Smart Growth Rocket

In today’s podcast, Francesca Cadhit interviews Josh Broun, Co-founder of Impact Kitchen, about his inspiring entrepreneurial journey. 

From his background as a fitness trainer to establishing a successful fast-casual food business in Toronto, Josh discusses the importance of passion, resilience, and dedication in pursuing entrepreneurship. He highlights Impact Kitchen's commitment to quality, nutrient-dense food, and plans for future expansion, including new locations in the U.S.

🎧 ▶Tune in to listen to Josh talk about:

✅ The challenges of starting a business

✅ The value of building a strong team

✅ Essential business skills

✅ Habits for success in entrepreneurship

📝 Outline 📝

[00:49] Meet Josh Broun: Co-Founder of Impact Kitchen

[01:54] The Genesis of Impact Kitchen

[04:35] Overcoming Challenges in the Restaurant Business

[06:38] The Importance of Team and Leadership

[11:36] Building Habits for Success

[15:18] Impact Kitchen's Philosophy on Nutrition

[18:51] Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs

[21:27] Future Plans for Impact Kitchen

🚀 About Smart Growth Rocket 🚀

Have you ever wondered how successful professionals, innovators, and trailblazers got to where they are today?

On Smart Growth Rocket, powered by TopClassEdge.com, your host, Francesca Cadhit, shares real-world, beyond-the-textbook insights and stories of career and business growth.

If you're a student, professional, or entrepreneur who wants to learn how to grow, this show is for you.

😍 3 Reasons To Share This Podcast With One Friend Or Family Member 😍

1) It helps us reach others who might enjoy this and find it helpful!

2) It takes less than 30 seconds and helps our show grow.

3) As we grow, it allows us to continue to bring incredible guests for you all!

From finding incredible guests to researching & planning episodes to conducting interviews to editing to sharing it across platforms, this podcast is a labour of love that I'm honoured to produce.

It's a lot of effort, but sharing our guests’ stories and insights with you all is a deeply rewarding experience that I cherish.

Your support truly means the world!

In today’s podcast, Francesca Cadhit interviews Canadian Minister of Small Business Richie Valdez about Education and Entrepreneurship in Canada.

Minister Valdez is a Canadian entrepreneur, television personality, and community advocate. She is the first Filipino-Canadian woman elected as a Member of Parliament and appointed to Cabinet and is committed to ensuring the diverse voices of her community are heard.

She has been a member of various parliamentary committees and associations, including the Standing Committee on Veterans Affairs and the Canadian NATO Parliamentary Association, as well as the Chair of the Canada-Philippines Parliamentary Friendship Group.

🎧 ▶Tune in to listen to Minister Valdez talk about:

✅ How YOU can make a difference in Canada

✅ Big ideas coming from students

✅ What’s the plan for improving Education

✅ What’s being done to support Canadian entrepreneurs 

✅ Gaining access to capital as an entrepreneur/startup

✅ Investments in artificial intelligence and innovation   

✅ Support for marginalized groups, including women, Black, Indigenous, and LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs

📝 Outline 📝

[01:08] Introducing Minister Rechie Valdez

[02:11] Education and Entrepreneurship in Canada

[04:58] Minister Valdez's Educational Journey

[08:44] Challenges and Successes in Entrepreneurship

[11:46] From Entrepreneurship to Political Leadership

[14:16] A Day in the Life of a Small Business Minister

[16:44] Key Elements of Budget 2024

[20:01] Charity and Community Involvement

[21:04] Advice for Aspiring Changemakers

🚀 About Smart Growth Rocket 🚀

Have you ever wondered how successful professionals, innovators, and trailblazers got to where they are today?

On Smart Growth Rocket, powered by TopClassEdge.com, your host, Francesca Cadhit, shares real-world, beyond-the-textbook insights and stories of career and business growth.

If you're a student, professional, or entrepreneur who wants to learn how to grow, this show is for you.

😍 3 Reasons To Share This Podcast With One Friend Or Family Member 😍

1) It helps us reach others who might enjoy this and find it helpful!

2) It takes less than 30 seconds and helps our show grow.

