To Call or Not To Call?

In episode 270, Kelly Kennedy welcomes Laura Gabor — co-founder and COO of Ecologicca, founder of What in the Tech, angel investor, and one of The Peak’s Emerging Leaders in Tech for 2024. Laura shares her journey from her immigrant roots to becoming a leader in the Canadian tech ecosystem, highlighting the pivotal experiences that shaped her as an entrepreneur and investor. From early lessons in resilience to her first angel investments, she offers a candid perspective on the challenges of building companies, raising capital, and staying true to your vision.Throughout the conversation, Laura unpacks the realities of fundraising: the misconceptions about being “too early,” the dangers of vague feedback, and the sheer persistence it takes to survive 200+ investor conversations before landing a “yes.” She also speaks openly about gender inequities in tech, the importance of inclusive leadership, and the need for stronger accountability in pay and funding. Her unfiltered insights serve as both a warning and a guide for founders — blending honesty, encouragement, and practical strategies for navigating the rollercoaster of entrepreneurship.Key Takeaways: 1. Fundraising often takes 200+ conversations before one “yes” — persistence is everything.2. Feedback like “you’re too early” can kill great companies — be mindful of the weight your words carry.3. Founders must learn to filter advice; not all advice is good advice, and context matters.4. Women continue to face inequities in both pay and funding — leaders must be accountable for change.5. Angel investors need proper education too — bad investing knowledge harms founders and ecosystems.6. Building a strong support system or “village” is critical to thriving as an entrepreneur.7. Career paths don’t need to follow a straight line — resilience and adaptability open new doors.8. Transparency and clarity are essential when raising capital — vagueness erodes trust.9. Founders should trust their gut as much as the data — instinct is part of good leadership.10. Legacy isn’t just about business success; it’s about creating impact, equity, and opportunities for others.Support Laura’s work with Ecologicca & What in the Tech by engaging with the content, sharing it with your network, and amplifying the stories of women and underrepresented voices in tech. Learn more about Ecologicca: https://www.ecologicca.com/Learn more about What in the Tech?: https://www.whatinthetech.co/If you’re ready to go further on your business development journey, join us inside The Catalyst Club. It’s where founders, entrepreneurs, and business leaders come together to share wins, tackle challenges, and grow alongside a supportive community that understands the grind. Inside, you’ll find live sessions, expert insights, and a network built to help you move the needle in your business and your life. You don’t have to do this alone — your community is waiting.👉 Join The Catalyst Club today

7 Sep 1h 27min

Episode 269 of The Business Development Podcast takes us into Part 9 of the Podcast Playbook, where Kelly Kennedy breaks down the truth about marketing and growing a podcast. Launching a show is only the beginning — real growth comes from leveraging guests, showing up consistently on social media, using audiograms and clips to spark curiosity, repurposing content, building community, collaborating with other creators, and when the time is right, investing carefully in advertising where people are already listening. Kelly shares lessons learned firsthand, from early group-sharing strategies on LinkedIn to the difference between social media followers and true podcast listeners, offering practical ways to turn effort into momentum.At the heart of this episode is the reminder that podcast growth is not linear. It ebbs and flows like the stock market, with highs and lows that only make sense when you zoom out and stay consistent over time. Kelly emphasizes that you have to give yourself the time and runway to win — growth is slow and steady, but it compounds if you don’t quit. For anyone looking to move from launch day into long-term success, this episode provides the roadmap and the mindset needed to keep showing up until the audience finds you.Key Takeaways: 1. Podcast growth is slow and steady, not instant — most people quit before the compounding effect kicks in.2. Leverage your guests by giving them clips, graphics, and recognition so they share your show with their networks.3. Social media is great for brand awareness, but it rarely converts directly into listens or downloads.4. Audiograms and short clips are powerful tools for promotion, especially when you highlight guest moments.5. Every episode is a content engine — repurpose it into quotes, carousels, blog posts, and newsletters.6. Paid advertising only works when you place it where people are already listening, like Spotify Ads.7. Social ads may grow followers, but true podcast success comes from loyal listeners, not vanity metrics.8. Building an email list or community deepens connection with listeners and keeps them engaged long term.9. Collaborations and cross-promotions with other podcasters and brands can dramatically expand your reach.10. You have to give yourself the time to win — growth ebbs and flows, but consistency and patience build loyal fans.✨ Join The Catalyst ClubIf you’re ready to take your growth further, you don’t have to do it alone. Inside The Catalyst Club, you’ll find a private community of entrepreneurs, thought leaders, and creators who are walking the same journey as you. It’s a place to share wins, ask for support, and surround yourself with peers who truly get it.The Catalyst Club was built for leaders like you — because if you know, you’re known.👉 Join today at www.kellykennedyofficial.com/thecatalystclub

