Calgary Business Podcast

This is the 9th episode in which students from the Haskayne School of Business, at the University of Calgary, engage in a Q&A session with an industry expert from the business community.   In this episode, Master of Business Administration students, Shobhit Dixit and Suhas Lal were joined by Chris Lavin, MNP Regional Managing Partner, Advisory Services.   §§§  To learn more about the individual guests on this podcast, click on one or more of the links below:   Individual profiles on LinkedIn   Chris Lavin | https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-lavin-6601903/   Shobhit Dixit | https://www.linkedin.com/in/shobhit-dixit-a3a63412/   Suhas Lal | https://www.linkedin.com/in/suhaslal/   §§§  MNP   Website | https://www.mnp.ca/   Twitter | @MNP_LLP Instagram | @MNPLLP   Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/MNPLLP/   LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/company/mnp/   §§§   Haskayn

Bottled water has been around for many years but Saawan and Linda found two key factors missing from the majority of the options available on the market in Canadian shops: a truly Canadian bottled water and a metal re-usable container. North Water Canada provides a unique solution to both of those aspects and does so through a new manufacturing facility in North East Calgary.   §§§   To learn more about ordering your Canadian bottled water from North Water Canada, click on one or more of the links below:  North Water Canada   Website | https://drinknorthwater.com/   Instagram | @drinknorthwater  Facebook | @drinknorthwater   Email | info@drinknorthwater.com   LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/company/northwater/   §§§   Saawan Logon on LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/company/northwater/   Linda Cheung on LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/in/linda-cheung-a4b0046a/ §§§ Buy Local | Bottled Water | Environm

This is one of those business cases that is easily validated from one or two individuals. My Normative originated due to the existing products available on the market not meeting the needs of at least two women: Danika Kelly, and her co-founder, Renee Kokts-Porietis. That validation appears to have been sufficient to allow My Normative to scale to reach a significant number of women, starting with the key age range from 18 to 35.  Machine learning, combined with empirical data, should provide the necessary informational tools to scale across the globe. Danika and her team appear to be content with tackling the North American market — for now!   §§§   To learn more about My Normative, click on one or more of the links below:   My Normative   Website | https://mynormative.ca/   Instagram | @my.normative   Facebook | @mynormative   Twitter | @mynormative   LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/company/mynormative/   §§§&

Jo shared an incredible 44-year story of how the Greenery Office Interiors team has been an active participant in ensuring the downtown Calgary office community understands the term “BioPhilic Design”. Jo also provided her take on some pretty unique projects that clients have chosen to include a “Living Wall” and a “Moss Wall” as part of their office decor.   §§§   To learn more about Jo Young and her “green thumb”, click on one or more of the links below:   Greenery Office Interiors   Website | https://greenery.ca/   Instagram | @greenerycalgary   Facebook | @greenerycalgary   Twitter | @greengaljo   Pinterest | https://www.pinterest.ca/greeneryyyc/   LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/company/greenery-office-interiors-ltd/   §§§  Jo Young on LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/in/jo-young-7a209315/ §§§ Environment | Office Interiors | Commercial Real Estate | Healthy Living | Clean Air | Healthy Working

Although the average guitar pick is likely no more than 1mm thick and not much bigger than a Canadian quarter, there is nothing small about the backstory behind the wooden guitar pick company, Tree Picks, that Adam Chiasson started here in Calgary.  We mostly chatted about the multiple instruments that he plays, learning guitar on YouTube and the importance of music to families in Nova Scotia. I did not expect to “pick” these topics but the discussion was fascinating!   §§§   To learn more about selecting the right pick for you, click on one or more of the links below:   Tree Picks   Website | https://treepicks.com/   Instagram | @treepicks   Facebook | @treepicks   Twitter | @TreePicks  §§§  Adam Chiasson on LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/in/adam-chiasson-a4405573/ §§§ Music | Art | Musicians | Family | Guitar Playing | Learning | Self-employed | Home Business | We The North | Eastern Canada | Western Canada | Maritimes

