The Entrepreneur Podcast

Scott Stirrett was the Founder and CEO of Venture for Canada, a national charity that fosters entrepreneurial skills in young Canadians by recruiting, training, and supporting them to work for innovative Canadian small businesses and startups.After running the venture for a decade, Stirrett has collated many of his learnings into a book, titled “The Uncertainty Advantage: Launching Your Career in an Era of Rapid Change.”In this episode, Stirrertt speaks with Ivey Faculty Member Eric Janssen about turning down a job at Goldman Sachs, launching and growing Venture for Canada, and the six pillars cited in his book for building our “uncertainty muscle” for a world that is looking more and more volatile.The Entrepreneur Podcast is sponsored by Quantumshift 2008 alum and founder of Closing the Gap Healthcare Group, Dr Connie Clerici.

If you are talking about start-up law in Canada, John Wires is often at the top of that list. Wires is the CEO of Wires Law, a corporate commercial law firm that has delivered legal services to entrepreneurs, small and medium-sized businesses across Canada for over a decade. While it can often be seen as an intimidating or boring topic, legal implications can often be the making or breaking of a business, especially when success is baked into the formula.In this episode, Wires speaks freely with Ivey faculty member Eric Janssen about the role lawyers play in decision-making, how to calculate and mitigate legal risks, protecting intellectual property and the complications to consider when raising capital and diluting ownership when building a business.For those interested in learning more, download Wires free book, The Law for Founders - The legal playbook for Canadian founders — from incorporation to exit, in the link below: https://founderlaw.ca/ The Entrepreneur Podcast is sponsored by Quantumshift 2008 alum and founder of Closing the Gap Healthcare Group, Dr Connie Clerici.

Eric Brass didn't hate his job in asset management. He had a terrific boss, wonderful colleagues, and the pay was great! But six years before, on an exchange trip to Guadalajara, Mexico, Eric fell in love with premium tequila. So much so that it planted a seed that ultimately led him to create a world-class Tequila brand.In this episode, Brass revisits The Entrepreneur Podcast and talks about his ongoing journey with Tequila Tromba and shares some exciting updates on his latest venture that is supporting sustainability in Agave cultivation.The Entrepreneur Podcast is sponsored by Quantumshift 2008 alum and founder of Closing the Gap Healthcare Group, Dr Connie Clerici.

Some founders don't have "entrepreneur" as part of their plan. They slowly evolve into one.That's what Chris Barnard shared with students at Ivy's New Venture project. After a slew of jobs, including investing money for other companies, Barnard wondered, 'why not invest in his own venture?'That venture became Points.com, one of the earliest loyalty programs in the world. Barnard, his co-founder, Rob McLean, and Points.com, would go on to weather a series of world-changing storms, including the dotcom bubble , 9/11, and the War on Terror, before settling into cruising altitude.Barnard would go on to take Points.com public, and in 2022, the venture was acquired for half a billion dollars.In this episode, Barnard speaks with Ivey faculty member Eric Janssen about his incredible journey of building a startup in tumultuous times, the importance of travel, and how to navigate technological change as entrepreneurs.

This season of The Entrepreneur Podcast is packed with discussions that range from instructional to aspirational: From stories of founders who’ve built incredible brands and placed themselves in the history of Canadian entrepreneurship to the mental and legal building blocks that are integral to launching a career in entrepreneurship.The new season of The Entrepreneur Podcast launches on November 18th.To ensure you never miss an episode, subscribe to the show on your favorite podcast player or visit entrepreneurship.uwo.ca/podcast. The Entrepreneur Podcast is sponsored by Dr. Connie Clerici, QS ’08, and Founder of Closing the Gap Healthcare Group, Inc.

Kevin Sullivan has a storied history as a founder and investor in Canada’s modern entrepreneurship story.An early backer of Blackberry, Sullivan was part of GMP Capital from its inception and went on to serve as its President and CEO. In 1995, He co-founded one of Canada’s leading independent investment dealers, GMP Securities LP.In this episode, Sullivan shares stories from his 30-year-long career, discusses changes in the investment landscape, and answers difficult questions on what the future holds for entrepreneurs and investors in Canada.The Entrepreneur Podcast is sponsored by Connie Clerici, QS ’08, and Closing the Gap Healthcare Group, Inc.

