S02:E08: The Future of Global Banking with Miklós Dietz, Senior Partner, Managing Partner of Vancouver Office at McKinsey & Company Miklós Dietz | Senior Partner, Managing Partner of Vancouver Office | The Future of Global Banking “Winning business models are not stuck in one sector.” — Miklós Dietz This time, on Behind the Brand, we sit down with Miklós Dietz. Miklós leads the Global Banking Strategy and Innovation team at McKinsey. He is also the managing partner of McKinsey’s Vancouver Of...
Jul 16, 2024•49 min•Season 2Ep. 8
S02:E07: Modernizing Payments Infrastructure with Ron Morrow, Executive Director at the Bank of Canada Ron Morrow | Executive Director at the Bank of Canada | Modernizing Payments Infrastructure “You want a system that is stable and reliable, but not one that is so stable and reliable that it stifles innovation and competition. So it's a challenge to find [the] trade off. I think a lot of what is going on in the world of payments right now is trying to ensure that we are striking that right bala...
Jul 02, 2024•44 min•Season 2Ep. 7
S02:E06, Yves-Gabriel Leboeuf, Co-Founder and CEO at Flinks Yves-Gabriel Leboeuf | Co-Founder and CEO at Flinks | State of Entrepreneurship in Canada “Having competitors is fine. It's actually good… It keeps you sharp... You gotta find ways to have the right product that fits in the market against your competitors.” — Yves-Gabriel Leboeuf In this episode, we speak with Yves-Gabriel Leboeuf, or as we call him YG. YG is the Founder and CEO of Flinks, a company that develops tools that turn raw ban...
Jun 18, 2024•45 min•Season 2Ep. 6
S02:E05, Donna Kinoshita, Chief Payments Officer at Payments Canada Donna Kinoshita | Chief Payments Officer at Payments Canada | Bringing Real-Time Payments to Canada with Donna Kinoshita, Chief Payments Officer at Payments Canada “We call it… the three legged stool. You've got the Retail Payments Activities Act as the rules. The Canadian Payments Act is the who can be members and participants… Then the third leg of the stool is the infrastructure. And so we like to refer to the Real-Time Rails...
Jun 04, 2024•44 min•Season 2Ep. 5
S02:E04, Rob Khazzam, Co-Founder and CEO at Float Rob Khazzam | Co-Founder and CEO at Float | Delivering Frictionless Financial Experiences for Canadian Enterprises with Rob Khazzam, Co-Founder and CEO at Float "There's a million reasons for a company like Skip or Neo or Float or any business to not go anywhere. They get built by people who go 'I will go through every single rabbit hole, I will unearth every rock and I will prove that this business can exist or I will prove that it's impossible'...
May 21, 2024•45 min•Season 2Ep. 4
S02:E03, William Keliehor, Former CCO at Interac William Keliehor| Former CCO at Interac | Designing a Banking System for New Entrants with William Keliehor “My philosophy in life is very agile, in that, I'd rather get something to market, and listen, learn, and then tweak, pivot, and then move.” — William Keliehor In this episode, we speak with William Keliehor. William is the former Chief Commercial Officer at Interac, a Canadian interbank network that links financial institutions and other en...
May 07, 2024•49 min•Season 2Ep. 3
" There is so much that technology can unlock in terms of giving small business owners back time... their most valuable resource in life. - Faye Pang We’re joined by Faye Pang, Country Manager at Xero, a new Zealand–based technology company that provides cloud-based accounting software for small businesses. Faye is an industry leader with a track record of successfully launching and scaling businesses from the ground up. Prior to Xero, Faye was the General Manager for Uber Eats Canada where she ...
Apr 23, 2024•42 min•Season 2Ep. 2
S02E01: Abraham Tachjian, Director of Digital Banking, PwC Episode Title: Abraham Tachjian | Former Open Banking Lead to the Government of Canada “Consumers don’t care about open banking… It's an industry term… They care about the capabilities that come with it.” — Abraham Tachjian We’re speaking with Abraham Tachjian, Open Banking Lead to the Government of Canada and the self-described authority on Open Banking. In March 2022, the Government of Canada named him the country’s open banking lead. ...
Apr 09, 2024•41 min•Season 2Ep. 1
“Our teens today will find themselves in five or more really quite different careers over the course of their lifetime... how we equip youth with the skills to be able to transfer and adapt through their different career journeys and environments is really, really key to our work.” — Erin Barton Erin Barton is the Chief Development Officer for JA Canada and one of Canada's leading non-profit executives. She has been named as one of Canada's 100 Most Powerful Women by WXN. In this episode, Erin a...
Mar 19, 2024•34 min•Season 1Ep. 43
“And that's what that's what entrepreneurship gives you. It gives you access to problems that are really hard to solve that, in my case, at least, for the kind of problems I like to solve, I can't find anywhere else.” — Mike Murchison In this episode, Mike Murchison, the co-founder and CEO of Ada, shares insights on redefining success beyond external measures and embracing intrinsic motivation for personal growth. He emphasizes the founder's role in intimately understanding and solving problems,...
