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Behind the Business
Behind the Business is presented by the Greater Kitchener Waterloo Chamber of Commerce. Sponsored by Gore Mutual, this podcast features weekly episodes hosted by Ian McLean, President and CEO of the Greater KW Chamber.
It is recorded on the traditional territory of the Neutral, Anishinaabeg, and Haudenosaunee, peoples.
Each week Ian sits down for candid conversations, taking listeners beyond the boardroom and Behind the Business to uncover the real stories within Waterloo Region’s business…
Episodes
- Behind the Business
BDC Small Business Week - Creativity Meets Strategy: The Business of Standing Out with Lesley Warren
Lesley Warren is the CEO and Creative Director of W Design Co. With 30 years of experience in brand building, Lesley helps businesses bring their brands to…
- Behind the Business
BDC Small Business Week: Two Brothers, One Standard: Building More Than Homes with Faizal & Riz Jamal
Today’s guests are Riz and Faizal Jamal, the brothers behind Welcome Home Construction. What began in 2001 with a single custom home has grown into a…
- Behind the Business
BDC Small Business Week - The Business of Belonging with Ren Navarro
Today’s guest is Ren Navarro of B. Diversity. Ren is a culture consultant, drinks expert, and founder of B. Diversity. With more than 20 years of experience in…
- Behind the Business
Planting for the Next Generation: Family, Farming and the Future of Agriculture with Tim Shuh
Today’s guest is Tim Shuh of Shuh Orchards. Tim is the fourth generation of the Shuh farmers in Elmira. He made the decision in 2025 to leave the corporate…
- Behind the Business
BDC Small Business Week - Dr. Tahira Bilal on Business, Safety & Community
Today’s guest is Dr. Tahira Bilal Asim, a physician, Canadian Red Cross First Aid Instructor and the Director of Canadian Health & Safety Education here in…
- Behind the Business
Beyond Good Intentions: Stephen Jackson on Making Reconciliation Actionable
Stephen Jackson is the CEO of Anishnabeg Outreach Employment and Training and a leader behind AONest. On this episode, Stephen talks about his journey to this…
- Behind the Business
Feeding the Future: Leadership, Business and the Fight Against Hunger with Faune Lang
Faune Lang is the Executive Director of Food4Kids Waterloo Region. With a background in nonprofit and financial services, Faune has found a meaningful way to…
- Behind the Business
From Nuclear to Net Zero: Corey McNair on Building for the Future
On this episode of Behind the Business, Ian is joined by Corey McNair, Executive Vice President, Earth & Environment, WSP in Canada with WSP in Canada. Corey…
- Behind the Business
Building Canada’s Manufacturing Advantage with Aaron Toplician
On this episode of Behind the Business, Ian is joined by Aaron Toplician from Excellence in Manufacturing Consortium (EMC). Aaron is the Manufacturing…
- Behind the Business
Where Smart Leaders Find Profit in Plain Sight with Kevin L.
On this episode of Behind the Business, Ian is joined by Kevin Litwiller, Strategic Partner with Schooley Mitchell, the largest independent cost reduction…
- Behind the Business
Pierre Cléroux: Decoding Canada’s Economic Future for Business Leaders
On this episode of Behind the Business, Ian is joined by one of Canada’s leading economic voices, Pierre Cléroux, Vice President, Research and Chief Economist…
- Behind the Business
Leading Across Borders with Tomoko King: Turning Cultural Differences into Strategic Advantage
Tomoko King is a Japan–Canada business advisor who helps organizations navigate the real challenges that come with cross-border partnerships. Things like…
- Behind the Business
Reimagining Oktoberfest for a New Generation with Oktoberfest Ambassador, André Killingbeck
André Killingbeck is the 2025–26 Ambassador for Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest, and the first male Ambassador in the program’s history. At just 24 years old…
- Behind the Business
Building Trust in AI: How Dr. Mohamed Alarakhia is Transforming Primary Care
Dr. Mohamed Alarakhia is the CEO, founder, and visionary force behind Amplify Care. Amplify Care is a not-for-profit, founded as the eHealth Centre of…
- Behind the Business
The 1% That Changes Everything: Leadership Insights with Andrew Leith
Andrew Leith, Founder of Octant Executive Advisory Group, joins Behind the Business to unpack what it really takes to lead through complexity and change…
- Behind the Business
Behind the Lens: From Love Story to Global Brand with Gary & Kim Evans
On this episode of Behind the Business, Ian McLean sits down with Gary and Kim Evans — a husband-and-wife team who’ve built far more than an award-winning…
- Behind the Business
Building More Than Homes: Philip Mills on Housing, Hope, and Systems Change
Philip Mills is the CEO of Habitat for Humanity Waterloo Region and BUILD NOW: Waterloo Region. Housing affordability has become one of the defining challenges…
- Behind the Business
Selling Smarter with Kelly Koner: How CRM Strategy Turns Relationships into Revenue
Kelly Koner is an Account Executive at Rolldog CRM — an award-winning Canadian platform helping businesses better understand their customers, streamline sales…
