Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by SK. In this episode, we explore how Canadian businesses can streamline international operations and eliminate the financial friction that slows down global growth.

Joining us is Cato Pastoll, Co-founder and CEO of Loop Financial, a pioneer in cross-border fintech innovation. Cato shares how Loop helps businesses simplify payments, manage multiple currencies, access working capital, and understand the hidden fees that often go unnoticed in traditional banking.

Key Highlights:

1. The Founding Story: What inspired Loop and how it removes major cross-border pain points.

2. Hidden FX Fees: How banks hide foreign exchange costs and how SMEs can secure fair rates.

3. Scaling Globally: Why Canadian businesses should explore global markets and how Loop supports them.

4. Customer-Centric Innovation: Features that simplify operations and strengthen trust and security.

5. Future of Global Commerce: Cato’s long-term vision for Loop and the evolution of cross-border finance.

Special Thanks to Our Partners:

• RBC: https://www.rbcroyalbank.com/dms/business/accounts/beyond-banking/index.html
• UPS: https://solutions.ups.com/ca-beunstoppable.html?WT.mc_id=BUSMEWA
• Google: https://www.google.ca/
• A1 Global College: https://a1globalcollege.ca/
• ADP Canada: https://www.adp.ca/en.aspx

For more expert insights, visit www.canadiansme.ca and subscribe to the CanadianSME Small Business Magazine. Stay innovative, stay informed, and thrive in the digital age!

Disclaimer: The information shared in this podcast is for general informational purposes only and should not be considered as direct financial or business advice. Always consult with a qualified professional for advice specific to your situation.

Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by Maheen Bari. In this episode, we explore how small and mid-sized businesses can adopt Artificial Intelligence responsibly, balancing innovation with governance, ethics, and trust.

Joining us is Campbell Robertson, Founder of Boxwood Strategy Group, a leading expert in AI Governance and Risk Management. With years of consulting experience at IBM and OpenText, Campbell helps Canadian SMBs move beyond theory to trusted, real-world AI adoption that drives measurable value.

Key Highlights:

1. Making AI Real: How SMBs can move from hype to practical adoption with clear readiness guardrails.

2. Shadow AI Risks: How hidden AI tools impact cost, compliance, and data security for small businesses.

3. Ethical Advantage: Why building compliance-first, trust-driven AI creates both protection and growth.

4. ValueFirst Method: How patience and precision—like fly fishing—mirror successful AI strategies.

5. Future Vision: How Boxwood Strategy Group is helping SMBs turn AI investments into lasting business value.

Special Thanks to Our Partners:

• RBC: https://www.rbcroyalbank.com/dms/business/accounts/beyond-banking/index.html
• UPS: https://solutions.ups.com/ca-beunstoppable.html?WT.mc_id=BUSMEWA
• Google: https://www.google.ca/
• A1 Global College: https://a1globalcollege.ca/
• ADP Canada: https://www.adp.ca/en.aspx

For more expert insights, visit www.canadiansme.ca and subscribe to the CanadianSME Small Business Magazine. Stay innovative, stay informed, and thrive in the digital age!

Disclaimer: The information shared in this podcast is for general informational purposes only and should not be considered as direct financial or business advice. Always consult with a qualified professional for advice specific to your situation.

Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by Kripa Anand. In this episode, we explore how Canadian businesses can stay visible, credible, and competitive amid seismic shifts in search engine behavior and the rise of AI-driven discovery.

Joining us is Natasha Burtenshaw-deVries, Director of Organic Growth at Flywheel Digital, an SEO and digital strategy expert helping brands across North America grow through data-backed, people-first approaches. Natasha shares insights on AI’s impact on search, how to build long-term trust, and the mindset required to thrive in an ever-changing digital ecosystem.

Key Highlights:

1. SEO’s New Era: How to align with Google’s E-E-A-T principles and build lasting credibility through quality content.

2. AI & Search: How AI is reshaping organic traffic and what SMEs can do to maintain visibility in zero-click searches.

3. Emotional Resilience: How founders can manage uncertainty, risk, and burnout in fast-changing markets.

4. Career Pivots: How transferable skills from education and recreation shaped Natasha’s approach to leadership and growth.

