Jerome Dwight

From Humble Beginnings to Dragons' Den: The Unstoppable Journey of Manjit Minhas I had the incredible honor of sitting down with Manjit Minhas, one of Canada’s most successful entrepreneurs and a Dragon on the hit show Dragons' Den. Her story is nothing short of inspiring. Manjit’s journey is a testament to resilience, adaptability, and the power of grit. From working in her family’s liquor store at just 13 years old to building a $200+ million dollar brewery and distillery, Manjit faced countless obstacles — and always turned them into opportunities. Here are some takeaways from our conversation:- Early Lessons: Manjit learned essential business skills working in her family’s liquor store, which set the foundation for her future success.- Calculated Risk: She combines research, data, and gut instinct to make informed decisions and manage risk.- Dragons' Den Insights: Investors bet on people, not just products. Manjit looks for passion, clarity, and execution in a pitch.- Saying Yes to Opportunity: Manjit embraces new challenges, from philanthropy to military involvement, always learning along the way.In this episode, we learned that with the right mindset, there is no limit to what you can achieve — even if the odds are stacked against you.// LINKS //Instagram https://www.instagram.com/jeromedwightxYoutube https://www.youtube.com/@jeromedwightxTikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@jerome.dwightSpotify https://open.spotify.com/show/47yRU8VeRXZjvwwbS2CWgn?si=TFWYhoKYRziQbTjaXjuOjw&nd=1&dlsi=1ae5fe7561434a39#Leadership #Entrepreneurship #DragonsDen #Business #Philanthropy #SuccessStory #Mindset #BusinessGrowth #ChallengerX #JeromeDwight

In this episode of ChallengerX, I sat down with Brendan P. Keegan—a six-time President & CEO, business executive, and best-selling author—who has raised over $10 billion in capital and scaled a business from $500M to $2.5 Billion.

From his meteoric rise at Electronic Data Systems (EDS) as the youngest Chief Sales Officer in a Fortune 100 company to leading Merchants Fleet through a 5x revenue growth and eventual acquisition by Bain Capital and Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA), Keegan’s leadership journey is anything but ordinary.

Now, as an acclaimed author of Dare to DISRUPT and The FUD Factor, Brendan reveals how fearless thinking and decisive action can turn adversity into opportunity.

This is a must-watch for anyone who cares about leadership, creating a legacy, and making a lasting impact.

// LINKS //

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/jeromedwightx

Youtube https://www.youtube.com/@jeromedwightx

TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@jerome.dwight

Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/47yRU8VeRXZjvwwbS2CWgn?si=TFWYhoKYRziQbTjaXjuOjw&nd=1&dlsi=1ae5fe7561434a39

#CEO #Leadership #BusinessGrowth #Entrepreneurship #Innovation #CapitalRaising #Disrupt #GrowthMindset #Scaling #Startups #BillionDollarBusiness #BrendenKeegan #ChallengerXPodcast #challengerX

How do you take an idea from your apartment to a $100 million business? In this episode, I sit down with Neil Cuggy, Co-Founder & CEO of GoodFood, to uncover the journey behind one of Canada’s most successful online grocery and meal kit companies.GoodFood is a Canadian online grocery, home meal, and meal kit company that has redefined how people shop and eat. Built on a foundation of quality ingredients, sustainability, and giving back, the company has grown into a powerhouse in the online grocery and meal kit space.Neil didn’t just see an opportunity—he created one. Before online grocery delivery was a thing, he and his co-founder built GoodFood from the ground up, solving a problem no one else dared to tackle. But it wasn’t easy. From rapid scaling challenges to the harsh realities of entrepreneurship, Neil shares the unfiltered truth about what it takes to build, survive, and lead in a competitive industry.In this episode, we dive into:- How Neil and his co-founder spotted a market gap before anyone else- The real struggles of scaling fast, hiring right, and staying ahead of the competition- Why hiring for hunger beats hiring for experience every time- The future of GoodFood and how they’re staying ahead of industry giants like Amazon and Whole FoodsThis conversation is more than just a business success story—it’s a masterclass in vision, resilience, and strategic execution. Neil breaks down the highs and lows of scaling a company, the mindset shifts that separate good entrepreneurs from great ones, and how to future-proof a business in an ever-changing industry. Like, comment, and subscribe for more conversations with the world’s top business minds.// LINKS //Instagram https://www.instagram.com/jeromedwightxYoutube https://www.youtube.com/@jeromedwightxTikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@jerome.dwightSpotify https://open.spotify.com/show/47yRU8VeRXZjvwwbS2CWgn?si=TFWYhoKYRziQbTjaXjuOjw&nd=1&dlsi=1ae5fe7561434a39#StartupSuccess #Entrepreneurship #BusinessGrowth #GoodFood #Leadership #MealKits #Disruption

In this episode, I had the incredible opportunity to sit down with Lexi Miles Corrin, the Founder and CEO of WAXON Laser + Waxbar, one of Canada's leading wax bar chains.

Imagine this: you're 25 years old, you've just signed a lease, built a business from scratch, and the night before opening… you’re sitting in an empty store thinking: “Who am I to do this?”

Lexi didn’t have a background in beauty. She didn’t have any experience in running a retail space. But she had a vision — and she took action despite the fear. Fast forward to today, WAXON has grown to over 25+ locations across Canada and is entirely powered by female franchise owners.

In our conversation Lexi opens up about:

- The self-doubt she faced the night before opening her first location (and why most entrepreneurs quit right there).

