Voice of a Leader, Podcast Episode #5: James Ricci

by Alanna Fairey

Thrilled to share the latest episode of the Voice of a Leader podcast. I am exceptionally excited that this month’s guest is James Ricci, President of Roy Foss Automotive Group, a multi-generational legacy Canadian family business.

James never expected to enter the family business founded by his grandfather, Roy Foss. He was very close to his grandfather and his mother, who became the second-generation leader of the company. After graduating from McGill University, James earned his master’s degree from the London School of Economics. He envisioned a career in consulting or private equity, but those plans changed dramatically when he graduated during the Great Recession.

With job opportunities in London scarce, James returned home, unexpectedly finding himself selling used cars in the family business. It was a humbling experience, especially as he compared himself to friends who had landed jobs at high-profile companies. 

This period triggered feelings of imposter syndrome as he struggled to reconcile his own expectations with his new reality, as James describes family business as being a ‘breeding ground’ for Imposter Syndrome.

“I entered the business feeling like I knew better, that I had a chip on my shoulder, and that I needed to prove that I was worthy of the opportunity that I would eventually have. And for me, that actually was a very negative force for the first several years of my career,” James tells our host, Lanisa Farnsworth. “At the beginning, it was like, ‘I gotta have all the answers,’ which is not what we typically think of as Imposter syndrome. It’s usually about self-doubt.”

James learned to overcome that self-doubt and run his family business in a way that was authentic to him, while also balancing the legacy of the family business. A rising star in the Canadian landscape of the mobility economy, James is a fascinating deep thinker on the subject of transformation, personal growth, and leadership. He is on a mission to curate practical big ideas to help drive futures worth getting excited about.

To learn more from James’ story, you can listen to the full episode here!

Alanna Fairey is a Client Engagement Specialist at Brand of a Leader. She has a diverse background in fashion communications, branding, and writing. Connect with Alanna here.