Explore every episode of the podcast Innovation Fuel: Real-World Business Cases

On this week's episode of Innovation Fuel, Dave Keighron and Dr. Gelareh Farhadian talk to Juliana Lopes  CEO and Founder of the Fem group about encouraging you to step out of your comfort zone, break free from your friendly community, and embark on a journey of creating a brand new network.

Join Dave Keighron and Dr. Gelareh Farhadian in another enlightening episode of Innovation Fuel Business podcasts by University Canada West as we discuss the future of sustainable technology with Paige Whitehead, CEO and co-founder of Lux Bio. Discover how Paige is revolutionizing the glow stick industry with bioluminescence, offering a non-toxic, eco-friendly alternative.

Contact Paige in her LinkedIn to learn more about LuxBio: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paige-whitehead/

Dave Keighron and Dr. Gelareh Farhadian delve into the world of smart home technology with Kevin Gu, CEO of BAYS Technologies and, Somayyeh T. VP of Business Development. Learn about their ambitious goal to eliminate preventable damages from water and fire, and how their B2B model is transforming the security industry.

Learn more about Baystech smart systemes here

This episode of Innovation Fuel explores the world of Fluevog, a unique shoe company that marches to the beat of its drum.  Dave Keighron and Dr. Gelareh Farhadian dive into Fluvog's niche customer base with CMO Stephen Bailey and learn how they've built a community around artistic vision and self-expression. Challenges like small batch production and adapting to e-commerce are discussed. Fluevog provides an inspirational case study on staying true to your values while running a successful business.

In this episode of Innovation Fuel, we delve into the world of beauty e-commerce with Adam Chunz, co-founder and CMO of Blanka. Discover how Blanka is democratizing the beauty industry by enabling anyone to create and scale their own beauty product line. Listen to learn about the innovative platform that's changing the game for entrepreneurs, influencers, and existing brands.

Learn more about Blanka's platform for creators here

How do we solve the talent gap here in Canada that he's been going on for over 20 years? We discuss this critical problem in this week's episode of Innovation Fuel, where we welcome back our very own Sheldon Levy, President of University Canada West. Sheldon joins hosts Dave and Gelareh to dig deeper into Canada's talent gap issue and find realistic solutions that education institutions can implement to help our society move past this obstacle. We need to fix the talent gap to grow our businesses and create a better future for all Canadians.

On this week's episode of Innovation Fuel, UCW Alum Massimo Bellini and founder of Bellini Consulting joins hosts Dave Keighron and Dr. Gelareh Farhadian to discuss global events like COVID-19 and breakthroughs in technology that affect a business’s brand. With Massimo’s many years of experience working with major fashion brands, he discusses the positives and negatives of keeping a company thriving in an ever-changing world.   

On this week's episode of Innovation Fuel, Dave and Gelareh welcome  Alex  Honadel, Owner of Green Solutions Pool Service. She is a lifestyle entrepreneur who created a business in college that allowed her to have a flexible work schedule while still making money. Years later, her company continues to thrive, and she can travel and continue her passion for helping the environment while saving people money. Listen now and discover how she took a simple idea of filling out rebate applications and turning it into a lifestyle business. 

On this week's episode of Innovation Fuel,  Pat Chaisang,  Founder & CEO at Isempower Canada's first job search platform for international students. She joins hosts Dave Keighron and Dr. Gelareh Farhadian to discuss starting November 15, 2022, international students in Canada will be allowed to work more than 20 hours per week. They also talk about the challenges of international students finding jobs in Canada and some misconceptions employers may have about hiring international students. 

In a new episode of Innovation Fuel, Dan Pronovost, COO and Founder of Driftscape, is back with Dave Keighron and Dr. Gelareh Farhadian to discuss using augmented reality in business. What does the future hold regarding these groundbreaking tools to advance how people experience tourism and how we interact with a business? The options for using this game-changing technology in every aspect of our lives is endless and full of possibilities. 

In this episode of Innovation Fuel,  hosts Dave Keighron and Dr. Gelareh Farhadian,CEO, talk to  Paul McKenzie, CEO of NexOptic and discuss how his startup experience led him to develop AI that reduces video file sizes. He talks about obstacles to partnering with big streamers and his goal of a major alliance to catalyze industry change.

