In this episode of the How I Became podcast, host Kelly Yefet interviews Tom, the founder of BenchSci, who shares his journey from aspiring doctor to entrepreneur. Tom discusses the challenges he faced in academia, the importance of antibodies in research, and how he identified a business opportunity to help scientists find better antibodies. He reflects on the significance of building a strong team, the difficulties of pitching to investors, and the evolution of BenchSci's business model. Tom also dispels common myths for future founders and emphasizes the importance of perseverance and adaptability in entrepreneurship.
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We know Bumble, Tinder, and all the other dating apps... but what about a dating app for cars?
OK, it's not exactly like that, but Vivian Liu, founder of Mae - Making Auto Easy is developing a match-maker tool for consumers to find the perfect car for them.
An immigrant family, moving to Canada from China, watching her dad struggle as an entrepreneur, but ferociously still trying to succeed inspired her spirit to never give up.
In this episode of the How I Became podcast, Kelly Yefet interviews Vivian Liu, founder of MAE, a tech startup in the automotive industry. Vivian shares her journey of becoming a risk-taker, the challenges of being a woman in a male-dominated field, and the importance of mentorship and networking. She discusses the impact of her family's entrepreneurial background on her own journey, the struggle for work-life balance, and the significance of choosing love over career aspirations. Vivian also reflects on the early days of building her startup, the necessity of pivots, and the myths surrounding entrepreneurship.
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Need help from a fractional Marketing team? Reach out to kelly at kellyyyefet@gmail.com
Ready for a deep dive into the world of entrepreneurship, fertility, and breaking barriers? On this episode, we’re joined by Suze Mason, co-founder and COO of Sprout Family, as she takes us through her inspiring journey of launching a company with a mission to make fertility, surrogacy, and adoption care accessible to all Canadians through employer benefits.
Suze saw a glaring gap in fertility care coverage in Canada and set out to tackle the financial barriers that hold so many people back from starting or growing their families. She shares the pivotal lessons she’s learned about building meaningful relationships, the power of open communication, and why it’s time to bring reproductive health into the spotlight.
But we’re not sugar-coating it. This episode touches on some vulnerable and real stories about fertility struggles, so please be mindful of the trigger warnings.
Key Takeaways:
This conversation will leave you empowered, informed, and ready to reframe how we think about reproductive health and entrepreneurship. Tune in!
Phillip Haid, founder and CEO of Public Inc, discusses the concept of profit with purpose and how to embed social and environmental impact into business strategies. He shares his journey of convincing companies to embrace this idea, even in the face of skepticism and risk aversion. Haid emphasizes the need to transform capitalism to address societal and environmental challenges, and highlights the importance of curiosity and understanding different perspectives in driving social change.
His upbringing in a liberal Jewish household and Catholic school influenced his values of social justice and curiosity. The conversation explores the evolution of marketing and the response to purpose-driven marketing. It also delves into the challenges and myths of entrepreneurship, emphasizing the importance of resilience and determination. He shares a successful campaign example that merged business interests and societal impact, highlighting the need for authenticity and transparency. The conversation concludes with a discussion on the personal growth and leadership development experienced throughout the entrepreneurial journey.
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Interested in brand or growth marketing support, reach out to kelly at https://kellyyefetconsulting.com/
Jaimie Harris, the brilliant mind behind This Is J, a female-founded, made-in-Canada pajama and loungewear brand. If you’re not familiar, This Is J specializes in crafting ultra-soft bamboo pajamas, robes, loungewear, and cozy accessories that redefine comfort and style. The brand recently celebrated its 20th anniversary, and was proudly recognized as one of Canada's Fastest Growing brands in 2022. This Is J is a favourite of everyone from Emily Blunt to our very own Meredith Shaw – the latter of whom declared just last month on Breakfast Television that This Is J is her “absolute favourite pajama brand.”
Given the remarkable journey and impact of This Is J, I believe it's high time to shine the spotlight on the visionary behind the brand. Jaimie Harris's story is one of passion, perseverance, and innovation, and I'm eager to share her story with you!
