Behind the Growth

In this episode of Behind the Growth, host Mudassar Malik chats with Hasan Jafri, VP Engineering, Digital Business Solutions at TELUS. As they explore Hasan's extensive background, starting from his early days in Northern Virginia to influential roles in various major corporations, Hasan talks about his time at companies like IBM and Citibank, focusing on his experiences in handling large-sca...

In this episode of Behind the Growth, host Imran Mian welcomes Sabih Ahmed from Scotiabank, who shares his decade-long experience in deploying conversational AI. Sabih emphasizes the importance of aligning conversational AI applications with customer needs over mere cost-cutting. He explains how these technologies should focus on high-volume, low-complexity tasks to optimize operational efficiency...

In this episode of Behind the Growth, Mike Hamilton, President of GE HealthCare Canada, explores the critical role of AI and digital transformation in the healthcare sector. He discusses GE HealthCare's innovative solutions, including AI-powered technology like True Fidelity in CT scanning, which revolutionizes cardiac care by providing clinicians with detailed real-time heart images. This te...

In this episode of Behind the Growth, host Imran Mian chats with Matt Collins, Chief Commercial Operations Officer at Calix, a company that transitioned from a traditional networking equipment provider to a cloud services leader. Matt shares insights into how Calix shifted from hardware to software, detailing the strategic vision, challenges, and the importance of meeting customer needs. As the ep...

In this episode of Behind the Growth, Imran Mian hosts Aaron Cheng, VP of Digital Health at Shoppers Drug Mart, to dive into the transformative power of digital health in pharmacy care. Aaron shares his journey from a career in engineering and digital products, through various startups, to his current role. He emphasizes the significant impact digital solutions like the PC Health app are making in...

In this episode of Behind the Growth, Imran Mian engages with Andrea De Mauro, a renowned Data & Analytics Leader, Author, and Executive Advisor, to explore the intricacies of artificial intelligence (AI), particularly Generative AI, and its human-centric challenges. Andrea shares insights from his extensive experience, emphasizing the importance of ethical considerations and the human element...

In this episode of Behind the Growth, Imran Mian hosts Ramzi Rahbani, VP of Product & Customer Platforms at FlightHub, to discuss digital transformation within the travel industry. With extensive experience in steering digital transformation across industries, Ramzi shares insights from both the banking and travel sectors, drawing parallels between the two and revealing how digital innovation...

In this Behind the Growth episode, Mudassar Malik chats with Larry Baziw, exploring the intersection of eSIM technology and the telecom industry. They dive into how eSIMs are shaping the future, offering insights into the technology's flexibility and impact on consumer experiences. Drawing from his unique blend of interests in technology and music, and an early career in medical engineering,...

In this episode of Behind the Growth, host Imran Mian welcomes Sedef Akinli Kocak, the Director of Professional Development at the Vector Institute, which has played a pivotal role in advancing Canada as a hub for innovation in the global AI landscape. As Sedef reflects on her journey from academia to leading professional development in AI, their conversation highlights the Vector Institute's...

In this insightful episode of Behind the Growth, host Mudassar Malik engages with Nelson De Jesus, Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer at CIBC. They dive into Nelson's unexpected journey into the banking and IT sector, revealing the serendipitous encounters and choices that shaped his career. Nelson shares his philosophy on leadership, emphasizing the importance of vision, wor...

In this episode of Behind the Growth, host Imran Mian dives into the ever-evolving world of artificial intelligence with Yannick Lallement, the Chief AI Officer at Scotiabank. They reflect on the transformative journey of AI, particularly since the emergence of ChatGPT in late 2022, highlighting how AI has shifted from a buzzword to a crucial force reshaping business and everyday life. Yannick sha...

In this episode of Behind the Growth, host Imran Mian engages with Vince Gasparro, a leading figure in sustainable finance, to dissect the intertwining worlds of the financial industry, government, and environmental sustainability. The conversation opens with Vince's professional journey, highlighting his influential roles and deep-rooted commitment to climate action.  As the dialogue delves...