The global video game industry is a behemoth that is worth more than the music, television, and film industries put together. That’s not bad for a sector that was considered niche before the 2000s.As the former President of Digital Extremes, Michael Schmalz had a front-row seat to these seismic changes. The London, Ontario-based game studio started by his brother, James, rose to prominence with international hit games like Warframe and Unreal. With a background in business and technology, Schmalz was able to ride the waves of uncertainty and opportunity to build a thriving company that not only delivered iconic games but also shaped the way the industry managed projects and people.In this episode, Schmalz gives us a window into the gaming industry, its history, and what lies ahead.The Entrepreneur Podcast is sponsored by Connie Clerici, QS ’08, and Closing the Gap Healthcare Group, Inc.

Entrepreneurship is often viewed as a discipline within business and that makes sense. Entrepreneurs are dealing with finances, crunching numbers, raising money, and balancing payroll.But Entrepreneurship is more than business. It’s an art.Entrepreneurs build products, services, companies, and brands that carry a piece of who they are. It’s a form of expression that reflects who they are; just like a painting that gives a window into the innermost thoughts of the painter.On this episode, we talk to two founders who embrace both titles and have joined their love for music and business, to create an international music act that might be on your party playlist. Andrew Fedyk and Joe Depace are Loud Luxury, a Canadian DJ Duo that rose to fame through their 2017 releases "Body" and a remix of the Martin Garrix and Dua Lipa single "Scared to Be Lonely".In this episode, I sat down with Andrew and Joe to discuss their story of how a business and political science major at Western University ended up selling-out dance clubs across the world.

This summer season of The Entrepreneur Podcast kicks off with international DJ duo, Loud Luxury, talking about their origins, partnership, and the intersection of art and business. We speak to Michael Schmalz, former President of Digital Extremes, on how a Canadian gaming studio, based in London Ontario impacted the global gaming industry. Then, we explore the future of entrepreneurship and investing in Canada with legendary founder and investor, Kevin Sullivan. The Entrepreneur Podcast is sponsored by Quantumshift 2008 alum, Connie Clerici and Closing the Gap Healthcare Group. To ensure you never miss an episode. Subscribe to the show on your favorite podcast player or visit entrepreneurship.uwo.ca/podcast.

A Technology sector deal maker, entrepreneur, diversity advocate, and community builder. These are some of the terms that describe Mona Sabet.A Silicon Valley veteran, Sabet combined her expertise in engineering, law, and business to forge an impressive career that has included 100s of tech deals and nearly 50 acquisitions.Sabet served as Chief Corp Strategy Officer for UserTesting and played a pivotal role in the company’s acquisition in 2022 for 1.3 billion. Most recently, she co-authored Sail to Scale, which examines common mistakes made by entrepreneurs from start-up to exit.In this wide-ranging discussion, we cover Sabet’s entrepreneurial journey from Canada to California, and uncover insights from her latest book.

Google, Microsoft, Twitter and The Weather Network, Rory Capern has really done it all. But while he has built a career with some of the most exciting brands around, the art of the possible keeps drawing him back to the world of entrepreneurship.An alum from Ivey’s HBA and MBA programs, Capern currently serves as the Chief Operations Officer at Redbrick, a B-Corp Certified firm that has built and acquired an impressive portfolio of companies to inspire innovation, encourage sustainable business, and support digital entrepreneurs.In this fascinating discussion, Capern walks us through his career between start-ups and the world’s largest tech corporations, the importance of mentorship, and how his people-centric view of business has shaped his career.The Entrepreneur Podcast is sponsored by Connie Clerici, QS ’08, and Closing the Gap Healthcare Group, Inc.

A pioneer, and legend in the banking industry, Arkadi Kuhlmann first introduced the world to direct banking when he founded ING DIRECT Canada in 1996 and ING U.S. in 2000. As Chairman, President & CEO, Kuhlmann created the largest savings bank in the U.S., with more than $88 billion in deposits and 8 million customers. Since then, Kuhlmann has gone on to launch six startups in the banking sector.A painter, poet, and prolific author, Kuhlmann has gained a reputation for putting together effective teams through his focus on culture and leadership.In this episode, we explore his illustrious career, lessons learned, and the new challenges he is tackling in today’s business environment.The Entrepreneur Podcast is sponsored by Connie Clerici, QS ’08, and Closing the Gap Healthcare Group, Inc.

Welcome to a new season of The Entrepreneur Podcast featuring the likes of Arkadi Kuhlmann of ING Direct Canada and US, Silicon Valley veteran Mona Sabet, and tech entrepreneur Rory Capern, whose career has included stints at some of the biggest brands in the world.