- Her secret to hiring a team that stays for over a decade in a high-turnover industry.

- How she scaled from 1 location to 25+ without compromising quality.

- Why most women struggle to build businesses — and how to break through that barrier.

- Her best advice for anyone sitting on a business idea but afraid to start.

Lexi also dives into work-life balance as a mom of four, how she stays mentally strong, and why taking small, consistent actions is the real secret to building something big.

Timestamps:

0:00 - Intro: How Lexi Built Wax On at 25

3:45 - How Lexi got into the business

6:55 - Lexi's Early Influences

8:00 - Early years of business and Waxon

10:30 - Navigating hiring and company culture fit

16:00 - Biggest challenges for female entrepreneurs

19:50 - How to keep focus and mentally tough in business

23:00 - Advice for female entrepreneurs who are early in their career

25:35 - What's next for Lexi?

// LINKS //

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/jeromedwightx

Youtube https://www.youtube.com/@jeromedwightx

TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@jerome.dwight

Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/47yRU8VeRXZjvwwbS2CWgn?si=TFWYhoKYRziQbTjaXjuOjw&nd=1&dlsi=1ae5fe7561434a39

#challengermindset #jeromedwight #challengermindsetpodcast #waxon #waxonlaser #waxbar #leximilescorrin #founder #startup

What if we told you that traditional banks are falling behind, and blockchain technology is leading a financial revolution? In this episode, Julie Fellows and Gabby Kusz join us to unpack traditional finance and reveal how crypto, blockchain, and digital assets are changing the game!

- Why banks are failing to keep up with modern financial demands

- Why younger generations won’t tolerate outdated banking anymore

- Is crypto truly the future of finance, or just hype?

The future of finance is digital. The question is, will banks evolve, or will they be replaced?

What do you think—can traditional finance catch up, or is it already too late?

Like, comment, and subscribe for more exclusive insights from industry leaders.

// LINKS //

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/jeromedwightx

Youtube https://www.youtube.com/@jeromedwightx

TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@jerome.dwight

#challengermindset #jeromedwight #royratnavel #challengermindsetpodcast #motivation

From selling products out of their backpacks in college to running a multi-million dollar influencer marketing agency—Mat Micheli’s journey is nothing short of extraordinary.When Mat and his co-founder, Joe Gagliese, started Viral Nation, influencer marketing was still uncharted territory. But they saw an opportunity that no one else did—creators were driving massive engagement but weren’t making money.So what did they do? They took action. They cold-emailed every brand they could, secured their first $10,000 brand deal, and built what is now one of the world’s leading influencer marketing agencies. In this episode you'll learn How Mat & his co-founder turned a $50 influencer gig into a multi-million dollar empire.- The cold emails that landed their first big brand deal ($10,000!)- How COVID-19 became their biggest opportunity while others panicked- The #1 hiring mistake founders make—and how to build an all-star team- The future of social media marketing & influencers Mat’s story is proof that entrepreneurial success comes from courage, relentless execution, and the ability to pivot at the right time. The best ideas don’t win. The boldest actions do.

Think gum is harmless? Think again. For years, the $20 billion gum industry has been packed with artificial chemicals, synthetic ingredients, and aspartame—until one entrepreneur decided to change the game.💡 Meet Jay Klein, CEO & Founder of PUR Company, who dared to challenge Big Gum with a clean, chemical-free alternative. His mission? Reinvent gum with simple, natural ingredients and give consumers a healthier choice. In this episode, we explore:✅ Why the gum industry has resisted clean alternatives✅ How Jay Klein built a challenger brand from scratch✅ The power of consumer demand in driving industry change✅ What every entrepreneur can learn from taking on billion-dollar giantsThis is not just a business story—it’s a revolution in clean consumer products.

#GumIndustry #CleanLiving #ChallengerBrand #JayKlein #PURCompany #PURGum #Entrepreneurship #HealthyChoices #Disruptor #Innovation

At just 17 years old, Roy Ratnavel was a prisoner of genocide, trapped in torture camps during Sri Lanka’s brutal civil war. He lost everything—his freedom, his homeland, and nearly his life. But against all odds, he survived, escaped to Canada, and started over from nothing.

From working as a janitor, he climbed his way up through the ranks of Bay Street, eventually becoming Vice Chairman of CI Global Asset Management, one of Canada's largest investment firms with over $130 billion in assets under management.

Roy’s journey is the ultimate testament to resilience, grit, and the power of owning your destiny. In today’s episode of the Challenger Mindset Podcast, we dive into his incredible story—how he transformed unimaginable hardship into an unstoppable drive for success, the principles that guided him, and the mindset that helped him break through every barrier.

🔥 In this episode, you’ll learn:

📚 Check out Roy's bestselling book, "Prisoner 1056," where he shares the full story of survival, resilience, and triumph.

Don't miss this inspiring conversation that proves no obstacle is insurmountable.

🚀 Subscribe to the Challenger Mindset Podcast and hit the notification bell to stay updated on our latest episodes!

In this episode, I had the privilege of sitting down with Rob Khazzam, CEO & co-founder of Float, to talk about what it really takes to build a business that challenges giants, rewrites the rules, and refuses to take no for an answer.

In my latest podcast episode, I had the privilege of sitting down with Daniel Lamarre, former CEO of Cirque du Soleil, who shared his incredible journey and leadership wisdom. From navigating the financial crisis and COVID-19 to scaling Cirque into a global entertainment icon, Daniel's story is one of resilience, innovation, and vision.