Mar 05, 2024•40 min•Season 1Ep. 42
“There is so much unmet legal need within businesses of all sizes that I don't see AI as a threat, I see it as an opportunity to make legal more important and more valuable to the businesses that it's serving.” — Brett Colvin In this episode, Jeff delves into the vibrant realm of legal services alongside Brett Colvin, a fellow founder based in Calgary. Tune in as Brett unfolds his remarkable path from law school to transforming the legal landscape through his own venture, Goodlawyer. Here are so...
Feb 13, 2024•42 min•Season 1Ep. 41
“I think entrepreneurship is the profession of the future, and I think ‘entrepreneurial’ is the trait of the future.” — Mark Harrison In this episode, Jeff sits down with Mark Harrison, Founder of MH3 Collective, who shares his approach to life and entrepreneurship, emphasizing the importance of self-management and taking control of one's destiny. Mark highlights the significance of building relationships and going above and beyond to solve clients' problems. He shares stories of taking risks an...
Jan 16, 2024•41 min•Season 1Ep. 40
“This is the element of humanity and compassion and empathy of banking that we don't have today that really needs to come in.” — Dr. Mohamad Sawwaf Join us on this episode of Behind the Brand as we sit down with Dr. Mohamad Sawwaf, a dynamic force in the world of finance, ethics, and innovation. With an impressive academic background and a diverse portfolio of experiences, Dr. Sawwaf has dedicated his career to transforming the financial landscape and driving inclusive practices. As the founder ...
Dec 12, 2023•45 min•Season 1Ep. 39
“I think specialization is really important. Do what you're really, really good at, be really well known for it, and then they will start giving you other things to do because they know that they can depend on you.” — Kirsten Gauthier Join us in this episode of Behind the Brand as we sit down with Kirsten Gauthier, the founder of Public Office. From her early days in advertising to her entrepreneurial ventures, Kirsten shares valuable insights on adaptability, the changing dynamics of the creati...
Nov 21, 2023•39 min•Season 1Ep. 38
“We want to showcase that just because we're a small business doesn't mean we can't have a big impact. ” — Connor Curran Connor Curran started Local Laundry equipped with a Google search, 50 dollars, and a vision for a mission-driven clothing company. But starting was the easy part. Many lessons, and many pivots later, Local Laundry is now a widely recognized Canadian brand. This week’s episode of Behind the Brand unveils the unique path to building a small business. Here are some insights from ...
Oct 17, 2023•47 min•Season 1Ep. 37
“Problems are great things once they’re identified, and if there’s a willingness to address them. Because they alert you to a way to get better.” — Senator Colin Deacon In this episode, we sit down with Senator Colin Deacon, a leading voice in Canada's financial landscape. With a keen eye for innovation and a passion for empowering consumers, Senator Deacon's perspective is nothing short of enlightening. Senator Deacon believes that open banking could be a game-changer for Canadians, shifting c...
Oct 03, 2023•41 min•Season 1Ep. 36
“We're in this position and in this space where we can do things differently than what incumbents do, because we have the opportunity to reimagine it.” — Hanna Zaidi With her extensive regulatory compliance expertise and forward-thinking approach, Hanna Zaidi has been a driving force behind innovation and transparency in the financial sector. Her leadership has propelled Wealthsimple to the forefront of digital finance, offering accessible and user-friendly investment solutions to empower indivi...
Sep 19, 2023•45 min•Season 1Ep. 35
“Another thing the best companies are doing is just moving fast or being very clear in the interview process.” — Ilya Brotzky While working in Brazil, Ilya Brotzky joined a startup accelerator that aimed to connect American invcestors with Brazilian startups. Immersed in the startup culture, he observed a pool of skilled Brazilian developers wanting to move to Canada but facing language and soft skills barriers. Upon his 2014 return to Vancouver and in the midst of his own job search, he identif...
Sep 05, 2023•38 min•Season 1Ep. 34
“The opportunity for me is like to look at the challenges as part of the fun of it, right? … How do you overcome those challenges in a way that pushes the business forward?” — Karen Danudjaja Frustrated by the limited non-caffeinated options in cafes and a desire to move beyond commercial real estate, Karen Danudjaja harnessed her entrepreneurial prowess to launch Blume – a brand that would transform our approach to daily beverages. Nearly 6 years later, Blume has emerged as North America’s prem...
Aug 22, 2023•40 min•Season 1Ep. 33
“I loved being in the storm fighting fires and, and seeing the unbelievable potential that things have and, you know, trying to bring that to reality.” — Joe Parenteau When it came time to upgrade his dinnerware, Joe Parenteau looked to the usual suspects—EQ3, Pottery Barn, and West Elm. However, he was disappointed to find that the shopping experience for premium home goods lacked inspiration and the simple joy he experienced at IKEA. Fast-forward to 2019 when Joe co-founded Fable, a home goods...