5. Future Vision: How Flywheel Digital is driving innovation and thought leadership in SEO across North America.

Special Thanks to Our Partners:

• RBC: https://www.rbcroyalbank.com/dms/business/accounts/beyond-banking/index.html
• UPS: https://solutions.ups.com/ca-beunstoppable.html?WT.mc_id=BUSMEWA
• Google: https://www.google.ca/
• A1 Global College: https://a1globalcollege.ca/
• ADP Canada: https://www.adp.ca/en.aspx

For more expert insights, visit www.canadiansme.ca and subscribe to the CanadianSME Small Business Magazine. Stay innovative, stay informed, and thrive in the digital age!

Disclaimer: The information shared in this podcast is for general informational purposes only and should not be considered as direct financial or business advice. Always consult with a qualified professional for advice specific to your situation.

Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by Maheen Bari. In this episode, we dive into how AI is revolutionizing the fintech space, particularly in streamlining the investment process for lean teams and family offices.

Joining us is Nicolas Frendo, CFO at Acephalt, an innovative fintech startup developing an AI platform designed to simplify due diligence, assess risk, and enhance investment decision-making. Nicolas shares his entrepreneurial journey, the technology behind Acephalt’s platform, and how his financial and technical expertise is driving its mission.

Key Highlights:

1. Entrepreneurial Journey: Why Nicolas pivoted from financial analysis to founding Acephalt, shaping its technology and mission.
    
2. AI for Speed & Efficiency: How Acephalt’s multi-agent AI platform accelerates deal sourcing and risk assessment.
    
3. Building Trust in a Niche Market: How Acephalt is winning early clients and gaining acceptance from traditional investors.
    
4. Resilience in Entrepreneurship: Turning rejection and setbacks into strategic lessons for sustaining growth.
    
5. Future Vision: The significance of Acephalt’s upcoming open beta and its potential to empower investment teams.

Special Thanks to Our Partners:

• RBC: https://www.rbcroyalbank.com/dms/business/accounts/beyond-banking/index.html
• UPS: https://solutions.ups.com/ca-beunstoppable.html?WT.mc_id=BUSMEWA
• Google: https://www.google.ca/
• A1 Global College: https://a1globalcollege.ca/
• ADP Canada: https://www.adp.ca/en.aspx

For more expert insights, visit www.canadiansme.ca and subscribe to the CanadianSME Small Business Magazine. Stay innovative, stay informed, and thrive in the digital age!

Disclaimer: The information shared in this podcast is for general informational purposes only and should not be considered as direct financial or business advice. Always consult with a qualified professional for advice specific to your situation.

Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by Kripa Anand. In this episode, we explore how performance marketing can transform ad spend into predictable profit by combining creative storytelling with data-driven precision.

Joining us is Sanjay Mayar, VP of Growth and Marketing at Imajery, a performance marketing agency that helps ambitious brands scale through measurable growth strategies. Sanjay shares actionable insights on building high-performing campaigns, balancing creativity with analytics, and helping SMEs prepare for key opportunities like Black Friday.

Key Highlights:

1. Performance Marketing Simplified: How SMEs can use performance marketing to achieve measurable ROI.
    
2. Creative Storytelling: Why blending creativity with data helps brands stand out in competitive markets.
    
3. Predictable Growth Engine: How an analytics-obsessed strategy drives sustainable, scalable results.
    
4. Leadership in Growth: The critical role of founders and CEOs in aligning vision with marketing execution.
    
5. Black Friday Strategy: How SMEs can leverage data insights and Imajery’s free marketing audit for peak performance.

Special Thanks to Our Partners:

• RBC: https://www.rbcroyalbank.com/dms/business/accounts/beyond-banking/index.html
• UPS: https://solutions.ups.com/ca-beunstoppable.html?WT.mc_id=BUSMEWA
• Google: https://www.google.ca/
• A1 Global College: https://a1globalcollege.ca/
• ADP Canada: https://www.adp.ca/en.aspx

For more expert insights, visit www.canadiansme.ca and subscribe to the CanadianSME Small Business Magazine. Stay innovative, stay informed, and thrive in the digital age!

Disclaimer: The information shared in this podcast is for general informational purposes only and should not be considered as direct financial or business advice. Always consult with a qualified professional for advice specific to your situation.

Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by Maheen Bari. In this episode, we dive into how a mix of psychology, technology, and storytelling can elevate brands and help entrepreneurs grow their businesses.

