Behind the Business
Greater Kitchener Waterloo Chamber of Commerce
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About This Podcast
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 community.
From innovation and sustainability to leadership and community impact, each guest offers invaluable perspectives and inspiring journeys. Discover what drives their ambition, and WHO is fueling the future of Waterloo Region’s success.
Join us as we go Behind the Business!
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Recent Episodes
S3E30 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 Consortium Manager for Southern Ontario.Aaron…
S3E29 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 consulting firm in North America.Kevin…
S3E28 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 at BDC.With more than 25 years of…
S3E27 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 misaligned expectations, different…
S3E26 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, André brings a unique blend of healthcare…
S3E25 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 Excellence in 2014, and was established to…
S3E24 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.Andrew’s leadership philosophy wasn’t shaped…
S3E23 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 wedding photography brand.Ranked among the…
S3E22 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 of our time, impacting businesses,…
S3E21 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, and drive smarter growth.Kelly’s career…
S3E20 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 community outreach and partnership-building…
S3E19 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 surveying services across Ontario. Montana…
S3E18 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 of running a city —…
S3E17 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 Board of Directors.Built on a…
S3E16 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 career that spans global airlines,…
S3E15 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. After years in corporate program management…
S3E14 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, community engagement, and personalized client…
S3E13 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 develop financial literacy,…
S3E12 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, award-winning platform that celebrates…
S3E11 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 that’s now featured on store shelves across…
Frequently Asked Questions
Behind the Business has published 112 episodes since March 2023, covering topics in Business.
Behind the Business is currently declining with new episodes weekly. Average episode length is 32m.
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