Smart Growth Rocket

What if the thing you’re optimizing for (credentials → “good job”) is becoming less reliable... fast? In this episode of Smart Growth Rocket , your host, Francesca Cadhit , is joined by Dwayne Matthews (O.C.T.) , Future Strategist, Innovation Evangelist, and founder of TomorrowNow Learning Labs , to unpack what’s changing in education and why so many high-performing students may feel blindsided af...

What does it really mean to be future-ready in school when AI can generate answers instantly? In this episode of Smart Growth Rocket , host Francesca Cadhit sits down with Paul Gries , Professor of Computer Science at the University of Toronto and recipient of the U of T President’s Teaching Award, to unpack how students should be learning in the age of AI. Paul explains why memorization breaks do...

What if you didn’t need a five- or ten-year plan to succeed, just momentum? In this episode of Smart Growth Rocket, host Francesca Cadhit sits down with Dr. Zizo Al-Daqqaq, a Urology Resident at the University of Ottawa, to explore how lifelong learning, reflection, and resilience shape a meaningful career in medicine. Together, they unpack: How to navigate major transitions through medical school...

Many assume doctors only focus on clinical medicine. But what happens when a physician tackles financial literacy head-on? In this episode of Smart Growth Rocket, host Francesca Cadhit is joined by Dr. Steph Zhou, Clinical Director of Addictions Medicine, Department Lead in EDI & Social Accountability at Sunnybrook Hospital, and Founder of Breaking Bad Debt. From translating pay stubs as a chi...

What skills really prepare students for success beyond grades? In this episode of Smart Growth Rocket , host Francesca Cadhit is joined by Judy Wong , professor at Seneca Polytechnic and Co-founder of the YSpace Food and Beverage Accelerator. Judy shares her inspiring journey from her family’s shop in Taiwan to leading global Fortune 500 brands and now coaching the next generation of entrepreneurs...

Good grades open doors, but they’re only part of the equation.  In today’s rapidly changing world, students also need to demonstrate adaptability, critical thinking, and the confidence to innovate. In this episode of Smart Growth Rocket , Francesca Cadhit chats with Jason Lay, Head of Business at Thornhill Secondary School, about how he’s helping high school students build real-world skills throug...

Eyewear is more than just functional. It’s personal, emotional, and transformative. In this episode of the Smart Growth Rocket , host Francesca Cadhit sits down with Monica So , a licensed optician, entrepreneur, and founder of Zoom Optical, a warm and stylish optical boutique redefining the customer experience. 🎧 ▶ In this episode, you’ll learn about: ✅ An optician’s unexpected pivot from toxic...

Ever wonder why you forget the oat milk at the grocery store, even though you were thinking about it all day?  In this episode of the Smart Growth Rocket Podcast , host Francesca Cadhit sits down with Matthew Dougherty , a PhD Candidate in Psychology (Perception, Cognition, & Cognitive Neuroscience) at the University of Toronto, to explore the fascinating (and sometimes frustrating) science of...

What Most Business Owners Get Wrong About Tech (and How to Fix It) In this episode of Smart Growth Rocket, Francesca Cadhit sits down with Melodie Moore, Founder and CEO of Business Tech Ninjas, to talk about what really holds small businesses back from scaling, and why the answer isn’t just better software. With over a decade of experience building high-performance systems for membership-based bu...

Getting into residency in Canada is hard enough, but imagine being an international medical graduate (IMG) on top of it all. For Dr. Nooshin Sarreshtehdari, giving up was never an option. In this deeply inspiring episode, Francesca Cadhit sits down with Nooshin, an incoming PGY1 Family Medicine Resident at the University of Toronto, who shares her remarkable journey from Iran to Canada, and all th...

What does it take to future-proof the next generation?  In this episode, I sit down with Ramy Ghattas, founder of Logics Academy, to talk about digital literacy, AI in the classroom, and why curiosity is the root of innovation.  From engineering to education, Ramy shares his journey and how Logics Academy is reshaping how students across Canada learn STEM and problem-solving skills from an early a...

Think being a pilot is all about cool uniforms and exotic destinations? Think again.  This episode is a bit of a departure from the usual Smart Growth Rocket programming, but in the best way possible. Every once in a while, we dive into less conventional journeys.  And today? It's all about aviation. In this episode of Smart Growth Rocket , Francesca Cadhit speaks with a licensed pilot-in-trai...

What if the path to success isn’t a straight line? In this episode of Smart Growth Rocket, Francesca Cadhit from TopClassEdge.com sits down with Brendan Miller, founder of Swift Kids. Brendan shares his unconventional journey from a childhood love of video games to building one of Canada’s standout programs for tech education. We delve into what can happen if you don’t have it all figured out in h...

