Inspiring Entrepreneurs Canada

The Expert: Louise Blais, former envoy for Québec for the review of the Canada–United States–Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) Canada has misread Trump and may be paying an avoidable economic price. That's the blunt assessment of veteran diplomat Louise Blais, speaking for the first time since stepping down as Québec's representative in Canada–U.S. trade negotiations. Blais joins Dan Delmar and Michael Newton to examine Ottawa's negotiating strategy, whether business leaders were meaningfully consulted and the mounting costs of "elbows up" for Canadian manufacturers. Warning that American protectionism may outlast Trump, she delivers a sobering assessment of what Canadian entrepreneurs should prepare for in the coming months and years. Join us for conversations with founders, innovators and leaders who embody Canada's entrepreneurial spirit. Since 2009, we are Canada's longest-running broadcast profiling entrepreneurs, now in your podcast feed. To support the show, please subscribe, rate us or share an episode. Inspiring Entrepreneurs is a TNKR Media original production.

The Expert: Ian Lee, Associate Professor, Sprott School of Business, Carleton University Canada has responded to Trump's trade offensive with counter-tariffs, political pressure and a determination not give an inch on issues like supply management. But is confrontation the right strategy for an economy a fraction of the size of the United States, and for a leader with Trump's temperament? "Contrarian" academic and trade expert Ian Lee joins Dan Delmar and Michael Newton to make the case for a different approach. He argues Canada should return to the negotiating table and focus more aggressively on weaknesses at home, including interprovincial trade barriers, productivity and resource development. Ian's new book, tentatively titled Renewing Canada in the Shadow of Trump's America, will be released this fall. Join us for conversations with founders, innovators and leaders who embody Canada's entrepreneurial spirit. Since 2009, we are Canada's longest-running broadcast profiling entrepreneurs, now in your podcast feed. To support the show, please subscribe, rate us or share an episode. Inspiring Entrepreneurs is a TNKR Media original production.

The Entrepreneurs: Nick Saltarelli, co-CEO, Midday Squares & Robert Marzin, co-founder, Manmade Brand Our annual retail panel features two high-energy Montréal-based brands that have managed to persevere and even grow under tough economic conditions. Mike and Dan begin with a look at the two major world news events shaping Canadian business, stalled CUSMA negotiations and a reignited Middle-East conflict, and then how our guests have been impacted.  How do disruptions at the Strait of Hormuz affect the clothing and snack businesses here at home? Nick and Robert share how global risk filters down into real decisions: fundraising becoming tougher, rethinking U.S. distribution strategy, manufacturing across multiple countries, and absorbing unexpected costs just to stay on track. Join us for conversations with founders, innovators and leaders who embody Canada's entrepreneurial spirit. Since 2009, we are Canada's longest-running broadcast profiling entrepreneurs, now in your podcast feed. To support the show, please subscribe, rate us or share an episode. Inspiring Entrepreneurs is a TNKR Media original production.

The Entrepreneur: Peter Mammas, CEO, Foodtastic In only its tenth year, Foodtastic has become one of Canada's dominant restaurant conglomerates, with 27 brands and over 1,200 locations. It all began in a small Greek family restaurant in Montréal's Parc Extension.  Peter Mammas discusses his long journey in the restaurant business and Foodtastic's meteoric rise with the help of private equity partners. The company owns three different rotisserie chicken chains, and familiar brands like Second Cup, Milestones, Pita Pit, Quesada and the newly announced return of Dunkin' to Canada. Mammas looks back on his early hits, including co-founding the retro diner chain Nickels with Céline Dion and her late husband René Angélil. He also offers wisdom for entrepreneurs on quick decision-making and how he turned the crisis of the pandemic into an opportunity to help modernize the industry. Join us for conversations with founders, innovators and leaders who embody Canada's entrepreneurial spirit. Since 2009, we are Canada's longest-running broadcast profiling entrepreneurs, now in your podcast feed. To support the show, please subscribe, rate us or share an episode. Inspiring Entrepreneurs is a TNKR Media original production.

