Creating new value for our customers and our communities is vital as we scale the impact of our businesses - enter Debbie Motilewa, Sustainable Business Leader at Afro-hub Market!

In the past nine years, Deborah Motilewa has helped several entrepreneurs across three different continents - North America, Africa and Europe create shared value - focusing simultaneously on the community and business profit (triple bottom line).

At 25, she was the youngest PhD graduate from Covenant University, Africa's most prestigious University. In the startup world, Deborah is the sustainable business leader of two social enterprises: The VolunteerNG and Afro Hub Community - both focus on creating sustainable communities in line with a number of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. The VolunteerNG has partnered with over 70 volunteers, mentored over 800 young adults, and is sponsoring 30 kids through elementary and high school.

In the research world, she writes peer-reviewed articles and makes contributions on corporate social responsibility, business sustainability and human capital development. Deborah has over 30 published articles and has contributed to academic books.

She is also the author of "SMART Goals: Making habits work for you", and is currently working on her second book on sustainable business management.

“Think value, always. Creating new value for our communities and people. People always remember businesses that make an impact.”  

In this week’s episode of the #StartupCanadaPodcast, sponsored by Mastercard, Debbie discusses sustainable business management, the art of creating new value, and her work with Afro-hub Market.

Startup Canada Podcast

Startup Canada Podcast E293 - Creating New Value with Debbie Motilewa

Community is incredibly powerful when building a company and when attempting to solve a pain point in someone’s life, just ask Ravina Anand, Co-Founder of FLIK!

Ravina Anand is a social-tech entrepreneur and the COO of FLIK, the first female-identifying apprenticeship portal. In a hyper globalized world, Ravina aims to advance women’s economic participation and help women from remote and underserved communities. With experience in municipal politics and community advocacy, she promotes diversity by encouraging people to fight injustices and challenge stereotypes. 

On a global level, Ravina advocates for women and creates conversations around the trends and procurement for scaling social innovation situated in inclusivity, diversity, and equity. She has had the honour of speaking across North America to industry leaders, students, and creators about shattering expectations and breaking barriers. 

“People want to be a part of something bigger than themselves. As entrepreneurs, one of the most important things we can do is connect with our community.”  

In this week’s episode of the #StartupCanadaPodcast, sponsored by Mastercard, Ravina discusses her journey in social impact entrepreneurship and the power of community.

Startup Canada Podcast E294 -  The Power of Community with Ravina Anand

Entrepreneurship is infamously difficult - with hard decisions, stressful deals, and many nerve wracking unknowns around each corner. Sunny Fong and Jess Chow, Co-Founders of VIEREN, think the key to making it work is a healthy co-founder relationship, unwavering curiosity, and having a creative edge. 

Jess Chow launched VIEREN as a love letter to her family, celebrating more than 40 years of luxury watchmaking. Growing up, she was immersed in watches and travelled often to watch factories around the world with her parents. She never thought she would get into the business back then. Instead, she focused her career on business strategy in Toronto. After a decade as a Management Consultant advising brands, she was ready to follow her passions for entrepreneurship and build a brand of her own. With time in focus, Jess saw an opportunity to create something special when she met Sunny.

Sunny Fong, Project Runway All Star & winner of Project Runway Canada, is driving the creative vision. His womenswear label, VAWK, has received International acclaim and has been seen on the red carpets of the Cannes International Film Festival, the People’s Choice Awards, and the Oscars. After nearly two decades in fashion, Sunny was inspired to venture into watch design after meeting Jess.

Sunny approaches designing for VIEREN like he would a runway collection - by focusing on structure, texture, and details. He had a vision, but translating his signature style from garments to gears was challenging, so he flew to Switzerland to work directly with the watchmaking team on our launch collection.

“I only know what I know, so as an entrepreneur it’s important to have a network that gives you actionable advice and makes you feel good - we are still just human after all.” 

In this week’s episode of the #StartupCanadaPodcast, sponsored by Mastercard, Sunny and Jess discuss  their co-founder relationship, the benefits of curiosity and creativity, and the launch of VIEREN.

Startup Canada Podcast E295 - Making It Work with Jess Chow & Sunny Fong

We often assume that because green energy costs more to produce, it’s less profitable for the seller in the long-run. Greg Kiessling, Board Chair of Canadians for Clean Prosperity & Inmotive Inc., believes we are just starting to see the real potential of cleantech, and that the possibilities will only increase as carbon prices adjust. 

Greg Kiessling is founding chair of Canadians for Clean Prosperity, a not-for-profit advocating for carbon pricing. He is also an investor and board chair of Inmotive Inc., a Canadian start-up developing an innovative two-speed transmission for Electric Vehicles.

Greg was co-founder and board chair of Bullfrog Power from 2004 to 2018. Bullfrog Power is Canada’s leading green energy provider. He has also served in a variety of fundraising and board leadership roles for the ground-breaking Pathways to Education program.

Earlier in his career, Greg was co-founder, chairman and CEO of Sitraka, which was Canada's largest self-financed software company when it was purchased in 2002.

Greg received his Bachelor of Mathematics at the University of Waterloo in 1984.

“Think about how you can be ahead of your competitors on reducing carbon - this will help the earth and you.”

In this week’s episode of the #StartupCanadaPodcast, sponsored by Mastercard, Greg discusses the current trends in the clean tech space, the importance of carbon reduction, and his career in the 90’s software scene.

Startup Canada Podcast E296 - Navigating Clean Technology with Greg Kiessling

In a world of so many uncertainties, one of the main reasons founder’s avoid strategic planning is because it seems like a waste of time. Warren Coughlin, business coach at JumpStart Coaching, believes if you learn to play the probabilities, you’ll have an edge up on competition when navigating adversity.