3) As we grow, it allows us to continue to bring incredible guests for you all!

From finding incredible guests to researching & planning episodes to conducting interviews to editing to sharing it across platforms, this podcast is a labour of love that I'm honoured to produce.

It's a lot of effort, but sharing our guests’ stories and insights with you all is a deeply rewarding experience that I cherish.

Your support truly means the world!

In today’s podcast, Francesca Cadhit interviews Shiv Gaglani, the Co-founder & CEO of Osmosis.org, a leading health and medical education platform, which was acquired by Elsevier. 

Shiv is passionate about creating scalable solutions in healthcare and education. He completed his undergraduate degree and an MBA at Harvard. In 2018, Shiv was also named one of Forbes’ Top 30 Under 30. He is currently a medical student at Johns Hopkins.

🎧 ▶Tune in to listen to Shiv talk about:

✅ His unique journey from aspiring young doctor to successful entrepreneur and back to medical school at Johns Hopkins.

✅ How a nonlinear career path helped him build and scale a medical education platform used by millions

✅ How prioritizing sleep and exercise are critical for optimal function

✅ The impact of diverse experiences on personal and professional growth

✅ The potential of AI in healthcare

✅ Tips for future doctors and entrepreneurs.

✨ Links ✨

Learn Medicine with Osmosis: https://www.osmosis.org/

Shiv on Forbes: https://www.forbes.com/sites/shivgaglani/2023/05/24/why-im-going-back-to-medical-school/

📝 Outline 📝

[02:21] Shiv's Nonlinear Educational Journey

[03:44] Founding and Scaling Osmosis

[07:48] Work Ethic and Balancing Life

[10:19] Advice for Med School Hopefuls

[18:56] Burnout in Healthcare

[21:38] The Role of AI in Healthcare

🚀 About Smart Growth Rocket 🚀

Have you ever wondered how successful professionals, innovators, and trailblazers got to where they are today?

On Smart Growth Rocket, powered by TopClassEdge.com, your host, Francesca Cadhit, shares real-world, beyond-the-textbook insights and stories of career and business growth.

If you're a student, professional, or entrepreneur who wants to learn how to grow, this show is for you.

😍 3 Reasons To Share This Podcast With One Friend Or Family Member 😍

1) It helps us reach others who might enjoy this and find it helpful!

2) It takes less than 30 seconds and helps our show grow.

3) As we grow, it allows us to continue to bring incredible guests for you all!

From finding incredible guests to researching & planning episodes to conducting interviews to editing to sharing it across platforms, this podcast is a labour of love that I'm honoured to produce.

It's a lot of effort, but sharing our guests’ stories and insights with you all is a deeply rewarding experience that I cherish.

Your support truly means the world!

In this episode, Francesca Cadhit interviews Jeremy Choi, CEO of LPS Athletic, about the parallels between elite athletic training, life, career, and entrepreneurship. 

Jeremy shares his journey and insights about what future athletes and entrepreneurs need to know for peak performance.

🎧 ▶Tune in to listen to Jeremy talk about:

✅ The qualities athletes and successful individuals need to be at the top of their game

✅ A unique training approach that helps athletes dominate 

✅ How lessons in athletics translate to leadership and corporate success

✅ What golf and entrepreneurship have in common

✅ The importance of supporting aspiring athletes

✅ Tips for athletes, entrepreneurs, and anyone interested in personal growth and success

✨ About Jeremy Choi ✨

Jeremy is a husband, father of two, and entrepreneur who has built and sold multi-million dollar businesses. He served on the local, regional, and global committees of the Entrepreneurs' Organization. Currently, he's the CEO of LPS Athletic and serves as a director on a few corporate boards. 

LPS Athletic: https://lpsathletic.com/

Raise the Bar: https://rtb.foundation/

📝 Outline 📝

[01:04] Meet Jeremy Choi: Entrepreneur and Athlete

[01:48] Jeremy's Personal Fitness Journey

[04:01] The Birth of LPS Athletic

[07:01] Training Philosophy and Athlete Development

[12:59] The Raise the Bar Foundation

[17:37] Entrepreneurial Insights and Lessons

[24:05] Future Goals and Vision for LPS

🚀 About Smart Growth Rocket 🚀

Have you ever wondered how successful professionals, innovators, and trailblazers got to where they are today?

