Behind the Business

On this episode of Behind the Business, Ian is joined by Aaron Toplician from Excellence in Manufacturing Consortium (EMC). Aaron is the Manufacturing Consortium Manager for Southern Ontario. Aaron brings more than a decade of experience working across advanced robotics, software, AI, and cybersecurity, and now works directly with manufacturers across Southern Ontario to help them navigate growth,...

On this episode of Behind the Business, Ian is joined by Kevin Litwiller, Strategic Partner with Schooley Mitchell, the largest independent cost reduction consulting firm in North America. Kevin brings decades of experience as a senior leader, entrepreneur, and investor, with a deep understanding of what it really takes to run and grow a business. In his work, Kevin helps organizations uncover hid...

On this episode of Behind the Business, Ian is joined by one of Canada’s leading economic voices, Pierre Cléroux, Vice President, Research and Chief Economist at BDC. With more than 25 years of experience shaping economic policy, advising governments, and analyzing business trends across Canada and globally, Pierre brings a unique perspective on what’s really driving success, and risk, for today’s...

Tomoko King is a Japan–Canada business advisor who helps organizations navigate the real challenges that come with cross-border partnerships. Things like misaligned expectations, different decision-making styles, and communication gaps that can quietly slow down progress or strain relationships. Tomoko brings a unique lens to her work. She was born in Canada, raised in Japan, and spent over 15 yea...

André Killingbeck is the 2025–26 Ambassador for Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest, and the first male Ambassador in the program’s history. At just 24 years old, André brings a unique blend of healthcare experience, community leadership, and cultural pride to this one-of-a-kind role. By day, he works as a Care Access Coordinator at CBI Home Health. By night, and often on weekends, he’s representing on...

Dr. Mohamed Alarakhia is the CEO, founder, and visionary force behind Amplify Care. Amplify Care is a not-for-profit, founded as the eHealth Centre of Excellence in 2014, and was established to support clinicians and their teams with the innovative solutions that meet their needs and improve patient experience. Dr. Alarakhia’s career spans family medicine, digital health, and education, with deep...

Andrew Leith, Founder of Octant Executive Advisory Group, joins Behind the Business to unpack what it really takes to lead through complexity and change. Andrew’s leadership philosophy wasn’t shaped in a boardroom. It began on a marina in Southern Ontario. Growing up on the water taught him early lessons about unpredictability, resilience, and navigating uncertainty. Those lessons became the found...

On this episode of Behind the Business , Ian McLean sits down with Gary and Kim Evans — a husband-and-wife team who’ve built far more than an award-winning wedding photography brand. Ranked among the top photographers in the world, Gary and Kim have gone on to launch multiple businesses, redefining what’s possible within the creative economy. From Gary’s bold move from Wales to Canada and the chal...

Philip Mills is the CEO of Habitat for Humanity Waterloo Region and BUILD NOW: Waterloo Region. Housing affordability has become one of the defining challenges of our time, impacting businesses, families, talent attraction, and the overall health of our communities. Fortunately, Philip is at the forefront of tackling housing from both an affordability and systems-change perspective. In this conver...

Kelly Koner is an Account Executive at Rolldog CRM — an award-winning Canadian platform helping businesses better understand their customers, streamline sales, and drive smarter growth. Kelly’s career spans consumer goods, analytics, and technology, with a strong foundation right here in Waterloo Region as a graduate of Wilfrid Laurier University’s Lazaridis School of Business. She has previously...

Tamim Hamidi is Manager, Community Outreach at Serco Canada and a leader on the EmployNext work across the Kitchener-Waterloo-Barrie catchment. He oversees community outreach and partnership-building that connects job seekers to employers, reduces hiring friction, and supports workforce development across the region. In this episode, we talk about how Serco’s employment services work on the ground...

Montana Wilson, P.Eng., EMBA, is the founder and CEO of GRIT Engineering, a values-driven consulting firm delivering civil, geotechnical, environmental and surveying services across Ontario. Montana started as a practicing engineer and progressed into leadership with a clear mission: put people and community outcomes at the centre of infrastructure work. In this episode of Behind the Business , Mo...

