A New Wave of Entrepreneurship

In this episode, host Rebecca Scott chats with Meltem Kilicaslan—Qualified Mediator, Founder of MELTEM K Consulting, and advocate for organizational harmony—about why conflict resolution skills are truly a superpower. Meltem shares her journey from being a conflict avoider to becoming a leader in mediation, showing how reframing conflict can unlock stronger relationships, healthier workplaces, and...

In this episode, host Scott Stirrett chats with David Sinkinson—award-winning author of Startup Different, podcaster, and Co-Founder of AppArmor—about the myths that often mislead early-stage founders. David shares how he and his brother bootstrapped AppArmor from an idea sparked on a university campus into a company later acquired by Motorola Solutions for $560 million, all without venture capita...

In this episode, host Scott Stirrett chats with Mehrsa Raeiszadeh, Co-Founder of MintList and startup consultant, about one of the biggest challenges early-stage founders face: how to raise money before having traction. Mehrsa shares her personal journey of building MintList in a crowded marketplace—competing against companies that raised hundreds of millions—by focusing on creative ways to prove...

In this episode, host Scott Stirrett chats with Jordyn Benattar, Founder and President of SpeakWell, to explore the power of authentic public speaking. Jordyn introduces her revolutionary concept of "private speaking" – communicating publicly with the same ease and authenticity as you would with close friends and family. Drawing from her background, she shares profound insights into why public spe...

In this episode, host Scott Stirrett chats with Guy Levesque, Executive Director of the Hunter Hub for Entrepreneurial Thinking at the University of Calgary, to explore what makes Calgary one of Canada’s most vibrant—and underestimated—entrepreneurial cities. From its rugged roots and risk-taking culture to its rapidly growing tech sector, Guy unpacks what he calls Calgary’s “entrepreneurial DNA.”...

In this insightful conversation, host Scott Stirrett chats with Mark Franklin, Practice Leader and President at CareerCycles, Co-founder of OneLifeTools, and longtime career counselor, to explore how people navigate career transitions in today’s uncertain world. Drawing from decades of counseling experience and psychological research, Mark unpacks why many professionals feel stuck, the common trap...

In this rich and wide-ranging conversation, host Scott Stirrett chats with Peter Jaskiewicz, Patricia Saputo Chair in Family Enterprise and a leading expert on next-generation ownership, to explore what makes family businesses endure across generations. Drawing on both personal experience and global research, Peter unpacks why family enterprises—often dismissed as “traditional”—are actually hotbed...

In this episode of the Venture for Canada podcast, Scott Stirrett sits down with Naofeld Tassouni and Andy Saldana, co-founders of QueerTech, to explore their journeys as queer entrepreneurs and the creation of their organization. From their serendipitous meeting at a Montreal tech event to scaling QueerTech into a national movement, they discuss the systemic challenges faced by queer entrepreneur...

In this conversation, Scott Stirrett sits down with Vass Bednar, Executive Director of McMaster University's Master of Public Policy Program, to unpack what it really means to be a policy entrepreneur. Bednar, who's on a mission to redefine the term from its academic stereotypes, reveals how policy work can be as innovative and impactful as any tech startup. She takes us through her unconv...

In this insightful episode, Scott Stirrett speaks with Annelies Tjebbes, CEO of Roots & Rivers, and Hayley Rutherford, Senior Consultant and Operations Director, about a rarely discussed topic: how entrepreneurs can successfully take extended leaves of absence. Annelies shares her experience taking an eight-month parental leave where she completely disconnected from her business, including the...

In this dynamic episode, Scott Stirrett is joined by Eric Ries — entrepreneur, bestselling author of The Lean Startup and The Startup Way, and founder of the Long-Term Stock Exchange (LTSE). He explores how the principles of experimentation, vision, and agility can transform not only startups, but also individual careers. Eric shares how the Lean Startup methodology, originally designed to help bu...

In this thought-provoking episode, Scott Stirrett sits down with Upkar Arora, CEO of Rally Assets, to explore the profound concept of personal transformation as a pathway to global impact. Upkar shares insights from a career development course he created at the University of Waterloo, highlighting how traditional education often neglects the critical skills that truly matter for long-term career s...