This podcast was a journey that was simultaneously recorded on Zoom whereby Kyo (Kyo-Jean Simon Chung) shared his origin story of working in his parents cafe, “You & I Cafe”; travelling to Europe and acquiring an appreciation for liqueurs, wines and spirits; working with coffee traders in Mexico and Guatemala; mixing drinks at the twice yearly weekend events coordinated by Market Collective.  Those “social” experiences are captured in the “pop-up” events management business Kyo has been running since 2015. This is where my journey began. Kyo had shipped me a “Cocktail” kit in advance of our “Zoom-Cast”. Just before the one hour mark, we focused on the cocktail kit and Kyo walked me step by step through the process of mixing an amazing cocktail comprised of Gin, Lemon Juice, Raspberry sugar water, egg whites and ice. The added touch was rubbing the lemon peel along the outside edge of the glass to capture the citrus scent as you tip the glass for your first sip.  §§§  To learn more about mix

When I invited Jessica onto the podcast, I never expected she would be competing as a finalist (against 4 other startups) at the Saskatchewan Investment Summit organized by Valhalla Angels and StartupTNT on 18 March. Since I subscribe to the StartupTNT newsletter (published by CEO and founder, Zachary Storms), I was pleasantly surprised to see the memoryKPR team on the list of the 5 finalists. After a series of presentations by each of the 5 startups and a key note speech by Paul Allen, the founder of Ancestry.com (all on Zoom), imagine my further surprise to witness Jessica and the memoryKPR platform (KPR pronounced “keeper”) being selected as the “winning” startup! That memory is truly a keeper!  To learn more about Jessica and the origin story behind memoryKPR (and a good reason why her little startup on the Saskatchewan prairie won top prize), click on one or more of the links below:  §§§  memoryKPR Website | https://www.memorykpr.com/  Instagram | @memorykpr  YouTube | http://bit

This is the 8th episode in which students from the Haskayne School of Business, at the University of Calgary, engage in a Q&A session with an industry expert from the business community.   §§§ In this episode, Master of Management candidates, Emma Duffy, Carmen Massel and Hailey Leonardis were joined by Vicki Knott, CEO and co-founder of Crux OCM.   To learn more about the individual guests on this podcast, click on one or more of the links below:   §§§   Individual profiles on LinkedIn   Vicki Knott | https://www.linkedin.com/in/vicki-knott-p-eng-00b0ab27/   Emma Duffy | https://www.linkedin.com/in/emmagduffy/   Carmen Massel | https://www.linkedin.com/in/cmassel/   Hailey Leonardis | https://www.linkedin.com/in/hailey-leonardis/   §§§   Crux OCM   Website | https://www.cruxocm.com/   Twitter | @cruxocm   LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/company/crux-ocm/   §§§&nb

After a short career in oil & gas and a shift into law school, Catherine managed to take her years of experience working in various legal roles to successfully run her own law firm since late 2014 with a focus on employment and immigration law.  To learn more about the Catherine and her law firm, click on one or more of the links below:   §§§   Confluence Law   Website | https://www.confluencelaw.ca/   LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/company/confluence-law/   §§§   Catherine McAteer on LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/in/catherine-mcateer-09717920/ §§§ Self-employed | Entrepreneur | Lawyer | Legal Profession | Law Students | LegalTech | Employment Law | Immigration Law --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/allen-wazny/message

This is the 7th episode in which students from the Haskayne School of Business, at the University of Calgary, engage in a Q&A session with an industry expert from the business community.   §§§ In this episode, Master of Management students, Sam Goldberg, Alex McKenzie and Brock Weston from the University of Calgary, were joined by Harish Consul, President and CEO of Ocgrow Group of Companies, a venture capital investor and real estate developer.   To learn more about the individual guests on this podcast, click on one or more of the links below:   §§§   Individual profiles on LinkedIn   Harish Consul | https://www.linkedin.com/in/harish-consul-23701910/   Sam Goldberg | https://www.linkedin.com/in/samuel-goldberg11/   Alex McKenzie | https://www.linkedin.com/in/mckenzie-alexander/   Brock Weston | https://www.linkedin.com/in/brockweston/   §§§   SOLA Calgary (a real estate project of Ocgrow Group) &nbs