Wanna get a handle on your finances but feeling overwhelmed?  IIn this episode of the Innovation Fuel Podcast with Gelareh Farhadian and Dave Keighron, our guest is Alireza Fadaie, "the Financial Sensei." Alireza breaks down how to take control of your money with a focus on budgeting, debt, and saving for retirement. Listen and learn how to identify sneaky spending habits and make small changes for big results!

On this week's episode of Innovation Fuel, we welcome Taylor Del Giudice, Co-Founder of Treno, to discuss how challenging finding the right coach or trainer is. Taylor discusses with hosts Dave and Gelareh how to access good trainers, support and resources and leverage the technology around you to make trainers more accessible. Taylor also discusses how he helped create Treno, which connects professional sports stars with young athletes with the hope that young kids who want to play sports professionally can learn from top experts in their desired industry.

E13

Title: Finding the Right Coach

In another episode of Innovation Fuel, Dave Keighron and Dr. Gelareh Farhadian talk with Daniel Yahel, VP of Education at Jolt.io online business school, which transforms people's careers and helps them further their career passion. They also discuss the importance of networking and always keep learning even long after you graduate from post-secondary school.

In this week's episode of Innovation Fuel, we welcome Robert Arthurs, Serial Entrepreneur, Certified Biz Coach/Consultant, to discuss why networking skills are essential in growing your business. Robert discusses with hosts Dave and Gelareh how to network correctly. Also, how having a good network can impact your business and life.  

Did you know that Vancouver is like a Linkedin city, if you wonder why, listen to this episode now!  

We celebrate amazing mothers in another episode of  Innovation Fuel. Dave Keighron and Dr. Gelareh Farhadian dive into deeply personal motherhood journeys with their guests Jamie Samhan, Founder/ CEO of Hop and Paige Mowbray, counsellor and registered social worker. They explore the challenges and triumphs when women attempt to balance their careers and raise children. 

On this week's episode of Innovation Fuel, Dave and Gelareh welcome back Boris Zhukov, CEO of LetYouKnow, Inc, who has a background in economics. They explore how data is advantageous to a business, like how it can be used to target specific customers. Boris also discusses how a company can be responsible when mining and using data; they cover regulatory bodies which include GDPR and California Consumer Protection Act (CCPA). You can learn everything you need about data in this next episode. 

Join Dave Keighron and Dr. Gelareh Farhadian for another episode of Innovation fuel as they talk to Ekaose Mon-John Nwadiani, the CEO of HybisBrands, and learn how he found a hidden opportunity re-creating his favourite childhood beverage—turning it into a popular vegan-friendly drink with high nutritional value. Not only is John, an inspiring entrepreneur, but he was also a student many years ago of Dave here at UCW. So join them for a reunion as they discuss John's journey into entrepreneurship. They have a deep conversation covering John's insights into defining a competitive edge through micro-analysis and R&D. The challenges of handling market uncertainty during the COVID-19 pandemic and the importance of a business plan. Plus, much more!

Topics in the episode: 
- Business Plan development
- PESTL Analysis
- Taking the product to Market 
- Unique Value Proposition
- Scaling a Product

In this week's Episode of Innovation Fuel, we welcome Drew Munro, Co-Founder & CEO at Up Meals, a healthy meal delivery service delivered to your door. They are revolutionizing the fast-food industry by having vending machines that house healthy chef-curated meals at an affordable price. Find out more about how Up Meals is changing how people get healthy food fast and conveniently. 

Why do entrepreneurs go to consultants when chaos ensues in their business? When is the right time to get help in your business before something catastrophic happens? Please find out the answers when  Dave Keighron and Dr. Gelareh talk with John kay, CEO of Realize Strategies, about the challenges we all face as entrepreneurs and how he and the team can help you avoid significant fires by putting the correct practices in place. 

On this week's episode of Innovation Fuel, hosts Dave Keighron and Dr. Gelareh Farhadian welcome Ruth Diaz, VR Community Design Developer and Metaverse Coach, at

VR Create Connect. She discusses the importance of DEI ( Diversity, Equity and Inclusion) in the VR community and creating spaces for everyone to enjoy the technology in a safe, inclusive manner. Virtual reality still has barriers to overcome, but it is a place where people can let their walls down, be their authentic selves, and learn from others. Listen now to this inspiring episode that allows us to look into what the future holds with VR as well as how it can improve how we think and act towards others in our communities. 

