Leaders, Innovators and Big Ideas - the Rainforest podcast

In this inspiring LIBI episode, host Melissa Rizzuto chats with Kent Swanlund, the innovative mind behind CO2 Brew. Kent shares his journey from chemical engineering in oil and gas to solving a critical problem in the brewing industry: capturing and reusing the CO2 produced during fermentation. Discover how CO2 Brew's unique leasing model not only reduces emissions and boosts sustainability but also significantly cuts operational costs and ensures supply security for breweries. Kent delves into the challenges and triumphs of startup life, the power of a complementary team, and his ambitious vision for expanding carbon capture beyond beer to a global scale, proving that big ideas can indeed come from the most unexpected places. Thank you for listening to the Leaders, Innovators and Big Ideas podcast where we showcase fascinating people who are Leaders, Innovators, and have Big Ideas! HOST Melissa RizzutoMelissa is a talent acquisition and recruitment strategy professional with 20 years of experience partnering with founders and leadership teams to build high-performing teams, improve hiring processes, and create meaningful candidate experiences. Her background spans full-cycle recruitment, recruitment technology, employer branding, and recruitment marketing. A lifelong Calgarian, Melissa holds a Bachelor of Kinesiology from the University of Calgary, an Executive Leadership Certificate from eCornell University, and a Mini MBA in Engineering & Technology Management from Rutgers Business School. She is also actively involved in community initiatives, including 17 years with the UNICEF Water for Life Gala and volunteer work supporting newcomers through Immigrant Services Calgary. Outside of work, Melissa enjoys dogs, sports, creative writing, and keeping up with emerging technology. GUEST Kent SwanlundKent Swanlund is the CEO & Co-Founder of CO2Brew, a Calgary-based startup that is decarbonizing the craft-brewing industry. After studying Chemical Engineering at the University of Calgary, Kent spent 16 years working in the oil and gas industry as a Process and Sales Engineer before completing the Avatar Innovations Accelerator Program in 2022. When he’s not out enjoying the perks of working in the brewing industry, Kent loves to spend time with his wife and 2 daughters here at home and close by in the beautiful Rocky Mountains. LINKS & RESOURCES CO2Brew Cold Garden Avatar Innovations Talent Incubator Partners Mount Royal University Library Audio Spaces SHOW QUOTES "You're producing more than you're consuming. So you'd be good just with a system to be self-sufficient in CO2." "If you don't have CO2, you don't produce, and if you don't produce, you lose anywhere from, on the very small scale, tens of thousands of dollars up to millions of dollars per day in production." "You have to be quite risk tolerant. You're gonna, there's gonna be a lot of risk in in the startup journey in different areas too. So if you're risk tolerant, it makes it a lot easier." CREDITS Sponsor: New Idea Machine Episode Music: Tony Del Degan Creator & Producer: Al Del Degan  

In this compelling episode of Leaders, Innovators, and Big Ideas (LIBI), host Rea Hailley sits down with Willow Adkins, founder and CEO of Blair and Company, a strategic advisory firm dedicated to propelling companies toward revenue growth. Willow, a seasoned expert in building sales pipelines from the ground up, unveils her repeatable frameworks and innovative approach to sales enablement for businesses of all sizes, from startups to multinational corporations. She shares invaluable insights on cutting through data noise, tackling the "admin sales killer," and the profound impact of truly listening to both your team and your customers. Discover how to transform sales challenges into unique opportunities for creativity and sustained commercial success, ultimately empowering your sales force to focus on what truly generates revenue. This is an essential listen for any leader, innovator, or business owner eager to refine their sales engine. Thank you for listening to the Leaders, Innovators and Big Ideas podcast where we showcase fascinating people who are Leaders, Innovators, and have Big Ideas! HOST Rea HailleyLinkedIn ProfileRea leads New Idea Machine in empowering businesses with innovative digital solutions. GUEST Willow AdkinsLinkedIn ProfileWillow Adkins is a sales strategist and business development leader with a career built on guiding founders, CEOs, and commercial teams through high-stakes growth in complex B2B environments. She founded Blayre & Company to deliver the kind of senior-level strategic thinking that cuts through complexity and produces systems built to last — without the overhead of a full-time executive hire. Her proprietary Blayre Sales Framework™ brings structure and clarity across the full revenue lifecycle, from market insight to pipeline development to closing. Beyond her work with clients, Willow serves on the boards of the Rural Education Advocacy Project and the Macalester College Athletics Advisory Board, reflecting a broader commitment to strategic community leadership. She is known for building tools and frameworks that client teams can own, sustain, and improve long after an engagement ends. LINKS & RESOURCES Blayre and Company SHOW QUOTES "The clarity of what is really sales, how do I get better at it, and how do I really allow myself or my sales team to focus on that skill they have and not get bogged down in data, administration, and things that don't produce revenue." "The answer sometimes is really right there in front of us. It's just talking to the people that work with us." "Any roadblock or problem in your commercial systems is solvable. I think that it's solvable, often the fastest and easiest with your team, whether that's your peers and or people that work above or below you." Episode Sponsor: New Idea Machine Inc. Episode Music: Tony Del Degan Creator & Producer: Al Del Degan

