Ronjiny Basu is the founder of Puddles Swim School in Kitchener, a program dedicated to helping children develop confidence, safety, and joy in the water. After years in corporate program management and marketing, Ronjiny followed her passion to create a high-impact, safety-focused swim school that combines Montessori-inspired teaching with sensory-friendly design.

In this episode, we go behind the business to hear how she built Puddles from the ground up, how she leads a small but mission-driven team, and how she’s partnering with the Waterloo Region community to make water safety and confidence accessible for all children. 

Let’s go Behind the Business with Ronjiny Basu of Puddles Swim School.

Get a look Behind the Business in Waterloo Region with Ian McLean, President & CEO of the Greater Kitchener Waterloo Chamber of Commerce.

Shawna Leifso and Greg Quaile, the husband-and-wife team behind Subtly You, have built a medical aesthetics business that stands out through creativity, community engagement, and personalized client experiences. In this episode of Behind the Business, we explore how they combine clinical expertise with smart marketing strategies to grow a thriving business while staying authentic.

Tune in to hear how Shawna and Greg leverage partnerships, innovative campaigns, and hands-on community involvement to make an impact and what lessons their journey offers to other entrepreneurs in service-based industries.

Let’s go Behind the Business with Shawna and Greg. 

Get a look Behind the Business in Waterloo Region with Ian McLean, President & CEO of the Greater Kitchener Waterloo Chamber of Commerce.

Karen Gallant is the President and CEO of Junior Achievement JA South Western Ontario  on, one of Canada’s most impactful youth organizations helping students develop financial literacy, entrepreneurial thinking, and work-readiness skills.

Under her leadership, JA has expanded across the region, embraced digital learning, and continues to inspire young people to take ownership of their futures.

We’ll talk about the importance of financial literacy, inspiring the next generation of innovators, and how businesses can play a hands-on role in developing future talent.

Let’s go Behind the Business with Karen Gallant.

Get a look Behind the Business in Waterloo Region with Ian McLean, President & CEO of the Greater Kitchener Waterloo Chamber of Commerce.

Precious Julius, founder of Last Minute Gallery, is transforming how Waterloo Region experiences art. What began as a passion project has grown into a vibrant, award-winning platform that celebrates emerging artists, fosters collaboration, and brings art directly into the community through immersive, hands-on events.

In this episode, Precious shares the journey of building Last Minute Gallery, the inspiration behind The Art Experience, and how he connects artists with audiences in meaningful ways. From winning the 2025 Small Business Awards Event Impact Award to navigating the evolving arts landscape, he offers an insider’s perspective on running a creative business with purpose and impact.

Let’s go “Behind the Business” with Precious Julius.

Get a look Behind the Business in Waterloo Region with Ian McLean, President & CEO of the Greater Kitchener Waterloo Chamber of Commerce.

Vanessa Simon is the founder of Vanessa’s Cuisine. She made a bold career change from nursing to entrepreneurship, creating a Caribbean-rooted food brand that’s now featured on store shelves across Waterloo Region. Along the way, Vanessa has built strong community connections, earned the 2025 Exceptional Small Business of the Year Award (community-voted), and used her platform to inspire women and young entrepreneurs.

Get a look Behind the Business in Waterloo Region with Ian McLean, President & CEO of the Greater Kitchener Waterloo Chamber of Commerce.

Today’s episode is sponsored by BDC – the bank for Canadian entrepreneurs, as we celebrate BDC Small Business Week, from October 19-25. Each day, we’re spotlighting a different small business owner from our community — the people who power our local economy, create jobs, and bring innovation to life. We’re also excited to have this year’s theme focus on the economic revolution, and getting your business ready.

Today, we’re sitting down with Nicholas Preisenhammer of Gladiator Pro Wash. What started as a small local exterior cleaning business quickly grew into a trusted company known for quality, reliability, and attention to detail. Nicholas has built his business on hard work and care for his clients — proving that small businesses can make a big impact through dedication and integrity.

We’ll explore how dedication, integrity, and customer care have fueled Nick’s success — and continue to drive his business forward.

