Best CMC Partners Podcasts (2025)

1
Kimberly Rothenberg, President at Lagree YYC. The Personal Trainer 21:53

28d ago21:53

21:53

In a recent Between Meetings episode, Kimberly Rothenberg, president of Lagree YYC, shared her transition from financial services to personal training after the birth of her first daughter. She opened Lagree YYC after discovering the Lagree workout in New York, seeing it as a perfect fit for Calgary. Kimberly discussed balancing business growth wit…

1
Stephanie Horner, AVP, Banking at RBCx. The Capital Growth Specialist 24:36

2M ago24:36

24:36

In a recent episode of Between Meetings, I interviewed Stephanie Horner from RBCx in Calgary about her work supporting startups within the growing tech community. She explains RBCx's unique approach to assisting high-growth tech companies, the key factors that determine whether startups thrive or struggle, and the advantages of the Canadian startup…

1
Ed Kang, CSO at Startups.com. The Startup Advisor 24:19

3M ago24:19

24:19

On Between Meetings, I interviewed Ed Kang, CSO of Startups.com, about his startup journey, Startups.com's unique non-dilutive model, and his passion for helping founders (especially with pitch decks via his YouTube channel). He also shared insights on AI in startups/consulting, emphasizing investor understanding and the current AI saturation. Take…

1
David Cree. Founder of CMNGD Linens. The Growth Officer 28:08

5M ago28:08

28:08

In a recent episode of Between Meetings, I had the pleasure of interviewing David Cree. Our conversation delved into his experiences leading the mission-driven venture Common Good, the challenges he faced along the way, the growth of Calgary's startup ecosystem, and his aspirations to bring innovation to city governance as a city council candidate.…

1
Benjamin Reeves, SVP of Data Science & Engineering at Viewpoint. The Data Scientist 28:30

5M ago28:30

28:30

In a recent episode of Between Meetings, I had the pleasure of interviewing Benjamin Reeves, SVP of Data Science & Engineering at Viewpoint and the Founding Director of the YYC Data Society. Our conversation spanned a range of thought-provoking topics, including the current state of data science and AI development, the ethical implications of apply…

1
Michael Grantmyre, Partner at Osler. The Tech Lawyer 28:55

1+ y ago28:55

28:55

In a recent Between Meetings episode, I had the pleasure of interviewing Michael Grantmyre, a Partner at Osler. During our conversation, we delved into various topics, including his role in the community, his passion for startups, Osler's packages designed to support early-stage entrepreneurs, and the reasons behind his move from Toronto to Calgary…

1
Sabina Bruehlmann, CEO at Nimble Science. The PhD Founder 22:04

1+ y ago22:04

22:04

In a recent Between Meetings episode, I had the pleasure of interviewing Sabina Bruehlmann, CEO at Nimble Science. We discussed the role of a PhD in running a startup, Sabina's unique expertise, her initial experience with startups, and why Calgary is an excellent location to start your business. Takeaways: Any startup founder who is thinking about…

1
Kevin Dahl, Director, ElevateIP at Innovate Calgary. The Community Builder 31:53

1+ y ago31:53

31:53

In a recent Between Meetings episode, I had the pleasure of interviewing Kevin Dahl, Director of ElevateIP at Innovate Calgary. Our conversation dove into his professional journey, explored the early days of Calgary's innovation ecosystem, highlighted his impactful stint at Plug and Play, and delved into his current role at Innovate Calgary. Takeaw…

1
Ken Xu, Partner at CMC Capital Partners. The Investor 42:21

1+ y ago42:21

42:21

In a recent installment of Between Meetings, I had the privilege of interviewing Ken Xu, a Partner at CMC Capital Partners. Our conversation delved into the formative years of the VC industry in China, his experiences at Gobi Partners, and the pivotal decisions that startup founders must navigate in a post-COVID world. Takeaways: Back in the early …