Takeaways
Tim Johnson, Head of Brand Partnerships at Blossom Social, shares his journey from being a startup founder to his current role. He discusses his experience at Wattpad, the app for readers and writers, and the rapid growth and acquisition of the company. Tim also talks about his failed startup, Couply, and how it has transitioned into a successful side hustle.
We dig into the importance of setting up a structure that allows a business to run without needing constant attention. Tim is now focused on building brand partnerships at Blossom Social, an app for retail investors. We also dive into his journey as a founder and the different types of founders: product-focused founder and end-state focused founders.
Tim highlights the unique position of Blossom in the wealth management industry and the opportunity to make a significant impact.
From start to finish, we explore so many topics, ideas, and theories. Like, Comment, Share and give us 5 STARS if you love it!
In this episode of How I Became, I spoke to Laura Gabor. She is the co-founder & COO at ecologicca, the founder of What in the Tech, and avid investor and loves community building.
We discuss her fundraising experiences in the US and how it compares in Canada, noting differences in risk tolerance and capital availability. She shares her journey with ecologicca, a company focused on improving indoor air quality and predictive health modeling, inspired by her co-founder's struggles with poor air quality. We also explore her side project, What in the Tech, which provides resources and support for tech founders. Being a founder is not easy, nevermind spending time trying to understand resources, tools, and the lingo. This is what she's working to unlock.
Take Aways
"You determine what your life is. Everyone is going to be dealt bad cards. It's your choice on how you handle those."
Anjali, co-founder of AVO, shares her journey in entrepreneurship and the founding of AVO, a copy trading platform for cryptocurrencies. She discusses the importance of financial literacy and how her upbringing and parents' emphasis on financial education influenced her. Anjali also talks about the challenges of coming from a tough high school and how she overcame them to succeed. She emphasizes the importance of networking and cold outreach in getting opportunities and shares tips for founders in navigating the VC space. Anjali also discusses the importance of falling in love with the problem, not the solution, and the role of customer discovery in shaping the direction of the company. She dispels the myth that founders make money quickly and highlights the need for passion and commitment to the problem. Finally, she shares her perspective on being a delusional CEO and the importance of conviction in building something impactful
Takeaways
These are just a few themes of this episode.
Kaaveh shares his journey from Canada to LA and his transition from aspiring actor to producer. He discusses the challenges he faced, including rejection and procrastination, and how he found his passion for product placement. Kaaveh also talks about his experiences in the entertainment industry, including his work on the TV show Love It or List It. He then delves into his role as a tech founder and the lessons he has learned in building a business. Additionally, Kaaveh opens up about the personal experiences and values that have influenced his success, including his mother's struggle with schizophrenia and his passion for helping immigrants integrate into their new countries. Kaaveh discusses the challenges and benefits of bootstrapping his business instead of seeking venture capital funding. He emphasizes the value he places on purpose, time, and freedom, and how these factors have influenced the growth and trajectory of his company. Kaaveh also shares his experience pitching at Startup Montreal and how it led to a pivotal decision to pivot the business. He highlights the importance of aligning with one's ethos and making a real difference, rather than solely focusing on financial success. Kaaveh dispels the myths that every company needs to be a billion-dollar valuation and that chasing success is necessary, instead advocating for attracting success through gratitude, positivity, and taking consistent action.
Takeaways
Drew Train set up shop as Co-Founder and President of OBERLAND, the agency for purpose-driven brands, with Bill Oberlander in May of 2014. Previously, Drew started the social-good practice at J. Walter Thompson New York, called JWT Ethos. He now frames the go-to-market approach for OBERLAND and runs the business with purpose-driven marketing at the core. He has also served on the Board of Directors at Summer Infant and lead accounts for HSBC, UPS, Puma, Verizon and Lufthansa.
Key Take Aways
Brett Willms shares his journey as an entrepreneur, starting from a young age when he played a game with his mom to imagine things that should be there in the environment. His foray into problem identification.
