CanadianSME Small Business Podcast

Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by Maheen Bari, where we unpack the strategies helping small and mid-sized businesses modernize without being overwhelmed by technical complexity. As data multiplies and systems become more fragmented, the real challenge is not adoption but connection—linking tools in a way that drives clarity, efficiency, and smarter decisions. In this epi...

Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by Maheen Bari, where we unpack the systems shaping Canada’s economic and climate future. Today’s episode tackles one of the biggest challenges ahead: retrofitting millions of homes to meet climate targets, and why outdated data is the real barrier slowing progress. In this conversation, Winston Morton , CEO of Climative , explains how AI-d...

Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by Maheen Bari. In this episode, we explore how founders can bridge the gap between innovative ideas and scalable technology execution in an AI driven world. Our guest is Ramanathan Alagappan , Founder and CEO of Noukha Technologies . With over 13 years of experience at global leaders like PayPal and Thermo Fisher Scientific, Ramanathan sha...

Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by Maheen Bari, where we explore the systems and leadership required to build predictable, scalable revenue. As companies grow beyond early traction, many hit a ceiling when sales remains founder-led and informal. In this episode, Andrew Devlin , President of ScaleTech CRO and Sales Xceleration Certified Advisor , breaks down how to transit...

Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by Maheen Bari, where we explore the ideas, tools, and platforms helping Canadians turn ambition into action. As 2026 begins, a growing wave of Canadians are considering entrepreneurship, yet many remain stuck between inspiration and incorporation due to complexity, risk, and uncertainty. In this episode, Jordan Casey , CEO of Ownr , breaks...

Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by Maheen Bari. In this episode, we explore why face to face connection matters more than ever in a world flooded with generic AI driven content, and how Canadian SMEs can stay human while scaling impact. Our guest is Ariana Reed , Director of Global Growth and Customer Experience at American Express Global Business Travel . With over 20 ye...

Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by Kripa Anand. In this episode, we examine why an entrepreneur’s largest asset, their business, is often overlooked in financial planning until it is too late to influence the outcome. Our guest is Trevor Greenway , Co Founder and CEO of interVal . With a decade of experience in M&A, Trevor shares how turning financial data into a real tim...

Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by Maheen Bari. In today’s high stakes mortgage and finance landscape, we explore how professionals can adopt the right technology without sacrificing relationships or adding unnecessary complexity. Our guest is Maryah Diulia , Senior Account Executive at Lendesk . A fintech specialist with a relationship driven approach, Maryah shares how...

Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by Maheen Bari, where we cut through technology noise to focus on what actually drives business value. As AI adoption accelerates, many leaders struggle to balance trust, cost, and real-world impact beyond generic tools and hype. In this episode, Guillaume Hervé , CEO and Co-founder of Zetane , breaks down what trusted, production-ready AI...

Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by Kripa Anand. In this episode, the focus is on brand strategy, digital marketing, and entrepreneurial leadership, and how clarity and creativity turn bold ideas into thriving ventures. Our guest is Ryan Gencarelli , Co Founder at Wild Idea Co . With more than fifteen years of experience and roots in a multi generational entrepreneurial fa...

Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by Maheen Bari. In this episode, we explore how fleet performance management is transforming last and final mile logistics through smarter technology, automation, and data driven decision making. Our guest is Cyndi Brandt , Vice President of Fleet Solutions at Descartes Systems Group . With leadership experience across UPS, Omnitracs, and R...

Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by Maheen Bari, where we explore leadership models shaping the future of Canadian business. As organizations rethink diversity and governance, executive recruitment is evolving beyond credentials toward cultural grounding, trust, and long-term value creation. In this episode, Laurie Sterritt , Founder and Managing Partner of Pathways Execut...

Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by Maheen Bari, where we explore how Canadian businesses turn complexity into competitive advantage. Today’s episode focuses on inclusive digital strategy and why accessibility, performance, and execution are now core drivers of growth rather than optional enhancements. In this conversation, Karine Simard , Director of the Inclusive Digital...

Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by Maheen Bari. In this episode, we explore what it truly takes to prepare for a business exit, navigate M and A with confidence, and protect both value and legacy during one of the most critical moments in an entrepreneur’s journey. Our guest is Mario Nigro , Partner at Stikeman Elliott and a leading voice in Canadian Mergers and Acquisiti...

Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by Maheen Bari. In this episode, we explore how technology is transforming the SR&ED tax credit process by replacing manual reporting with automated, audit ready documentation. Our guests are Alon Sabi , CEO, and Achim Klor, Head of Marketing at SREDify . Together, they share how engineering driven automation, strong project management hygi...

Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by Maheen Bari. In today’s episode, we explore how AI, CRM, and security solutions are transforming business operations, with a closer look at Zoho's innovative offerings for the digital age. Our guest is Chandrashekar LSP , Managing Director of Zoho Canada . Chandrashekar shares how Zoho’s deepened customer experience platform, AI-driven s...

Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by Maheen Bari. In food manufacturing, leadership gaps are not minor disruptions—they are multi-million-dollar risks that can stall production and strain entire operations. In this episode, Craig Martin , VP of Growth and Expansion at The Staffing Exchange , shares how elite headhunting goes beyond job boards, why passive candidates drive c...

Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by Maheen Bari. In this episode, we explore how a strong digital foundation combining web development and data driven marketing helps Canadian businesses increase visibility and achieve measurable growth. Our guest is Sukhpal Kaur , Founder of Byte Bloom Solutions and a digital marketing strategist with deep expertise in SEO, paid marketing...

Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by Maheen Bari. In this episode, we explore how small and mid-sized businesses can harness the power of Applied AI to drive measurable results, reduce costs, and make smarter decisions. Joining us is Monish Gandhi , CEO and Founder of Gradient Ascent (GA) AI , a Toronto-based firm that has delivered over 80 successful AI projects across mul...

Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by Maheen Bari, where we explore how operational innovation improves both customer experience and business performance. Long physical wait times are more than an inconvenience; they signal broken systems, lost data, and rising staff frustration. In this episode, Shannon Vander Meulen , Co-Founder and CMO of WaitWell , shares how real frontl...

Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by Maheen Bari, where we explore the strategies helping Canadian businesses drive measurable and sustainable growth. In a digital landscape filled with noise, data has become the most powerful tool for replacing guesswork with confident, informed decision making. In this episode, Warren Thompson , Co Founder and Managing Director of Ollo Me...

Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by Maheen Bari. In this episode, we explore the hidden intelligence behind modern networks and how applications are beginning to interact directly with network infrastructure to unlock real time performance and reliability. Our guest is Charles Nagy , SVP of Business Development at Shabodi . With deep expertise in Industry 4.0 and programma...

Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by Maheen Bari. In this episode, we explore Canada’s historic wave of business ownership transfers and the massive economic opportunity emerging as thousands of entrepreneurs prepare to exit over the next decade. Our guest is Pierre Cléroux , Vice President Research and Chief Economist at BDC . With more than 25 years of global economic exp...

Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by Maheen Bari. In this episode, we explore how the combination of human expertise and AI driven insights is helping Canadian SMEs turn data into actionable growth strategies in 2026. Our guest is Jim Krahn , Partner and Corporate Growth and Operational Excellence Leader at BDO Canada . Jim shares how the new BDO Powered by Intuit QuickBook...

Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by Maheen Bari. In this episode, we explore how work-based learning helps small businesses access fresh talent, move faster, and grow with confidence. Our guest is Kristin Spong , Senior Manager of Employer Sales at Riipen . Kristin shares how programs like FuturePath connect SMEs with students for real-world projects, delivering practical...