CanadianSME Small Business Podcast

Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by Maheen Bari. In this episode, the conversation focuses on how large enterprises are approaching AI in 2026 and why curated innovation ecosystems are becoming essential for staying competitive. Our guest is Leo Lax, Executive Managing Director at L-SPARK. With leadership experience spanning Mitel, Newbridge Networks, and Skypoint Capital, Leo shares how L-SPARK connects high potential startups with enterprise partners and advances sovereign AI initiatives like the TELUS AI Catalyst. Key Highlights AI Adoption Reality: How industries integrate AI and the legacy system challenges slowing progress.   TELUS AI Catalyst: Why sovereign compute and curated enterprise startup collaboration matter in Canada.   Enterprise Integration Barriers: The structural obstacles preventing AI from scaling inside large organizations.   From Pilot to Partnership: How proof of concept initiatives evolve into long term enterprise deals.   Agentic Innovation Ahead: How the Select model will shape enterprise AI startups by 2027. Special Thanks to Our Partners: UPS: https://solutions.ups.com/ca-beunstoppable.html?WT.mc_id=BUSMEWA Google: https://www.google.ca/ A1 Global College: https://a1globalcollege.ca/ ADP Canada: https://www.adp.ca/en.aspx For more expert insights, visit www.canadiansme.ca and subscribe to the CanadianSME Small Business Magazine. Stay innovative, stay informed, and thrive in the digital age! Disclaimer: The information shared in this podcast is for general informational purposes only and should not be considered as direct financial or business advice. Always consult with a qualified professional for advice specific to your situation.

Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by Maheen Bari. In today’s competitive labor market, recruitment is no longer just about posting jobs; it is about marketing opportunity with strategy and intention. Our guest is Chloé Lassagne, Digital Marketing Specialist at Emplois Compétences. From Paris to Quebec, Chloé has combined brand development and consumer psychology to help organizations attract and secure the right talent in a crowded hiring landscape. Key Highlights France vs Quebec Work Culture: Key differences in expectations, communication, and workplace dynamics.   Marketing Meets Recruitment: How employer branding drives visibility and candidate engagement.   Simple High Impact Tactics: Practical strategies that make job offers stand out instantly.   Platform Strategy Matters: Choosing the right channels for factory roles versus executive hires.   Digital Plus In Person Hiring: Lessons from live events that strengthen modern recruitment results. Special Thanks to Our Partners: UPS: https://solutions.ups.com/ca-beunstoppable.html?WT.mc_id=BUSMEWA Google: https://www.google.ca/ A1 Global College: https://a1globalcollege.ca/ ADP Canada: https://www.adp.ca/en.aspx For more expert insights, visit www.canadiansme.ca and subscribe to the CanadianSME Small Business Magazine. Stay innovative, stay informed, and thrive in the digital age! Disclaimer: The information shared in this podcast is for general informational purposes only and should not be considered as direct financial or business advice. Always consult with a qualified professional for advice specific to your situation.

Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by Maheen Bari. In this episode, we explore the future of healthcare, focusing on how early detection and advanced biomarkers can help prevent diseases before they start. Our guest is Dr. Zia Poonja, Co-Founder and CMO of MyHealthspan. With a deep commitment to prevention, Dr. Poonja shares how his platform empowers Canadians to monitor health risks and improve outcomes before it's too late. Key Highlights Addressing Healthcare Gaps: How MyHealthspan bridges the gap in preventative healthcare for everyday Canadians.   Beyond Standard Blood Tests: What makes MyHealthspan’s approach different from routine doctor-ordered tests.   Health and Performance: How early health risks impact productivity and employer costs.   Personal Motivation: How Dr. Poonja’s father’s health experience inspired the mission to expand access to screening.   Future of Health Benefits: How easy it will be for employers to implement MyHealthspan for their teams by 2026. Special Thanks to Our Partners: UPS: https://solutions.ups.com/ca-beunstoppable.html?WT.mc_id=BUSMEWA Google: https://www.google.ca/ A1 Global College: https://a1globalcollege.ca/ ADP Canada: https://www.adp.ca/en.aspx For more expert insights, visit www.canadiansme.ca and subscribe to the CanadianSME Small Business Magazine. Stay innovative, stay informed, and thrive in the digital age! Disclaimer: The information shared in this podcast is for general informational purposes only and should not be considered as direct financial or business advice. Always consult with a qualified professional for advice specific to your situation.

Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by Maheen Bari, where we break down how Canadian mid-market businesses can turn AI from an expensive experiment into a real commercial advantage. In 2026, the challenge is no longer access to AI tools, but avoiding feature bloat and choosing solutions that actually eliminate manual bottlenecks. In this episode, Adam Pawliwec, Head of Product Innovation and Strategy at Pipemind Technologies, shares a practical framework for adopting AI with intent. The conversation explores buy versus build decisions, designing AI as a long-term asset, real-world automation wins, and how intelligent triage is transforming operations across industries. Key Highlights Starting with Outcomes: Where businesses should begin before adopting any AI tools.   Buy vs Build Decisions: How to choose between platforms and custom AI solutions.   Scalable Design: What turns AI into a durable, long-term business asset.   AI for Venture Capital: How intelligent pre-screening accelerates investment decisions.   Operational Wins: Real examples of AI turning downtime into measurable value. Special Thanks to Our Partners: UPS: https://solutions.ups.com/ca-beunstoppable.html?WT.mc_id=BUSMEWA Google: https://www.google.ca/ A1 Global College: https://a1globalcollege.ca/ ADP Canada: https://www.adp.ca/en.aspx For more expert insights, visit www.canadiansme.ca and subscribe to the CanadianSME Small Business Magazine. Stay innovative, stay informed, and thrive in the digital age! Disclaimer: The information shared in this podcast is for general informational purposes only and should not be considered as direct financial or business advice. Always consult with a qualified professional for advice specific to your situation.

Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by Maheen Bari. In this episode, the focus is on how contracts quietly shape growth, profitability, and negotiation power in 2026. Our guest is Scott Stevenson, CEO and Co-Founder of Spellbook. With over 15 years of software engineering experience, Scott built an AI platform trusted by more than 4,000 law firms and major global brands to eliminate document inefficiency and move legal work at the speed of commerce. Key Highlights Cost of Legal Drudgery: How outdated contract processes drain time, margin, and momentum for SMBs.   Benchmarking Advantage: How Compare to Market data levels the playing field in negotiations.   AI-Powered Deal Velocity: Using AI to close agreements faster while protecting enterprise value.   Contracts as Strategy Data: How contract intelligence will influence executive decision making.   Modernizing Without a Legal Team: Practical steps SMBs can take to upgrade legal operations immediately. Special Thanks to Our Partners: UPS: https://solutions.ups.com/ca-beunstoppable.html?WT.mc_id=BUSMEWA Google: https://www.google.ca/ A1 Global College: https://a1globalcollege.ca/ ADP Canada: https://www.adp.ca/en.aspx For more expert insights, visit www.canadiansme.ca and subscribe to the CanadianSME Small Business Magazine. Stay innovative, stay informed, and thrive in the digital age! Disclaimer: The information shared in this podcast is for general informational purposes only and should not be considered as direct financial or business advice. Always consult with a qualified professional for advice specific to your situation.

Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by Maheen Bari, where we explore the strategies and innovations helping businesses master the age of Artificial Intelligence. Today, we’re diving into AI Governance and Enterprise Transformation, spotlighting how organizations can deploy AI safely, ethically, and at scale. Our guest, Rose Genele, CEO of The Opening Door (TOD), is an award-winning AI transformationalist guiding organizations in Responsible AI strategy, governance, and human-centered automation. Key Highlights: Enterprise AI Maturity: Rose explains how organizations can advance from curiosity to structured adoption through responsible, scalable frameworks.   Foundations of Responsible AI: She shares how her roots in ML, combined with Law, Business, and Ethics, shape her holistic approach to ethical AI.   Human-Centered AI Agents: Rose breaks down how TOD’s specialized agents deliver measurable ROI while keeping humans in control.   AI Literacy & Education: She discusses the urgent need for balanced AI education and how her AI Foundations certificate helps leaders adopt safely.   Global Vision & Future Impact: Rose reflects on her industry recognition, the future of Black women in tech, and TOD’s mission to advance responsible AI globally. Special Thanks to Our Partners: UPS: https://solutions.ups.com/ca-beunstoppable.html?WT.mc_id=BUSMEWA Google: https://www.google.ca/ A1 Global College: https://a1globalcollege.ca/ ADP Canada: https://www.adp.ca/en.aspx For more expert insights, visit www.canadiansme.ca and subscribe to the CanadianSME Small Business Magazine. Stay innovative, stay informed, and thrive in the digital age! Disclaimer: The information shared in this podcast is for general informational purposes only and should not be considered as direct financial or business advice. Always consult with a qualified professional for advice specific to your situation.

Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by Maheen Bari. As AI shifts from experimentation to execution, many Canadian businesses are discovering that their underlying networks, security, and infrastructure are not built for what is coming next. In this episode, Raj Juneja, President of Cisco Canada, shares why infrastructure debt is the hidden risk behind AI adoption, how leaders can close the talent and technology gap, and what it truly takes to build secure, scalable, AI-ready foundations for 2026 and beyond. Key Highlights Infrastructure Debt Risks: Why outdated networks and weak security can derail AI adoption.   Closing the Talent Gap: How organizations keep pace when AI outmoves internal expertise.   AI-Ready Foundations: Practical steps to build secure and scalable networks.   Strategic Investment Priorities: How leaders align tech spending with real business outcomes.   Avoiding AI Pitfalls: The most common implementation mistakes SMEs must sidestep. Special Thanks to Our Partners: UPS: https://solutions.ups.com/ca-beunstoppable.html?WT.mc_id=BUSMEWA Google: https://www.google.ca/ A1 Global College: https://a1globalcollege.ca/ ADP Canada: https://www.adp.ca/en.aspx For more expert insights, visit www.canadiansme.ca and subscribe to the CanadianSME Small Business Magazine. Stay innovative, stay informed, and thrive in the digital age! Disclaimer: The information shared in this podcast is for general informational purposes only and should not be considered as direct financial or business advice. Always consult with a qualified professional for advice specific to your situation.

Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by Maheen Bari. In this episode, we explore how real time data intelligence and website monitoring give businesses a powerful edge by detecting competitive moves, regulatory changes, and pricing shifts the moment they happen. Our guest is Eric Do Couto, Head of Marketing at Visualping, the website change detection platform trusted by over 2 million users and a majority of Fortune 500 companies. Eric shares lessons from scaling a global B2B SaaS platform and explains how SMEs can turn monitoring into actionable intelligence. Key Highlights Scaling B2B SaaS: How Visualping grew from early adopters to millions of global users.   SME Competitive Intelligence: Practical ways small businesses can monitor competitors without overload.   Dogfooding Intelligence: How Visualping uses its own platform internally for market insight.   AI Powered Monitoring: How AI filters signal from noise to surface changes that matter.   Momentum and Vision: What recent G2 recognition signals and what’s ahead for Visualping in 2026. Special Thanks to Our Partners: UPS: https://solutions.ups.com/ca-beunstoppable.html?WT.mc_id=BUSMEWA Google: https://www.google.ca/ A1 Global College: https://a1globalcollege.ca/ ADP Canada: https://www.adp.ca/en.aspx For more expert insights, visit www.canadiansme.ca and subscribe to the CanadianSME Small Business Magazine. Stay innovative, stay informed, and thrive in the digital age! Disclaimer: The information shared in this podcast is for general informational purposes only and should not be considered as direct financial or business advice. Always consult with a qualified professional for advice specific to your situation.

Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by Maheen Bari. In this episode, we explore how IT success is no longer measured by uptime and ticket closures alone, but by employee experience, productivity, and real business outcomes. Our guest is Syriac Joswin, Chief Revenue Officer at Synoptek. A Wharton graduate and global transformation leader, Syriac shares how Synoptek’s Managed Experience Provider MxP model connects technology performance directly to measurable business impact. Key Highlights The Evolution of IT Priorities: Why employee experience and business alignment now outweigh traditional SLA metrics.   Defining Managed Experience: How providers measure and manage end user experience across the entire tech stack.   Outcomes Over Outputs: How shifting from tasks completed to value delivered transforms daily service delivery.   From Insight to Action: How Synoptek converts experience data into integrated, organization wide improvements.   MxP in the AI Era: How the Managed Experience model will evolve as AI reshapes enterprise technology. Special Thanks to Our Partners: UPS: https://solutions.ups.com/ca-beunstoppable.html?WT.mc_id=BUSMEWA Google: https://www.google.ca/ A1 Global College: https://a1globalcollege.ca/ ADP Canada: https://www.adp.ca/en.aspx For more expert insights, visit www.canadiansme.ca and subscribe to the CanadianSME Small Business Magazine. Stay innovative, stay informed, and thrive in the digital age! Disclaimer: The information shared in this podcast is for general informational purposes only and should not be considered as direct financial or business advice. Always consult with a qualified professional for advice specific to your situation.

Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by Maheen Bari. In 2026, the local talent pool is no longer just your city, it’s the entire world. But as access expands, so does the noise, and the real challenge becomes finding the top 1% without drowning in AI-generated resumes. Joining us today is Delaney Thompson, Co-Founder and CTO of Caddie AI. A serial entrepreneur and self-described vibe coder, Delaney has built ventures ranging from rum factories to cross-border automotive businesses. Now, he’s reshaping recruitment with Caddie AI, a hiring marketplace designed to help companies secure vetted global talent in days, not months. Key Highlights Hiring Marketplace Model: How Caddie AI reduces hiring time and cost through a headhunter-driven marketplace. Founder Built Product: How Delaney’s builder mindset shapes product design for fast-moving teams. Global Talent Strategy: Why companies must look beyond local markets and how to reduce hiring risk. AI with Human Judgment: How Caddie balances automation with expert-led vetting to ensure quality hires. Hot Bench Advantage: How features like Hot Bench and Slack integration accelerate decision-making. Special Thanks to Our Partners: UPS: https://solutions.ups.com/ca-beunstoppable.html?WT.mc_id=BUSMEWA Google: https://www.google.ca/ A1 Global College: https://a1globalcollege.ca/ ADP Canada: https://www.adp.ca/en.aspx For more expert insights, visit www.canadiansme.ca and subscribe to the CanadianSME Small Business Magazine. Stay innovative, stay informed, and thrive in the digital age! Disclaimer: The information shared in this podcast is for general informational purposes only and should not be considered as direct financial or business advice. Always consult with a qualified professional for advice specific to your situation.

Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by Maheen Bari, where we examine the forces shaping Canada’s business and workforce landscape. As 2026 unfolds, the labour market reflects cautious optimism alongside growing complexity, with confidence rising while critical skills gaps continue to challenge execution and growth. In this episode, David King, Senior Managing Director at Robert Half Canada, shares insights from three decades at the forefront of talent solutions. The conversation explores the industries under the most pressure, the rise of flexible workforce models, the impact of GenAI on hiring, and how leaders can make smarter talent decisions using real market data. Key Highlights The 2026 Skills Gap: Industries facing the most acute talent shortages.   Flexible Workforce Models: Blending permanent and contract talent to stay agile.   GenAI in Hiring: Managing application volume while identifying real capability.   Skills vs. Credentials: What matters most for employability in 2026.   Hiring Intelligence: Key takeaways from the Demand for Skilled Talent report. Special Thanks to Our Partners: UPS: https://solutions.ups.com/ca-beunstoppable.html?WT.mc_id=BUSMEWA Google: https://www.google.ca/ A1 Global College: https://a1globalcollege.ca/ ADP Canada: https://www.adp.ca/en.aspx For more expert insights, visit www.canadiansme.ca and subscribe to the CanadianSME Small Business Magazine. Stay innovative, stay informed, and thrive in the digital age! Disclaimer: The information shared in this podcast is for general informational purposes only and should not be considered as direct financial or business advice. Always consult with a qualified professional for advice specific to your situation.

Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by Maheen Bari, where we unpack the strategies helping small and mid-sized businesses modernize without being overwhelmed by technical complexity. As data multiplies and systems become more fragmented, the real challenge is not adoption but connection—linking tools in a way that drives clarity, efficiency, and smarter decisions. In this episode, Hamood Meraj, Founder and CEO of Biznex, shares a practical approach to digital transformation for SMEs. The conversation explores cloud adoption, automation, ERP and CRM integration, and how global partnerships enable enterprise-grade solutions without unnecessary disruption. Key Highlights Starting Smart with Digital Transformation: Why doing less at the start leads to better long-term results.   Connecting Disconnected Systems: Turning scattered data into clear, usable operational insight.   Data-Driven Operations: How connected workflows improve productivity and safety in industrial environments.   From Corporate to Founder: Leadership lessons learned while scaling a global technology firm.   Scaling with Confidence: How enterprise platforms can simplify growth when implemented with readiness in mind. Special Thanks to Our Partners: UPS: https://solutions.ups.com/ca-beunstoppable.html?WT.mc_id=BUSMEWA Google: https://www.google.ca/ A1 Global College: https://a1globalcollege.ca/ ADP Canada: https://www.adp.ca/en.aspx For more expert insights, visit www.canadiansme.ca and subscribe to the CanadianSME Small Business Magazine. Stay innovative, stay informed, and thrive in the digital age! Disclaimer: The information shared in this podcast is for general informational purposes only and should not be considered as direct financial or business advice. Always consult with a qualified professional for advice specific to your situation.

Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by Maheen Bari, where we unpack the systems shaping Canada’s economic and climate future. Today’s episode tackles one of the biggest challenges ahead: retrofitting millions of homes to meet climate targets, and why outdated data is the real barrier slowing progress. In this conversation, Winston Morton, CEO of Climative, explains how AI-driven property-level insights are transforming climate risk into actionable financial intelligence. The discussion explores climate risk as credit risk, homeowner-focused solutions, climate tech scaling in Canada, and how lenders are rethinking emissions and mortgage decisions using better data. Key Highlights Climate as Credit Risk: Why property-level climate data now impacts mortgage stability.   Homeowner-Centered Solutions: How upgrade pathways reduce risk and unlock financing.   Scaling Climate Tech: Practical advice for building climate technology in Canada.   Financed Emissions: How granular data reshaped portfolio insights for Vancity.   Future Lending Models: How AI will influence property-level credit decisions by 2026. Special Thanks to Our Partners: UPS: https://solutions.ups.com/ca-beunstoppable.html?WT.mc_id=BUSMEWA Google: https://www.google.ca/ A1 Global College: https://a1globalcollege.ca/ ADP Canada: https://www.adp.ca/en.aspx For more expert insights, visit www.canadiansme.ca and subscribe to the CanadianSME Small Business Magazine. Stay innovative, stay informed, and thrive in the digital age! Disclaimer: The information shared in this podcast is for general informational purposes only and should not be considered as direct financial or business advice. Always consult with a qualified professional for advice specific to your situation.

Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by Maheen Bari. In this episode, we explore how founders can bridge the gap between innovative ideas and scalable technology execution in an AI driven world. Our guest is Ramanathan Alagappan, Founder and CEO of Noukha Technologies. With over 13 years of experience at global leaders like PayPal and Thermo Fisher Scientific, Ramanathan shares lessons from building products zero to one, scaling sustainably, and helping startups avoid costly technical missteps. Key Highlights Startup Pitfalls: Common mistakes B2B and D2C founders make when building products and how to simplify technology early.   Scaling with Intent: Practical strategies for standing out and creating long term value in crowded markets.   AI for Efficiency: How AI agents are reducing manpower needs while improving operational performance.   Zero to One Execution: What it truly takes to turn an idea into a scalable, real world product.   Founder Vision: Ramanathan’s journey from zero investment to high growth and his long term mission for Noukha. Special Thanks to Our Partners: UPS: https://solutions.ups.com/ca-beunstoppable.html?WT.mc_id=BUSMEWA Google: https://www.google.ca/ A1 Global College: https://a1globalcollege.ca/ ADP Canada: https://www.adp.ca/en.aspx For more expert insights, visit www.canadiansme.ca and subscribe to the CanadianSME Small Business Magazine. Stay innovative, stay informed, and thrive in the digital age! Disclaimer: The information shared in this podcast is for general informational purposes only and should not be considered as direct financial or business advice. Always consult with a qualified professional for advice specific to your situation.

Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by Maheen Bari, where we explore the systems and leadership required to build predictable, scalable revenue. As companies grow beyond early traction, many hit a ceiling when sales remains founder-led and informal. In this episode, Andrew Devlin, President of ScaleTech CRO and Sales Xceleration Certified Advisor, breaks down how to transition from founder-led selling to a repeatable sales engine. The conversation covers sales infrastructure, fractional leadership, and how growing businesses can access enterprise-grade sales expertise without enterprise-level cost. Key Highlights Founder-Led Sales Limits: Clear signals that it’s time to evolve beyond selling alone.   Revenue Infrastructure: The core systems required for predictable sales growth.   Fractional Sales Leadership: Accessing senior expertise without full-time overhead.   Process vs. Performance: Identifying whether growth issues stem from people or systems.   Enterprise Playbooks: Proven practices small businesses can adopt immediately. Special Thanks to Our Partners: UPS: https://solutions.ups.com/ca-beunstoppable.html?WT.mc_id=BUSMEWA Google: https://www.google.ca/ A1 Global College: https://a1globalcollege.ca/ ADP Canada: https://www.adp.ca/en.aspx For more expert insights, visit www.canadiansme.ca and subscribe to the CanadianSME Small Business Magazine. Stay innovative, stay informed, and thrive in the digital age! Disclaimer: The information shared in this podcast is for general informational purposes only and should not be considered as direct financial or business advice. Always consult with a qualified professional for advice specific to your situation.

Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by Maheen Bari, where we explore the ideas, tools, and platforms helping Canadians turn ambition into action. As 2026 begins, a growing wave of Canadians are considering entrepreneurship, yet many remain stuck between inspiration and incorporation due to complexity, risk, and uncertainty. In this episode, Jordan Casey, CEO of Ownr, breaks down why so many aspiring founders hesitate to start and how simplifying registration, compliance, and planning can unlock momentum. The conversation explores practical first steps, risk reduction tools, and how technology is reshaping the early founder journey across Canada. Key Highlights The 2026 Entrepreneurial Surge: Why more Canadians want to start businesses but hesitate to begin.   From Idea to Action: Practical first steps for founders not ready to leave full-time work.   Simplifying Compliance: How automation removes legal friction for first-time founders.   Reducing Early Risk: The role of planning and micro-insurance in building confidence.   Looking Ahead: Ownr’s vision for supporting the next generation of Canadian entrepreneurs. Special Thanks to Our Partners: UPS: https://solutions.ups.com/ca-beunstoppable.html?WT.mc_id=BUSMEWA Google: https://www.google.ca/ A1 Global College: https://a1globalcollege.ca/ ADP Canada: https://www.adp.ca/en.aspx For more expert insights, visit www.canadiansme.ca and subscribe to the CanadianSME Small Business Magazine. Stay innovative, stay informed, and thrive in the digital age! Disclaimer: The information shared in this podcast is for general informational purposes only and should not be considered as direct financial or business advice. Always consult with a qualified professional for advice specific to your situation.

Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by Maheen Bari. In this episode, we explore why face to face connection matters more than ever in a world flooded with generic AI driven content, and how Canadian SMEs can stay human while scaling impact. Our guest is Ariana Reed, Director of Global Growth and Customer Experience at American Express Global Business Travel. With over 20 years in travel, hospitality, and experiential strategy, Ariana shares how technology can simplify operations while strengthening trust, connection, and measurable return on experience. Key Highlights The Face to Face Advantage: Why in person experiences build trust when digital content feels generic.   AI as the Invisible Partner: How AI improves efficiency in events without replacing human connection.   Return on Experience: How businesses can think about measuring emotional and brand impact.   Innovation Through Simplicity: How AI driven savings can be reinvested into attendee experience.   The 2026 Event Shift: The most important trend SMEs should prepare for in meetings and events. Special Thanks to Our Partners: UPS: https://solutions.ups.com/ca-beunstoppable.html?WT.mc_id=BUSMEWA Google: https://www.google.ca/ A1 Global College: https://a1globalcollege.ca/ ADP Canada: https://www.adp.ca/en.aspx For more expert insights, visit www.canadiansme.ca and subscribe to the CanadianSME Small Business Magazine. Stay innovative, stay informed, and thrive in the digital age! Disclaimer: The information shared in this podcast is for general informational purposes only and should not be considered as direct financial or business advice. Always consult with a qualified professional for advice specific to your situation.

Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by Kripa Anand. In this episode, we examine why an entrepreneur’s largest asset, their business, is often overlooked in financial planning until it is too late to influence the outcome. Our guest is Trevor Greenway, Co Founder and CEO of interVal. With a decade of experience in M&A, Trevor shares how turning financial data into a real time visibility engine helps advisors and owners understand value, manage risk, and make smarter decisions long before an exit. Key Highlights The Owner’s Blind Spot: Why business value is often ignored and the financial risks that creates.   Beyond Static Valuations: Why one time reports fail to guide meaningful strategic decisions.   Redefining Advisor Relationships: How continuous valuation data strengthens trust and long term planning.   Technology with Purpose: Where software enhances advisory insight without replacing human judgment.   Actionable Risk Intelligence: How dashboards deliver timely, differentiated insights for better outcomes. Special Thanks to Our Partners: UPS: https://solutions.ups.com/ca-beunstoppable.html?WT.mc_id=BUSMEWA Google: https://www.google.ca/ A1 Global College: https://a1globalcollege.ca/ ADP Canada: https://www.adp.ca/en.aspx For more expert insights, visit www.canadiansme.ca and subscribe to the CanadianSME Small Business Magazine. Stay innovative, stay informed, and thrive in the digital age! Disclaimer: The information shared in this podcast is for general informational purposes only and should not be considered as direct financial or business advice. Always consult with a qualified professional for advice specific to your situation.

Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by Maheen Bari. In today’s high stakes mortgage and finance landscape, we explore how professionals can adopt the right technology without sacrificing relationships or adding unnecessary complexity. Our guest is Maryah Diulia, Senior Account Executive at Lendesk. A fintech specialist with a relationship driven approach, Maryah shares how brokers can simplify digital workflows, improve adoption, and scale sustainably in a regulated industry. Key Highlights Evaluating Fintech Wisely: How to assess tools based on real impact rather than hype or feature overload.   Adoption Over Features: Why most tech fails at implementation and how leadership drives usage.   Relationships in Regulated Markets: Keeping fintech buying human centered in a compliance heavy space.   Overcoming Tech Resistance: Building confidence with simple, supportive digital transitions.   Scaling Simply in 2026: How the right systems help brokers grow without adding operational strain. Special Thanks to Our Partners: UPS: https://solutions.ups.com/ca-beunstoppable.html?WT.mc_id=BUSMEWA Google: https://www.google.ca/ A1 Global College: https://a1globalcollege.ca/ ADP Canada: https://www.adp.ca/en.aspx For more expert insights, visit www.canadiansme.ca and subscribe to the CanadianSME Small Business Magazine. Stay innovative, stay informed, and thrive in the digital age! Disclaimer: The information shared in this podcast is for general informational purposes only and should not be considered as direct financial or business advice. Always consult with a qualified professional for advice specific to your situation.

Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by Maheen Bari, where we cut through technology noise to focus on what actually drives business value. As AI adoption accelerates, many leaders struggle to balance trust, cost, and real-world impact beyond generic tools and hype. In this episode, Guillaume Hervé, CEO and Co-founder of Zetane, breaks down what trusted, production-ready AI truly looks like for SMEs. The conversation explores practical AI deployment, human-AI collaboration, structured intelligence, and how businesses can move from experimentation to measurable productivity gains in 2026. Key Highlights The New Reality of AI Deployment: How SMEs can adopt AI faster without massive consulting costs.   Human + AI Collaboration: Turning AI into a strategic teammate instead of a threat.   Structured Intelligence vs Generic Tools: Why data accuracy and sovereignty matter.   Real Productivity Wins: Practical examples of AI driving measurable outcomes.   The Next Automation Leap: What business leaders should prepare for in 2026. Special Thanks to Our Partners: UPS: https://solutions.ups.com/ca-beunstoppable.html?WT.mc_id=BUSMEWA Google: https://www.google.ca/ A1 Global College: https://a1globalcollege.ca/ ADP Canada: https://www.adp.ca/en.aspx For more expert insights, visit www.canadiansme.ca and subscribe to the CanadianSME Small Business Magazine. Stay innovative, stay informed, and thrive in the digital age! Disclaimer: The information shared in this podcast is for general informational purposes only and should not be considered as direct financial or business advice. Always consult with a qualified professional for advice specific to your situation.