In a world filled with information, there’s always something to learn. But how can we learn to learn?That is a topic right in Scott Young’s wheelhouse.Young is the author of The Wall Street Journal Best Seller, Ultralearning, and you can discover more insights in his most recent book, Get Better at Anything - 12 Maxims for Mastery.A blogger, entrepreneur, and author of the Wall Street Journal Best Seller, Ultralearning, Young joined Ivey Professor Eric Janssen to talk about the process of learning new things. Young also addresses his unique career path which he often describes as a “controlled accident.”We hope you enjoy this episode. To catch more insights from Young’s work, check out his most recent book, Get Better at Anything - 12 Maxims for Mastery.https://www.scotthyoung.com/blog/getbetter/

Entrepreneurs are always at the forefront of change and innovation, and Ray Sharma certainly fits that billing.Graduating from Ivey in 1996 Sharma went into the world of investment banking and became the top-ranked technology analyst in his first year after securing the title for five of his eight eligible years, Sharma joined the startup world and set up extreme Venture Partners. Over the years, Sharma firm has led, funded or founded more than 100 startups with exits to a who's who of brands like Apple, Google, Google Electronic Arts, McKesson and Salesforce, with a career spanning the early days of the Internet and the rise of social media.Sharma joins Ivey lecturer Eric Janssen to discuss his entrepreneurial origins and shift away from the corporate world, how AI will Change what types of skills are important, and other major trends that students and entrepreneurs should note in this season of disruption.The Entrepreneur Podcast is sponsored by Connie Clerici, QS ’08, and Closing the Gap Healthcare Group, Inc.

In our continuing series spotlighting female entrepreneurs, we wanted to talk to a few founders who are just beginning their journey.Part of the Summer Entrepreneurial Internship program at Western University, Lily Yang, Maura Selvakumar, and Madeline Noftle are current students who are spending the summer working on elevating their start-ups.Ivey entrepreneurship faculty member Janice Byrne sat down with the three of them to uncover their journey into entrepreneurship, and the unique challenges they navigate as women and student founders.Lily Yang is the founder of BsafeKC, which creates stylish and discreet non-lethal safety products designed for daily wear or carry.Maura Selvakumar is the founder of Masca Vintage, a sustainable fashion brand specializing in women’s vintage clothing and accessories.Madeline Noftle is the founder of The Starfish Studio, which creates nature-inspired handmade art pieces typically made out of resin and pressed flowers.The Entrepreneur Podcast is sponsored by Connie Clerici, QS ’08, and Closing the Gap Healthcare Group, Inc.

Building a high-growth business is like launching a rocket! The founder is the engine builders and venture capital is the rocket fuel. It is a two-sided relationship where priorities are different, but the goals are the same. But what does it take to get lift off and break through the atmosphere? How can entrepreneurs and investors work together to discover the full potential of their ventures?In this special episode recorded at the Western Angels’ Demo Day, we hear from two Western Alumni on both sides of the table. Entrepreneur Navin Kaminoulu, and Investor Scott Kaplanis have worked together for the past five years, building ventures, raising capital, and exiting. Kaminoulu was the co-founder & COO of INDUS.AI, a computer vision & machine learning company that interprets construction documents and images to provide valuable insights for builders. The company raised $11M in venture capital and was acquired in 2021 by Procore Technologies, the world’s largest construction SaaS company. Kaplanis played a major role in that story as the managing partner of Groundbreak Ventures, a seed and series A property technology fund that focuses on finding the next generation of founders in the industry.Together, they discuss what to look for in a company and investment firm, the do’s and don’ts of raising capital, what keeps them up at night, and the process, pros and cons of the exit.The Entrepreneur Podcast is sponsored by Connie Clerici, QS ’08, and Closing the Gap Healthcare Group, Inc.

Kristine Beese of Untangle Money talks about her experience pitching at CBC's Dragons' Den.Watch her pitch on Dragons' Den here: https://www.cbc.ca/dragonsden/pitches/untangle-moneyCatch the full episode with Kristine Beese here:https://entrepreneurship.uwo.ca/services/ondemand-learning/podcasts/2024/06/untangling-the-gender-wealth-gap-with-kristine-beese/The Entrepreneur Podcast is sponsored by Connie Clerici, QS ’08, and Closing the Gap Healthcare Group, Inc.

While there has been rising awareness of the gender wage gap over the past few years, another important gender issue - the wealth gap between men and women – often goes unacknowledged.In 2020, for every 1 dollar men had in Net Wealth, women had only 32 cents.Financial plans are an option, but they are expensive and out of reach for many women. More importantly, most plans are created without taking the life trajectory of women into account. That is where Untangle Money comes in! Led by Kristine Beese, Untangle Money creates financial plans for women and helps them figure out how to optimize their finances in line with their life goals and personal plans. Untangle Money is a tool that Beese hopes to get into the hands of a million Canadian women in the next four years.In this conversation, Beese talks about how the magnitude of the gender wealth gap became real for her, the company's unique women-centric approach, and the struggles and joys of building a venture that isn’t all about the money.The Entrepreneur Podcast is sponsored by Connie Clerici, QS ’08, and Closing the Gap Healthcare Group, Inc.