In this inspiring episode of Behind the Growth, we celebrate Lisa Sutherland, Senior Director of Emerging Markets at Rogers Communication. More than a leader, Lisa is a dedicated advocate for diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging, and shares invaluable insights with our host, Mudassar Malik. The episode starts with Lisa recounting her professional journey at Rogers Communication, where she ha...

In this episode of Behind the Growth, host Mudassar Malik engages in a thought-provoking conversation with Ryan Chong, Senior Director of Digital Service and Support at Rogers Communications. From the evolution of self-service to its future, the conversation uncovers great insights about the customer experience landscape.  As the discussion unfolds, Ryan emphasizes the pivotal role of digital self...

In this episode of Behind the Growth, host Imran Mian engages in an insightful discussion with Ujjwal Goel, Senior Director at Loblaw Companies Limited. Their conversation delves into the crucial role of data strategy within the realm of artificial intelligence and machine learning. Ujjwal underscores the critical importance of a robust data strategy for organizations aiming to harness the full po...

In the latest episode of Behind the Growth, host Mudassar Malik is joined by Luca Maraschi, Co-Founder and CEO of Platformatic. Luca shares his rich career journey, from working in various roles in different industries, including gaming and tech, to founding and exiting various companies.  Luca discusses the importance of different perspectives, emphasizing how working with large customers across...

In this episode of Behind the Growth, join Mudassar Malik as he sits down with Managing Director of ASG and Simplii Financial, Jimmy Dinh. Jimmy describes his university days as a computer engineer during the transformative dot-com boom, shedding light on the challenges and opportunities he encountered at the start of his career. He was inspired not only by the technology itself, but also by the b...

In the latest episode of Behind the Growth, host Mudassar Malik engages in a candid conversation with Sorin Hogiu, an Agile Transformation Leader. Sorin's incredible tech journey, spanning across countries and industries, started in Romania and led him to extraordinary experiences. He shares insights from his early forays into networking, his transition to software development, and his eventu...

Join host Imran Mian in this captivating episode of Behind the Growth as he dives deep into the world of AI and digital engagement with Robert Simon, the Senior Manager of Digital Adoption at Bell Media. Prepare to be inspired as Robert takes us on a fascinating journey, from his initial discovery of passion for digital technologies to his current role in the telecom industry, where he empowers bu...

In this episode of Behind the Growth, host Mudassar Malik sits down with Chris Madan, VP of Digital Sales & Service at TELUS. Chris shares his unique career journey across Aviation, Financial Services and Telecommunications, emphasizing the common thread - a focus on customer experience. As the custodian of TELUS's digital storefront, Chris and his team are on a mission to humanize digita...

In this episode of Behind the Growth, Imran sits down with Corby Fine, a marketing leader, to discuss the ever-evolving world of digital. Corby discusses the shift in investments towards the inner workings of a digital business, emphasizing the critical importance of flexibility and adaptability in today's rapidly evolving digital landscape. As a respected voice in the industry, Corby stresse...

Join Mudassar Malik in this episode of Behind the Growth as he sits down with Gaurav Bhatia, CMO at PenFed Credit Union, to uncover the secrets behind PenFed’s success, which according to Gaurav, are anchored in their people and culture. Gaurav shares how critical it is to be part of a team that believes in the company's vision and is motivated to work toward a shared goal. In addition, a lea...

In this episode of the Behind the Growth podcast, we delve into the insightful perspectives of Faisal Kazi, the President and CEO at Siemens Canada, on the vital aspects of business leadership. Faisal emphasizes adaptability and learning from mistakes as crucial aspects of change management. He also discusses the importance of continuous learning and feedback in creating a progressive work environ...

In this episode, host Mudassar Malik sits with Laura McCutchan, a seasoned UX design leader with experience in various web designer roles. McCutchan emphasizes the importance of effective communication within teams, sharing personal experiences on how it influences project outcomes. She speaks of the power of inclusive conversation and design thinking, shedding light on the significance of consult...

Pricing is complex but one of the biggest growth levers–even in a dire economy, and It continues influencing customer decisions. So invest in getting it right. In this episode of Behind the Growth, we invited Vice President of Marketing at Revenue Analytics, Michael McCunney, to share what successful Revenue Management is all about and how you can price to balance customer value and business growt...