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Beyond Technology

Beyond Technology

by Shawn Freeman

Entrepreneurship Technology

Season 3

Gavin Harrison: How to Lead Through Constant Change

In this episode my guest is Gavin Harrison, co-founder of Level 52, a leadership development company helping organizations build stronger leaders through training, executive coaching, and customized leadership programs. An entrepreneur from an early age, Gavin has spent his career building businesses and teams and now brings that experience to helping leaders and organizations deepen their impact. We discuss how technology can amplify a leader’s impact without replacing human ownership and judgment. Gavin shares how he built a custom AI tool to overcome a personal challenge with dyslexia, why some technology can create more work than it saves, and how Level 52 encourages experimentation as part of its culture. We also explore the risk of getting distracted by constantly changing technology, the importance of putting guardrails around experimentation, and how leaders can stay focused on where their time and attention will have the greatest impact. Learn more about Gavin and Level 52: https://www.level52.ca Thank you to our sponsors: EO Calgary 2C Media

Jordan Ramey: How to Modernize a Hands On Business

In this episode, my guest is Jordan Ramey, PhD, co-founder of Burwood Distillery, a Calgary-based craft distillery creating unique Alberta spirits and experiences. Before entering the beverage industry, Jordan earned his PhD in microbiology, immunology, and molecular genetics and worked as a researcher in cancer and anthrax studies. His career eventually took him into brewing education and consulting before he co-founded Burwood Distillery in 2016. We discuss how technology can take busy work off your team’s plate and give people more time to focus on what they do best. Jordan shares how specialized distilling software took an audit process from six months to one day, how AI is helping his team manage restaurant costs and inventory, and why he has started building his own tools when existing software falls short. The conversation also explores why some processes still work better on paper, the risks of trusting AI without verifying its answers, and the challenges of introducing new technology across a team with different levels of digital experience. Learn more about Jordan and Burwood Distillery: https://burwooddistillery.ca/distillery/ Thank you to our sponsors: EO Calgary 2C Media

Tim Thompson: Get Out of the Weeds and Lead Your Business

In this episode, my guest is Tim Thompson, founder of CyberTrends. He helps MSP owners build the foundations they need to grow and scale their businesses. After building his own MSP to $7 million, Tim launched CyberTrends to share what he learned and help technical founders become stronger business owners. We discuss how MSP owners can move from working in the business to leading it, and how technology can help create the time and structure to make that shift. Tim shares his approach to operational maturity, building better processes and playbooks, and using AI and automation to eliminate low-value work. The conversation also explores why relationships still matter in an increasingly digital world, how leaders can help their teams embrace AI, and what to do with the time technology gives back. Learn more about Tim and CyberTrends:CyberTrends Thank you to our sponsors: EO Calgary 2C Media

Brad Williamson: How to Turn Marketing Into Measurable Growth

In this episode my guest is Brad Williamson, founder and CEO of Catch Digital, a digital marketing agency that helps businesses build measurable customer acquisition systems through paid media, automation, conversion optimization, and AI powered workflows. Catch Digital works with organizations across Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia to improve marketing performance by focusing on what matters most: return on investment. We discuss why marketing should be measured by business outcomes rather than tactics, how technology can improve every stage of the customer journey, and why AI should raise the quality of work instead of replacing people. Brad shares how Catch Digital built proprietary attribution technology, why integrated systems are becoming the future of business, and how leaders can avoid becoming overwhelmed by having access to too much information. Learn more about Brad and Catch Digital: https://www.catchdigital.io/ Thank you to our sponsors: EO Calgary: https://member.eonetwork.org/calgary 2C Media: https://www.2cmedia.ca/

Season 2

Quan Ly: How to Build a Team That Embraces Change

In this episode, my guest is Quan Ly, founder of McRally, a boutique accounting, tax, and strategic advisory firm. McRally helps businesses across Canada improve profitability, reduce taxes, and make better financial decisions. Since launching the firm in 2015, Quan has built one of Alberta's first cloud-based accounting firms and continues to stay at the forefront of technology and AI adoption. We discuss why adopting technology is often more difficult than choosing the technology itself. Quan shares lessons from building a cloud-based accounting firm, implementing AI across his business, and helping teams navigate change without losing trust. The conversation also explores why growth starts with mindset, how leaders create psychological safety during periods of change, and why the businesses that embrace learning will outperform those that resist it. Learn more about Quan and McRally: https://mcgrally.ca/ Thank you to our sponsors: EO Calgary: https://member.eonetwork.org/calgary 2C Media: https://www.2cmedia.ca/