- Behind the Business
Building Stronger Workforces: The Importance of Partnerships with Tamim Hamidi
Tamim Hamidi is Manager, Community Outreach at Serco Canada and a leader on the EmployNext work across the Kitchener-Waterloo-Barrie catchment. He oversees…
- Behind the Business
Mentorship, Inclusion, and Infrastructure: Inside GRIT Engineering with Montana Wilson
Montana Wilson, P.Eng., EMBA, is the founder and CEO of GRIT Engineering, a values-driven consulting firm delivering civil, geotechnical, environmental and…
- Behind the Business
Behind City Hall: Lessons in Leadership and Resilience with Dorothy McCabe
Dorothy McCabe, elected Mayor of Waterloo in 2022, brings decades of municipal experience and community-focused leadership to City Hall. In this episode we go…
- Behind the Business
The Good Effect: Reimagining Insurance Through Purpose, People, and Progress with Andy Taylor and Neil Park
In this episode of Behind the Business, we sit down with Andy Taylor, President & CEO of Gore Mutual Insurance Company, and Neil Parkinson, Chair of Gore’s…
- Behind the Business
Flying Forward: How Connect Airlines is Changing Regional Aviation
Today’s guest is John Thomas, CEO of Connect Airlines, a company on a mission to rethink regional aviation and lead the way in sustainable air travel. With a…
- Behind the Business
Building Water Confidence & Community with Ronjiny Basu
Ronjiny Basu is the founder of Puddles Swim School in Kitchener, a program dedicated to helping children develop confidence, safety, and joy in the water…
- Behind the Business
Subtly You: How a Husband-and-Wife Team Builds Business & Community
Shawna Leifso and Greg Quaile, the husband-and-wife team behind Subtly You, have built a medical aesthetics business that stands out through creativity…
- Behind the Business
Empowering Tomorrow’s Entrepreneurs with Karen Gallant
Karen Gallant is the President and CEO of Junior Achievement JA South Western Ontario on, one of Canada’s most impactful youth organizations helping students…
- Behind the Business
Immersive Art and Community Impact: The Precious Julius Story
Precious Julius, founder of Last Minute Gallery, is transforming how Waterloo Region experiences art. What began as a passion project has grown into a vibrant…
- Behind the Business
From Nursing to Cuisine: Vanessa Simon’s Recipe for Business Through Care
Vanessa Simon is the founder of Vanessa’s Cuisine. She made a bold career change from nursing to entrepreneurship, creating a Caribbean-rooted food brand…
- Behind the Business
BDC Small Business Week: The Story Behind Gladiator Pro Wash
Today’s episode is sponsored by BDC – the bank for Canadian entrepreneurs, as we celebrate BDC Small Business Week, from October 19-25. Each day, we’re…
- Behind the Business
BDC Small Business Week: The Story Behind Silver Cross Kitchener
Today’s episode is sponsored by BDC – the bank for Canadian entrepreneurs, as we celebrate BDC Small Business Week, from October 19-25. Each day, we’re…
- Behind the Business
BDC Small Business Week: The Story Behind FoodZen
Today’s episode is sponsored by BDC – the bank for Canadian entrepreneurs, as we celebrate BDC Small Business Week, from October 19-25. Each day, we’re…
- Behind the Business
BDC Small Business Week: Behind The WAR Room Baseball Training Centre
Today’s episode is sponsored by BDC – the bank for Canadian entrepreneurs, as we celebrate BDC Small Business Week, from October 19-25. Each day, we’re…
- Behind the Business
BDC Small Business Week: The Story Behind Atum Financial Services
As we celebrate BDC Small Business Week, from October 19-25. Each day, we’re spotlighting a different small business owner from our community — the people who…
- Behind the Business
Building the Future of Kitchener: A Conversation with Mayor Berry Vrbanovic
Born in Croatia and raised right here in Kitchener, Mayor Berry Vrbanovic has dedicated over three decades to public service. First, as a city councillor, and…
- Behind the Business
Empathy, Energy, and Executive Coaching: The Amy Ballantyne Way
Amy Ballantyne is a multiple TEDx Speaker, Executive Life Coach, Workplace Wellness & Emotional Intelligence Trainer, Certified Trainer of Neuro Linguistic…
- Behind the Business
Reinventing Fun and Function : A Deep Dive with Mark Bingeman
Mark Bingeman is the President and CEO of Bingemans, a family-owned entertainment, hospitality, and event destination in Waterloo Region. After studying…
- Behind the Business
From BlackBerry to Danby: Jim Estill’s Playbook for Entrepreneurial Leadership
Jim Estill of Danby Appliances is a Canadian technology entrepreneur, executive, and philanthropist. Jim started a computer distribution business from the…
Behind the BusinessFrom Sri Lanka to Elmira: Cultivating Community and Inclusion with Abby Cooper
Abby Cooper is the Founder of Hearts Open For Everyone (H.O.P.E.). Abby immigrated as a young child from Sri Lanka and, after spending some time in Toronto…
- Behind the Business
Behind the Business of KW Multicultural Centre (with Lucia Harrison)
In this episode of Behind the Business, Ian McLean sits down with Lucia Harrison, CEO of the Kitchener-Waterloo Multicultural Centre, to explore what it takes…