He developed a practice of coming up with ideas to make the world better, which became a formative practice. At Google, he learned about strategic decision-making and leadership. He emphasizes the importance of resilience, adaptability, and daily rhythm in entrepreneurship. Brett Willms discusses the origins and evolution of Laetro, a platform that connects world-class illustrators and animators with businesses. Laetro has developed an AI platform called the Content Generation Suite for Professionals, which allows creatives to generate on-brand photography, illustration, and copy with a mission for #ResponsibleAI. The platform ensures that creatives are compensated and credited for their work, and it also facilitates collaboration to improve the quality of AI-generated content.
From Risk-Averse to Founder: Emilie's Career Journey The Importance of Customer Discovery
Meet Emilie, CEO & Founder of Turbine. In this episode Emilie discusses her career journey and how she became a founder despite being risk-averse. She talks about her experience with Venture for America and how it helped her get into startups. She also shares her experiences working at Smile Direct Club, GitLab, and Netlify. We dive into the importance of having a supportive village and not trying to do everything alone, especially as a working mom.
She also discusses the mindset shift she had when starting her own company, Turbine. Emilie shares her experience as a founder and the lessons she learned along the way. She emphasizes the importance of finding a work-life balance that works for you and not feeling guilty about it. Her upbringing in an immigrant family influenced her as a founder and leader, and we dig into this. She also highlights the dedication and diligence of her customers and the value they bring to the company. Finally, Emilie dispels the myth that successful founders fit a specific stereotype and encourages aspiring entrepreneurs to believe in themselves.
PS Yes - Crossfit was mentioned.
Love this episode, and can't wait to hear your thoughts!
Naman Budhdeo, General Partner at Antler, shares his entrepreneurial journey and startup success. Growing up around two entrepreneurs, Naman was inspired to become an entrepreneur himself. His first four businesses were in the travel space, where he identified gaps in the market and built innovative solutions.
He has had a fascinating journey, from founding and exiting 3 travel technology businesses, including Flight Network and TripStack. FlightNetwork.com is one of Canada's largest online travel agencies with teams of over 600 people in 7 offices using technology and a superior online user experience to generate over $1B in sales a year to millions of customers. His business was named one of Canada's Fastest Growing Companies by PROFIT Magazine 6 consecutive years from 2009 to 2015.
TripStack, just as impressive, a growing B2B Travel Technology company whose vision is to change the way millions of people travel. In 2019, TripStack and FlightNetwork were acquired by Swedish based Etraveli (owned by CVC Capital Equity Partners). And Naman then took a leap to Antler.
Naman has been a member of YPO for 9 years, a finalist for EYs Entrepreneur of the year in 2009 and 2010, one of Canada's top leaders in the Top 40 under 40, and the impressive accolades go on. But, instead, I want to jump into our conversation Naman, let’s start at the beginning. What made you interested in entrepreneurship.
In this episode, Naman reflects on the challenges and proud moments of building and growing his businesses, emphasizing the importance of building a strong team and surrounding himself with people who knew more than he did. He also discusses the decision to bootstrap his companies and the considerations for founders when deciding whether to seek venture capital funding.
We discusses the challenges of scaling a business, making difficult decisions, and the importance of education. Naman also talks about his involvement in a family foundation and the impact of AI on the startup ecosystem. He emphasizes the importance of people-first investing and dispels the myths of founder market fit and the need for a technical founder.
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Megan Rafuse, the CEO and Co-Founder of Shift Collab, is growing Canada’s largest online mental health practice that prides itself on being female and clinician-owned. Megan is an innovator in the mental health space and a winner of the 2023 Top 100 Most powerful women in the women’s executive network.
With over 13 years of experience as a registered social worker and psychotherapist, Megan has leveraged her expertise to address a critical gap in the mental health sector, creating a platform that is clinician-first and committed to providing accessible, relatable, and ethical mental health care.
Megan is not just a business leader; she is a vocal advocate who has co-created several high-profile mental health education programs, reaching over half a million people worldwide. Her work as a speaker and advisor has made significant impacts in the Canadian mental health and startup communities.