Joining us is Andrea Chase, co-founder & CMO of BAITS Global Inc. and MarketingVerse, a seasoned entrepreneur and communications consultant with a passion for empowering women-led businesses. Andrea shares her entrepreneurial journey, the psychology behind effective marketing, and how her agency is helping tech ventures and service businesses scale through powerful marketing strategies.

Key Highlights:

1. Psychology in Marketing: Why understanding consumer behavior is key to creating compelling, action-driving messages.
    
2. Empowering Women in Tech: How Andrea pivoted from a tech startup to founding an agency dedicated to helping women-led businesses thrive.
    
3. Mentorship & Mental Stamina: The importance of mentorship and maintaining mental resilience in the entrepreneurial journey.
    
4. Strategic Thinking: How broad experience allows Andrea to create focused marketing strategies tailored to a client’s goals.
    
5. Future Vision: Andrea’s plans for creating impact through MarketingVerse, voiceover work, and thought leadership.

Special Thanks to Our Partners:

• RBC: https://www.rbcroyalbank.com/dms/business/accounts/beyond-banking/index.html
• UPS: https://solutions.ups.com/ca-beunstoppable.html?WT.mc_id=BUSMEWA
• Google: https://www.google.ca/
• A1 Global College: https://a1globalcollege.ca/
• ADP Canada: https://www.adp.ca/en.aspx

For more expert insights, visit www.canadiansme.ca and subscribe to the CanadianSME Small Business Magazine. Stay innovative, stay informed, and thrive in the digital age!

Disclaimer: The information shared in this podcast is for general informational purposes only and should not be considered as direct financial or business advice. Always consult with a qualified professional for advice specific to your situation.

Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by Maheen Bari. In this episode, we explore how Canadian B2B technology companies can turn cybersecurity compliance from a daunting challenge into a strategic advantage that wins major contracts.

Joining us is Ali Aleali, Co-Founder and CEO of Truvo Cyber, an Ottawa-based cybersecurity firm transforming complex certifications like SOC 2 and ISO 27001 into sales assets. Ali shares how Truvo’s guaranteed audit pass model helps founders close bigger deals, prove trustworthiness, and turn compliance into a powerful growth engine.

Key Highlights:

1. The “Trust Test”: Why passing security due diligence is essential for landing big clients.
    
2. 90-Day Audit Roadmap: How small teams can achieve certification quickly and efficiently.
    
3. Software vs. Expertise: Why automation alone can’t replace human-driven compliance strategy.
    
4. Security as an Asset: How strong credentials elevate brand trust and boost long-term sales.
    
5. Truvo’s Future Vision: Simplifying continuous compliance for Canadian founders and scaling globally.

Special Thanks to Our Partners:

• RBC: https://www.rbcroyalbank.com/dms/business/accounts/beyond-banking/index.html
• UPS: https://solutions.ups.com/ca-beunstoppable.html?WT.mc_id=BUSMEWA
• Google: https://www.google.ca/
• A1 Global College: https://a1globalcollege.ca/
• ADP Canada: https://www.adp.ca/en.aspx

For more expert insights, visit www.canadiansme.ca and subscribe to the CanadianSME Small Business Magazine. Stay innovative, stay informed, and thrive in the digital age!

Disclaimer: The information shared in this podcast is for general informational purposes only and should not be considered as direct financial or business advice. Always consult with a qualified professional for advice specific to your situation.

Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by Maheen Bari. In this episode, we explore how modern retailers can build stronger customer connections through unified leadership, harmonized shopping, and smarter use of data.

We’re joined by Chris Parsons, Founder of Retail Rewired and VP of Partner Growth & Marketing at Hale Digital. With over 25 years of experience leading major brands like Walmart, Home Hardware, and Ren’s Pets, Chris shares how retailers can simplify the customer journey and create meaningful, consistent experiences across every channel.

