Inspiring Entrepreneurs Canada: Recent Episodes
BDO Canada
Inspiring Entrepreneurs Canada by BDO Canada LLP is a business-oriented radio show airing on CJAD 800 AM and produced as part of BDO's community involvement initiatives. Co-hosted by BDO Canada Partner Michael D. Newton and TNKR Media’s Dan Delmar, Inspiring Entrepreneurs has been profiling inspiring business owners for over a decade.
The Entrepreneur: Davide Pisanu, CEO, ClearEstate
Mike and Dan return for a succession-themed show following the election, the Liberals' near-majority win, and a Throne Speech read by the King Charles III that has Canadian investors and even some critics reacting with cautious optimism.
After breaking down what Canadian businsesspeople should expect for the coming months on tariffs, recessionary conditions and other X factors, ClearEstate's co-founder and chief executive joins the conversation to describe how the well-funded Montréal startup is optimizing arguably some the most painful bureaucratic tasks of all, estate planning and settlement.
Inspiring Entrepreneurs Canada is a TNKR Media Original Production.
Inspiring stories from outstanding Canadian businesspeople, since 2009.
The Entrepreneur: David McMillan, proprietor, Hayfield Farms
With only days to go in an anxiety-inducing Canadian election campaign, Mike and Dan share top line impressions of the Liberal and Conservative fiscal platforms, and then chat with one of the country's most accomplished restaurateurs, the co-founder of the Joe Beef group, about his evolution in Montréal's fine dining scene, the secrets to operating a successful restaurant and his departure from the iconic eateries in favour of a simpler life down on the farm.
David is also the co-host with Lesley Chesterman of Salt Lick, a new TNKR Media podcast series about food and the restaurant business, and the co-author of Spilled: Natural Winemakers Stories & Recipes.
Inspiring Entrepreneurs is a TNKR Media Original Production.
Inspiring stories from outstanding Canadian businesspeople, since 2009.
The Entrepreneurs: Dax Dasilva, founder and CEO, Lightspeed Commerce + Myriam Belzile-Maguire, co-founder and designer, Maguire Shoes
On our Holiday Retail Spectacular, we catch up with two returning retail champions who preach "focus" in these turbulent times: an e-commerce and point-of-sale innovator who recently returned to his executive role, and a hybrid online-storefront shoe designer who surprised us by doubling down on Brooklyn brick-and-mortar.
In the news, Mike and Dan break down big-picture economic uncertainty in Canada with Trump's tariff threats, an abrupt change at the head of the Finance Ministry and an unknown timeline for the Prime Minister's expected resignation; Québec's heavily-subsidized electric vehicle transition plans face hurdles, public sector workers go from a minority to a majority of in-office workdays, and the ongoing debate on how to be remote and professional.
Happy Holidays from the Inspiring Entrepreneurs team: Mike, Dan, Marjorie and Fernando. We'll be off for a few weeks but stay tuned for more wisdom from outstanding Canadian businesspeople, and the latest #cdnbiz news and analysis. For more information about Inspiring Entrepreneurs programming in the new year, contact TNKR Media.
Inspiring stories from outstanding Canadian businesspeople, since 2009.
The Entrepreneur: Brett Huneycutt, CPO and co-founder, Wealthsimple
Founded by friends aiming to democratize investing for a new generation of Canadians, Wealthsimple has shown remarkable growth over the past decade with three million users and is arguably already one of the country's top ten financial institutions. Mike and Dan wanted to delve into the product and tech with co-founder Brett Huneycutt, an Oxford graduate and Rhodes Scholar who still isn't certain the company will ever need a brick-and-mortar branch.
Mike also wonders if the US President-elect is bluffing, and Dan shares a story about Canadian brain drain in tech with the sudden departure of chipmaker Tenstorrent; the duo also discuss content marketing and PR amid a chaotic media environment, preview the holiday Movers & Shakers Alum show, and talk about a pivot toward more podcasting and other online content for the new year.
For more thought leadership and advice from the BDO team, visit www.BDO.ca.
For more information about Inspiring Entrepreneurs programming in the new year, contact TNKR Media.
Inspiring stories from outstanding Canadian businesspeople, since 2009.
The late Harry Rosen started a menswear boutique from a modest 500 sq. ft. retail space in Toronto's Cabbagetown, growing it to a national luxury retailer that remains among Canada's most iconic brands. His son Larry Rosen and grandsons are now running the operation as the family remains a market leader amid mounting e-commerce competition. Mike and Dan also unpack the latest trade news, in particular the US president-elect's threat to impose a heafty 25% tariff on Canadian goods if policy demands are not met; a new Gallup poll also reveals some concerning statistics on employee engagement.
The Entrepreneur: Larry Rosen, CEO, Harry Rosen Inc.
For more thought leadership and advice from the BDO team, visit www.BDO.ca.
Inspiring stories from outstanding Canadian businesspeople, since 2009.
Monsieur Cocktail took off in the early days of the pandemic when at-home mixology was a popular trend, but then the elixer business was targeted by a sophisticated and costly form of fraud known as the President's Scam. The scam nearly sunk the business but Patrice Plante persevered and pivoted toward B2B. Mike and Dan explore what it took to identify the scam, repair the damage, and get back on track, with the help of Sacha Blasiak-Priestley, Director, Cloud Security for BDO Canada's cybersecurity team; they also discuss whether or not temporary sales tax holidays can stimulate the economy, and signs of optimism in Canadian tech and IPOs, with positive news from Shopify and Dynamite.
The Entrepreneur: Patrice Plante, founder, Monsieur Cocktail
For more thought leadership and advice from the BDO team, visit www.BDO.ca.
Inspiring stories from outstanding Canadian businesspeople, since 2009.
A group of high-profile recent guests on Inspiring Entrepreneurs return to give Mike and Dan updates on their growth and to offer some advice for businesspeople on preparing for uncertain times; speaking of, Mike breaks down news of more cabinet appointments from the US, a weakening Canadian dollar, and two public sector strikes creating shipping havoc.