Join me as we go “Behind the Business” with Nicholas Preisenhammer.

Get a look Behind the Business in Waterloo Region with Ian McLean, President & CEO of the Greater Kitchener Waterloo Chamber of Commerce.

Today’s episode is sponsored by BDC – the bank for Canadian entrepreneurs, as we celebrate BDC Small Business Week, from October 19-25. Each day, we’re spotlighting a different small business owner from our community — the people who power our local economy, create jobs, and bring innovation to life. We’re also excited to have this year’s theme focus on the economic revolution, and getting your business ready.

Today, we’re sitting down with Dimitrios Tsirgielis of Silver Cross Kitchener. What started as a mission to improve accessibility has grown into a business that helps people live comfortably and safely. Through Silver Cross Kitchener, Dimitrios is providing mobility solutions and personalized support that empower clients to maintain independence and quality of life.

In this episode, we’ll uncover how he built a thriving business around service, adaptability, and trust.

Join me as we go “Behind the Business” with Dimitrios Tsirgielis.

Get a look Behind the Business in Waterloo Region with Ian McLean, President & CEO of the Greater Kitchener Waterloo Chamber of Commerce.

Today’s episode is sponsored by BDC – the bank for Canadian entrepreneurs, as we celebrate BDC Small Business Week, from October 19-25. Each day, we’re spotlighting a different small business owner from our community — the people who power our local economy, create jobs, and bring innovation to life. We’re also excited to have this year’s theme focus on the economic revolution, and getting your business ready.

Today, we’re sitting down with Destiny Moser, Founder & Executive Chef of FoodZen. After nearly two decades in corporate tech, Destiny followed her passion for food blending her Indigenous heritage with a commitment to local, sustainable ingredients.

Through FoodZen, she’s redefining Indigenous cuisine and using food to reconnect, educate, and heal. We’ll explore her journey, what drives her success, and the lessons she’s learned along the way.

Join me as we go “Behind the Business” with Destiny Moser.

Get a look Behind the Business in Waterloo Region with Ian McLean, President & CEO of the Greater Kitchener Waterloo Chamber of Commerce.

Today’s episode is sponsored by BDC – the bank for Canadian entrepreneurs, as we celebrate BDC Small Business Week, from October 19-25. Each day, we’re spotlighting a different small business owner from our community — the people who power our local economy, create jobs, and bring innovation to life. We’re also excited to have this year’s theme focus on the economic revolution, and getting your business ready.

Today, we’re sitting down with Bruce Ysselstein (Eyes-el-stein)  of The WAR Room Baseball Training Centre. A lifelong baseball enthusiast, Bruce turned his passion for the game into a space where athletes of all ages can develop not just their skills, but their confidence, discipline, and love for the sport. Through The WAR Room, he’s creating a community where mentorship, teamwork, and growth go hand in hand.

We’ll unpack what fuels Bruce’s passion for the game, and how that same drive powers his work as a coach and entrepreneur.

Join us as we go “Behind the Business” with Bruce Ysselstein (Eyes-el-stein).

Get a look Behind the Business in Waterloo Region with Ian McLean, President & CEO of the Greater Kitchener Waterloo Chamber of Commerce.

As we celebrate BDC Small Business Week, from October 19-25. Each day, we’re spotlighting a different small business owner from our community — the people who power our local economy, create jobs, and bring innovation to life. We’re also excited to have this year’s theme focus on the economic revolution and getting your business ready. 

Today, we’re sitting down with Paul Brosnan of Atum Financial Services. After over two decades working in corporate finance across industries like manufacturing, healthcare, and automotive, Paul followed his passion for helping businesses and individuals thrive financially. Through Atum, he provides guidance, clarity, and confidence for clients navigating complex financial decisions, helping them plan for growth and long-term success.

We’ll dive into the insights Paul’s gained over his career — and how he’s using that expertise to guide others toward financial success.

Get a look Behind the Business in Waterloo Region with Ian McLean, President & CEO of the Greater Kitchener Waterloo Chamber of Commerce.