Episodes

In Episode 180 of The Business Development Podcast, Kelly Kennedy sits down with QuHarrison Terry, a trailblazing digital marketing expert, author, and co-host of CNBC’s No Retreat: Business Bootcamp. QuHarrison shares insights from his latest book, The Metaverse Handbook, providing a visionary look into how the metaverse will revolutionize business and reshape the digital landscape. As head of growth marketing at Mark Cuban Companies, QuHarrison discusses the massive shifts already taking place...

In Episode 179 of The Business Development Podcast, Kelly Kennedy tackles the dangers of the "can't do" attitude and its impact on businesses and teams. He explores how this mindset—marked by negativity, self-doubt, and resistance to challenges—can hold back both individuals and entire organizations. Drawing from his own experiences and interviews with successful leaders, Kelly outlines how the "can't do" attitude can be deeply ingrained but offers actionable strategies to help team members shif...

In Episode 178 of The Business Development Podcast, host Kelly Kennedy sits down with Fahad Khan, the dynamic CEO and founder of Canada Prime Marketing. Fahad shares his remarkable journey, beginning as a 14-year-old immigrant to Canada and evolving into a highly successful entrepreneur. He discusses how his early experiences shaped his mindset, driving him to build a marketing empire. With partnerships spanning Fortune 500 companies like TELUS and SodaStream, Fahad reveals how his relentless pu...

In Episode 177 of The Business Development Podcast, Kelly takes a deep dive into the realities of burnout, a common but often overlooked challenge among high-performing individuals. He explores the different types of burnout—overload, under-challenge, and neglect—discussing how each impacts professionals mentally and physically. With insights from personal experience and research from Prevention.com, Kelly shares the warning signs of burnout, such as constant headaches, irritability, and neglect...

In Episode 176 of The Business Development Podcast, Kelly Kennedy interviews Mack Male, Co-Founder and CEO of Taproot Publishing, about his journey from software development to pioneering local journalism in Edmonton. They explore how Mack’s tech background and dedication to community engagement have shaped Taproot’s mission to deliver high-quality, relevant local news that fills gaps left by traditional media. Mack shares insights into the unique challenges and rewards of running an independent...

In Episode 175 of The Business Development Podcast, Kelly Kennedy dives into the essentials of solopreneurship, offering a comprehensive guide for those building businesses single-handedly. From mastering time management to developing a resilient brand and understanding the importance of risk protection, Kelly shares actionable insights to help solopreneurs not only survive but thrive. He covers the critical need for professional liability insurance, the benefits of a personal rainy-day fund, an...

In Episode 174 of The Business Development Podcast, Kelly Kennedy sits down with Patricia Bathory, a psychotherapist and entrepreneur, to explore the often overlooked but critical relationship between mental health and entrepreneurial success. Patricia shares her insights on the mental pressures that business owners face, from isolation and burnout to the challenge of maintaining personal relationships. The conversation delves into why vulnerability should be embraced, not feared, and how it can...

In Episode 173 of The Business Development Podcast, Kelly Kennedy delves into the critical mindset shift that business development is a long-term commitment, comparing it to a marathon rather than a sprint. He emphasizes that success in business development comes from consistent effort over time, much like planting seeds and nurturing them before seeing results. Kennedy reminds listeners that business opportunities often materialize months or even years after initial outreach, making it essentia...

In this episode of The Business Development Podcast, Kelly Kennedy sits down with Derek Nolt, CEO of BladeFlex, to discuss the journey from a career in construction to becoming an entrepreneur in health tech. Derek shares his personal story of chronic shoulder pain, caused by years of physical labor, and how it sparked the development of BladeFlex, an innovative rehabilitation device designed to improve posture and muscle balance. From prototyping to patenting and marketing, Derek walks us throu...

In Episode 171 of The Business Development Podcast, Kelly Kennedy addresses community questions from listeners, providing insights on a wide range of business development topics. He answers practical questions about handling communication on LinkedIn, including how to follow up after meetings without being intrusive and strategies for transitioning conversations from LinkedIn to direct communication. He also advises on building confidence and communication skills for non-native English speakers,...

In Episode 170 of The Business Development Podcast, host Kelly Kennedy sits down with Craig Williams, founder of A&M Abatement, to explore the often-overlooked dangers lurking in older homes and buildings: asbestos and hazardous materials. Craig shares his journey from environmental science to entrepreneurship, highlighting how he founded A&M Abatement to fill a critical gap in the industry. He dives into the technical details of asbestos abatement, explains the health risks associated with asbe...

In this episode of The Business Development Podcast, host Kelly Kennedy explores the profound impact that overwhelming media consumption can have on both personal and professional growth. He discusses how constant exposure to negative news, social media, and political discourse can lead to a cycle of negativity, draining energy and focus away from essential business and personal development goals. Drawing on his experiences, Kelly shares ten valuable lessons on managing media intake, building a ...