Warren helps principled entrepreneurs build a Business That Matters. That is one that delivers to you, the owner, attractive profits and a fulfilling lifestyle while also creating positive impacts on customers, team and the larger community.  In other words, it is one that helps make the world - or just your corner of it - a better place.
 
This requires a combination of solid business skills and disciplines guided by deeply held values. He’s been helping entrepreneurs do this since 2002. They have experienced everything from 8 figure exits, to 7 figure salaries, from rapid expansion to minimized operational work because of the development of great leaders and high performance values-driven cultures.
  
Warren’s also a recovering lawyer, a serial entrepreneur, college professor, actor, theater director and Dad to a wonderful daughter who constantly challenges him to be a better person.  

“A rookie poker player can beat a professional in any given hand, but the pro player is always going to win the game. Strategic business planning works like the discipline of the pro player.”

In this week’s episode of the #StartupCanadaPodcast, sponsored by Mastercard, Warren discusses finding the root problem, and the need for execution and accountability in strategic planning.

Startup Canada Podcast E297 - Strategic Planning: Playing the Odds with Warren Coughlin

Every entrepreneur faces challenges along their journey to success. Warren Dietrich, partner at Earthli Plant-Powered Superfoods Inc., believes approaching these barriers optimistically can make all the difference.  

Warren Dietrich is the co-founder of Earthli Plant-Powered Superfoods Inc. and a Civil Engineering student at Memorial University of Newfoundland, graduating in 2021. 

In April 2017, Warren was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma cancer. After a long 2-year battle with cancer, he successfully entered remission. Since remission, Warren has become a prominent volunteer and spokesperson for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Canada. Cancer is also what inspired Warren to co-found Earthli, a socially conscious, value-based Canadian company focused on plant-based superfoods and environmentally friendly practices that promote bodily health and overall wellness.

Warren was also the winner of Startup Canada’s 2020 Startup Impact pitch competition in the category of Climate Action.

“When starting your business, do it optimistically. Deciding how you’ll attack challenges is really going to be what makes or breaks your business.”

In this week’s episode of the #StartupCanadaPodcast, sponsored by Mastercard, Warren discusses current trends in the health food sector, sustainability, and the power of optimism - both in life and in business.

Startup Canada Podcast E298 - Optimism: The Essential Resilience Tool with Warren Dietrich

Less than 35% of students leaving post secondary education in Canada feel confident enough to manage their own finances. Gurgeet Matharu and Aman Thind of Nava Ventures are on a mission to change that!

Gurjeet is an experienced Full Stack Engineer with a demonstrated history of working in the Financial Services and Defence industries. He is skilled in Kubernetes, Cloud, Python, Java and supporting the production of ML and scientific workflows and products. Gurjeet has a strong engineering professional with a Bachelor of Applied Science (B.A.Sc.) focused in Systems Engineering from Simon Fraser University. Gurjeet also recently taught cybersecurity at BCIT. In his spare time, he enjoys playing with his family dog, junior, or doing Ju-Jitsu.

Aman Thind is the Head of Sales and Marketing at Nava Ventures. Nava aims to build a gamified financial literacy and banking app for Canadian Credit Unions to provide to their members. Being a former student-athlete and honours graduate, Aman understands the level of dedication required to make something succeed. Soon after leading Club 16 in both monthly membership and personal training sales, he completed a Junior Analyst internship at Altus Group in the Research, Valuations, and Advisory department. In Aman’s spare time, he coaches children aged 6 to 18, in soccer, to be a positive influence on the community and pave the way for the next generation. 

Nava Ventures was also the winner of Startup Canada’s ‘Startup Impact: Sustainable Development Goal Pitch Competition’ in the poverty reduction category.

“In a time like this, you can choose to quit and blame life on COVID or you can be someone who thrives when the rest of the world seems hopeless.”

In this week’s episode of the #StartupCanadaPodcast, sponsored by Mastercard, Aman and Gurgeet discuss value alignment, fundraising for startups, and their mission to empower millennials with financial literacy.

Startup Canada Podcast E299 - Financial Literacy as Empowerment with Gurgeet Matharu and Aman Thind

Food, drink and culture are three things that often intersect. They help to build cultural, creative and social connections amongst communities. Matthew Johnston, CEO and Co-founder of Collective Arts Brewing, is working to increase creative consciousness through delicious craft beverages, art and inclusivity. 

Matt Johnston is the co-founder and CEO of Collective Arts Brewing Ltd. He started the company alongside Bob Russell in 2012 on the basis of two principles: creativity fostering creativity, and creativity fostering delicious craft beverages. Matt has built and managed brands in every major beer category, from craft, to import, to domestic, as well as brands in the value segment. As CEO of Collective Arts, he has spent the last 7 years disrupting the craft beverage market. 

Collective Arts, founded in 2013 in Hamilton, Ontario, has a wide range of beers, ciders, spirits and canned cocktails that are designed to be as diverse, creative, and unwavering as the artists profiled; respecting tradition, but not constrained by it. Collective Arts features limited-edition works of art by artists and musicians that change every few months. To date, more than 1,000 artists and musicians have been featured and championed by Collective Arts. Collective Arts was named one of Linkedin’s 2018 & 2019 Top 25 Canadian Startups and is now distributing in every Canadian province, 20 U.S. states, the UK, eight countries in the EU, China and Australia. 

“I disdain the status quo, and love all things creative - it challenges me and inspires me.”

In this week’s episode of the #StartupCanadaPodcast, sponsored by Mastercard, Matthew discusses the strides to create a brand inspired by creativity and bridging cultural gaps with art & drink.

Startup Canada Podcast E300 - Mixing Art and Management with Matthew Johnston

Have you ever had an idea, but didn’t know if that idea was startup-worthy? Razor Suleman, CEO and Co-Founder of Elevate, has some advice!

Razor Suleman is a successful serial entrepreneur, investor and champion of the Canadian technology ecosystem.   