The Entrepreneurs:
- Mohamed Hage, CEO, Lufa Farms
- Robert Marzin, co-founder, Manmade Brand
- Fabio Zeppilli, co-founder, Bad Monkey Popcorn & Zeppilli Group
For more thought leadership and advice from the BDO team, visit www.BDO.ca.
Inspiring stories from outstanding Canadian businesspeople, since 2009.
More politics than Mike and Dan are accustomed to on the podcast this week with the results of the American election and speculation about what sorts of impacts are in store for Canadian businesses, including possibly rising inflation and new tariffs on exports. A second generation Montréal restaurateur is our featured guest and she explains why her family's Peel St. café made international headlines during last summer's compliance horror story known as Terrasse-gate.
The Entrepreneur: Sandra Ferreira, General Director, Groupe Ferreira
This week's show also includes another edition of the Inspiring Entrepreneurs Book Club.
Mike's picks:
- War by Bob Woodward
- Fools on the Hill: The Hooligans, Saboteurs, Conspiracy Theorists, and Dunces Who Burned Down the House by Dana Milbank
- The Empire and the Five Kings: America's Abdication and the Fate of the World by Bernard-Henri Lévy
Dan's picks:
- Liberalism and Its Discontents by Francis Fukuyama
- Free Speech: A History from Socrates to Social Media by Jacob Mchangama
- The Hidden Life of Trees: What They Feel, How They Communicate—Discoveries from A Secret World by Peter Wohlleben
For more thought leadership and advice from the BDO team, visit www.BDO.ca.
Inspiring stories from outstanding Canadian businesspeople, since 2009.
We follow the supply chain from last week's Pizza No. 900 operation down to the farm where the sausages are made by a Québec family with a passion for quality meats and sustainable agriculture. Mike and Dan also discuss Canada's GDP and the concept of "degrowth", mental health vs. productivity, and record funding rounds in Montreal's tech sector.
The Entrepreneur: Damien Girard, co-owner, Les Viandes Biologiques de Charlevoix
For more thought leadership and advice from the BDO team, visit www.BDO.ca.
Inspiring stories from outstanding Canadian businesspeople, since 2009.
With over 30 locations and expansion underway in neighbouring Ontario and even in France, Pizzeria No. 900 helped transform the pizza scene in Québec starting with one trendy Montréal location in 2014; it's endured as a market leader with meticulous attention to detail and vendor sourcing, earning it the distinction of being the world's only franchise officially certified by Italy's Associazione Verace Pizza Napoletana.
The Entrepreneur: Alexandre Brunet, co-founder, Pizzeria No. 900
For more thought leadership and advice from the BDO team, visit www.BDO.ca.
Inspiring stories from outstanding Canadian businesspeople, since 2009.
For our 16th season premiere, Mike Newton (BDO Canada) and Dan Delmar (TNKR Media) welcome a fast-growing Montreal industrial developer gaining a reputation for making bold moves. They also discuss a fall push to return to the office, sluggish innovation in Canada and how interest rates are impacting real estate markets.
The Entrepreneur: Mike Jager, co-CEO, Rosefellow
The Debrief: Thomas Kontogianis, Audit Partner, BDO Canada
For more thought leadership and advice from the BDO team, visit www.BDO.ca.
In this season finale, Michael Newton and Dan Delmar have the pleasure of welcoming Ricardo Larrivée, Chef and Co-Founder of Ricardo Media. He tells them about entering every Quebecer’s kitchen, building a multi-media empire and passing the baton to a new generation. They are also joined by Arielle Blais, Digital Marketing Specialist at BDO Canada to discuss efficient marketing and strategic elements to consider for your business.
In this episode, Michael Newton and Dan Delmar welcome Francois Theriault Co-Founder of custom-tailored men’s clothing boutique Surmesur. Francois talks about entrepreneurial agility, international expansion and how they landed a contract to dress up all NHL coaches. They are also joined by Youssef Boutros, Partner at BDO Canada to discuss manufacturing businesses and key elements to consider to grow a sucessful manufacturing business.
In this episode, Michael Newton and Dan Delmar welcome Samer Saab, Founder and CEO of insights solutions company Explorance. He tells them about listening to your employees to drive higher impact and performance. They are also joined by Mia Barouki, Senior Specialist, People Experience Advisory at BDO Canada to discuss AI in the workplace.
In this episode, Michael Newton and Dan Delmar welcome Richard Mabley, Co-Founder and Vice President of business development at Transformer Table. He tells them about his innovative table that went viral on TikTok and selling his product at Costco. They are also joined by Anthony Marinelli, Assurance Partner at BDO Canada, to discuss board of directors; what they are and how your business might benefit from one.
In this episode, Michael Newton and Dan Delmar welcome Marina Pavlovic Rivas, Co-founder and CEO of Eli Health. She tells them about the company's mission to be the first at-home technology that gives real-time and lifelong health insights from the hormones in your saliva.
In this episode, Uros Milekic and Dan Delmar welcome Dan Ahmarani, Director of Sales & Strategic Partnerships at ARC Group Benefits, who tells them about the use of their technology platform to shake-up the industry, and the tribulations of a second-generation family business. They are also joined by Ernie Furt, Tax Partner at BDO Canada to discuss tax season and how to prepare efficiently.
In this episode, Ernie Furt and Dan Delmar welcome Fauve Doucet, President and CEO, Partage Club. She tells us about the concept of collaborative economy and the social, financial and environmental impacts offered by her digital solution to borrow what you need from your neighbours. They are also joined by Giuliana Papandrea, Senior Manager, Business Services Outsourcing at BDO Canada to discuss how outsourcing can help you achieve your business goals.
In this episode, Michael Newton and Dan Delmar welcome Stewart Bain, CEO and Founder of NorthStar Earth & Space, whose technology helps manage new space economy traffic in the sky, and support the sustainable management of natural resources on earth. They are also joined by Kareen Tea, US Tax Partner at BDO Canada to discuss some common misconceptions on sales tax for foreigners.
In this episode, Michael Newton and Dan Delmar welcome Camille Deslauriers, in charge of Marketing at Pick Pack, to talk about revolutionizing the world of ecommerce and more with their sustainable, reusable envelopes. They are also joined by Uros Milekic, Business Services and Outsourcing Partner at BDO Canada to discuss bill S-211 on new ESG reporting requirements in Canadian supply chains.
