CanadianSME Small Business Podcast
Welcome to the CanadianSME podcast, a podcast for Canadian Small Businesses. In our podcasts, we interview Canadian experts and entrepreneurs to give small business owners access to expert knowledge that helps them grow their enterprises. Our mission is to empower Canadian small and medium enterprises and help them reach a bigger audience through our platform. Calling upon some of the most successful subject matter experts in the industry, the small business podcasts aim at identifying issues and finding solutions, all this while helping the business owners.
The Tipping Tension: How Back-of-House Automation Erases Tipflation Frustration
Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast hosted by Maheen Bari, where we explore strategies for scaling hospitality businesses. Today, we dive into automation pipelines, back-of-house optimization, and operational compliance for modern restaurants.
Joining us is Afshin Mousavian, Co-Founder and CEO of Actual, a hospitality automation platform. Afshin combines 20 years of tech leadership with hands-on restaurant experience to help operators optimize tips, payroll, and service workflows.
Key Highlights
Frontline Service First: Exceptional service reduces tipping tension more than technology alone. Back-of-House Optimization: Streamlined operations improve team efficiency and customer satisfaction. Handling High Traffic: Operational...The End of Silent Experts: How ProVoices Is Changing Professional Visibility on LinkedIn
Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by Kripa Anand. LinkedIn is no longer just a networking platform—it’s becoming a growth engine for professional credibility. Today, we explore how experts can build visibility, trust, and business opportunities without spending hours creating content.
Joining us is Mitt Korot, Founder and CEO of ProVoices.io. With leadership experience across enterprise AI, Accenture, and Novo Nordisk, Mitt shares how AI-powered thought leadership is helping professionals and organizations strengthen their digital presence.
Key Highlights
LinkedIn Evolution: Why professional visibility has become essential for business growth. AI-P...Why AI Contracts Are Ruining Your Business
Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by Maheen Bari. Today, we explore proactive legal strategy, corporate foundations, and preparing businesses for sustainable growth and successful exits.
Joining us is Elena Favaro Viana, Founding and Managing Partner of EFV Legal Professional Corporation, sharing practical legal insights to help entrepreneurs protect, scale, and strengthen their businesses.
Key Highlights
Proactive Legal Planning: Building strong foundations for long-term business success. Legal Growth Strategy: Using legal frameworks to support revenue and expansion. AI Contract Risks: Understanding the dangers of AI-generated agreements. Exit Readiness: Preparing businesses for successful...The Expansion Premium: Why Unstructured Growth Plans Fail to Scale Canadian SMEs
Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by Maheen Bari. Today, we explore fractional leadership, revenue growth, and operational strategies helping businesses scale efficiently.
Joining us are Cindy-Lynn Steele & Mark Johnson, Executive Partners at BelMark Plus Inc., sharing insights on digital transformation, execution, and building stronger business systems.
Key Highlights
Revenue Expansion: Growing new revenue streams without losing core focus. Omnichannel Growth: Turning customer data into profitable digital strategies. Execution Discipline: Keeping teams aligned during market expansion. Fractional Leadership: Choosing the right executive model for business needs. Operational Integrity: Building trust through fairness...Beyond the Breach: The Chronological Blueprint to Surviving an Active Security Incident
Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by Maheen Bari. Cyber threats are no longer just an IT problem—they are a business survival challenge. Today, we explore how organizations can build digital resilience, protect critical assets, and stay operational in an increasingly hostile cyber landscape.
Joining us is Patrick Naoum, P. Eng., Chief Strategy Officer at ESI Information Technologies Inc and CEO of Virtual Guardian in the United States. With nearly 30 years of executive leadership in technology, cybersecurity, and strategic growth, Patrick shares insights on building stronger defenses for modern enterprises.
Key Highlights
...The Discovery Premium: Why Traditional Google Strategy Fails Generative AI Engine Citations
Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by Kripa Anand. Today, we break down Generative Engine Optimization, local map pack tracking, and programmatic asset strategies for high-intent commercial keywords. In 2026, businesses must move beyond basic websites to AI-driven schemas and technical ledger architectures.
Joining us is Martin Vassilev, Founder and CEO of Ottawa SEO Inc. Martin is an elite search strategist and software engineer, known for ranking over 200 web properties and being profiled in The New York Times for a record-breaking search engine achievement. He personally designs every technical brief and authority pipeline for his clients.<...
