Between Meetings Marian Danko

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. Michael also shared common mistakes that startups make and offered valuable advice.
Takeaways:
Always be more than just a lawyer.I really view my role as a community builder and ecosystem supporter; law is the way I contribute to that.This is an Osler client; we have seen this type of stuff a thousand times before.There is no startup in the world that can afford the legal fees from day one.Talking to a lawyer or accountant should not always be a question of whether I can afford it.We owe it to our clients to adopt AI.Collaboration and openness, among other things, are a secret source that makes those gears start to turn.Build a community around you.People will say they would rather invest in a bad business with great founders than in a great business with bad founders.Michael Grantmyre is a tech lawyer, a biz dev guy, a wanna-be skier, an outdoors enthusiast, a cyclist, a soccer player, and a tech geek. As a Partner at Osler, Michael works with tech companies that are starting out, and those that are well-established, to advise on a range of corporate matters to add every bit of value possible for their day-to-day business and legal needs.
Between Meetings is a series of on-the-go interviews featuring industry leaders, entrepreneurs, and corporate innovators. In these interviews, we delve into the latest trends and developments in innovation, technology, and entrepreneurship, catching our guests between meetings in a car ride across town. Along the way, they share inspiring stories, personal experiences, industry insights, and practical advice on how to scale your way to success. Each interview is packed with valuable information and inspiration for anyone looking to make an impact in the tech and innovation world.
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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 the salary is not a true startup founder.A PhD does not necessarily make a great startup founder.Entrepreneurship has become significantly more challenging due to the high expectations investors have.Intellectual property and regulatory expertise are valuable skillsets to bring into entrepreneurship.IP and regulatory are the most diametrically opposed thought processes In IP, you argue that you are different from everybody else. In regulatory, you argue that you are the same as everyone else.Speed is crucial; you have to move quickly. Every hour counts.Sabina Bruehlmann has twenty years of medical technology commercialization experience in developing and managing mature IP strategies, obtaining regulatory clearances for novel products, establishing workable quality systems, innovating and managing successful R&D programs including clinical trials, setting up small-scale regulated manufacturing, and raising funds.
Between Meetings is a series of on-the-go interviews featuring industry leaders, entrepreneurs, and corporate innovators. In these interviews, we delve into the latest trends and developments in innovation, technology, and entrepreneurship, catching our guests between meetings in a car ride across town. Along the way, they share inspiring stories, personal experiences, industry insights, and practical advice on how to scale your way to success. Each interview is packed with valuable information and inspiration for anyone looking to make an impact in the tech and innovation world.
🎙 Follow the host Marian Danko on LinkedIn.
Find us on YouTube, LinkedIn, Twitter
Subscribe to the podcast via other services to be notified when a new episode is released. We are on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, and more.

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. 
Takeaways:
I am always in the corner of the underdog.Fifteen years ago, innovation was just this little shiny object over to the side.Becoming a startup founder is not just cool; it is actually viable now.Energy OR innovation, agriculture OR innovation. To me, 'OR' is simply rooted in fallacy. It should be an 'AND' conversation.Kevin Dahl has expertise in several industries including mobile payments, hospitality tech, telecommunications, music, and tech incubation. He is a geek at heart. Kevin loves technology and he is fascinated by its impact on society. 
Between Meetings is a series of on-the-go interviews featuring industry leaders, entrepreneurs, and corporate innovators. In these interviews, we delve into the latest trends and developments in innovation, technology, and entrepreneurship, catching our guests between meetings in a car ride across town. Along the way, they share inspiring stories, personal experiences, industry insights, and practical advice on how to scale your way to success. Each interview is packed with valuable information and inspiration for anyone looking to make an impact in the tech and innovation world.


🎙 Follow the host Marian Danko on LinkedIn.
Find us on YouTube, LinkedIn, and Twitter.

Subscribe to the podcast via other services to be notified when a new episode is released. We are on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, and more.

