Best The Mastercard Foundation Podcasts (2025)

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Communication Secrets from a Leadership Coach with Barry McLoughlin from TLC Transformational Leadership 51:52

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5h ago51:52

51:52

Send us a text In this episode of Small Business Big Insights, Eric Saumure welcomes Barry McLoughlin, leadership and communications consultant, author, and educator. Barry takes us inside his unique journey from stand-up comedy and television satire to coaching leaders across Canada and the U.S. He explains why communication is not a “nice-to-have…

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Mayor on the Mic: Small-Biz Lessons from Mayor Mark Sutcliffe 39:48

24d ago39:48

39:48

Send us a text In this episode of Small Business Big Insights, Eric Saumure welcomes Mayor Mark Sutcliffe to explore the intersection of leadership, politics, and entrepreneurship. From his early days as a broadcaster and business coach to his current role as mayor of Ottawa, Mark shares candid reflections on authenticity, resilience, and the chall…

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Grants, Growth & Grit: The Real Talk Small Business Owners Need to Hear" (With Nishant Raina, Mastercard Canada) 35:22

2M ago35:22

35:22

Send us a text In this episode of The Small Business Big Insights Podcast, host Eric sits down with Nishant Raina, Vice President of Product Management at Mastercard in Canada. Nishant shares how Mastercard is helping small business owners tackle some of their biggest challenges. You’ll hear about the crucial role small businesses play in Canada’s …

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This One Funding Strategy Could Unlock Millions for Canadian Startups (with David Perry and Paul LaBarge) 50:16

3M ago50:16

50:16

Send us a text In this episode of Small Business Big Insights, Eric Saumure sits down with David Perry and Paul LaBarge—two champions of Canadian innovation—to dive deep into a bold proposal that could reshape the future of early-stage business funding. Drawing inspiration from Canada’s mining sector and successful UK policy, they explain how adapt…

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From Idea to Published Book: How Sam Laprade become ‘Ottawa Made’ 30:52

4M ago30:52

30:52

Send us a text In this episode of Small Business Big Insights, Eric Saumure sits down with Ottawa connector and storyteller Sam Laprade to explore how she co-authored Ottawa Made, a book celebrating local innovation and entrepreneurship. Sam shares the full behind-the-scenes of writing and launching the book—from managing self-doubt and editing cha…

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Succession, Power, and the New Rules of Leadership: A No-Fluff Talk (With Monique Goffinet) 54:45

5M ago54:45

54:45

Send us a text In this episode, Eric Saumure welcomes Monique Goffinet, seasoned board leader and governance expert, for an energizing and insightful conversation about board leadership, governance trends, and how business owners can use board involvement to grow professionally. Monique shares the realities of board service, demystifies common misc…

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Stop Overpaying Your Taxes: Give to Charity Instead with Flow-Through Shares (with Albert Labelle, PearTree Canada) 42:07

6M ago42:07

42:07

Send us a text Today, Eric sits down with Albert Labelle, partner at PearTree and a pro in strategic philanthropy. Albert breaks down flow-through shares—a powerful but often overlooked tax strategy that can help small business owners and individuals boost their charitable giving while lowering after-tax costs. They dive into how flow-through share…

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Why Montfort Hospital is More Than Just a Hospital (with Robert Rhéaume – Chair, Montfort Foundation) 36:33

7M ago36:33

36:33

Send us a text This special episode is part of the Podcasthon initiative, a global movement harnessing the power of podcasts to drive conversations around important causes. Podcasthon brings together creators, thought leaders, and change-makers to amplify voices that matter. Learn more at Podcasthon’s website. Meet Robert Rhéaume, Board Chair of th…

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Automation, AI & Sales Hacks: The Future of Business, Revealed (With David Burden from Arketek) 34:06

8M ago34:06

34:06

Send us a text In this episode, Eric chats with David Burden, Director of Sales and Biz Dev at Arketek, a leading Salesforce consultancy. David drops some great tips on smart sales strategies, using tech to grow your biz, and avoiding common small business pitfalls. They cover everything from the (fading) future of cold email to how AI and automati…