Jaymie Crook didn’t start off thinking he would be an entrepreneur. He married one.But even the two of them couldn’t have guessed that their luxury dog kennel would branch off to a dog cookie empire stretching across the United States.Co-Founder of Bosco and Roxy, Crook has had to learn entrepreneurship on the go; from pivoting during a pandemic, and building a corporate culture, to taking the leap to expand operations - this episode has all of that and more.The Entrepreneur Podcast is sponsored by Connie Clerici, QS ’08, and Closing the Gap Healthcare Group, Inc.

CEO of Hotspex, Shane Skillen, HBA '00, talks about the importance of partnering up well in business and in life.To view Brene Brown's list of values from "Dare to Lead," visit:https://brenebrown.com/resources/dare-to-lead-list-of-values/Catch the full episode with Shane Skillen here:https://entrepreneurship.uwo.ca/services/ondemand-learning/podcasts/2024/05/improving-your-luck-with-brand-guru-shane-skillen/The Entrepreneur Podcast is sponsored by Connie Clerici, QS ’08, and Closing the Gap Healthcare Group, Inc.

Whether you’re talking about Greek philosophers or Silicon Valley tech entrepreneurs, success can often hinge on luck.But what if you could improve your luck? What if you can bend the forces of fortune just enough?That’s exactly what Ivey HBA 2000 grad Shane Skillen was eager to share with our community of entrepreneurs.For over 20 years, Skillen has been leading the award-winning market research firm, Hotspex. Working with a who’s who of international brands, Skillen and his team have been helping companies connect better with their target audience through decades of change that have seen the rise of the internet, social media, and now artificial intelligence.In this episode, Skillen shares lessons from his journey, and what we can do to improve our chances in an increasingly competitive world.The Entrepreneur Podcast is sponsored by Connie Clerici, QS ’08, and Closing the Gap Healthcare Group, Inc.

The Entrepreneur Podcast is launching a new series, handing the microphone to women entrepreneurs doing exciting things in a wide array of industries.In this series, we hand them the microphone to share their stories, experiences, trials, tribulations and successes.And we kick it off with Bryn Davis Williams and Jessica Bosman, two Ivey HBAs, who’ve joined forces to disrupt the women’s undergarment industry. Their venture, DOUBL is driven by the conviction that women’s shouldn’t have to settle for “good enough.”With the help of technology, and recycled material, DOUBL offers women custom bras that are made to fit just right! Williams and Bosman talk about balancing their careers, reframing their brand to male investors, and the importance of a supportive community.Find out more about DOUBL's Kickstarter Campaign starting on April 30th at https://www.mydoubl.com/The Entrepreneur Podcast is sponsored by Connie Clerici, QS ’08, and Closing the Gap Healthcare Group, Inc.

Entrepreneurs are at the forefront of innovation. They change the way industries work and impact the global, the local and the personal.Christopher Misch embodies that innovator ethos. As the CEO of ChargerQuest, a pioneer in the electric vehicle industry in Canada, Misch is on a mission to change how Canadians travel and impact their world.In this episode, discover Misch’s surprising late entry into the world of entrepreneurship and how he has been able to tie his passion for sustainability and innovation to change the world, one charging station at a time.The Entrepreneur Podcast is sponsored by Connie Clerici, QS ’08, and Closing the Gap Healthcare Group, Inc.

Most kitchen experiments end up as unedible dead ends.But every now and then something new captures a niche and graduates to grocery stores all across America. That is the story behind Margaret Coons, founder and CEO of Nuts for Cheese. Coons, an English literature grad talks through her journey with Ivey faculty member Dave Simpson, on how a young vegan chef selling products at farmer's markets grew to managing Canada's leading artisan organic plant-based dairy manufacturing company, which recently became the second best-selling plant-based cheese in the United States.The Entrepreneur Podcast is sponsored by Connie Clerici, QS ’08, and Closing the Gap Healthcare Group, Inc.

Entrepreneurs often reflect their companies.That is definitely the case with Matt Phillips, founder of Phillips Brewing and Malting Co.! Phillips rejoins the podcast to dive deeper into the unique brand he has built over two decades, how and why he started a craft brewery while others were shutting their doors, and what the future holds for British Columbia’s biggest small brewery. The Entrepreneur Podcast is sponsored by Connie Clerici, QS ’08, and Closing the Gap Healthcare Group, Inc.

