Ottawa Entrepreneurs

On this episode of the Ottawa Entrepreneurs Podcast, Pat hosts Dustin Poole, President of Dustin Design Drafting, who shares advice for business owners facing challenges. Dustin emphasizes the importance of persistence, trusting but verifying the people you work with, and staying focused on your "why" to push through tough times. He also reflects on how building a legacy for his family motivates him to keep going.

On this episode of the Ottawa Entrepreneurs Podcast, I host André Palaguine, CEO of Nations Translation Group, who emphasizes the importance of starting with a unique idea, leveraging grants and funding opportunities in Canada, and having the patience to endure the early challenges of building a business. André reminds us that when you feel like giving up, it’s often the moment your business is truly ready to grow.

On this episode of the Ottawa Entrepreneurs Podcast, Pat hosts Kahleel Sharpe, CEO of JamFit who shares how consistency and discipline are key to overcoming challenges in business. He reflects on pushing through tough times, staying focused on goals, and why showing up every day with determination makes all the difference.

On this episode of the Ottawa Entrepreneurs Podcast, Pat hosts Emma Doucet, Founder & Principal Designer at Grassroots Design & Build. Emma reveals her key to success: focusing on what she does best and outsourcing the rest. She explains how investing in professional support for tasks like bookkeeping and photography allowed her to build a polished, professional brand that clients trust.

On this episode of the Ottawa Entrepreneurs Podcast, Pat hosts Don Masters, President and Creative Director of Mediaplus Advertising, who shares valuable lessons from over four decades in the advertising industry. Don discusses the importance of relationship-building, smart business growth, and the evolution of media from traditional to digital.

On this episode of the Ottawa Entrepreneurs Podcast, I host Adam Kourakis, owner of Somersault and Velofix, who shares his journey from volunteering at triathlons as a teenager to running two thriving businesses in Ottawa’s sports community. He emphasizes the importance of building a strong network and how his network played a pivotal role in overcoming challenges.

On this episode of the Ottawa Entrepreneurs Podcast, Pat hosts Ian Keith, Group Insurance & Pension Advisor of 360° Health Benefits Inc. Ian discusses the value of perseverance, dependability, and having the confidence to step outside your comfort zone. Ian shares why doing what you say you’re going to do and pushing through discomfort are key to entrepreneurial success.

On this episode of the Ottawa Entrepreneurs Podcast, Pat hosts Graeme Barlow, CEO of Iversoft, who shares his insights on scaling a remote-first tech company. Graeme emphasizes the importance of starting before you're ready, focusing on sales to solve most problems, and leveraging partnerships for sustainable growth.

On this episode of the Ottawa Entrepreneurs Podcast, Pat hosts Mark Cox, President of In the Funnel, who shares his journey from leading large sales organizations to starting a sales training company. Mark discusses the importance of coaching, the value of rest for entrepreneurs, and why focusing on core strengths is essential for business success.

On this episode of the Ottawa Entrepreneurs Podcast, Pat hosts Russ Salo, President of GPS To Go, who shares his journey of growing a successful GPS tracking business. He emphasizes that good business comes from failing fast, failing cheap, and learning from the process.

On this episode of the Ottawa Entrepreneurs Podcast, I host Catherine Wood, President and Co-Owner of Mahogany Salon and Spa ​​who shares valuable insights on building a successful business. She emphasizes that the foundation of a good business is rooted in thorough planning and hard work, and stresses the importance of seeking advice, doing extensive research, and taking it step-by-step.

On this episode of the Ottawa Entrepreneurs Podcast, Pat hosts Mark Gasparotto, a former combat engineer turned entrepreneur. Mark shares his journey from military service to founding the Gasparotto Group, a leadership development firm. Discover his insights on overcoming the challenges of entrepreneurship, building resilience, and the importance of business development in growing a successful company.

On this episode of the Ottawa Entrepreneurs Podcast, Pat welcomes Crystal Karam, owner of Tire Changers - Ottawa, Crystal shares her journey from a junior architect to running a successful mobile tire changing business that serves customers right at their doorstep.

On this episode of the Ottawa Entrepreneurs Podcast, Pat hosts Christine L'Abbé, she shares powerful lessons from her journey, highlighting how passion, self-awareness, and overcoming personal limitations are key to entrepreneurial success. She offers valuable insights on aligning your talents with your passion and pushing past fears to achieve your goals.

On this episode of the Ottawa Entrepreneurs Podcast, Pat hosts Lydia Di Francesco, a workplace wellness specialist and founder of Fit + Healthy 365, who is reshaping workplace wellness and creating environments where high performers thrive.

On this episode of the Ottawa Entrepreneurs Podcast, Pat hosts Colin Morris from Kingston Frameworks, who shares insights on evolving a 42-year-old family business and the importance of building a strong brand in today's competitive market.

On this episode of the Ottawa Entrepreneurs Podcast, Pat hosts Amina Badar, founder of Nia Pure Nature and Piur One, who shares her inspiring journey from government chemist to founder of a thriving natural health products company.

On this episode of the Ottawa Entrepreneurs Podcast, Pat hosts Joshua Fry, Owner of OCR Academy, who shares his inspiring journey of overcoming personal and business obstacles to build a unique fitness facility.

On this episode of the Ottawa Entrepreneurs Podcast, Pat hosts Erin Kelly and Kenton White from Advanced Symbolics who share valuable lessons on resilience, navigating the unknown, and the realities of building a business from the ground up.

On this episode of the Ottawa Entrepreneurs Podcast, Pat hosts Jamil Bhuya, founder and CEO of Burgers n' Fries Forever, who shares hard-earned lessons on resilience, confidence, and the importance of knowing your 'why' in business.

On this episode of the Ottawa Entrepreneurs Podcast, Pat hosts Bruce Engel, a criminal defense lawyer with over 33 years of experience, who shares how embracing risks and trusting your instincts can lead to a successful entrepreneurial journey—even when starting with just a $10,000 line of credit and a leap of faith.

On this episode of the Ottawa Entrepreneurs Podcast, Pat hosts Eric Wagner, Co-Founder of Endosink, who manufacture equipment to improve the work lives of endoscope reprocessing technicians and enhance patient safety. Eric shares insights on working with family, emphasizing the importance of genuine collaboration rather than forcing partnerships. Eric also talks about his journey driven by curiosity and the desire to solve real problems. He highlights lessons learned, such as the importance of trust, time management, and honest communication, encouraging aspiring entrepreneurs to take small steps outside their comfort zones and keep pushing forward.

On this episode of the Ottawa Entrepreneurs Podcast, Pat hosts John Fenech, Owner of the Health Hub Collective, operating health clinics in Barrhaven and Manotick. The clinics offer services such as physiotherapy, massage therapy, and nutritional coaching. In this episode John delves into his journey as an entrepreneur in the health and wellness industry, highlighting his business model, experiences, and insights for those considering a similar path. John talks about his decision to become an entrepreneur, discussing the tipping point that led him to start his own clinic, and the pleasure he gets from offering services he's proud of.

On this episode of the Ottawa Entrepreneurs Podcast, Pat hosts Jane He, CEO at Signority. Signority specializes in secure electronic signature workflows. In this episode Jane discusses her journey into entrepreneurship, highlighting her background in high tech and the challenges she faced in transitioning from hardware development to the cloud-based software industry. She emphasizes the importance of being prepared and receiving support from mentors, especially in the early stages of entrepreneurial life, and stresses the need for family support. Jane advises entrepreneurs to maintain focus, citing her own learning experience about the critical role focus plays in business success.