Known as the ‘no-nonsense’ dynamo, Isabelle Mercier Turcotte is a force in the branding and business world. As a best-selling author, two-time TEDx speaker, and the co-visionary behind LeapZone Strategies and the Build To Rock™ Success System, she’s dedicated her career to elevating brands and leaders to be The First, The Best, or The Only. With her book “The Next Big Thing: Top Trends From Today’s Leading Experts to Help You Dominate the New Economy” hitting bestseller lists, and the dynamic host of LeapTV.com, Isabelle is a momentum generator with a clear mission: to continually catalyse significant growth and innovation.
As a “Momentum Generator,” Isabelle has over 25 years of branding, marketing and customer experience expertise, working with more than 500 companies and contributed to the success of industry giants like A&W, Robeez Footwear, HSBC Bank, and IMAX Corporation just to name a few.
At LeapZone, driven by the philosophy that “Helpfulness Is the New Power,” Isabelle and her team continually demonstrate that genuine support and strategic insight can create transformative results for businesses and individuals alike.
BuildToRock, offered by LeapZone, is an eight-week brand positioning and business success program designed for today’s competitive landscape. It provides entrepreneurs with easy-and-fun-to-implement strategies and tools designed to help them grow their business with clarity and velocity by helping them uncovering what makes their brand The First, The Best or The Only.
We welcome Isabelle Mercier-Turcotte, whose journey from successful entrepreneur to globally recognized influencer inspires emerging entrepreneurs.
What foundational principles have driven the success of LeapZone under your leadership?
At LeapZone, we live and operate by 12 principles that are designed to help us and our clients live by design not by default. These principles drive our success and are deeply rooted in a commitment to transformative growth and meaningful impact. One core principle is “Be Your Own 50 Million Dollar Client,” which emphasizes the importance of treating our own business with the highest level of care and strategic focus that we would offer to a top-tier client. This approach ensures that we are continuously pushing the boundaries of innovation and service excellence.
Another foundational principle is “Helpfulness Is The New Power.” This belief shapes our interactions and strategies, emphasizing that true power and influence come from being genuinely helpful. This principle guides us to create solutions that are not only effective but also deeply aligned with the needs and aspirations of those we serve.
These principles aren’t just slogans; they are the compass that guides every decision and strategy at LeapZone, ensuring that our work not only meets but exceeds expectations. They foster an environment where personal and professional growth can flourish, impacting not just the businesses and teams we work with, but also their communities and the broader market.
As the driving force behind LeapZone, what challenges keep you up at night, and how have you prepared to overcome them?
At LeapZone, the challenge of staying ahead through our competitive edge in an ever-evolving market keeps me on my toes. My strategy? I’m all about embracing change and leaning into learning. We’re constantly scanning for emerging trends to keep our strategies sharp and our edge keener than ever.
Keeping our team aligned and fired up is sometimes another night owl for me. We tackle this head-on with a culture steeped in open dialogue and relentless improvement. We run regular skill-ups, team huddles, and feedback fiestas to make sure everyone’s on the same page and pumped to push the boundaries.
Being proactive is my mantra here. It’s about seeing challenges not just as hurdles but as chances to lead, learn, and leap ahead. We’ve embedded this proactive stance into our core through principles like ‘Helpfulness is the New Power’ and living out our ‘Be Your Own 50 Million Dollar Client’ ethos, ensuring we walk our talk every step of the way.
Having inspired millions of individuals through your TEDx Talks and influenced over 500 businesses, how do you measure your personal fulfillment as a leader and influencer in your industry?
Personal fulfillment? It’s not just a tick on a checklist for me; it’s a roaring fire that fuels everything I do. For me, fulfillment comes from the ripple effect of our work at LeapZone—seeing a client double their business in 3 months or a TEDx audience member reaching out to share how my talk ignited a pivotal shift in them. That’s the real metric of success for me.
I measure fulfillment not in numbers, but in “units of happiness” which I talk about in my second TEDx Talk. Each “aha” moment at a workshop, every client victory, and feedback from our community, these are my indicators. It’s about knowing that what we do at LeapZone doesn’t just fill a need—it sparks change.
