The first woman to command Canada’s military: A conversation with Gen. Jennie Carignan

Today on The Honest Talk, we’re joined by a woman whose leadership carries real weight, not just in title, but in responsibility. General Jennie Carignan is Canada’s Chief of the Defence Staff, the first woman to ever hold the role. She now leads the Canadian Armed Forces at a moment of global instability, shifting alliances, and growing expectations about Canada’s role in the world – both at home and abroad. But this conversation isn’t just about defence strategy or military command. It’s about leadership under pressure. It’s about making decisions when the stakes are incredibly high, building trust and accountability, and leading people when certainty is in short supply. General Carignan has spent decades navigating complexity, command, and consequence. Today, she brings that perspective to The Honest Talk for a conversation about service, resilience, and the very human side of leadership.