The Insurance Revolution: How AI is Reclaiming Thousands of Broker Hours
Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by Maheen Bari. Today, we explore how AI-driven platforms are modernizing the Canadian insurance sector, transforming complex workflows into actionable business results in 2026.
Joining us is Jeff Barsalou, Co-Founder and Chief Revenue Officer of QuickFacts, who shares insights on digital transformation, AI in B2B sales, and building a family-led Insurtech leader with near-zero customer churn.
Key Highlights
Insurance Transformation: Jeff explains how technology is modernizing Canadian brokerage operations. AI in B2B Sales: Jeff discusses AI’s role in reshaping business development strategies. Customer Trust: Je...The Momentum Engine: How Shape-Build-Engage Frameworks and Practical AI Drive SME Growth
Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by Kripa Anand. Digital transformation fails when technology moves faster than strategy. Today, we explore how businesses can turn complex systems, AI investments, and digital platforms into measurable growth outcomes.
Joining us is Scott Snowden, Partner at Flywheel Strategic. A technology strategist and enterprise digital architect with two decades of experience, Scott helps B2B organizations simplify operations, improve user experiences, and build sustainable digital momentum.
Key Highlights
Digital Transformation Gaps: Why businesses struggle to turn technology investments into results. Practical AI Adoption: What separates successful...The Appreciation Economy: Turning Rewards Into a Measurable Growth Driver
Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by Kripa Anand. Today, we explore how modern organizations are transforming employee experience with AI-driven feedback and culture enablement.
Joining us is Rob Catalano, Co-Founder and Chief Engagement Officer at WorkTango, a global HR tech pioneer recognized for building platforms that amplify workforce engagement and retention.
Key Highlights
Annual Surveys Are Outdated: Traditional surveys fail to capture real-time employee sentiment. AI-Driven Feedback: AI can convert employee input into actionable management insights. Recognition Boosts Performance: Structured recognition programs improve retention and productivity. Incentives Drive Engagement: Operational incentives...The Storytelling Secret: Why Your Digital Ads are Failing
Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by Kripa Anand. Today, we explore how brands can move beyond visibility and use strategic storytelling to influence real consumer behavior.
Joining us is Andrew Wagar, President and CEO of Swerve Strategic Marketing. Andrew shares how PR, influencer marketing, and digital strategy come together to drive measurable growth.
Key Highlights
Influencer ROI: Andrew explains how influencer marketing can drive actual sales. Channel Synergy: Andrew shares how digital and influencer strategies boost conversions. PR Advantage: Andrew highlights why PR is the missing link in many campaigns. Scaling...Fundable vs. Scalable: Why Early-Stage Startup Hype Fails
Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by Kripa Anand. Today, we break down the operational mechanics of real startup growth and why structural foundations matter more than hype or valuations in 2026.
Joining us is Elizabeth Thorsen, Owner and Principal at Elle Thorsen Consulting. Based in Vancouver, Elizabeth has 15+ years of experience guiding tech, climate, and innovation startups toward execution readiness and scalable growth.
Key Highlights
Fundable vs. Scalable: The difference between raising capital and building a business that lasts. Hype Gap: Why many startups crash after their first major funding round. VC...ROI in Education: Why Most Tech Fails and How to Fix It
Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast hosted by Maheen Bari. Today, we explore the transformation of higher education in an AI-powered world.
In 2026, classrooms are shifting from content delivery to active application, requiring educators to focus on engagement, personalization, and interactive learning. Joining us is Eric Gardiner, Director of Thought Leadership at Top Hat, co-host of the Higher Listenings podcast, and advisor to over 900 institutions across North America.
Key Highlights
Educator’s Role: Teachers now guide application and critical thinking, not just content delivery. Personalized Learning: ACE tools tailor the student journey to bo...Beyond the Ambition: The Data Blueprint to Bridging the AI Infrastructure Readiness Gap
Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast hosted by Maheen Bari. Today, we explore AI-ready enterprise networks and secure platform deployment for Canadian businesses.
In 2026, scaling AI safely requires context-aware infrastructure, unified data connectivity, and robust cyber threat intelligence. Joining us is Raj Juneja, President of Cisco Canada.
Key Highlights
AI Network Foundations: Strong physical networks are critical for scaling AI workloads. Readiness Gap: Many Canadian companies lack network preparedness, affecting competitiveness. Secure AI Deployment: Trust-first infrastructure is essential for daily AI operations. Unified Platforms: Consolidated systems simplify monitoring and strengthen security. Innovation Ecosystems...Taking Your XM to the Next Level
Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by Kripa Anand. Today, we explore experiential marketing and brand activations that break through digital fatigue.
