Leadership That Lasts: Mentors, Values, and Building in Manitoba

It’s About People: Building the Brandish Way

Lee Waltham unpacks how Brandish Agency scaled from a small Winnipeg start-up into a national brand-building partner by betting on culture first. He traces the early stumbles, the moment the team swapped top-line targets for metrics that actually move margin, and why serious brand work begins long before a logo is even sketched. Lee also walks through the math and the mindset that convinced him a four-day work week could boost profitability rather than dilute it. The result is a set of hard-won lessons and immediately actionable insights for anyone determined to build a brand that really sticks. Building Manitoba is a podcast for entrepreneurs and business leaders who care about creating something that lasts. Hosted by Nathan Maertins, the show explores the decisions, trade-offs, and systems behind real growth in Manitoba. Want the key insights in your inbox? The Building Manitoba Review is a weekly newsletter with practical takeaways and ideas from recent episodes. Subscribe at buildingmanitobapodcast.beehiiv.com [https://buildingmanitobapodcast.beehiiv.com/]

Building Globally from Manitoba

From a pool-table “lab” in Winnipeg to mine sites and customers in almost 50 countries, Todd Burns shares the playbook that turned a small one-man dust-control business into a world-class cleantech exporter. We dig into cash-flow squeezes that forced invention, the R&D boost unlocked by a partnership with RRC Polytech, and the systems Todd uses to scale without losing Manitoba roots. Building Manitoba is a podcast for entrepreneurs and business leaders who care about creating something that lasts. Hosted by Nathan Maertins, the show explores the decisions, trade-offs, and systems behind real growth in Manitoba. Want the key insights in your inbox? The Building Manitoba Review is a weekly newsletter with practical takeaways and ideas from recent episodes. Subscribe at buildingmanitobapodcast.beehiiv.com [https://buildingmanitobapodcast.beehiiv.com/]

From Flyover to Flywheel: Unlocking Early-Stage Capital in Manitoba

Manitoba has historically been underrepresented when it comes to early-stage venture capital. That’s starting to shift. In this episode, I sit down with Iain Crozier, founder of Trillick Ventures, to talk about why he’s building Manitoba’s first dedicated early-stage venture fund — and what that could mean for founders here. We talk about the lessons he carries from growing up in a family business, what Trillick actually looks for when backing a founder, and why recent updates to Manitoba’s Small Business Venture Capital Tax Credit could meaningfully improve access to early-stage capital for Manitoba founders. We also explore what Manitoba can learn from ecosystems like Calgary and Newfoundland when it comes to building a durable startup flywheel. If you care about capital, founders, and the long-term growth of this province, this is a conversation worth digging into. Building Manitoba is a podcast for entrepreneurs and business leaders who care about creating something that lasts. Hosted by Nathan Maertins, the show explores the decisions, trade-offs, and systems behind real growth in Manitoba. Want the key insights in your inbox? The Building Manitoba Review is a weekly newsletter with practical takeaways and ideas from recent episodes. Subscribe at buildingmanitobapodcast.beehiiv.com [https://buildingmanitobapodcast.beehiiv.com/]

Scaling Fast—Without Losing What Works

Ryan Klassen, CEO of Valley Fiber, shares what scaling a province-wide infrastructure business really demands—and why successful growth often requires rebuilding systems without losing culture, quality, or momentum. Drawing on Valley Fiber's rapid expansion across Manitoba, Ryan offers practical insights on leadership, execution, and scaling with intention.  Building Manitoba is a podcast for entrepreneurs and business leaders who care about creating something that lasts. Hosted by Nathan Maertins, the show explores the decisions, trade-offs, and systems behind real growth in Manitoba. Want the key insights in your inbox? The Building Manitoba Review is a weekly newsletter with practical takeaways and ideas from recent episodes. Subscribe at buildingmanitobapodcast.beehiiv.com [https://buildingmanitobapodcast.beehiiv.com/]

Leadership That Lasts: Mentors, Values, and Building in Manitoba

John Proven reflects on the early influences, mentors, and values that shaped his leadership journey—and what it takes to build organizations and institutions that endure. Drawing on a career rooted in Manitoba with global reach, John shares lessons on leadership, culture, and long-term thinking that matter for builders at every stage.  Building Manitoba is a podcast for entrepreneurs and business leaders who care about creating something that lasts. Hosted by Nathan Maertins, the show explores the decisions, trade-offs, and systems behind real growth in Manitoba. Want the key insights in your inbox? The Building Manitoba Review is a weekly newsletter with practical takeaways and ideas from recent episodes. Subscribe at buildingmanitobapodcast.beehiiv.com [https://buildingmanitobapodcast.beehiiv.com/]