Leaders, Innovators and Big Ideas - the Rainforest podcast

Join Al Del Degan on LIBI as he welcomes Gabe Dunlop, CEO of UpTeaming, for an insightful conversation about navigating the breakneck speed of venture-backed companies. Gabe shares his unique journey from corporate communications and media leadership to building a global community dedicated to providing founders and engineering leaders with unparalleled access to critical knowledge, connections, a...

Join Rea Hailley as she sits down with the brilliant coach Ruth Andermatt for a deeply insightful conversation on the essence of self-leadership and personal empowerment. In a world saturated with distractions and external pressures, Ruth illuminates the profound impact of cultivating presence, setting genuine intentions, and finding moments of "homecoming" throughout your day. Discover why aligni...

In this inspiring LIBI episode, host Melissa Rizzuto chats with Kent Swanlund, the innovative mind behind CO2 Brew. Kent shares his journey from chemical engineering in oil and gas to solving a critical problem in the brewing industry: capturing and reusing the CO2 produced during fermentation. Discover how CO2 Brew's unique leasing model not only reduces emissions and boosts sustainability but al...

In this compelling episode of Leaders, Innovators, and Big Ideas (LIBI), host Rea Hailley sits down with Willow Adkins, founder and CEO of Blair and Company, a strategic advisory firm dedicated to propelling companies toward revenue growth. Willow, a seasoned expert in building sales pipelines from the ground up, unveils her repeatable frameworks and innovative approach to sales enablement for bus...

In this episode of Leaders, Innovators, and Big Ideas (LIBI), host Rea Hailley sits down with Mina Demian, the founder of Grants-Ease AI and a veteran startup advisor. Mina shares his journey of transitioning from writing grants in the nonprofit sector to becoming a "non-technical" founder by leveraging the power of "vibe coding." The conversation explores how AI is levelling the playing field for...

In this high-energy episode of Leaders, Innovators, and Big Ideas (LIBI), host Rea Hailley welcomes Julie Cole, the "recovered lawyer" and co-founder of the iconic brand Mabel’s Labels. Julie shares the 22-year journey of her business, which began in a Hamilton basement as a solution for parents tired of losing expensive children’s gear. The conversation explores the advantages of founding a compa...

This episode of Leaders, Innovators, and Big Ideas (LIBI), host Rea Hailley sits down with Dawn, a veteran registered nurse turned entrepreneur, to tackle the "big, ugly, audacious goal" of fixing the nursing workforce crisis. With over 18 years of experience spanning critical care to clinical education, Dawn reveals a shocking gap in the healthcare ecosystem: the lack of a standardized, portable...

In this insightful episode of LIBI, host Peter Beaudoin sits down with Jim Flett, the Managing Director of Sturgeon River Utilities. As a 100% Métis community-owned energy marketer based in St. Albert, this trailblazing entity is rewriting the script on indigenous economic development. Jim shares the rigorous, year-long journey of community engagement and democratic voting that led to the company’...

In this insightful episode of Leaders, Innovators, and Big Ideas (LIBI), host Rea Hailley sits down with Terri Davis, the visionary founder of Profound Talent and oolu. With 25 years of recruitment expertise, Terri shares her journey of transforming a traditionally manual, labor-intensive industry into an agile, AI-driven experience. The conversation dives deep into the rise of the "fractional wor...

In this episode host Rea Hailley continues her series called "five questions and one wild story fempreneurs to watch for". Rea chats with Daniella Jasper-Okumagba, the founder of The Bridge, a catering concierge service dedicated to making ethnic food everyday food. Daniella is on a mission to save the corporate world from "treacherous charcuterie boards" by connecting mainstream events with authe...

In this episode host Rea Hailley continues her series called "five questions and one wild story fempreneurs to watch for". Rea sits down with the unstoppable Bibiana Cala—an anthropologist, serial entrepreneur, and champion of the Circular Economy Club of Calgary. Bibiana challenges us to look beyond the convenience of modern consumerism and understand how every purchase connects to a global ecosy...

In this "Where Are They Now?" episode, host Al Del Degan reconnects with Robert Herritt, the mastermind behind Styro Ventures. Since his last appearance on LIBI in 2021, Robert has transformed a local recycling initiative into a national juggernaut, expanding from a single pickup truck in Calgary to operations spanning Canada and soon the United States. Robert pulls back the curtain on the circula...

