The Marketing Dept.

Brand Director To Thriving Creative Entrepreneur

In this episode, we're joined by creative entrepreneur Sharad Mohan from Toronto to dive deep into the world of marketing, fashion, styling, and what it truly means to be a modern multi-hyphenate. Sharad shares his journey of 20+ years across agency, retail, and big brand strategy—including leading campaigns at Nobis, Saks Fifth Avenue Canada, and TIFF. We explore the art (and challenge) of creative entrepreneurship, bridging partnerships between fashion and eSports (with stories about Overactive Media and Harry Rosen), and finding new identity after leaving “big title” jobs behind.From ROI in creative roles, lessons learned in agency and brand life, and how vulnerability, relationships, and community-building matter most in today’s industry, Sharad gives raw, honest insight for anyone hustling in creative fields. You’ll hear about runway firsts, influencer pet peeves, and mental health realities that come with a creative career. Stick around for our rapid-fire “Tagline Me” segment and get actionable advice on thriving as a connector and catalyst in your own space.

Jordana Goldlist’s Journey from Addiction to Advocacy

Step into the captivating world of Jordana Goldlist, an unstoppable force who transformed the pain of addiction into a career devoted to advocacy and justice. In this episode, listeners will hear Jordana’s riveting story, from her earliest struggles with substance abuse and homelessness to the pivotal turning points that set her on a path toward healing and legal triumph. With raw honesty, Jordana opens up about the realities of her fight for survival and the profound impact her mother had on her journey toward recovery. As a criminal defense lawyer in Toronto, Jordana brings unique insight into the challenges faced by marginalized communities, the flaws within our justice system, and the inequalities that inspired her mission to advocate for lasting change. You’ll discover how her resilience grew stronger in the face of adversity, and how she learned to channel her experiences into defending those society too often misunderstands.Packed with inspiring anecdotes and practical wisdom, this episode is more than a redemption story—it is a call to look beyond first impressions and question how we judge each other. Tune in for a deeply authentic conversation filled with hard-hitting truths, courtroom drama, and the hope that anyone can overcome their past to create a brighter future.

Host Special - Seven Figures & Still Scaling

In this episode of The Marketing Department Podcast, Anish & Aziz partners at heyprospekt.com pulls back the curtain on what it really takes to build, scale, and sustain a multi–seven-figure marketing business in today’s world. Hosted by agency founders who’ve lived every high and low—from getting sued by a partner at 21 to signing global brands and celebrity clients—this show isn’t about theory. It’s about the raw truth of entrepreneurship. Each episode dives deep into the chaos and clarity of running a thriving agency: client wins and losses, hiring battles, burnout, evolving tech, and the constant pursuit of excellence. You’ll hear real stories, unfiltered conversations, and tactical advice for creative entrepreneurs, marketers, and founders who want to turn hustle into longevity. No fluff. No fake gurus. Just the real process of building something that lasts—from the first retainer to seven figures and beyond. Follow Prospekt heyprospekt.com IG - @heyprospekt

Rags Over Riches: Ex-Apple Employee Turned Stylist

In this episode of The Marketing Department Podcast, we sit down with Ali Jamal, founder of Northern Touch Vintage, to unpack how he went from working at Apple to building one of Toronto’s most recognized vintage clothing brands—without spending a single dollar on ads. This story is for you if you’ve ever thought about: * Quitting your 9-to-5 to start a business. * Turning a side hustle into a full-time career. * Building a fashion brand that attracts celebrity clients. * Learning how to grow a business purely through word of mouth, culture, and community. Ali shares how he made $5,000 in one night at his launch party—what would’ve taken him 160 hours at Apple—and why he walked away from a safe corporate job to bet on himself. He explains how vintage sourcing really works inside rag houses and textile warehouses, why most vintage shops smell (and how he fixed it), and how he curated a store experience that feels premium, inclusive, and unforgettable. Along the way, Ali built a client roster that includes Wayne Gretzky, PK Subban, Andre DeGrasse, Fred VanVleet, Scottie Barnes, and even Drake’s circle. But the most powerful part of his story isn’t just the celebrity moments—it’s his mission to use fashion as a tool to give people confidence and transform the way they see themselves. If you’re an entrepreneur, creative, fashion lover, or someone ready to make a bold move, this episode will give you both inspiration and real-world lessons you can apply right now. Chapters 00:00 Cold open: $5K night and quitting Apple 03:15 Starting Northern Touch Vintage in a condo during COVID 07:40 The inside story of rag houses and sourcing vintage 14:10 How Holt Renfrew discovered the brand on Instagram 19:35 The launch party that changed everything 24:50 Walking out on Apple for good 29:20 Lessons from the first pop-up and business partnerships 36:00 Finding and designing the house boutique store 42:45 Why most vintage stores smell and how Ali fixed it 48:20 Building confidence through styling customers 54:40 Celebrity clientele: Gretzky, Raptors, Drake’s circle 1:02:00 Running a brand with $0 ad spend 1:09:15 Tagline Me: Ali’s rapid-fire answers 1:14:00 Final reflections on contentment, hustle, and confidence #VintageClothing #Entrepreneurship #TorontoFashion #Streetwear #MarketingPodcast

A $200M Exit and Funding What’s Next

Roger Sholanki on the Book4Time journey, why vertical beats horizontal, lessons from bad money, and how Seed Two Capital funds SaaS founders with operator-led support across GTM, metrics, and exit readiness. Episode Notes: • SeedTwo thesis: vertical SaaS and AI, seed to “second round” • What Seed Two looks for: founder integrity, clean cap tables, credible roadmaps • Scaling past the founder and building repeatable sales • Enterprise integrations, hotels, and the Blue Ocean moment