Calgary Business Podcast

Zane Novak has several decades of business experience (from construction to oil & gas to family estate services) and non-profit work (from volunteer activities with children to providing strategic direction for elderly support services) which he plans to draw upon if successful in his campaign to be elected as the Mayor of the City of Calgary in the October 2021 elections.  To learn more about Zane Novak and his plans for Calgary, click on one or more of the links below:  §§§  Websites | https://www.zane4mayor.ca/ and https://www.calgary2point0.ca/  LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/in/zane-novak-98b75032/  Twitter | @zane4mayor  Facebook | @ZaneforMayor  Instagram | @zane4mayor §§§ Entrepreneur | Mayor Candidate | Election Campaign | Calgary Mayor election | Calgary Election | Vote for Mayor | Alberta Business | Oil & Gas business  --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/allen-wazny/message

Since 1997, Inn from the Cold has been helping Calgary families at risk of being homeless by providing supportive housing and emergency shelter. In addition to housing, Inn from the Cold works with local partners to provide food, clothing, education and other basic necessities.  To learn more about the work of Tim, Jennifer and their colleagues at Inn from the Cold, click on one or more of the links below:  §§§  Important links to access “Inn from the Cold”:  Websites | https://innfromthecold.org/ and https://onesmallgift.ca/  LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/company/inn-from-the-cold/  Twitter | @innfromthecold  Facebook | @innfromthecold Instagram | @innfromthecold  §§§  Tim McGowan on LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/in/timhmcgowan/  Jennifer English on LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-english-a581b961/ §§§ Social Impact | Poverty | Social Welfare | Social Good | Families | Non-profit organization | Charity Organization | Volunteer Supp

Shona Reilly brings a high amount of energy and true passion to the Trade Acceleration Program (or “TAP”) that is designed to help entrepreneurs, startups and business owners with exporting their goods or services outside of Canada.  Get the tools, connections and knowledge you need to take your business into new markets. The TAP team understands the challenges businesses are facing and is available to provide support in a number of areas:  Give business owners customized, face-to-face coaching and advice  Help them navigate the complex global trade ecosystem  Give them access to a network of experts and thought leaders  Help founders and their staff become familiar with international best practices Help them develop and set up an export plan  Not surprisingly, past guests of the Calgary Business Program have benefited from the TAP program including Guillermo Chan of Borken Pencil YYC (episode 252 on 19 February 2021) and Rob Kaczanowski from Black Cloud Bitters (episod

When does blockchain technology became ubiquitous like making a Zoom call on your laptop or settling your credit card statement using a mobile app? Maybe when your digital identity remains with you when you change jobs? At least, that is just one of the use cases that the TerraHub team are executing using blockchain technology. It is clear that after chatting with the founder, Dan Giurescu, this is just the beginning!   To learn more about the work of TerraHub, click on one or more of the links below:   §§§   TerraHub key links:   Website | https://www.terrahub.work/   LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/company/terrahubcreds/  Twitter | @terrahub_creds   §§§   Dan Giurescu, Founder | https://www.linkedin.com/in/dan-giurescu-terrahub/ NOTE: Subsequent to recording of this podcast episode, the Terra Hub took the initiative to re-brand the company name.  Here is a link to their new website | https://home.credivera.com/ §§§ Blockchai

From an ATB sponsored hack-a-thon in early 2020, the Arbor business has quickly evolved such that the team is ready to disrupt how consumers shop — not just in Canada but across the globe. Arbor is a social impact platform that aligns a consumers spending habits with their values by providing information on a company’s ethics, its product cost, and its product accessibility. The Arbor Index will provide Arbor customers key facts about a company’s corporate social responsibility, environmental sustainability, diversity and locality. To learn more about the work of Arbor, click on one or more of the links below:  §§§  Arbor key links:  Website | https://www.yourarbor.com/  LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/company/your-arbor/  Instagram | @yourarbor  Twitter | @yourarbor  Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/Arbor-103945048086898  §§§  Arbor team on LinkedIn:  Alex Todorovic, CEO | https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-todorovic-a3bb49135/  Abdullah Choudry, Co