 Innovation Fuel welcomes Scott Stirrett, Founder and CEO of Venture for Canada, a  national charity that fosters the development of entrepreneurial skills and mindset in young Canadians. He sits down with Dr. Gelareh Farhadian and Dave  Kehighron to discuss the importance of growing the skills of young entrepreneurs through work experience and providing young people with essential entrepreneurial skills for a changing economy. Find out what it takes to successfully create a business instead of just using the buzzword entrepreneur.

Digital Transformation what does it really mean? On this week's episode of Innovation Fuel, hosts Dave Keighron and Dr. Gelareh Farhadian discover the misconceptions about digital transformation and define it as more than just the word technology. To solve this debate, they talk to the  President & Founder of Cyper in this episode. It's a great conversation about how digital transformation will add more value to your company culture and business. 

Have a great week, and I will talk to you when I'm back 😊

Dive into a riveting conversation about Artificial Intelligence Optimizing Decarbonization and Sustainability at the Innovation Fuel Ignite conference. Join Innovation Fuel Podcast Hosts Dave Keighron and Dr. Gelareh Farhadian University Canada West and guest speakers Kiran Dhatt from Ceco AI as well as Babak Safadost and Soroush Nikdel, co-founders of ZeroTrek,  as they discuss the journey towards net-zero emissions by 2050. Discover how AI and machine learning revolutionize resource management and empower small businesses to make a significant environmental impact. Tune in to this episode to ignite your passion for innovation and learn how you can contribute to a sustainable future.

On this special International Women's Day episode of Innovation Fuel,  Dave Keighron and Dr. Gelareh Farhadian sit down with the trailblazing Azra Manjin-Savin, CEO and co-founder of Syzl. Discover her journey from working with giants like LinkedIn and WeWork to revolutionizing the culinary world with an Airbnb for kitchens. Dive into a candid conversation about the unique challenges and triumphs of women in tech and entrepreneurship, and be inspired by Azra's vision for a more inclusive industry.

Join us for another exciting episode of Innovation Fuel, where your hosts, Dave Keighron and Dr. Gelareh Farhadian, are joined again by the brilliant CEO of NexOptic, Paul McKenzie. This time, Paul unveils the secrets behind successfully securing funding for his groundbreaking startup—an invaluable episode for aspiring entrepreneurs seeking financial backing for their ventures.

In another episode of Innovation Fuel, Dave Keighron and Dr. Gelareh Farhadian chat with Tess and Ariss, co-founders of Awl Together Leather in Vancouver. They share their passion for sustainability and inclusion in leatherwork and shoe repair. They started their own business focused on passing down craftsmanship and prolonging the lifecycle of leather goods through repair. Their creativity shines through in the problem-solving required for each unique repair job. Listen to learn how two entrepreneurs are preserving tradition while building community.

On this week's episode of Innovation Fuel, we continue our conversation with Jack Smith, Indigenous Business Developer and Director on the Board of Economic Development Cooperation. Jack joins hosts Dave and Gelareh for Part 3 of their discussion on the challenges that Indigenous entrepreneurs face. In Part 3, we discuss how to connect Indigenous people with the right talent and skills. Jack explains that there is a lot of incentive for corporations to hire Indigenous people, but they struggle to find precisely the right fit. He also mentions the challenges of staying in home communities and finding ideas that work for that demographic and economy.

Welcome to a new episode of  Innovation Fuel! Dave Keighron and Dr. Gelareh Farhadian delve into the cutting-edge world of biotechnology, focusing on tissue engineering and bioprinting. They talk to  Kevin Vos, Ph.D.,  the Director of Business Development and Strategic Alliances at VoxCell BioInnovation. VoxCell is no ordinary bioprinting company; they are a trailblazing tissue engineering firm responsible for a groundbreaking line of Truly Biomimetic solutions for the drug development industry and the field of Oncology research. 

Discover how Recyclorobo.ai Revolution is revolutionizing the recycling industry with cutting-edge AI technology. Join Dave Keighron and Dr. Gelareh Farhadian our latest episode of Innovation Fuel as They chat with CEO and Co-founder Tanvir Ahsan about their journey and future plans. Don't miss out! 

In this episode of Innovation Fuel, Join Dave Keighron and Dr. Gelareh Farhadian as they transformative power of What3words with Marcus Taylor, Head of North American Partnerships. Discover how this innovative addressing system is revolutionizing location precision, from aiding emergency services to enhancing delivery efficiency. Listen now!

