SK Uddin

CanadianSME Small Business Podcast

Business EN ↓ 600 episodes

Welcome to the CanadianSME podcast, a podcast for Canadian Small Businesses. In our podcasts, we interview Canadian experts and entrepreneurs to give small business owners access to expert knowledge that helps them grow their enterprises. Our mission is to empower Canadian small and medium enterprises and help them reach a bigger audience through our platform. Calling upon some of the most successful subject matter experts in the industry, the small business podcasts aim at identifying issues and finding solutions, all this while helping the business owners.

Author

SK Uddin

Episodes

400+ Businesses, Billions in Sales: The Data Framework Every SME Needs NOW 02.01.2026 29:22

Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by Maheen Bari. In this episode, we explore how Canadian entrepreneurs can navigate the digital frontier with clarity by embracing e commerce strategy, AI adoption, and data driven decision making. Our guest is David Nagy, Founder and President of eCommerce Canada and Fractional CIO for the Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters Association....

Stop Wasting ROI: Why Automation Fails Without Upskilled Workers 02.01.2026 12:47

Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by Maheen Bari. In this episode, we explore how commercial equipment financing and workforce development work together to help businesses fuel growth, boost productivity, and stay competitive. Our guest is Siraaj Grewal, Team Lead of Construction Finance at Mitsubishi HC Capital Canada . He supports construction companies in optimizing cash...

Hiring Empathy: The New Competitive Edge 02.01.2026 19:39

Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by Maheen Bari. In this episode, we explore how AI and empathy can transform the hiring experience by solving one of today’s biggest recruitment challenges: candidate ghosting. Our guest is Devon Archer, Co Founder and CEO of JobGhost . A serial entrepreneur and advocate for neurodiversity, Devon brings a deeply human perspective to recruit...

Women in Food: Skip Champions Female Entrepreneurs 24.12.2025 17:58

Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by Maheen Bari. In this episode, we explore gender equity in Canada’s food and hospitality sector and how national brands can use their influence to champion women entrepreneurs. Our guest is Melanie Fatouros Richardson, Vice President of Communications and Government Relations at Skip . Since 2019, she has helped transform the organization...

Standing Up for Canada’s Building Industry: The Tariff Conversation 24.12.2025 23:34

Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by SK Uddin. In this episode, we explore how strong advocacy, workforce development, and industry wide collaboration are shaping the future of Canada’s building materials sector. Our guest is Liz Kovach, President of Supply Build Canada , a national association representing over fourteen hundred businesses. Through the pillars of attract, c...

Unlocking Overlooked Talent: Inside Mana Hosseini’s Global Vision for Venture Capital 24.12.2025 15:42

Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by SK Uddin. In this episode, we explore the evolving world of venture capital and how investing in overlooked founders can unlock powerful innovation and economic opportunity. Our guest is Mana Hosseini, Co founder and Managing Partner at Apex Innovative Investments Ventures , a thirty five million dollar VC fund backing early stage AI, Fi...

Purpose & Profit: The B Corp Strategy 24.12.2025 16:05

Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by Maheen Bari. In this episode, we explore how purpose, sustainability, and strategy come together to help companies deliver good business done better. Our guest is Blair French, Chief Growth Officer at LMNO , a B Corp-certified creative and marketing consultancy. With over fifteen years in branding and strategy, Blair shares how purpose-a...

Chris Ward on Why Strategic Plans Fail (and How to Fix Them) 23.12.2025 17:37

Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by Maheen Bari. In this episode, we explore how strategic planning, clarity of vision, and organizational alignment help leaders turn ambitious goals into real progress. Our guest is Chris Ward , MBA, CMC, President of Strategic Directions . With experience across retail, manufacturing, consulting, and over 250 corporate retreats facilitate...

Maximize SR&ED: Keith Bailey on Non-dilutive Funding via Federal Tax Credits 23.12.2025 22:40

Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by Maheen Bari. In this episode, we explore how Canadian businesses can fuel innovation and extend their runway through smart R&D tax strategies and non-dilutive funding. We’re joined by Keith Bailey, CFO at Boast .AI, a leader in helping organizations navigate SR&ED, CDAE, and U.S. R&D programs through AI-driven automation and in-house tec...

STACKTˣ Explained: How STACKT Built a Retail Ecosystem Helping 3,000+ Small Businesses 23.12.2025 14:34

Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by Maheen Bari. In this episode, we explore how experiential retail ecosystems are reshaping community engagement and creating new growth opportunities for Canadian small businesses. Our guest is Matt Rubinoff , Founder of STACKT and STACKTx, the award-winning Toronto marketplace built from shipping containers and the community driven platf...

Abishur Prakash on How Geopolitics Is Disrupting Global Business 22.12.2025 27:42

Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by Maheen Bari. This episode is part of Tech Forward, where we explore the technologies and global forces shaping innovation, efficiency, and growth for Canadian businesses. Today, we’re diving into the fast-evolving world of geopolitics and satellite communications with Abishur Prakash, founder of The Geopolitical Business, Inc. Known as “...

Armodilo:How Canadian-Made Displays Are Powering Brand Growth 22.12.2025 16:05

Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by Maheen Bari. In this episode, we explore how digital marketing and physical design intersect to create powerful brand experiences through interactive display technology. Joining us is Shixiu Gao, Digital Marketing and E-Commerce Specialist at Armodilo Display Solutions , a Canadian leader known for its high-quality tablet terminals and c...

