"Many thx Darren for facilitating this book club. You did an excellent job of helping us navigate the many gems of advice in the book and challenged us to put them to practical use in our everyday activities. I highly recommend this book club for your professional development. The book is also amazing."

"I'm so glad for the questions and conversations we went through because I feel it really helped me get through the week and understand what was going on with me throughout it. Thanks Darren and everyone who contributed in the sessions."

"Excellent facilitator, great preparation every time, great notes every time, great stories and examples, he made me feel very comfortable to participate from the very first session."

"Darren truly cared about my personal and professional growth. He is a consistent, reliable and selfless leader. One of the things I appreciate most about him is his ability to listen attentively and provide thoughtful advice. He has a wealth of knowledge and life experience and is always willing to share his insights and perspectives. His teaching skills and ability to connect with people at their level is outstanding. He is able to adjust his style of teaching no matter the size of the group. He creates a safe environment for his attendees where everyone is encouraged to participate. His command during the sessions is admirable and his commitment to helping others succeed is inspirational. I highly recommend Darren as a coach, mentor and/or trainer."

"I was invited by Darren to participate in a mastermind class on the book the 15 invaluable laws of growth by John Maxwell. I've been reading John Maxwell for years but to read it like this with Darren as our facilitator was very rewarding. We met every Thursday to discuss what we learned. He asked the right questions and gave us an environment to be open and honest with each other. I certainly took a lot from the time we spent in this book and made changes to my life I wouldn't normally have without the support of other people who are also trying to grow themselves. While the book was invaluable, his guidance was equally invaluable as he guided us through it and helped us dig deeper into each law and know how to apply it to each one of our lives. While we all went through this book with Darren we grew individually and as a group. It was an experience I know will continue to help me as I continue on my future career path and in my everyday life. Thank you for allowing me to be a part of this mastermind class and for your continued guidance."

"The way you managed the group and asked questions and promoted participation was great. What I like the most is your tone of voice and how you talk very clearly and paused, acknowledging the comments from participants and contributing a bit more to the discussion!"

"Darren has acted as a change-agent in our organization fostering a culture of self and professional improvement. He dedicated himself to sharing his experience and expertise by creating both a community of practice and a leadership skills book club. It was a true pleasure to participate in a book club facilitated by Darren. His thoughtfully curated discussion points on subjects, chapter by chapter, inspired open conversation helping to create new bonds with unfamiliar colleagues while strengthening existing connections. I cannot express all the ways in which I am grateful to Darren for his work. He is truly an inspiration and actively inspires those he meets."

"It was a highlight of my day to be part of this book club. Everyone was very welcoming and thoughtful and Darren made sure that everyone got a chance to speak and share their thoughts. I'm looking forward to attending another book club and continuing the friendships we made."

"I have attended a few of Darren's book-club sessions over the past year. This last series was particularly enjoyable. Instead of reading an entire book before a deadline, he brought us through the text chapter by chapter. It was easy to keep up with the group in spite of how busy my week might get. And rather than just lecturing to the group about the book, Darren stimulated discussions through exercises and always found ways to get even the quietest guests to share their perspectives about the lessons we were learning. Overall I feel intrinsically changed as a result of attending Darren's sessions. They feel more like a self-development workshop than your average run-of-the-mill book club. I am looking forward to attending more of them!"

"Also, I would like to take this opportunity to express our thanks for your leadership in conducting these workshops. You have provided our members with a valuable opportunity to improve their communication and connection skills."

"Thank you so much for hosting and facilitating September’s book club, Darren. Since it was my first book club, I didn’t know quite what to expect. You made our online sessions feel very safe and comfortable to share experiences and thoughts relevant to our readings. Also, your book selection was great, because even though all who joined came from different work backgrounds, we were able to relate to the material. I especially enjoyed meeting the other attendees, whom I would not likely meet otherwise. Expanding a sense of community at SFU among the attendees is an added value your book club brings. Thank you!"

"Darren’s facilitation of the book club was exceptional. His ability to guide discussions and create an inclusive environment made every session engaging and insightful. I learned a lot and felt inspired to apply the lessons to my personal and professional life."