Joining us is Margot Silverstein, Associate Director of Growth at XMC, guiding national brand activations, sponsorship evaluation, and strategic partnerships across multiple industries.
Key Highlights
Experience Premium: Real-world brand experiences now outpace traditional digital ads. Sponsorship ROI: Measuring performance in real time maximizes impact and optimization. National Program Execution: Data-driven intention ensures large campaigns move the brand needle. Regulated Sector Creativity: Compliance and creativity coexist through strategic storytelling. Community & Leadership...The Future of Marketing Isn't More Content.It's Better Strategy.
Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by Kripa Anand. Today, we explore high-impact creative execution and building unified brand ecosystems.
Joining us is Danielle McNeill, Co-Founder and Marketing Director at Definitely Real, leading strategy for their top-tier client roster including Arc’teryx and Nimmo Bay Resort.
Key Highlights
Brand Foundation: Branding must precede marketing to guide all creative efforts. Marketing Flow: Build a consistent marketing river rather than chasing one-off trends. Earned Growth: Small businesses can win through community and word-of-mouth marketing. Creative Preservation: AI challenges the sustainability of creative talent if un...Ditching the Overhead: How to Operate a High-Impact Marketing Function on a Dime
Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by Kripa Anand. Today, we explore marketing strategies for professional service and B2B firms navigating rising media costs.
Joining us is Brian Brett, Director of Marketing and Communications at Smith + Andersen, guiding full-stack marketing, brand strategy, and client acquisition for one of Canada’s premier engineering consultancies.
Key Highlights
Marketing on a Budget: Small businesses can build effective marketing functions cost-efficiently. B2B Marketing Strategies: Long-cycle industries require tailored, high-impact approaches. Communications vs. Marketing: Distinguishing these ensures clear strategic focus. Brand Equity: Strong branding helps fi...Outpace the Market: A Leadership Blueprint for Corporate Reinvention
Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by Kripa Anand. Today, we explore enterprise brand transformation, risk management, and alternative portfolio evolution.
Joining us is Leisha Roche, Chief Marketing Officer at PICTON Investments, leading market repositioning for one of Canada’s premier alternative investment firms.
Key Highlights
Brand as Growth Engine: Brand should drive strategic growth, not just marketing. Industry Transformation: Marketing can reshape an entire industry, not only a company. Investment Habits: PICTON is changing how the world approaches investing. Corporate Reinvention: Leaders must recognize when and how to reinvent business models. Le...Beyond the Firewall: The Comprehensive Blueprint to Passing Cyber Insurance Audits
Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by Maheen Bari. Today, we explore workplace technology, cybersecurity risks, and protecting modern business operations.
Joining us is Ryan Oriwol, Sales Executive at Davidson Violette & Associates Inc., sharing insights on secure infrastructure, risk mitigation, and technology strategies for Canadian businesses.
Key Highlights
Cyber Misconceptions: Understanding the real cybersecurity risks facing small businesses. Connected Device Risks: How overlooked hardware can create security vulnerabilities. Penetration Testing: Strengthening defenses through proactive security assessments. Cyber Insurance Challenges: Why compliance requirements are increasing for SMEs. Risk Assessment: How security audits improve...Zero Equity, Max Growth: Inside Canada’s Largest Accelerator for Under-30 Founders
Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by Kripa Anand. Today, we explore youth-led venture creation, equitable capital access, and the role of entrepreneurship in driving economic mobility for young Canadians in 2026.
Joining us is Rob Ironside, Executive Director of League of Innovators, who shares insights on supporting high-potential, youth-led businesses, zero-equity accelerators, and building the skills necessary for the future of work.
Key Highlights
Youth Founder Challenges: Rob outlines the economic barriers young entrepreneurs face today. Zero-Equity Accelerator Model: Rob explains why LOI offers a free, zero-equity program. Entrepreneurship for Social Mobility...AML Is Changing Fast: What FINTRAC Now Expects From Businesses!!
Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by Kripa Anand. Today, we explore the evolving landscape of Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Anti-Terrorist Financing (ATF) in 2026, highlighting why robust compliance is crucial for both financial and non-bank sectors.