Currently, Razor is the CEO & Cofounder of Elevate, an organization committed to the 	advancing the Canadian technology ecosystem. Elevate’s mission is to unite the world’s innovators to solve society's biggest challenges. The organization was created in partnership with Toronto Mayor John Tory along with 150 community and corporate partners. Razor is also the CEO of Design Exchange, a cultural institution that provides access to hands-on design-based learning for Canada’s next generation youth.

Previously, Razor is Founder & former CEO of Achievers, a corporate social network focused on employee engagement that was backed by legendary VC Sequoia Capital. Razor built Achievers from an idea to a company with a $100M in revenue in less than 10 years. Achievers was acquired by Silicon Valley based Blackhawk Networks (which is owned by Silver Lake Partners) in July of 2015 for $150M. 

“You’ll find opportunities by paying attention to the market and to your customers. Look for a vitamin that has turned into a pain killer - there’s your opportunity.”

In this week’s episode of the #StartupCanadaPodcast, sponsored by Mastercard, Razor discusses non-dilutive financing for founders, social impact as a profit driver, and how to identify (and test) opportunity.

Startup Canada Podcast E301 - Identifying Opportunity with Razor Suleman

The beauty of art and artistic expression allows us to create deep and meaningful connections with our community, and with ourselves. Patrick Hunter of Patrick Hunter Art & Design shares the importance of honouring your intersecting identities through entrepreneurship and art.
 
Patrick Hunter is a two spirit, Ojibwe, Woodland artist from Red Lake, Ontario. Patrick paints what he sees through a spiritual lens which is inspired by his homeland and growing up seeing the original works of Woodland painter Norval Morrisseau.
 
Creating has always been his passion and the focus of his life from an early age. In 2014, “Patrick Hunter Art & Design” was launched, with the intent to create an awareness of Indigenous iconography through artwork that makes people feel good. 

Patrick began his business through selling acrylic on canvas paintings, but in recent years, a small clothing and housewares line has been born and sold to people around the world. Strategic partnerships with promotional product companies Cotton Candy & STAPLES has helped Patrick reach new audiences in corporate Canada that want to forge new relationships with diverse businesses through Patrick’s artwork. 

Hunter still resides in Toronto, but makes regular journeys home to stay inspired, be with family and teach art classes to the next generation of Woodland artists.

“Being an entrepreneur is really just a lesson in figuring out who you are as a person.”

In this week’s episode of the #StartupCanadaPodcast, sponsored by Mastercard, Patrick discusses storytelling through art and staying true to yourself as an LGBTQ2+ entrepreneur.

Startup Canada Podcast E303 - Entrepreneurship: A Lesson in Identity with Patrick Hunter

LGBTQ2+ representation in entrepreneurial and media spaces is vital - allowing individuals to feel seen and understood in meaningful ways. Sandeep Nair, Manager of Business Operations at Pride at Work Canada and Florence Gagnon, Programming Assistant at Pride at Work Canada and Founder at lstw Magazine, discuss intersectionality and promoting long-lasting representation for LGBTQ2+ communities.
 
Florence Gagnon holds a bachelor of fine arts from Concordia University. She is the founder, publisher and creative director of lstw magazine, a bilingual queer publication based in Montréal that is distributed across Canada, as well as in European capitals and major US cities. Florence is the co-creator and executive producer of Féminin/Féminin, and a Programming Assistant for a non-profit based in Toronto, Pride at Work Canada, that empowers employers to build workplaces that celebrate all employees regardless of gender expression, gender identity, and sexual orientation.

Sandeep Nair is the Manager of Business Operations for Pride at Work Canada. He moved to Canada from India in 2019 with over 12 years of work experience and has worked as EDI - Program Consultant and prior to that, worked for a communication agency. He comes with a global perspective on EDI and the role organizations can play in harnessing the power of business for a positive social change. Sandeep’s work focuses on creating an inclusive workplace environment for all, especially LGBTQ2+ community and people with disabilities. He has played a key role in developing three research publications, to achieve success in creating a safe and inclusive society. 

“You need to stay true to yourself, authenticity will help you stand out from everyone”

“Big or small, every organization has a responsibility towards creating a safe and inclusive environment for their employees” 

In this week’s episode of the #StartupCanadaPodcast, sponsored by Mastercard, Florence and Sandeep discuss intersecting identities and inclusivity for LGBTQ+ communities.

Startup Podcast E304 - Lasting Visibility for LGBTQ2+ Communities, Florence Gagnon & Sandeep Nair

Through empathy and resilience, we are able to better serve marginalized communities. Dr. Jad Jaber discusses community healing and educational workshops as solutions for combating social injustices. 

Dr. Jad Jaber lectures in the fields of queer theory and gender. He has implemented five Workshops with some of the leading equity & diversity non-profit organizations in Toronto on “Queer Marginalized Migrant Healing”. Jad is the founder of the Marginalized Majority, a Non-profit organization focused on furthering education through developing and implementing programs tailored for marginalized LGBTQ2+ people in Canada.

In this week’s episode of the #StartupCanadaPodcast, sponsored by Mastercard, Jad discusses healing intergenerational trauma through entrepreneurship.

Startup Canada Podcast E306 -Intergenerational Healing through Entrepreneurship with Jad Jaber

Coming from a family of accountants, Ava values hard work and compassion above all. She became one of the youngest award-winning agents at REMAX and was unstoppable thereafter. Fearless and ready to write her own story, she moved to Vancouver, where she built a strong network of real estate investors. She continued to learn and grow with resilience and persistently gained knowledge in the field of real estate investments.
 
