Best Ecobee Podcasts (2025)

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Ep. 29: Build the Infrastructure, Not the Spotlight: How Zak Lefevre Is Scaling the Future of EV 51:56

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13d ago51:56

51:56

In this episode, Fahd sits down with Zak Lefevre, co-founder and CEO of ChargeLab, to unpack a modern David vs. Goliath story in one of the world’s fastest-growing industries—EV infrastructure. Zak started in 2016 with a drill, a parka, and a vision—installing EV chargers in freezing parking lots across Toronto. Today, ChargeLab powers over 15,000 …

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Ep. 28 - Change the Definition of Victory: Ron Tite on Beating Goliaths by Playing a Different Game 52:15

28d ago52:15

52:15

In this episode, Fahd sits down with Ron Tite—comedian, author, and founder of Church+State—to explore how creative Davids take on industry Goliaths without selling out or burning out. Ron shares how he bootstrapped his agency through speaking gigs, built a brand that stood out by standing for something, and why the smartest move isn’t to play hard…

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Ep. 27 - More Than a Thermostat: How Ecobee Took on Google—and Won with Stuart Lombard 1:03:40

1M ago1:03:40

1:03:40

In this episode, Fahd sits down with Stuart Lombard, founder of Ecobee, to unpack one of the most iconic David vs. Goliath stories in Canadian tech. What started as a personal mission to reduce his carbon footprint led Stuart to invent one of the world’s first smart thermostats—and take on giants like Honeywell and Google Nest in the process. Stuar…

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Ep. 26 - You Don’t Win Alone: Building High-Trust, High-Velocity Teams with Nora Beatty 37:46

6M ago37:46

37:46

In this episode, Fahd Alhattab sits down with Nora Beatty, VP of People Operations at Cohere, to unpack how small, high-trust teams scale in high-stakes environments. Nora shares her journey from Cohere’s 40-person startup stage to its 500-person rocketship rise—and what she’s learned about leadership, mentorship, and risk along the way. Together, …

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Ep. 25 - Culture, Coaching, and the People Lever: What Founders Get Wrong About HR with Miranda Pokoy 36:04

6M ago36:04

36:04

In this episode of the Unicorn Leaders podcast, Fahd Alhattab sits down with Miranda Pokoy, SVP of People Success at Partnerize, to explore how HR can be a powerful driver of business performance. Miranda shares her journey from administrative assistant to executive leadership, and the strategic mindset shift that took HR from policy enforcer to bu…

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Ep. 24 - Taking on Google: The People Strategy Behind Ecobee’s David vs. Goliath Win with Penny Farinha 39:09

7M ago39:09

39:09

In this episode of the Unicorn Leaders podcast, Fahd Alhattab sits down with Penny Farinha, former VP of People at Ecobee, to unpack what it really takes to scale a mission-driven startup through every phase of growth—without losing your soul (or your best people). Penny shares the behind-the-scenes story of how Ecobee went from 75 employees to a b…

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Ep. 23 - Hiring Fast, Hiring Smart: Rethinking Recruitment in Startups with Adam Gellert 34:45

7M ago34:45

34:45

In this episode of the Unicorn Leaders podcast, Fahd Alhattab sits down with Adam Gellert, founder of Linkus Group and Hypo, to talk all things hiring—from building high-performing teams to breaking outdated recruitment myths. Adam shares what it really takes to find top-tier talent in startups, why the "hire slow, fire fast" mantra is broken, and …

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Ep. 22 - From DNA to Millions: Scaling, Exiting, and Playing the Long Game with Adrian Salamunovic 40:27

8M ago40:27

40:27

In this high-energy episode of the Unicorn Leaders podcast, Fahd sits down with serial entrepreneur and author Adrian Salamunovic for a raw, real, and wisdom-packed conversation on what it takes to build—and exit—category-defining companies. Adrian shares the behind-the-scenes journey from selling his first business at 21 to founding DNA11 and Canv…

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Ep.21 - Scaling Through Chaos: Why Startups Need Clarity, Not Corporate Playbooks with Ali Farrell 42:21

8M ago42:21

42:21

In this episode of the Unicorn Leaders podcast, host Fahd Alhattab sits down with three-time Chief People Officer Ali Farrell, currently CPO at Apprentice, to unpack what it really takes to build high-performing teams in fast-growth startups. Ali brings a rare blend of corporate, VC-backed, PE-backed, and bootstrapped startup experience—and she’s n…

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Season Two Kickoff - David vs Goliath: How Small Teams Win Big 5:14

8M ago5:14

5:14

In this season opener of the Unicorn Leaders podcast, Fahd Alhattab sets the stage for a new narrative—one centered around the underdogs. Drawing inspiration from the classic David vs. Goliath story, Fahd explores why small, scrappy teams often outperform their larger, better-resourced competitors. Using Google's historic win over Overture as a lau…

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Automated Buildings Ken Sinclair #452 23:20

2y ago23:20

23:20

Automated Buildings Ken Sinclair jinns me on this week's ControlTalk Now.

