Owner's Roundtable

Jeff McLarty
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Every successful business has a story that didn’t make it into the press release. Join host Jeff McLarty as he sits down with business owners who’ve been in the trenches—building, scaling, failing, and fighting their way to success. Each episode of Owner’s Roundtable dives deep into the moments that matter: the decisions that changed everything, the failures that taught the hardest lessons, and the operational strategies that actually moved the needle. This isn’t about inspiration—it’s about implementation. It’s about learning from people who’ve already made the mistakes so you don’t have to.

Episodes

  1. From Lab to Leadership: Scaling a Deep-Tech Business with Jack Nicholas of Qdot Technology

    4D AGO

    From Lab to Leadership: Scaling a Deep-Tech Business with Jack Nicholas of Qdot Technology

    What does it take to turn world-class academic research into a real, revenue-generating company? In this episode of Owner’s Roundtable, Jeff McLarty sits down with Jack Nicholas, Co-Founder and CTO of Qdot Technology, to unpack his journey from Oxford University’s labs to the front lines of clean aviation. Jack shares how his Ph.D. research in cooling nuclear fusion reactors became the foundation for a deep-tech startup tackling one of aviation’s hardest problems: thermal management for zero-emissions flight. Along the way, he opens up about the realities of spinning a company out of a university, the costly mistake of leading with technology instead of customer problems, and why he ultimately stepped aside as CEO to put the right leader in place. This is a candid conversation about the long timelines of deep tech, raising capital in tougher markets, navigating VC relationships, and why finding the right people may be the hardest and most important challenge of all.  What You’ll Learn in This Episode The hidden challenges of spinning a company out of a top universityWhy starting with “great technology” instead of a clear problem can slow growthWhen founders should step out of the CEO roleHow investor expectations have shifted from vision to early revenuePractical advice for raising capital and pitching VCsWhy recruitment is harder (and more critical) than most founders expect About Jack Nicholas Jack Nicholas is the Co-Founder and CTO of Qdot Technology, a deep-tech company advancing thermal management solutions for clean aviation. He earned his Ph.D. in Engineering Science at the University of Oxford, where his research focused on cooling technologies for nuclear fusion reactors. After completing his doctorate, Jack led the design of a £1M industrial test facility for next-generation gas turbine materials in collaboration with aerospace partners. Today, he applies that expertise to solving the thermal challenges standing in the way of zero-emissions flight. — Looking for Tools & Support Growing and Managing Your Business? Book a free consultation today: https://calendly.com/jmclarty-focalpointcoaching/30min Contact Jeff McLarty:  Website: FocalPointEdmonton.comLinkedin: Jeff McLartyContact Jack Nicholas:  Website: Qdot TechnologyLinkedIn: Jack NicholasLinkedIn: Qdot Technology

    31 min
  2. Turning Scrap into Scale & Spotting Opportunity with Tyson Christiansen

    4D AGO

    Turning Scrap into Scale & Spotting Opportunity with Tyson Christiansen

    What if the thing everyone else throws away is the foundation of your next business? In this episode of Owner’s Roundtable, Jeff McLarty sits down with Tyson Christiansen, founder of Maverick Metal, to unpack a gritty, real-world entrepreneurial journey built on follow-through, sales grit, and the ability to see value where others see waste. Tyson’s path didn’t start with a polished plan. It started at a tire shop, then behind the counter of a scrapyard, where he unknowingly received one of the best entrepreneurship educations possible. By helping others turn scrap into income, Tyson learned how businesses really work, how middlemen get cut out, and why execution always beats perfection. That early experience led to the creation of Maverick Metal, where Tyson began buying and selling oilfield pipe, eventually realizing that the real opportunity wasn’t brokering, but manufacturing. This episode is a masterclass in doing the work, trusting momentum over certainty, and building something durable by moving forward before everything is figured out. If you’ve ever waited for the “perfect plan” before starting, this conversation will challenge you to just get going. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: Why brokering businesses are fragile and how to escape the middleman trapWhy perfection is the enemy of completionHow differentiation protects margins in manufacturingWhy customers don’t care about price; they care about valueThe role of fear, urgency, and sales volume in business survivalHow making the calls beats waiting for the phone to ringWhy having the right partner at home can be a massive competitive advantageAbout Tyson Christiansen Tyson Christiansen is the founder of Maverick Metal, a manufacturing and materials company focused on repurposing end-of-life oilfield pipe into durable, high-value livestock fencing products. With a background rooted in sales, scrap recovery, and industrial brokering, Tyson built Maverick Metal by identifying overlooked opportunities and executing relentlessly. Known for confidence action and follow-through, Tyson has grown his business across borders, operating in both Canada and the United States, while continuing to scale manufacturing capacity and material sourcing. Looking for Tools & Support Growing and Managing Your Business? Book a free consultation today: https://calendly.com/jmclarty-focalpointcoaching/30min   Contact Jeff McLarty Website: FocalPointEdmonton.com LinkedIn: Jeff McLartyContact Tyson Christiansen WebsiteLinkedInFacebook