Realizing the pain points many investors have when looking to passively invest in real estate, Ava pivoted her focus to real estate private equity. She co-founded CPI Capital, a uniquely innovative company allowing investors to invest in Multifamily investment opportunities and benefit from passive income, above-market returns, monthly cash flow, and limited liability. Ava is a public speaker and has been featured in publications such as Forbes and numerous Podcasts and YouTube shows. Ava helps busy professionals to earn passive income through smart Real Estate investments. 

“You need to be a master of delegation to succeed in this space, there are so many moving parts. You also need to be humble and partner with experts and incredible operators.” 

In this week’s episode of the #StartupCanadaPodcast, sponsored by Mastercard, Ava shares CPI Capital’s disruptive model that is changing the way Canadians access real estate and create better passive income streams for themselves, and encourages you to chase solutions, not money.

Startup Canada Podcast E320 - Disrupting Real Estate Investing with Ava Benesocky

As the Vice President of Small Business, Strategy & Partnerships at RBC, Don provides strategic oversight and leads a team that is responsible for delivering marketing-leading solutions, partnerships and client experiences that go beyond traditional banking to help Canadian entrepreneurs successfully start, manage and grow their business. Don also manages the development of RBC’s strategy for the broader Business Financial Services portfolio, including the group’s client experience, CRM, and data analytics strategies. 

Don joined RBC in 2001 and has 20 years of experience within the financial services and banking sector. He was most recently the Regional Vice President of the South Western Ontario Region, leading a team of RBC Advisors to support the growth of small and commercial business clients in the community. Prior to joining RBC, Don served as an Infantry Officer in the Canadian Army where he led soldiers on a number of domestic and international operations and worked in both staff and training roles. 

“Where there is challenge, there is also opportunity. The pandemic disrupted our lives but it also allowed people to look through a new lens, and find new opportunities, and the potential for new business ideas."

In this week’s episode of the #StartupCanadaPodcast, sponsored by Mastercard and powered by RBC, Don shares how the pandemic has accelerated certain business trends and the support RBC offers to help entrepreneurs through both challenges and growth opportunities on their business journeys.

Startup Canada Podcast E321 - When Challenge Meets Opportunity with Don Ludlow

Jeremy is the Founder of MENTORnetwork and the Funding Path program. He helps organizations to improve their capacity to hire, innovate and make an impact by accessing grants, incentives, partnerships and procurement programs. As an entrepreneur, educator and community builder, Jeremy has a vision for Canada’s culture of mentorship and aligning entrepreneurs with social change.
 
In addition to his own business, he is a Senior Grant writer with GetGrants and Funding and Partnerships Manager with TimeSaved. 
 
His involvement in the startup community has included volunteering with: Startup York Region, MastermindTalks, Fireside Conference, Techstars Startup Weekend, Enactus and JCI Toronto. Jeremy has previously worked with ventureLAB, Seneca College, BizLaunch and the Canadian Association of Career Educators and Employers.
 
“Before you start applying to grant programs, spend some time learning about how the system works and speak to other entrepreneurs who have been through this before”.

In this week’s episode of the #StartupCanadaPodcast, sponsored by Mastercard, Jeremy O’Krafka walks us through the often tiring and frustrating process of grant writing and applying for funding while reminding us that there can be great rewards and accelerations that come afterwards.

Startup Canada Podcast E322 - The Work and Rewards of Funding with Jeremy O'Krafka

Jill Schoolenberg is an experienced business leader with a record of accomplishments in delivering revenue, profit and customer satisfaction in multiple B2B and B2C businesses. 
 
Jill graduated with an Honors Business Administration degree from the Ivey Business School and started her career in marketing at Procter and Gamble. She later moved into the technology industry and held several marketing, sales and general management roles in Microsoft. In 2014, Jill joined GoDaddy as the first VP and Country Manager in Canada. In 2019, Jill was appointed as Regional President for Canada, Australia and Latin America at GoDaddy. Jill was also named one of Strategy’s 2019 Marketers of the Year.
 
“Our customers are diverse. If we do not have diversity in skillset, lifestyle, and experience, we aren't representing our customers who come from diverse backgrounds."

In this week’s episode of the #StartupCanadaPodcast, sponsored by Mastercard and powered by GoDaddy, Jill Schoolenberg shares why having a diverse team that represents and reflects your customers is so important.

Startup Canada Podcast E323 - Teams That Reflect Your Customers with Jill Schoolenberg

Today’s guest is Nina Tangri, Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) for Mississauga-Streetsville and Ontario’s Associate Minister of Small Business and Red Tape Reduction. 

Nina is an entrepreneur and small business owner with over 30 years’ experience in financial management. Before entering politics, she successfully ran her own insurance company. 

Nina was first elected as the MPP for Mississauga-Streetsville in 2018. In June 2019, she was appointed Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation, and Trade with a mandate to focus on economic expansion and investment in Ontario’s world-class life sciences ecosystem. In her new role as Minister, Nina is committed to growing Ontario’s small business community and supporting the province’s recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Her greatest community achievements include serving as Vice-Chair on the Board of Directors at the Credit Valley Hospital in Mississauga and was a Cabinet Member of ErinOak Kids. She received the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Award for her dedicated volunteer work. 
 
“It is critical to understand that one size doesn’t fit all. We really want to help businesses rebound and support our economic growth across the province.” 

In this week’s episode of the #StartupCanadaPodcast, sponsored by Mastercard, we talk to Minister Nina Tangri about spearheading initiatives for job creation and mentorship across Ontario and how the relationships you build are your main ingredient for success.

Startup Canada Podcast E324 - Accessing Government Support with Minister Nina Tangri

Hiring well is an age-old problem for founders - but what if there was an easier way to tackle this problem hurdle? Enter Joe Diubaldo, President and Founder of Clarity Recruitment!

Joe helps scaling companies make better hiring decisions and builds finance teams to fuel break-out growth. He has shaped finance and technology teams at some of the fastest-growing companies in Canada for more than 20 years.