In this episode, Michael Newton and Dan Delmar welcome Steven Kiekeman Fontaine, co-founder of BoKEA. He tells them about making high-end cabinet fronts for IKEA products, enabling customers to build a custom kitchen while saving money. They are also joined by Anne-Marie Henson, Eastern Canada Leader and Partner at BDO Canada, to discuss the importance of digital transformation for manufacturing companies.
In this episode, Michael Newton and Sandrine Rastello welcome Anna Martini, CEO of men's fashion brand Psycho Bunny. They talk about her move from the Montreal Canadians back to retail, what’s behind the Psycho Bunny name and why she wants more brick and mortar stores. They are also joined by Shelley Smith, Indirect Tax Partner at BDO Canada to discuss updates to the Underused Housing Tax.
In this episode, Uros Milekic and Dan Delmar welcome Andrew Pimentel from Groupe Powerstone. This 25-year-old tells them about his entrepreneurial journey from cutting grass as a preteen to landscape design, modern inground pools and creating dream backyards. Our hosts are also joined by Marc-Antoine Chaput, Senior Manager of Business Services Outsourcing at BDO Canada to discuss cloud accounting and how it can help your business.
In this episode, Michael Newton and Dan Delmar welcome Philippe Choinière and Stacey Lecuyer, co-founders of Oneka. They tell us about their organic plant farm in the Eastern Townships, working with people who match their values, and committing to truly organic skincare. They are also joined by Ernie Furt, Tax Partner at BDO Canada to discuss communicating with your accountant during tax season.
In this episode, Michael Newton and Dan Delmar welcome Pierre-Étienne Bousquet, President and Co-Founder of Thirdbridge. He tells them about building the apps that many Montrealers use on a daily basis, and how AI can help entrepreneurs level up their online presence. They are also joined by Carlo Lupo, Tax Partner at BDO Canada to discuss scientific research and development credits.
In this episode Michael Newton and Dan Delmar welcome Stephan Kouri, president of Union Coffee. Stephan tells us about fair trade coffee, conquering the Montreal market, custom blends and the iconic baby Gaccia. They are also joined by Pierre Taillefer, Partner and ESG Leader at BDO Canada to discuss environmental, social and governance in the food industry.
In this episode, Michael Newton and Dan Delmar welcome Fred Morin, chef, co-owner and co-founder of the Joe Beef Group, comprised of several iconic Montreal restaurants. They are also joined by Bernard Cormier, Managing Director and Partner, Mergers and Acquisitions at BDO Canada to discuss transactions and what adds value to your business.
In this episode, Michael Newton and Dan Delmar welcome Sarah Seddiki, co-founder of Teameo.io. She tells us about her thirst to feel “useful”, identifying an opportunity to pivot during the pandemic, and navigating the challenges posed by managing growth in the EdTech market. They are also joined by Giuliana Papandrea, senior manager of business services at BDO Canada to discuss improving leadership skills and teamwork, and how to avoid common errors.
In this episode, Ernie Furt and Dan Delmar receive Karl Magnone, president and founder of Les Franchises Tite Frette. We learn about the advantages of the franchisor business model, the importance of excellent customer service, and how his company’s CRM helped them grow from 0 to 45 stores across Quebec in 5 years. Amanda Khoury, managerfor estates and trusts at BDO Canada also joins Ernie and Dan to discuss digital assets, virtual intellectual property, and five life events that should prompt Canadians to revisit their estate plan.
In this episode, Uros Milekic and Dan Delmar receive Jack Dell'Accio, CEO and founder of natural memory foam mattress company Essentia. Jack tells to us about the “mattress in a box” frenzy, the importance of deep sleep, and how toxic products in your bedroom can negatively impact your health. They are also joined by Greg McDonald, Director at BDO Canada, who shares some advice on research and development tax credits opportunities that you shouldn’t leave on the table.
In this episode, Michael Newton and Sandrine Rastello receive Chloe Ryan, CEO and founder of Acrylic Robotics. Her intelligent robots enable artists to replay their brushstrokes with real paint on canvas, making it easier for them to make a living and democratizing artwork. They are also joined by Shelley Smith, Indirect Tax Partner at BDO Canada to discuss the Canadian underutilized housing tax.
In this episode, Michael Newton and Sandrine Rastello welcome Patrice Demers and Marie-Josée Beaudoin from Sabayon. They tell us about their journey from offering Montreal’s finest patisseries to leaving it all behind, guesting at a pop-up restaurant in New York City, and now, reinventing themselves with a 14-seat restaurant in Pointe Saint-Charles.
They are also joined by subject matter expert Carlo Lupo, Tax partner at BDO Canada to discuss tax considerations and credits for professionals in the restaurant business.
In this episode, Sandrine Rastello and Michael Newton receive Adelle Tarzibachi, co-founder of food company les Filles Fattoush. She started with an import business and now sells Syrian ready-to-eat specialties and ingredients. Her business gives women refugees a job and a chance to start a new life in Canada. And most recently, her expansion plans have won her an offer from a dragon.
In this episode, we are also joined by Anne-Marie Henson, BDO Partner and Eastern Canada leader to talk about entrepreneurial growing pains: from finding capital to meeting compliance requirements.
In this episode, we had the pleasure of interviewing Jean Bédard, President and CEO of restaurant turned food business Groupe Grandio. He is also behind the revival of iconic Montreal steakhouse Moishes, and more recently rescued microbrewery Brasseurs du monde.
We are also joined by Jean-François Audet, partner of financial advisory services at BDO Canada to discuss franchises and things you should consider before becoming a franchisee.
In this episode we had the pleasure of interviewing Laura Boivin, CEO, Grizzly Fumoir. She is an entrepreneur at heart who bought a Quebec City-based company to grow it as one of the top 5 producers of smoked and ready-to-eat fish in Canada.
We are also joined by Elida Eid, Senior Manager in people advisory services at BDO Canada to discuss the various roles of HR leaders when your business is going through transformations.