    18 min
  3. Cash Flow, Ego, and the Real Cost of Scaling with Tara Proskiw

    4D AGO

    Cash Flow, Ego, and the Real Cost of Scaling with Tara Proskiw

    What happens when you go from “I can manage this place” to “I’m responsible for everything”? In this episode of Owner’s Roundtable, Jeff McLarty sits down with Tara Proskiw, owner of Towne & Countree Kitchens, Towne Renovations, and Redl Edmonton, for an unfiltered conversation about the hidden pressure of ownership. The conversation moves through everything owners in a scaling cycle dread: cash flow stress, leadership blind spots, scaling too fast, and the isolation that comes with being the person holding the keys. From learning financial statements the hard way to building boundaries that protect your health (and your marriage), Tara shares what she wishes every new owner knew before signing the paperwork. What You’ll Learn in This Episode Why Tara runs multiple brands instead of one umbrella companyHow vendor take-backs and market uncertainty can crush cash flowThe hard truth about keeping the wrong people in the wrong seatsWhy scaling can make you “grow broke” (even with more revenue)The mindset shift from “manager” to “owner” and the ego shock that comes with itHow Tara sets boundaries to reduce stress (including “no work talk after 7pm”)Why avoiding the financials is a trap and how to face the mirrorHow to identify bad-fit customers and confidently say “we’re not for you”Two books that helped Tara reframe progress and build better habitsWhy every entrepreneur needs a safe place to talk (coach, therapy, peer group) About Tara Proskiw Tara Proskiw is an Edmonton-based entrepreneur with over 17 years in cabinetry and countertops and a reputation for building businesses that actually work operationally, financially, and culturally. As the owner of Towne & Countree Kitchens, Towne Renovations, and Redl Edmonton, she is known for spotting gaps in the market, building smart systems, and bringing clarity to industries where chaos is often the norm. Tara believes leadership is about energy, accountability, and empowering people to do great work without burning out. Outside the business, she gives back through Glenora Rotary and South Edmonton Rotary, while continuing to challenge the idea that home renovations have to be stressful. Direct, thoughtful, and values-driven, Tara brings both edge and heart to everything she builds. Resources discussed in this episode: Women Presidents Organization (WPO)Alberta Women Entrepreneurs (AWE) — Bold LeadershipMount Royal University — Growth CatalystThe Gap and the Gain — Dan Sullivan & Dr. Benjamin HardyAtomic Habits — James Clear— Looking for Tools & Support Growing and Managing Your Business? Book a free consultation today: https://calendly.com/jmclarty-focalpointcoaching/30min Contact Jeff McLarty:  Website: FocalPointEdmonton.comLinkedin: Jeff McLartyContact Tara Proskiw:  LinkedIn: Tara ProskiwWebsite: Towne & Countree KitchensWebsite: Towne RenovationsWebsite: Redl Kitchens

    42 min
  4. From Y2K to AI: Scaling Through Chaos with Rafael Krug of Zero-Defect