Joining us is Mondiu Jaiyesimi, Partner at MNP LLP, leading AML and ATF advisory in Ontario. He shares insights on emerging trends, rising expectations for fintech and iGaming, and the board’s role in fostering a culture of compliance.
Key Highlights
Emerging AML Risks: Current trends and National Risk Assessment guidance for Canadian reporting entities. Non-Bank Ex...Why Canada Is Rising to the Top of the Global Tech Scene
Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by Maheen Bari. Today, we explore how to scale a specialized tech startup globally, drive cross-border team performance, and remain competitive in rapidly changing industries.
Joining us is Erica Anderson, VP of Marketing & Product at Income Access, sharing her insights on growth strategy, international expansion, and navigating regulatory changes in Canada.
Key Highlights
Growth Journey: How Income Access has evolved over 17 years. Global Expansion: Lessons learned from scaling internationally. Regulatory Opportunities: Navigating Canada’s digital betting markets. Acquisition Strategy: Managing culture during the Paysafe acquisition. Market Re...How Leading Wealth Firms Are Using AI to Empower Advisors
Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast hosted by Maheen Bari, where we explore strategies for scaling and modernizing professional services. Today, we focus on AI-driven wealth management and how advisors can protect client trust while reducing operational friction.
Joining us is John Connell, Co-founder and CEO of Focal AI, Canada’s leading secure AI assistant for financial planners. John has led high-growth tech initiatives at Microsoft, compliance platforms, and wealth management firms.
Key Highlights
AI Gaps in Wealth Management: Generic AI models often fail to address operational inefficiencies for advisors. Time-Saving Agentic Workflows: Na...The Ambiguity Tax: The Hidden Performance Cost of Unclear Corporate Roles
Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by Kripa Anand. Today, we explore behavioral science insights that optimize team performance under pressure.
Joining us is Tammy Arseneau, Founder and CEO of Cortical Consulting & Coaching, a global expert in organizational effectiveness and leadership alignment.
Key Highlights
Outpaced Leader: Many leaders struggle to manage growing operational complexity. Cost of Ambiguity: Workplace ambiguity directly lowers team performance. Behavioral Insights: Stress shapes team communication and decision-making. Change Management Pitfalls: Companies often mishandle organizational change. Practical Clarity: Clear frameworks improve team alignment and decisions.Special Thanks to...
The Spreadsheet Crisis: Why Your Construction Tech Strategy Is Failing
Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by Maheen Bari. Today, we explore how industrial companies can modernize operations and build resilience through practical digital transformation and operations-first architecture in 2026.
Joining us is Frederic Elias, Head of Growth at OnTarget Group, a licensed engineer and MBA with global field experience in high-stakes environments. He now helps Canadian construction and manufacturing firms modernize through the Microsoft ecosystem.
Key Highlights
Execution Lessons: Insights from high-stakes international field operations. Operational Mistakes: The biggest gaps in industrial digital readiness today. Driving Adoption: Why transformation projects fail and...The Overwhelm Cure: Simple Workflow Changes That Free Up 100+ Hours a Year
Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast hosted by Kripa Anand. Today, we explore scaling service-based businesses, streamlining operations, and avoiding entrepreneur burnout in 2026.
Joining us is Adriana Fierastrau, CEO of Ontario Assistant, sharing insights on systemizing back-end workflows, automations, and virtual support teams.
Key Highlights
Common Bottlenecks: Identifying the top operational hurdles in service-based businesses. High-Impact Automations: Simple automations that save hundreds of hours annually. AI vs. Human Support: How to decide between automation, AI, or hiring assistance. Burnout Signs: Recognizing when operations cause overwhelm and taking action. Immediate Relief: Quick steps leaders...Is Your 'Text Me When You Get Home' Policy a Safety Risk?
Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast hosted by Kripa Anand. Today, we explore the challenges and solutions for lone worker safety across small businesses in North America.
Joining us is Lester Tiro, Marketing Manager at SafetyLine Lone Worker, who brings expertise in marketing, product storytelling, and translating complex workplace safety requirements into actionable solutions.
Key Highlights
1.Hidden Risks: Small businesses often overlook critical lone worker hazards.
2. Digital Safety Tools: Affordable tech can significantly enhance worker protection.
3. Program Essentials: Core elements define a strong lone worker program.
4...
The Brand Shift: Why High-Tech Companies Must Lead with Human Connection
Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast hosted by Kripa Anand. Today, we explore AI-driven marketing and digital brand execution for B2B businesses.
