The Business Development Podcast

• 10 Rules to Make 2026 the Year Your Community Changes Everything

  In this solo episode, Kelly looks back at how business has shifted from the AI explosion of 2023, to the rise of personal branding in 2024, to the wave of raw, human authenticity in 2025, and makes a bold prediction for what comes next. 2026, he argues, will be the year of community, where leaders are no longer satisfied with surface level connections and instead seek real belonging in rooms where they can be honest, supported, and challenged. Drawing on his experience building The Catalyst Club, Kelly shares what he has seen firsthand as leaders open up, share the hard stuff, and finally find a place where people actually get it. From there, he lays out ten clear rules to help you choose the right community in 2026, plus five bonus tips to make sure you get real value from whichever room you join. You will learn how to spot the difference between a group that just talks and a community that actually creates opportunities, what it means to feel both safe and stretched, and why participation is the secret that separates people who grow from people who just lurk. If you want 2026 to be the year your community truly changes everything for you, this episode gives you the roadmap.Key Takeaways: 1. The right community should reflect the future version of you, not just who you are today, so that simply being in the room stretches your growth. 2. Values are non-negotiable: if a community’s DNA doesn’t align with your beliefs about integrity, growth, and how business should be done, you don’t belong there. 3. Activity is everything; you want a room full of people who show up, engage, share wins, and help each other, not a graveyard of ghost profiles and empty feeds.4. Great communities have leaders who are present in the trenches, learning with their people and setting the tone by how they show up, not just what they say. 5. The best rooms make you feel both safe and challenged, giving you space to be human while still expecting you to pursue excellence and tell the truth about where you’re at. 6. A real community doesn’t just talk, it creates opportunities through introductions, collaborations, referrals, hot seats, and shared wins that move everyone forward. 7. Diversity of perspective matters more than demographics; you need people ahead of you, beside you, and learning from you to create an ecosystem that fuels momentum. 8. Structure beats chaos every time; consistent events, rituals, themes, and clear rules create safety, trust, and a rhythm that makes it easier to show up. 9. You should feel seen in your community—when you speak, people respond, and your presence is acknowledged—because a room that doesn’t see you can’t grow you. 10. Your energy is data; if you leave calls drained, you’re in the wrong room, but if you leave buzzing and inspired, you’ve probably found your community for 2026 and beyond.If this episode hit home, and you know 2026 needs to be your year of community, The Catalyst Club is exactly the kind of room we talked about. It is a private, virtual leadership community where founders, builders, and business development leaders show up honestly, share what is really going on, and help each other grow with real support and real strategy. If you are tired of doing this alone and want a community that actually moves you forward, join us at www.kellykennedyofficial.com/thecatalystclub.Want to participate in my new show: I Used To Work There? Email your story and interest to [email protected] for a chance to be featured on the first episodes!Links referenced in this episode:

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• Unlocking Canada’s Francophone Goldmine with Colin Fagnan