Joe founded Clarity Recruitment in 2012 to transform the recruiting landscape and believes that the right hire can change the trajectory of a company, and change lives in the process. Earlier in his career, a candidate and friend described Joe as helping her “find clarity” through his career advice and coaching. The name stuck and Clarity Recruitment was born.

He has an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University, a Bachelor or Education from the University of Windsor and a Bachelor of Arts in History from McMaster University.

“Knowing what you don’t know will be your first step in understanding the talent you need to bring on.” 

In this week’s episode of the #StartupCanadaPodcast, sponsored by Mastercard, Joe discusses principles for good hiring, what to do with a “bad hire”, and how cognitive biases can damage our recruitment mission.

Startup Canada Podcast E325 - Good Hiring & Growth with Joe Diubaldo

Agnes Lan is the Founder and VP of Sales at Change Connect Inc.. Described as influential and inspirational by her clients and peers, Agnes helps organizations grow through change. She has a knack for breaking down complex strategies into tangible business tactics - leading the way in Sales Transformation for SMBs and Enterprises alike.

Agnes has considerable experience on the assessment, strategy, design and implementation of business transformations in various industries with a focus on Sales - customer focused business strategies, organization design, sales efficiency and transformation. Agnes has consulted for clients in Broadcast and Media, Advertising and Marketing, Distribution and Warehousing, Education, Manufacturing, Professional Services and Construction.

With degrees from the University of Toronto, Indiana University Kelley School of Business, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology and Harvard Business School, her passion for learning contributes to numerous professional designations as a Professional Engineer, Lean Black Belt Professional and ADKAR Change Management Practitioner. 
 
“Just do one thing everyday, entrepreneurship is hard but you need to plow through.” 

In this week’s episode of the #StartupCanadaPodcast, sponsored by Mastercard, Agnes Lan shares secrets to sales at every stage of business, the plateaus startups reach and how and why she certifies her team in change management.

Startup Canada Podcast E326 - Repeatable Processes and Scalable Revenue with Agnes Lan

Michelle Zatlyn is Co-Founder, President and COO of Cloudflare, the Internet security, performance, and reliability company on a mission to help build a better Internet. Cloudflare is a publicly traded company on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: NET). Prior to co-founding Cloudflare, Michelle held positions at Google and Toshiba and launched two successful startups. 
 
Michelle sits on the World Economic Forum Young Global Leaders Foundation Board. She has been named to Fortune’s 40 Under 40 list and was part of Marie Claire’s 7th Annual New Guard. She holds a B.S. degree, with distinction, from McGill University, and an MBA from Harvard Business School, where she was awarded the Dubilier Prize for Entrepreneurship. 

“No matter how amazing you are as a founder, you need a team. You need a great team. A lot of smart people want to join a company making an impact.” 

In this week’s episode of the #StartupCanadaPodcast, sponsored by Mastercard, Michelle Zatlyn encourages you to make your world bigger, explains the difference between good and great business and the role of companies when it comes to the future of work.

Startup Podcast E327 - Making Your World Bigger with Michelle Zatlyn

Jenn Denouden is the President and CEO of Avana, named Canada’s tenth fastest-growing company on the 2020 Growth List, making it the first-ever female-led company from Saskatchewan to break the Top 10 in the list’s 32-year history. Avana paves the way as a real estate development company with nearly $400 million in assets under management today. Avana is a purpose-led organization committed to building attainable, safe, quality housing. 
 
Jenn translated a successful career in private banking to found Avana in 2014 with her sights set on breaking down the “old boys’ club” of the real estate world. Avana has since gone on to achieve 9888% growth over five years and holds 45% of Regina, Saskatchewan’s new development permits. In addition, Jenn is passionate about helping women and children escaping domestic abuse through privately funded housing support and the extensive work of the Avana Foundation. With Saskatchewan leading provincial domestic violence statistics in Canada, Jenn’s mission is to provide single-mother families access to safe housing. Avana has also committed $2 million to the development of the YWCA Regina’s Women’s Centre. 
 
As a young female leader, Jenn is mindful about using her platform to raise awareness and has supported organizations like the YWCA Regina, SOFIA House, Walk a Mile Regina, and the Regina Food Bank. Having had to break barriers and a glass ceiling or two in a male-dominated industry, Jenn is an advocate for equality and female empowerment and makes it her life’s work to build a better community and society for her kids to experience. Jenn lives in Regina with her husband and four young children and can be spotted scouting development sites with her hot pink hard hat.

“I look forward to the day where there is competition for Avana and we can’t enter a market because there are too many people doing what we do. That would be a beautiful day for our country.”

In this week’s episode of the #StartupCanadaPodcast, sponsored by Mastercard and powered by Zensurance, Jenn shares how Avana is disrupting Canada’s real estate sector, the company's unwavering values, and encourages you to set goals that force you to think differently.

Startup Canada Podcast E328 - Institutionalizing Compassion with Jennifer Denouden

Sarah Jakeway is Vice President, CFO Canada for Mastercard, responsible for overseeing the Market’s finance activities.  She works closely with the President of Mastercard Canada to drive strategic growth and sits on the leadership teams for Canada and North America Finance. 

Since joining Mastercard in 2011, Sarah has held several roles with increasing levels of responsibility within North America Markets and Corporate Finance.  Sarah has a strong understanding of the payments industry and a broad view into managing a payments business gained through experience as a Director, Finance business partner for Services in North America as well as Director, Finance business partner for US Regional Banks. Prior to her business partner roles in North America, Sarah led the team responsible for the overall completeness and accuracy of the Quarterly Mastercard Report process and led the development and delivery of product profitability reporting for Mastercard.  Sarah is a recipient of 2 Mastercard CFO awards and is a Lean Six Sigma Green Belt. 