1
Rachel Daydou, Partner @ EY Fabernovel. The Digital Transformation Specialist 21:25

2y ago21:25

21:25

I had the pleasure of interviewing Rachel Daydou, Partner at EY Fabernovel, in a recent episode of Between Meetings. We discussed various topics, including her childhood dream of visiting the Shaolin Temple, the valuable lessons she learned while running two startups, her dedication and hard work at Fabernovel, as well as the challenges that intern…

1
Oscar Sum, Founder at Aidencare. The Dental AI Pioneer 28:14

2y ago28:14

28:14

On the latest episode of Between Meetings, I had the pleasure of interviewing Oscar Sum. He discussed his international background and shared his journey from being a dentist in the UK to founding a tech startup in China. Oscar delved into the challenges of dentistry and candidly shared the mistakes he made as a first-time entrepreneur. Takeaways: …

1
Scott Pollack, Founder & Chief Advisor, ROGUE SCOTT Executive Advisory. The CEO and Leadership Team Coach 36:20

2y ago36:20

36:20

During a recent episode of Between Meetings, I engaged in a captivating conversation with Scott Pollack, delving into his early experiences in Asia, his remarkable entrepreneurial journey, the transformative shift from being a player to a coach, and his ongoing role as a CEO and leadership team coach. Takeaways: One of the takeaways from my early c…

1
Mark Bawtree, Head of Global Sales and ESG at Akila. The Sustainability Expert 30:03

2y ago30:03

30:03

In a recent episode of Between Meetings, Mark Bawtree discussed his journey towards sustainability, the lessons he learned while running his startups, the challenges of ESG, and how Akila is aiding its clients in making data-driven decisions. Takeaways: Renewable energy sources have increasingly targeted the local market from a sales perspective, w…

1
Thomas Knoop, CEO at Clienk. The Omni-Channel Expert 25:40

2+ y ago25:40

25:40

I recently hosted Thomas Knoop on the latest episode of Between Meetings. During the interview, Thomas shared his experiences of doing business in China, including the changes he has seen in the business landscape over the past decade, the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, and the transformation in his client base. Takeaways: Doing busines…

1
Cheng Fu, CEO at Builtopia. The Metaverse Innovator 26:15

2+ y ago26:15

26:15

I interviewed Cheng Fu on the latest episode of Between Meetings where he talked about his transformation from a backend developer to a business unit lead. We also discussed Builtopia and its benefits for SMEs and the challenges in the Metaverse industry. Takeaways: I put in diligent effort and smart strategies to attain my opportunities I had a we…

1
Shameen Prashantham, Author of Gorillas Can Dance. CEIBS Professor 33:42

2+ y ago33:42

33:42

I interviewed Shameen Prashantham on the latest episode of "Between Meetings." We discussed the inspiration behind his book "Gorillas Can Dance" and explored the complexities of startup-corporate collaboration. Shameen shared valuable insights for aspiring entrepreneurs and how CEIBS is grooming the next generation of leaders. Takeaways: What I’ve …

1
Vincent Djen, Director at Cheng Kung Garments. The Fashion Entrepreneur 28:59

2+ y ago28:59

28:59

We discussed Vincent's family business, the concept of sustainability in fashion, perceptions of social entrepreneurship, and the role of technology in a sustainable fashion. He shared the story of REMAKEHUB and offered advice for aspiring entrepreneurs. Takeaways: We are going from a linear to a circular model What is considered sustainable today …

1
Cyril Drouin, CEO at Beyond. Digital and eCommerce Entrepreneur 28:23

2+ y ago28:23

28:23

We discussed Cyril's background and experiences as an entrepreneur, the changes and developments in eCommerce in recent years, the use of key opinion leaders (KOLs) in marketing, and the challenges Chinese brands face when expanding globally, among other related topics. Takeaways: I started in China because it was cheap Admin part of the entreprene…