  Episode 296 is a first for The Business Development Podcast – we finally dive deep into Canada’s French-speaking community and what most business leaders are missing. Kelly sits down with bilingual consultant Colin Fagnan, founder of Nyloc Consulting (and now Executive Director of the Fort Saskatchewan & Lamont County Regional Chamber of Commerce), to unpack how growing up Francophone in Alberta shaped his worldview, why French is actually on the rise in Western Canada, and how bilingualism boosts learning, creativity, and problem-solving in business. Colin shares his own story of moving between countries and cultures, and why he believes language is a strategic asset, not just a personal skill.From there, the conversation shifts into hard business reality: the sheer GDP locked inside Francophone markets, how tourism and immigration are changing Alberta’s economic landscape, and why so many companies hit an invisible wall when dealing with Quebec or French-speaking clients. Colin breaks down where the real opportunities are, how immersion education has quietly transformed the next generation, and what leaders can do right now to better serve French speakers at home and abroad. If you’ve ever thought “French is only for back East,” this episode will challenge that belief and show you a very real growth path hiding in plain sight.Key Takeaways: 1. The Francophone community in Canada is not just cultural it is a massive, under-served economic market that most businesses simply ignore.2. Bilingualism is a competitive advantage because it helps you build trust faster with customers partners and communities who rarely feel truly seen.3. Language is not just translation it is context nuance and relationship and if you get that wrong you will lose deals you never see.4. Western Canada massively underestimates how many French speakers live work and travel here which means the businesses who serve them well can stand out quickly.5. Immersion and bilingual education are quietly creating a new generation of leaders who think globally and move comfortably between markets and cultures.6. Companies that want to do business in Quebec or with Francophone clients need to show real respect for the language and culture not just slap French on a brochure.7. Tourism and immigration are reshaping local economies and the businesses that prepare to serve visitors and newcomers in both languages will win first.8. If you do not have internal bilingual capacity yet you can start small by partnering with translators consultants or community leaders who understand the space.9. Treat French speaking customers like a primary market not a side note and you will uncover long term loyalty repeat business and powerful word of mouth.10. The real opportunity is not just learning French it is deciding that language inclusion can be part of your business development strategy and then taking action on it.The Catalyst Club is my private community for founders and business development leaders who want real support, real strategy and real momentum together. Join us here:https://www.kellykennedyofficial.com/thecatalystclubCompanies mentioned in this episode: Fort Saskatchewan and Lamont County Regional Chamber of Commerce Capital Business Development NYLOC Consulting CDEA Conseil de Développement Économique de l'Alberta Parallèle Alberta National Bank Financial

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• 6 Biggest Lessons From My First 5 Years of Entrepreneurship

  Episode 295 is a raw and honest reflection on what five years of entrepreneurship have really looked like behind the scenes. Kelly marks the anniversary of Capital Business Development, his own birthday, and his son’s birthday by pulling back the curtain on the fear, uncertainty, and constant change that come with building something from nothing. Instead of a highlight reel, he walks you through the real story of learning to bet on yourself, letting go of rigid long term plans, and accepting that you will rarely feel as if you are fully caught up or in control.Across the episode, Kelly shares the six biggest lessons that shaped his first five years in business. You will hear why version one of your company will almost certainly suck, why you must accept that you do not have all the answers, and why lifelong learning and adaptation are non negotiable. He talks about giving your business the time it actually needs to grow, building a circle that believes in you, and finding community so you do not have to carry leadership alone. If you are in the trenches of building a business, this conversation will help you feel less alone and a lot more prepared for the next five years.Key Takeaways: 1. You will almost never feel “caught up” as an entrepreneur, and learning to operate inside that tension is part of the job.2. Version one of anything you build will probably suck compared to what it becomes, but you cannot get to version ten without shipping version one.3. You do not need to have all the answers to move forward, you just need enough clarity to take the next honest step.4. Long range 5 and 10 year plans are guesses at best, but a focused 12 month plan you actually execute can change your entire trajectory.5. The quality of your business is capped by the quality of your habits, so how you show up day to day matters more than the big goals on your wall.6. Community is not a luxury for leaders, it is oxygen; trying to carry everything alone will quietly choke the business and the person running it.7. The market will always move faster than your plans, so building an identity around adaptability and learning is safer than clinging to a fixed path.8. Saying yes to everything out of fear keeps you small; learning what to say no to is where your real leverage and focus come from.9. Your business will grow in seasons, not straight lines, and the “quiet” seasons often do the most work on your character and foundations.10. The biggest win in entrepreneurship is not just revenue, it is building a life, a body of work, and relationships you are genuinely proud of five years later.If this episode hit home and you are tired of building alone, Catalyst Club is where we keep this conversation going in real time.Join a private room of entrepreneurs and leaders sharing real wins, hard lessons, and their next 12 month moves together.Come plug in at www.kellykennedyofficial.com/thecatalystclub

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• Defying Limits and Redefining Opportunity in Canada with Daniel Monzon