In this episode of Leaders, Innovators, and Big Ideas (LIBI), host Rea Hailley sits down with Mina Demian, the founder of Grants-Ease AI and a veteran startup advisor. Mina shares his journey of transitioning from writing grants in the nonprofit sector to becoming a "non-technical" founder by leveraging the power of "vibe coding." The conversation explores how AI is levelling the playing field for smaller nonprofits by turning tedious, month-long grant writing processes into efficient, one-hour tasks. Mina provides a masterclass on the importance of distinguishing between "noise" and "signal" in early-stage startups and why he believes the traditional requirement for a technical co-founder is rapidly disappearing. From discussing the collapse of SaaS product costs to the ethical orchestration of AI tools, this episode is an essential guide for anyone looking to innovate at the intersection of technology and community impact. Thank you for listening to the Leaders, Innovators and Big Ideas podcast where we showcase fascinating people who are Leaders, Innovators, and have Big Ideas!Host: Rea Hailley Driven by a deep-seated belief in the power of entrepreneurship, Rea leads New Idea Machine in empowering businesses with innovative digital solutions. Having witnessed the grit and triumph of her parents building a business from scratch, Rea is passionate about enabling significant revenue growth and seamless operations for startups and Small/Medium Businesses, ensuring their dedication translates into tangible success. Guest: Mina Demian is the founder of Grants‑Ease AI, a platform helping Canadian nonprofits find the right funder, check alignment, and draft strong grant proposals in 60 minutes using their own impact data. After 15 years helping organizations secure funding, she built the tool she wished existed to save nonprofits time and improve their chances of success. Mina has also worked as a grant strategist, startup advisor, and ecosystem builder, supporting more than 300 startups and helping launch programs at Platform Calgary and InceptionU. She built Grants‑Ease AI solo, proving that deep expertise and AI can move mission-driven work faster. Show Links: Grants-Ease AI  Show Quotes: "AI is not necessarily the solution. It is a tool that needs to be tweaked... you want to become the orchestrator of that." "If you're not getting it in the hands of early users, then you are not actually learning." "I built a product using Lovable and I do have paying customers... you don't necessarily need a co-founder that's technical." Credits...This Episode Sponsored By: New Idea MachineEpisode Music: Tony Del DeganCreator & Producer: Al Del Degan  