The Panelists: Ian Lee, Associate Professor, Sprott School of Business, Carleton University + Charmaine Goddeeris, Director of Customs & International Trade, BDO Canada As trade tensions persist and geopolitical instability adds fresh uncertainty to global markets, Dan and Michael bring together two of Canada's sharpest voices on tariffs, cross-border strategy and the shifting economic relationship with the US. Ian Lee and Charmaine Goddeeris offer a candid, high-level discussion on what Canadian business leaders should be watching heading into Q2: the likely shape of the next USMCA/CUSMA negotiation, the limits of trade diversification, the growing importance of natural resources and critical minerals, and the need for Canadian firms to make harder pivots for resilience, competitiveness and risk management. It is a wide-ranging discussion about negotiation, economic realism and the policy choices that will shape Canada's position in a more volatile world. Join us for conversations with founders, innovators and leaders who embody Canada's entrepreneurial spirit. Since 2009, we are Canada's longest-running broadcast profiling entrepreneurs, now in your podcast feed. To support the show, please subscribe, rate us or share an episode. Inspiring Entrepreneurs is a TNKR Media Original Production.

The Entrepreneur: Pino Di Ioia, CEO, BeaverTails   As Canada's political and business class unpack the Prime Minister's dramatic speech at Davos amid ongoing trade negotiations, Dan and Mike profile one of the most "elbows up" Canadian brands imaginable, the iconic BeaverTail.   Though it's discussed, this isn't an episode about the fried doughnut-like delicacy but about one man's pure entrepreneurial journey from summer job to CEO. Pino, who went to college with Mike in Montréal, explains how his first real job became his career, and how to find meaning and growth in all work.   Join us about every other Sunday for stories of founders, innovators and leaders of all sorts who embody Canada's entrepreneurial spirit. Since 2009, we are Canada's longest-running broadcast profiling entrepreneurs, now in your podcast feed. To support the show, please subscribe, rate us or share an episode. Inspiring Entrepreneurs is a  TNKR Media Original Production.

The Guest of Honour: Dr. Philippe Couillard, former Premier of Québec (2014-2018) and senior consultant, StrategyCorp    From Montréal's controversial but innovative REM light rail project to balancing four consecutive provincial budgets, Dr. Couillard opens up about governing with private sector partners, modernizing public infrastructure with PPPs and embracing political risk.   The former provincial Liberal leader reflects on how to ensure infrastructure projects are built to last and how bureaucratic overload is threatening innovation. He also challenges conventional views on profitability in public projects and calls for smarter, more collaborative models, drawing on lessons from European healthcare and public transit.   For this special 2025 finale, Mike and Dan also get practical advice from Dr. Couillard for business leaders hoping to partner with government—and why understanding Québec culture is essential to any fruitful collaboration.  Inspiring Entrepreneurs is a  TNKR Media Original Production.

The Entrepreneur: Justin Herlick, CEO and cofounder, Pine   As the Prime Minister narrowly passes a record-setting budget and embarks on trade missions abroad, Mike and Dan wonder if the federal government is doing enough to stimulate business growth domestically, starting with interprovincial trade. Then, a zoom-out on the global economy, the risk of an AI bubble-burst, and why a burst won't necessarily shake the tech sector to its core. Speaking of tech, our profile this time is a Canadian startup founder disrupting the traditional mortgage lending model.   Justin Herlick's Pine is quickly gaining traction after recently surpassing the $1 billion mark in mortgages managed, and there's some speculation that the platform is moving the numbers at a macro level as well, where traditional lenders are losing some market share to new competition. Justin speaks about novel concepts in mortgage lending: speed, efficiency and a customer experience. The real estate and finance platform was named the #1 Canadian startup in 2025 by LinkedIn (congratulations to Pine as well as IE alum Manmade which placed third).   Inspiring Entrepreneurs is a TNKR Media Original Production.

The Entrepreneur: Dr. Clarissa Desjardins, CEO, Congruence Therapeutics   Mike and Dan are back with some federal budget analysis, a check-in on the national business climate and a fascinating conversation with an innovative biotech entrepreneur building her fourth and most ambitious venture.   ​Based in Montreal​, Dr. Desjardins develops small molecule drugs using AI-driven computational platforms. She discusses her journey from grad student to serial entrepreneur, highlighting the vibrant Montreal biotech ecosystem and the crucial role of venture capital in advancing high-risk, long-term scientific innovation.   Inspiring Entrepreneurs Canada is a TNKR Media Original Production.

The Entrepreneur: Davide Pisanu, CEO, ClearEstate   Mike and Dan return for a succession-themed show following the election, the Liberals' near-majority win, and a Throne Speech read by the King Charles III that has Canadian investors and even some critics reacting with cautious optimism.    After breaking down what Canadian businsesspeople should expect for the coming months on tariffs, recessionary conditions and other X factors, ClearEstate's co-founder and chief executive joins the conversation to describe how the well-funded Montréal startup is optimizing arguably some the most painful bureaucratic tasks of all, estate planning and settlement.    Inspiring Entrepreneurs Canada is a TNKR Media Original Production.