With the new season of The Entrepreneur Podcast just around the corner, here's a story from our upcoming episode with Matt Phillips, Founder of Phillips Brewing & Malting Company, on the creation of their popular ale, Blue Buck.

Mark Healy started his first entrepreneurial venture during his Ivey MBA in 2005. Through the years he has led established brands and started a variety of ventures in the marketing and consulting space. But most recently, Healy joined two other Ivey alums and acquired a horseradish brand in Norfolk County. And that right in the midst of a global pandemic. In this frank conversation recorded at the Desjardins Entrepreneurship Speaker Series, Mark shares the lessons he has learned from being an entrepreneur and working in larger firms, the challenges of running a product company, and what future trends entrepreneurs should explore in the coming years.The Entrepreneur Podcast is sponsored by Connie Clerici, QS ’08, and Closing the Gap Healthcare Group, Inc.

Attempting to forecast the future can be dangerous but this episode is all about that and more.Previously in our series on Entrepreneurship Research, we have explored the history of the field, its dramatic rise, and the variety of research areas that our faculty are currently engaged in… but what about the future? What are the unexplored areas of entrepreneurship research that will draw new scholars from around the world to better understand entrepreneurs and how they impact our economy and society?There are some common themes you will hear throughout this episode, including how new research might redefine what we know as entrepreneurship today - driven by the emergence of new industries, business models, societal changes, and technological advancements. The Entrepreneur Podcast is sponsored by Connie Clerici, QS ’08, and Closing the Gap Healthcare Group, Inc.

Despite its relative youth, a story we covered in our first episode, the world of entrepreneurship research has grown vast and wide.With the currents of economics, cognitive science, psychology, and various fields of business streaming in; entrepreneurship has been able to incorporate a whole host of frameworks and perspectives to forge its own identity.In part two of our series on entrepreneurship research, we discover more about the expertise and study interests of our Ivey faculty team, including some of the surprising findings they have come across in their work. The Entrepreneur Podcast is sponsored by Connie Clerici, QS ’08, and Closing the Gap Healthcare Group, Inc.

“Entrepreneurship” can often seem like a buzzword.Since the 1970s, there has been a strong narrative of the entrepreneur; a visionary leader, who is changing the way we live our day-to-day lives, and driving human innovation to the next level.But amidst the glamour and mythology, entrepreneurship also has a science to it. And the "scientist" that dissect and study the world of entrepreneurship are the focus of this series.In this first episode, we will discover the origins of entrepreneurship research, where it started, and how - like entrepreneurship itself - it grew rapidly to become a vibrant field of study combining economics, sociology, and psychology, to better understand this phenomenon that is shaping tomorrow’s world.You will meet our entrepreneurship research faculty at the Ivey Business School, and discover what drew them to this field, and how each of them are trying to draw a clearer picture of what entrepreneurship means to individuals, society, and place - all wrapped up in the human story.The Entrepreneur Podcast is sponsored by Connie Clerici, QS ’08, and Closing the Gap Healthcare Group, Inc.To find out more about our Ivey faculty members, visit:https://www.ivey.uwo.ca/faculty/disciplines/entrepreneurship/Key characters mentioned in this episode include:Joseph SchumpeterFriedrich HayekLudwig von MisesImportant papers mentioned in this episode include:The promise of entrepreneurship as a field of researchS Shane, S Venkataraman (2000), Academy of management review 25 (1), 217-226Discovery and creation: Alternative theories of entrepreneurial actionSA Alvarez, JB Barney (2007), Strategic entrepreneurship journal 1 (1‐2), 11-26 How do entrepreneurs organize firms under conditions of uncertainty?SA Alvarez, JB Barney (2005), Journal of Management 31 (5), 776-793How entrepreneurial firms can benefit from alliances with large partnersSA Alvarez, JB Barney (2001), Academy of Management Perspectives 15 (1), 139-148Entrepreneurship and Epistemology: The Philosophical Underpinnings of the Study of Entrepreneurial OpportunitiesSA Alvarez, JB Barney (2010), Academy of Management Annals 4 (1), 557-583Organizing rent generation and appropriation: Toward a theory of the entrepreneurial firmSA Alvarez, JB Barney (2004), Journal of Business Venturing 19 (5), 621-635The entrepreneurial theory of the firm S Alvarez, JB Barney (2007), Journal of Management Studies 44 (7), 1057-1063Causation and effectuation: Toward a theoretical shift from economic inevitability to entrepreneurial contingencySD Sarasvathy (2001) Academy of Management Review 26 (2), 243-263Effectuation: Elements of entrepreneurial expertiseSD Sarasvathy (2008), Edward Elgar PublishingCreating something from nothing: Resource construction through entrepreneurial bricolageT Baker, RE Nelson (2005), Administrative science quarterly 50 (3), 329-366Entrepreneurial action and the role of uncertainty in the theory of the entrepreneurJS McMullen, DA Shepherd (2006), Academy of Management Review 31 (1), 132-152