What if the most important skills your child could learn in school had nothing to do with textbooks? In this episode of Smart Growth Rocket, Francesca Cadhit from TopClassEdge.com sits down with Lucas Chang, Founder and Director of Y2 Entrepreneurship Labs, to explore how problem-based learning and entrepreneurship can help students develop skills like critical thinking, empathy, and confidence -...

Can Your Kid Out-Code AI? Jack Zhou on the Future of Learning Tech In this episode of Smart Growth Rocket, host Francesca Cadhit of TopClassEdge.com speaks with Jack Zhou, Co-founder and CEO of Wiz Robotics, a STEM education company based in Richmond Hill, Ontario. Jack shares how his journey from a business student and LinkedIn intern led to founding an innovative academy that now teaches student...

Mindset for Success: Lessons from Athlete, Educator & Entrepreneur Judy Stewart (Founder and CEO of Trèsolz) What do education, athletics, and entrepreneurship have in common?  More than you may realize. In this episode of Smart Growth Rocket, Francesca Cadhit sits down with the inspiring Judy Stewart, founder of Trèsolz, a footwear brand helping women finally find stylish, comfortable shoes i...

The Power of Art: How Creativity Fuels Resilience & Success Art is more than just a creative outlet (although this is already a crucial benefit.) It’s also about resilience, passion, and finding your purpose. In this episode of Smart Growth Rocket, host Francesca Cadhit interviews award-winning artist and educator Sylvia Chan, who shares her incredible journey from struggling student to thrivi...

Transforming Medical Education: An Interview with Dr. Nicholas Talley In this episode of Smart Growth Rocket, host Francesca Cadhit interviews distinguished neurogastroenterologist Dr. Nicholas Talley.  They discuss the importance of good mentorship, the journey from general medicine to gastroenterology, and the critical skills needed for medical students to excel.  Dr. Talley (or Nick, as he pref...

Meet Corey Formica, Senior Development Officer at the University of Toronto Scarborough (UTSC). Corey is a UTSC alumna who graduated from the Co-op Arts Management Program. During her time at UTSC, she was actively involved in many student clubs and activities. This ultimately led to a career in the arts industry before transitioning to education, where she has held roles in fundraising and alumni...

Meet Dr. Chris Lozano, Neurosurgery Resident and PhD Candidate at the University of Toronto. His research interests lie in spine surgery, with a focus on traumatic neck injuries and their unique impact on elderly people. Beyond that, he enjoys powerlifting, travelling, and trying out new food around Toronto. I’m excited to share Dr. Chris Lozano’s insights about pursuing a non-traditional path to...

In today’s podcast, Francesca Cadhit interviews Josh Broun, Co-founder of Impact Kitchen, about his inspiring entrepreneurial journey.  From his background as a fitness trainer to establishing a successful fast-casual food business in Toronto, Josh discusses the importance of passion, resilience, and dedication in pursuing entrepreneurship. He highlights Impact Kitchen's commitment to quality,...

In today’s podcast, Francesca Cadhit interviews Canadian Minister of Small Business Richie Valdez about Education and Entrepreneurship in Canada. Minister Valdez is a Canadian entrepreneur, television personality, and community advocate. She is the first Filipino-Canadian woman elected as a Member of Parliament and appointed to Cabinet and is committed to ensuring the diverse voices of her communi...

In today’s podcast, Francesca Cadhit interviews Shiv Gaglani, the Co-founder & CEO of Osmosis.org, a leading health and medical education platform, which was acquired by Elsevier .  Shiv is passionate about creating scalable solutions in healthcare and education. He completed his undergraduate degree and an MBA at Harvard. In 2018, Shiv was also named one of Forbes’ Top 30 Under 30. He is curr...

In this episode, Francesca Cadhit interviews Jeremy Choi, CEO of LPS Athletic, about the parallels between elite athletic training, life, career, and entrepreneurship.  Jeremy shares his journey and insights about what future athletes and entrepreneurs need to know for peak performance. 🎧 ▶Tune in to listen to Jeremy talk about: ✅ The qualities athletes and successful individuals need to be at t...

In this episode, Francesca Cadhit interviews Ms. Michelle, a passionate and experienced high school teacher. From supporting education to prevent societal problems to exploring the impact of AI on students to common misconceptions about education, Ms. Michelle shares her unique journey into teaching. What are some of the challenges and successes in the profession? What advice would this high schoo...