The Business Development Podcast

Episode 316 of The Business Development Podcast features Aaron Lambert, mining technology innovator and founder of RIINO, a company developing a modular electric rail haulage system designed to transform how mines move rock, equipment, and eventually people. Aaron takes us deep into modern mining, explaining how underground operations have evolved, why development has become slower and more expensive over time, and how safety, logistics, and economics are constantly in tension.
We then explore the RIINO breakthrough. Aaron explains why moving rock is one of the most expensive parts of mining, why rail is the most energy efficient method of transport, and how RIINO is engineering a hybrid electric system capable of operating on incline while integrating both grid power and onboard batteries. He also shares the entrepreneurial journey behind building deep tech from scratch, collaborating with industry leaders, navigating funding and grants, and pushing forward through uncertainty to turn a bold idea into a real world pilot with global potential.
Check out this incredible mining technology! www.riino.com
Key Takeaways:
Mining becomes a completely different world once you are inside it, with its own language, realities, and way of operating.
Modern mining is safer than decades ago, but underground work is still dangerous and seismic events can happen without warning.
The way mines are built is shaped by the tools available, and bigger equipment often forces bigger tunnels, more ground support, and higher costs.
In some regions, mines were being developed faster 20 years ago because smaller equipment and smaller tunnels allowed quicker progress.
Mining is fundamentally a logistics game, and moving rock is one of the most expensive parts of the entire operation.
Rail is the most efficient means of transportation for heavy material, which is why RIINO is built around electric rail haulage.
RIINO is combining proven tech from outside mining, like electrified transit concepts, and adapting it to mine conditions with a system that can climb inclines using traction solutions beyond steel on steel.
If you are building something that has never been done, there is no single right answer, and the product you start with will not be the product you finish with.
The real path of entrepreneurship is not linear, and the only way through is one step at a time, adapting constantly, and not quitting when the plan changes.
Big innovations require deep collaboration, a support network, and partners who believe in the purpose and help shape the system so it actually works in the real world.

This episode is proudly brought to you by Hypervac Technologies, North America’s leading vacuum truck manufacturer.
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Episode 315 dives into a conversation Canada needs to be having right now. Erin Benjamin, President and CEO of the Canadian Live Music Association, breaks down why live music is one of the most powerful and misunderstood economic engines in the country. This episode goes far beyond concerts and culture, unpacking how live music fuels jobs, tourism, talent attraction, and city growth, while contributing billions to Canada’s GDP. Despite its impact, the industry remains largely undervalued and underinvested, not because it lacks potential, but because business and policy have failed to fully recognize what’s already working.
Drawing from more than three decades in the music industry, Erin Benjamin explains what it will take to unlock the next phase of growth and why Canada is standing at a critical inflection point. From de-risking promoters and venues to integrating live music into economic development and tourism strategies, this episode makes a compelling case for why now is the moment to act. If Canada wants stronger cities, better talent retention, and globally competitive cultural industries, this conversation makes it clear that investing in live music isn’t optional anymore, it’s strategic.
Rockstars, I just want to say thank you.
Three years ago, this show started as an idea and a conversation I felt needed to exist. Today, it exists because you kept showing up, listening, sharing, challenging ideas, and supporting the journey week after week. Your support has turned this podcast into a global community, and I’m incredibly grateful for every download, every message, every conversation sparked because of it.
Here’s to the last three years of growth, learning, and momentum and to what we’re building next. If you’ve been here since day one or you just joined us recently, know this: this show doesn’t happen without you. Appreciate you all more than you know. 🔥🎙️

Key Takeaways:
Live music is not just entertainment, it is a serious economic engine driving jobs, tourism, and city growth across Canada.
Canada’s live music industry generates billions in GDP and supports over one hundred thousand jobs, yet it remains largely undervalued and underinvested.
The biggest missed opportunity is not talent or demand, it is the lack of coordinated policy and business investment supporting live music infrastructure.
Venues, promoters, and festivals are the backbone of the industry, and without protecting this infrastructure, artist development and touring collapse.
De-risking live music is not about bailouts, it is about enabling smart growth and allowing promoters to take calculated chances on emerging talent.
Live music plays a critical role in attracting and retaining talent, making cities more competitive places to live, work, and build businesses.
Music tourism is one of Canada’s most underleveraged advantages and has the potential to scale economic impact far beyond ticket sales.
COVID exposed how fragile the live music ecosystem was, but it also proved what is possible when government, business, and industry align.
Business leaders have far more to gain from supporting live music than they realize, from brand alignment to employee experience to city...

Episode 314 features Adam Danyleyko from AMII (the Alberta Machine Intelligence Institute) breaking down what AMII actually does and how they help organizations move from AI curiosity to real adoption. Adam explains AMII’s foundation in world class research and how the institute translates that research into industry impact by supporting everyone from startups to large corporations through training, shared AI language inside teams, roadmap building, and hands on proof of concept work.
The real lesson of the episode is that adapting to AI starts with clarity, not hype. Adam walks through how the “right tool for the problem” mindset changes everything, why data strategy matters especially for startups, and why AI projects often require experimentation with no guaranteed outcome the way a typical software build might. He also touches on where AI is headed next through more efficient models, edge computing, and practical real world constraints, plus how AMII screens work through a principled AI lens focused on impact, fairness, and responsible use.
Additional note: This episode also marks three years of The Business Development Podcast.
Follow Adam Danyleyko on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adam-danyleyko/
Learn more about AMII: https://www.amii.ca
Key Takeaways:
AI is not a strategy on its own; it only works when it supports a clearly defined business problem.
Starting with the tool instead of the bottleneck almost always leads to wasted time and stalled initiatives.
Businesses need a shared AI language internally before they can successfully adopt or scale it.
Data readiness matters more than model choice when it comes to real-world AI outcomes.
AI projects often require experimentation, iteration, and learning rather than guaranteed deliverables.
The right AI solution depends on context, constraints, and environment, not what is trending.
Building internal capability is more sustainable than outsourcing all AI decision-making.
Responsible AI requires intentional choices around fairness, impact, and long-term use.
AI works best as an amplifier of good processes, not a fix for broken ones.
Organizations that adapt to AI successfully treat it as infrastructure, not a magic product.

