CanadianSME Small Business Podcast

Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by Maheen Bari. In this episode, we explore how AI is evolving from a simple assistant into a coordinated workforce that can automate complex business operations and drive real productivity. Joining us is Karla Congson , CEO and CTO of Agentiiv . Recognized as one of Canada’s Top 50 Women Over 50, Karla is leading the development of enterpr...

Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by Kripa Anand. Today, we explore why writing code alone is no longer enough to stay competitive. In 2026, businesses that rely on cheap workarounds instead of custom architecture often stall their own growth. Joining us is Zarko Mandic , Director at Novus Tech Group and VP of Technology at Karbon-X . With over 15 years of experience in pla...

Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by Kripa Anand. In this episode, the focus is on the future of healthcare CX and how AI, global expansion, and disciplined product strategy are driving measurable growth. Our guest is Naomi Adams , SVP Customer and Ecosystem Partners Growth and Account Management at League , a leading AI powered healthcare CX platform reaching over 63 milli...

Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by Maheen Bari. Today, we’ll dive into how to move away from “marketing guesswork” and build systems that actually drive revenue. In 2026, impressions and vanity metrics aren't enough—businesses need a performance-driven strategy that understands margins, customer journeys, and long-term positioning. Joining us today is Neeraj Kathuria , fo...

Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by Kripa Anand. Today, we explore how organizations can build championship teams and why candidate experience has become a true competitive advantage. In a market where talent has options, recruitment strategy can define long term success. Joining us is Adam Gellert , Founder and CEO of The Linkus Group and Founder of Hipo , a hiring market...

Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by Maheen Bari. In this episode, we explore how AI driven search, changing user behavior, and the decline of traditional blue link SEO are forcing businesses to rethink how organic growth actually works in 2026. Our guest is Prakash Vaghasiya , CEO of Nexa Technology Inc. and a serial entrepreneur with deep expertise in technical SEO and ag...

Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast , hosted by Maheen Bari. Today, we explore how small businesses can move beyond basic connectivity and build a fully integrated digital ecosystem. In 2026, growth depends on combining secure networks, cloud platforms, and intelligent tools that power innovation. Joining us is Karine Moses , Vice Chair, Québec and Senior Vice President, Sales at Bel...

Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by Maheen Bari. In this episode, the focus shifts from traditional IT uptime to intelligence driven technology, cybersecurity accountability, and responsible AI adoption in 2026. Our guest is Daniel Mitchell , Founder and CEO of Alt-Tech Inc. and Co-Founder of MIP Global . With a background in national security investigations and executive...

Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by Maheen Bari. In the world of digital marketing, it’s easy to get distracted by "vanity metrics" like likes, clicks, and impressions. But for small businesses, the only metric that truly matters is revenue. If your marketing isn’t moving the needle on your bank balance, it’s just noise. Joining us today is Dan Di Loreto , Co-Founder of Ub...

Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by Maheen Bari. Today, we explore how the demand-first production model is disrupting traditional commerce and eliminating manufacturing waste. With the creator economy surpassing $250 billion in 2026, the infrastructure behind it must be as agile and community-driven as the creators themselves. Joining us today is Landon Brett , CEO of Mak...

Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by Kripa Anand. Today, we explore the strategies driving high-potential technology startups to achieve global scale, focusing on how founders can turn traction into repeatable revenue. Joining us is Ruth Casselman , CEO of The Accelerator Centre in Waterloo, and former COO of Alert Labs . Ruth’s journey from founder to ecosystem leader give...

Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by Maheen Bari. In this episode, the focus is on why sales remains the foundation of entrepreneurship, especially in a 2026 landscape shaped by AI and automation. Our guest is Andrew Hendry , Co-founder and CEO of Ignite Connections and author of Be First: Outsell Everyone . With over a decade of high volume sales experience and a client ba...

Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by Maheen Bari. In this episode, we explore how a passion for play and overcoming self-doubt can lead to global impact in the early childhood education (ECE) sector. Our guest is Ana Valle Rivera , Founder of Early Years Thriving . Ana, a mother of three and accomplished educator, shares her journey from being labeled a "slow learner" to em...

Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by Kripa Anand. In this episode, the focus is on the scale and strategic importance of Canada’s bioeconomy and why natural products represent a multi trillion dollar global opportunity. Our guest is Shelley R. King , Founder and CEO of Natural Products Canada . With over 30 years of experience as a scientist and serial entrepreneur, leaders...

Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by Maheen Bari. In this episode, the conversation focuses on how large enterprises are approaching AI in 2026 and why curated innovation ecosystems are becoming essential for staying competitive. Our guest is Leo Lax , Executive Managing Director at L-SPARK . With leadership experience spanning Mitel, Newbridge Networks, and Skypoint Capita...

Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by Maheen Bari. In today’s competitive labor market, recruitment is no longer just about posting jobs; it is about marketing opportunity with strategy and intention. Our guest is Chloé Lassagne , Digital Marketing Specialist at Emplois Compétences . From Paris to Quebec, Chloé has combined brand development and consumer psychology to help o...

Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by Maheen Bari. In this episode, we explore the future of healthcare, focusing on how early detection and advanced biomarkers can help prevent diseases before they start. Our guest is Dr. Zia Poonja , Co-Founder and CMO of MyHealthspan . With a deep commitment to prevention, Dr. Poonja shares how his platform empowers Canadians to monitor h...

Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by Maheen Bari, where we break down how Canadian mid-market businesses can turn AI from an expensive experiment into a real commercial advantage. In 2026, the challenge is no longer access to AI tools, but avoiding feature bloat and choosing solutions that actually eliminate manual bottlenecks. In this episode, Adam Pawliwec , Head of Produ...

Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by Maheen Bari. In this episode, the focus is on how contracts quietly shape growth, profitability, and negotiation power in 2026. Our guest is Scott Stevenson , CEO and Co-Founder of Spellbook . With over 15 years of software engineering experience, Scott built an AI platform trusted by more than 4,000 law firms and major global brands to...

Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by Maheen Bari, where we explore the strategies and innovations helping businesses master the age of Artificial Intelligence. Today, we’re diving into AI Governance and Enterprise Transformation, spotlighting how organizations can deploy AI safely, ethically, and at scale. Our guest, Rose Genele , CEO of The Opening Door (TOD) , is an award...

Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by Maheen Bari. As AI shifts from experimentation to execution, many Canadian businesses are discovering that their underlying networks, security, and infrastructure are not built for what is coming next. In this episode, Raj Juneja , President of Cisco Canada , shares why infrastructure debt is the hidden risk behind AI adoption, how leade...

Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by Maheen Bari. In this episode, we explore how real time data intelligence and website monitoring give businesses a powerful edge by detecting competitive moves, regulatory changes, and pricing shifts the moment they happen. Our guest is Eric Do Couto , Head of Marketing at Visualping , the website change detection platform trusted by over...

Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by Maheen Bari. In this episode, we explore how IT success is no longer measured by uptime and ticket closures alone, but by employee experience, productivity, and real business outcomes. Our guest is Syriac Joswin , Chief Revenue Officer at Synoptek . A Wharton graduate and global transformation leader, Syriac shares how Synoptek’s Managed...

Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by Maheen Bari. In 2026, the local talent pool is no longer just your city, it’s the entire world. But as access expands, so does the noise, and the real challenge becomes finding the top 1% without drowning in AI-generated resumes. Joining us today is Delaney Thompson , Co-Founder and CTO of Caddie AI . A serial entrepreneur and self-descr...

Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by Maheen Bari, where we examine the forces shaping Canada’s business and workforce landscape. As 2026 unfolds, the labour market reflects cautious optimism alongside growing complexity, with confidence rising while critical skills gaps continue to challenge execution and growth. In this episode, David King , Senior Managing Director at Rob...