Episodes

In this episode of Marketing Corner Talks, host Dave Keighron is joined by entrepreneur, marketing instructor, and escape room founder Chris Ricard for an in-depth conversation on creativity, resilience, and learning through real-world hustle. Chris traces his entrepreneurial journey from early sales experiences such as working the paper routes, telemarketing, and door-to-door selling, to building and scaling SmartyPantz Escape Rooms, downtown Vancouver’s first escape room business. The discuss...

In this episode of Marketing Corner Talks, host Dave Keighron sits down with Lili Molavi, CEO of Molavi Consulting Group and RBC Canadian Women Entrepreneur Awards nominee, to explore how human-centered strategy and personal well-being shape sustainable business success. Lili shares her journey as an entrepreneur and consultant, discussing how her background in business development, wellness, and leadership coaching shaped her approach to helping founders build resilient companies. She walks us...

In this episode of Marketing Corner Talks, host Dave Keighron launches the show’s new format of blending real-world marketing conversations with student voices and applied learning insights. Joining him is Dr. Gabriela Birnfeld Kurtz, Assistant Professor at the University of the Fraser Valley, whose career bridges academia, digital marketing, and entrepreneurship. Together, they discuss Gabriela’s path from Brazil’s marketing industry to Canadian classrooms. From her early days in digital marke...

In this episode of Marketing Corner Talks: Business Edition, host Dave Keighron sits down with Javier Lavalle, co-founder of We Make Games, the indie board game publisher behind the breakout hit Teddies vs. Monsters. What began as a pandemic idea amongst roommates has evolved into a fast-growing creative business, selling out its first release in just six months. Javier shares how a background in psychology shaped his player-centered design approach, how his team pivoted from failed digital ads ...

In this episode of Marketing Corner Talks, we sit down with Pascal Zirn, founder of Crushy Social, Inc., to explore what it takes to disrupt the dating app industry. Crushy dares to say no to endless swiping, predatory paywalls, and black-box algorithms, instead, offering a human-first approach to connection. Pascal shares the personal story that inspired Crushy, why he believes current platforms like Tinder and Bumble are broken, and how Crushy is creating a more human-centered, authentic appro...

From a red wagon in Squamish to national shelves, Sabrina Horlyck & Kristin Campbell turned “magic potion” gut tonics into Squamish Water Kefir — one of BC’s most innovative wellness brands. 🌱 Now, they’re rebranding to Everwell and launching a shelf-stable probiotic powder to take their mission global. 🚲 What began with door-to-door batches in wine bottles is now a line of probiotic sodas, frozen popsicles, and wellness drinks loved across Canada. This is a story about resilience, innovation, ...

🎧 New Episode Drop! 📊 Analytics. Integrity. Results. From coding at night to consulting by day, Ray Wang built RWDigital to close the gap between strategy and technical execution. In this episode, we dive into how his Vancouver-based agency helps clients go beyond flashy campaigns to build real, data-driven results — using tools like GA4,Looker Studio, Microsoft Clarity, and more. From auto and real estate to government and health, RWDigital is the quiet force behind brands making smarter mar...

In this episode of Marketing Corner Talks – Business Talks Edition, host Dave Keighron sits down with Jackee Kasandy, founder of Kasandy Inc., a Vancouver-based social enterprise redefining commerce through fair trade and artisan partnerships. Jackee shares her remarkable journey from growing up in Kenya to building a lifestyle brand that connects conscious consumers to ethically sourced products from across Africa and beyond. Together, they explore the challenges of entrepreneurship, the power...

🥋 A health crisis changed his path. Sasha Tadayoni rebuilt through martial arts - then launched Modern Warrior Academy to help New Westminster grow stronger through self-defence and community. 🥊 We talk competence → confidence, small-class teaching, and how local action scales impact. We also gain insight into how marketing martial arts works. (If you’re in New West,this one’s especially for you - neighbors helping neighbors) You’ll learn · “Confidence through competence” as a repeatable model...

🚀 ✨ New Episode Drop! Meet Shahnawaz Karim, the unstoppable force behind Wheels Guru and Ulka Gear ⚙️🏍️ From launching a patented motorcycle jacket that turns into a backpack to building global rider communities and training thousands across continents, Shahnawaz is changing the way we think about gear, grit, and growth.

✨ New Episode Alert! We sat down with Nav Gill, founder of Roshni Wellness, to talk about what it means to bulid a wellness brand rooted in community, cultural healing, and building a purpose-driven brand in the modern wellness space 🧘‍♀️🕯️ What began as a personal journey through burnout became a purpose-led business anchored in light, intention, and connection. From small markets in the Okanagan to 25+ retail locations in across B.C— Roshni is lighting the way for a new kind of wellness 🌸 💬 ...

How can marketing support reconciliation and drive real impact? In this episode, we sit down with Rob Schulz — Métis entrepreneur and founder of Shop First Nations — to explore how digital strategy, community values, and e-commerce intersect. Learn how Rob made the bold leap from a corporate IT career to creating a purpose-driven marketplace that empowers Indigenous makers across Canada.