Sarah is an active volunteer, fundraiser and a passionate Mentor in topics around being your own personal finance champion, career development and life as a career mom. She graduated cum laude from Loyola University with a BBA in Finance and lives in Toronto with her husband Phil, sons PJ and Jonathan, and dogs Cricket and Brooklyn.

“Leadership during the pandemic - it’s not so much a change versus a reinforcement that during times of change, we really require stability.”

In this week’s episode of the #StartupCanadaPodcast, sponsored by Mastercard and powered by Zensurance, Sarah talks about the challenges that come with people management during COVID, approaching leadership through decency, and mission critical - diversity and inclusion.

Startup Canada Podcast E329 - Leadership in 2021 with Sarah Jakeway


“It’s not just a job. It’s a way of thinking. It’s a way of living your life.”

This is how Rick Spence describes entrepreneurship. He should know. He has been writing about entrepreneurship and innovation for over 25 years. He currently contributes to the National Entrepreneurship Column in the Financial Post and is writing a book for veterans on entrepreneurship. Spence has interviewed many of the most successful innovators in Canada.

There is a particular mindset that Spence believes will help grow the next generation of entrepreneurs. “We’ve got to create confidence in people so that they can make a difference.”

In this edition of the Startup Canada Podcast with Rivers Corbett, Spence explains why Canada needs more entrepreneurs willing to make an impact, what traits are needed to be successful, and what support is needed for Canada to compete in innovation. 


Startup Canada Podcast S1E02 - The Innovation Race with Rick Spence

The Great One summed it nicely for Hootsuite CEO Ryan Holmes:

“You miss 100 per cent of the shots you don’t take.”

It’s a piece of advice often quoted by CEO’s and sports stars alike, but Holmes couples it with another mantra: Hustle. Everyday. 

Just like hockey legend Wayne Gretzky missed the net the first time he shot a puck, Holmes’ first product wasn’t a roaring success. Today he is the CEO of a company with over 10 million customers, and his product is one used by athletes, politicians, and entertainers worldwide. 

How did he get here? Holmes hustled to build, innovate, fail, and find market fit. He hustled to find the perfect founding team, and to be his company’s greatest cheerleader. 

In this edition of the Startup Canada Podcast with host Rivers Corbett, The Man Behind Hootsuite shares his insights on the basics of business and the future of entrepreneurship in Canada. Hint: It involves the “h” word. 


Startup Canada Podcast S1E01 - The Man Behind Hootsuite with Ryan Holmes

“When we look at great entrepreneurs, they have that natural, burning curiosity and they have that sense of excitement around learning.” - Sarah Prevette, Founder of Future Design School.

Sarah Prevette has been promoting and encouraging Canadian entrepreneurship throughout her entire career. Among her many ventures, she is best known for founding Sprouter, an online community for entrepreneurs, and BetaKit, a Canadian media site specializing in emerging technology and global innovation. She’s now shifting focus to inspire the next generation of entrepreneurs through design education and real world experiments at Future Design School.

Prevette has learned a lot from her first two exits. Namely, the key to success is simplicity, flexibility and a focus on the customer. She believes building a great product comes from “the customer discovery piece around building products for your user and putting empathy at the centre of your design process.”

In this episode of Startup Podcast, host Rivers Corbett talks with Prevette about building a successful company, knowing when to exit, and creating a program to develop critical thinking and entrepreneurial skills in students.


Startup Canada Podcast S1E15 - Entrepreneur by Design with Sarah Prevette

Why should building a relationship be the first step to scoring VC investment? 

“I’ll back the jockey before the horse,” says David Nault, a Venture Capitalist and Principal at iNovia. 

Nault says he looks to invest in entrepreneurs he thinks can change the landscape with or without his help. Over the years, his instincts have paid off. Nault’s portfolio includes investments in game-changing companies like VarageSale, Chronogolf, and Busbud. 

In this edition of the Startup Canada Podcast with host Rivers Corbett, Nault shares his insights on the types of companies and entrepreneurs VCs are looking for. He believes it’s never been a better time to start a company in Canada, however, to get the attention of a VC, entrepreneurs need to think global.

Startup Canada Podcast S1E21 - Venture Capital & Thinking Big with David Nault

Sean McCormick says his company, Manitobah Mukluks, is a microcosm of what is possible when a community comes together to solve social and economic issues. 

“We’re mission-driven,” says McCormick, recipient of the 2010 Excellence in Aboriginal Business Leadership Award. “We’re not really a company with a cause, we’re a cause that happens to have a company wrapped around it—that’s the new way.”

Manitobah Mukluks is a Winnipeg-based company that collaborates with with Aboriginal artisans to make traditional moccasins and mukluks. McCormick is passionate about contributing to the economic and social development of Aboriginal communities in Canada while preserving traditional Indigenous practices.

In this episode of Startup Canada Podcast, host Rivers Corbett chats with McCormick about his priority to give back to Aboriginal communities in Canada, the Storyboots project, and how entrepreneurship can help unleash the potential of Aboriginal youth.

Startup Canada Podcast S2E11 - Empowering Indigenous Communities with Sean McCormick

Do you have a product that could be the next big Internet sensation? The king of crowdfunding, Craig Asano, provides an environment in which products that often go unknown, have the chance to find financial and commercial success. 


“Crowdfunding has gone through a tumultuous history of what it is, but it’s continuing to evolve,” he says. “At its core, it’s about leveraging the Internet and social media to aggregate and pool small contributions of capital to get a venture off the ground or prototype developed or to commercialize a business.”


Craig is the Founder and Executive Director of the National Crowdfunding Association of Canada (NCFA Canada), an organization actively engaged with both social and investment crowdfunding stakeholders across the Canada. Craig has over 15 years of experience as a marketer, software technologist and start-up entrepreneur in tech, finance, manufacturing and real estate. 