In this informative episode, host Scott Stirrett delves into the intricate world of Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition (ETA) with legal expert Josh Calderon, founder of grit & co law. Josh shares his insights into the legal nuances that entrepreneurs must consider when acquiring a business. He covers practical advice on when to engage legal counsel, understanding the inevitable 'hair&#39...

In this compelling episode, Scott Stirrett is joined by Zabeen Hirji, a former Chief Human Resources Officer of RBC and a distinguished expert in the future of work, leadership, culture, and AI. Zabeen is now in her Purposeful Third Act where she unlocks the potential of people and builds inclusive prosperity. As an advocate for effective workplace adaptation to artificial intelligence, Zabeen sha...

In this insightful episode, host Scott Stirrett chats with Patrice Mousseau, the visionary Founder and CEO of Satya Organic and a member of Fort William First Nation. A former broadcast journalist, Patrice turned her investigative skills towards finding a steroid-free solution for her daughter's eczema. This quest led her to traditional medicine, rigorous medical research, and eventually to crafti...

Join us for the kickoff of Season 11 of A New Wave of Entrepreneurship. Host Scott returns to explore authentic entrepreneurship—doing business on your own terms, tackling challenges in new ways, and disrupting the status quo. This season, we dive deep into stories and insights from guests redefining the entrepreneurial landscape. Whether you’re an experienced entrepreneur or newly curious about t...

In this enlightening episode, Gina Patterson sits down with Samantha Stilwell, a Cultural Anthropologist and global team management expert. With her expertise in cultural anthropology and organizational psychology, she equips business leaders with the necessary tools to effectively navigate and engage with their diverse peers, customers, and business partners. She shares her experiences transformi...

Join host Gina Patterson as she sits down with Jennie Wedd, Senior Manager of Marketing & Partnerships at Venture for Canada. Diagnosed with ADHD later in life, Jennie shares how this revelation brought clarity but also deep feelings of shame, anxiety and isolation. Through her journey, she discovered what she believes to be the antidotes to shame: embracing vulnerability and finding joy. In t...

Join host Gina Patterson as she sits down with Nadia Ladak, Co-Founder and CEO of Marlow, a trailblazing femtech startup that introduced the world's first lubricated tampon. In this insightful episode, Nadia shares her unique challenges of pitching a female-centric product to a predominantly male investor audience. She recounts her exhilarating experience on CBC's Dragon's Den, where she secured a...

Join host Gina Patterson as she dives into an inspiring conversation with Jenessa Olson and Laura Gabor, co-founders of ecologicca, a climate tech startup transforming air quality solutions. Jenessa shares her journey from professional athlete to serial entrepreneur, driven by her personal health challenges and a passion for problem-solving. Laura reveals her path from angel investor to co-founder...

Join host Gina Patterson as she chats with Kevin La, a skilled digital media and marketing professional, a graduate of Venture for Canada’s (VFC) Intrapreneurship Program, and now VFC’s Programs Support Coordinator. Kevin opens up about his journey growing up with immigrant parents who built a successful business in Canada, all while navigating cultural shifts, language barriers, and significant c...

Join host Gina Patterson as she sits down with Shani Gwin, founder, CEO, and visionary behind pipikwan pêhtâkwan, an Indigenous owned, led, and majority staffed public relations agency. In this enlightening episode, Shani discusses her work in developing AI tools, one designed to educate others accurately about Indigenous people and another that combats misinformation, bias, and hate speech direct...

Join host Gina Patterson as she sits down with Susy Martins, Founder and CEO of Advise2Rise, business strategist, and leadership coach. They dive into the nuanced journey of scaling a company from the innovation stage to sustainable process-building. Susy shares essential strategies for founders, from building teams that balance innovators with detail-focused operators to fostering open, direct co...

Join us for an insightful episode where our host, Gina Patterson, sits down with Rachel Zimmer, Co-Founder and CEO of Simple Ventures, a Canada-first startup studio focused on bringing innovative global ideas to the Canadian market. Rachel shares her entrepreneurial journey, including the successful exit of her B2B marketplace, 5Crowd, and her experience launching North American operations for Ent...

Join us for an inspiring episode where our host, Gina Patterson sits down with Sameer Dhar, a serial entrepreneur driven by social impact and healthcare innovation. Sameer shares how co-founding his first venture, Geomeer, in high school sparked his commitment to making a difference. He reflects on lessons from Sensassure, his elder tech company, where he lived in a nursing home for a year to tran...