Growing up, most kids have their mom to tell them to clean up their room or do their homework. Bryan’s mom went a little further. She let the “creative” side of the Bell family unleash in the unfinished basement of their family home in Ontario; that became the foundation for helping companies plan their corporate events.  After 31 years, Bryan continues to hold the creative torch as his mother continues to manage through a prolonged health matter.  Leslee Bell, on behalf of all of the guests and listeners of Calgary Business Podcast, allow me to extend thoughts, prayers and best wishes for a speedy and "creative" recovery!  §§§  To learn more about the Decor & More story, click on one or more of the links below:   Decor & More   Website | http://www.decorandmore.com/
   Instagram | @decorandmore.inc   Facebook | @decorandmoreinc   Twitter | @DandMEvents  LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/company/decor-&-more-inc./ &n

When it comes to real estate, I always remember the line “Location, Location, Location”. In today’s world of social media and traditional media, it is difficult to get the attention of anyone, let alone a real estate buyer. It is Jared’s view that when it comes to location and attention, you “…cannot have one without the other…”   Although I later learned (from Google) that this line comes from a classic Frank Sinatra song, “Love and Marriage”, it is my view that Jared and his team understand the importance of not only matching the attention of their customers with the location they are seeking to live in, but also to take into consideration their eventual experience (s) when they take possession of their new home.   Maybe Marcus and Diane and the hundreds of other families helped by Jared over the years will share those experiences in the podcast booth!   To learn more about the Chamberlain Real Estate Group, click on one or more of the links below:   §§§   C

This episode is the 6th episode in which students from the Haskayne School of Business, at the University of Calgary, engage in a Q&A session with an industry expert from the business community.   In this episode, MBA students, Sudeepta Mohapatra, Kavya Piduri and Nadia Lachman are joined by Patty Miller, CPHR, providing expertise in HR, Business Consulting and Business Coaching.   To learn more about the individual guests on this podcast, click on one or more of the links below:   §§§   Individual profiles on LinkedIn   Patty Miller | https://www.linkedin.com/in/millernethr/   Nadia Lachman | https://www.linkedin.com/in/nadialachman/   Kavya Piduri | https://www.linkedin.com/in/kavyapiduri/   Sudeepta (Su) Mohapatra | https://www.linkedin.com/in/sudeepta-su-m-a6523631/   §§§   MillerNet HR Website | http://www.millernet.ca/  LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/company/millernet-hr-solutions-inc-/ 

Jeni shared the origin story of Project “Projekt” after I stumbled upon the creative work of Keli Pollock on Instagram. Keli happens to be the Creative Chair for “Projekt” which is a new platform for “of-the-moment” art and design and its first "Project" include projecting selected artwork from 60 local artists outside of the Glenbow Museum during the Chinook Blast in February 2021.   To learn more about the work of Jeni and Keli related to Project “Projekt” , click on one or more of the links below:   §§§   Project “Projekt”   Website | https://www.projectprojekt.ca/home
  I nstagram | @project_projekt   §§§   Keli Pollock on Instagram | @made_by_pollock   Jeni Piepgrass on LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenipeep/ §§§ Art | Artists | Art Community | Creativity | History | Historical Artifacts | Innovation | Inspiration --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/allen-wazny/message

Priyanka, and her husband, Robin, have a passion for food including creating unique blends (or “Fusion Food”) to share with their growing food community. Through her company, the Gourmet Pantry, Priyanka aims to support locally grown and sourced gourmet products prepared by small, family-owned businesses by making them more accessible to consumers through her e-commerce platform. This includes fresh Canadian maple from the Hutchinson’s Farm in Nova Scotia!   To learn more about The Gourmet Panty and their famous "Maple Curry Chicken recipe" , click on one or more of the links below: §§§   The Gourmet Pantry   Website | https://gourmetpantry.ca/   LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/company/gourmetpantry/
  I nstagram | @gourmetpantryyyc   Facebook | @gourmetpantryyyc   Hutchinson’s Farm | https://www.hutchinsonacres.com/   §§§   Priyanka Malhotra on LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/in/priyankamalhotra/   Robin Ma

