractions on personal growth and productivity. They stress the importance of intentional information consumption and surrounding oneself with positive influences. Jeff shares strategies for minimizing distractions and achieving consistent success. They also discuss the benefits of personalized coaching over generic corporate training, emphasizing how tailored approaches can effectively develop leadership skills and foster genuine growth within organizations.

Episode Summary: In this episode of the Sweet on Leadership podcast, Tim Sweet welcomes back Rita Ernst, an esteemed organizational psychologist and founder of Ignite Your Extraordinary. They discuss the detrimental effects of comparison in the workplace and the importance of cultivating a growth mindset. Rita shares insights from her career, and her book, "Show Up Positive," focusing on creating fulfilling and joyful work environments. Join us as we explore strategies to combat discontent and maximize every experience on your professional journey.

Episode Summary: In this insightful episode, Tim responds to the most compelling questions submitted by listeners over the past year. A major theme explores permitting yourself to make big changes. Tim dives deep into topics such as recognizing and navigating career slumps, the evolving nature of skill sets in rapidly changing industries, and how to pursue passion in your career. For those balancing leadership roles with creative ambitions, Tim offers guidance on re-engaging with your passions without sacrificing your career progress.

Episode Summary: ​​Join Tim Sweet as he welcomes Julie Freedman Smith for an insightful discussion on leadership, parenting, and navigating life's pivotal moments. Julie, a renowned parenting expert, shares her wisdom on guiding children without limiting them and how adults can re-evaluate their paths to find true fulfillment. Tune in for a conversation that spans from childhood influences to adult leadership dynamics.