In 2026, building a dominant market presence requires translating complex technical capabilities into clear, trust-building stories. Joining us is Mikaela Nicholson, Senior Manager of Marketing at Agile Bookkeeping.
Key Highlights
AI in Marketing: AI is transforming how B2B brands strategize and execute campaigns. Organic Trust: Brands can foster genuine trust even in automated digital environments. Human-Tech Balance: Automation should complement, not replace, human connection. Lead-Gen Web Engine: Effective websites combine...The Identity Engine: How Authentic Consumer Rituals Fuel Modern Enterprise Growth
Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast hosted by Maheen Bari, where we explore strategies for modern marketing and customer engagement. Today, we focus on data-driven campaigns, authentic cultural insights, and community-first brand activation across Canada.
Joining us is Björn Bruschke, Associate Vice President of Marketing, Insurance at TD Bank Group, with over 15 years leading national marketing programs and multi-million-dollar growth initiatives.
Key Highlights
Authentic Cultural Insights: How organizations can uncover and leverage cultural insights for high-performing campaigns. SME Participation in Major Events: Engaging local audiences during global events without large budgets. Horn R...The Franchise Formula: How to Know If You Are Truly Backed to Buy
Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast hosted by Maheen Bari. Today, we explore franchise expansion, credit modeling, and risk management in 2026.
Joining us is Terry Thrower, National Manager of Franchise Banking at TD, sharing insights on scaling franchise portfolios and leveraging specialized banking strategies.
Key Highlights:
1. Financial Readiness: How to determine if you’re ready to buy a franchise.
2. Brand Viability: Evaluating the true potential of a franchise opportunity.
3. Specialized Advisory: Why franchise banking expertise matters for owners.
4. Multi-Unit Scaling: Financial challenges when expanding to multiple lo...
Hot Leadership: The People-First Edge in the AI Era
Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by Kripa Anand. Today, we discuss how leaders set the “temperature” of their organization and why it matters in an AI-driven workplace.
Joining us is Reena Narayan, founder of Hot Leadership, who helps leaders stay people-first under pressure and build cultures where teams thrive.
Key Highlights
The Temperature of Leadership: Origin and meaning of 'Hot Leadership'. The Cost of Cold Leadership: Impact of leadership going cold on teams. Competitive Advantage for AI: Hot Leadership as a business differentiator. Intent versus Impact: Applying Hot Leadership effectively in dail...The $50B Return Crisis: Can AI Fix Fashion’s Biggest Fail?
Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by Kripa Anand. Today, we explore how AI is solving the $50 billion fashion return crisis by tackling the persistent problem of sizing and fit.
Joining us is Edgar Azcorra, Founder and CEO of Xactsize, a tech entrepreneur building the AI infrastructure that connects brands, factories, and customers to improve apparel fit and reduce returns.
Key Highlights
Sizing Challenges: Why fit remains a major problem in fashion. AI-Driven Decisions: Using AI to reduce returns and optimize production. Intelligence Layer: How data infrastructure will reshape fashion by 2030. Global...The Middle Manager Pressure: Are You Leading or Just Reacting?
Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by Kripa Anand. Today, we explore middle management, corporate execution, and leading teams under dual pressures.
Joining us is Parm Chohan, founder of Conquer Leadership Inc., sharing how he helps managers translate core values into daily operational behaviors.
Key Highlights
Middle Management Challenges: Leadership hurdles as businesses scale and grow complex. Values-Based Leadership: The importance of values and Return on Values for business success. PDD Framework: Staying calm under pressure with structured leadership methods. Alpha Leadership & EQ: How emotional intelligence amplifies effective leadership. Strengths-Based Coaching: Improving...The Overengineering Trap: How SMBs Can Scale Cloud Infrastructure on a Budget
Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by Kripa Anand. Today, we explore how SMBs can build resilient, cost-efficient cloud infrastructure without overcomplicating systems.
Joining us is Amir Abolhasani, Founder and Technical Director at Namira Software Corporation, an AI architect with over 15 years of experience designing scalable platforms across multiple industries.