3 Sep 47min

In Episode 268 of The Business Development Podcast, Kelly sits down with Lise Birikundavyi, CFA, Co-Founder and Managing Partner of BKR Capital, Canada’s first Black-led, institutionally backed venture capital fund. Lise shares her incredible journey from her roots in Burundi to becoming one of the most influential voices in impact investing and inclusive finance. With a career spanning hedge funds, global impact strategies, and leadership roles across Africa, Asia, and North America, she brings a rare global perspective on how venture capital can fuel innovation and create lasting societal change.This episode dives deep into the world of venture capital — what it is, how it works, and what founders need to know when seeking investment. Lise opens up about the challenges of breaking barriers in finance, the importance of supporting diverse innovators, and why her mission is to redefine the face of success in entrepreneurship. For founders, entrepreneurs, and anyone passionate about building companies that change the world, this conversation is a masterclass in both capital and courage.Key Takeaways: 1. Venture capital is about fueling innovation and outsized growth, not just providing money.2. Founders must show a clear pathway to \$100M revenue for VCs to take interest.3. A strong founding team with resilience and vision is the number one factor VCs invest in.4. Leadership that attracts top talent is critical for scaling early-stage companies.5. Deep understanding of your market and unfair advantages set successful founders apart.6. Venture capital changes the game—bringing not only capital, but governance, networks, and accountability.7. Diversity in venture capital isn’t just good ethics, it drives better outcomes and innovation.8. Failure rates remain high even at VC stage, which is why the growth expectations are so demanding.9. Inclusive investment is essential to closing the gap for underrepresented founders.10. Entrepreneurs should always trust their gut, do the work, and stay intentional about their journey.Links referenced in this episode:capitalbd.cabkrcapital.caCompanies mentioned in this episode: BKR Capital Capital Business Development Microsoft The Jacobs Foundation Seron Asset Management Engineers Without Borders Canada Are you a founder looking for a community to help you build? We’ve got you — not just when it’s easy, but especially when it’s hard. The Catalyst Club was built for entrepreneurs and leaders who need a safe, private space to share challenges, wins, and get the support that truly moves the needle. With weekly live events, powerful connections, and a community that gets you, this is where you belong.Join us today at 👉 www.kellykennedyofficial.com

31 Aug 58min

Part 8 of the Podcast Playbook is all about launch day—the moment your podcast moves from planning to reality. In this episode, Kelly Kennedy stresses that first impressions matter more than almost anything else. He breaks down the steps every podcaster should take before hitting publish, including running a final quality check, ensuring audio is clean and professional, confirming metadata, and carefully selecting evergreen topics that will hold up long term. Kelly also shares his personal experience with equipment setbacks and lessons learned, underscoring that podcasting is an ongoing journey of problem-solving and adaptation.From there, the focus shifts to promotion and momentum. Kelly explains that launching isn’t just uploading—it’s announcing to the world that your show exists and giving people a reason to care. He outlines how to create compelling titles and descriptions, stick to a reliable release schedule, and aggressively market your show through social media, groups, and promo clips. He emphasizes celebrating small wins, staying consistent, and avoiding common traps like bad audio, over-hype, or lack of content. Launch day isn’t the finish line, but the starting gun—and building long-term momentum requires consistency, resilience, and the mindset to commit to at least 100 episodes.Key Takeaways: 1. Launch day isn’t the finish line, it’s the starting gun of a long marathon.2. First impressions matter—your audio, presentation, and descriptions set the tone from day one.3. Always do a final listen and pride test before publishing—if you’re not proud, it’s not ready.4. Have a backup plan for equipment failures—never let tech issues stop your show.5. Batch releasing 3–5 episodes gives listeners a reason to subscribe early.6. Write short, powerful titles and clear descriptions—hooks and accuracy build trust.7. Consistency is everything—your release schedule is a promise to your audience.8. Promotion is essential—launching is telling the world, not just uploading quietly.9. Celebrate small wins like your first 10 downloads or first review—they’ll keep you going.10. Play the long game—commit to 100 episodes before you judge your success.Join The Catalyst Club—the support group entrepreneurs have needed all along. www.kellykennedyofficial.com/thecatalystclub

