CanadianSME Small Business Podcast

Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by Maheen Bari. Today, we explore how resilience, leadership, and practical AI adoption are helping entrepreneurs navigate uncertainty, improve profitability, and build businesses that are ready for long-term success. Joining us is Ema Dantas , Summit Strategist, author, and one of fewer than 130 Canadians to complete the Seven Summits . Em...

Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by Kripa Anand. Today, we explore how financial strategy, tax planning, and smart governance help founders turn funding into sustainable long-term growth. Joining us is Aman Tagore , Founder of REACH Professional . Aman shares how entrepreneurs can avoid costly financial mistakes while building stronger systems for scaling and investor read...

Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by Maheen Bari. Today, we explore how legal services are evolving through digital innovation, making access faster, simpler, and more reliable. Joining us is David Barder , CMO at NotaryPro . David shares how technology, data, and experimentation are transforming a traditionally rigid industry. Key Highlights Legal Access Gap: David explain...

Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by Maheen Bari. Today, we explore how leadership, sales systems, and operational discipline help transform a local trades business into a high-growth regional enterprise. Joining us is Ross Harold Palfrey , Owner of Harry’s Home Comfort . Ross shares the lessons learned from scaling a two-person startup into a growing team serving thousands...

Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by Kripa Anand. Today, we explore how heritage, hospitality, and community-driven experiences are redefining what it means to stand out in a competitive market. Joining us is Laura Squires , General Manager of Gladstone House . Laura shares how culture, art, and people-first leadership are helping transform one of Toronto’s most historic bo...

Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by Kripa Anand. Today, we explore how applied AI is transforming traditional industries by turning operational data into smarter, faster, and more profitable decisions. Joining us is Remi Dion , Co-Founder and VP of Applied AI at Explorai . Remi shares how niche AI tools are helping industries like construction and manufacturing modernize o...

Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by Kripa Anand. Today, we explore how AI-driven scams and digital fraud are reshaping trust, security, and financial safety in the modern economy. Joining us is David Chin , Leader of Fraud Strategy at Interac . David shares how fraud tactics are evolving and how businesses, institutions, and consumers can better protect themselves in a rap...

Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by Kripa Anand. Today, we explore how sustainability, biodiversity, and purpose-driven leadership are shaping the future of consumer brands and long-term business growth. Joining us is Angela Ysseldyk , second-generation co-owner of Dutchman’s Gold . Angela shares how family legacy, pollinator advocacy, and environmental stewardship are hel...

Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by Kripa Anand. Today, we explore how real estate, social impact, and disciplined investing can work together to solve Canada’s housing challenges. Joining us is Nikolai Ray, President of Ikigai Impact . Nikolai shares how conscious capitalism and scalable housing strategies can create both financial returns and lasting community value. Key...

Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by Maheen Bari. Today, we explore how marketing has evolved into one of Canada’s most powerful economic drivers shaping business growth, innovation, and consumer trust. Joining us is Esther Benzie , President and CEO of the Canadian Marketing Association . Esther shares how marketers are creating measurable economic impact while adapting to...

Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by Kripa Anand. Today, we explore how AI-powered devices, mobile security, and intelligent productivity tools are transforming the way professionals work in an increasingly connected business environment. Joining us is Paul Edwards , VP & GM of Enterprise Mobility at Samsung Electronics Canada . Paul shares how agentic AI, enterprise mobili...

Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by Kripa Anand. Today, we explore how AI is reshaping Canada’s innovation economy and why staying connected to the right ecosystem has become essential for business growth and competitiveness. Joining us is Isabelle Turcotte , Co-Founder and CEO of ALL IN . Isabelle shares how Canada’s largest AI event is helping SMEs, innovators, and globa...

Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by Maheen Bari. Today, we explore how professionals can navigate career pivots, personal branding, and workplace transformation in an AI-driven era. Joining us is Ariel Hennig Wood , Professional Certified Coach and Job Search Advisor at Canada Career Counselling . Ariel shares how clarity, confidence, and actionable strategies help profess...

Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by Kripa Anand. Today, we explore how leadership, AI, and security come together to build truly resilient organizations. Joining us is Steve Tcherchian , CEO of XYPRO Technology . Steve shares how businesses can move from reactive systems to proactive, secure, and high-performing digital operations. Key Highlights AI Execution: Steve explai...

Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by Kripa Anand. Today, we explore why modern payment systems and predictable cash flow are becoming critical survival tools for Canadian businesses. Joining us is Mark Loewen , President of Telpay . Mark shares how independent, value-driven payment solutions can help businesses gain greater control, reliability, and financial stability. Key...

Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by Kripa Anand. Today, we explore how AI and data are reshaping one of Canada’s largest digital marketplaces. Joining us is Justin Re , Chief Product Officer at AutoTrader . Justin shares how product innovation and AI integration are transforming the car-buying experience. Key Highlights AI Vision: Justin explains the strategy behind integr...

Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by Kripa Anand. Today, we explore how financial clarity, strategic accounting, and financial literacy are helping entrepreneurs build stronger and more sustainable businesses. Joining us is Sal Rezai , Founder of Accounting By Sal Corp. and the Bookkeeping Academy . Sal shares how business owners can better manage bookkeeping, tax planning,...

Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by Maheen Bari. Today, we explore how business ownership is evolving through acquisition and why succession planning is becoming a national priority. Joining us is Steven Wang , CEO of Venture for Canada . Steven shares how Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition is unlocking new pathways for the next generation of business leaders. Key Highli...

Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by Kripa Anand. Today, we explore how advanced wealth planning is evolving beyond traditional structures to address complex family, tax, and business dynamics. Joining us is Tim Brisibe , Vice President of Tax and Estate Planning at Mackenzie Investments . Tim shares how advisors and business owners can take a more integrated approach to pr...

Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by Kripa Anand. Today, we explore how leading media companies manage complexity, scale AI, and stay relevant in a fast-moving digital world. Joining us is Mike Rudolph , Vice President of Innovation at REDspace . Mike shares how engineering excellence and long-term thinking drive innovation across global entertainment platforms. Key Highlig...

Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by Kripa Anand. Today, we explore how digital incentives are becoming a powerful tool for engagement, retention, and global growth. Joining us is Leif Baradoy , Founder and CEO of Giftbit . Leif shares how digital rewards are helping businesses build stronger teams and customer relationships. Key Highlights Power of Digital Rewards: Leif ex...

Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by Kripa Anand. Today, we explore how businesses can move from fragmented systems to unified, AI-driven growth strategies. Joining us is Vishal Shrivastava , Head of Team Leadership and Growth at Alphavima Technologies . Vishal shares how aligning product, sales, and technology creates scalable, high-performance organizations. Key Highlight...

Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by Maheen Bari. Today, we explore why email is no longer just a marketing tool but a core piece of growth infrastructure in a high-cost digital landscape. Joining us is Nihal Mandanna , Director of Growth at Cyberimpact . Nihal shares how businesses can build resilient, scalable systems by owning their audience and focusing on deliverabilit...

Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by Kripa Anand. Today, we explore how modern security is evolving into a strategic function driven by data, technology, and human intelligence. Joining us is Derek Manlow , Vice President of Sales at Securitas Canada Limited . Derek shares how organizations can rethink risk management to build resilience and long-term trust. Key Highlights...

Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by Kripa Anand. Today, we explore how publishers can adapt to a changing AdTech landscape where intent, automation, and trust now define revenue growth. Joining us is Gromyko Jison Jr. , Head of Search Monetization at MonetizeMore . Gromyko shares how publishers can build scalable monetization systems while protecting revenue and improving...