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Beyond Technology

Beyond Technology

by Shawn Freeman

Entrepreneurship Technology

Season 2

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/

Kathe Lemon: How to Choose the Right Medium to Create Real Connection

In this episode, my guest is Kathe Lemon, president and co-owner of RedPoint Media, the company behind Avenue Magazine, The Scene, and a range of print, digital, and event-based platforms focused on connecting people to their city and each other. We discuss how media is evolving from traditional publishing into a platform for connection, and why the real challenge is not choosing technology, but choosing the right medium for the outcome you want. Kathe shares how her team thinks about communication across print, digital, and in-person experiences, how they build connection intentionally, and why not every problem should be solved with new technology. The conversation also explores growing uncertainty around AI, questions of trust and authorship, and why leadership still comes down to people, not tools. Learn more about Kathe and RedPoint Media: https://www.redpointmedia.ca/ Thank you to our sponsors: EO Calgary: https://member.eonetwork.org/calgary 2C Media: https://www.2cmedia.ca/

Season 1

Adam Danyleko: How to Balance Customer Service and Technology

In this episode, my guest is Adam Danyleko, founder of Elite Travel, a corporate travel management and technology company that focuses on building long-term client relationships through transparency, trust, and exceptional service. What started in his basement has grown into one of the fastest-growing travel companies in Canada, with a strong focus on delivering value beyond just price. We discuss how service-based businesses can balance automation with human connection. Adam shares how his team decides what should be automated and what should stay high-touch, why customer service is still the core product, and how they roll out new technology by testing with trusted clients before scaling. The conversation also explores rapid growth, building strong teams, and why leadership still requires personal development beyond what technology can provide. Learn more about Adam and Elite Travel: https://elitetravelmanagement.ca/ Thank you to our sponsors: EO Calgary: https://member.eonetwork.org/calgary 2C Media: https://www.2cmedia.ca/

Chris Kerr: How to Lead Security in an Automated World

In this episode my guest is Chris Kerr, founder and president of XA Security, a Calgary based security firm providing entertainment, campus, property, and mobile patrol services. What began more than 20 years ago as a small backstage support team has evolved into a company focused on experience driven security, de escalation, and modern safety solutions. We discuss how the security industry is being reshaped by surveillance technology, automation, AI, drones, and remote monitoring and why ethical leadership will matter more than ever. Chris shares lessons from building internal systems, avoiding software overload, deciding when to build versus buy, and creating a culture where experimentation is encouraged but accountability remains clear. The conversation explores how technology should support human judgment, not replace it, and why companies that balance innovation with responsibility will be the ones that last. Learn more about Chris and XA Security: https://www.xasecurity.ca/ Thank you to our sponsors: EO Calgary: https://member.eonetwork.org/calgary 2C Media: https://www.2cmedia.ca/

Rob Ohlson: How to Choose Technology That Actually Serves Your Team and Clients

In this episode my guest is Rob Ohlson, president and owner of Maillot Homes, a high-end custom home builder based in Calgary. With more than two decades in the construction industry, Rob brings a grounded, people-first perspective to leadership, craftsmanship, and adopting technology in a traditionally low-tech space. We discuss how choosing the right technology can dramatically simplify work, while choosing too many tools can create friction instead of progress. Rob shares lessons from consolidating project management systems, avoiding tool sprawl, and evaluating technology through the lens of real outcomes rather than hype. The conversation also explores creating a culture where teams feel safe experimenting, adapting tools to individual workflows, and using technology to eliminate bottlenecks without losing focus on quality, collaboration, and the client experience. Learn more about Rob and Maillot Homes: https://www.maillothomes.com/ Thank you to our sponsors: EO Calgary: https://member.eonetwork.org/calgary 2C Media: https://www.2cmedia.ca/

Paula Worthington: How to Prioritize Relationships and Use Technology as Support

In this episode my guest is Paula Worthington, founder and president of Worthington PR & Story, a highly sought-after communications, public relations, social media, and marketing agency dedicated to helping brands share their stories with the world. With more than 20 years of experience, Paula is an experienced entrepreneur, respected national PR leader, and award-winning communicator who was inducted into the Canadian Marketing, Advertising, Communication and PR Hall of Fame in 2022. We discuss how relationship-led work stays at the center of great communications, with technology working quietly behind the scenes to support it. Paula shares how her team balances personalized service with efficiency, decides when people or tools should lead, and creates a culture where experimentation feels safe. The conversation also explores adapting to new platforms without losing connection, using technology intentionally, and why strong client relationships will always matter more than the latest tool. Learn more about Paula: https://worthingtonpr.com/ Thank you to our sponsors: EO Calgary: https://member.eonetwork.org/calgary 2C Media: https://www.2cmedia.ca/

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