For the launch of the 2023-2024 season, we had the pleasure of interviewing Dominique Nadeau, CEO of Safari Condo, a successful family business that for 25 years has found its niche making vanlife a reality for customers dreaming of living, and working, on the open road.
We are also joined by Uros Milekic, partner at BDO Canada Business Services to discuss how income is taxed when you incorporate your business.
Inspiring Entrepreneurs Montreal has new wisdom to share from Keana Gomes, founder of Cocktail Bomb Shop. She left journalism school, started experiments in her kitchen during the pandemic, went viral and even got an offer from four dragon investors.
We are also joined by Julie Côté, Senior Tax Manager at BDO Canada, to discuss the Underused Housing Tax, who could be affected by it, and what the exemptions are.
Inspiring Entrepreneurs Montreal has new wisdom to share from Alexandre Archambault, who tells us about matching their enthusiasm for technology with their love for anything strapped to their feet, inventing an electric skateboard, to powering a board called a foil with a battery, and more recently hauling people up a mountain repeatedly using a battery-powered t-bar ski lift.
Inspiring Entrepreneurs MTL has new wisdom to share from entrepreneurs like Samuel Leroux, co-founder of SOLIOS Watches, a Montreal watch brand that reconciles design, elegance and sustainability. Solar-powered watches are back, and we’ll discuss the company’s values and how they hope to tackle planned obsolescence.
We are also joined by Elida Eid, Senior Manager of HR Consulting at BDO Canada to discuss culture in the workplace and aligning corporate mission, vision and values.
Inspiring Entrepreneurs MTL has new wisdom to share from entrepreneurs like Edward Ko, co-founder of Mely.ai, who tells us about how intelligent document processing, a form of AI, can be used by transportation and logistics companies to save 90% of time and 80% of cost related to the heavy burden of accurately filling out logistics-related paperwork.
We are also joined by Amanda Khoury, Estate & Trusts manager at BDO Canada to discuss estate planning and digital legacy.
Inspiring Entrepreneurs MTL has new wisdom to share from entrepreneurs like Jean-Maxime Larouche, CEO of Hippoc, a company that offers small and medium size businesses an affordable solution to create and optimize digital advertising that will resonate with their audience. We are also joined by Giuliana Papandrea, Manager of Business Services Outsourcing at BDO Canada to discuss deadlines and documents for tax season.
This week, we’ll have wisdom to share from Nilufar Al-Shourbaji, the falafel Queen and co-owner with her parents of the takeout and catering business Nilufar; she’ll tell us about the family’s successful pivot after a real estate nightmare, the growth of their grocery brand Falafel Royale, and their commitment to nourishing those in need.
We also welcome Natalie Purkhardt, HR consulting manager at BDO Canada to talk about setting the HR foundation in your business.
Inspiring Montreal has new wisdom to share from entrepreneurs like Étienne Lacroix, CEO of Vention, who tells us about his cloud platform to design, order and deploy manufacturing equipment tailored to each of its customers.
We are also joined by Ernie Furt, Tax Partner at BDO Canada to discuss preparation and organization for personal tax season.
Inspiring Entrepreneurs MTL has new wisdom to share from entrepreneurs like Frantz Saintellemy, President and COO of Leddartech, Université de Montréal Chancellor, and Co-Founder of BIPOC Entrepreneurship Incubator Groupe 3737, who tells us about perseverance in school that led him to MIT, climbing various corporate echelons at the speed of light, and giving back to the community by helping black entrepreneurs through an incubator that now has national reach and impact.
Olivier Berthiaume-Bergé, President and CEO of Scéno Plus, tells us about his family-owned design firm that creates unique spaces around the world for some of the biggest names in the live entertainment industry such as Cirque du Soleil, Katy Perry, Carrie Underwood, Celine Dion and more recently Adele, just to name a few.
We are also joined by Peter Joseph Moraitis, BDO Canada tax partner to discuss the March Trust tax deadline.
Mahrzad Lari, co-founder of contemporary fashion line for men Wide the brand, stylishly designed and produced locally, specifically for the wide-man body.
We are also joined by Mia Barouki, senior HR manager at BDO Canada, to discuss HR functions in small and medium businesses.
Sam Youssef, Founder and CEO of Valsoft; tells us about building a group of mission-critical software businesses that together are now worth north of one billion; he acquires and empowers well-run companies, providing more opportunities for global growth.
Marilyne Bouchard, founder of Bkind, tells us about developing a line of products made of natural ingredients in her kitchen, adopting a vegan and cruelty-free product model, and putting the environment at the forefront. We are also joined by Giuliana Papandrea, Manager at BDO Canada, to discuss bookkeeping tips for your business.
Robert Marzin, one of four co-founders of Man Made, a Montreal-based underwear company for men, talks about revolutionizing the world of male undergarments.
Alexandre Guimond, co-CEO of Altitude Sport, tells us about moving online in the early days of ecommerce, making the jump from employee to majority owner, playing at the intersection of fashion and the outdoors, and keeping philanthropy and the environment close to his heart. We are also joined by Peter-Joseph Moraitis, Tax partner at BDO Canada, to discuss tax implications of rising interest rates.
Inspiring Entrepreneurs MTL has new wisdom to share from entrepreneurs like Philip Cutler, co-founder and CEO of Paper, an online tutoring solution that is taking the education world by storm. We are also joined by BDO Partner Jean-François Audet to discuss business valuation et key value drivers.
Lili Fortin, CEO and 2nd generation family business owner of Tristan Tells us about what do they attribute Tristan’s success to, as they will celebrate their 50th anniversary next year, family business transition, and sustainability. We are also joined by Carlo Lupo, FL Tax Partner to discuss Tax credits for manufacturers.
Laurent Laferrière, co-owner of Ditch Labs, tells about his pioneering nicotine addiction treatment and smartphone app, powered by AI to help smokers and vapers quit more efficiently. We also welcome Julie Côté, Senior Manager of non-resident taxation to discuss new laws affecting foreigners: 2022 introduction of the 1% tax on under-used properties and the 2023/2024 ban on new residential properties acquisitions.