27 Aug 46min

In Episode 266 of The Business Development Podcast, Kelly Kennedy sits down with Damien Benveniste, former Meta machine learning lead and founder of The AI Edge, to unravel the truth about artificial intelligence. Damien breaks down what AI and machine learning actually are, why they’ve quietly powered our lives for decades, and how the hype around ChatGPT has blurred the line between perception and reality. From spam filters and Netflix recommendations to ad engines driving billions in revenue, Damien explains how the real story of AI is far more practical—and far more powerful—than most people realize.This conversation dives deep into the future of business, technology, and innovation. Damien shares his journey from theoretical physics into Silicon Valley, his time scaling machine learning at Meta, and his shift into entrepreneurship and education. Together, Kelly and Damien explore the opportunities, misconceptions, and risks of AI—from everyday tools to global security—and why understanding the truth about machine learning is essential for every entrepreneur and business leader today.Key Takeaways: 1. AI has been quietly shaping our world for decades, from spam filters to Netflix recommendations.2. Machine learning is not “thinking machines” but statistical models built to solve practical business problems.3. The hype around ChatGPT made AI feel brand new, but the underlying tech has long powered the biggest companies on earth.4. Most of Meta, Google, and Amazon’s revenue is generated through machine learning-driven personalization and ad targeting.5. Misunderstanding AI leads to fear—education and clarity turn fear into opportunity.6. Many “AI features” being pushed today are marketing gimmicks that don’t solve real problems.7. Entrepreneurs should focus on building useful, product-oriented applications of AI rather than chasing hype.8. Personal branding on LinkedIn is a powerful growth tool when you speak with authenticity and your own voice.9. Teaching and sharing knowledge can be both fulfilling and a scalable way to build authority in emerging fields.10. The real opportunity with AI lies not in replacing humans but in enhancing decision-making, productivity, and innovation.Links referenced in this episode:capitalbd.catheaiedge.ionewsletter.theaiedge.ioCompanies mentioned in this episode: Meta Google Amazon Netflix Facebook Instagram OpenAI

24 Aug 1h 4min

In Part 2 of Why You Should Buy a Business Instead of Starting One with Jory Evans, we move past the mechanics of deal-making and into the high-stakes world of execution. Jory Evans, CEO of Evans Trucking, explains why acquisitions succeed or fail not in the negotiation room, but in how leaders handle the transition afterward. He highlights the importance of logistics, leadership depth, and cultural alignment, drawing from his own experiences of scaling Evans Trucking through multiple acquisitions. Jory breaks down how leadership voids, communication breakdowns, and rushed software or process changes can destabilize both the company being purchased and the buyer’s existing business.This episode also digs into the human side of acquisitions—the trust between buyer and seller, the role of vendor financing in ensuring alignment, and the delicate process of retaining key staff and customer relationships. Jory shares candid stories of successes and setbacks, illustrating why over 60% of acquisitions fail and how entrepreneurs can avoid becoming part of that statistic. For anyone looking to grow through acquisitions, this conversation offers a blueprint for building a solid execution plan, managing risk, and leading with trust to ensure long-term success. Key Takeaways: 1. Closing the deal is only the beginning—execution is where acquisitions succeed or fail.2. Leadership depth matters; a thin or tired team can derail integration.3. Culture fit is critical—clashing values can destroy even the best-looking deals.4. Retaining staff and relationships is often more valuable than the assets you purchase.5. Logistics like communication, proximity, and software transitions can make or break efficiency.6. Trust between buyer and seller is essential—without it, lawyers and accountants can tear a deal apart.7. Vendor financing keeps sellers invested in your success, making transitions smoother.8. Over 60% of acquisitions fail because companies ignore the human and cultural side of integration.9. Always have a leadership plan to fill voids quickly when owners or key people exit.10. Stay unemotional, follow the process, and be willing to walk away if red flags appear.