This episode is the 3rd 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 Business Administration (or MBA) students, Jagbir Randhawa and Bo Feng, are joined by angel investor and venture capital founder, Matt Wilson, Founder and Managing Director of Allied Venture Partners.  To learn more about the individual guests on this podcast, click on one or more of the links below:  §§§  Matt Wilson on LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattwilsonyyc/  Matt Wilson on Twitter | @MattWilsonYYC  Jagbir Randhawa on LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/in/jagbirpal-randhawa-b0b40518a/  Bo Feng on LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/in/bofeng20/  §§§  Allied Venture Partners  Website | https://www.allied.vc/  LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/company/allied-venture-partners/  Tw

David did a terrific job walking through (or actually talking through) and describing many of the merchants, businesses and restaurants that comprise the Victoria Park BIA (or Business Improvement Area). There is a lot to unpack in this episode which included a number of “quotations” some of which David took personal credit for and another in which he was quick to provide accolades to John F Kennedy.  To learn more about the work of David and the tremendous opportunity he believes exists not only within the Victoria Park BIA but across the City of Calgary, click on one or more of the links below:  §§§  Victoria Park BIA Website | https://www.victoriapark.org/about-bia  LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/company/victoriaparkbia/  Instagram | @vicparkyyc Facebook | @vicparkyyc  §§§  David Low on LInkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-low-1481a222/ §§§ Calgary retailers | Calgary merchants | Business Improvement Area | Calgary commerce | Calgary businesses | Local busine

Technology continues to democratize many day to day business functions and payroll is no exception. In fact, the Avanti Software team has managed to move a lot of the day to day functions from the Human Resource managers desk into the cloud. As Dave and Amin described “…our clients no longer need the filing cabinet…”  To learn more about the work of Avanti Software and how they have “Democratized the HR Function”, click on one or more of the links below:  §§§  Avanti Software:  Website | https://www.avanti.ca/  LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/company/avantisoftware/  Instagram | @avantisoftware  Facebook | @avantisoftware §§§ Co-CEO’s on LinkedIn: David Owen Cord | https://www.linkedin.com/in/dowencord/ Amin Lalani | https://www.linkedin.com/in/amin-lalani/ §§§ Calgary tech startup | Calgary tech founders | YYC technology | YYC innovation | Human Resources | API | API connectivity | API integration | HR Software | Payroll function | HR Support | Payroll support | HRTech

Connor and Jacob have combined their passion for photography and videography with formal training in digital marketing, communication, cinematography and multi-media in a company that is well placed to help small businesses improve their digital footprint and maybe learn some basic principles that are deemed common knowledge to them both.  To learn more about the work of Connor and Jacob and their company, Digital Nature Media, click on one or more of the links below:  §§§  Digital Nature Media:  Website | https://www.digitalnaturemedia.com/  LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/company/digital-nature-media/  Instagram | @digitalnaturemediayyc  Facebook | @digitalnaturemediayyc  §§§  Connor Finlayson LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/in/connorjfinlayson/  Instagram (photography) | @connorjfin  Instagram (film) | @connorjfilm  §§§  Jacob Martens on LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacob-martens-563ab71a9/ §§§ Cinematography | Film | Photog

When Guillermo Chan decided to name his animation, design and illustration studio “Broken Pencil”, it was his view that art helps to heal the mind of stress and anxiety because “…we are all a little broken in some way…” To get a first hand look at Guillermo Chan’s creativity with drawing and animation, click on one or more of the links below: §§§ Broken Pencil Studios: Website | https://www.brokenpencilstudios.ca/ LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/company/broken-pencil-studios/ Instagram | @brokenpencilyyc Facebook | @brokenpencilyyc §§§ Guillermo Chan on LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/in/g-chan/ Animation videos | Animation | Explainer Videos | Videography | Cinematography | Cartoons | Sketches | Mickey Mouse | Walt Disney | Drawing | Art | Arts and Craft | Artists | Art class | Film | Photography --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/allen-wazny/message