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 2000s, 75% of Gobi's startups were from BeijingThe effects of COVID-19 will stick around longer than we thinkCMC Capital Partners mainly invests in ChinaIf you're a foreign company wanting funding in China, be clear about what you want to leverage from ChinaTo succeed in China, have locals on your teamKen joined CMC Capital in 2018 and serves as a partner. While at CMC, he has made investments in Clobotics, Revobit, and TAGE. Before joining the Firm, Ken served as the Managing Partner of Gobi Partners China and managed the operation of the fund. During this period, his successful investment included: Lingtu Software, Madhouse Inc., CSDN, Hanchen DT, Link Motion, 36kr, etc.
Between Meetings is a series of on-the-go interviews featuring industry leaders, entrepreneurs, and corporate innovators. In these interviews, we delve into the latest trends and developments in innovation, technology, and entrepreneurship, catching our guests between meetings in a car ride across town. Along the way, they share inspiring stories, personal experiences, industry insights, and practical advice on how to scale your way to success. Each interview is packed with valuable information and inspiration for anyone looking to make an impact in the tech and innovation world.
🎙 Follow the host Marian Danko on LinkedIn.
YouTube, LinkedIn, Twitter
Subscribe to the podcast via other services to be notified when a new episode is released. We are on WeChat Channel, bilibili, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, and more.

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 international companies encounter in China and much more.
Takeaways:
What kept me in China was the feeling that I was in the center of everything fascinating happening in the world.What made me start to feel like an entrepreneur was connecting with other entrepreneurs through Startup Grind.Being an entrepreneur totally changed my life.Get into action: 85% action, 15% reflection.Get it done because you learn as you are doing.Take care of yourself: you are the first asset of the company.One of the pain points multinationals are trying to solve is localizing appropriately for the Chinese market.Another challenge for multinationals is keeping up with China's speed.China teams have more autonomy than before.There is less trust between China teams and global teams.Multinationals are trying to derisk the non-China business connected to China.Rachel Daydou is a driven, authentic, and multicultural C-level executive with 10+ years of experience building innovative businesses in China. My responsibilities have covered management, sales, and marketing in various industries covering F&B distribution, Fashion retail, Digital Marketing, and Education.
Between Meetings is a series of on-the-go interviews featuring industry leaders, entrepreneurs, and corporate innovators. In these interviews, we delve into the latest trends and developments in innovation, technology, and entrepreneurship, catching our guests between meetings in a car ride across town. Along the way, they share inspiring stories, personal experiences, industry insights, and practical advice on how to scale your way to success. Each interview is packed with valuable information and inspiration for anyone looking to make an impact in the tech and innovation world.
🎙 Follow the host Marian Danko on LinkedIn.
YouTube, LinkedIn, Twitter
Subscribe to the podcast via other services to be notified when a new episode is released. We are on WeChat Channel, bilibili, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, and more.

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:
Understanding science and practical application are two different skillsI sought a challenge and chose a different path than my peers in dentistryThe dental industry has been slow in adopting technological advancementsChina faces a significant shortage in the number of dentistsPrototyping must be tested with the actual market rather than just a group of friendsIt was surprising to discover how challenging people find using technologyDr. Oscar Sum graduated from one of the world’s top dental programs at King’s College London before moving to Shanghai to work in the private sector & becoming the Dental Director of Global Healthcare China. He is a pioneer in AI dental care having gained a MSc in the field of Dental AI and creating his own company Aidencare.
Between Meetings is a series of on-the-go interviews featuring industry leaders, entrepreneurs, and corporate innovators. In these interviews, we delve into the latest trends and developments in innovation, technology, and entrepreneurship, catching our guests between meetings in a car ride across town. Along the way, they share inspiring stories, personal experiences, industry insights, and practical advice on how to scale your way to success. Each interview is packed with valuable information and inspiration for anyone looking to make an impact in the tech and innovation world.
🎙 Follow the host Marian Danko on LinkedIn.
YouTube, LinkedIn, Twitter
Subscribe to the podcast via other services to be notified when a new episode is released. We are on WeChat Channel, bilibili, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, and more.