Key Highlights
Platform Engineering Priorities: Focus areas for leaders in 2026. De-risking SMB Infrastructure: Simplifying DevOps and Kubernetes adoption. AI-Powered SRE: Improving incident response with AI agents. Reducing Cloud Costs: Identifying and eliminating hidden expenditures. Bootstrapping Lessons: Insights from building your own scalable...Negotiation Power: Locking in Better Terms Before Your Next Renewal
Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by Maheen Bari. Today, we explore strategic insurance opportunities for real estate professionals in 2026, focusing on leveraging market shifts to improve coverage and reduce risk.
Joining us is Sarah Thompson, Associate Vice President of the Real Estate Practice at HUB International, who shares actionable insights on navigating soft markets, optimizing policies, and enhancing risk management.
Key Highlights
Soft Market Advantage: Sarah explains the benefits of a soft insurance market for real estate investors. Common Pitfalls: Sarah highlights frequent insurance mistakes property owners make. Risk Management: Sarah...Can't Afford It? How Collective Buying Changes Everything
Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by Kripa Anand. Today, we explore the evolution of purchasing power and the rise of crowd-purchasing, a model turning individual "wants" into collective wins in 2026.
Joining us is Joe Rubini, founder of Razzall Inc. and the Rally Group of Companies. Joe shares his journey from building a logistics empire to creating a tech-driven community commerce platform.
Key Highlights
Razzall Explained: How crowd-purchasing differs from traditional e-commerce. Building Trust: Educating users on a new digital commerce model. Logistics to Tech: Mindset shifts behind moving from freight to...AI in the Shop Floor: How Small Manufacturers Can Beat the Hype
Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by Kripa Anand. Today, we explore how North American manufacturers can overcome operational traps and build an integrated digital backbone for real-time productivity in 2026.
Joining us is Robert Jolliffe, President of Sabre Limited, who shares insights on modernizing manufacturing operations, implementing AI on the shop floor, and building trust through transparent, fixed-fee ERP systems.
Key Highlights
Spreadsheets' Limits: Robert explains when traditional spreadsheets fail growing manufacturers. AI on the Shop Floor: Robert discusses realistic AI applications in manufacturing. Competitive Edge: Robert shares strategies for Canadian manufacturers...Is Your Brand Identity Stalling Your Growth?
Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by Kripa Anand. Today, we explore how branding goes beyond visuals to earn trust, create loyalty, and drive growth for businesses in 2026.
Joining us is Nancy Ripton, President of Silver Lining Marketing, who shares insights on positioning, storytelling, and leveraging strategic networks to elevate brand impact.
Key Highlights
Branding Beyond Visuals: Nancy explains why branding shapes trust and growth. Foundations for Scale: Nancy discusses defining strong positioning on a budget. Branding Mistakes: Nancy shares common errors and how to fix them. Storytelling Impact: Nancy outlines how...SaaS Link Building: How to Rank on Google’s Front Page
Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by Kripa Anand. Today, we dive into the strategic world of digital authority, showing how backlinks and high-quality online relationships drive search visibility and AI discovery for businesses in 2026.
Joining us is Saurav Subham, Head of Link Building Growth at Marveta, who shares practical insights on off-page SEO, securing quality backlinks, and building a safe, scalable strategy for B2B and SaaS companies.
Key Highlights
Link Building Basics: Saurav explains why backlinks are essential for SEO. B2B & SaaS Stakes: Saurav discusses the critical role of...The Active Control Plane: Why Passive IT Monitoring Is Officially Dead
Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by Kripa Anand. Today, we explore how autonomous cloud infrastructure and feature management are transforming modern software delivery, enabling teams to safely scale AI-driven production workflows.
Joining us is Andrew Norris, Principal Product Manager at Dynatrace, who shares insights on active control planes, mitigating AI code risks, and bridging the gap between engineering and business teams.
Key Highlights
Active Control Planes: Andrew explains what an active control plane means for software teams. AI Code Risk Mitigation: Andrew shares how DevCycle reduces risks from AI-generated code. Telemetry...AI Before AI: The Hidden Groundwork Your Company Is Skipping
Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by Maheen Bari. Today, we’re exploring the strategic mechanics of data architecture monetization, automated compliance, and AI governance scalability. In 2026, unlocking the value of enterprise data requires structured foundations, unified storage, and predictive risk systems that turn hidden assets into measurable cash flow.
Joining us is Ale Brown, Founder and CEO of Kirke Consulting. A seasoned corporate technology leader with nearly 30 years of global IT experience, Ale specializes in building data strategy, risk mitigation, and AI-readiness frameworks for life sciences, finance, and technology companies.
Key Highlights
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