To find out more about the activities of Oscar Bonilla Jr and Malka Labell, click on one or more of the links below: §§§ Herbal Goods Website | Herbalgoods.ca Instagram | @herbalgoodsco Oscar Bonilla Jr on LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/in/oscar-bonilla-jr-742401b4/ §§§ Malka Labell on LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/in/malka-labell/ Green Green Generation company | https://greengencompany.com/ The Green Book | https://greenbook.site/ §§§ Cannabis | Cannabis retail | Subscription box | Natural products | Consumer packaged goods | Corn Husk Filters | Pre-roll accessories | Smoking experience | Wholesale distribution | Retail seller | Entrepreneur | Startup | Craft cannabis | Cannabis accessories | 420 Community | Cannabis community | Cannabis life | Canadian Cannabis | Canadian grown | Pre-rolled cones | Hand rolled | Cannabis culture --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/allen-wazny/message

Susan combines a 23-year career as a BMO Nesbitt Burns wealth advisor with a customized approach to providing financial advice to individuals and their families. Susan seeks to have “money conversations” clients and potential clients that are “relevant” to their situation and circumstances. In a world that is continually “Cash-less”, that conversation will differ if it is with your child deciding on a how to “pay” for a new mobile device or considering the implications of whether grandma will obtain “in-home’ care or move to an assisted-living home.  To find out more about Susan and her innovative and collaborative approach to wealth management, click on one or more of the links below:  §§§  Susan O’Brien Group Website: https://www.networththinking.com/ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/net-worth-thinking Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/networththinking A New Way Forward book: https://www.amazon.ca/New-Way-Forward-Wealth-Management/dp/1949639398 Will I run out of money in retirement

Liz Small and her daughter, Chloe, have taken the idea for a food truck, which originated from her late husband before he passed away, and made it a reality.  They offer Calgarians freshly-made soups and baked potatoes, sourced from local Alberta Farms and suppliers. When Covid lockdown scuppered their launch plans for the venture, it required a shift from their planned school and office deliveries to making their gluten free, nut free soups available to customers, delivered directly to their homes. The pair pledge to donate a percentage of each sale to charitable causes of personal importance including women and children at risk and suicide prevention. To find out more about Souperspudz and the future plans of this mother-daughter entrepreneur team, click on one or more of the links below: §§§ Souperspudz website | https://www.souperspudz.com/ Souperspudz on Instagram | @souperspudz §§§ Small business | Family business | Food and beverage | Meal trucks | Career pivot | Family planning | SME | Home-bas

It is comforting to learn that amongst the advancement of technology in the field of graphic arts, particularly with the suite of tools available from Adobe, Alyssa O’Connor learned to work with offset printing machines and ink during the 2-year program she attended at SAIT. Combine that with a knack for scrap booking as a child, there is real charm in the work of AO'C Designs and the approach Alyssa takes to helping her clients.  To find out more about AO'C Designs, click on one or more of the links below:   §§§   AO'C Designs website | https://www.aocdesigns.ca/   AO''C Designs on Instagram | @_aocdesigns §§§ Graphic arts | Graphic design | Web design | Custom signs | Custom signage | Marketing | Digital marketing | Shop Local | Shop Calgary | Three Sisters Events | Shop Canmore | Shop Airdrie | Small Business | YYC Startup | Packaging | Packaging and Design | Wedding Events | Events Planner | Wedding Planner | Wedding Calendar | Three Sisters Mountains | Three Sister

Mike likes to focus on trends that meet the customer needs. As a 20-year old, Mike started with his “Grow Kit” in 2016 to allow consumers to grow cannabis in their home. That startup earned him an appearance on CBC’s Dragon’s Den  In 2019, Mike decided to offer electric bikes to Calgary consumers when he started EVT Bikes, an electric bike that is great for students to make their way around campus and collapsible to take on trips to the mountains. In 2020, Mike added inflatable paddle boards to his e-commerce site and is already taking pre-orders for the 2021 lake season!  To find out more about EVT Bikes, click on one or more of the links below:  §§§  EVT Bikes website | https://evtbikes.ca/  EVT Bikes on Instagram | @evtbikes  §§§  Grow Kit on Dragon’s Den | https://bit.ly/2M096io §§§  E-commerce | Calgary Ecommerce | YYC E-commerce | Local business | Calgary business | Calgary local small business | Electric bike | Paddle Board | EV Bikes | Water fun | Calgary