In this high-energy episode of Leaders, Innovators, and Big Ideas (LIBI), host Rea Hailley welcomes Julie Cole, the "recovered lawyer" and co-founder of the iconic brand Mabel’s Labels. Julie shares the 22-year journey of her business, which began in a Hamilton basement as a solution for parents tired of losing expensive children’s gear. The conversation explores the advantages of founding a company with friends and family, the importance of proactive communication to avoid "recovery mode" in partnerships, and Julie’s unique approach to fostering innovation by allowing employees the "freedom to nerd out". Julie also provides a candid look at her personal life, discussing how she managed to raise six children while scaling a multi-million dollar company, her perspective on entrepreneurial privilege, and the productivity hacks that kept her sane—and ultimately became a bestselling book Thank you for listening to the Leaders, Innovators and Big Ideas podcast where we showcase fascinating people who are Leaders, Innovators, and have Big Ideas!Host: Rea Hailley Driven by a deep-seated belief in the power of entrepreneurship, Rea leads New Idea Machine in empowering businesses with innovative digital solutions. Having witnessed the grit and triumph of her parents building a business from scratch, Rea is passionate about enabling significant revenue growth and seamless operations for startups and Small/Medium Businesses, ensuring their dedication translates into tangible success. Guest: Julie Cole — a dynamic entrepreneur, recovered lawyer, and mom of six who traded in her legal career to co-found Mabel’s Labels, the award-winning company that transformed from a basement startup into a multi-million dollar industry leader.As Senior Director of Mabel’s Labels, Julie has helped revolutionize the durable label market while becoming a recognized voice in entrepreneurship, parenting, and women’s leadership. She’s an award-winning businesswoman, best-selling author, and in-demand speaker and media contributor, having appeared on major media outlets including NBC’s The Today Show, HLN’s Raising America, The Marilyn Denis Show, CNN, CP-24, and Breakfast Television. Her written work has been featured in The Huffington Post, The Globe and Mail, Profit Magazine, Today’s Parent, and more.Julie’s achievements have earned her notable recognition, including the RBC Women of Influence Award for Excellence in Entrepreneurship, YWCA Women of Distinction Award in Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Iris Award in Entrepreneurship, to name a few. Beyond business, Julie is deeply committed to community engagement, mentoring emerging entrepreneurs, and advocating for women’s rights. Whether she’s keynoting a conference or navigating the chaos of family life, Julie brings authenticity, humour, and heart to everything she does.Follow Julie for inspiration, real talk, and expert insights into entrepreneurship, parenting, and the power of building something meaningful from the ground up. Show Links: Mabel's Labels  Show Quotes: "I joke, I'm a recovered lawyer... I wanted to have a little bit of flexibility that I didn't think the traditional workforce probably wouldn't be able to provide."  "If you stop micromanaging, that's where the magic and the innovation will happen, and you let them do that stuff."  "Courage is—I always say when life gives me lemons, I make a gin and tonic." Credits...This Episode Sponsored By: New Idea MachineEpisode Music: Tony Del DeganCreator & Producer: Al Del Degan  

This episode of Leaders, Innovators, and Big Ideas (LIBI), host Rea Hailley sits down with Dawn, a veteran registered nurse turned entrepreneur, to tackle the "big, ugly, audacious goal" of fixing the nursing workforce crisis. With over 18 years of experience spanning critical care to clinical education, Dawn reveals a shocking gap in the healthcare ecosystem: the lack of a standardized, portable way for nurses to track their complex skill sets. They dive deep into the transition from clinician to "nursepreneur," the psychological weight of the profession, and how a collaborative digital platform can reduce fear for new grads while improving patient safety. From the impact of AI on clinical decision-making to the enduring power of professional relationships, this conversation is a masterclass in how nursing expertise is the ultimate foundation for healthcare innovation. Thank you for listening to the Leaders, Innovators and Big Ideas podcast where we showcase fascinating people who are Leaders, Innovators, and have Big Ideas!Host: Rea Hailley Driven by a deep-seated belief in the power of entrepreneurship, Rea leads New Idea Machine in empowering businesses with innovative digital solutions. Having witnessed the grit and triumph of her parents building a business from scratch, Rea is passionate about enabling significant revenue growth and seamless operations for startups and Small/Medium Businesses, ensuring their dedication translates into tangible success. Guest: Dawn Leadbetter A registered nurse in Alberta, and a proud alumnus of both the U of A (BScN ’07) as well as the U of C (MN ’24), Dawn has gained extensive knowledge and experience from her clinical RN roles in adult intensive care, teaching clinical courses at MacEwan University in the undergraduate program. Gathering significant system level knowledge in her zone role as a CNE, her passion was focused on utilizing process improvement and change management skills. Since obtaining her MN, with certificates in Healthcare Innovation and Design and Leadership for Health Systems Transformation, Dawn was inspired to take the leap into her own consulting business Nurse Matrix Systems Inc. and began developing a platform aimed at solving one of the most complex workforce and retention problems, understanding and tracking nursing knowledge and skills attainment. Show Links: Nurse Matrix Systems Inc.  Show Quotes: "If you want to go fast, go alone; if you want to go far, go together. That is really where the healthcare ecosystem lives—we fail more often than not when we’re not collaborative." "A nurse is not just a nurse. Even moving from one ICU to another, there is a learning curve. We need to understand transferable skills to help people function safely and grow over time." "Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgment that something is more important than that fear." Credits...This Episode Sponsored By: New Idea MachineEpisode Music: Tony Del DeganCreator & Producer: Al Del Degan