On Smart Growth Rocket, powered by TopClassEdge.com, your host, Francesca Cadhit, shares real-world, beyond-the-textbook insights and stories of career and business growth.

If you're a student, professional, or entrepreneur who wants to learn how to grow, this show is for you.

😍 3 Reasons To Share This Podcast With One Friend Or Family Member 😍

1) It helps us reach others who might enjoy this and find it helpful!

2) It takes less than 30 seconds and helps our show grow.

3) As we grow, it allows us to continue to bring incredible guests for you all!

From finding incredible guests to researching & planning episodes to conducting interviews to editing to sharing it across platforms, this podcast is a labour of love that I'm honoured to produce.

It's a lot of effort, but sharing our guests’ stories and insights with you all is a deeply rewarding experience that I cherish.

Your support truly means the world!

In this episode, Francesca Cadhit interviews Ms. Michelle, a passionate and experienced high school teacher. From supporting education to prevent societal problems to exploring the impact of AI on students to common misconceptions about education, Ms. Michelle shares her unique journey into teaching.

What are some of the challenges and successes in the profession? What advice would this high school teacher give to students and parents?

Tune into this conversation to get the answers and also hear more about what Ms. Michelle has to say about critical skills for students and the evolving role of technology in education.

📝 Outline 📝

[02:52] Michelle's journey to becoming a teacher

[04:45] Challenges and successes in teaching

[08:07] Misconceptions in Education

[10:18] Critical skills for students

[12:25] The impact of AI on Education

[17:45] Advice for students and parents

[21:07] Fun and final thoughts

🚀 About Smart Growth Rocket 🚀

Have you ever wondered how successful professionals, innovators, and trailblazers got to where they are today?

On Smart Growth Rocket, powered by TopClassEdge.com, your host, Francesca Cadhit, shares real-world, beyond-the-textbook insights and stories of career and business growth.

If you're a student, professional, or entrepreneur who wants to learn how to grow, this show is for you.

😍 3 Reasons To Share This Podcast With One Friend Or Family  Member 😍

1) It helps us reach others who might enjoy this and find it helpful!

2) It takes less than 30 seconds and helps our show grow.

3) As we grow, it allows us to continue to bring incredible guests for you all!

From finding incredible guests to researching & planning episodes to conducting interviews to editing to sharing it across platforms, this podcast is a labour of love that I'm honoured to produce.

It's a lot of effort, but sharing our guests’ stories and insights with you all is a deeply rewarding experience that I cherish.

Your support truly means the world!

This episode features Mona Datt, CEO and Founder of Loom Analytics, who shares her journey from an engineering background to leading a tech company specializing in AI-driven automation for legal, insurance, and medical sectors. 

With nearly 19 years of experience running companies, Mona discusses the challenges of entrepreneurship, the importance of understanding the market before product development, and the value of embracing business skills despite an engineering background. She also offers tips for aspiring engineers and entrepreneurs.

🎧 ▶Tune in to listen to Mona talk about: 

✅ What led to pursuing engineering

✅ Engineering and entrepreneurship

✅ Emotional attachment to business ideas and other pitfalls in entrepreneurship

✅ Key questions and what you should know if you want to start a business

✅ Tips for aspiring entrepreneurs

📝 Outline 📝

[00:52] Introducing Mona Datt: From Engineer to CEO

[02:21] Insights on entrepreneurship

[06:24] Engineering roots and educational path

[07:55] The leap into entrepreneurship

[10:49] The challenges and triumphs of building a startup

[16:41] Future directions for Mona and Loom Analytics

✨ About Mona Datt ✨

Mona Datt is the CEO and Founder of Loom Analytics. After graduating with a Bachelor of Engineering from McMaster University, she did a brief stint at MD Robotics working on the Canadarm, followed by seven years at ATI (now AMD.) With an engineering background and nearly 19 years immersed in the legal and insurance operations landscape, she established Loom Analytics with a mission to empower businesses through data-driven insights and transcription technology.