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Cutting Costs Without Compromise: The Secrets to Slashing Business Expenses Well! (With Shawn Stratton from Schooley Mitchell) 34:53

9M ago34:53

34:53

Send us a text In this episode, Eric sits down with Shawn Stratton from Schooley Mitchell, a business optimization pro who helps small businesses cut costs—on average by 28%—without sacrificing quality. Drawing on his background as an expedition leader, speaker, and author, Shawn shares practical tips on auditing expenses and negotiating better rat…

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Avoiding Common Tax Mistakes: Lessons from an Accountant with Tara Robertson (Zenbooks) 32:47

10M ago32:47

32:47

Send us a text In this episode of the Small Business Big Insights Podcast, Eric welcomes Tara Robertson, a senior accountant at Zenbooks. Tara shares valuable insights on business taxation, her journey in the industry, and even some tax horror stories. They discuss the critical role tax accountants play, share tips for small business owners, and ad…

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Navigating Business Law and Succession Planning with Expert Steve Parr 38:48

11M ago38:48

38:48

Send us a text Steve Parr shares his journey from founding and selling a vacation rental company to starting his own law firm, Parr Business Law. In this episode, he breaks down the essentials of business succession planning. Steve highlights why it’s so important to have a solid business structure, clear legal agreements, and backup plans in place…

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From Flour to Power: The Surprising Strategy That's Revolutionizing the Bakery Industry with Kayla Rochkin at Bond Bakery Brands 37:59

12M ago37:59

37:59

Send us a text In this episode, Eric interviews Kayla Rochkin, the Chief Growth Officer at Bond Bakery Brands. Bond acquires family and founder-run bakeries without succession plans, helping them continue their legacy. Kayla dishes on everything from keeping quality top-notch to building a company culture that’s as warm and welcoming as fresh bread…

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Pitfalls and opportunities of world class SaaS Businesses (Drew Millington from Nmbr) 41:01

1y ago41:01

41:01

Send us a text Drew Millington is the co-founder of Nmbr, Canada’s ﬁrst embedded payroll provider. With deep expertise in SaaS and startups, Drew offers insights into key metrics that startups and small businesses should monitor, including the distinction between regrettable and non-regrettable churn. As a sales guru who has successfully scaled mul…

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Leadership and Innovation in Payroll: Interview with Wagepoint CEO Shrad Rao 48:45

1y ago48:45

48:45

Send us a text Shrad Rao is the CEO of Wagepoint, a payroll software designed for small businesses in Canada. The company, known for its friendly team, aims to make payroll simpler and less intimidating. Wagepoint serves over 25,000 customers and processes payroll for more than 200,000 employees each month. Under Shrad’s leadership, the company has…

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Mastering Business Acquisitions and Roll-Ups with Brian L. Shields 43:27

1y ago43:27

43:27

Send us a text In this episode, we dive deep into the world of business acquisitions with Brian Lee Shields, a seasoned business development and acquisition expert based in LA. With 15 years of experience, Brian has a rich background in private equity and has been involved in over $4 billion worth of investments across more than 15 industries. List…

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Avoiding Common Financial Mistakes: Pro Tips from a Seasoned Planner (With Alex Hadjisophocleous from Forest Financial Planning) 45:18

1+ y ago45:18

45:18

Send us a text Alex Hadjisophocleous is a fee-only/advice-only ﬁnancial planner at Forest Financial Planning Inc., helping individuals and business owners grow wealth through ﬁnancial literacy. His unbiased advice is a refreshing contrast to ﬁnancial advisors who charge substantial annual fees, particularly in Canada. In this episode, he shares a w…

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From Obscurity to Icon: Unveiling Secrets to Crafting a Memorable Small Business Brand (With Robert Smith from Greenmelon) 45:51

1+ y ago45:51

45:51

Send us a text What are the key attributes of a polished brand? To tackle this question, Eric invites Robert Smith for an insightful conversation on branding. Robert, a branding expert, Adjunct Professor, author, and Chief Creative Ofﬁcer at Greenmelon Inc, has a wealth of experience in crafting successful brand identities. Having worked with numer…