Moreover, as a leader, my satisfaction comes from elevating others. Watching my team grow, seeing them take on challenges with gusto, and stepping into their own as leaders in their own right, reinforces that what we’re doing is not just effective but transformative.
This continuous interaction and shared growth with both individuals and businesses keep my drive alive and confirm that we’re on the right track. Every thank you, every breakthrough, adds to my personal story of success—it’s about making life better, one person, one business at a time.
How do you define success in your professional journey, and how has this definition evolved over the years?
For me, defining success has always been about alignment and freedom. It’s tattooed right into my skin: “Happiness is when what I think, say, and do are in harmony.” This belief has profoundly shaped my professional journey. Early in my career, success was about hitting targets and milestones—those tangible wins. But as I’ve evolved, so has my definition of success.
Now, it’s about the freedom to be authentically myself in all aspects of my life and work. It’s about creating spaces—like LeapZone’s Trailblazers—where others can also find that freedom and alignment. Success is seeing someone else light up when they realize what’s possible for them. It’s about the impact we have, not just the income we make.
Freedom, to me, is total bliss. It’s not just being free from financial worries, but also being free to innovate, to make choices that align with my values, and to live and work in a way that feels deeply fulfilling. This evolution in understanding success isn’t just personal; it influences every strategy we develop at LeapZone, ensuring that what we build isn’t just profitable but profoundly impactful and liberating for everyone involved.
With over 25 years in the industry, what strategies do you use to stay motivated and continue innovating within your field?
My passion for learning, creating, and inspiring others plays a central role in keeping me motivated and innovative after more than 25 years in the industry. I thrive on the cycle of learning new concepts, applying them creatively in our work at LeapZone, and sharing these insights in ways that not only educate but also activate real change. This continuous loop of learning and teaching fuels my enthusiasm and drives constant innovation in our services.
Put simply, I love to learn, and I love to share what I learn. I find that interdisciplinary learning—whether it’s new technological trends, psychological insights, or cultural shifts—enriches my understanding and injects fresh perspectives into my work. My broad scope of interests helps me connect seemingly unrelated dots, leading to unique solutions for our clients.
Another key aspect is my commitment to sharing knowledge. Each interaction, whether through coaching, speaking, or content creation, challenges me to distill my ideas and present them in impactful ways. This not only helps those I work with but also keeps me sharp and excited about the possibilities and propels me to keep pushing the boundaries of what’s possible. As Henry Ford said it best: “whether you think you can or think you can’t, you’re right.
Could you share some key insights or takeaways from one of your TEDx Talk: How To Increase Your Units of Happiness that reflect your vision for the future of business and personal growth?
My TEDx Talk, “How To Increase Your Units of Happiness,” delves into practical strategies for enhancing life and work satisfaction through deliberate daily practices. A key insight from the talk is the concept of aligning our actions with our deepest values, which allows us to live more fulfilling lives. This alignment is essential for both personal growth and professional success, as it ensures that our endeavours are not only successful but also meaningful.
Another significant takeaway is the importance of embracing vulnerability as a strength. By not fearing having brave conversations and by opening ourselves to new experiences and honest self-reflection, we can foster genuine connections and drive innovation. This openness is critical in the modern business landscape, where authenticity and adaptability are prized.
Finally, I emphasize the role of proactive happiness practices. Instead of waiting for external circumstances to dictate our happiness, we can take charge by implementing small but consistent habits that boost our mental and emotional well-being. These practices not only improve personal happiness but also enhance team dynamics and productivity by creating a more positive and engaging work environment.
These insights are integral to developing a vision for the future of business and personal growth, advocating for a holistic approach that balances achievement with well-being.
As we all continue to innovate, I hope to leave you with a reinforced belief in the transformative power of aligning your actions with your values. This alignment not only enhances your personal happiness but also serves as a cornerstone for building sustainable and thriving businesses. Remember, true success is found not just in the milestones we achieve but in the fulfillment and joy we experience along the journey. Here’s to creating and nurturing environments—like Trailblazers—where individuals and teams can thrive through authenticity, vulnerability, and a steadfast commitment to growth.
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