In this week’s #StartupPodcast, host Rivers Corbett talks with Craig about crowdfunding in Canada, the best platforms to use, and ways to raise funding for your startup or product using crowdfunding. Also, they talk about where the entire crowdfunding movement is going and what it means for your business.

Startup Canada Podcast E59 - The King of Canadian Crowdfunding with Craig Asano

The Canadian government is a living, breathing, resource-filled machine. In it, you find leaders like Shereen Benzvy Miller, a small business advocate working to directly impact the success of Canada’s diverse entrepreneur community.

“I would encourage all kinds of entrepreneurs to ask if their supply chain is as diverse as it could be. Are they looking to women-owned companies? Are they looking to companies that are owned, run by, or employ people with disabilities? Are you looking to new Canadians who are eager to get started in their country? Are you leveraging and harnessing that talent? Are you doing it in a way that is truly Canadian?”

Shereen is the Assistant Deputy Minister of Small Business, Tourism and Marketplace Services at Industry Canada. Previously, she worked as the Director General (DG) for the Office of Small and Medium Enterprises and Strategic Engagement a Public Works and Government Services Canada, as well as the DG of Rights Redress and Resolution for the Correctional Service of Canada. Notably, Shereen was recognized as one of the top 100 most powerful women in Canada by the Women’s Executive Network and was recently named Champion of the Year 2016 by WeConnect International, a women's supplier diversity accreditation organization.

In this week’s #StartupPodcast, host Rivers Corbett talks with Shereen about the federal government’s role in supporting entrepreneurs, the different roles of the public service and political offices, how entrepreneurs can work with both her vision for the future of entrepreneurship in Canada, and what she is doing today to make it happen.

Startup Canada Podcast E64 - Supply Chain of Entrepreneurial Support with Shereen Benzvy Miller

After building a career in the Canadian fashion industry, Bobbi Paidel traveled to India where she was confronted with overwhelming differences in east vs. west consumerism and culture. That’s why Bobbi started Tribe of Lambs, an ethical non-profit jewelry company aimed at providing a better life to children affected by HIV in India.

“I felt such a sense of social responsibility to offer my blessings to these kids.”

Bobbi has an extensive resume in the fashion industry. She’s worked as a stylist and co-founded FRISCHE, a global fashion, photography and art magazine. Bobbi combined her passion for fashion and social entrepreneurship to develop Tribe of Lambs, which gives all proceeds back to the organization. Not only has Bobbi and her Tribe impacted the lives of almost 600 HIV positive children, but they continue to work on ‘compassion projects’ in India. Together they fundraise to pay tuition for children to attend school and to improve infrastructure at local libraries to improve financial literacy. 

In this week’s #StartupPodcast, host Rivers Corbett talks to Bobbi Paidel about how she’s starting a global movement around giving back together.

Startup Canada Podcast E66 - Giving Back Together with Bobbi Paidel.mp3

Shyra Barberstock is the Founder, CEO, and President of Okwaho International Inc., a global Indigenous communications and consulting firm. She is also the co-founder of the Okwaho Network, a social network for Indigenous business. Stuck at a crossroads, Shyra and Co-Founder Rye Barberstock decided to fill the gap. 

“Let’s stop talking about it and actually do something… Why don’t we build an Indigenous social network for business?”

Shyra is the Startup Community Lead for the newest Startup Community, Startup Kingston. Over three years ago, Shyra Founded Okwaho International Inc., one of the most influential advocates of Indigenous business in Canada and around the world.

In this week’s #StartupPodcast, host Rivers Corbett talks to Shyra about her successes and failures as a social entrepreneur, the connection between innovation and reconciliation, and she’ll share some top Indigenous business success stories we should all know about.

Startup Canada Podcast E71 - Reconciliation Via Indigenous Social Innovation with Shyra Barberstock

Sometimes startups get stuck in the weeds with strategies, plans, and everyday operations. Chris Kowalewski of Fulton Inbound Marketing knows what every entrepreneur needs to remember what makes startups successful.

“There is no B2B, no B2C, only P2P: people to people.”

After ditching their 9-5 jobs to travel across Canada, Chris Kowalewski and Rob Hyrkiel Co-Founded Showstopper Gear and Fulton Inbound Marketing in Toronto. Combining their passion for hockey and personable marketing, Chris and Rob are carving their dreams into new and unique career paths. 

In this week’s #StartupPodcast, host Rivers Corbett talks to Chris and Rob about everything from building brands, marketing, and attracting customers to your business. Between the two of them, they have more than ten years of experience building brands for business.

Startup Canada Podcast E74 - People to People with Chris Kowalewski & Rob Hyrkiel

Having built and sold two companies, Frontline Staff Inc. and the Momcafé Network Inc, Jill Earthly is paving the way for women entrepreneurs and delivering insightful advice for those in business.

“Diversity is essential, and when I say diversity I think of diversity of thought, of perspectives, and that includes gender, cultures, & previous experiences.”

Jill is the Chief Growth Officer of FrontFundr, an online investment platform connecting entrepreneurs and investors. Recently, Jill has been recognized as one of the 35 most influential women in British Columbia; a title much deserved. Jill is also the former CEO of the Forum for Women Entrepreneurs which is a non-profit association in Vancouver with a mission to guide and educate women entrepreneurs.  

In this week’s #StartupPodcast, host Rivers Corbett talks to Jill about entrepreneurial life, what she does to assist women in the business world, and key advice on how to evolve to achieve success.

Startup Canada Podcast E96 - The Power Of Authenticity With Jill Earthy

A visionary from Vancouver, Keith Ippel recognizes the new age of the Canadian business landscape.

“The notion of a non-profit is a byproduct of a bygone era. When people did capitalism with no moral compass. And that era is gone. Especially with millennials as a purpose generation, and we see it manifested in Whole Foods, Tesla, Volvo… We’re in this place now where making the world a better place is just going to be the norm.”