Responsible Spending & Growth: How PayPal Empowers Consumers & Merchants 22.12.2025 20:35

Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by Maheen Bari. In this episode, we explore how digital payments and flexible financing solutions help Canadians navigate financial stress while supporting merchants in a competitive online marketplace. Joining us is Andrea Lown, Senior Lead Product Manager for PayPal Canada , who oversees the expansion of PayPal’s trusted products, includi...

How Orchard Benefits Helps Tech Firms Attract & Retain Top Talent 22.12.2025 16:54

Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by Maheen Bari. In this episode, we explore how tech startups and scale-ups are redefining employee benefits to stay competitive, control costs, and support a modern, wellness-driven workforce. Joining us is Chris Gory, Founder and President of Orchard Benefits , a consultancy dedicated to helping Canada’s most innovative tech companies des...

Why Every Entrepreneur Needs an Exit Strategy 20.12.2025 15:54

Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by Maheen Bari. In this episode, we explore the world of mergers and acquisitions and why understanding the journey to an exit is essential for every entrepreneur. Our guest is Ugo Dionne, President of M&A CLUB INC. A seasoned entrepreneur who has built and sold multiple companies, Ugo now leads Canada’s largest network of M&A professionals...

Amazon Ads, Incrementality & Growth: Thomas Robinson’s D2C Playbook 19.12.2025 23:58

Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by Maheen Bari, where we explore strategic insights and innovative approaches empowering D2C brands to scale profitably. Today, we’re diving into the high-impact world of performance marketing and systems-driven growth. Our guest is Thomas Robinson , VP of Growth at Breath Death and Managing Partner at Direct To Growth Co., a growth leader...

Fatima Abdillahi on Using AI to Automate & Scale Smarter 19.12.2025 13:02

Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by SK , and welcome to AI for SMBs —a series dedicated to exploring how artificial intelligence is reshaping productivity, operations, and growth for small businesses across Canada. In this episode, we’re joined by Fatima Abdillahi , Founder of Agentflow , an AI automation platform built in Toronto to help property managers and SMBs streaml...

The Startup Playbook for Building Trust in the Age of Cyber Threats 18.12.2025 24:19

Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by Maheen Bari, where we explore strategic insights and innovative solutions empowering businesses to grow with clarity and confidence. Today, we’re stepping into the world of product marketing and cybersecurity, focusing on how human-centric storytelling helps businesses build trust in a threat-filled digital landscape. Our guest is Shruti...

Nitish Kasturia on Using AI to Hire Smarter, Not Harder 18.12.2025 14:18

Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by Maheen Bari. In this episode, we unpack how AI is reshaping the hiring landscape and why businesses must rethink how they identify qualified talent in an AI-driven job market. We are joined by Nitish Kasturia, Founder and CEO of EvoHire , a second-time founder and former Head of Engineering at a venture-backed GenAI startup. EvoHire is r...

From Rubber Duck to PR Success:Lessons in Festival Marketing 17.12.2025 23:29

Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by Maheen Bari. In this episode, we explore how bold ideas, experiential marketing, and strategic partnerships help businesses stand out and create memorable audience experiences. Our guest is Victoria Mahoney, Head of Marketing and Partnerships at Harmony Marketing . Recently named one of North America’s Top 40 Under 40 Event Professionals...

How Human-First Leadership Builds Future-Ready Teams 17.12.2025 22:22

Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by SK. In this episode, we explore how psychological safety and human-first leadership are shaping the next generation of high-performing teams. We’re joined by Nogol Madani, Founder and President of Glee Factor , an engineer-turned-workplace expert trusted by organizations like Google, SAP, and Rio Tinto. Her work centers on psychological...

Edward Johnson on Making AI Practical for Canadian Businesses 16.12.2025 26:01

Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by SK. In this episode, we explore how small and medium-sized businesses can move beyond AI hype and build practical, measurable strategies that drive real value. Joining us is Edward Johnson, AI Strategy Consultant at PRAKTIKAI and Founder of Ikinique Ltd. , known for bridging business strategy with deep technical insight across fintech, h...

Chris McLellan on Human-AI Collaboration: Smarter Marketing for SMEs 16.12.2025 23:40

Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by Maheen Bari. In this AI for SMBs series, we explore how Artificial Intelligence is reshaping productivity, decision-making, and growth for Canadian small businesses. Today’s episode features Chris McLellan, Founder of Friends Electric and creator of the nonprofit Ask AI. With over 15 years of experience launching breakthrough technologie...

Jordan Mair on Branding, Creativity & AI in Modern Marketing 16.12.2025 18:31

Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by Maheen Bari. In this episode, we explore the evolving landscape of modern marketing and how creativity, strategy, and technology work together to drive measurable growth for Canadian businesses. We are joined by Jordan Mair , Director of Homebuilder Marketing and Value & Innovation at ZGM Modern Marketing Partners , Western Canada’s larg...

Beyond Rhetoric:Ventura Collective on Measurable Inclusion & Resilience ISO-30415 15.12.2025 27:06

Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by Maheen Bari. In this episode, we explore how Canadian businesses can build stronger, more resilient, and inclusive workplaces by moving DEI from intention to measurable action. Today’s focus is ISO 30415, the international standard transforming DEI into a structured, accountable, business-wide practice. Joining us are Linda Espinosa Vale...