A New Wave of Entrepreneurship Venture for Canada

Join us as we delve into the journeys of Heather Luenza, Founder of Closet Core and Co-Founder of Core Fabrics and Tereska Gethsing, Co-Founder of Core Fabrics. These trailblazing entrepreneurs are revolutionizing the fashion industry by challenging fast fashion, embracing body positivity, and championing sustainable practices. Heather shares her transformation from a shopaholic to a sustainable fashion pioneer, revealing how a personal challenge to sew her own clothes sparked a flourishing business that rejects the traditional fashion industry's standards.

Tereska discusses the duo's latest venture, Core Fabrics, and how it seamlessly integrates with their existing business while upholding their commitment to environmental responsibility. This episode not only highlights the power of entrepreneurial spirit but also empowers listeners to think about clothing in a way that celebrates individuality and sustainability. 

In this episode, Katie Dunsworth-Reiach, co-founder of TalkShop, shares her journey of scaling a marketing agency from zero to $10 million in annual revenue.

Discover how Katie transitioned from a journalism student with dreams of becoming an Oprah producer to a leading figure in the marketing world. She discusses the pivotal moments that shaped her career, including her early experiences at 1-800-GOT-JUNK, forming a successful money club featured on Oprah, and founding TalkShop. Katie highlights  the challenges and opportunities of building a marketing agency, the importance of integrity and reputation, and the strategic hires that helped scale TalkShop.

This episode provides practical advice and insights for aspiring entrepreneurs and marketing professionals from one of the best in the business.


5 Key Takeaways:


Leverage Your Early Experiences: Katie’s experience at 1-800-GOT-JUNK taught her the importance of responsibility and wearing multiple hats in scaling a business. She also started a book club that evolved into a financial literacy group, driven by the need she observed for women to improve their financial literacy. These early experiences were crucial to  the foundation of TalkShop.
Strike When the Iron’s Hot: Katie saw that within her industry there’s a lot of people that act like they know what they’re doing but actually don’t provide sufficient results. She knew that with her years of experience in PR and marketing she could help businesses thrive. Katie also saw that businesses were willing to hire experts like herself to deliver results. Plus, the barrier to entry for building a marketing agency was low with minimal expenses. 
Adapt to Industry Changes: The rise of social media as a major tool for consuming information and advertising has significantly impacted the marketing industry. Adapting to these ever-evolving changes is crucial for modern marketing agencies to stay ahead of the competition.
Owning a Marketing Agency Has Its Challenges: Like with any entrepreneur, there’s been some bumps along the road for Katie including finding the right co-founder for TalkShop. Within the marketing world, there’s really not a standard when it comes to pricing, so it can be difficult to gauge how much to charge at first. To overcome challenges as an entrepreneur you have to be able to try, fail, adapt, and embrace change. 
If You Want Invested Employees, You Have to Invest in Them: Foster a positive workplace culture by listening to what your employees want (like their workplace preferences). Provide growth opportunities to retain entry-level employees who have a higher turnover rate. Lean into equity, diversion, and inclusion (EDI) which isn’t just about how you hire employees but also how you operate as a whole.

In this episode, Mario Nigro, a partner at Stikeman Elliott LLP and a key figure in the Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition (ETA) ecosystem in Canada, shares his experience as legal counsel, investor, and ecosystem builder. Mario provides insights into the world of ETA, discussing what to consider before pursuing ETA, the importance of resilience, and the evolving landscape of Canadian ETA funding.

Listeners will gain practical advice on navigating the complexities of acquisitions and learn about the key traits needed for success. 

Join us for an insightful episode featuring Alex Baniczky, SVP and Head of BMO Capital Partners. Alex delves into the critical topic of supporting Canadian companies amid economic challenges.

He discusses Canada's strengths, like a highly educated workforce and high female workforce participation, and its weaknesses, such as reliance on resource-based industries. Alex provides actionable strategies for fostering a supportive ecosystem that nurtures billion-dollar companies, emphasizing the roles of venture capital, stable banking, and private equity.

He also shares insights on leveraging Canada's educational advantages, balancing resource and knowledge economies, and overcoming productivity challenges.

Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur or a seasoned professional, this episode offers valuable insights to help Canadian businesses thrive in a competitive landscape.

In this enlightening episode, we sit down with Laura Buhler, a longtime community leader in the venture capital and startup ecosystem in San Francisco and former Board Director at VFC, to explore the transformative power of community in entrepreneurship.

Laura shares her journey and unique insights into how vibrant communities can serve as a competitive moat for businesses and individuals alike. Now leading the community function for a venture capital fund in Silicon Valley, Laura Buhler's career in community was informed by her background in growth marketing and by her involvement in communities such as the World Economic Forum where she was a Project Manager; On Deck, where she was a Fellow; and the C100, a nonprofit tech community where she was CEO. Laura provides practical strategies for fostering engagement, setting clear cultural norms, and creating rituals that reinforce a shared mission.

Whether you're an entrepreneur seeking to build a strong brand affinity or a leader aiming to cultivate a supportive network, this episode is packed with actionable advice on harnessing the power of community to accelerate learning, foster innovation, and build lasting impact.

Join us for an engaging episode with Cyrus Symoom, Co-CEO of Clariti, a software company for state and local governments, to delve deep into the world of entrepreneurship through acquisition (ETA).

Cyrus shares his incredible journey of purchasing Clariti through a self-funded search at just 26 years old, highlighting the challenges and triumphs of acquiring and scaling a tech company in the Canadian landscape.

Cyrus also explains how he approached his six month search process and raised eight-figure equity financing, the strategic and cultural shifts made to transform a 20-person company into a 120-employee leader in its field, the importance of low ego and high humility in leading an organization through significant changes, and why more Canadians should consider ETA as a career path.

Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur, a seasoned investor, or simply curious about ETA, this episode offers practical advice, personal anecdotes, and strategic insights into building a thriving business.