Learn more about What 3 Words here

On this week's episode of Innovation Fuel, we welcome back Robert Arthurs, a Serial Entrepreneur, and Certified Biz Coach/Consultant. This time around, Robert discusses the importance of an internship with hosts Dave and Gelareh. They dive deep into how internships give students a snapshot of what it is like working for the business or in that field. As a business owner, it's essential to see your business through their eyes and learn from the interns. Robert also stresses that when you work with interns, don't stick them in a box; give them a blank canvas and let them flourish.

Join our Lovely Hosts, Gelareh Farhadian, and Dave Keighron in this episode of Innovation Fuel, Hamid J. Fard and Fabio Alexandre Vieira from Fard Solutions joins tell Us the story of how they developed an algorithm before the AI buzz, saving time, and resources managing databases. They present an interesting point of the ethics involved, the concerns their customers had, and how they changed their points of view with the rise of Chat GPT.

On this week's episode of Innovation Fuel, hosts Dave and Gelareh welcome back guest Jake McEwan! Jake is the Managing Director of Gracorp and Co-Founder of LiveShare CoLiving. After discussing the challenges facing entrepreneurs in British Columbia when bringing innovation, ideas and creativity to the market during their last conversation, they'll now talk "Exit Strategy," from the planning stage to the building and execution stages.

On this week's episode of Innovation Fuel, Dave Keighron and Dr. Gelareh Farhadian explore the story of Blossom Social. An innovative investing platform that allows users to see what others are putting money into and connect with like-minded investors. They talk to two out of three co-founders, Maxwell Nicholson and Kartik Bhutani, about how their app offers a unique approach to social investing, making it easy for users to connect with other people who share their investment goals and values—changing the way how generations think about investing. 

 On this week's episode of Innovation Fuel, Gelareh, unfortunately, has COVID, so Dave is going solo for his talk with Boris Zhukov, CEO at LetYouKnow, Inc. They sit down to discuss 

what is happening with supply and demand changes post-COVID-19. Since there is a backup of products that companies can't sell, is there a better way to achieve a balance where the consumer wants to pay a lower cost for goods and services but not have the retailer drastically reduce their prices? Let's see how Boris is changing this issue by creating a highly innovative marketplace that benefits the consumer and the business.

#MyUCW #InnovationFuel #GoingWest #marketplace #internships #ucwstudents #interns #artificialintelligence #machinelearning #letyouknowinc 

In this episode of Innovation Fuel, Toby Chu, Chairman & CEO of CIBT Education Group Inc., joins host Dave Keighron and Dr. Gelareh Farhadian to talk about setting up International students for success when they come to Canada to study. The discussion centers around how it is challenging for international students to find homes amid a housing crisis in this ever-changing world. On top of that, they are dealing with extra living costs because of inflation. Listen now to this great conversation about how post-secondary institutions can help their students have a memorable time in Canada, succeed in their chosen career path, and become an integral part of our community. 

On this week's episode of Innovation Fuel, we welcome Anna Kostecka, a 
Global Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Strategist at What Works. Anna joins hosts Dave and Gelareh to discuss making classrooms and curriculum development more inclusive. Encouraging companies or schools to create a place of understanding among a diverse team of people to create a positive group work experience. Listen now to this meaningful discussion with the end goal of inspiring organizations to create workplaces that work for everyone in the present and the future.

#MyUCW #InnovationFuel #GoingWest #inclusion #inclusive #ucwstudents #interns #workexperience #machinelearnine #ai #inspiring #workplace #leadership

In this episode of Innovation, Fuel Dave is hosting solo today. He sits with Kerry Brock—President of GuardRFID Solutions Inc., a leading real-time location systems expert in the healthcare industry. Our guest is a seasoned sales and marketing leader with over 20 years of experience in the technology sector. They discuss the ups and downs of changing the business to a work-at-home model at the start of the pandemic and how working from home has evolved in the company three years later.  It was a fascinating talk about how Kerry and the team kept their company culture thriving in an online environment, onboarding new employees, and making them feel included as part of the team and their voices heard. Let’s get the conversation started!

In response to UNESCO's call to promote AI competency frameworks for both teachers and students, Dr. Noosha Mehdian from University Canada West has collaborated with AI to produce this podcast. Leveraging the power of Gemini API avatars, Dr. Mehdian explores how UNESCO's AI competency framework can help prepare educators and students to become responsible, creative citizens in the AI era. She discusses the importance of integrating AI competency into curricula and educational policies, and how these frameworks can shape the future of education in a rapidly evolving technological landscape.