Caleb Clark: How to Validate Before You Scale

In this episode my guest is Caleb Clark, co-founder of Hook + Ladder Digital, a marketing agency that provides fractional marketing teams to franchise restaurant brands and other growing organizations. What started as an MBA case competition project has evolved into a team of more than 70 people helping brands scale their marketing operations through strategy, execution, and technology. We discuss why technology should amplify proven solutions rather than create them, and why many businesses scale too quickly before validating what actually works. Caleb shares how his team uses AI to support communication, streamline operations, and create efficiency across a distributed workforce while keeping people at the center of the process. The conversation also explores leadership, experimentation, risk taking, and why some of the best business outcomes come from simply giving people permission to play and try new things. Learn more about Caleb and Hook + Ladder Digital: https://hnldigital.com/ Thank you to our sponsors: EO Calgary: https://member.eonetwork.org/calgary 2C Media: https://www.2cmedia.ca/

Margarita de Guzman: How to Eliminate Bottlenecks With Technology

In this episode, my guest is Margarita de Guzman, CEO and Principal Archaeologist at Circle CRM Group, a cultural resource management consulting firm that helps clients navigate archaeological and regulatory requirements across Western Canada. With a passion for both archaeology and innovation, Margarita is focused on finding better ways to use technology to improve workflows, increase efficiency, and support her growing team. We discuss how technology can help eliminate bottlenecks, streamline processes, and free people up to focus on higher-value work. Margarita shares how her team digitized field data collection, their attempts to automate reporting, and why AI has become a key part of how she thinks about solving business challenges. The conversation also explores leadership, creating a culture where mistakes become learning opportunities, and why technology should support experts rather than replace them. Learn more about Margarita and Circle CRM Group: https://www.circleconsulting.ca/ Thank you to our sponsors: EO Calgary: https://member.eonetwork.org/calgary 2C Media: https://www.2cmedia.ca/

Christa Hill: How to Build Before You Feel Ready

In this episode my guest is Christa Hill, CEO of Tacit Edge Product Leadership, a company focused on helping Canadians build the technical and AI literacy needed for the future of work. Through curriculum development, training programs, and hands on education, Christa and her team are helping businesses, professionals, and students understand how technology, people, and processes work together in the age of AI. We discuss why most people wait too long to start building, how AI is changing the speed of business, and why overbuilding products is one of the biggest mistakes founders make. Christa shares real examples of Alberta companies using AI to automate workflows, shorten sales cycles, and create entirely new ways of working. The conversation also explores why leadership teams need to become builders themselves, how AI is changing workplace culture, and why the most important skill today is simply being willing to try. Learn more about Christa and Tacit Edge Product Leadership: https://tacit-edge.com/ Thank you to our sponsors: EO Calgary: https://member.eonetwork.org/calgary 2C Media: https://www.2cmedia.ca/

Julian Gelfand: How to Make IT Serve People, Not Just Processes

In this episode my guest is Julian Gelfand, founder of Always Beyond, a managed service provider dedicated to helping small and medium businesses leverage technology to work more efficiently and securely. Julian shares insights from his experience building an MSP that integrates modern cloud-based tools, AI, and cybersecurity solutions while keeping the focus on human connection and customer experience. We discuss how technology can solve real problems without replacing the human touch. Julian explains how he balances automation with personal interaction, how to implement cloud-based solutions effectively, and the strategies he uses to help clients adopt new tools while keeping their teams connected. He also shares his favourite productivity tools, including Microsoft Copilot, and how it has transformed his workflow and saved hours each week. Learn more about Julian and Always Beyond: https://www.alwaysbeyond.com/ Thank you to our sponsors: EO Calgary: https://member.eonetwork.org/calgary 2C Media: https://www.2cmedia.ca

Arif Kanji: How to Make Technology Work for Your Team

In this episode my guest is Arif Kanji, co-founder of Qopia Financial, a growing financial services firm that has expanded from two people to a 22-person team managing close to 400 million in assets. With divisions across group benefits, insurance, financial planning, and retirement, Qopia is building toward becoming a trusted brand across Western Canada. We discuss how businesses can implement technology in a way that actually works for the team using it. Arif shares lessons from centralizing data into one system, introducing AI note takers to improve client meetings, and slowing down implementation so adoption happens properly. The conversation also explores why involving your team in the process is critical, what should stay human in a relationship-driven business, and how better data allows leaders to make better decisions. Learn more about Arif and Qopia Financial: https://qopiafinancial.ca/ Thank you to our sponsors: EO Calgary: https://member.eonetwork.org/calgary 2C Media: https://www.2cmedia.ca/

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