  In Episode 294 of The Business Development Podcast, Kelly sits down with the extraordinary Daniel Monzon, an entrepreneur whose story rewrites what resilience and leadership truly mean. Born with one arm and one leg, Daniel has spent his life climbing mountains both literally and figuratively, turning adversity into strength and strength into purpose. From navigating early career challenges to becoming a driving force in Alberta’s innovation ecosystem, Daniel shares how his lived experience shaped his mindset, sharpened his instinct for opportunity, and fueled his mission to support others on their entrepreneurial journey.Today, Daniel leads Catapult Startups, a not for profit accelerator empowering immigrant, refugee, and underrepresented founders to build thriving businesses in Canada. In this conversation, he offers powerful insights on validation, sales, hiring, and the importance of understanding real customer needs, while highlighting the impact of Elevate IP and his work in economic development. Whether you are launching a business, scaling one, or searching for the courage to take your next step, Daniel’s wisdom and story will leave you inspired, grounded, and ready to push forward.Key Takeaways: 1. Resilience is built through action and Daniel’s journey proves that challenges can become your greatest source of strength.2. Validating an idea early saves time, money, and frustration and most entrepreneurs wait far too long to test their assumptions.3. A great product means nothing without customers who are willing to pay for it.4. Talking directly to potential clients is the fastest way to refine your offer and understand the real problem you solve.5. Hiring friends without considering skill fit and culture can set a business back six to twelve months.6. The right team can take you farther than you could ever go alone and leadership starts with letting smarter people lead in their lane.7. Understanding intellectual property can unlock new revenue streams and protect what makes your business unique.8. Entrepreneurs must let go of perfection and operate confidently at 80 percent to maintain momentum.9. The willingness to take calculated risks is often the dividing line between businesses that grow and those that stall.10. Your personal story and the adversities you have faced can become a powerful foundation for impact and opportunity.Learn more about Elevate IP Alberta and Catapult Startups here: https://catapultbic.org/If you listen to The Business Development Podcast, you belong in The Catalyst Club.🔥Join a private community of entrepreneurs, founders, and business development leaders committed to growth, accountability, and bold action.👉 Step in at www.kellykennedyofficial.com/thecatalystclub

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• The Listener Who Transformed His Life Through Business Development with Lucas Benjamin Schmidt

  Episode 293 follows the remarkable journey of Lucas Benjamin Schmidt, a biochemist from Germany who discovered business development by accident and transformed his entire life because of it. Lucas found The Business Development Podcast in late 2023, listened to every episode within days, and immediately applied the principles by treating himself like a product, crafting a value proposition, creating marketing materials, and proactively reaching out to companies. His curiosity and willingness to take action opened doors he never expected, including a chance encounter at a diagnostics conference that led to a role in business development inside a German engineering and technology company undergoing major transformation.In one of the most inspiring listener stories ever shared on the show, Lucas walks through how leaving the lab for business development unlocked new opportunities, reshaped how he understands people and problems, and sparked a deeper curiosity that now drives his career. From mastering human connection to blending science with strategy, Lucas proves that anyone, no matter their background, can rewrite their future by embracing flexibility, stepping outside their comfort zone, and acting on what they learn. His story shows the power of taking a leap when opportunity shows up and the impact one podcast can make when the right listener decides to bet on themselves.Key Takeaways: 1. Curiosity opens doors when you follow it instead of ignoring it.2. Acting on ideas beats waiting for permission every time.3. Treat yourself like a product and opportunities appear where you never expected.4. Human connection is the real differentiator in business development.5. Flexibility creates momentum while rigidity holds you back.6. You can always return to your old field, so take bigger swings now.7. Skills from past careers become superpowers in BD when you apply them creatively.8. Consistency turns luck into predictable outcomes.9. Learning psychology helps you communicate better with everyone, including yourself.10. Business development rewires how you see the world and reveals possibilities everywhere.If you listen to The Business Development Podcast, you belong in The Catalyst Club.🔥Join a private community of entrepreneurs, founders, and business development leaders committed to growth, accountability, and bold action.👉 Step in at www.kellykennedyofficial.com/thecatalystclub

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