Dorothy McCabe, elected Mayor of Waterloo in 2022, brings decades of municipal experience and community-focused leadership to City Hall. In this episode we go behind the business of running a city — from the early career moments that shaped her, to the hands-on decisions that produce visible outcomes for residents. Dorothy discusses housing and growth, partnerships with post-secondary institutions...

In this episode of Behind the Business , we sit down with Andy Taylor, President & CEO of Gore Mutual Insurance Company, and Neil Parkinson, Chair of Gore’s Board of Directors. Built on a foundation of financial strength for more than 180 years, Gore is one of Canada’s first property and casualty insurance companies. They are deeply rooted in community and are driving bold change with their in...

Today’s guest is John Thomas, CEO of Connect Airlines, a company on a mission to rethink regional aviation and lead the way in sustainable air travel. With a career that spans global airlines, startup ventures and bold innovation, John brings a unique perspective on leadership, infrastructure, and what it takes to build connectivity in today’s fast‑changing world. In this episode we’ll explore Joh...

Ronjiny Basu is the founder of Puddles Swim School in Kitchener, a program dedicated to helping children develop confidence, safety, and joy in the water. After years in corporate program management and marketing, Ronjiny followed her passion to create a high-impact, safety-focused swim school that combines Montessori-inspired teaching with sensory-friendly design. In this episode, we go behind th...

Shawna Leifso and Greg Quaile, the husband-and-wife team behind Subtly You, have built a medical aesthetics business that stands out through creativity, community engagement, and personalized client experiences. In this episode of Behind the Business , we explore how they combine clinical expertise with smart marketing strategies to grow a thriving business while staying authentic. Tune in to hear...

Karen Gallant is the President and CEO of Junior Achievement JA South Western Ontario  on, one of Canada’s most impactful youth organizations helping students develop financial literacy, entrepreneurial thinking, and work-readiness skills. Under her leadership, JA has expanded across the region, embraced digital learning, and continues to inspire young people to take ownership of their futures. We...

Precious Julius, founder of Last Minute Gallery, is transforming how Waterloo Region experiences art. What began as a passion project has grown into a vibrant, award-winning platform that celebrates emerging artists, fosters collaboration, and brings art directly into the community through immersive, hands-on events. In this episode, Precious shares the journey of building Last Minute Gallery, the...

Vanessa Simon is the founder of Vanessa’s Cuisine. She made a bold career change from nursing to entrepreneurship, creating a Caribbean-rooted food brand that’s now featured on store shelves across Waterloo Region. Along the way, Vanessa has built strong community connections, earned the 2025 Exceptional Small Business of the Year Award (community-voted), and used her platform to inspire women and...

Today’s episode is sponsored by BDC – the bank for Canadian entrepreneurs , as we celebrate BDC Small Business Week, from October 19-25. Each day, we’re spotlighting a different small business owner from our community — the people who power our local economy, create jobs, and bring innovation to life. We’re also excited to have this year’s theme focus on the economic revolution, and getting your b...

Today’s episode is sponsored by BDC – the bank for Canadian entrepreneurs , as we celebrate BDC Small Business Week, from October 19-25. Each day, we’re spotlighting a different small business owner from our community — the people who power our local economy, create jobs, and bring innovation to life. We’re also excited to have this year’s theme focus on the economic revolution, and getting your b...

Today’s episode is sponsored by BDC – the bank for Canadian entrepreneurs, as we celebrate BDC Small Business Week, from October 19-25. Each day, we’re spotlighting a different small business owner from our community — the people who power our local economy, create jobs, and bring innovation to life. We’re also excited to have this year’s theme focus on the economic revolution, and getting your bu...

Today’s episode is sponsored by BDC – the bank for Canadian entrepreneurs, as we celebrate BDC Small Business Week, from October 19-25. Each day, we’re spotlighting a different small business owner from our community — the people who power our local economy, create jobs, and bring innovation to life. We’re also excited to have this year’s theme focus on the economic revolution, and getting your bu...

As we celebrate BDC Small Business Week, from October 19-25. Each day, we’re spotlighting a different small business owner from our community — the people who power our local economy, create jobs, and bring innovation to life. We’re also excited to have this year’s theme focus on the economic revolution and getting your business ready.  Today, we’re sitting down with Paul Brosnan of Atum Financial...