In this episode, host Rebecca Scott chats with Meltem Kilicaslan—Qualified Mediator, Founder of MELTEM K Consulting, and advocate for organizational harmony—about why conflict resolution skills are truly a superpower. Meltem shares her journey from being a conflict avoider to becoming a leader in mediation, showing how reframing conflict can unlock stronger relationships, healthier workplaces, and greater self-awareness.

She dives into practical strategies like identifying your default conflict style, embracing compassionate curiosity, and choosing dialogue over assumption. Whether you’re navigating difficult conversations in your personal life or fostering collaboration in a diverse workplace, this episode provides actionable insights on transforming conflict into connection, empowering yourself and others, and cultivating lasting harmony.

In this episode, host Scott Stirrett chats with David Sinkinson—award-winning author of Startup Different, podcaster, and Co-Founder of AppArmor—about the myths that often mislead early-stage founders. David shares how he and his brother bootstrapped AppArmor from an idea sparked on a university campus into a company later acquired by Motorola Solutions for $560 million, all without venture capital. He dives into the realities of finding product-market fit, why charging early matters, and how scrappiness fuels innovation.

Whether you’re weighing funding options or reflecting on what success means beyond the exit, this episode offers practical lessons and candid insights for founders navigating their own journey.

In this episode, host Scott Stirrett chats with Mehrsa Raeiszadeh, Co-Founder of MintList and startup consultant, about one of the biggest challenges early-stage founders face: how to raise money before having traction. Mehrsa shares her personal journey of building MintList in a crowded marketplace—competing against companies that raised hundreds of millions—by focusing on creative ways to prove traction before writing a single line of code.

She dives into practical strategies like using pre-orders, strategic partnerships, and accelerator programs to build credibility and investor trust. From navigating B2B vs. B2C dynamics to achieving product-market fit, this conversation is packed with insights for entrepreneurs looking to solve the “parallel dependency” of needing resources to get traction—and needing traction to secure resources.

In this episode, host Scott Stirrett chats with Jordyn Benattar, Founder and President of SpeakWell, to explore the power of authentic public speaking. Jordyn introduces her revolutionary concept of "private speaking" – communicating publicly with the same ease and authenticity as you would with close friends and family. Drawing from her background, she shares profound insights into why public speaking anxiety exists and how our evolutionary history shapes our modern communication challenges.

Jordyn offers practical strategies for overcoming perfectionism, embracing imperfections, and using personal storytelling to create genuine connections with audiences. Whether you're terrified of speaking in front of others or looking to refine your existing skills, this episode provides actionable advice for turning daily conversations into opportunities for growth and transforming preparation into authentic performance.

In this episode, host Scott Stirrett chats with Guy Levesque, Executive Director of the Hunter Hub for Entrepreneurial Thinking at the University of Calgary, to explore what makes Calgary one of Canada’s most vibrant—and underestimated—entrepreneurial cities. From its rugged roots and risk-taking culture to its rapidly growing tech sector, Guy unpacks what he calls Calgary’s “entrepreneurial DNA.”Drawing from his cross-country experience in innovation ecosystems, Guy shares why he made the leap from Ottawa to Calgary, what sets the city’s startup community apart, and how the Hunter Hub is fueling a diverse pipeline of entrepreneurial talent. Whether you’re an entrepreneur, ecosystem builder, or just curious about what’s happening in Western Canada, this episode offers an inside look at a city—and a community—on the rise.

In this insightful conversation, host Scott Stirrett chats with Mark Franklin, Practice Leader and President at CareerCycles, Co-founder of OneLifeTools, and longtime career counselor, to explore how people navigate career transitions in today’s uncertain world. Drawing from decades of counseling experience and psychological research, Mark unpacks why many professionals feel stuck, the common trap of “miswanting,” and how structured reflection can lead to better career choices.

From mini-retirements and job crafting to balancing doing good with doing well, Mark shares concrete tools for building careers that are both meaningful and sustainable. Whether you're in your first job or your fifth pivot, this episode offers grounded guidance on how to take intentional next steps—without getting overwhelmed by the pressure to have it all figured out.

In this rich and wide-ranging conversation, host Scott Stirrett chats with Peter Jaskiewicz, Patricia Saputo Chair in Family Enterprise and a leading expert on next-generation ownership, to explore what makes family businesses endure across generations. Drawing on both personal experience and global research, Peter unpacks why family enterprises—often dismissed as “traditional”—are actually hotbeds of long-term innovation, resilience, and value creation. From managing succession and avoiding role confusion to fostering entrepreneurial spirit across generations, Peter shares practical strategies for building what he calls “learning families”—those who invest in human, social, and cultural capital as much as financial wealth. Whether you’re part of a multi-generational business or just curious about how family dynamics shape entrepreneurship, this episode offers timeless wisdom for building a legacy that lasts.

In this episode of the Venture for Canada podcast, Scott Stirrett sits down with Naofeld Tassouni and Andy Saldana, co-founders of QueerTech, to explore their journeys as queer entrepreneurs and the creation of their organization. From their serendipitous meeting at a Montreal tech event to scaling QueerTech into a national movement, they discuss the systemic challenges faced by queer entrepreneurs, the importance of representation, and how they built a thriving community.

Along the way, they share insights on transitioning from volunteer work to full-time entrepreneurship, the power of "program-market fit," and their ambitious vision for the future of QueerTech.

In this conversation, Scott Stirrett sits down with Vass Bednar, Executive Director of McMaster University's Master of Public Policy Program, to unpack what it really means to be a policy entrepreneur. Bednar, who's on a mission to redefine the term from its academic stereotypes, reveals how policy work can be as innovative and impactful as any tech startup. She takes us through her unconventional career path—what she calls her "professional scavenger hunt"—where she's gathered insights from think tanks, political offices, and even live radio shows.

Along the way, Bednar shares hard-won lessons for aspiring changemakers: why showing up to events matters more than you think, how to build a "kitchen cabinet" of trusted friends and advisors, and the surprising power of intellectual curiosity in driving policy change.

In this insightful episode, Scott Stirrett speaks with Annelies Tjebbes, CEO of Roots & Rivers, and Hayley Rutherford, Senior Consultant and Operations Director, about a rarely discussed topic: how entrepreneurs can successfully take extended leaves of absence. Annelies shares her experience taking an eight-month parental leave where she completely disconnected from her business, including the practical "hacks" she implemented to maintain boundaries. Hayley offers the complementary perspective of stepping into an interim leadership role, highlighting the challenges of relationship transitions and the unexpected growth opportunities that emerged.

Together, they reveal how a founder's absence can actually strengthen an organization by forcing the decentralization of knowledge, evolving processes, and shifting from a founder-centric identity to a more mature team-based structure.

Whether you're an entrepreneur contemplating a leave for parental responsibilities, health reasons, or simply a sabbatical, this episode provides practical guidance on preparation, knowledge transfer, and relationship management.