In Episode 168 of The Business Development Podcast, Kelly Kennedy welcomes back Fatima Zaidi, the founder and CEO of Quill Inc. and CoHost, for an in-depth conversation on the evolving landscape of podcasting and its potential for business growth in 2025 and beyond. Fatima shares her expert insights on how businesses can leverage podcasting as a powerful tool for brand storytelling, thought leadership, and lead generation. She emphasizes the importance of consistency in content production, under...

Episode 167 of The Business Development Podcast dives deep into the art and science of cold calling, offering listeners ten game-changing principles to elevate their approach and effectiveness. Host Kelly Kennedy begins by addressing the common fears associated with cold calls, emphasizing that while they can be daunting, the process doesn’t have to be overly complex. From leveraging warm introductions via LinkedIn to ensuring a thorough understanding of your business, product, and target audien...

In this episode of The Business Development Podcast, Kelly Kennedy sits down with Scot Bryson, the visionary founder of Orbital Farms, to discuss his journey from humble beginnings to collaborating with NASA and pioneering sustainable solutions for both Earth and space. Scot shares how his deep-rooted curiosity and diverse experiences, including his time in digital advertising and environmental projects, have shaped his innovative approach to solving some of humanity's most pressing challenges. ...

Episode 165 of The Business Development Podcast centers on the transformative power of positivity and resilience in the face of adversity. Host Kelly Kennedy emphasizes the importance of maintaining a positive outlook, even after experiencing setbacks such as losing a proposal, facing economic downturns, or dealing with self-limiting beliefs. He shares personal stories from his entrepreneurial journey, highlighting how a positive mindset and the ability to bounce back stronger have been crucial ...

Episode 164 of The Business Development Podcast features an in-depth conversation with Brandon Fuchs, known as "The Contractor Coach" and President & CEO of North Canadian Construction Group. With nearly two decades of experience in the construction industry, Brandon shares his journey from a struggling general contractor to a leader in transforming construction businesses. He dives into the challenges faced by contractors, such as managing multiple roles, balancing family life, and maintaining ...

In Episode 163 of The Business Development Podcast, Kelly Kennedy delves into the essential components that drive success both in business and in life: passion, determination, and self-accountability. He explores how these three elements are interconnected and vital for achieving long-term goals, whether in personal development or professional endeavors. Drawing from his own experiences, Kelly emphasizes the importance of finding your "why," a deep-rooted passion that can sustain you through cha...

In this episode of The Business Development Podcast, Kelly Kennedy sits down with Derek Armstrong, Director of Calgary Economic Development and former Manager of Innovation Ecosystems at Prairies Economic Development Canada. They dive deep into the role of PrairiesCan in driving economic growth and diversification across Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba. Derek shares insights on how PrairiesCan is fueling innovation by investing in key sectors such as clean tech, ag tech, and life sciences, w...

Episode 161 of The Business Development Podcast is a special Q&A session where host Kelly Kennedy engages with questions from the community. Kennedy reflects on the journey of the podcast, celebrating over 160 episodes and more than 210,000 downloads. He encourages listeners to continue submitting their questions, assuring anonymity if requested, and highlights the importance of sharing the show on platforms like Spotify and LinkedIn to further its growth. One of the standout questions in thi...

In episode 160 of The Business Development Podcast, host Kelly Kennedy engages in an insightful discussion with former CTV News Anchor Carmen Leibel, who shares her expertise on effective public speaking and her journey into entrepreneurship. Carmen reflects on her transition from journalism to founding Project Five, a program designed to enhance public speaking skills among students, entrepreneurs, and executives. She emphasizes the importance of preparation, including crafting key talking poin...

In Episode 159 of The Business Development Podcast, Kelly Kennedy shares ten valuable lessons from his podcasting journey, emphasizing the need for a clear vision and consistent authenticity. He reflects on the various challenges he encountered, such as securing guests and managing production, and provides practical advice to help aspiring podcasters navigate these common obstacles. Kennedy also explores how his podcast has facilitated personal and professional growth, leading to new opportuniti...

In Episode 158 of The Business Development Podcast, Kelly Kennedy interviews Jory Evans, CEO of Evans Trucking, Evans Pro Development, and Evans HD. Starting at just 16, Jory has grown his ventures to include over 100 trucks and multiple enterprises. He emphasizes the importance of mission, vision, and core values in driving business success. Jory explains how establishing solid core values transformed his company culture, reduced turnover, and led to significant growth, with his fleet expanding...

In Episode 157 of the Business Development Podcast, host Kelly Kennedy explores the crucial skill of leaving effective voicemails. He provides actionable tips on how to convey confidence, enthusiasm, and clarity while keeping messages short and sweet, ideally under 30 seconds. Highlighting that 80% of sales calls go to voicemail, Kelly emphasizes the importance of voicemails as a 'superpower' in business development, encouraging consistency and kindness to gradually build trust and interest with...