- Behind the Business
Behind the Business of Spectrum (with Suzie Taka)
In this episode, our CEO Ian Mclean sits down with Suzie Taka is the Executive Director of Spectrum. She has been a dedicated community organizer and…
- Behind the Business
Behind the Business of Calming Tree (with Melissa Reid)
Melissa is a compassionate and experienced therapist who supports individuals and families through challenging times. She works with clients experiencing grief…
- Behind the Business
Behind The Business of Rogers (with Robin Farrell)
In this episode our CEO Ian Mclean sits down with Robin Farrell who is an award-winning broadcaster with over 20 years of radio morning show experience. She…
- Behind the Business
Behind the Business of AskEllyn (with Ellyn Winters)
This week, Ian McLean speaks with Ellyn Winters, Chief Marketing Officer, Ignition Communications Inc., and CEO of The Lyndall Project & AskEllyn. Learn about…
- Behind the Business
Behind the Business of 570 CityNews with (Mike Farwell)
Get ready for an exciting edition of the Behind the Business Podcast as Ian McLean sits down with Mike Farwell, host of the Mike Farwell Show on 570 CityNews…
- Behind the Business
Behind the Business of KW Humane Society (with Victoria Baby)
Get ready for an exciting edition of the Behind the Business Podcast as Ian McLean sits down with Victoria Baby, CEO of KW Human Society. Baby has dedicated…
- Behind the Business
Behind the Business of Waterloo Wellington Flight Centre (with Bob Connors)
Get ready for an exciting edition of the Behind the Business Podcast as Ian McLean sits down with Bob Connors, general manager of Waterloo Wellington Flight…
- Behind the Business
Behind the Business of GVCA/Champions for Charity (with Mandy Bujold)
Get ready for an exciting edition of the Behind the Business Podcast as Ian McLean sits down with Mandy Bujold, former Canadian Boxing Champion & gold…
- Behind the Business
Behind the Business of Ontario Teachers Insurance Plan (with Chris Floyd)
In this episode our CEO Ian McLean sits down with Chris Floyd - President of OTIP (Ontario Teachers Insurance Plan) Chris began his career in insurance as a…
- Behind the Business
Behind the Business of The Dessert Artist (with Rochelle Williams)
Black-owned businesses are very much a part of the food scene in Waterloo region. Specialty grocery stores, ice cream shops, restaurants where you can enjoy…
- Behind the Business
Behind the Business of Brentwood Livery (with Brent Ferguson)
Brentwood Livery, offering services in chauffeured-driven service, is proud to contribute to the best community in Canada, not only for work but for play. At…
- Behind the Business
Behind the Business of Ascnd Media (with Sheldon Thompson)
Ascnd Media is a full-service production company offering dynamic cinematography and photography. Founded in 2019 by Sheldon Thompson, the purpose of Ascnd is…
- Behind the Business
Behind the Business Special with Director of Physician Recruitment for the Region (with Jenna Petker)
Welcome to a very exciting edition of the Behind the Business Podcast hosted by Ian McLean, President/CEO of the KW Chamber. This week, Ian sits down with the…
- Behind the Business
Behind the Business of Waterloo Region Community Foundation (with Eric Avner)
Eric leads Waterloo Region Community Foundation (WRCF), and works with the Board of Directors, committees, and team to further the vision of ensuring our…
- Behind the Business
Special Episode: Canada Tariff Threats with host (Ian McLean)
Welcome to a very unique episode of the Behind the Business Podcast with Ian McLean. Today’s episode is going to be a bit different. Ian will not be joined by…
- Behind the Business
Behind the Business of Little Mushroom Catering (with Stephanie Soulis)
Stephanie Soulis is the President & CEO of Little Mushroom Catering. She created LMC in 2010 as a natural extension of her love for food and quality service…
- Behind the Business
Behind the Business of The Charcoal Group of Restaurants (with Jody Palubiski)
Jody Palubiski has been the CEO and managing partner of the Charcoal Group since 2003. Jody helped lead the Charcoal Group to developing the Wildcraft Grill…
- Behind the Business
Behind the Business of Catalyst Capital Inc (with Amber French)
Amber French is Managing Partner at Catalyst Capital. Co-Founded with Kurtis McBride (Miovision, Catalyst 137), Catalyst Capital connects investors to early…
- Behind the Business
Behind the Business of Good Co. Productions (with Amit Mehta)
Good Company Productions is a hyperlocal music and event production company based in Waterloo Region. They specialize in creating intimate popup concert…
- Behind the Business
Behind the Business of The Scented Market (with Kristy Lynn Miller)
The Scented Market began with a simple idea: to create a space where high-quality, thoughtfully crafted scents could bring comfort and joy to every home…
- Behind the Business
Behind the Business of Sustainable Waterloo Region (with Tova Davidson)
Listen to Ian McLean as he interviews Tova Davidson, Executive Director of Sustainable Waterloo Region. Learn about Tova's extensive career journey which…