🚀 NEW EPISODE ALERT! 🎙️✨ Our latest monthly compilation is LIVE: Discipline, Metrics, & Pizza: Lessons from 3 Experts We’ve curated the best moments from three standout guests — each offering bold insights on leadership, strategy, and innovation in marketing and sales: 🧭 Vitor Makaron – On why discipline is the foundation of sales leadership, and how it fuels high-performing teams and closing big deals. 🎯 Cyndi Greenglass – On the power of KPIs and hard metrics to align sales and marketing a...

In this Business Edition of Marketing Corner Talks, Dave connects with Daniel Goffrey, ex-UK government advisor turned founder & CEO of Cykel Technologies. Daniel shares how he's reshaping e-mobility with smarter, safer, and more connected e-bike solutions—without making new bikes. As Canada’s e-bike growth cools from its pandemic peak, Daniel’s startup is finding new ways to energize the market—focusing on better integration, stronger marketing, and clearer customer needs. From hardware hurdle...

⚔️ Sales wants speed. Marketing wants strategy. So why are these two essential teams still so out of sync? In this Expert Edition of Marketing Corner Talks, Dave sits down with Cyndi Greenglass—data-driven strategist, educator, and founding partner at Livingston Strategies—to unpack the tension and deliver a practical path forward. Together, they explore how misalignment between sales and marketing isn’t just a communication issue—it’s a structural one. From shared KPIs to executive-level stra...

🚀 NEW EXPERT EDITION! 🎙️✨ This one’s for the marketers and the closers. 💼🤝 We sat down with seasoned sales leader Vitor Makaron to talk real-world sales strategy, the evolving role of AI, and why the best sales teams today are built in partnership with marketing. 🎯 Whether you're leading campaigns or building funnels, this conversation dives into what happens after the lead converts — and why marketers who understand sales can drive bigger impact. Highlights include: – What makes a high-perfo...

🚀 NEW EPISODE ALERT! 🎙️✨ Our monthly compilation is LIVE: Last March in 20 Once again, we've pulled three business stories from our three previous guests — spotlighting how marketing and branding drive impact, identity, and growth: ☕ Nadine Umutoni of @nezacoffee – A clip on launching a fair trade coffee brand during COVID and using direct trade to support survivor communities. 🥤 Ekaose Mon-John Nwadiani of @van.suya – How one founder turned his mom’s Nigerian recipe into a market-ready drin...

In this episode of Marketing Corner Talks, Lisa Dahmani, CMO of UX Design Institute, shares her journey from a marketing coordinator to a Chief Marketing Officer. She discusses her early passion for marketing, the importance of education versus on-the-job learning, and her significant growth at HubSpot. Lisa emphasizes the transition from execution to management, her motivations for moving to a smaller organization, and her insights on the future of marketing, particularly with the rise of AI....

How do you scale a culturally inspired brand and make a difference in your community? In this episode, Ekaose Mon-John Nwadiani shares his journey from digital marketing to food entrepreneurship, discussing: Building a brand from scratch using storytelling & market insights. Breaking into Canadian retail stores with an ethnic product. Marketing strategies that helped his brand gain traction. How Vansuya Food Bank is providing 1,000 free meals in 2025. 📍 Support Vansuya Food Bank: 🌐 https://...

What does it take to build a socially responsible business from the ground up? In this episode of Marketing Corner Talks, Dave Keighron interviews Nadine Umutoni, founder of Neza Coffee, as she shares her incredible story of growing up in Rwanda and launching an ethical coffee brand in Canada. Nadine dives into: The power of direct trade and ethical sourcing. Marketing strategies that highlight social impact. The Neza Foundation, supporting genocide survivors in Rwanda. Her future plans to ...

🚀 NEW EPISODE ALERT! 🎙️✨ Our monthly compilation is LIVE: Last February in 20 We’re diving deep into marketing, business growth, and digital disruption with: 📚 Néna Rawdah of @crossandcrows – How small businesses carve out their niche & attract loyal customers 💡 Dr. Andrew Woods, DMgt., MBA of Ask Us Consulting – The power of persuasion, storytelling & soft skills in marketing 🏢 🚀Stephen Jagger of addy – Digital marketing strategies & trust-building in an online-first world 👉 Learn how to...

🎙️In this conversation, Dave Keighron interviews Stephen Jagger, co-founder of Addy Investments, an innovative platform that democratizes real estate investing for Canadians. 🎤They discuss the challenges of traditional real estate investment, the importance of building trust with investors, and the strategies Addy employs to engage its community. 📚Steve shares insights on the dual marketplace model, compliance issues, and the lessons learned from their journey, including branding mistakes and ...

🚀 First Expert Talk of 2025! 🎙️ In this episode of Marketing Corner Talks, host Dave Keighron and guest Dr. Andrew Woods discuss the critical role of soft skills in the age of artificial intelligence. 🎤They explore how emotional intelligence, creativity, and leadership are becoming essential in the workplace as AI continues to automate tasks. 📚Andrew shares insights from his extensive experience in training organizations and emphasizes the need for continuous development of soft skills to rem...

🎧5th episode of 2025: Marketing bookstores as communities with Nena Rawdah of Cross & Crows 🎙️In this episode of Student Talks, Dave's podcast producer Carlos interviews Nena Rawdah, the owner of Cross & Crows Books, a queer-centric bookstore in Commercial Drive, Vancouver. 🎤Nena shares her journey of establishing the bookstore, the challenges faced in building community connections, and the unique strategies employed to stay competitive as a brick-and-mortar store in a digital-first world. 📚...