Key Highlights:

1. Retail Leadership: How the Four Pillars help small businesses inspire teams and build genuine customer connection.

2. Harmonized Shopping: How SMEs can deliver consistent online and in-store experiences without enterprise budgets.

3. Customer Mindsets: Why shoppers think in moments, not categories, and how that insight transforms growth strategies.

4. AI + Retail Data: The biggest opportunities for AI to improve merchandising, planning, and customer experience.

5. Future Vision: How Retail Rewired and Hale Digital are helping brands grow through unified retail strategies.

Special Thanks to Our Partners:

• RBC: https://www.rbcroyalbank.com/dms/business/accounts/beyond-banking/index.html
• UPS: https://solutions.ups.com/ca-beunstoppable.html?WT.mc_id=BUSMEWA
• Google: https://www.google.ca/
• A1 Global College: https://a1globalcollege.ca/
• ADP Canada: https://www.adp.ca/en.aspx

For more expert insights, visit www.canadiansme.ca and subscribe to the CanadianSME Small Business Magazine. Stay innovative, stay informed, and thrive in the digital age!

Disclaimer: The information shared in this podcast is for general informational purposes only and should not be considered as direct financial or business advice. Always consult with a qualified professional for advice specific to your situation.

Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by Maheen Bari. In this episode of AI for SMBs, we explore how Artificial Intelligence and emerging technologies are redefining the future of work, innovation, and productivity for small and medium-sized businesses.

Joining us is Furqan Aziz, CEO of InvoZone, a global technology consulting and software development firm with a team of over 500 professionals. Furqan shares his entrepreneurial journey, leadership insights, and how AI, blockchain, and Web 3.0 are driving transformation, enabling businesses to scale with smarter, data-driven solutions.

Key Highlights:

1. Entrepreneurial Lessons: How Furqan built a global tech firm through innovation and a supportive culture.
    
2. AI & Emerging Tech: How technologies like AI, ML, and blockchain are reshaping industries.
    
3. Digital Branding: Actionable strategies for small businesses to scale their brand on limited budgets.
    
4. Bridging Gaps with Tech: How AI workflows make enterprise-level tools accessible for SMBs.
    
5. Future Vision: Furqan’s advice for tech entrepreneurs and his vision for InvoZone’s global growth.

Special Thanks to Our Partners:

• RBC: https://www.rbcroyalbank.com/dms/business/accounts/beyond-banking/index.html
• UPS: https://solutions.ups.com/ca-beunstoppable.html?WT.mc_id=BUSMEWA
• Google: https://www.google.ca/
• A1 Global College: https://a1globalcollege.ca/
• ADP Canada: https://www.adp.ca/en.aspx

For more expert insights, visit www.canadiansme.ca and subscribe to the CanadianSME Small Business Magazine. Stay innovative, stay informed, and thrive in the digital age!

Disclaimer: The information shared in this podcast is for general informational purposes only and should not be considered as direct financial or business advice. Always consult with a qualified professional for advice specific to your situation.

Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by Kripa Anand. In this episode, we explore how Canadian businesses can harness digital transformation, AI, and immersive technologies to fuel growth and innovation in a fast-changing world.

Joining us is Adrian Moise, Founder and CEO of Aequilibrium, one of Canada’s top digital agencies known for its award-winning digital product design. With over 20 years of experience and a background at Ubisoft and Electronic Arts, Adrian shares his insights on digital strategy, XR and AI in training, and building experiences that enhance both business performance and human impact.

Key Highlights:

1. Digital Transformation Fundamentals: Steps for SMEs to begin their digital journey and avoid common pitfalls.
    
2. The F1 Playbook for Strategy: How small businesses can apply Formula 1’s principles of continuous improvement and precision.
    
3. XR and AI in Immersive Training: How technology is revolutionizing scalable, hands-on learning for small businesses.
    
4. Strategic Data Use in AI Training: The importance of ethical, high-quality data for effective and responsible training solutions.
    
5. Aequilibrium’s Global Vision: Adrian’s mission to create digital experiences that drive innovation and measurable business growth.

Special Thanks to Our Partners:

• RBC: https://www.rbcroyalbank.com/dms/business/accounts/beyond-banking/index.html
• UPS: https://solutions.ups.com/ca-beunstoppable.html?WT.mc_id=BUSMEWA
• Google: https://www.google.ca/
• A1 Global College: https://a1globalcollege.ca/
• ADP Canada: https://www.adp.ca/en.aspx

For more expert insights, visit www.canadiansme.ca and subscribe to the CanadianSME Small Business Magazine. Stay innovative, stay informed, and thrive in the digital age!

Disclaimer: The information shared in this podcast is for general informational purposes only and should not be considered as direct financial or business advice. Always consult with a qualified professional for advice specific to your situation.