1
Brian Ji, CEO, Greater China & Korea at Les Mills 28:11

2+ y ago28:11

28:11

Takeaways: Coca-Cola and Disney in China are still a bit different from Coca-Cola and Disney in the US Act local You have to be agile to product-market fit Find a team that is a mission-driven Execute. Win. Celebrate Les Mills works with over 2000 gyms and clubs in China 70 m people who regularly exercise in China, which is 5% of the total populati…

1
Cory Arth, Co-Founder at UP Clinic. DPT CSCS, PT Consultant 29:20

2+ y ago29:20

29:20

Takeaways: As I got older I just did not feel I could have the impact that I wanted to have We sweat and we connect As a generation, we are moving less than ever before Make movement a fundamental human right Movement is medicine If you don’t have guanxi and you are not working with local bureaus and local governments you gonna hit a wall of resist…

1
Ellen Wu, Chief Information Officer at Manulife. The Ethical AI Advocate 27:34

2+ y ago27:34

27:34

Takeaways: East and West work cultures are very much built on relationship In Hong Kong, the teams work around the clock We have been training these models with historical data, data that created a lot of social disparity and biases, and inherited inequality ESG becomes a little bit more of a marketing conversation and branding The real work comes …

1
Jonathan Chapon, CMO at Abacare. The Insurance Expert. 28:33

2+ y ago28:33

28:33

Takeaways: Quite a fair amount of international insurance companies are not making much money in China We are counting on the high-net-worth local population eventually will get insured Healthcare cost is really expensive in Shanghai Local players put a lot of effort into digitalization Insurance is still a very traditional industry People are look…

1
Simon Wang, Head of Mainland China at ClassPass. Health and Sports Evangelist with a Computer Science Background 28:07

2+ y ago28:07

28:07

Takeaways: Group classes are on the rise Localization is key to the success of the American tech company in China More boutique studios with professional couches coming in In China, there is still a very low penetration rate for the fitness industry Traditional big open-space gyms are struggling with their current business models focusing only on l…

1
Michael Sung, Digital Finance, Fintech, Blockchain, Metaverse Venture Builder, and Investor 42:21

2+ y ago42:21

42:21

Takeaways: Part of the formula to scale innovations is working with key people Asia’s biggest advantage is a huge blank slate You can think of blockchain as an infrastructure of infrastructures We live in very unique times, the most disruptive, interesting, impactful moments in the history of humanity 10 years of fintech road happened in the space …

1
Ferdinand Klauser, Partner & General Manager at KISKA Shanghai, Brand Strategy & Marketing Consultant 28:08

2+ y ago28:08

28:08

Takeaways Looking at the economic situation, the speed, and the drive that China had, all I could see was an opportunity Our focus is on creating great client experience and understanding this fast-changing market We work with Western brands to identify how they can stay true to the core and at the same time be sensitive to the local market Our job…

1
Momo Estrella, Head of Digital Design at IKEA China. 27:15

3y ago27:15

27:15

Takeaways: 💡 Through technology you can create little tools to enhance a creative expression. 💡 I am not educated to educate other people. 💡 When you are a retailer you grow either by acquiring new customers or by making existing customers more profitable. And those two things are becoming harder to do for home furniture. 💡 Everything that surround…

1
Anthony Leung, ?What If! Innovation Greater China Lead & Accenture Managing Director, aka King of Innovation. 29:17

3y ago29:17

29:17

Takeaways: 💡 Carve your own path 💡 Languages shaped my passion to go and explore different places 💡 In the last few years, innovation has had to lean and point almost directly towards China 💡 Innovation moved from something that was on the edge, things people thought about as something new and different, it moved into the center where everybody sho…

1
Matt Spriegel, founder and CEO of Atiom, Chinaccelerator, Entrepreneur's Organization, HR Training 23:15

3y ago23:15

23:15

Takeaways: 💡 Every day we change forever 💡 Working for corporates teaches you processes, how to work with big teams, how to allocate resources 💡 You cannot check for understanding when you share training or communication piece 💡 We find it difficult to convince Chinese companies that we are a better service provider than domestic companies 💡 We see…

