Delta Leadership Networking: Get to Know Graham Snowfield

For attendees of Delta Leadership Networking to get to better know speakers in advance of events, I created my own "Colbert-style" questionnaire.

Graham Snowfield, 8x Certified High Performance Coach, Founder of Semper Leadership Certified Coaching and Wild Walks Wilderness Coaching, and other local leaders for a conversation on:

• Single Points of Failure - how to identify & strategies to avoid / mitigate
• Deep Play & Deliberate Rest - the 2 missing elements of the 10,000 hour rule
• Winning Aspirations for 2025 - most effective ways to build & execute your strategy

Delta Leadership Networking Questionnaire:

Q1: What attracted you to live / work in Delta?

GS - my wife has had horses in Ladner for longer I've known her, which originally put in on my list. I've lived all over the place from Victoria, Vancouver, North Van, Kingston, near Niagara Falls, the Dominican Republic, plus a couple of stints in Guadalajara. I love the mountains, but as long as I can get them to easily, I'd rather live close to the ocean. It's very calming for me.

Q2: Where in Delta do you most love being in nature?

GS - this is tough for because I spend so much time outside (at least 4 hours moving, every single day, for nearly 4 years). I love being on my stand up paddle board on a summer evening between Barber & Duck Island. My family and I love being on the dike together, whether its with our horses, walking our dog, checking out short-eared owls, or watching coyotes.

Q3: Favourite animal that lives in Delta?

GS - first place is a tie between the animals that make up our family. We have 2 cats, a dog, 2 horses and lease the best Shetland Pony for our daughter. Second, I think I have to say coyotes. They seem to be my spirit animal. I have between 150 - 250 coyote sightings each year. They have incredible personalities.

Q4: What is the most under appreciated thing about Delta?

GS - 100% the dike. It's not even close. In my mind, this is the single greatest amenity we have and it is so unbelievably under appreciated. It keeps us safe, gives us some of the best agricultural land in the province, and most of all, the biodiversity. I've seen everything from Mink to Snowy Owls to thousands of eagles to coyotes hunting and playing... few things beat walking with my horse along the dike at sunset. 

Q5: Why do you do what you do?

GS - the best "paydays" for me are emotional. When I can help someone change the trajectory of their life and the lives of those they care about most... it is unbelievably fulfilling. Helping someone become a better leader or crafting a better strategy is incredibly rewarding.

With Wild Walks - it's giving people that experience. Taking them somewhere they otherwise never would have or could have gone, getting them away from distractions, and giving them the most beneficial breakthrough of their life.

Q6: What do you know for sure?

GS - that success to me is the ability to be present for as many moments as possible both with and through the relationship with my wife.

Q7: What's worth doing even if you fail?

GS - Everything. (Yes. I'm stealing my answer from Amy Bonner.)

Q9: Where do you see the greatest opportunity over the next year?

GS - going deeper on my leadership coaching. Executing a business model so that I can spend as much time as I desire with my daughter giving her experiences.

Q10: What do you do to continually grow and develop as a leader?

GS - I have a voracious appetite for learning. I believe in Maya Angelou's quote "do the best you can until you know better. Then, do better." I also believe it is our responsibility to become better, to do better, to inspire others, to give back, support & elevate others. With that in mind, I:

• have at least 1 weekly coaching call (10+ years)
• read at least 1 book per week (15+ year habit)
• attend a personal development event or conference every quarter (15 year habit)
• spend at least 10 - 20 days every year without access to a cell phone signal (15 year habit)
• ask a ton of questions

Q11: In the movie of your life, what song plays during the closing credits?

GS - (I've Had) The Time of My Life - Bill Medley & Jennifer Warnes (yes, the song made famous by Dirty Dancing).

Q12: Why did you say "yes" to speaking at Delta Leadership Networking?

GS - I believe in the power of community. I believe in spaces where we all belong. Social connection is incredibly important for all of us. I have been an integral part of building the biggest, most connected, and motivating social groups that I have participated in. So here we are.

To be updated on future Delta Leadership Networking events click here.