Natalie Madjarian, co-owner of custom upholstery and furniture store Cameo Collection, tells us about buying a company from bankruptcy to fulfill her dream to manage her own business, and the synergies - and possibly tensions - that come with owning a business as a couple. We also welcome Sara Halickman, Estates and Trusts Partner at FL Fuller Landau to discuss estate planning concerns for couples who are in business together.
George Kyres, president of Group Commensal, tells us about his successful string of businesses from 4 Brothers to Europe’s Best, and the growth of an iconic vegetarian brand into the retail grocery space. We also have Giuliana Papandrea, manager in accounting and assurance at FL Fuller Landau join us to discuss cloud based accounting systems.
John Saliby, founder of fighting food waste Sauvegarde app, tells us about lessons learned while growing up that made him realize the extent of food waste, and how combatting it is an easy way to fight climate change. We also welcome Nick Vassilas, Manager at Le Groupe Fuller Landau to discuss the process behind launching a business and being an entrepreneur.
Solenne Brouart, founder and chief growth officer of Polystyvert, tells us about circular economy and how she found a way to recycling polystyrene, which we know under the most famous brand Styrofoam. Elida Eid, Senior manager at FL’s HR sister company Pvisio will also talk about adapting to change in the workplace.
Emad Saad, owner of Lebanese restaurant chain Boustan, tells us about his success in the Montreal marketplace in the past 36 years, and its efforts to become a green restaurant chain, from packaging to sourcing ingredients locally.
Danielle Danault, founder of rain or shine, year-round outdoor fitness bootcamp company Cardio Plein Air, tells us about her love of fitness, how a small idea became a HUGE success story in parks across Quebec, and what happened when she started thinking about her 5-year succession plan.
We also welcome Amanda Khoury, Manager of Estates and Trusts at FL Fuller Landau, to discuss estate planning and putting together a succession plan.
Étienne Mérineau, co-founder and CMO of Heyday, a HootSuite acquisition. Etienne tells us about the rise of AI in delivering personalized customer experience thru conversational chatbots, and how does a company becomes the provider of choice of the Lacoste, Decathlon, Cirque du Soleil and Danone of the world, just to name a few.
We also have Mia Barouki, CRHA and consultant at FL join us to talk about recruiting new employees, creating an engaging work culture, and helping managers adapt to new trends and policies.
To start the season, Peter Simons, now chief merchant of THE oldest private family business in Canada and fashion retailer Simons Inc. We talk about succession planning, the importance of a family council, following consumer trends and frontierless commerce, as well as sourcing in Canada.
Juliette Brun, founder of Juliette & Chocolat, tells us about her passion for chocolate from a very tender age, and the path that she took to turn her passion into a business that is dear to all, across Quebec and the island of Montreal.
Mathieu Clas, Founder of Hookmotion, tells us about how his tech company helps businesses like casinos optimize their monitoring processes. Using automated table tracking, those operating the software can better eliminate fraud and detect errors, to better focus on their clients.
Myriam Belzile-Maguire, CEO and co-founder of Maguire Shoes. As retailers try to find a balance between online sales, and bring and mortar shops, Myriam’s women-led hybrid model is flourishing in Montreal, Toronto, and soon in New York City.
Maxime Morin, co-founder of clothing and accessory maker Rose Buddha, tells us more about her socially-conscious, eco-entrepreneurship model, and how the pandemic saw their revenue grow by 450%.
Dax Dasilva, Founder and Executive Chair of Lightspeed POS, tells us about his journey, from his debut as an entrepreneur, to launching an IPO, to writing a book about becoming changemakers, and doing environmental philantropy work.
Mélissa Lambert, founder of Lambert Design; they make stylish, cruelty-free, vegan bags for men and women. She speaks with us about how she wants to reinvent the backpack fashion industry, driven by the belief that we can combine comfort with elegance, while contributing to a sustainable world.
Alexis Vertefeuille, CEO of the after-disaster accommodation network Sinistar. He tells us about how he’s built the largest community of hosts dedicated to accommodating disaster victims in Canada; a tailor-made solution for both home-owners in need and insurance companies.
Michael Perreault CEO and Alex Benjamin, CTO and co-founders of Eyful, a company at the crossroads of technology and medicine, pushing the limits to help those affected by low vision, with the goal to giving them back their autonomy and independence.
Guillaume Parent, Founder of online art gallery and network Gallea, tells us about his goal to create the largest art distribution in the world, and to make art accessible everywhere to everyone. Guillaume currently supports a community of more than 9,000 artists, showcasing over 50,000 pieces of artwork online located in 40 countries around the world.
Dardan Isufi co-founder of EVA, Quebec coop rideshare and Uber competitor, will talk to us about the first delivery & mobility platform built on blockchain, with a decentralized business model, how they saw an opportunity to add meal delivery to people transportation during the pandemic, and their vision of a shared economy company.
Louis Têtu, one of Quebec’s most prominent tech leaders. He co-Founded HR software company Taleo, later sold to Oracle, and is now CEO of Coveo, an AI-powered platform for digital experiences. It just went public a few weeks ago.
Sarah Lambert, co-founder and CEO of Ora Medical, tells us about her mission is to revolutionize physical rehabilitation for people with walking disabilities by enabling patients to improve their mobility with a helping hand, aided by AI.
David Dupont, Founder of La Petite Ourse tells us about his idea to make cloth diapers accessible to as many families as possible. In the past ten years, La Petite Ourse has prevented over 100 million of disposable diapers from ending up in landfills.
The original fancy casse-croute chain, L’Gros Luxe. Founder Alex Bastide tells us about the punk rock vibe he brought to Montreal’s restaurant scene and its origins in skate culture. We also discuss the importance of PR and working with creatives.
Anne-Marie Trudeau, President of Trudeau Corporation,tells us about four generations designing and developing tableware and houseware since 1889, currently sold in 70 countries around the world.
Dr. Tsafrir Vanounou, CEO of TAP Medical, tells us about reimagining how Canadians access healthcare. TAP is creating a healthcare marketplace allowing you to search, find and book a medical appointment across Quebec.