Thanks to our hosts Gelareh Farhadian, and Dave Keighron for making the space to such an interesting experiment in the constant search of innovation.

On this week's episode of Innovation Fuel, Pat Chaisang, Founder & CEO of Isempower, Canada's first job search platform for international students, joins hosts Dave Keighron and Dr. Gelareh Farhadian for part 2 of the discussion around breaking down the door for international students. They checked in with Pat to discuss any changes she has seen with the recent announcement allowing international students to work more than 20 hours per week. Dave and Gelareh discuss with Pat if this new announcement has helped students tackle their challenges in finding jobs in Canada. 

On this week's episode of Innovation Fuel, we welcome none other than our very own Sheldon Levy, President of University Canada West! Sheldon joins hosts Dave and Gelareh to discuss challenges when trying to scale your business in Canada. Citing UCW's latest white paper, Fuelling B.C.’s Tech Talent Pipeline, Sheldon also digs deeper into his findings on why startups don't stay in Canada to continue to grow, plus much more!

On this week's episode of Innovation Fuel, Paolo Lobo, President of Proteic, joins hosts Dave Keighron and Dr. Gelareh to discuss the challenges entrepreneurs have when making big decisions to move their businesses forward. Many entrepreneurs have the inner battle of deciding to use their heads or follow their hearts when choosing the right path to take to grow their idea. Listen in as Paolo shares his truthful journey of turning Proteic into a successful company. 

On this week’s episode of Innovation Fuel, Dan Pronovost, COO and Founder of Driftscape, joins hosts Dave Keighron and Dr. Gelareh Farhadian to discuss augmented reality in Tourism. People use this technology to hear and experience collective stories through experts in an environment without advertisements. Augmented reality allows tourism to grow into a culturally richer and create meaningful connections with its visitors. 

On this week's episode of Innovation Fuel, we welcome guest Manuj Aggarwal, CEO of TetraNoodle Technologies! Manuj is also a leading AI expert, innovation evangelist, business strategist and coach. Joining hosts Dave and Gelareh, Manuj will unpack the question of why Vancouver is a good startup location, but not a good scale-up location. With factors like lack of talent, finance and technology playing a big part, we need to talk to the experts and address these issues to understand them better and work out solutions.

On this week's episode of Innovation Fuel, we welcome Stephane Grenier, Founder and Lead Innovator of Mental Health Innovations Consulting, as he joins hosts Dave and Gelareh to discuss stopping life's hardships from affecting your mental health. Stephane digs a little deeper as he also discusses not letting your past affect how you live your life and being mindful of others' mental health in the workplace.

Over the last ten years, we have all witnessed rapid changes in the journalism and media industry. Compared to the past, there are more platforms to get your message out there and engage with a broader audience you might not have been able to reach. 

On this week's episode of Innovation Fuel, hosts Dave Keighron and Dr. Gelareh Farhadian talk with their guest  William Johnson Founder Of The Vancouver Tech Journal, and discuss how his digital journal is creating other ways to expose the tech industry. As well as continue community growth through a none traditional targeted media approach. 

Listen now to how William's side hustle and love of writing about Vancouver Tech involved into a company that ended up being aqui-hired by Overstory Media Group. 

In this episode of Innovation Fuel, Awane Jones, CEO of Phenomena Virtual eSport Arena, joins hosts Dave Keighron and Dr. Gelareh to discuss not having fear about your product and throwing it out into the world and see if people will buy it. Once you know there will be customers, don't worry about creating new ideas; focus on improving the one you have until you can't improve it any more. Then that way, you will have a good product with a great user experience that people will continue to want to buy. Listen in for more great entrepreneurial advice on creating a successful idea that will turn into a profitable company.

In this episode of Innovation Fuel, Our hosts, Dave Keighron and Dr. Gelareh Farhadian, explore digital marketing in the automotive industry, focusing on B2B and employer branding. Our guest kris Granger Digital Marketing Manager at Volvo discusses creating diverse content, aligning with brand values, and using social media to build connections. Discover how data analytics and virtual reality shape the future of customer engagement.

Dave Keighron and Dr. Gelareh Farhadian explore the unique challenges of virtual leadership coaching with executive coach Sarah Planckaert. They discuss building trust, communication, decision making and setting boundaries in a remote work world. Sarah shares how she helps leaders have complex conversations and make difficult decisions during uncertain times.