Behind the Business

Behind the Business

Greater Kitchener Waterloo Chamber of Commerce

Episodes 108
Avg. Duration 32m
Activity Highly Active
Since Mar 2023
Latest Episode Feb 2026

Outreach Signals

Open to Sponsors Features Guests

Publishing Details

Schedule
Weekly
Format
Episodic
Consistency
66%
Hosting
feeds.buzzsprout.com

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!

Podcasting 2.0 Features

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Recent Episodes

S3E26 Reimagining Oktoberfest for a New Generation with Oktoberfest Ambassador, André Killingbeck

Feb 26, 2026 19m Transcript

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

Feb 19, 2026 33m Transcript

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

Feb 12, 2026 24m Transcript

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

Feb 05, 2026 41m Transcript

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

Jan 29, 2026 33m Transcript

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

Jan 22, 2026 21m Transcript

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

Jan 15, 2026 36m Transcript

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

Jan 08, 2026 32m Transcript

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

Dec 18, 2025 36m Transcript

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

Dec 11, 2025 55m Transcript

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

Dec 04, 2025 45m Transcript

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

Nov 27, 2025 26m Transcript

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

Nov 20, 2025 33m Transcript

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

Nov 13, 2025 25m Transcript

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

Nov 06, 2025 27m Transcript

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

Oct 30, 2025 27m Transcript

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…

S3E10 BDC Small Business Week: The Story Behind Gladiator Pro Wash

Oct 24, 2025 26m Transcript

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 spotlighting a different small business owner…

S3E9 BDC Small Business Week: The Story Behind Silver Cross Kitchener

Oct 23, 2025 25m Transcript

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 spotlighting a different small business owner…

S3E8 BDC Small Business Week: The Story Behind FoodZen

Oct 22, 2025 41m Transcript

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 spotlighting a different small business owner…

S3E7 BDC Small Business Week: Behind The WAR Room Baseball Training Centre

Oct 21, 2025 36m Transcript

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 spotlighting a different small business owner…

Frequently Asked Questions

How many episodes does Behind the Business have?

Behind the Business has published 108 episodes since March 2023, covering topics in Business.

Is Behind the Business still active?

Behind the Business is currently highly active with new episodes weekly. Average episode length is 32m.

How do I contact Behind the Business for sponsorship or guest appearances?

Sign up on Grep.FM to access contact details for Behind the Business, including email and social media links.

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