CanadianSME Small Business Podcast

Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by Maheen Bari. In this episode, we explore the world of mergers and acquisitions and why understanding the journey to an exit is essential for every entrepreneur.Our guest is Ugo Dionne, President of M&A CLUB INC. A seasoned entrepreneur who has built and sold multiple companies, Ugo now leads Canada’s largest network of M&A professionals and champions strong advisory support, strategic preparation, and community engagement.Key HighlightsStartup vs Acquisition: How entrepreneurs can choose between building from scratch or pursuing ownership through acquisition. Preparing for the Exit: Why owners must start planning three to five years ahead to maximize value and protect their legacy. The M&A Club Academy: How the Academy equips entrepreneurs and professionals with a complete 360 degree understanding of deals. Surrounding Yourself with Expertise: Why the right advisors and mentors are non negotiable for navigating complex transactions. The Power of Networking: How strategic relationships and community involvement create real opportunities and long term value.Special Thanks to Our Partners:RBC: https://www.rbcroyalbank.com/dms/business/accounts/beyond-banking/index.htmlUPS: https://solutions.ups.com/ca-beunstoppable.html?WT.mc_id=BUSMEWAGoogle: https://www.google.ca/A1 Global College: https://a1globalcollege.ca/ADP Canada: https://www.adp.ca/en.aspxFor 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 strategic insights and innovative approaches empowering D2C brands to scale profitably. Today, we’re diving into the high-impact world of performance marketing and systems-driven growth.Our guest is Thomas Robinson, VP of Growth at Breath Death and Managing Partner at Direct To Growth Co., a growth leader known for blending analytics, storytelling, and platform expertise across Amazon and Shopify.Key Highlights:Amazon Profitability: Thomas shares key principles for structuring Amazon Ad accounts to eliminate wasted spend and maximize efficiency. Incrementality Mindset: He explains how incrementality reshapes strategy and cuts through inflated attribution models. Capital-Based Media Buying: Thomas breaks down how to treat ad spend like investment capital across PPC, Paid Social, and CTV. Category Disruption: He reveals how Breath Death used influencer content and culture to disrupt a twenty billion dollar category. Systems Thinking for Growth: Thomas discusses the future of Direct To Growth Co. and why systems thinking is every founder’s superpower.Special Thanks to Our Partners:RBC: https://www.rbcroyalbank.com/dms/business/accounts/beyond-banking/index.htmlUPS: https://solutions.ups.com/ca-beunstoppable.html?WT.mc_id=BUSMEWAGoogle: https://www.google.ca/A1 Global College: https://a1globalcollege.ca/ADP Canada: https://www.adp.ca/en.aspxFor 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 SK, and welcome to AI for SMBs—a series dedicated to exploring how artificial intelligence is reshaping productivity, operations, and growth for small businesses across Canada.In this episode, we’re joined by Fatima Abdillahi, Founder of Agentflow, an AI automation platform built in Toronto to help property managers and SMBs streamline operations, eliminate manual workflows, and scale with efficiency. Fatima brings over a decade of experience in software engineering and AI program leadership, including her work at The Canadian Press.Key Highlights:Founder Insight: Fatima shares how a property manager’s overwhelming manual workflows sparked the creation of Agentflow. AI for Operations: She explains how automation reduces costs, saves time, and frees teams to focus on client relationships. Inclusive Innovation: Fatima discusses representation, mentorship, and building human-centric AI accessible to diverse founders. Agentflow Advantage: She breaks down what makes their automation tech unique and lessons learned scaling an AI startup. Future Vision: Fatima reveals her long-term plans for a franchise-style model and AI-powered analytics to transform SMB workflows.Special Thanks to Our Partners:RBC: https://www.rbcroyalbank.com/dms/business/accounts/beyond-banking/index.htmlUPS: https://solutions.ups.com/ca-beunstoppable.html?WT.mc_id=BUSMEWAGoogle: https://www.google.ca/A1 Global College: https://a1globalcollege.ca/ADP Canada: https://www.adp.ca/en.aspxFor 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 strategic insights and innovative solutions empowering businesses to grow with clarity and confidence. Today, we’re stepping into the world of product marketing and cybersecurity, focusing on how human-centric storytelling helps businesses build trust in a threat-filled digital landscape.Our guest is Shruti Verma, Product Marketing Manager and GTM Lead at NULLZEC, the cybersecurity startup behind IsolateX, an AI-powered zero-trust browser designed to protect businesses from human-error cyberattacks. Shruti is also the host of Behind the Brief and a passionate storyteller committed to making complex tech simple and actionable.Key Highlights:Simplifying Cybersecurity: Shruti explains how shifting messaging from threats to trust reshaped Nullzec’s product positioning. PMM in Startup Growth: She breaks down how product marketing drives a startup’s GTM strategy even before a full marketing team exists. AI CISO in Your Browser: She discusses how IsolateX prevents human-error attacks while keeping workflows simple and seamless. Trust and Adoption: Shruti shares insights from leading the beta launch and engaging early adopters through story-driven communication. Future of PMM + AI: She outlines how AI is evolving the Product Marketing role and Nullzec’s long-term vision for business security.Special Thanks to Our Partners:RBC: https://www.rbcroyalbank.com/dms/business/accounts/beyond-banking/index.htmlUPS: https://solutions.ups.com/ca-beunstoppable.html?WT.mc_id=BUSMEWAGoogle: https://www.google.ca/A1 Global College: https://a1globalcollege.ca/ADP Canada: https://www.adp.ca/en.aspxFor 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 unpack how AI is reshaping the hiring landscape and why businesses must rethink how they identify qualified talent in an AI-driven job market.We are joined by Nitish Kasturia, Founder and CEO of EvoHire, a second-time founder and former Head of Engineering at a venture-backed GenAI startup. EvoHire is redefining recruitment with AI agents that run first-round technical assessments while detecting cheating and enhancing fairness in hiring.Key Highlights:AI Arms Race in Hiring: Nitish shares how AI-generated resumes overwhelm teams and why filtering qualified talent has become more complex. Ethical AI in HR: He explains how companies can use AI to reduce false negatives and support fair, human-centered hiring decisions. Future-Ready Assessments: Nitish discusses how assessments now validate real skills and promote AI as a co-pilot for candidates. The EvoHire Advantage: He highlights how multilingual interviews improve global reach and strengthen both candidate and employer experiences. Leadership & Future Vision: Nitish outlines the leadership mindset needed to run a GenAI startup and his vision for AI’s role in transforming hiring.Special Thanks to Our Partners:RBC: https://www.rbcroyalbank.com/dms/business/accounts/beyond-banking/index.htmlUPS: https://solutions.ups.com/ca-beunstoppable.html?WT.mc_id=BUSMEWAGoogle: https://www.google.ca/A1 Global College: https://a1globalcollege.ca/ADP Canada: https://www.adp.ca/en.aspxFor 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.