It is one thing to work for a company working on cool projects for global companies like NASA but it is another to work for a company that at the same time, seeks to maintain a strong internal culture to motivate its staff. One example is the creativity around using Slack to allow its diverse work force to learn another language in one room, chat with their European colleagues in another or relax with videos uploaded in yet another separate room. Not to mention, some of the cool local companies that Bridgewater Labs has worked with (and continues to work with) that have also been past guests of this podcast including PLAYCity (episode 51), ICWhatUC (episode 112) and InspiredGo (episode 223)   To learn more about the exciting (and fun) work of Bridgewater Labs, click on one or more of the links below:   §§§   Bridgewater Labs   Website | https://bridgewaterlabs.com/   LInkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/company/bridgewaterlabs/
   Twitter | @bridgewat

This episode is a natural extension of the Q&A podcast sessions with Master of Management students and industry experts that preceded this episode.  Candace Moody shared the origin story, in her capacity as Director, of this very young Masters program that started in 2019. The Master of Management is geared towards non-management students that participate in a robust 10-month program which provides them with practical and real-life experiences to utilize when entering the work force.   To learn more about the Haskayne School of Business Master of Management program, click on one or more of the links below: §§§   LinkedIn Profiles   Candace Moody | https://www.linkedin.com/in/candace-moody-cpa-ca-b186b024/   Haskayne School of Business | https://www.linkedin.com/school/haskayne-school-of-business/   §§§   Haskayne School of Business website | https://haskayne.ucalgary.ca/   University of Calgary website | https://www.ucalgary.ca/ §§

This is the 5th episode in a series I started in which a trio of students, from the Haskayne School of Business at the University of Calgary, and an industry expert from the business community, engage in an open Q&A discussion session.  In this episode, Master of Management students Dora Tamas, Shamus Westra and Cassidy Sullivan are joined by entrepreneur, angel investor and technology strategist, Neeraj Gupta, Chief Strategy Officer at Attabotics and Chief Advisor for Technology and Innovation Investments at Invest Alberta.   To learn more about the individual guests on this podcast, click on one or more of the links below:   §§§   Individual profiles on LinkedIn   Neeraj Gupta | https://www.linkedin.com/in/neeraj-gupta-16648a1/   Dora Tamas | https://www.linkedin.com/in/doratamas/   Shamus Westra | https://www.linkedin.com/in/shamus-westra/   Cassidy Sullivan | https://www.linkedin.com/in/cassidy-sullivan/   §§§ &n

This episode is the 4th episode in a series I started in which a trio of students from the Haskayne School of Business at the University of Calgary and an industry expert from the business community engage in an open Q&A discussion session.  In this episode, Master of Management students, Amit Patel, Maxwell Chen and Aditya Bhandari, are joined by entrepreneur, angel investor and tech expert, Evan, founder of AltoSante, Founding Partner of Creative Destruction Lab, Board member of Platform Calgary and Technology Alberta.   To learn more about the individual guests on this podcast, click on one or more of the links below:   §§§   Individual profiles   Evan Hu on LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/in/evanhu61/   Amit Patel on LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/in/amit-patel-calgary/   Maxwell Chen on LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/in/maxwellcgwchen/   Aditya Bhandari on LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/in/adityabhandariab/&

Kendra provided a unique perspective on how many Calgarians take (or have taken) the Rocky Mountains for granted and yet within 90 minutes from the Calgary International Airport, you can have a wild and safe experience that is readily attainable. As Kendra further pointed out, Covid has made us slow down and re-examine what is important to us including family, friends and the close proximity of the mountains to the Calgary community. To learn more about Sunshine Village, click on one or more of the links below: §§§ Website | https://www.skibanff.com/about-us LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/company/sunshine-village-ski-&-snowboard-resort/ Instagram | @SunshineVillage Twitter | @SunshineVillage Facebook | @SunshineVillageResort §§§ Kendra Scurfield on LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/in/kendra-scurfield-96397b37/ --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/allen-wazny/message