True North Success Podcast

What happens when a lawyer with decades of courtroom experience realizes that “winning” is not always the best outcome?
In this episode of the True North Success Podcast, Gary Mah and Amy Kim welcome Gary Kirk, an Alberta lawyer with more than 25 years of experience in litigation, family law, estates, mediation, and arbitration. After years advocating in courtrooms, Gary shifted his focus toward mediation and alternative dispute resolution, helping people resolve conflicts faster, more effectively, and often with better long-term outcomes.
Gary shares how his journey evolved from highly adversarial litigation into mediation work that prioritizes relationships, understanding, and practical solutions.
 
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What happens when European culinary tradition meets Rocky Mountain hospitality?
In this episode of the True North Success Podcast, Amy Kim sits down with Charlie Holschuh, owner and teaching chef behind The Bav + Tav at the Bavarian Inn in Bragg Creek, Alberta. Charlie shares his remarkable journey from growing up in Munich, Germany, training as a chef across Europe, opening his first restaurant in Bavaria, and eventually moving to Canada to build a lasting culinary legacy.
Charlie discusses how he blends Alpine cuisine with locally sourced Canadian ingredients to create a unique dining experience that continues to evolve after nearly four decades in business.
The conversation explores entrepreneurship, leadership, restaurant ownership, community building, and the importance of staying innovative while honouring tradition.
 
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What happens when healthcare moves beyond treating symptoms and starts understanding people’s stories?
In this episode of the True North Success Podcast, Amy sits down with physician, researcher, and advocate Dr. Monty Ghosh to explore the deeper realities behind addiction, homelessness, trauma, and health inequities. Dr. Ghosh shares how his journey into addiction medicine began and why compassion, empathy, and trauma-informed care have become central to his work supporting vulnerable communities.
Together, they discuss how early life experiences can shape long-term health outcomes, why stigma prevents many people from seeking help, and how community-based solutions can create lasting change.
Dr. Ghosh also shares the inspiring story behind the National Overdose Response Service (NORS), a virtual support system helping individuals stay safe and connected.
 
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In this inspiring episode of the True North Success Podcast, Gary Mah and Amy Kim sit down with Ivan Lypovyk, entrepreneur and co-owner of Permanent Window Solutions, to explore his remarkable journey from carpenter and construction superintendent to building one of Western Canada’s leading European window and door companies.
Ivan shares how moving from Ukraine to Canada opened his eyes to opportunities in the construction industry and led him to introduce modern European window technology to the Canadian market. What began as a small side business eventually became a thriving company with multiple showrooms and a growing team.
Despite launching his first showroom only days before COVID restrictions began — and later navigating the impacts of the war in Ukraine — Ivan and his team continued to grow by embracing adaptability, leadership, and continuous learning.
 
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What happens when a software engineer combines curiosity, discipline, and a passion for solving real problems? In this episode of the True North Success Podcast, Amy Kim sits down with Etienne Noumen to discuss his inspiring journey from electrical engineering in Cameroon to becoming a technical leader in Canada’s tech industry.
Etienne shares how teaching himself new technologies helped him stay ahead in the highly competitive IT world. From building mobile apps and cloud platforms to launching his successful AI-focused podcast, AI Unraveled, he explains why personal projects have been one of the biggest keys to his success.
As a father of four competitive athletes, Etienne also opens up about balancing family life, full-time work, side businesses, and late-night entrepreneurship. He discusses how AI is changing the future of learning and communication through his latest company, Jamgamine, which transforms complex documents into engaging AI-powered audio conversations.
 
 
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In this inspiring conversation, Amy Kim sits down with entrepreneur and product builder Klaus Rubba to discuss his journey from enterprise software development and game design into startup innovation and AI-powered product creation.
Klaus shares the story behind his first successful product, a silent auction app, and explains how that experience sparked his passion for building products that solve real-world problems. He also dives into the importance of validating ideas before investing too much time and money into development.
Listeners will hear valuable insights about:
Why founders should focus on finding demand before building
The importance of accountability and “building in public”
How no-code platforms are empowering creators and entrepreneurs
Lessons learned from startup partnerships and co-founder challenges
The inspiration behind Klaus’s new app, MyPacts
This episode is packed with practical advice for entrepreneurs, creators, and anyone looking to turn ideas into meaningful products.
 
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What does it take to leave everything familiar behind and rebuild a successful career from the ground up in a new country? In this inspiring episode of the True North Success Podcast, Amy Kim sits down with physician leader Dr. Shahiem Hartley to discuss resilience, mentorship, discipline, and creating impact beyond medicine.
Originally from Cape Town, South Africa, Dr. Hartley shares his incredible journey from pharmacist to physician, researcher, and healthcare leader in Canada. He opens up about the realities of immigration, adapting to a completely different culture and climate, and the grit required to rebuild a professional career from scratch.
Throughout the conversation, Dr. Hartley shares valuable insights on leadership, networking, mentorship, and how healthcare professionals can expand their influence beyond the clinic into broader healthcare systems and leadership roles. He also discusses the importance of building multiple streams of income, maintaining discipline over motivation, and choosing a positive mindset daily.
This episode is packed with practical wisdom for professionals, entrepreneurs, immigrants, healthcare workers, and anyone striving to create meaningful success while staying grounded in service and purpose.
 
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In this episode of the True North Success Podcast, Gary Mah shares his journey from casually owning a rental property in the early 2000s to becoming a full-time multifamily real estate investor focused on apartment buildings across Alberta and Saskatchewan.
Gary discusses how reading Rich Dad Poor Dad changed his perspective on investing and eventually led him to purchase his first apartment building in 2018. Since then, he and his partners have grown their portfolio to approximately 175 rental units.
Gary explains why multifamily investing became his preferred strategy, including the advantages of scale, stronger financing opportunities, and creating steady cash flow. He also shares how investing in stable secondary markets and agricultural communities has helped create reliable returns.
During the conversation, Gary walks through one of his favourite deals—a 42-unit building purchased for approximately $4.5 million that grew to nearly $6 million in value through operational improvements and optimization.
 
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What does it take to build multiple successful businesses, innovate an entire industry, and still stay grounded in service and community?
In this inspiring episode of the True North Success Podcast, Amy Kim sits down with entrepreneur and innovator James Keirstead, founder and CEO of Levin Electronics. James shares his journey from growing up in poverty to building globally recognized businesses and pioneering affordable smart home technology for large-scale builders across North America.
James explains how Levin Electronics is transforming the construction industry by eliminating unnecessary wiring and making intelligent home technology more accessible and cost-effective for builders and homeowners alike. He also opens up about the realities of entrepreneurship, including failures, perseverance, leadership, and the importance of thinking long-term.
Throughout the conversation, James shares practical advice for entrepreneurs looking to scale businesses, build strong networks, and create meaningful innovation that solves real-world problems.
 
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What happens when a registered nurse combines clinical experience, lived neurodiverse insight, and a passion for technology? In this inspiring episode, Adrienne Power shares how she transitioned from healthcare into entrepreneurship and launched DYSL.io, a company focused on building AI-powered tools that support neurodiverse individuals and mission-driven entrepreneurs.
Adrienne opens up about her personal journey, the meaning behind neurodiversity, and how AI can create more accessible and inclusive workplaces. She also shares practical advice for aspiring entrepreneurs, including why starting lean is essential when building apps and technology businesses.
 
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