Dr David Benrimoh and Marina Massingham, co-founders of Aifred Health, tell us how Aifred addresses an approach to medication selection that hasn’t changed in decades, by using AI to personalize treatment selection in depression, the leading cause of medical disability on the planet.
Daniel Perez, President and founder of Perez Furniture, tells us about how he moved from hairdresser to the stars in LA and Europe, to designing and producing high-end furniture in Montreal over the past two decades.
Borys Fridman, founder of Jeans Jeans Jeans, tells us about his passion for denim, starting with selling jeans at flea markets 50 years ago to his iconic Mile End warehouse. He’s developed a cult following without any advertising or social media, just good old fashioned customer service.
Kamal Shah, President and CEO of International Leisure Group - Tremblant Elysium, talks to us about his experience managing a unique concept for luxury vacation rentals in the heart of Eastern North America’s #1 ski resort: Mont-Tremblant.
David Landry, founder of Living Safe, talks to us about smart monitoring devices for the senior care industry, how he plans on freeing up time for busy nursing staff, and using AI to improve the quality of care provided for seniors around the world.
Marc-Antoine Legault, Content Manager at Groupe Legault, owners of Mondou, the company that has been taking care of your pets since 1938, tells us about the tribulations of being part of a family-owned business, marketing to a different breed of consumers, and growing a business through acquisitions.
Indira Moudi, President of Viandes Lafrance, tells us how she ended up buying an 80-year old meat company, learned to manoeuver in this very traditional industry and how she is impacting this industry and the local economy in a sustainable manner, by reconnecting trust between agriculture, food and consumers, and reducing greenhouse gases.
Inder Bedi introduces us to his new venture: 457 Anew. Exquisite lines of apparel and accessories that are handmade in Canada solely from ocean waste, landfill scraps and plants.
Lauren Rathmell, Co-Founder and greenhouse director of Lufa Farms, one of the largest for-profit rooftop urban farms of its type in the world, tells us about creating a better food system, reconnecting people with where their food comes from, partnering up with hundreds of farmers and food makers, and providing it all to you through their online farmer’s market.
Jean-Luc Lavergne, from Lavergne, on upcycling plastic; supplying international giants like Keurig and HP with clean, recycled resins for manufacturing parts; he started a social enterprise in Haiti, employing locals to recover plastic bottles from canals, roadsides and ocean shores, to be transformed into parts for electronics.
Richard Morin, VP and co-founder at Zorah Biocosmetics tells us about finding inspiration in Morocco for a new product line made with Argan oil; being dedicated to using organic, eco-friendly and fair-trade products; taking recycling to new heights; and last but not least, commiting to producing everything locally.
Anthony Broccolini, COO of Broccolini Construction tells us about the growth of a 70+-year-old family business, from building and selling their first home for 16,000$ 60 years ago, to expanding into many new markets, with 3 generations of Broccolinis managing over 400 employees in Quebec and Ontario.
Simon Berman and Jeffrey Climan, from CLICKSPACE, will tell us about their innovative idea to offer e-commerce entrepreneurs knowledge, expertise and logistics, all under one roof, helping clients scale up while focusing on growing their business.
Annie Cyr, from Tengiva, tells us about her love for textile innovation, educating buyers for smarter textile sourcing, and helping manufacturers from around the world empty their warehouses.
Pierre explains how a trip to Europe inspired him to create self-serve windshield washer fluid stations across the province; killing two birds with one stone, as Pierre is helping remove tens of millions of plastic containers in circulation in Quebec alone, and making it easier for everyone to fill up as needed.
Judith Fetzer from Cook tells us about her dream to simplify healthy cooking for families with her pioneering meal kits. As one of the first in the country in the ready-to-cook business, she acquired some prominent competitors, and is developing a sustainable version of her meal kits, including addressing the packaging dilemma.
Félix Adrien Belisle Dockrill of GRAD4; tells us about helping manufacturers save time and lower costs by giving them access to local machine shops. His system brings together over 200 Quebec-based vendors at the client’s fingertips and landing contracts with big names.
Karine Idrissi, from Influence + All Management, tell us about becoming a serial entrepreneur, founding one of the first influencer management agencies in North America, and creating a roster spread throughout Canada, the US and Europe. Over a decade of entrepreneur stories: www.todaysentrepreneur.org
Bastien Poulain and Mélanie Mamet from 1642 talk about their commitment to using only quality, natural ingredients, supporting more than 400 jobs locally, and providing an answer to a very a-propos question: “If your gin is from Quebec, why isn’t your tonic water?” www.todaysentrepreneur.org
Today's Entrepreneur by FL Montreal returns next week on all your favourite podcast channels and on CJAD 800 AM Saturday February 27 at noon. Join FL's Michael Newton and TNKR Media's Dan Delmar with Bastien Poulain and Mélanie Mamet of 1642.
Listen to over a decade worth of entrepreneur stories and resources for small and medium businesses and family businesses at todaysentrepreneur.org.
Zach Khazzam of Rite Way Freight Ltd tells us about the trials and tribulations of establishing a transportation and logistics company, the joys of a family-owned and operated business model, and adapting to dramatic changes in market conditions.
Annick D’Amours of 3 femmes et un coussin tells us about the value of entering business contests, the fact that handshake deals do work, and what happens when you lose a business partner.
Sam Younès from Altium Wealth Architecture tells us about the benefits of a Family Office, Investment Management in today’s volatile marketplace, and creating his own independent investment firm.
Angelo Rubino of Rubino Shoes discusses family business transition, upscale positioning with getting back to brands, and moving from physical locations to online sales.
Maxime Gauthier Bourbonnais from Merinio discusses artificial intelligence for workplace scheduling; how it can simplify ever-changing staffing requirements, predict and manage absenteeism, and ensure timely two-way communication with employees.
David Côté of LOOP Mission is a buzzworthy entrepreneur attracting a lot of attention for buying loads of ugly fruit. He will tell us about the unwanted fruits and veggies used in his juicing business, his dedication to a circular economy and the power of direct-to-consumer in difficult times.