Loom Analytics: https://www.loomanalytics.com/

Mona on LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/monadatt

🚀 About Smart Growth Rocket 🚀

Have you ever wondered how successful professionals, innovators, and trailblazers got to where they are today?

On Smart Growth Rocket, powered by TopClassEdge.com, your host, Francesca Cadhit, shares real-world, beyond-the-textbook insights and stories of career and business growth.

If you're a student, professional, or entrepreneur who wants to learn how to grow, this show is for you.

😍 3 Reasons To Share This Podcast With One Friend Or Family  Member 😍

1) It helps us reach others who might enjoy this and find it helpful!

2) It takes less than 30 seconds and helps our show grow.

3) As we grow, it allows us to continue to bring incredible guests for you all!

From finding incredible guests to researching & planning episodes to conducting interviews to editing to sharing it across platforms, this podcast is a labour of love that I'm honoured to produce.

It's a lot of effort, but sharing our guests’ stories and insights with you all is a deeply rewarding experience that I cherish.

Your support truly means the world!

Today’s episode explores Tech Entrepreneurship and Digital Identity with Meyer Mechanic from Vaultie.

Meyer Mechanic, CEO and Founder of Vaultie, discusses the complexities of digital signatures, the importance of cybersecurity, and the journey of creating and scaling a tech startup. 

Vaultie uses “digital credentials and decentralized storage to prove the authenticity of documents and signatures.” The discussion delves into the challenges of distinguishing real from fake online, the significance of protecting personal data, and the entrepreneurial insights from transitioning from a career in financial services to a tech startup. 

Meyer shares how he got started with Vaultie and his vision for its future, providing a “clean-hands approach to digital trust.”

🎧 ▶Tune in to listen to Meyer talk about: 

✅ Lessons in tech entrepreneurship

✅ Starting and scaling a tech startup

✅ Keeping your identity safe 

✅ Preventing fraud by anchoring real people to their digital documents using digital identity

✨ About Meyer Mechanic ✨

Meyer Mechanic is the Founder and CEO of Vaultie. He holds an MBA from the University of Toronto—Rotman School of Management and spent 15 years in financial services before launching his own startup. Today, he helps banks, lawyers, and insurance companies trust each other and the clients they work with, all while building Vaultie from zero into a success story. 

Vaultie on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/vaultie/

Vaultie on Twitter: https://x.com/vaultieio

Vaultie's website: https://vaultie.io/

📝 Outline 📝

[02:01] Digital signatures, the genesis of Vaultie, and an introduction to Meyer Mechanic

[03:41] The importance of keeping your identity safe

[05:35] A digital vault that prevents fraud

[08:03] Secure digital signatures to identity verification

[10:34] Financial services to tech entrepreneur

[13:00] Building a startup: challenges, culture, and community

[15:05] Stories of fraud and prevention

[19:07] The future of Vaultie and book recommendations

[22:09] Connecting with Vaultie

🚀 About Smart Growth Rocket 🚀

Have you ever wondered how successful professionals, innovators, and trailblazers got to where they are today?

On Smart Growth Rocket, powered by TopClassEdge.com, your host, Francesca Cadhit, shares real-world, beyond-the-textbook insights and stories of career and business growth.

If you're a student, professional, or entrepreneur who wants to learn how to grow, this show is for you.

😍 3 Reasons To Share This Podcast With One Friend Or Family Member 😍

1) It helps us reach others who might enjoy this and find it helpful!

2) It takes less than 30 seconds and helps our show grow.

3) As we grow, it allows us to continue to bring incredible guests for you all!

From finding incredible guests to researching & planning episodes to conducting interviews to editing to sharing it across platforms, this podcast is a labour of love that I'm honoured to produce.

It's a lot of effort, but sharing our guests’ stories and insights with you all is a deeply rewarding experience that I cherish.

Your support truly means the world!

This episode features Eshan Agarwal, Co-founder and CEO of Epsilon, to discuss AI in scientific research and education. 