Join us for a new series on the Entrepreneur Podcast that will explore the fascinating world of entrepreneurship research, from its origin and growth, to what the future holds, featuring our world-class Ivey faculty.The three-part series debuts next Thursday, August 3, 2023.To ensure you don't miss out on this series, subscribe to The Entrepreneur Podcast on your favourite platform or visit:https://entrepreneurship.uwo.ca/podcastThe Entrepreneur Podcast is sponsored by Connie Clerici, QS ’08, and Closing the Gap Healthcare Group, Inc.

If the world of business is a sport, entrepreneurs are often the ones making the rules.That was definitely the case for Ivey MBA ’07 Trent Kitsch, who changed the men’s underwear industry forever with the introduction of Saxx Underwear.Born and raised in Kelowna, BC, Kitsch has always had the energy, passion, and determination that marks out the best entrepreneurs. Throughout his still young career, Kitsch has managed to not only reinvent age-old products but also score major wins in early, burgeoning industries.A serial entrepreneur, Kitsch joins the Entrepreneur Podcast, Legends Series, to share his journey of building a brand during his MBA, and how his ability to recognize opportunity has helped him be at the right place, at the right time.The Entrepreneur Podcast is sponsored by Connie Clerici, QS ’08, and Closing the Gap Healthcare Group, Inc.

If talking about the weather is Canada’s favourite past-time, Pierre Morrissette is the nation’s weatherman.Since 1989, Morrissette has been at the helm of Pelmorex Media Inc., the parent company of The Weather Network and MétéoMédia, which provides remotes towns, and major cities lined across the 2nd largest country in the world, with accurate, up-to-date weather information.In this episode of Legends, Pierre Morrissette joins me to talk about the evolution of Pelmorex Media, from its start in radio and television, to creating one of Canada’s earliest and largest online presences through the web and mobile app revolution. He also shares the impact of his MBA program at Ivey, the importance of trusted advisors and mentors throughout his journey, and his growing role in championing entrepreneurship across Canada.The Entrepreneur Podcast is sponsored by Connie Clerici, QS ’08, and Closing the Gap Healthcare Group, Inc.

This season, the Entrepreneur Podcast - Legends Series includes a sit down with Pierre Morrissette, discussing his journey of creating one of the most trusted brands in Canada, The Weather Network, and his role as a leading innovator in the rapidly evolving media space.You will also hear serial entrepreneur and founder of SAXX Underwear, Trent Kitsch, on revolutionizing the men’s underwear industry with an idea he developed during his MBA at Ivey.To ensure you never miss an episode, subscribe to the show on your favorite podcast player or visit entrepreneurship.uwo.ca/podcastThe Entrepreneur Podcast is sponsored by Connie Clerici, QS ’08, and Closing the Gap Healthcare Group, Inc.

This week, The Entrepreneur Podcast is featuring one of our fellow podcasts from the larger Western ecosystem, Ivey Academy Presents: Leadership in Practice, which discusses critical issues in business, unpacks new research, and talks to industry leaders about the latest trends.In this episode, Erik Mikkelsen, HBA '06, co-founder and Managing Partner of Auxo Management LP, and the President and Chief Revenue Officer of Stealth Monitoring Inc., a leading North American video monitoring and security company, shares his journey through entrepreneurship and the detours within his career where he found new avenues for opportunity.For more information on the Leadership in Practice Podcast, visit www.ivey.uwo.ca/academy/blog/The Entrepreneur Podcast is sponsored by Connie Clerici, QS ’08, and Closing the Gap Healthcare Group, Inc.

Melissa Sariffodeen has a number of roles and titles on her profile. One of them is "lifelong student."And it’s fitting.As Co-founder and CEO of Ladies Learning Code and Canada Learning Code, lifelong learning is integral to her founder’s journey. Since 2011, over 700,000 Canadians from all walks of life have had the opportunity to learn critical skills and build up the confidence to become builders - not just consumers - of technology in an increasingly digital world.In this episode, Sariffodeen joins fellow Ivey alum and Director Internal of Morrissette Entrepreneurship, Deniz Edwards, to share her story and her passion for entrepreneurship, education and technology.The Entrepreneur Podcast is sponsored by Connie Clerici, QS ’08, and Closing the Gap Healthcare Group, Inc.

