Shows
Irrepressibles Podcaste10 - Riaz Sidi: Building a Million Dollar Marketing Agency - When Passion Faded, He Did This InsteadWelcome to the tenth episode of the Irrepressibles Podcast! 🎙️ In this episode, we sit down with Riaz Sidi, Founder and President of Sidi.io, one of Ottawa’s fastest-growing marketing agencies. During the conversation, Riaz opens up about his early struggles with depression, the unexpected path that led him from call centers to entrepreneurship, and how discipline—not passion—became the foundation of his success. Tune in for his inspiring story!In this conversation, you’ll discover:- Why Riaz believes “taking the leap” is a choice you make every day- The power of building a bus...2025-07-121h 03
Irrepressibles Podcaste09 - Nilufer Erdebil: Turning Customer Insights into Actionable Business InnovationWelcome to the ninth episode of the Irrepressibles Podcast! 🎙️ In this episode, we sit down with Nilufer Erdebil, founder of Spring2Innovation and author of Future Proofing by Design. During the conversation, Nilufer shares her journey from software development to leading change through innovation and design thinking, how she built her business while balancing single motherhood, and why understanding the end-user is crucial to true innovation. Tune in for her inspiring story!In this conversation, you’ll discover:How to apply design thinking to build better products and servicesThe reality of growing a business while raising...2025-04-2647 min
Irrepressibles Podcaste08 - Emily Castellani: From Nurse to Movement Coach: Emily's Journey to EntrepreneurshipWelcome to the eighth episode of the Irrepressibles Podcast! 🎙️ This week, we sit down with Emily Castellani, co-founder of Carlington Movement and Massage, to hear her powerful story of pivoting from nursing to entrepreneurship in the wellness space.Emily’s path is rooted in personal transformation—from navigating chronic pain to helping others reconnect with their bodies through movement. Her work with seniors, her honest take on entrepreneurship, and her reflections on upcoming motherhood make this episode a deeply human and inspiring listen.In this conversation, you’ll discover:Why she left nursing for...2025-04-0749 min
Irrepressibles Podcaste07 - Alexy Lavigne-McPhee: Turning Rejected Fresh Fruit into a Million Dollar Business | Lessons in Innovation & ResilienceWelcome to the seventh episode of the Irrepressibles Podcast! 🎙️ In this episode, we sit down with Alexy Lavigne-McPhee, founder of Flirt, a fresh fruit beverage company that’s not just serving up delicious drinks—it’s tackling food waste head-on.Built on a circular economy model, Flirt takes inspiration from the challenge of fresh fruit waste and turns it into an opportunity to upcycle and create something truly sustainable. Tune in for their inspiring story!In this conversation, you’ll discover:The journey of building FlirtThe power of upcycling in the beverage industryHow l...2025-03-1051 min
Irrepressibles Podcaste06 - Ed Hansen: Building a Business That Lasts: Lessons in Leadership & AdaptabilityWelcome to the sixth episode of the Irrepressibles Podcast! 🎙️ In this episode, we sit down with Ed Hanson, a seasoned entrepreneur and dynamic business coach. With over 30 years of experience, Ed is now dedicated to helping other entrepreneurs as TEC Canada Coach and Peer Group Chair. Tune in for the chance to listen in on his inspiring advice for founders!In this conversation, you’ll discover:- Why the downs and challenges are often where the most valuable lessons are learned.- How seeking out mentorship and community as an entrepreneur is critical to success and pers...2025-02-121h 36
Irrepressibles Podcaste05 - Prestige Home Improvement: Coast to coast in just two years: how this startup is going nation-wideWelcome to the fifth episode of the Irrepressibles Podcast! 🎙️ In this episode, we sit down with Louis Lacombe-Denis and Travis Moriarty, co-founders of Prestige Home Improvement. During the conversation, they share their journey from personal trainers to leading an HVAC startup expanding nationwide in just two years. They began with car rides: booking appointments while going to various regions of southern Ontario. They believe in building their business with creativity, conviction, and sheer willpower. Through setbacks, teamwork, and a relentless mindset, they transformed challenges into opportunities, proving that belief and action can drive success. Tune in for their inspiring story...2025-01-1358 min
Irrepressibles Podcaste04 - Graeme Barlow: From Startup Success to Guiding the Next GenerationIn this episode of Irrepressibles, we’re thrilled to feature Graeme Barlow, a seasoned entrepreneur with a wealth of experience and insights to share with the next generation of founders. In this candid conversation, Graeme takes us back to his early days of entrepreneurship, reflecting on how initial setbacks shaped his resilience and mindset. If you're an aspiring founder or someone who’s already on the entrepreneurial path, this conversation will spark a fire in you.In this conversation, you’ll discover:- The difference between mentorship & coaching, and when you'll know you need it- The...2024-12-1643 min
Irrepressibles Podcaste03 - Pluvo: Rewiring Careers: Government Workers Turned InnovatorsMeet Alex and Vanessa, the visionary founders behind Pluvo, a groundbreaking platform transforming how businesses understand the stories behind their numbers. Pluvo leverages financial data to reveal the impact of cultural trends, weather, and global events on business performance—shedding light on the unseen factors driving success or explaining tough times.In just three years, this Ottawa-based startup has already made waves, earning the prestigious Best Ottawa Business Award for 2024 and securing a coveted spot in a renowned San Francisco business accelerator for 2025.On this episode of Irrepressibles, we dive into the journey that brought Pl...2024-12-021h 20
Irrepressibles Podcaste02 - Apprends et Entreprends: Régler ses propres problèmes et en fonder des entreprisesDans ce deuxième épisode du podcast Irrepréssibles 🎙️, nous rencontrons Charles-Antoine Hallé, fondateur d'Apprends et Entreprends: une compagnie d'éducation entrepreneuriale qui aide les jeunes du secondaire à en apprendre plus sur le monde des affaires. Cette compagnie, lancée par frustration en raison du manque d'encadrement au niveau entrepreneurial pour les jeunes, est l'une des trois compagnies dont nous parlons durant cet épisode.Durant cette conversation, vous découvrirez:- Le parcours à Charles-Antoine, qui l'a mené à fonder tous ses projets: Apprends et Entreprends, le Défi48 et Legal Sensus- Le mindset nécessaire pour se la...2024-11-041h 08
Irrepressibles Podcaste01 - Plantaform: From apartment 3D printers to production lineWelcome to the very first episode of the Irrepressibles Podcast! 🎙️ In this episode, we sit down with the 2 co-founders of Plantaform, an innovative indoor garden startup that has, in a short time, gone from an idea to a million-dollar venture that now is expanding from Canada all the way to Africa and the Middle-east. CEO Alberto Aguilar and CPO Kiwa Lang share the mindset shifts that makes them capable of withstanding adversity, overcoming obstacles, living with risk and of simply never giving up.In this conversation, you’ll discover:- How Alberto and Kiwa navigated the earl...2024-09-181h 06