Aug 08, 2023•43 min•Season 1Ep. 32
“This is a fluid landscape, whether it's how we manage our people or how we identify different markets, we've just understood the world is always changing.” — Michael Ryan Michael Ryan's love for pushing boundaries ignited his extraordinary journey into the world of foot care, starting as a certified pedorthist in Canada. For over 14 years, he honed his expertise within outpatient settings, from private practices to prestigious university health centers. Driven by an unwavering desire to make a ...
Jul 25, 2023•39 min•Season 1Ep. 31
“Of course make your debt reduction a priority, but over here you also need to start learning to love yourself enough to put money aside for your future. And that is an act of self-love.” — Lesley-Anne Scorgie Lesley-Anne Scorgie’s passion for personal finance ignited at a young age. At just ten years old, she took a hundred-dollar birthday gift from her grandparents and made her first investment by purchasing a Canada Savings Bond. As Lesley-Anne’s financial literacy grew, so did her ambition. ...
Jul 11, 2023•49 min•Season 1Ep. 30
“Brand trust is gonna be critical and it's always been critical, but in the age of AI, brand trust is gonna be critical.” — Darby Sieben In the late 1990s, Darby Sieben embarked on his journey as an internet early adopter, eventually founding his own digital marketing company. Over the years, he has earned a reputation as a respected industry leader, driving impactful change and spearheading product strategies. Darby's remarkable ability to navigate the ever-evolving landscape of product develop...
Jun 27, 2023•46 min•Season 1Ep. 29
“Sport is a tool for social change that you can make [a] meaningful impact in communities, you can influence consumers.” — Russell Reimer Having produced for NBC during the 2000 and 2002 Olympics, Russell Reimer recognized the power of storytelling in captivating audiences and generating interest in the games. This insight inspired him to establish Manifesto Sport Management, where he continues to tell the stories of iconic athletes, including Toronto Maple Leafs star Mitch Marner, hockey legend...
Jun 13, 2023•44 min•Season 1Ep. 28
“So there's been, I think this huge change in how Canadians sort of want and need to bank.” — Ian Burns Established in 1938, Servus Credit Union is a member-owned, community-based financial institution. With an impressive network of over 100 branches and a staggering 380,000 owners, Servus Credit Union proudly holds the title of being the largest credit union in Alberta. Leading the charge at Servus Credit Union is Ian Burns, a trailblazer in finance, entrepreneurship, and relationship managemen...
May 30, 2023•44 min•Season 1Ep. 27
“I don't really view my own successes as my own. If I had one superpower, it's about hiring people that are smarter than me and let 'em fly, you know? Giving them the tools and the right environment for them to win because that's what everybody wants, ultimately.” — Michele Guimond As an avid backcountry skier, downhill mountain biker, and trail runner, it only makes sense that Michele Guimond found her way to working at MEC. After spending a little over a decade travelling abroad, Michele gradu...
May 16, 2023•36 min•Season 1Ep. 26
“The other thing I would say too is it's important to celebrate decisions where you decided not to do something, that was maybe a great idea. So products you thought about launching that you decided not to launch and in hindsight that was a great decision.” — Peter Furnish Peter Furnish has had a long and exciting career, full of interesting experiences that have helped him learn valuable lessons. His journey has taken him to visit Walt Disney's home in California, where he gained insights into ...
May 02, 2023•51 min•Season 1Ep. 25
“So I think different employee engagement, consumer engagement, programs like that, there's value in that [it] makes people feel good and it also helps the planet.” — David Luba The UN predicts that in order to achieve our climate goals by 2050, more than 8.1 trillion dollars must be invested in nature-based solutions. However, current projections indicate that only about 4 trillion dollars will be invested, leaving a massive funding gap that must be filled. Failing to close this gap could have ...
Apr 17, 2023•46 min•Season 1Ep. 24
“And I think so much of my job is to be an advocate for winter sports, for winter, for snow business, and to encourage people in Alberta and elsewhere to get outside and explore this beautiful continent we have.” — Kendra Scurfield Growing up at Sunshine Village Ski & Snowboard Resort was somewhat of a fairytale for Kendra Scurfield. Waking up in a winter wonderland to the excitement of skiers and snowboarders, drinking all of the hot chocolate she could possibly drink, and commuting to work...
Apr 03, 2023•37 min•Season 1Ep. 23
“That naivety, as you say, is a bit of a superpower because if you don't know the way that something is typically done and you're just left to figure it out, then there's so much more creativity that happens with it.” — Kristen Gale Kristen Gale was 24 when she was fired, for the second time. However, instead of dwelling on the setback, she took a bold step to start her own venture. She quickly developed a business plan, secured a location and loan, and opened the first TEN SPOT location in just...
Mar 20, 2023•51 min•Season 1Ep. 22