Silicon Valley Legend is a prized descriptor, and few fit the term as well as Guy Kawasaki.A renowned author, marketing specialist, angel investor, and tech evangelist, Kawasaki has a storied career in the Valley - including a major role at Apple marketing Macintosh computers in 1984.Today, Kawasaki is the chief evangelist for Canva, the Australian graphic design platform, and the host of his podcast and passion project, Remarkable People, speaking to the likes of Jane Goodall, Neil deGrasse Tyson, Marc Benioff and more.In this special episode of the Entrepreneur Podcast, Kawasaki joins Eric Janssen to discuss his career, the importance of sales, how to be an effective employee in an early-stage start-up, and fatherhood.The Entrepreneur Podcast is sponsored by Connie Clerici, QS ’08, and Closing the Gap Healthcare Group, Inc.

For Rick Cytrynbaum, BA'96, the entrepreneur life can feel like a game of snakes and ladders. Yet rolling the dice, doesn’t have to be a game of chance.Through years of hard work and hustle, Cytrynbaum has built a diverse and innovative career in the fashion space, where he has developed footwear for New Balance, co-founded House of Harlow 1960 with Nicole Richie, worked with celebrities like Kanye West and Heidi Klum, and owned multiple brands like Modern Vintage, Champion, and Kendall & Kylie. He was also an influential player in the rise of the direct-to-consumer model that brought a wide range of celebrities into the fashion industry.Cytrynbaum joins Eric Morse to share various aspects of his journey; from finding the white space in an industry, and cultivating one’s gut feel, to the critical role failure plays in the life of an entrepreneur.The Entrepreneur Podcast is sponsored by Connie Clerici, QS ’08, and Closing the Gap Healthcare Group, Inc.

“The reward for taking out Bose, Panasonic, and Samsung was getting to play against Amazon, Google and Apple,” That’s a common joke at Patrick Spence’s Santa Barbara-based audio giant, Sonos; which is chiefly responsible for the rise of the smart speaker.An HBA ’98 grad, Spence joined the company in 2012 and took over as CEO, five years later.But Sonos wasn’t Spence’s first rodeo in the fast-moving world of consumer electronics. For 14 years, Spence was an integral part of RIM/BlackBerry, serving a number of roles before ultimately becoming the Executive Vice President of Sales & Marketing. During that time the company grew from $50 million in revenue to more than $20 billion, and from 150 people to more than 17,000.In this episode, Spence shares lessons from the highs and lows of his career, his philosophy on technology and innovation, Sonos’ legal battles with Google, and the different outlooks of entrepreneurs on both sides of the 49th parallel.The Entrepreneur Podcast is sponsored by Connie Clerici, QS ’08, and Closing the Gap Healthcare Group, Inc.

Jake Karls, BA’16, exudes the enthusiasm that one would expect of an entrepreneur. But the co-founder of Mid-Day Squares is not playing a part. He is a true believer that their chocolate bar will become the modern-day Hershey’s bar.After the failure of his clothing brand, Karls was invited to join Mid-Day Squares by his sister and brother-in-law, Lezlie Karls and Nick Saltarelli; to bring his enthusiasm to the fore of a brand with a big vision. From instituting weekly therapy sessions to showcasing their entire journey (the good, the bad and the ugly) on social media, Karls and his co-founders took a unique approach to build a brand that has sold $8 million in chocolate bars.In this episode, Jake Karls joins Ivey Faculty Larry Plummer to discuss the rise of Mid-Day Squares, covering a range of topics including the importance of authenticity, various funding sources, the complicated world of retail and how he balances family and business while forging a chocolate empire.The Entrepreneur Podcast is sponsored by Connie Clerici, QS ’08, and Closing the Gap Healthcare Group, Inc.

This Summer, the Entrepreneur Podcast is back! Featuring the likes of Jake Karl of Mid-Day Squares, the Montreal-based chocolate company that’s taking the world by storm, Patrick Spence from the innovative audio giant Sonos, and Rick Cytrynbaum, a true trailblazer in the direct-to-consumer fashion industry.Join us on August 3, 2022 for our kick-off episode.