Although the Clubhouse app is quite new, Calgary-native Tanisha Cherry was able to expertly navigate me from the “hallways” into the chat rooms. Tanisha provides practical advice on how to create your bio (or biography) on Clubhouse and recommendations on who to follow (or not). The idea is to “hop” Into chat rooms and “hop” onto the stage to create attention to what you are doing “outside of the club” — namely on other social media platforms or in your business. Tanisha also highlights the feature that allows users to provide feedback on their experience with using the app to the Clubhouse creators.  Just in case the podcast is not enough, you can also find out more about Tanisha’s activities in and outside of the Clubhouse by clicking on one or more of the links below:  §§§  Tanisha Cherry website | https://www.tanishacherry.com/  Tanisha Cherry on Instagram | @tanisha.cherry  Tanisha Cherry on Twitter | @tanishacherry  Tanisha Cherry YouTube channel | https://www.youtube

This episode is the 2nd of a new series I started in which I bring together a trio of students from the Haskayne School of Business at the University of Calgary and an industry expert from the business community. Master of Business Administration (or MBA) students Jagbir Randhawa, Bo Feng and Kenedy Assman are joined by Allie Knull, founder and CEO of ResumeFree in Edmonton. After a short introduction, the students engaged in a terrific Q&A session with Allie. To learn more about the individual guests on this podcast, click on one or more of the links below: §§§ Allie Knull on LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/in/allieknull/ Jagbir Randhawa on LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/in/jagbirpal-randhawa-b0b40518a/ Bo Feng on LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/in/bofeng20/ Kenedy Assman on LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/in/kenedyassman/ §§§ ResumeFree website | https://goresumefree.com/ River City Recruiting & HR | https://rivercityhr.ca/ Haskayne School of Business website | https://haskayne.ucal

Today’s episode is part of a new series I started in which I bring together a trio of students from the Haskayne School of Business at the University of Calgary and an industry expert from the business community.  Master of Management students Cassidy Sullivan, Dora Tamas and Omar Razavi are joined by Alitta Tait, head of partnerships at Harvest Builders here in Calgary. After a short introduction, the students engaged in a terrific Q&A session with Alitta.  To learn more about the individual guests on this podcast, click on one or more of the links below:  §§§  Alitta Tait on LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/in/alitta-tait-205ba016/  Cassidy Sullivan on LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/in/cassidy-sullivan/  Dora Tamas on LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/in/doratamas/  Omar Razavi on LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/in/omarrazavi/  §§§  Harvest Builders website | https://www.harvest.builders/  Haskayne School of Business website | https://haska

Natalie Gomersal was inspired by a “Boho Festival” themed wedding in the UK, whereby all participants slept in beautiful canvas tents with lush furnishings and fabulous internal decor.  After attending the free self-employment small-business support program of Momentum Calgary, Natalie has recreated such glamorous camping, known as “Glamping”, for individuals and families in Calgary seeking to plan weddings, graduations, birthday parties, retreats and backyard staycations.   To find out more about Natalie and her “glamping” business, Lavish Canvas, click on one or more of the links below:   §§§   Lavish Canvas website | https://lavishcanvas.com/   Lavish Canvas on Instagram | @lavishcanvas   Lavish Canvas on Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/lavishcanvasglamping §§§   Calgary Business | Calgary startup | Calgary small business | Calgary events | Calgary outdoor | Calgary camping | Calgary glamping | Backyard camping | Staycation | Woman foun

Jamie took me through an historic journey of his history as a professional cyclist which lead him to design and engineer the core technology for improving the rear bike suspension for mountain bikes to working as a retail sales representative for Oakley to designing an ERP system for the marketing department of Oakley’s parent, the Italian eyewear conglomerate, Luxottica Group.  Jamie did not hesitate to draw attention to Calgary individuals (James Klassen, Mark Walton, and Greg Stewart) and Calgary companies (Bow Cycle, The Bike Shop and Calgary Cycle) that had a positive impact on both his personal and business life.  To find out more about Jamie and his work with iconic retail brands, click on one or more of the links below:  §§§  54blue website | https://www.54blue.com/  54blue on LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/company/54blue-communications-inc/  54blue on Instagram | @54blue  §§§  Brand Regular website | https://www.brandregulator.com/  Brand Regulator on