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Secrets to Building a Team That Fuels Your Success: What Every Entrepreneur Needs to Know!(With Zach Montroy from The Intention Collective) 36:37

1+ y ago36:37

36:37

Send us a text Growing and scaling a small business takes strategy, innovation, and above all, great leadership. Zach Montroy, the Founder & CEO of The Intention Collective—a group of consultants specializing in small business growth and scaling—is a Harvard-educated strategist focusing on organizational psychology and development. In this lively d…

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Unlocking Business Success: How a Punk Rock Lawyer Turned Startup Guru is Transforming 125,000 Businesses(Shane Murphy from Ownr) 41:00

1+ y ago41:00

41:00

Send us a text Starting a small business involves various legal considerations, many of which can be conveniently addressed online. Shane Murphy, the CEO of Ownr, brings a legal background to the table and shares his entrepreneurial journey, including successfully starting and later having his business acquired by its major competitor. Ownr, an all…

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Unlocking Small Business Potential with IT (With Jeremy Irving from IC360) 45:07

1+ y ago45:07

45:07

Send us a text Small businesses should not shy away from new technology, but rather use it as a secret tool to drive employee and customer satisfaction and engagement. Jeremy Irving is the Managing Director and Senior Technical Analyst of IC 360 Solutions, a technology firm that helps small businesses. He is also a certified PMP (project management…

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Wealthsimple’s radical employee experience (with Gren Austin from Wealthsimple) 40:44

2y ago40:44

40:44

Send us a text Employee retention is crucial for small businesses, and providing beneﬁts to alleviate ﬁnancial worries can be instrumental in avoiding turnover. Gren Austin serves as the Head of Wealthsimple Work, overseeing the day-to-day operations of Wealthsimple's Group Retirement Business. In a conversation with Eric, Gren delves into the dist…

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Using emotions to improve team performance (with Ange MacCabe from Intuity Performance) 40:18

2y ago40:18

40:18

Send us a text In this episode our guest, Ange unpacks the concept of Emotional Intelligence (EI) and its multi-dimensional influence on interactions within teams. Emotionally intelligent leadership is revealed as a catalyst for trust, collaboration, and innovation, fostering a culture that drives small business success. Small business owners are o…

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Pragmatic view to people management (with Andrea Bartlett) 55:02

2y ago55:02

55:02

Send us a text Managing people for YOUR small business, join me with guest Andrea Bartlett, she has been Vice-President of People at Humi for 3 years. In this episode we talk in depth about how you can make sure that HR plays a pivotal role in nurturing your workplace and foster great employee experiences. Andrea has great tactical advice and real-…

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Exclusive advantages for LGBT friendly businesses (with Darrell Schuurman from CGLCC) 42:30

2y ago42:30

42:30

Send us a text Understanding the intersection and dynamics of the 2SLGBTQI+ and business community. Join me with guest Darrell Schuurman co-founder and CEO of the CGLCC, Canada’s LGBT+ Chamber of Commerce as we explore questions that many small business owners have as it relates to the 2SLGBTQI+ community. In this episode we talk about how all busi…

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Are you missing out on M&A Opportunities? (with Colleen Kelley from Stratford Group) 45:38

2y ago45:38

45:38

Send us a text Mastering mergers & acquisitions for small businesses, join me with guest Colleen Kelley president at Stratford Group. In this episode we explore the strategic reasons why small and medium-sized businesses should consider acquisitions. Colleen specializes in business scale-up, strategic planning, mergers and acquisitions (M&A), and i…

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Top Unexpected Recruiting and Retention Tactics (with James Baker - Keynote Search) 44:37

2y ago44:37

44:37

Send us a text Small businesses can thrive by maximizing talent, fostering a dynamic culture, and adapting to the evolving business landscape. Eric, and guest James Baker discuss the challenges and opportunities that small businesses often overlook, from recruitment pitfalls to harnessing government grants, this podcast explores some unexpected tac…