Eshan shares his journey from being interested in science and entrepreneurship to creating Epsilon, an AI search engine that aims to enhance the accessibility of academic research. He elaborates on his mission to provide researchers and non-researchers with evidence-backed answers to complex questions and discusses the potential of AI in promoting scientific literacy. 

🎧 ▶Tune in to listen to Eshan talk about:

✅ The impact of AI on scientific research and scientific literacy

✅ The safe use of AI tools in education

✅ Working in Big Tech before founding a tech startup

✅ The challenges of entrepreneurship in the tech industry

✅ Tips for aspiring tech professionals and entrepreneurs

✨ About Eshan Agarwal ✨

Eshan Agarwal is the Co-Founder & CEO at Epsilon. He was selected as an Egleston Scholar by Columbia University in 2015 and was in the Top 1% of Columbia University Engineering applicants for the Class of 2019. While going through his educational journey, Eshan had an itch for entrepreneurship and a flair for tech and solving problems. This led Eshan to make the jump from working in Big Tech to founding Epsilon, an AI search engine that aims to enhance the accessibility of scientific research. 

Eshan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eshanagarwal/

Eshan on Twitter: https://twitter.com/eagrwl

Epsilon: https://www.epsilon-ai.com/

📝 Outline 📝

[00:50] Meet Eshan Agarwal

[01:04] Eshaan's journey: science, tech, and entrepreneurship

[01:14] The genesis of Epsilon: An AI search engine for research

[02:00] Beyond the classroom: Insights on tech careers and education

[04:36] Navigating the transition from student to Big Tech professional

[06:37] Epsilon's impact: bridging gaps in scientific research

[10:29] Epsilon in education

[12:19] Lessons from Eshan's entrepreneurial journey

[14:16] The future of Epsilon and tips for aspiring entrepreneurs

🚀 About Smart Growth Rocket 🚀

Have you ever wondered how successful professionals, innovators, and trailblazers got to where they are today?

On Smart Growth Rocket, powered by TopClassEdge.com, your host, Francesca Cadhit, shares real-world, beyond-the-textbook insights and stories of career and business growth.

If you're a student, professional, or entrepreneur who wants to learn how to grow, this show is for you.

😍 3 Reasons To Share This Podcast With One Friend Or Family Member 😍

1) It helps others who might enjoy this and find it helpful.

2) It takes less than 30 seconds.

3) As we grow, it allows us to continue to bring incredible guests for you.

From finding incredible guests to researching & planning episodes to conducting interviews to editing to sharing it across platforms, this podcast is a labour of love that I'm honoured to produce.

It's a lot of effort, but sharing our guests’ stories and insights with you all is a deeply rewarding experience that I cherish.

Your support truly means the world.

This episode features Cliff Redford, owner and operator of Wellington Veterinary Hospital, experienced veterinarian, media personality, and animal rights advocate.

Known simply as Dr. Cliff to his clients, he shares his journey from graduating from veterinary college to becoming a clinic owner. He discusses the joys and challenges of the profession, including dealing with burnout and the importance of finding passion in one’s work. Cliff also touches on his volunteer work with wildlife, his adventures in animal rescue filmed for a documentary, and a potential TV show. 

🎧 ▶Tune in to listen to Dr. Cliff talk about: 

✅ What he wants aspiring veterinarians to know

✅ Insights into the business side of running a veterinary practice

✅ Common misconceptions about the veterinary profession

✅ Managing burnout and compassion fatigue in service professions

✅ The importance of focusing on the positive impacts of one's work.

✨ About Cliff Redford ✨

Dr. Cliff is a husband, father, martial arts expert, surfing enthusiast, and, of course, a dedicated veterinarian. 

In 1998, he graduated from one of the world’s top veterinary schools, the Ontario Veterinary College. And 18 months later, he purchased Wellington Veterinary Hospital in Markham, ON, Canada where he is currently the owner and operator.

