Built In Canada

At 14, Victor arrived from Moldova with no English and a lot to prove. Today he leads teams in finance—and credits his results to an iron morning routine (steam sauna → 3°C cold plunge) and a mindset he calls “mental calluses.” In this Built in Canada episode, Victor explains why Canada is kind but competitive, how to lead when you’re the youngest in the room, and why success starts outside your c...

At 14, freshly arrived from Beirut’s Armenian district, Ishkhan grabbed a snow shovel to help his family—and never stopped moving. In this candid Built in Canada episode, he breaks down why Canada rewards early risers and doers, how family support made his business possible, and why money isn’t the goal—time and quality of life are. ⏱ Timestamps 00:00 – “This country isn’t for the lazy”: 5AM start...

What does it take to leave behind uncertainty, start over in a new country, and build a successful diamond business in one of the most competitive markets in the world? In this episode of Built in Canada, Taron shares his journey from Armenia to Canada, his early struggles during the 2008 financial crisis, and how he transformed challenges into opportunities by launching PT Diamonds in 2010. You’l...

What does it take to turn a small side hustle into a successful business serving clients across Canada and beyond? In this episode of Built in Canada, Emin shares how he went from making signs in an apartment hallway to building one of the leading wholesale sign manufacturing companies in North America. ⏱ Timestamps: 00:00 – The beauty of Canada & the opportunities it offers 01:08 – Emin’s jou...

Leaving Armenia as a young dentist, Dr. Ben faced one of the toughest challenges for any immigrant — rebuilding his professional life in Canada from scratch. In this inspiring episode of Built in Canada, we dive deep into: ⏱ Timestamps: 00:00 – Armenia vs. Canada: adjusting to a multicultural country 03:00 – Moving to Canada as a dentist & early struggles 06:00 – The 10-year journey to get lic...