The Founder Mindset

Epizode

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  S03|18: The Founder Mindset Season Finale: The Partners Behind the Progress in Alberta's Innovation Ecosystem 12.05.2026 59min

  In this live season finale of The Founder Mindset, Leah Sarich brings together three leaders from the show’s sponsors to explore what Founders need beyond grit: banking partners, talent partners, and ecosystem builders who help companies grow, hire, access capital, and scale from Calgary to the world.
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  S03|17: Reverberating Impact: David de Graaf on Biotech, Cancer, and the Founder Mindset 28.04.2026 45min

  In this episode of The Founder Mindset, David de Graaf, Co-Founder and CEO of Reverb Therapeutics, shares his journey from academic scientist to serial biotech Founder. He discusses the intricacies of biotech startups, the emotional toll of entrepreneurship, and the groundbreaking work Reverb Therapeutics is doing to enhance immune responses in cancer treatments.
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  S03|16: Turning Gaps into Innovations with Natasha Kostenuk 14.04.2026 33min

  Natasha Kostenuk, Co-Founder and CEO of Ayrton Energy, shares how her engineering background and relentless drive to solve tough problems led to the creation of a new hydrogen storage solution. She reflects on the challenges of building a deep tech company and how values and perseverance shape her Founder journey.
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  S03|15: How Healthcare Founder Sameer Dhar is Reimagining Preventative Care 31.03.2026 37min

  A conversation with healthcare startup Founder Sameer Dhar about building two impactful companies, scaling access to preventative care, and how startup grit fuels a healthier future.
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  S03|14: Transforming Chronic Care with Loreen Wales 17.03.2026 37min

  Dietitian-turned-Founder Loreen Wales never planned to become an entrepreneur. But after seeing too many patients struggle with preventable chronic diseases, she knew something had to change. In this episode, she shares how that conviction led her to build My Viva, a clinical-grade lifestyle platform transforming patient care, and how resilience, humble confidence, and self trust have shaped her journey.
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  S03|13: Bold Bets, Big Lessons: Building Ambyint the Right Way with Benjamin Kemp 03.03.2026 42min

  In this episode of The Founder Mindset, venture builder Benjamin Kemp, CEO of Ambyint, shares how he led a high-stakes turnaround by repatriating the company to Canada, securing ERA funding, hiring 11 people in nine weeks, and scaling true autonomous well control, while staying people-first. He unpacks his “think / know / prove” decision framework, the grind of change management, and balancing bold moves with family and culture.
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  S03|12: How Nimble Science Is Revolutionizing GI Health with Sabina Bruehlmann 17.02.2026 36min

  Serial entrepreneur Sabina Bruehlmann, Co-Founder and CEO of Nimble Science, joins us to discuss her journey from accidental entrepreneurship to leading a company revolutionizing gastrointestinal research. She shares insights on resilience, coping with founder stress, and the impact of Nimble’s SIMBA capsule on precision health care.
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  S03|11: Building Bold Visions in Renewable Energy with Dan Balaban 03.02.2026 35min

  Dan Balaban, Co-Founder and CEO of Greengate, shares how bold vision, calculated risks, and perseverance built Canada’s largest wind and solar projects. He recalls weathering the 2008 financial crisis, mortgaging his home to keep the company alive, and why going big from day one paid off. Dan also reflects on his wellness transformation, his role investing in energy and AI, and his work with OCIF to grow Calgary’s innovation ecosystem.
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  S03|10: Building Robots and Resilience with Jana Tian of Upside Robotics 20.01.2026 45min

  Jana Tian, Co-Founder and CEO of Upside Robotics, shares her journey from corporate product developer to startup Founder. Upside Robotics is revolutionizing agriculture with small, autonomous robots. From sleeping in an RV on farms to rebuilding after devastating setbacks, her story is one of bold vision, deep grit, and human-first impact.
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  S03|09: From Brain Surgery to MedTech Innovation with Dr. John Wong 06.01.2026 41min

  What's harder? Neurosurgeon or Startup Founder? In this episode, Dr. John Wong shares his experience of building a medtech company, transforming how medical conditions are treated worldwide.
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  S03|08: How Nanostics is Revolutionizing Prostate Cancer Detection with Catalina Vasquez 23.12.2025 49min

