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.
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Insurance CAT Crisis: How AI Cuts Costs and Speeds Recovery Fast
<p>Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by SK Uddin. In this episode, we explore how artificial intelligence is transforming catastrophe management as natural disasters place growing strain on Canada’s insurance industry.</p><p>Our guest is Dan Lawrence, CEO and Co founder of Atlis AI. A seasoned growth executive, Dan shares how Atlis automates emergency response and vendor coordination to reduce costs for insurers while helping families recover faster during times of crisis.</p><p>Key Highlights</p>The Cost of Manual CAT Operations: How outdated processes drive millions in losses as disasters become more frequent.<br...
Safety Culture: The 3 Practical Steps Leaders Must Take
<p>Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by Maheen Bari. In this episode, we explore how fatigue risk management is emerging as a critical lever for improving frontline safety and human performance.</p><p>Our guest is Andrew Morden, CEO of Fatigue Science, the company behind Readi, an AI powered platform that predicts individualized fatigue risk up to 18 hours in advance without wearables or hardware. Andrew shares how making fatigue measurable transforms safety culture from reactive to proactive.</p><p>Key Highlights</p>From Personal to Operational Risk: How fatigue evolved into a predictable, measurable safety indicator leaders...
Institutional Grade Risk: Why Advisors Need Better Analytics to Elevate the Client Experience
<p>Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by Maheen Bari. In this episode, we explore how modern wealth management technology is helping firms transition from fragmented legacy systems to integrated, scalable digital platforms.</p><p>Our guest is Benoit Fleury, Co-founder and Chief Product Officer at d1g1t Inc. With over two decades of experience across Algorithmics and S and P Capital IQ, Benoit shares how institutional grade performance and risk technology is reshaping the future of wealth management.</p><p>Key Highlights</p>The d1g1t Origin Story: How timing, market insight, and entrepreneurial conviction...
SMBs: The Cyber Threat You Don’t See Coming Could Shut You Down Fast!!
<p>Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by Kripa Anand. In this episode, we explore how small and mid-sized businesses can defend against today’s increasingly sophisticated cyberthreats without enterprise-level budgets.</p><p>Our guest is Francis Pilon, Director of Sales at StreamScan, a Canadian cybersecurity firm providing continuous monitoring from its Montreal-based security operations center. Francis shares what really happens during cyber incidents, where common assumptions break down, and how early detection changes outcomes.</p><p>Key Highlights</p>Inside a Cyber Incident: What an attack actually looks like for SMBs and how preparation changes the damage.<br...
AI for Agencies: Kevin Hayes on the Future of Marketing Strategy
<p>Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by Maheen Bari. In this episode, we explore how small and mid-sized businesses can build sustainable, revenue-focused marketing strategies by aligning creativity, data, and operational excellence.</p><p>We’re joined by Kevin Hayes, Head of Growth at Soulpepper Marketing, a Vancouver-based agency known for helping professional service firms boost lead generation and intake performance. Kevin brings decades of strategic experience from brands like Deloitte and GE, along with a passion for community-driven impact.</p><p>Key Highlights:</p>2026 Strategy Blueprint: The pillars firms must prioritize for sustainable, data-backed growth.<br /> The...
Modern IT, AI, and MDR: The New Competitive Advantage for SMB Success
<p>Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by Maheen Bari, where we explore insights and solutions that help organizations operate securely, scale efficiently, and innovate with confidence. In this episode, we dive into digital transformation, cybersecurity, AI, and automation, and how managed services simplify growth for Canadian businesses.</p><p>Our guest is Habib Malik, CEO of MSP Corp and Co-founder of Groupe Access, with more than three decades of experience in modern workplace technology. Habib shares how technology becomes a true competitive advantage, how businesses can innovate without compromising security, and why managed services are foundational to...
AI Projects Will Fail Unless You Do This
<p>Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by Maheen Bari. In this episode, we unpack what it really takes to implement AI automation that delivers durable, real world results beyond hype.</p><p>Our guest is Zane Frantzen, VP of Platform and Operations at SimplyAsk.ai and founder of Symphona, an AI automation suite designed to reduce manual work through process first automation while keeping humans meaningfully involved.</p><p>Key Highlights:</p>AI Reality Check: Common misconceptions about AI and the fundamentals required before automation works.<br /> Build vs Buy Decisions: When custom automation makes sense and w...
AI in Supply Chain: Robert Jolliffe's Optimization Hacks
<p>Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by Maheen Bari, where we explore the strategies and tools helping manufacturing businesses achieve operational excellence. Today, we’re diving into the world of ERP, supply chain management, and AI, and how modern systems empower manufacturers to operate with greater precision and efficiency.</p><p>Our guest, Robert Jolliffe, President and CEO of Sabre Limited, brings over thirty years of experience advising more than two hundred SMB manufacturers across North America. With deep expertise in engineering, IT, LEAN, Six Sigma, and ERP implementation, Robert leads Sabre Limited, a Microsoft Gold Partner re...
AI Agents in Retail: Caila Schwartz on Canada’s Cyber Week Trends for 2025
<p>Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by Maheen Bari. In this episode, we explore how shifting consumer behavior and AI-driven commerce are reshaping the future of retail in Canada.</p><p>Our guest is Caila Schwartz, Director of Consumer Insights and Strategy for Retail and Consumer Goods at Salesforce. Caila breaks down key insights from 2025 Canada Cyber Week, explains how AI agents are transforming product discovery, and shares what retailers must do to stay competitive in the year ahead.</p><p>Key Highlights</p>Canada Cyber Week Insights: What deal-seeking behavior and pricing trends reveal about Canadian...
SR&ED Myths Busted: Does Your Business Actually Qualify?
<p>Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by Maheen Bari. Today, we’re diving into the complex world of government funding and how Canadian entrepreneurs can navigate a broken system to access the capital they need.</p><p>Joining us is Jonathan Stacey, Co-Founder and CEO of Grant Fund Pro. After consulting with over 160 companies, Jonathan developed a platform that uses AI to automate the grant application process, helping businesses secure funding with ease.</p><p>Key Highlights:</p>Fixing the Broken Funding System: The biggest misconceptions about government funding and how they prevent businesses from applying.<br /> Bus...