Dr. Cliff on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drcliffworldwidevet

📝 Outline 📝

[01:25] Career path and passion for veterinary medicine

[03:07] The many facets of a veterinary career - education, pathways, business

[05:18] Choosing veterinary medicine: Dr. Cliff's story

[08:08] Addressing misconceptions in veterinary medicine

[12:41] Combatting burnout and finding joy in veterinary work

[19:04] Building a successful veterinary practice

[22:01] Future endeavours and tips for aspiring veterinarians

🚀 About Smart Growth Rocket 🚀

Have you ever wondered how successful professionals, innovators, and trailblazers got to where they are today?

On Smart Growth Rocket, powered by TopClassEdge.com, your host, Francesca Cadhit, shares real-world, beyond-the-textbook insights and stories of career and business growth.

If you're a student, professional, or entrepreneur who wants to learn how to grow, this show is for you.

😍 3 Reasons To Share This Podcast With One Friend Or Family  Member 😍

1) It helps us reach others who might enjoy this and find it helpful!

2) It takes less than 30 seconds and helps our show grow.

3) As we grow, it allows us to continue to bring incredible guests for you all!

From finding incredible guests to researching & planning episodes to conducting interviews to editing to sharing it across platforms, this podcast is a labour of love that I'm honoured to produce.

It's a lot of effort, but sharing our guests’ stories and insights with you all is a deeply rewarding experience that I cherish.

Your support truly means the world!

This episode features Ankita Sharma, CEO of Philer AI. 

Ankita shares her journey as an immigrant entrepreneur, her passions for technology, real estate, and personal well-being, and how her challenging experiences buying a home in Canada led to the creation of Philer AI. She discusses the importance of understanding technology, entrepreneurship as a necessary skill for problem-solving, and real estate as a path to generational wealth. Ankita offers insights into the entrepreneurial journey, the challenges of fundraising in current market conditions, and the importance of building the right team. She also hints at future plans for Philer, focusing on growth and partnerships to enhance the home-buying experience.

🎧 ▶Tune in to listen to Ankita talk about: 

✅ The challenges of being a first-time home buyer

✅ The story behind Philer

✅ Wannapreneurs vs. entrepreneurs

✅ The challenges and rewards of being an entrepreneur

✅ Tips for aspiring entrepreneurs

✨ About Ankita Sharma ✨

Ankita Sharma is the CEO of Philer.

As an immigrant and first-time home buyer, Ankita’s experience of buying Real Estate in Canada was full of friction. From sending personal information via unsecured emails to finding typos in legal documents and overpaying property taxes, the home closing process was a mess. Rather than experiencing the joy of homeownership, she found herself overworked and frustrated.

This frustration sparked the creation of Philer.

Ankita on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sharmaankita5/

Philer on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/philer-ai/

Philer’s website: https://philer.ai/

📝 Outline 📝

[00:38] Introducing Ankita Sharma: From Home-Buying Frustration to Philer's Creation

[02:10] The Three Pillars: Technology, Entrepreneurship, and Real Estate

[03:19] The Birth of Philer: A Solution to Home-Buying Challenges

[06:24] Building a Team and the Entrepreneurial Mindset

[10:13] Facing and Overcoming Obstacles with Philer

[11:07] The Future of Philer and Advice for Aspiring Tech Founders

🚀 About Smart Growth Rocket 🚀

Have you ever wondered how successful professionals, innovators, and trailblazers got to where they are today?

On Smart Growth Rocket, powered by TopClassEdge.com, your host, Francesca Cadhit, shares real-world, beyond-the-textbook insights and stories of career and business growth.

If you're a student, professional, or entrepreneur who wants to learn how to grow, this show is for you.

😍 3 Reasons To Share This Podcast With One Friend Or Family Member 😍

1) It helps us reach others who might enjoy this and find it helpful!

2) It takes less than 30 seconds and helps our show grow.

3) As we grow, it allows us to continue to bring incredible guests for you all!

From finding incredible guests to researching & planning episodes to conducting interviews to editing to sharing it across platforms, this podcast is a labour of love that I'm honoured to produce.

It's a lot of effort, but sharing our guests’ stories and insights with you all is a deeply rewarding experience that I cherish.

Your support truly means the world!