True North Success Podcast

What if the biggest mistake entrepreneurs make isn’t choosing the wrong solution—but solving the wrong problem?
In this episode, Amy Kim sits down with Heather Barnhouse, Partner at Dentons, to unpack what it really takes to scale a business with confidence. With over 21 years of experience advising startups, innovators, and established companies, Heather shares practical insights on governance, partnerships, financing, and managing risk during growth.
Heather primarily works with women entrepreneurs in the growth and scalability phase. Whether that means raising capital, entering new jurisdictions, navigating regulated industries, or resolving partnership disputes, her approach is rooted in deeply understanding each client’s unique business model and risk profile.
One of the most powerful lessons in this conversation is the importance of clarity. Before seeking funding, restructuring a partnership, or pursuing expansion, Heather encourages business owners to first define the exact problem they’re trying to solve. Is it simply cash flow? Or is it “smart money” that opens strategic doors? The answer changes everything.
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What really happens on the frontlines of emergency medicine—and what can it teach us about living healthier, more intentional lives?
In this powerful episode, Gary Mah and Amy Kim sit down with Dr. Shazma Mithani, an emergency physician serving at the Royal Alexandra and Stollery Children’s Hospitals in Edmonton. Since 2014, Dr. Mithani has worked at the intersection of community care and acute care, supporting both adult and pediatric patients—often on the worst day of their lives.
Beyond the ER, Dr. Mithani is a passionate advocate for health literacy, equity, and public health communication. Through her writing, speaking engagements, social media presence, and her co-hosted DocTalk Podcast, she translates complex medical information into practical, easy-to-understand conversations that empower everyday people.
 
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What does it take to build a global design and manufacturing company from a garage in Edmonton? In this episode, Nick Kazakoff shares how he co-founded 126 Design and Loop Phone Booths, and scaled the business from two partners hustling after hours to an international brand shipping products around the world.
Nick walks us through the early days of launching the company out of his business partner’s garage on 126th Street—where the name 126 Design was born. What started as a passion for industrial design quickly evolved into a thriving manufacturing operation focused on commercial office solutions, including their innovative office pods and Loop Phone Booths.
We explore how Edmonton, often overlooked as a design hub, offers a powerful combination of strong manufacturing capabilities and top-tier industrial design talent from the University of Alberta. Nick explains why building locally while thinking globally has been a key part of their success.
 
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In this inspiring episode, Amy Kim sits down with Dr. Sylvia Chan Remillard to explore how science, compassion, and leadership can come together to truly transform lives. From growing up in a small-town Chinese restaurant to leading in the cardiometabolic health space, Sylvia shares how her unique journey shaped her approach to leadership and impact.
Dr. Sylvia Chan Remillard is Senior Manager of Medical Science Liaison and Field Excellence at Novo Nordisk Canada. With a PhD in Nutrition and experience spanning nanomaterials research, business development, and medical strategy, Sylvia brings both scientific depth and human connection to her work in diabetes and obesity care.
 
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What if ADHD wasn’t something to “fix” — but something to understand and support?
In this inspiring episode, Amy sits down with Rubina, founder of Abilities Occupational Therapy, to talk about innovation in healthcare, restoring independence through driving assessments, and empowering children and adults with ADHD using strengths-based strategies.
With 19 years of clinical experience, Rubina shares how her passion for lifelong learning and calculated risk-taking helped her build a niche occupational therapy practice serving Albertans at every stage of life. From medical driving evaluations to launching a pediatric feeding clinic and ADHD coaching services, her work is rooted in collaboration, curiosity, and mindset.
One of the most powerful moments in this episode is her perspective on independence. For many clients, regaining the ability to drive is more than getting a license back. It means freedom. It means visiting a spouse in a seniors’ residence. It means dignity, connection, and mental wellness.
Rubina also opens up about living with ADHD herself. She explains why strategies and coaching should often come before medication, and how shifting mindset alone can create meaningful change. Rather than pathologizing ADHD, she focuses on empowering individuals to leverage their strengths while building practical coping tools.
 
