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Host Leah Sarich, a veteran broadcaster, talks to founders across Canada asking them, "Why would you do this?" Hear authentic conversations about the human experience of being an entrepreneur.
Season 3 is brought to you by ATB with support from API, Artemis, and the Opportunity Calgary Investment Fund.
Serial entrepreneur Sabina Bruehlmann, Co-Founder and CEO of Nimble Science, joins us to discuss her journey from accidental entrepreneurship to leading a company revolutionizing gastrointestinal research.
Dan Balaban, Co-Founder and CEO of Greengate, shares how bold vision, calculated risks, and perseverance built Canada’s largest wind and solar projects. He recalls weathering the 2008 financial crisis, mortgaging his home to keep the company alive, and why going big from day one paid off. Dan also reflects on his wellness transformation, his role investing in energy and AI, and his work with OCIF to grow Calgary’s innovation ecosystem.
Jana Tian, Co-Founder and CEO of Upside Robotics, shares her journey from corporate product developer to startup Founder. Upside Robotics is revolutionizing agriculture with small, autonomous robots. From sleeping in an RV on farms to rebuilding after devastating setbacks, her story is one of bold vision, deep grit, and human-first impact.
Catalina opens up about her unexpected journey into entrepreneurship, from working in labs in Colombia to moving to Canada and building a biotech company that is reshaping prostate cancer diagnosis.
Leah Sarich sits down with Nivatha Balendra, Founder and CEO of Dispersa. What started as a high school science fair project exploring ways to clean oil spills grew into a clean tech company transforming food waste into sustainable biosurfactants. Today, Dispersa is pioneering alternatives to petroleum and palm-derived ingredients found in everyday products like cleaners, detergents, and even cosmetics.
Remi Schmaltz, Founder and CEO of Brilliant Harvest, shares how he’s leveraging AI to transform customer service for farm equipment dealers, and how a river rafting accident ultimately led to launching his latest venture.
Erin Bury, Co-founder and CEO of Willful, shares how she transformed from a startup skeptic to a Founder of a company making estate planning easier for all Canadians. Her personal story of love, loss, and launching a business with her husband is deeply compelling, as is her commitment to living with purpose and building a values-driven company that truly helps people.
In this episode of The Founder Mindset, host Leah Sarich speaks with Hanif Joshaghani, Co-Founder and CEO of Symend. Hanif shares how his early hustles shaped his entrepreneurial drive, his journey through banking and startups, and the challenges of scaling Symend. He reflects on hard lessons from hiring, the importance of Founder-led sales, and his vision for creating impact through behavioral science and philanthropy.
Joella Almeida, Co-Founder and CEO of MedEssist, shares how she’s redefining pharmacy care by turning community pharmacies into pharmacist-led clinics. From startup scrappiness to life-saving innovation, this conversation is a deep dive into meaningful impact, Founder resilience, and healthcare transformation.
In this episode, we talk with Benjamin Alarie, Co-Founder and CEO of Blue J, about his journey from law professor to tech entrepreneur, and how Blue J’s AI platform is transforming tax research. He shares lessons on scaling a startup, embracing technological change in a traditional field, and building a company that empowers professionals to focus on human-centered client work.
Season 3 of The Founder Mindset with Leah Sarich is here - and it goes beyond business. Leah sits down with visionary Founders and digs into the real impact of building a company: how it reshapes your identity, challenges your relationships, and demands resilience.
In this bonus episode, Leah sits down with Dr. Christy Lane, Co-Founder of Flora, an InsurTech company revolutionizing fertility insurance. Dr. Lane shares her entrepreneurial journey, from her early research in wearable technology at the University of Michigan to founding Vivametrica, a health data analytics company later acquired by TELUS. Inspired by her own experience with infertility, she launched Flora in 2021 to provide affordable insurance options for women aged 20-34 seeking fertility treatments.
Dr. Khanna opens up about the core values that drive his mission—Inspire, Influence, and Educate—and how these ideals shape both his business and community impact. Whether you’re a dental professional, entrepreneur, or tech enthusiast, this conversation is packed with insights on innovation, tenacity, and passion for making a meaningful impact in the world.
In this season two finale, recorded for a live audience, host Leah Sarich dives into the critical role of ecosystem support in driving the success of tech startups, featuring insights from a panel of dynamic leaders in tech, finance, and entrepreneurial support. Each panelist explores the importance of collaboration, networking, and shared resources in fostering innovation in Alberta and beyond.
In this episode of The Founder Mindset, Amaan Banwait, Co-Founder and Chief Commercialization Officer at PurposeMed, takes us through his journey from a management consultant to a healthcare-focused leader with the Clinton Foundation to Co-Founder of PurposeMed where Amaan works to improve healthcare access for underserved communities.
Join host Leah Sarich as she talks with Jeff Adamson, Co-Founder and Chief Commercial Officer of Neo Financial, about the journey from co-founding SkipTheDishes to creating Neo Financial, Canada’s first digital bank with a mission to revolutionize the financial industry. Jeff shares insights into entrepreneurship, resilience, and building a high-performance team while reflecting on how his past as an elite athlete shapes his approach to business and impact.
In this episode of The Founder Mindset, host Leah Sarich sits down with Chantelle Little, the dynamic Founder and CEO of Tiller, a digital marketing agency specializing in B2B SaaS. Chantelle's story is a powerful testament to the importance of self-reflection, continuous learning, and embracing authenticity in leadership.
Taking the reins of a struggling tech company might seem daunting, but for David Lod, it was an opportunity to build something extraordinary from the ground up. As the CEO of VEERUM, David turned a company that was on the edge of failure into a successful leader in industrial asset management.
Join host Leah Sarich in this inspiring conversation with Dr. William Cherniak, Founder and CEO of Rocket Doctor. Dr. Cherniak dives deep into his entrepreneurial journey, from nonprofit global health work to creating a digital healthcare platform serving thousands of patients.
Jenn shares her entrepreneurial journey of building her company while building her family, the challenges of digitizing contractor management, and the impact of their innovative solutions on industry relationships. Discover actionable strategies for fostering a healthy work culture, the importance of impact, and staying motivated.
Megan discusses her perfect synergy with her Co-Founder/business partner (also spouse) and the unique way they tackle challenges in the business together. One of Megan’s biggest takeaways is the importance of celebrating small wins to maintain motivation and morale, both as the Founder and for the benefit of your team.
This episode of The Founder Mindset highlights Kyle Friedman's entrepreneurial journey as the Co-Founder of the payment platform Quickly and how he got there. Listeners will be inspired by Kyle’s resourcefulness, sheer audacity when it comes to following intuition, and fierce commitment to family.
Join host Leah Sarich in an insightful conversation with Chenny Xia, Co-Founder and CEO of Gotcare. Discover how Chenny’s journey from a young accidental entrepreneur to a leader in personalized home care services showcases the power of innovation and resilience.
Nic Beique, Founder and CEO of Helcim, takes us through his incredible journey, from being a teenager building websites to leading a payments company that's making a real difference for small businesses across North America.
Welcome to Season Two of The Founder Mindset! Veteran broadcaster Leah Sarich hosts all-new intimate conversations with groundbreaking founders about the truths of entrepreneurship. This season Leah talks with Nuha Siddiqui of Erthos, Dr. William Cherniak of Rocket Doctor, Nic Beique of Helcim and more to find out why they do what they do.
BONUS CONTENT An intimate conversation with James Lochrie on becoming a founder, investor then mentor. Find out what it feels like to learn the company you built is being acquired for half a billion dollars and learn why James wants more entrepreneurs to find that similar success.