In this episode, she discusses her personal experience with grief and loss, which led her to create a platform that provides accessible and relatable mental health care. Megan emphasizes the importance of addressing mental wellness and mental illness on a continuum, and highlights the need for strong therapeutic rapport between therapists and clients. ShiftCollab handpicks therapists and focuses on their development to ensure quality care for clients. The platform also offers a fit guarantee, allowing clients to find the best therapist for their needs. Megan Rafuse discusses the importance of ethical duties in therapy and the responsibility to refer clients to the best fit therapist. She shares her transition from therapist to CEO and the challenges and learning curves that come with it. Megan also talks about her co-founder and husband, and how they navigate their roles in the business and their personal relationship. She debunks myths about being a founder and emphasizes the importance of community and asking for help. Megan's journey is titled 'How I Became a Therapist Turned CEO.'
Takeaways
Kristen Gale shares her journey of starting and growing The Ten Spot, a trailblazing beauty bar chain. She talks about her inspiration for the business and how she combined elements of nail bars and high-end spas to create a unique experience. We discuss the challenges Kristen faced and the lessons learned along the way. Why she decided to transition to franchising and the benefits it brought to her business in this tell-all.
Kristen Gale, founder of The Ten Spot Beauty Bar, discusses building a business with franchise partners and the benefits of the beauty bar industry for work-life balance. She emphasizes the importance of creating a positive company culture and aligning values with franchise partners. Kristen also shares her journey of becoming strategic in business and the significance of purpose, core values, and vision. She highlights the goal of making people feel like a 10 and the process of assessing franchise partners. Kristen discusses the expansion into the US market and debunks myths about having it all. She concludes by sharing her philosophy of living life at a 10.
Enjoy and don't forget to subscribe and toss a 5 star rating so we can continue to grow and attract 10/10 talent like Kristen!
Meet the powerhouse, Fatima Zaidi, the founder and CEO of Quill Inc a full-service podcasting hosting platform and production agency that helps brands launch and amplify their voices through the power of podcasting. Fatima's vision and leadership have not only propelled her company to the forefront of the industry but have also earned her a spot in the limelight as a respected speaker and media commentator.
With accolades such as being named in the Top 30 Under 30, receiving the Veuve Bold Future Award, and being recognized as Young Professional of the Year, Fatima's trailblazing journey is nothing short of inspiring. Her insights on media trends and the importance of fostering a diverse and inclusive culture have led her to keynote on world stages alongside legends like Gary Vaynerchuk and Richard Branson.
A dedicated philanthropist, serving as the Co-Chair of the #Tech4SickKids council for SickKids Hospital, and an academic, imparting her knowledge as a professor at the University of Toronto. Her multifaceted career even includes a highlight of sharing a panel with Beyonce’s father!
In this episode we discuss the importance of video distribution for podcasts and the challenges of reaching a wider audience. She shares her journey of becoming a podcasting expert and the gap she identified in the market that led her to start Quill. Fatima emphasizes the need for data-driven approaches to podcasting and how it can provide measurable ROI for brands. She also highlights the balance between creativity and business management as a CEO. Additionally, Fatima discusses the significance of philanthropy in her company's culture and the impact it has on employee retention. Lastly, she reflects on her experiences sharing the stage with industry icons like Gary Vee and Richard Branson and the lessons she has learned from the five regrets of the dying. In this conversation, Fatima Zaidi shares her insights and experiences as the CEO of Quill, a podcast production company. She emphasizes the importance of prioritizing joy and work-life balance, and how it has contributed to her success. Fatima also discusses the challenges of starting a business in a challenging space and how she overcame them through bootstrapping and strategic decision-making. She highlights the value of investing in team development and creating a culture of growth. Additionally, Fatima dispels the myth that online tactics can replace offline connections, emphasizing the power of building genuine relationships. Overall, her journey showcases the importance of being a well-rounded CEO.