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What if painful periods weren’t “normal” — and women didn’t have to wait 5 to 10 years for answers?
In this powerful episode of the True North Success Podcast, Gary Mah sits down with Dr. Sam Azer, a gynecologist at the Lynx Clinic in Edmonton, who is leading a revolution in women’s health through innovation, technology, and patient-centered care.
Dr. Azer shares how endometriosis — a condition where uterine lining cells grow outside the uterus — can cause severe pain, missed school, missed work, and emotional stress for entire families. Traditionally, diagnosis required invasive surgery like laparoscopy, and many women were told their pain was “normal.”
Now, with EndoSure, a groundbreaking non-invasive diagnostic tool, Dr. Azer can detect endometriosis with 95–98% accuracy using electrodes placed on the abdomen, similar to an ECG. This technology measures electrical activity linked to endometrial cells in the bowel — offering earlier diagnosis and life-changing relief for patients.
Dr. Azer also discusses emerging treatment approaches, including anti-inflammatory diets, vitamins E and C, and new research into medications like low-dose GLP-1 therapies.
 
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What does it take to become one of the few highly trained specialists in a competitive medical field? In this episode of the True North Success Podcast, Gary Mah and Amy Kim sit down with Dr. Brent Chambers to explore the value of elite fellowship training, long-term career focus, and staying committed to meaningful work.
Dr. Chambers is a dermatologist and fellowship-trained Mohs micrographic surgeon based in Edmonton, Alberta. He explains what Mohs surgery is, why it has the highest cure rates for certain skin cancers, and how it allows patients to know—on the same day—that all cancer has been removed. He also shares what makes this procedure different from standard excisions and why precision and reconstruction are such important parts of his work.
The conversation goes beyond medicine. Dr. Chambers opens up about navigating a highly competitive training path, tuning out doubt from others, and staying focused during challenging seasons of his career. He talks about the importance of continuous learning, strong work ethic, and finding a specialty that truly fits your interests.
Gary and Amy also explore the business and financial realities of professional careers. Dr. Chambers shares honest insights about financial planning, building long-term security, and why seeking expert guidance is essential when your income depends on active work.
 
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What if aging joints didn’t have to mean pain, surgery, or slowing down? In this episode of the True North Success Podcast, Gary Mah sits down with Dr. Nathan Thakur to explore how regenerative medicine is changing the way people think about joint health, mobility, and long-term success.
Dr. Thakur is a medical doctor specializing in musculoskeletal and regenerative medicine. Formerly with the Cleveland Clinic, he now leads Regenerative MD in Calgary, where he focuses on helping people heal, rejuvenate, and preserve their joints and tendons using research-backed, minimally invasive treatments.
In this conversation, Dr. Thakur explains how orthobiologics like platelet-rich plasma, also known as PRP, can be used to support joint and tendon health without surgery. He shares how early action and proper diagnosis can help people avoid joint replacements and maintain an active lifestyle as they age. The discussion also highlights why service, empathy, and patient experience matter just as much as medical expertise.
 
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What if back pain didn’t have to control your life or limit your performance? In this episode of the True North Success Podcast, Gary Mah sits down with Dr. Rebecca-Jane McAllister to explore a smarter, more empowering approach to back health, recovery, and long-term success.
Dr. McAllister is a chiropractor and acupuncture provider based in Calgary, where she runs her own clinic and also works with the University of Calgary. She specializes in low back pain and helps people move from frustration and uncertainty to clarity, confidence, and self-management.
During the conversation, Dr. McAllister shares her personal journey into chiropractic care, including how her experience with scoliosis as a teenager shaped her passion for education-driven care. She explains why understanding the “why” behind pain is just as important as treatment itself, and how education plays a key role in long-term recovery.
Gary and Dr. McAllister also discuss the GLAD Back program, a group-based education and exercise rehabilitation program designed to help people self-manage low back pain. The episode dives into what truly sets great healthcare providers apart, the importance of trust and shared decision-making, and how patients can feel more empowered between visits.
 
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What if the garbage we throw away every day could power the flights we take tomorrow? In this episode of the True North Success Podcast, Gary Mah sits down with Stephen Akpakwu to explore how municipal waste is being transformed into sustainable aviation fuel — and why this could change the future of energy, climate impact, and cities around the world.
Stephen shares his journey from working in global finance at Goldman Sachs and Bank of America to becoming a co-founder and Chief Commercial Officer at Portage Energy in Calgary. He explains how his team takes landfill waste — something most people see as worthless — and converts it into high-value fuel for the aviation industry.
Throughout the conversation, Stephen breaks down what sustainable aviation fuel is, why aviation is one of the hardest industries to decarbonize, and how using existing carbon above ground can dramatically reduce net emissions. He also explains what sets Portage Energy apart: solving both a climate problem and a waste management problem at the same time.
The discussion goes beyond technology. Stephen talks about leadership, entrepreneurship, and redefining success as a long-term journey. He shares lessons on believing in yourself, surrounding yourself with honest advisors, and staying flexible when moving from a stable corporate career into entrepreneurship.
 
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