CanadianSME Small Business Podcast

Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by Maheen Bari, where we explore how fintech leaders are reshaping access to credit through AI, strategic partnerships, and disciplined growth. In this episode, we examine how purpose-driven financial platforms can scale responsibly while expanding inclusion for underserved consumers.Our guest is Noah Buchman, Co-founder, President, and Chief Revenue Officer at Propel Holdings. Noah shares how Propel leverages AI to make credit more accessible, balances profitability with responsible lending, and builds a strong culture while growing its global footprint.Key HighlightsAI-Powered Financial Access: How Propel...

Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by Maheen Bari. In this episode, we explore secure remote access, privileged access management, and how AI can be integrated responsibly into modern IT operations.Our guests are Marc-André Moreau, CTO at Devolutions, and Chris Steffen, VP of Research at Enterprise Management Associates. Together, they unpack Devolutions’ new Model Context Protocol (MCP) server, why secure AI automation matters, and what this shift means for SME IT teams managing growing complexity.Key HighlightsRemote Access Security Challenges: Why credential and endpoint security remain critical pain points for IT...

Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by Maheen Bari, where we explore how inclusive leadership and thoughtful talent strategy help organizations perform at their best. In this episode, we focus on DEI, representation, and why inclusive hiring still matters for building resilient, innovative teams.Our guest is Ross Cadastre, Founder of BIPOCJobs.ca and VP, Professional Resourcing at MIR Digital Solutions. Ross shares how a moment of frustration sparked the creation of a national job platform, the realities of navigating bias as a Black leader, and how representation strengthens leadership, decision-making, and community impact.<...

Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by Maheen Bari. In this episode, we explore how enterprise digital solutions and operational excellence help B2B agencies drive innovation and deliver consistent value in an AI-driven market.Our guest is Janice Lee, COO and Partner at Dotfusion Technology Inc. and Founder of Verity Leadership Development. Janice shares how Dotfusion blends enterprise-grade thinking with agency agility, why operational discipline matters, and how purpose-led leadership shapes long-term growth as Canada’s first B Corp certified digital agency.Key HighlightsServing Enterprise Clients as a B2B Ag...

Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by Maheen Bari. In this episode, we explore how capital, mentorship, and strong networks unlock confidence and growth for women entrepreneurs across Canada.Our guest is Shauna Harper, CEO of WeBC, a federally funded organization supporting thousands of women in British Columbia with financing, expertise, and peer connections. Shauna shares why investing in women is an economic imperative and what entrepreneurs need most right now to scale.Key HighlightsThe Economic Upside: What Canada loses by underinvesting in women entrepreneurs and where impact can be unlocked...

Welcome back to Canada Business Talks with SK Uddin!As we kick off 2026, small businesses across Canada are facing a whirlwind of challenges—from rising costs to shifting trade dynamics. But what’s the path forward? Dan Kelly, President & CEO of CFIB, joins us to break down the 2026 outlook and what Canadian entrepreneurs need to know to thrive in a rapidly changing landscape.In today’s episode, we dive into:🔹 What CFIB’s key priorities are for the Winter Parliament session to help small businesses grow🔹 Navigating the U.S.-Canada trade crisis—t...

Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by Kripa Anand, where we explore the insights and innovations helping businesses grow through smart, data-driven marketing. In this episode, we dive into Digital Marketing Strategy and how businesses can build genuine trust online while turning complex plans into real, measurable results.Our guest is Max Reddy, Digital Marketing Strategist at Top Draw, with 15 years of experience translating enterprise-level strategies into practical growth plans for Canadian SMBs. Max shares how trust, clarity, and lived experience shape high-impact digital strategies that actually work.Key HighlightsBuilding Trust...

Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by Maheen Bari, where we explore the strategic insights and innovative approaches empowering Canadian businesses to build purpose-driven, high-impact brands. Today, we’re diving into modern marketing, brand strategy, and AI search visibility, and how small businesses can cut through the noise with clarity and credibility.In a world where reputation is increasingly shaped across multiple channels, success demands strong storytelling, values-driven strategy, and visibility in emerging AI search ecosystems. Our guests, Alex Varricchio and Kiirsten May, Co-owners of UpHouse Inc., are award-winning strategists and leaders behind AIEO, a ne...

Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by Maheen Bari, where we explore practical strategies that help businesses drive growth and strengthen client relationships. In this episode, we focus on sales, marketing, and business development, with an emphasis on gaining clarity, consistency, and momentum in client acquisition.Our guest is Jennifer Kuta, Business Development Analyst at Caldwell Securities Ltd., with more than twenty-five years of experience transforming sales and marketing practices. Jennifer shares proven insights on prospecting strategy, emotional value positioning, and building sustainable referral pipelines that actually convert.Key HighlightsThe 2026 Prospecting...

Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by Maheen Bari. In this episode, we explore how AI, automation, and purpose-driven digital strategy help businesses scale smarter and create high-impact digital experiences.Our guest is Chris Bryce, CEO of Dotfusion, a certified B Corp, and Founder of Crew CMS and Tricycle AI Agency. With more than 20 years of experience, Chris shares how simplifying complex technology, improving performance, and aligning innovation with purpose drive sustainable growth.Key HighlightsDigital Transformation Pitfalls: The most common digital mistakes SMEs make and how to modernize without large budgets.<...

Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by Maheen Bari. In this episode, we explore how social sustainability and purpose driven strategy help organizations secure funding, strengthen resilience, and create lasting competitive advantage.Our guest is Dr. Maria Murphy, VP of Development and Social Sustainability at Bloom Funding, a B Corp Certified firm supporting businesses and nonprofits in scaling impact through strategic funding and inclusion focused initiatives. Maria shares how sustainability, empowerment, and data driven impact translate into real results.Key HighlightsSustainability as Advantage: How tracking social and environmental impact drives differentiation...

Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by Maheen Bari. In this episode, we explore how a simple idea can scale into a national brand through curiosity, execution, and a strong partner ecosystem.Our guest is Dan Junkins, Founder and CEO of Celebright, a pioneer in permanent holiday lighting that grew from an Ottawa garage to a dealer network of more than 300 locations across North America. Dan shares hard-earned lessons on product-market fit, scaling hardware businesses, and building a brand rooted in joy and trust.Key HighlightsFrom Garage to Market Fit: How...

Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by Kripa Anand. In this episode, we explore Professional Services Automation and how service-based businesses can simplify operations, gain real visibility, and improve profitability.Our guest is Walter Perdigao, Co-Founder and VP of Services at CrossConcept, Inc. With decades of enterprise PSA experience, Walter shares practical insights on eliminating operational blind spots, strengthening project margins, and scaling service firms with clarity and control.Key HighlightsOperational Blind Spots: How poor visibility into utilization and projects quietly erodes profitability. Margin Improvement Without More Headcount: Practical process f...

Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by Maheen Bari, where we explore the strategies helping businesses build fast, flexible digital experiences. Today, we dive into the world of Headless CMS, composable DXPs, and how AI is accelerating development across modern teams.Our guest is Joel Varty, CTO of Agility CMS, a Canadian born headless platform known for its hybrid architecture. With a background spanning both English and Computer Science, Joel blends creativity with engineering precision as he leads Agility’s evolution into a high growth SaaS product.Key HighlightsModern Headless CMS Di...

Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by SK Uddin. In this episode, we explore authentic marketing and how showing up with integrity, clarity, and confidence helps entrepreneurs build real trust and lasting growth.Our guest is Tracy Borreson, Founder and CEO of TLB Coaching & Events, Co Founder of Your Business Peeps, and an Authentic Marketing Advisor with over 20 years of experience across marketing, sales, and customer experience. Tracy shares how personal brand, curiosity, and human connection shape meaningful business outcomes.Key HighlightsDefining Authenticity: Why showing up as your true self matters...

Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by Maheen Bari, where we explore the strategic insights and innovative solutions empowering businesses to understand and improve their online performance. Today, we’re diving into the transformative world of AI-powered digital benchmarking and how SMBs can gain clarity, visibility, and measurable ROI in the digital era.In a market where digital investment is essential yet often unclear, mastering AI-driven benchmarking and prioritized recommendations is becoming a competitive advantage. Our guest, Warren Butland, Co-Founder and CEO of Clixera AI, brings over three decades of experience in sales, strategy, and te...

Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by Maheen Bari. In this episode, we explore financial wellness, banking strategy, and how Canadian business owners can build confidence and prepare for a financial reset in 2026.Our guest is Dilys D’Cruz, Senior Vice President of Retail Banking and Wealth Management at Meridian Credit Union. With more than 30 years of leadership experience, Dilys shares insights from Meridian’s latest research and practical ways entrepreneurs can strengthen financial clarity and resilience.Key HighlightsCanada’s Financial Wellness Reality: What Meridian’s research reveals about financial stress and thre...

Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by Maheen Bari, where we explore the strategies helping organizations turn knowledge into a true competitive asset. In this episode, we dive into e learning and corporate training, and how modern learning programs must evolve to support performance, compliance, and AI readiness.Our guest is Ashley Chiasson, Senior Lead Instructional Designer at Innovatia Inc. With nearly twenty years of experience across regulated and enterprise environments, Ashley shares how effective learning design, governance, and content strategy transform training into measurable business impact.Key HighlightsLearning in Regulated...

Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by Maheen Bari. In this episode, we explore how digital marketing, MarTech, and technical discipline help businesses scale revenue with consistency and control.Our guest is Sheldon Poon, Founder and CEO of Drive Marketing, a Montreal-based agency focused on driving predictable profit through Google and Meta Ads. Known for cutting through hype, Sheldon shares why clean data, systems thinking, and grounded decision-making matter more than flashy tools.Key HighlightsPredictive vs. Generative AI: How the two differ and where each delivers real value in daily business...

Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by Maheen Bari. In this episode, we explore how People First Leadership strengthens team performance, trust, and project outcomes in demanding, high pressure environments.Our guest is Jonathan Cinelli, Founder of People First Leadership. With more than 30 years of experience across construction, project management, and brain based coaching, Jonathan brings a grounded, human centered approach to leadership, execution, and learning.Key HighlightsPeople First Leadership: How prioritizing people improves retention, performance, and outcomes in construction and complex projects. Project Management Reframed: Why curiosity and the T...