1
Alvin Wang Graylin, China President at HTC, Virtual Reality VR, XR, metaverse 45:54

3+ y ago45:54

45:54

Takeaways: Metaverse allows more fluidity for economic class 5% of your customers generate 80-90% of your profitability The right timing is key to success I‘ve been lucky throughout my career that people have trusted me to execute and to be able to think independently Entrepreneurship is tough All the things that we have been seeing in sci-fi movie…

1
Natalie Lowe, Managing Partner at The Orangeblowfish, Creative, Branding, China, Selfbranding, Phygital 28:55

3+ y ago28:55

28:55

Natalie Lowe, Managing Partner at The Orangeblowfish, Creative, Branding, China, Selfbranding, Phygital you can't have everything now, you can’t be everything now personal branding helps you to better understand what your core values are COVID was an enabler of China moving forward with from admiring Western brands right up to incorporating a lot o…

1
Minesh Pore, Co-Founder & CEO at BuyHive, Global Sourcing, Procurement, International Trade 30:36

3+ y ago30:36

30:36

If you are not creating anything you are wasting time China is irreplaceable The only thing I knew was China was growing and there were opportunities I was cutting 70% of the staff without really having reasons to do it We are adding trust and transparency to the sourcing world Minesh Pore, Co-Founder & CEO at BuyHive, is a highly regarded global t…

1
Sophie Chen, CEO at SAE Relocation Industry, Made In China 27:48

3+ y ago27:48

27:48

The international moving/relocation industry is a white man’s world As an Asian young lady, it was hard to move up into a management role 2010 to 2015 was a golden period for the relocation industry since 2016 the market has always been going down We take good care of you, and you please take care of the clients When the market is down, it is the b…

1
Nayoung Chung, Founder at STIA China, Senior Care Industry Competence Builder 27:22

3+ y ago27:22

27:22

There are 264 m of people over 60 years old in China and it is going to reach half a billion by 2050 There will be not enough young people to taker care of seniors Most of the initiatives were geared towards the real estate The culture of service did not really exist Chinese investors are hesitant to invest in foreign-owned startups without a stron…

1
Barbara Ex, Founder & CEO of WhiteSpace, On-Demand Collaboration Space, Space as a Service, PropTech, Future of Work 24:18

3+ y ago24:18

24:18

Nobody can be part of a startup and then have another startup as a side hustle WhiteSpace is a "collaboration" space There is just an inherent drive to need to be face to face with other human beings Nike "swoosh" recovery I want to add tech that really adds value to the customer experience The willingness to try things and fail at them If it does …

1
Richard Brubaker, Founder & Managing Director of Collective Responsibility, Sustainability, Innovation, Leadership, Entrepreneurship 27:14

3+ y ago27:14

27:14

The process is the key to getting a lot of things done My mission is to save the world Shut up and do something Problems are real in China If you can make the entire market smarter you are going to get a much larger pie that you can all work off of Driven by the belief that change begins with a single step, Richard Brubaker has spent the last 20 ye…

1
Rasmus Rasmusson, CEO & Founder of VÄRM and LeWorks, IoT in China, Cofactory, Manufacturing, Automation 26:30

3+ y ago26:30

26:30

People looked at the website and they didn't know what to do with this I burned out before the industry burned out Communication is very important for sales Interner consultants are bad programmers that are just good at talking Automation in the small and medium-size factories is what's gonna happen next Rasmus Rasmusson is an experienced entrepren…

1
Eddie Tsai, Co-Founder at Human Things, Genki Gadgets, 3 Kickstarter Campaigns, USD 4 Million 30:06

3+ y ago30:06

30:06

Asia countries are more competitive, people work much later hours Fung Group has one of the best connections with academia It is crazy how many business leaders do not even know what their customers want Gaming is a hard industry Manufacturing is always the toughest part We were on the chain working literally with factory workers Eddie Tsai is focu…