The path of an entrepreneur is rarely a straight line, but some paths are more unconventional than others.Since the age of 15, Michelle Kwok was working in research labs. When she joined Western University to pursue a degree in Medical Science, everything seemed set for a future Dr Kwok. But then she started to wonder… and then wander… soon she was helping companies with social media marketing, working with founders on their startups, and even co-founded one that was acquired in 2021. Today, it’s come full circle with Kwok working with biotechnology startups at San Francisco-based accelerator, On Deck Longevity Biotech.In this episode, Kwok joins Eric Janssen to share her conventional journey as well as some nuggets that could light the way for other aspiring entrepreneurs.The Entrepreneur Podcast is sponsored by Connie Clerici, QS ’08, and Closing the Gap Healthcare Group, Inc.

From East Side Mario's, Fionn MacCool's and Bier Markt to Swiss Chalet, and The Keg, millions of Canadians have celebrated their special moments in John Rothschild’s world. Graduating as one of the youngest MBA students in 1983, John Rothschild didn’t take the obvious entrepreneurial path. He built his career as an accountant, and then an investment banker who soon discovered how much he enjoyed working with small owner-operator businesses. From there, it was a small step to becoming an owner-operator himself, as the founder of Prime Restaurants. In this episode, long-time friend and ally of entrepreneurship, John Rothschild shares his love for business, food and celebrating good times.The Entrepreneur Podcast is sponsored by Connie Clerici, QS ’08, and Closing the Gap Healthcare Group, Inc.

‘Entrepreneurship can change the world.’This can often feel like a throwaway line to make something seem more important than it really is. But Jocelyn Mackie, HBA ’03, is a believer.In fact, she lives it every day as the Co-CEO of Grand Challenges Canada, an innovation platform that has supported over 1300 innovations in 90 countries. Joining the Entrepreneur Podcast, Mackie shares many of their great success stories and breaks down the nonprofit’s selection process, and funding model for innovative ideas.Join Eric Janssen on this important episode and discover Mackie’s personal journey, and how Grand Challenges Canada is changing the world, one innovative idea at a time.The Entrepreneur Podcast is sponsored by Connie Clerici, QS ’08, and Closing the Gap Healthcare Group, Inc.

“Those who can’t do, teach.” If you enjoy dispelling popular myths, this episode is for you.MBA ’64 Bob Nourse was in his element when teaching in the classroom. After completing his doctorate at Harvard, Nourse began a nine-year teaching career at Ivey. But in 1976 that world was upended when a private equity firm came knocking for his expertise to turn around some struggling companies. From airlines and soft drinks to building water slides, Nourse eventually found a New Orleans-based mail-order business called the Bombay Company, which he grew to over 400 stores across Canada and United States. In 1993, Nourse was voted Entrepreneur of the Year by Inc. Magazine, which called Bombay, “America's hottest company.”In this episode, Nourse shares his entrepreneurial story, including the ups and downs of the company he took from obscurity to the New York Stock Exchange.The Entrepreneur Podcast is sponsored by Connie Clerici, QS ’08, and Closing the Gap Healthcare Group, Inc.

Adversity is an essential part of great stories, and few things spell adversity like muscle damage, broken bones, shoulder and chest injuries.Arriving at Western in the 1970s, David ‘Patch’ Patchell-Evans, BA’77, LLD’12, was all set to pursue a degree in business before a horrific motorbike accident intervened. As he took the long road to recovery, Patch discovered the life-changing power of physical health and therapy. Today, as the head of one of the largest health clubs in the world, Patch is helping people across Canada (and beyond) find the good life.The Entrepreneur Podcast is sponsored by Connie Clerici, QS ’08, and Closing the Gap Healthcare Group, Inc.

The demand for sustainable products has never been greater – and perhaps, never been more necessary. From climate change to the creation of vast trash islands, more and more consumers are realizing that real change is needed to protect and preserve our environment.For Jayme Jenkins, HBA ’07, and Jessica Stevenson, HBA ’07, real change wasn’t just about making a donation or changing their buying habits. Leaving their established careers, Jenkins and Stevenson are reimagining the beauty industry with Everist, which provides concentrated forms of traditional hair and body care products, reducing the industry’s typical reliance on plastic bottles and packaging.Since its launch, Everist has been featured by Chatelaine, Cosmopolitan, Elle, and Men’s Health, and was voted by Vogue and Time magazine as one of the best innovative products of 2021.Jenkins and Stevenson join Eric Janssen to discuss their passion for problem-solving, being the change they want to see, and how their careers in sales and marketing helped lay the runway to launch their own brand.The Entrepreneur podcast is sponsored by Quantumshift 2008 alum Connie Clerici and Closing the Gap Healthcare Group.