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Ep. 20 EmpowerED - A Bottom Up Approach to Employee Development with Eva Manole 56:23

2y ago56:23

56:23

In episode 20, Eva shares her use of a product led mindset for developing new strategies of learning and development at Fullscript with about 800 employees. She dives into how the traditional models of learning and development are not always agile or adaptive especially with the rise of AI, remote and hybrid work environments. Eva dives into a new …

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What a Systems Integrator Needs to Know About Lighting Control #351 53:39

2y ago53:39

53:39

Lighting savant and host of the Get a Grip on Lighting Podcast, Michael Colligan is my guest this week. Michael shares his unique perspective on lighting and lighting control. We discuss the rapidly changing landscape of lighting, and how technology is transforming what was once a purely artistic endeavor. Topics include: How to Avoid LED rip-offs …

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Transforming Remote Device Management with ControlBright #430 21:50

2y ago21:50

21:50

In today's digital age, remote access and management have become essential components of various industries, including building automation control systems. In a recent interview on Controltalk Now, the Smart Buildings Podcast, Chad Behling, the founder and CEO of ControlBright, shed light on how his company is transforming the landscape of remote d…

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Ep. 19 - Leading with Purpose: Unveiling the Secrets of Impactful Leadership with Andre Fernandez 1:24:04

2y ago1:24:04

1:24:04

In episode 19, Andre dives into how he found his way into creating a socially impactful business while sharing valuable lessons and principles that he embraced on his journey to success as a leader. From letting go of micro details to building high performing teams and influencing decision making processes, discover some actionable insights that wi…

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2023's Game-Changing Building Automation Tech | Passive Logic CEO Interview #429 37:20

2y ago37:20

37:20

Unlocking the Future of Building Automation: An Exclusive Interview with Troy Harvey, CEO of Passive Logic In an era where technology is reshaping the way we live and work, it's no surprise that our buildings are becoming smarter than ever before. Building automation and control systems are at the forefront of this transformation, and one company i…

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Ep. 18 - What got you here won’t get you there with Jonah Midanik 1:07:38

2y ago1:07:38

1:07:38

In episode 18, Jonah Midanik shares his journey and experience in a growth mindset of recognizing that ‘what got you here won’t get you there. He has been lucky enough to have seen the startup journey from a variety of perspectives: as a successful bootstrapped founder/CEO, having helped launch new corporate divisions at BigCo, and as the founder/C…

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Smart Buildings 2.0: AI, Data, and Control Systems with Donny Walker #428 37:58

2+ y ago37:58

37:58

Join us for an enlightening interview with Donny Walker, a leading partner at Newcomb and Boyd, as we delve into the cutting-edge world of HVAC and Smart Buildings. In this captivating discussion, Donny shares his expertise and insights on the pivotal role of technology in revolutionizing asset management and control systems. 🤖 Key Takeaways from t…

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AI, Cybersecurity, and the Role of the BAS System Integrator in Smart Building Controls #427 36:19

2+ y ago36:19

36:19

Dive into an engaging conversation on the latest trends and innovations shaping the building controls and construction industry. I am excited to welcome Mark Petock, a leading voice in the industry. In this episode: Discover how ICT Solutions is aiding system integrators with a hands-on team for diverse engineering tasks. From job execution to trou…

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Unlocking the Future of Building Automation with Joe Chandler from Brody Precision #426 12:33

2+ y ago12:33

12:33

In this must-listen episode of ControlTalk Now, we sit down with Joe Chandler, an industry expert from Brody Precision, to dive deep into the cutting-edge world of building automation control systems powered by ABB. Whether you're a building owner, contractor, or someone intrigued by smart buildings, this episode offers a wealth of insights. 🔹 Key …

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Game-Changing HVAC Marketing Tactics for Business Growth #425 34:21

2+ y ago34:21

34:21

Are you looking for the latest insights on marketing in HVAC and Smart Building Controls? In this podcast episode, I welcome Brian Collins for a fascinating discussion on tenant override systems (7Nox) and how they save money. We delve into the new marketing realities of the industry, covering topics such as customer input vs visionary design, mark…

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What's next in Smart Building Controls: An Interview with Bill Schwebel From Johnson Controls #424 26:17

2+ y ago26:17

26:17

Episode 424 of ControlTalk Now is one you do not want to miss! My guest this week has spent his career in transformative technologies. He specializes in cloud-based data and technology services that address challenges in automation, logistics, supply chain management, commerce, mobility, staffing, retail, automotive, transportation, advertising, an…

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Episode 423: Smart Buildings and Cybersecurity: An In-Depth Talk with Osman Saleem 34:31

2+ y ago34:31

34:31

Join us for Episode 423 of Controltalk Now, where we dive into the world of smart buildings with our special guest, Osman Saleem. An expert in OT & IoT Cybersecurity, Smart Building Technology, and Smart Cities, Osman shares his insights on the cutting-edge intersection of building automation controls and cybersecurity. In this exciting episode, we…

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Episode 422: ICT Provides a Solid Solution for the Building Automation labor Shortage 27:57

2+ y ago27:57

27:57

Are you struggling with the labor shortage in the smart building and controls industry? Get ready for a game-changing conversation with the team from Innovative Control Tech Solutions (ICT Solutions)! In this eye-opening episode of "Controltalk Now," the brilliant minds behind ICT Solutions dive deep into the pressing challenges of building automat…

2+ y ago44:09

44:09

Are you feeling lost in the rapidly changing world of marketing? Struggling to make an impact with your strategies? We have just what you need. Join us in an exciting journey as we unravel the secrets of successful marketing with Lauren Scott, the VP of Marketing and Sustainability for the Intelligence Spaces Group. In an age where digital revoluti…