  In this episode of The Founder Mindset, host Leah Sarich speaks with Catalina Vasquez, Co-Founder and COO of Nanostics. Catalina opens up about her unexpected journey into entrepreneurship, from working in labs in Colombia to moving to Canada and building a biotech company that is reshaping prostate cancer diagnosis.
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  S03|07: The Relentless Drive to Build with Impact with James Rockwood 09.12.2025 51min

  James Rockwood, Founder and CEO of CapIntel, shares how he built a financial technology company that now supports over 20,000 advisors. From launching amid a global crisis to defining culture with intention, this episode explores the mindset, grit, and clarity it takes to lead with purpose.
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  S03|06: From Science Fair to Clean Tech: Nivatha Balendra on Building Dispersa 25.11.2025 39min

  In this episode of The Founder Mindset, host Leah Sarich sits down with Nivatha Balendra, Founder and CEO of Dispersa. What started as a high school science fair project exploring ways to clean up oil spills grew into a clean tech company transforming food waste into sustainable biosurfactants. Today, Dispersa is pioneering alternatives to petroleum and palm-derived ingredients found in everyday products like cleaners, detergents, and even cosmetics.
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  S03|05: Remi Schmaltz on Founding, Failing, and Figuring It Out 11.11.2025 47min

  Remi Schmaltz, Founder and CEO of Brilliant Harvest, shares how he’s leveraging AI to transform customer service for farm equipment dealers, and how a river rafting accident ultimately led to launching his latest venture.
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  S03|04: Making Estate Planning Accessible and Affordable with Erin Bury 28.10.2025 45min

  Erin Bury, Co-founder and CEO of Willful, shares how she transformed from a startup skeptic to a Founder of a company making estate planning easier for all Canadians. Her personal story of love, loss, and launching a business with her husband is deeply compelling, as is her commitment to living with purpose and building a values-driven company that truly helps people.
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  S03|03: Building Symend, Overcoming Challenges, and Creating Impact with Hanif Joshaghani 14.10.2025 51min

  In this episode of The Founder Mindset, host Leah Sarich speaks with Hanif Joshaghani, Co-Founder and CEO of Symend. Hanif shares how his early hustles shaped his entrepreneurial drive, his journey through banking and startups, and the challenges of scaling Symend. He reflects on hard lessons from hiring, the importance of Founder-led sales, and his vision for creating impact through behavioral science and philanthropy.
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  S03|02: Reimagining Healthcare Access: Joella Almeida’s Vision for Pharmacy-Led Clinics 30.09.2025 49min

  Joella Almeida, Co-Founder and CEO of MedEssist, shares how she’s redefining pharmacy care by turning community pharmacies into pharmacist-led clinics. From startup scrappiness to life-saving innovation, this conversation is a deep dive into meaningful impact, Founder resilience, and healthcare transformation.
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  S03|01: 15 Hours to 15 Seconds: Transforming Tax Research with Benjamin Alarie 16.09.2025 47min

  In this episode, we talk with Benjamin Alarie, Co-Founder and CEO of Blue J, about his journey from law professor to tech entrepreneur, and how Blue J’s AI platform is transforming tax research. He shares lessons on scaling a startup, embracing technological change in a traditional field, and building a company that empowers professionals to focus on human-centered client work.
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  S03 Trailer: The Founder Mindset 09.09.2025 1min

  Season 3 of The Founder Mindset with Leah Sarich is here - and it goes beyond business. Leah sits down with visionary Founders and digs into the real impact of building a company: how it reshapes your identity, challenges your relationships, and demands resilience.
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  S02|14: Breaking Barriers in Fertility Insurance with Dr. Christy Lane 22.04.2025 38min

  In this bonus episode, Leah sits down with Dr. Christy Lane, Co-Founder of Flora, an InsurTech company revolutionizing fertility insurance. Dr. Lane shares her entrepreneurial journey, from her early research in wearable technology at the University of Michigan to founding Vivametrica, a health data analytics company later acquired by TELUS. Inspired by her own experience with infertility, she launched Flora in 2021 to provide affordable insurance options for women aged 20-34 seeking fertility treatments. Tune in to hear Dr. Lane’s inspiring insights on resilience, innovation, and the future of fertility insurance.