Keith Ippel is a serial entrepreneur most notable as the Co-Founder and CEO of Spring Activator, a Vancouver-based accelerator and incubator. Keith is an entrepreneur driven by purpose who has raised over 20 million dollars in angel and VC funding. When he isn’t changing the lives of entrepreneurs at Spring, Keith advises at Hootsuite, Brightkit, and Momentum, just to name a few. 

In this week’s #StartupPodcast, host Rivers Corbett talks to Keith about his strategy to raise nearly $2 million in funding and important lessons he’s learned during his 15 years in business.

Startup Canada Podcast E126 - The Purpose Generation with Keith Ippel

To make waves as a Canadian entrepreneur is something to be proud of. Now, imagine being the youngest investor on CBC’s Dragons Den while starting three companies before you’re 28 years old. 
“Setting big goals is the first thing. You have to not want to be a little business anymore.”Michele Romanow is the Co-Founder and President of her latest venture, Clearbanc, that makes accessing funding simple and affordable for entrepreneurs. She’s a celebrated entrepreneur who’s made WXN’s 100 Most Powerful in Canada and is listed as the only Canadian on Forbes Millennials on a Mission list. In 2017, Michele won Woman Entrepreneur of the Year Award by Startup Canada and has previously taken home the RBC Canadian Women Entrepreneur Award. She sits on multiple boards and is a director at Freshii, a fast food health store that ranks higher than McDonald’s and Subway in terms of international expansion. In this week’s #StartupPodcast, host Rivers Corbett talks to Michele about her strategy behind starting multiple high growth companies and how she’s taking Canada’s tech scene to higher places.

Startup Canada Podcast E141 - Breathing Fire into Canadian Investments with Michele Romanow

What does an entrepreneur with a skill set in psychology, product design, marketing and business development do? They scramble up their expertise and deliver a one-of-a-kind digital agency rooted in human centered innovations, immersing users in holistic experiences. “I was fascinated by how people work, think and learn, but also how we don’t work and how we can help people with that, the entry point was psychology.” Jason is one of Canada’s top design and UX trailblazers and is the Founder of You X Ventures, a Toronto-based startup to accelerate social-impact ventures to reach their goals through design, incubation, and investment. In this week’s #StartupPodcast, host Rivers Corbett talks to Jason about how he’s bridging the gap between doing good while making a profit and how he’s driving his mantra, people over pixels.

Startup Canada Podcast E142 The Psychology Behind a Winning UX with Jason Goodman

Aisha Addo’s idea to build a ride-sharing service for women and by women, came out of an uncomfortable ride in a cab that left her feeling unsafe. The startup not only provides girls and women in the GTA an alternative mode of transportation from Uber, taxis, or public transportation, but opens up employment opportunities for women in an industry that is over 85 percent male. Aisha’s commitment to protecting women while at the same time empowering them has given her the opportunity to jumpstart a successful entrepreneurial career.

Aisha’s dedication to female empowerment is shown through her past work, including the creation of the Power to Girls Foundation, a non-profit that offers mentors and role models to young girls. The Toronto-based organization ended up going global when she started the Ghana Project in her home country, providing underprivileged girls with education on leadership skills and economic freedom.

All of Aisha’s hard work has not gone unnoticed, being the recipient of the Young Black and Gifted Award for Community Service, while being named a Black Diversity Group Role Model, One of 100 Black Women to Watch in Canada and being among the 150 Black Women making history in Toronto.

In this week’s episode, we are going to discuss Aisha’s commitment to women empowerment in a entrepreneurial role, and what challenges she has faced in her many endeavors.

Startup Canada Podcast E180 - Steering Women Entrepreneurs to Success with Aisha Addo

What are the three O’s of making a wonderful online shopping experience for your customers? If you’re Luke Miszczyk, Director of Parcels and e-Commerce Integration at Canada Post, they’re optimize, optimize, and optimize.

A skilled professional with over 20 years of experience in the field of information technology at Canada Post, Luke is an innovator, leader, and executor with a proven ability to provide technology-based solutions to answer business needs.

Luke has been fortunate to spend a portion of his career in customer service, dealing directly with a full spectrum of small to enterprise customers. Having experienced thousands of customer interactions, Luke has a keen sense of empathy for his customers; a trait provided to the solutions he delivers.

“Working on the Help Desk was actually my first job at Canada Post. I don’t care if you’re an executive, spending time with your service team and on the phones with customers is the best thing you can do.”

In this week’s episode of the #StartupCanadaPodcast, Rivers Corbett sits down with Luke to help entrepreneurs understand the A-Z’s of optimizing your e-Commerce business.

Startup Canada Podcast E222 - Optimizing Your Online Operations with Luke Miszczyk

It’s never been a better time to be a woman entrepreneur in Canada, as Janet Bannister, Partner at Real Ventures will tell you!

Janet is a Partner at Real Ventures, a leading source of capital for entrepreneurs who are building the next generation of leading tech companies. Janet has led investments in over a dozen companies and works actively with founders to help them build large, industry-defining companies.

Not only is that, but Janet is also very active in the Canadian tech ecosystem; she is on the Board of Communitech in Waterloo and Vector Institute in Toronto as well as the Toronto
Region Board of Trade. She is also an active advisor at MoveTheDial, DMZ, Creative Destruction Lab and the Research Board of the University Health Network. In 2004, Janet launched Kijiji.ca and grew it to become one of the most visited
websites in Canada.

“More capital is definitely going into the hands of women, which is very exciting – I’d say at least 3-5 times the amount.”

In this week’s episode of the #StartupCanadaPodcast, sponsored by Mastercard and Ceridian, Janet discusses the importance of bringing funding to women entrepreneurs everywhere, and how best to pursue it.

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