This episode of The Business Development Podcast is proudly sponsored by Hypervac Technologies and Hyperfab, our 2026 Title Sponsors. We’re incredibly grateful for their continued support of the show and the work they do building world-class industrial solutions right here in Canada. Hypervac and Hyperfab represent innovation, reliability, and execution at the highest level, and we genuinely appreciate them being part of this journey.
If you’re in the industrial space, we highly encourage you to check them out at www.hypervac.com.
If you’re the kind of...

In episode 313, Kelly shares a hard lesson from a time he tried to “help” a client by booking a series of account management meetings he was not going to attend. The introductions were easy because the trust and credibility were already built, and the prospects said yes because of Kelly’s relationship with them. But once the client missed one meeting, then another, Kelly realized the damage was landing on his name, not theirs. Instead of doing business development, he found himself apologizing, rescheduling, and working to repair relationships that took years to earn.
The core message is simple and sharp: if you are not accountable for the outcome, you should not be booking the meeting. Kelly breaks down exactly what went wrong and how quickly credibility can be spent when you put yourself in the middle of a process you do not control. He closes with clear principles to protect your reputation: only book what you are willing to own, control the first impression, treat your network like equity, remove yourself as the middleman, and ensure accountability before opening doors.
Key Takeaways:
If your name is on the meeting, you are accountable for the outcome whether you attend or not.
Credibility is currency in business development and every introduction spends a little of it.
Never book meetings you cannot personally control or confidently stand behind.
Acting as the middleman without authority puts all the risk on you and none of the control.
First impressions set the tone for the entire relationship so be present to guide them.
Good intentions do not protect your reputation. Boundaries do.
Relationships built over years can be damaged quickly by missed expectations.
Accountability must exist before opportunity or you are gambling with trust.
Your network is equity, not loose change. Treat every intro like it costs something.
Protecting your reputation is more important than trying to help or say yes to everything.

This episode of The Business Development Podcast is proudly supported by our 2026 Title Sponsor, Hypervac Technologies, North America’s leading manufacturer of industrial vacuum and hydro excavation trucks. If you are looking for world class equipment built for performance, reliability, and the toughest job sites, check them out at www.hypervac.com and see why so many companies trust Hypervac to power their operations.
Got a wild, funny, unbelievable, or unforgettable story from your time at work? Submit your story to I Used To Work There and you might be featured on the show. Email us at [email protected] and we’ll send you the quick intake form and recording options. We review every submission and would love to hear yours.

If you want to connect more directly, ask questions, and grow alongside other driven leaders, join The Catalyst Club. It’s Kelly Kennedy’s private leadership and business development community built for leaders by leaders, with live sessions,...

Episode 312 of The Business Development Podcast features a practical and candid conversation with Gordon Sheppard, CEO of Executive Wins, about what really holds teams and organizations back from growth. Drawing on more than 25 years of executive coaching experience, Gordon shares what happens behind the scenes when businesses stall, leaders feel overwhelmed, and execution breaks down. Instead of chasing strategy or quick fixes, he explains why structure, accountability, and difficult conversations are often the true levers that create lasting change.
Together, Kelly and Gordon dig into the habits of high-performing leaders, how to build teams that actually execute without constant supervision, and the simple but powerful questions every CEO should be asking themselves. This episode is a grounded, no-nonsense look at leadership in the real world, offering clear insights for founders and operators who want fewer fires, stronger teams, and consistent, scalable wins.
Check out Executive Wins: https://executivewins.com/
Check out The Executive Wins Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/1P1NEQVF744tV6xEjm5vRC
Key Takeaways:
Strategy rarely breaks businesses. Poor execution does. Most growth problems are alignment and accountability issues, not planning issues.
Leaders often hold onto too much. If everything funnels through you, your team isn’t built to scale without you.
Hard conversations are not optional. Avoiding them quietly compounds dysfunction inside teams.
Behavior change beats theory. Real leadership impact happens when people change what they do, not just what they know.
Status quo is usually the hidden decision. If nothing changes after the meeting, you’ve already chosen comfort over growth.
Great coaches and leaders ask better questions, not give better answers. The right question creates clarity faster than advice.
Psychological safety unlocks performance. Teams move faster when people feel safe enough to be honest.
Small, consistent improvements outperform big, dramatic initiatives. Daily execution beats occasional breakthroughs.
Structure creates freedom. Clear roles, responsibilities, and expectations remove friction and speed up decision-making.
Leaders must stay coachable. The moment you stop listening is the moment your growth plateaus.

This episode of The Business Development Podcast is proudly brought to you by our 2026 Title Sponsor Hypervac Technologies, North America’s leading vac truck manufacturer, and their new division Hyperfab, delivering custom industrial fabrication solutions built for performance and reliability.
If your operations depend on serious equipment and serious uptime, these are the people to know. Go check them out at www.hypervac.com.
Learn more about The Catalyst Club, Kelly Kennedy’s private community built for leaders,...