20 Aug 1h 8min

In episode 264 of The Business Development Podcast, Kelly Kennedy sits down with New York Times bestselling author and disruption expert Charlene Li to unpack what it truly means to lead in the age of generative AI. Drawing on more than three decades of experience helping global companies navigate internet revolutions, social media shifts, and now AI, Charlene shares how the biggest obstacle to transformation isn’t the technology—it’s imagination. This conversation explores how leaders can reframe disruption as an opportunity, thrive in uncertainty, and create clarity when everything feels chaotic.Together, Kelly and Charlene dive into the practical strategies and leadership mindsets required to harness AI responsibly, inspire teams through change, and build future-ready organizations. Charlene also shares insights from her brand-new book, Winning with Generative AI, revealing how executives and entrepreneurs alike can unlock new growth by embracing, not resisting, disruption. Packed with hard-won wisdom and actionable takeaways, this episode is a roadmap for anyone who wants to lead boldly into the AI-driven future.Key Takeaways: 1. Disruption isn’t about technology—it’s about the imagination leaders bring to using it.2. The biggest challenge with generative AI is not adoption, but rethinking what’s possible.3. Leaders who thrive in uncertainty create clarity, not certainty.4. Generative AI isn’t replacing leaders—it’s demanding better leadership.5. Trust remains the foundation of every transformation, no matter how advanced the tools.6. Successful organizations see disruption as opportunity, not threat.7. AI should augment human creativity, not replace it.8. Leadership in the AI era requires curiosity, courage, and humility.9. Transformation is less about having the answers and more about asking better questions.10. Winning with generative AI means shifting mindset before shifting strategy.Learn more about Charlene Li: https://charleneli.com/Learn More about Business Development Mastery and The Catalyst Club: www.kellykennedyofficial.com

17 Aug 1h 5min

Episode 263 of The Business Development Podcast takes you deep into the editing stage of podcast production, where a raw recording transforms into a polished, professional show. In Part 7 of the Podcast Playbook series, Kelly Kennedy shares his complete start-to-finish editing workflow, honed over hundreds of episodes. From understanding your DAW workspace to identifying and fixing common audio problems, he covers the why and how behind every step, always keeping the listener’s experience front and center. Kelly also breaks down his go-to plugins, explains their real-world use cases, and offers detailed guidance on creating a consistent, clean sound that keeps audiences engaged.Listeners will walk away with a clear, repeatable process for editing like a pro, including the exact sequence Kelly uses to repair, enhance, and master audio before releasing it into the world. Alongside the technical instruction, he shares valuable mindset advice—normalizing the learning curve, encouraging practice, and reminding creators that great editing isn’t about chasing perfection, but about respecting your audience’s time and attention. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned podcaster looking to tighten your process, this episode delivers the tools, techniques, and confidence to elevate your show’s production quality.Key Takeaways: 1. Editing is for the listener, not you, and should focus on making the show easy and enjoyable to follow.2. Understanding your DAW workspace is essential before making any edits.3. Common audio issues like hiss, hum, reverb, plosives, sibilance, clicks, and uneven levels must be identified and fixed early.4. Use the right plugins to solve problems efficiently without overprocessing the voice.5. Always fix issues before enhancing audio with EQ, compression, or clarity tools.6. Edit for your ears, not your eyes, and trust what you hear over what you see on the waveform.7. Keep a human feel by leaving natural pauses and personality in the conversation.8. Maintain consistent loudness levels to meet podcast industry standards and avoid listener volume adjustments.9. Record and use room tone to make cuts seamless and keep edits invisible.10. Perform a full quality control listen-through on multiple devices before publishing.

13 Aug 36min