This week we talk PR with Torchia communications & TNKR Media, we hear how La Sirene de la Mer and our own FL have adapted to the current normal, and from Cirka Distilleries as they pivoted from making spirits to hand sanitizer. With hosts Dan Delmar and Josh Miller on CJAD 800 Montreal.
Nick, Tax Partner at FL discusses the new Canada Emergency Response Benefit (#CERB) introduced by the Federal Government to help workers and businesses
Nick talks about accessing the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (#CERB), whether you're self-employed, a laid-off worker, a business owner, someone whose hours have been cut, etc. #COVID19
Our panel addressed issues with labour law and layoffs, preparing for the worst from a financial perspective (with Patrick Sullivan), the insurance controversy, and the latest in governments stimulus packages (with PJ Moraitis), along with host Dan Delmar and Josh Miller.
This week, our panel will answer questions like “Should I be proactive with my banker?”, “Will I be able to make an insurance claim?”, “Can I modify contract terms?”, and “How do I manage staff working from home?” with host Dan Delmar and Josh Miller, tonight at 7pm on CJAD 800 Montreal.
This week, our panel will answer questions like “Should I be proactive with my banker?”, “Will I be able to make an insurance claim?”, “Can I modify contract terms?”, and “How do I manage staff working from home?” with host Dan Delmar and Josh Miller, tonight at 7pm on CJAD 800 Montreal.
Acquisitions are an important part of the growth of a business and these entrepreneurs have survived several. Sébastien Fournier of Kadrium by Interfonction shares with us his thoughts on company valuations, the benefits of sharing salary grids, and how there is no such thing as a turnkey ERP.
First remote broadcasting of Today’s Entrepreneur, a special edition on crisis management, to help entrepreneurs, executives, managers and other leaders handle the Covid-19 pandemic in their workplace.
Hear several experts including Micheline Maillet, Ernie Furt, and Daniel Martz from EQ Care discuss crisis management, human resources, tax and technology
Businesses are borne out of an entrepreneur’s need to fill a void in the marketplace. Nicolas Morency of PreVu3D will share how listening to his customers helped shape the product, the benefit to get proper legal agreements from the start, and what worked for him when it came to the pitch.
While this renown Japanese restaurant was a success from the beginning, not all concepts have worked. Following a closure of another concept, Junichi Ikematsu shares the mistakes they are looking to avoid with their newest concept, and how they found the right working mix between Eastern and Western cultures.
Reinventing yourself is inevitable in a business, but when is right time? William St-Pierre of Mechasys shares with us how they needed to pivot 6-months in, elaborates on what he believes are the four funding methods and highlights the importance of stock options in attracting talent.
Reinventing yourself is inevitable in a business, but when is right time? William St-Pierre of Mechasys shares with us how they needed to pivot 6-months in, elaborates on what he believes are the four funding methods and highlights the importance of stock options in attracting talent.
Running a hockey franchise sounds glamourous but like any other business, it requires hard work, persistence and energy. John Struthers shares with us the difficulties in fighting for sponsorship revenues, the on and off-ice relationships between teams, and the importance of splitting critical tasks between partners.
The past 2 years for these returning guest entrepreneurs were filled with lessons learned. As they are now more than 5 times the number of people since their first full year, Joseph and Fabio Zeppilli of Bad Monkey Popcorn share with us their challenges with talent acquisition, their growth experience selling from local to National, and their strategy towards making a vegan product.
This story is about transitions, from generations to locations, as the Maison Lipari brand has been around for close to 50 years. Patrizia Lipari will share with us the path of going from one store to two, and how they overcame generational gap issues as they embraced technology while keeping the warm family touch in each location.
e real estate market is hot and the industry is cutthroat. Tanya Boni and Tiffanie Rothwell of Proprio Actif share with us their progression through 3 different agencies, how they are using today’s technology to differentiate themselves, and how they select their team by using “the coffee test”.
While seeing a void in the digital photo finishing sector, the two photographers found their own way. Daniel and Davina Kudish will share with us the benefits of hiring from within, surviving the doubling of their team in 3 months, and how they used technology to simplify and expand their business.
Operating a professional services firm has changed quite a bit over the years, yet some aspects will never change. Stephen Solomon of De Grandpre Chait will share with us the importance of values and mentoring, what it takes to become a partner, and their concept of partner buy-in.
Technology is at the forefront of many medical professional clinics and this is no different for a dental practice. Warren and Jason will share will us the challenges of remaining current in their field, the benefits of community giveback and the mechanics and choice of buying and selling a practice.
The food industry is filled with rules and regulations. Lezlie Karls and Nick Saltarelli of Mid-Day Squares will share the importance of quality assurance, adapting to the stakeholder when it comes to the pitch, and the value of having a rover in the business.
E-sports is a recent phenomenon that has created many entrepreneurs, including this one. Cole Gurman of H4X shares with us how he entered the gamer community, the major importance of research, and his answer to the question “Can you go too big too soon with your marketing?”
To survive in the restaurant sector takes a lot of perseverance and some good business karma. Ted Dranias and Perry Kalivrousis share with us the choice and build-out of a location, what’s worked for them for marketing and why give to get is a key factor for their success.
This entrepreneur is a Montreal original as he popularized two international media brands. Andy Nulman will share with us his unconventional path in business, how to harness creatives, and his ability to bounce back from failure.
Brand strategy agencies need creative and professional leaders, but the business model aspect cannot be forgotten. Jill Selick of Rubix Marketing will share with us how her CEO plans changed to becoming an entrepreneur and the philosophy of leaving the expertise to the experts.
Often what starts out as one business flourishes into several others, and this story exemplifies just that. Gad Bitton of Holand Group shares with us the challenges and lessons learned during the growth years, and the importance of community giveback.
Sometimes family business is in your blood and it can never be avoided. Frédéric Roy of Paramedic Canada will share with us the experiences learned from buying a small business realizing what’s on paper does not always work, and the importance to them of going from fully outsourced to creating a team under their own roof.
Sometimes family business is in your blood and it can never be avoided. Frédéric Roy of Paramedic Canada will share with us the experiences learned from buying a small business realizing what’s on paper does not always work, and the importance to them of going from fully outsourced to creating a team under their own roof.