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Top Tactical Marketing Ideas for Small Businesses (with Riaz Sidi from Sidi.io) 48:23

2y ago48:23

48:23

Send us a text Join me with guest Riaz Sidi from Sidi.io, a distinguished sales and marketing leader, sharing game-changing insights from his 20+ years of experience as he champions collaboration over competition and unveils the secrets of customer engagement. In this episode we explore the core pillars of business success from revenue generation, …

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Secrets to Smart Revenue Growth (with Anastasia Valentine) 40:52

2y ago40:52

40:52

Send us a text Today’s conversation is with accomplished technology leader Anastasia Valentine. Join me as she reveals her strategies for smart revenue growth for small business owners and entrepreneurs. We explore the pivotal roles of CROs and CMOs in aligning marketing and sales for business expansion as well as strategies for networking and buil…

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Evolving Beyond the Traditional Business Mindset (with Rob Dale - Rhapsody Strategies) 44:18

2y ago44:18

44:18

Send us a text Self-awareness, the ability to adapt in times of uncertainty, and building trust with clients and team members are this episode's focus. Eric and guest Rob Dale explain thought-provoking topics that help business owners expand beyond the traditional business mindset. Rob is a master coach with Rhapsody Strategies, an award-winning co…

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Improved marketing with real research (with David Coletto - Abacus Data) 37:09

2y ago37:09

37:09

Send us a text Polls, surveys, and focus groups aren’t just for big business; small businesses can gain big insights and win a competitive edge. Diving into this topic, Eric interviews one of Canada’s best known and most respected pollsters, David Coletto. David is the Founder, Chair, and CEO of Abacus Data, a Canadian market research firm. He has …

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We can’t just hope that the right leaders come along: Youth Engagement & Leadership Development 29:05

2y ago29:05

29:05

What role does youth engagement play in leadership development? What role does it play in building relationships and meaningful careers? Host Sam Bird speaks with veteran youth engagement expert Jocelyn Formsma, CEO of the National Association of Friendship Centres (NAFC) about how her extensive experience on youth councils led to her on path to le…

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How does this support the bus ride home?: Youth Engagement & Compensation 37:58

2+ y ago37:58

37:58

How should young people be compensated for their time and expertise? What constitutes fair remuneration? What challenges do young people face when it comes to requesting compensation? Host Sam Bird digs into these questions as well as the hidden costs of youth engagement that Indigenous young people often bear when they are consulted. The episode g…

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Let’s chat about good policy that works for people: Youth Engagement & Policy Change 48:48

2+ y ago48:48

48:48

How are young people reforming practices within youth councils? How have Indigenous young people led policy change that has improved the lives of Indigenous people and Canadians more widely? How are youth creating systemic change in the institutions they are a part of? Host Sam Bird explores these questions with a range of youth leaders including: …

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I love that you think we deserve suits: Youth Engagement & Participation 36:46

2+ y ago36:46

36:46

What are the mechanics of effective youth engagement? How do you create an environment where everyone present feels comfortable to participate? In other words, how do you get Shy Native Youth to speak up? What do you do when Indigenous youth are speaking up and they're tremendously pissed off? Our host for this series, Sam Bird, explores these ques…

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This stems back to being named after my great grandmother: Youth Engagement & Identity 21:40

2+ y ago21:40

21:40

What role does identity and culture play in the lives of Indigenous youth? How is one’s sense of identity impacted when representing the voices of Indigenous youth to a larger institution? What is required for youth to fully engage? Our host Sam Bird explores these questions through conversations with: Brian Pottle (Former President of the National…

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Season 1: Introducing Young People Know 1:50

2+ y ago1:50

1:50

Young People Know, a special five-part podcast seriest hosted by Sam Bird, explores best practices in becoming youth-led through conversations with nine Indigenous changemakers from across the country. Subscribe now for this important series featuring young Indigenous leaders launching on June 20, 2023! Young People Know is produced by the Masterca…