    4D AGO

    From Y2K to AI: Scaling Through Chaos with Rafael Krug of Zero-Defect

    What does it take to build a business that survives economic collapse, a global pandemic, and a literal flood? In this episode of Owner’s Roundtable, Jeff McLarty sits down with Rafael Krug, founder of Zero-Defect, one of Brazil’s leading software quality assurance firms. They unpack a two-decade entrepreneurial journey that spans continents, and more than a few hard resets. From fixing Y2K bugs in Brazilian banks to scaling into a 70-person QA firm, navigating the 2008 financial crisis, surviving COVID shutdowns, and then rebuilding after catastrophic flooding in Porto Alegre, Rafael’s story is a wonder of resilience, adaptability, and long-term vision.  Now based in Canada and loving the Canadian business landscape, Rafael shares why he chose to rebuild yet again, but this time with a global, product-driven future in mind. What You’ll Learn in This Episode How a Y2K internship led to a lifelong career in software quality assuranceHow HP became Zero-Defect’s first major clientThe real challenges behind scaling from 3 people to 70What it’s like to lose half your company during an economic collapseHow COVID forced a full operational resetWhat happens when your entire office is submerged under two meters of floodwaterWhy Rafael believes people — not infrastructure — are the real assetKey differences between doing business in Brazil vs. CanadaWhy Zero-Defect is shifting from a services model to product-led growthAdvice for entrepreneurs facing setbacks that feel impossible to recover fromAbout Rafael Krug Rafael Krug is the founder of Zero-Defect, a software quality assurance company specializing in functional, performance, security, and automated testing. Founded in Brazil in 2004, Zero-Defect grew into one of the country’s leading QA firms, supporting mission-critical systems for enterprise clients. Now based in Edmonton, Canada, Rafael is leading Zero-Defect’s expansion into North America while launching AI-driven testing tools designed to modernize how software quality is delivered globally. Resources discussed in this episode: Start-up Visa Program (Canada)Caldeira / Instituto Caldeira (Porto Alegre innovation hub)— Looking for Tools & Support Growing and Managing Your Business? Book a free consultation today: https://calendly.com/jmclarty-focalpointcoaching/30min Contact Jeff McLarty:  Website: FocalPointEdmonton.comLinkedin: Jeff McLartyContact Rafael Krug:  Website: Zero-DefectLinkedIn: Rafael KrugLinkedIn: Zero-Defect

    38 min

  5. 11/24/2025

    Trailer: Owner's Roundtable

    Every successful business has a story that never made the press release: messy beginnings, painful mistakes, near collapses, and game-changing decisions that shaped the journey. In Owner’s Roundtable, host Jeff McLarty has real conversations with real business owners who’ve built, scaled, stumbled, and fought their way forward. This podcast isn’t about polished highlight reels or corporate marketing stories. It’s about lessons learned the hard way from builders who’ve been in the arena. It shows why stories from the trenches really matter and gives us a seat at the table with operators who tell us how it really works. About Host Jeff McLarty: Jeff is a seasoned entrepreneur with diverse experience working in and with organisations both large and small, family businesses, mid-sized corporations, not-for-profits and governments. He has worked with leaders in aerospace, AI, manufacturing, IT, and construction just to name a few. His own journey to the owner's table has covered a diverse range of work and ownership experiences, including working in the trades, sales, financial planning, Deputy Director of a museum, and as an Executive Director of a major not-for-profit before becoming an owner/operator of a family business in retail. He also has extensive volunteer experience, which he credits with developing the broad skill set he needed to begin operating a business at a relatively young age (35). Together with his wife and business partner Stephanie, they scaled a small family-owned business into a multi-segment tourism and food services operation with 25 staff and a province-wide reputation. Following the sale of the retail side of the operations, Jeff and his family moved to Edmonton, Alberta, where he began contract work for a UK-based aerospace startup, eventually serving as interim COO. He is currently a consulting partner in several venture startups and works as an Executive Coach and Business Trainer.   Jeff is passionate about the journey to entrepreneurship and what it takes to keep a seat at the Owners Round Table, Listen in as he explores with fellow founders, how they earned their seats and share the wisdom of years spent building a business in the hopes that you can learn from their tough experiences.  — Looking for Tools & Support Growing and Managing Your Business. Book a free consultation today: https://calendly.com/jmclarty-focalpointcoaching/30min Contact Jeff McLarty:  Website: FocalPointEdmonton.comLinkedin: Jeff McLarty

    1 min

Trailer

About

Every successful business has a story that didn’t make it into the press release. Join host Jeff McLarty as he sits down with business owners who’ve been in the trenches—building, scaling, failing, and fighting their way to success. Each episode of Owner’s Roundtable dives deep into the moments that matter: the decisions that changed everything, the failures that taught the hardest lessons, and the operational strategies that actually moved the needle. This isn’t about inspiration—it’s about implementation. It’s about learning from people who’ve already made the mistakes so you don’t have to.

Information

  • Creator
    Jeff McLarty
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    5
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    ©2026 McLarty Operations Group
  • Show Website
    Owner's Roundtable