"I am your creator"
Chris Carter, the executive director of the Office of Innovation and Entrepreneurship at Schulich School of Business, shares his journey and the growth of Schulich Startup. He emphasizes the importance of embracing challenges and the myth that entrepreneurs need to dispel. Chris also discusses the impact of selling a business and the need for founders to reflect on their identity and purpose. He highlights the significance of listening and the role it plays in the success of entrepreneurs. Overall, Chris's story showcases the power of building a supportive community and the value of continuous learning and growth. In this conversation, the guest emphasizes the importance of sales skills for founders and how it can make or break a business. They discuss the misconception of hiding in the background and delegating sales responsibilities, highlighting the need for founders to become the greatest salesperson in the company. The conversation also touches on the role of founders as the face of the company and the need for effective communication and storytelling. Lastly, the guest shares their journey of evolution and becoming a master networker and community builder.
Takeaways
Alan Lau, the co-founder of Wattpad, lead one of Canada's largest tech exits to Naver at $660M. She shares his journey as a recovering CEO and his transition to post-CEO life. He discusses the challenges and stress of being a CEO and the need for recovery.
Alan also reflects on his decision to start his new venture, Too Small Fish Ventures, and the focus on investing in the next frontier of computing and its applications. He dispels the myth of glamour in entrepreneurship and emphasizes the struggles and perseverance required for success. In this conversation, Allen Lau discusses the challenges of scaling a startup and the importance of learning and growth in entrepreneurship.
Takeaways
🎙️ Empowering Entrepreneurs: Erica Pearson, Founder of Vacation Fund 🌍✈️
Erica Pearson, the visionary behind Vacation Fund, shared her journey - her entrepreneurial spirit, resilience, and the pursuit of a balanced life.
Originally from the world of Capital Markets, Erica transitioned into the competitive arena of entrepreneurship, founding Vacation Fund—a fintech startup aimed at revolutionizing employee benefits through employer-matched vacation savings. Despite facing challenges along the way, including navigating the complexities of raising $500K in investment and balancing the demands of motherhood, Erica remained steadfast in her mission to empower individuals to prioritize travel and holistic well-being. When she decided to sunset the business in a post covid world, she found new meaning in work-life balance and passion in her work.
Tune in as Erica shares her insights on the importance of focus, the pitfalls of splitting attention, and the honest assessment of pain tolerance in entrepreneurship. From her experience as a startup founder to her current role as a Growth Account Executive at Sprout Social, Erica's journey offers valuable lessons for aspiring entrepreneurs and working parents alike.
✨🌟 Don't miss this inspiring conversation with Erica Pearson—click the link below to listen now! 🌟🎧
After listening, be sure to leave a ⭐️5-star rating and a glowing review on your preferred listening platform. Your support helps us attract incredible guests like Vitalii, ensuring each episode is packed with valuable insights and inspiration. Don't forget to like, comment, and share—your engagement fuels our growth and enables us to continue bringing you top-notch content!
Stay tuned for more stories of innovation, resilience, and the pursuit of passion!
🎙️ Empowering Creators: Vitalii Dodonov, Co-Founder of Stan 🚀
Today, we're thrilled to welcome Vitalii Dodonov, the Co-Founder and Head of Engineering at Stan, to our podcast. Originally hailing from Russia, Vitalii's journey led him to Canada in 2014, where he brought his wealth of expertise from renowned companies like Deloitte and eBay into the realm of entrepreneurship.
At Stan, Vitalii and his team are reshaping the landscape of creator monetization, boasting more than 20,000 global customers who collectively earn over $50 million annually. As a first-generation immigrant, Vitalii is deeply passionate about empowering individuals to take control of their careers and work for themselves.
Join us as we delve into the fascinating success story behind Stan and explore Vitalii's journey as a co-founder. From his early days to the present, Vitalii shares insights into the challenges and triumphs of building a platform that empowers creators worldwide.
🚀✨ Don't miss this enlightening conversation with Vitalii Dodonov—click the link below to listen now! ✨🎧
Stay tuned for more inspiring tales of entrepreneurship, innovation, and empowerment!