In this episode host Rea Hailley continues her series called "five questions and one wild story fempreneurs to watch for". In this compelling episode host Rea Hailley sits down with Nyasha Katedza, a Medical Laboratory Assistant turned "Healthpreneur" and founder of BioInsight DNA and Blood Services. Driven by the stark reality of rural healthcare, where neighbors drive hundreds of kilometers just...

In this episode host Rea Hailley continues her series called "five questions and one wild story fempreneurs to watch for". Rea Hailley sits down with Debbie Van Camp, founder of Connected Business Women Network (CBWN), to explore 16 years of building a community where female entrepreneurs come together as collaborators rather than competitors. Debbie shares why women network differently than men a...

In this episode host Rea Hailley continues her series called "five questions and one wild story fempreneurs to watch for". In this moving and insightful episode of LIBI, host Rea Hailley sits down with Cindy Sim, the CEO and Founder of Team CarePal. Cindy’s journey into tech entrepreneurship wasn’t planned—it was born out of necessity at the bedside of her loved ones. From caring for a premature i...

In this episode host Rea Hailley continues her series called "five questions and one wild story fempreneurs to watch for". In this powerful episode Rea sits down with Intuitive Healing and Breakthrough Coach Kirstey Jane for a logical, no-fluff guide to mastering your inner world. Kirstey reveals why so many high-achievers get stuck in cycles of self-sabotage, emotional reactions, and chasing appr...

In this episode host Rea Hailley continues her series called "five questions and one wild story fempreneurs to watch for". Rea brings you the story of Kristen Carrier, the "Chocolate Scientist" and co-founder of 7 Summit Snacks. Kristen reveals why selling chocolate is surprisingly one of the hardest jobs in the world, even when 80% of people love it. She dives into the "nerdy" science of how high...

In this episode host Rea Hailley continues her series called "five questions and one wild story fempreneurs to watch for". Jessica Erlendson joins us to discuss her impactful journey as an advocate for women's health, particularly focusing on perimenopause and menopause. Jessica shares her experiences in offering support and creating communities that foster a balanced approach to dealing with this...

In this episode host Rea Hailley continues her series called "five questions and one wild story fempreneurs to watch for". Rea sits down with Sara Stepa to explore the thrilling and often challenging journey of entrepreneurship, especially as it transitions from the nonprofit sector. Sara shares her experiences of building a business from scratch, driven by passion and the need for sustainability...

In this episode host Rea Hailley continues her series called "five questions and one wild story fempreneurs to watch for". Rea has a thoughtful chat with Ina Maria Toncescu, a dedicated digital marketing entrepreneur known for her unique and successful strategies. Ina shares her journey from aspiring psychologist to thriving marketer, emphasizing the importance of personalized marketing that deliv...

In this episode host Rea Hailley continues her series called "five questions and one wild story fempreneurs to watch for". Roxy Querouz, the founder of Morpho Corporation, shares her dynamic journey as a fractional operations supporter for small businesses. Roxy discusses the challenges and rewards of entrepreneurship, emphasizing the financial pressures and need for strategic planning. She highli...

On this episode of the Leaders, Innovators, and Big Ideas Podcast, host Al Del Degan speaks with Aly Musani, the dynamic CFO and COO of Symend. Aly shares the fascinating journey of Symend from a visionary idea to a significant success story in Calgary. At the heart of Symend's strategy is a radical rethinking of customer engagement, particularly in collections, to promote collaboration rather tha...

In this episode host Rea Hailley continues her series called "five questions and one wild story fempreneurs to watch for". Rea chats with Rama Swami, a dedicated pelvic health physiotherapist turned entrepreneur. The conversation delves into Rama's unique journey from a clinician in India to an immigrant entrepreneur in Canada. They explore the surprises and challenges of entrepreneurship, includi...

In this episode host Rea Hailley continues her series called "five questions and one wild story fempreneurs to watch for". Her guest, Dee Higdon, takes us on a journey through her dynamic career as a strategic marketing consultant. Listen in as Dee shares her unique approach to helping businesses maximize their potential by becoming an integral extension of their team. She emphasizes the importanc...

In this episode host Rea Hailley continues her series called "five questions and one wild story fempreneurs to watch for". Rea Hailley engages with Stina Brown to delve into the intricate relationship between personal growth and organizational success. Stina shares her insights on the necessity of inner development for leaders, emphasizing how one's relationship with themselves sets the tone for t...