1
Eric Liu, Co-Founder & CTO at DIGITWIN Technologies, Spatial Computing Technologist, Digital Twins 27:31

4y ago27:31

27:31

I saw a huge opportunity for 3D real-time technology The markets are already stable, it is hard to innovate and penetrate In 2017 over 50% of smart cities were developed in China Only China and Saudi Arabia are the two countries that are starting cities from nothing A digital twin is a digital representation of a physical world Manufacturing and sm…

1
Chen Zhang, Founder & CEO at CowTransfer, the Fastest File Transfer Service in China 22:39

4y ago22:39

22:39

I had to leave a keyboard and go out to look for investment, people, and resources I was a pure tech nerd Security is the biggest challenge If we keep going like this we will be shut down again Picking the right co-founder is really really important In the future, digital assets will be more and more important Video production will be booming 13 ye…

1
Eric Oetting: funder and CEO at Planet O. Planet One is location-based entertainment, high tech eSports, and XR experiences. 23:43

4y ago23:43

23:43

Real Estate developers were changing rapidly because they are all in such pain, that they would cut the entire executive board Deals with NetEase and Formula One were both signed during the coronavirus outbreak I see it as the future of spaces, especially new retail In China copies come really quick you gotta move fast We are in that value chain to…

1
Yuchen Zhang YC: aihehuo.com, Co-founders, Engineer, China Startups, SLP 29:06

4y ago29:06

29:06

It takes about two years to transition from a corporate person to an entrepreneur. Too much money was put on bureaucratic things which are unnecessary for an early-stage project. I need culture shock. I witnessed how 30 million got burned for nothing. No payment option was a stopper. If you go to a new city and you know nobody you just say you are …

1
Erik Walenza-Slabe: IoT One, Industrial Internet of Things, Startup Grind Shanghai 24:19

4y ago24:19

24:19

💡 Put a phone away. 💡 China is a fairly friendly place for foreigners as long as you are not doing things that the government does not want you to do. 💡 China is a super interesting market because over the past 30 years they built up this incredible asset base - the factory of the world. 💡 Technology adoption is a big issue. Erik Walenza-Slabe is a…

1
Jade Hsiao: Johns Hopkins, Danone, foodtech, XNode, corporate innovation 27:35

4y ago27:35

27:35

💡 China is undergoing huge growth. Exponential opportunities are very attractive to young professionals. 💡 In the US, you work at a job in a high-pressure environment, you deliver, and a lot of your passion you build outside of your job. In China, it's a creation of things like WeChat, where it totally blurs personal and professional lines. 💡 We tr…

1
Kapil Kane: Stanford, Apple, Intel, GrowthX corporate accelerator 27:45

4y ago27:45

27:45

In China, you can get anything done in no time. If you cannot resource a team of champions within a corporation, then the relationships with startups are superficial. The number one KPI is the incremental revenue we drive for Intel. Graduated from Stanford, worked alongside incredibly talented people on designing multiple generations of Apple produ…

1
Sunny Ting, Digital Innovation Scout at BI x Digital Labs and Co-Director at Startup Grind Shanghai 27:28

4y ago27:28

27:28

The first episode of In China Between Meetings, a series of video interviews where we talk about innovation, technology, and entrepreneurship. Join us for a ride with Sunny Ting, Digital Innovation Scout at BI x Digital Labs and Co-Director at Startup Grind Shanghai. Born in Taiwan, grew up in Hong Kong, Sunny is on the frontline of the Shanghai in…

1
Webinar – What’s your Business Worth? 38:10

5+ y ago38:10

38:10

During this webinar, speakers from https://www.cmc-partners.co.uk Peter Martin and Simon Scott shared how to calculate your business worth and improving the value tips with positioning to appeal to buyers. Peter and Simon from CMC have over 30 years’ experience of buying and selling businesses as well as having run their own businesses.…

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