As we all know, life can hand you some unexpected moments, and it’s what you do with them that sets you apart. Claire & Stuart Webster will share with us the events that led them from their existing path of fundraising and landscape architecture to their current businesses helping others manage their families’ mental health issues and today’s stress levels.
Saving the bee population was the original intention before this entrepreneur realized this could also be a socially responsible business. Nick Melka of MIEL MTL will share how he manages 100+ hives, his philosophy of community giveback and the decision to move away from online sales.
Many businesses are built off a family legacy and this one exemplifies just that. Derrick Hui of À Point International will share with us his philosophy behind “build, measure, learn”, how he leveraged his experience in the family diamond business, and how he learned to stay true to his brand.
Alexandre Amancio of Reflector Entertainment sits down with hosts Dan Delmar and FL Fuller Landau's Josh Miller. www.todaysentrepreneur.org
“Break the mold” personifies the entrepreneur. Pierre Mantha of Artist in Residence Distillerie embodies this notion and shares with us the challenges in building a full distillery and creating a-typical spirits, and the benefits of bringing people together to foster success.
Do you have questions about your personal income tax return? Ernie Furt, Tax Partner at FL and Arnold Zwaig, Portfolio Manager at Soctia Bank get around the subject during this episode of Money Matters.
Have you ever been somewhere for one purpose, and a whole other idea jumped out at you? Dominic Ciarallo of Rocket Sport shares his idea inspired by a trip to China, the challenges of moving to online sales, and how the philosophy of give-to-get truly helped launch the product.
An aging population results in the need for more seniors’ services, especially when transitioning from your long-time residence. Matt Del Vecchio of Lianas Services shares with us his jump into this industry, how they adapted to meet the increasing needs of clients, and their marketing direction as he went from B2B to B2C.
Collaboration between franchisor and franchisee is critical to success. Lianne Levy of California Closets will share with us her franchise experience, the benefits of vertical integration, and no matter the status of the economy, the power of remaining true to your values.
In this creative and competitive PR and branding space, managing time and emotions is no easy task. Karine Idrissi and Kristina Argento of The Sundae Collective expand on that, and share their philosophy of transparency with clients.
This LED video lighting leader got an early break with U2 concerts and recently created the tallest media façade on the planet. Jonathan Labbée of SACO shares with us how they sold to a public company only to buy it back years later, and how “making a difference” in their industry became their company culture.
This niche aerospace business is the product of a merger between father and son. Bryan Dollimore of MHD-Rockland shares with us the lessons from the merger, the challenges of expansion, and the effective organizational structure where customer service is at the forefront.
B Corps are companies working to a rigorous, verified standard of higher social and environmental impact. Kasha Huk shares with us how this international organization collaborates to educate leaders in the corporate community and help businesses attract the next wave of socially responsible staff and consumers.
Small businesses rely on their team. Is it possible and maybe suspicious to have an employee that’s too dedicated? Zvi Shapiro shares with us the lesson he learned here, the benefits of being green, and how he leveraged the networking power of BNI.
Working in an extremely and competitive space of Recruitment, getting companies and candidates to trust you is a challenge. Jessica Glazer of MindHR will share with us how she built the business in her 20’s, survived the recession, and maintains a solid following on LinkedIn while managing the client and candidate client ghosting phenomenon.
This IT technician turned entrepreneur had a lot to learn when it came to growing his IT support company. Chris Symeon of CDMS shares with us how he managed relationships has he went from handshakes to contracts while he empowered his own team, and how he sold most of his business only to buy it back shortly thereafter.
Snowdon Deli is a family operation that has served Montrealers for over 70 years. Ian Morantz will tells what it takes to survive in the restaurant business and how his family built a deli icon.
Snowdon Deli is a family operation that has served Montrealers for over 70 years. Ian Morantz will tells what it takes to survive in the restaurant business and how his family built a deli icon.
Snowdon Deli is a family operation that has served Montrealers for over 70 years. Ian Morantz will tells what it takes to survive in the restaurant business and how his family built a deli icon.
This contact software reseller is the result of a merger of two companies. Joe Bigio and Pierre Lemoine of QuovimC3 will share with us the unique experience of their merger and how they managed to expand their business across Canada & the US in a very niched sector. And we’ll also address some human resource challenges for entrepreneurs.
FL Fuller Landau Tax Partner Nick Moraitis shares his thoughts on the fall #economic update on CJAD 800.
After moving on from their respective family businesses and enduring a life altering experience, this married entrepreneurial couple was motivated to start something new. Andrea Chamandy and Andrew Battah of SmoothiesGo will share how important it became to balance family and business, and their marketing philosophy involving the use of influencers and strategic partners.
Saving the environment is a driver for these entrepreneurs, who started an eco-friendly cleaning products company following many years in their own family businesses. Anie Rouleau and Steven Balit of Baléco will share with us the lesson they learn from their one huge product failure and share with us why they chose to be a certified B corporation.
This experienced multimedia storyteller has had many jobs starting at the lowest of levels, by choice. Justin Kingsley imparts how his philosophy of being the best at the jobs nobody else wanted fueled his success, shares the single event that pushed him to start his own business, and how he constantly strives for what he calls the triple bottom line win.
When Eric Molson agreed to have his memoirs written, he insisted on a “warts and all” account of the Molson story. With that direction, Helen Antoniou shares with us some experiences of the past 50 years which include family posturing, diversification from the core business, and the importance of corporate governance.
Josh Miller and Dan Delmar present the Top 10 Best Moments of Today's Entrepreneur over the last 10 years to celebrate the 200th episode of the show, featuring these inspiring entrepreneurs:
- Rebecca Wolfe, Mandy's
- Kimberly Lallouz, Miss Prêt à Manger
- Fabio and Joseph Zeppilli, Bad Monkey Popcorn
- Lennie Moreno, Sofdesk
- Jamie Kerr, Fabco Custom
- Michael Eskenazi, Felix & Norton
- Julien Giacomelli, Rise Kombucha
- Pino Di Ioia, Beaver Tails
- Mitch Joel, Mirum Agency
- Daniele Henkel, The Wellness Company