Invested in our New Reality

Shavonne Hasfal-McIntosh is joined by serial entrepreneur Karla Briones as the host baton is passed in Hasfal-McIntosh’s final episode of Invested in Our New Reality. The Season 8 opener introduces Briones, who brings a wealth of experience and expertise to the podcast as a graduate of Carleton University’s journalism program, owner of multiple Ottawa-based businesses, and an Invest Ottawa independent business advisor. Invested in Our New Reality’s new host also brings a fresh, unique prospective as a first-generation Mexican-Canadian immigrant.

On the latest episode of Invested in Our New Reality, host Shavonne Hasfal-McIntosh sat down with Genna Elvin, Co-founder and Chief Tada Officer of Tadaweb, to discuss the origin of this innovative tech company and its journey to becoming a global business with four offices in cities around the world, including Ottawa.

Ottawa is a city with a reputation – and that’s a good thing. On the latest episode of Invested in our New Reality, host Shavonne Hasfal-McIntosh interviews Darrell Wellington, Senior Vice President at Syntronic: A Global Design House. In a short but sweet conversation, they discuss why this Swedish company is flourishing in Canada, and why so many technology companies and innovators are flocking to Ottawa.

The sky is not the limit for Thales Canada. On the latest episode of Invested in our New Reality, host Shavonne Hasfal-McIntosh welcomes Cara Salci to the podcast. Salci is the Vice President, Strategy and Government Relations at Thales Canada, and she offers a first-hand account of why Thales loves Ottawa, and Canada, and how their new ventures are making a difference right here at home, and around the world.

2G, 3G, 4G, 5G: Parallel Wireless offers it all, part and parcel. On this episode of Invested in Our New Reality, host Shavonne Hasfal-McIntosh welcomes Maxime Dumas to the podcast. As General Manager of Parallel Wireless Canada, Dumas is overseeing the company’s expansion into Canada and is happy to talk about how much he and the rest of the company love Ottawa, and their ambitious plans for the future of wireless telecommunications.

Tooting Canada’s horn within the international business community is a big job. Luckily, Niloo Boroun, Executive Director of the Consider Canada City Alliance, is here to do it, and do it well. On this episode of Invested in Our New Reality, host Shavonne Hasfal-McIntosh talks to Boroun about her work overseeing the CCCA and positioning Canada as the country of choice for global companies looking for a North American outlet.

Italy comes to Canada on the latest episode of Invested in Our New Reality. Host Shavonne Hasfal-McIntosh welcomes Francesco Norante to the podcast. Norante is the President and Chairman of the Board of Leonardo Canada, a position he took over in 2018 after nine years with the company. Listen in as he offers a detailed account of the work his company is doing throughout Canada, and the world, and what they have on deck.

On this episode of Invested in our New Reality, host Shavonne Hasfal-McIntosh talks to Kari Simpson, Vice President of Product Management and Strategy, Contact Centre Products at Upland Software. Simpson-Anderson gives a first-hand account of the growth strategy InGenius Software employed leading up to their 26.4-million-dollar acquisition by Upland Software.

We’re back! Season 7 of the Invested in Our New Reality podcast kicks off with Jens-Michael Schaal, the Vice-President of Global Expansion for Invest Ottawa. Find out why Ottawa is such an attractive city for growing global companies. Schaal outlines the city’s key industries and benefits and introduces the newly launched online resource whyottawa.ca.

To close out Season Six of Invested in Our New Reality, Shavonne Hasfal-McIntosh chats with Aydin Mirzaee, CEO and co-founder of the Ottawa-based company Fellow. Fellow has created a tool designed to revolutionize meetings which recently secured $24M US in series-A funding and was also selected as one of the city’s top employers. Aydin joins the podcast to talk about the company’s remarkable success and its big plans for the future.