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Smart Growth Rocket

Smart Growth Rocket

Francesca Cadhit 69 Episodes Jan 14, 2026

Smart Growth Rocket explores themes of education, entrepreneurship, and personal success. Each episode presents real-life success case studies and features insights from impact-making professionals and entrepreneurs. The goal is to provide listeners with valuable lessons and strategies to elevate their own performance and mindset.

Episodes

The “Hardware vs. Software” Problem in Education... and Why It Changes Everything | Dwayne Matthews
The “Hardware vs. Software” Problem in Education... and Why It Changes Everything | Dwayne Matthews Jan 14, 2026 00:56:20 What if the thing you’re optimizing for (credentials → “good job”) is becoming less reliable... fast?In this episode of Smart Growth Rocket, your host, Francesca Cadhit, is joined by Dwayne Matthews (O.C.T.), Future Strategist, Innovation Evangelist, and founder of TomorrowNow Learning Labs, to unpack what’s changing in education and why so many high-performing students may feel blindsided after g
How to Learn in the Age of AI (and Why Memorization Isn’t Enough) | Paul Gries
How to Learn in the Age of AI (and Why Memorization Isn’t Enough) | Paul Gries Dec 31, 2025 00:23:55 What does it really mean to be future-ready in school when AI can generate answers instantly?In this episode of Smart Growth Rocket, host Francesca Cadhit sits down with Paul Gries, Professor of Computer Science at the University of Toronto and recipient of the U of T President’s Teaching Award, to unpack how students should be learning in the age of AI.Paul explains why memorization breaks down i
You Don’t Need a 10-Year Plan: Lifelong Learning and Growth in Medicine | Dr. Zizo Al-Daqqaq
You Don’t Need a 10-Year Plan: Lifelong Learning and Growth in Medicine | Dr. Zizo Al-Daqqaq Oct 29, 2025 00:26:29 What if you didn’t need a five- or ten-year plan to succeed, just momentum?In this episode of Smart Growth Rocket, host Francesca Cadhit sits down with Dr. Zizo Al-Daqqaq, a Urology Resident at the University of Ottawa, to explore how lifelong learning, reflection, and resilience shape a meaningful career in medicine.Together, they unpack:How to navigate major transitions through medical school an
How This MD De-Influencer Breaks Bad Debt, Turning Frugality Into Equity
How This MD De-Influencer Breaks Bad Debt, Turning Frugality Into Equity Sep 17, 2025 00:39:44 Many assume doctors only focus on clinical medicine. But what happens when a physician tackles financial literacy head-on?In this episode of Smart Growth Rocket, host Francesca Cadhit is joined by Dr. Steph Zhou, Clinical Director of Addictions Medicine, Department Lead in EDI & Social Accountability at Sunnybrook Hospital, and Founder of Breaking Bad Debt. From translating pay stubs as a chil
Future-Ready Skills: How An Entrepreneurial Mindset Unlocks Opportunities
Future-Ready Skills: How An Entrepreneurial Mindset Unlocks Opportunities Aug 20, 2025 00:32:37 What skills really prepare students for success beyond grades?In this episode of Smart Growth Rocket, host Francesca Cadhit is joined by Judy Wong, professor at Seneca Polytechnic and Co-founder of the YSpace Food and Beverage Accelerator.Judy shares her inspiring journey from her family’s shop in Taiwan to leading global Fortune 500 brands and now coaching the next generation of entrepreneurs. Al
What Students Really Need for the Future (Hint: It’s More Than Just Good Grades)
What Students Really Need for the Future (Hint: It’s More Than Just Good Grades) Aug 6, 2025 00:28:46 Good grades open doors, but they’re only part of the equation. In today’s rapidly changing world, students also need to demonstrate adaptability, critical thinking, and the confidence to innovate.In this episode of Smart Growth Rocket, Francesca Cadhit chats with Jason Lay, Head of Business at Thornhill Secondary School, about how he’s helping high school students build real-world skills through A
What Most People Get Wrong About Their Eyes and Their Eyewear | Monica So of Zoom Optical
What Most People Get Wrong About Their Eyes and Their Eyewear | Monica So of Zoom Optical Jul 9, 2025 00:22:01 Eyewear is more than just functional. It’s personal, emotional, and transformative.In this episode of the Smart Growth Rocket, host Francesca Cadhit sits down with Monica So, a licensed optician, entrepreneur, and founder of Zoom Optical, a warm and stylish optical boutique redefining the customer experience.🎧 ▶ In this episode, you’ll learn about:✅ An optician’s unexpected pivot from toxicology t
Inside the Memory Lab: Why We Forget and How We Remember | U of T PhD Candidate Matthew Dougherty
Inside the Memory Lab: Why We Forget and How We Remember | U of T PhD Candidate Matthew Dougherty Jun 25, 2025 00:29:35 Ever wonder why you forget the oat milk at the grocery store, even though you were thinking about it all day? In this episode of the Smart Growth Rocket Podcast, host Francesca Cadhit sits down with Matthew Dougherty, a PhD Candidate in Psychology (Perception, Cognition, & Cognitive Neuroscience) at the University of Toronto, to explore the fascinating (and sometimes frustrating) science of me
AI, Automation, and the Myth of “Doing It All” | Melodie Moore of Business Tech Ninjas
AI, Automation, and the Myth of “Doing It All” | Melodie Moore of Business Tech Ninjas Jun 11, 2025 00:24:53 What Most Business Owners Get Wrong About Tech (and How to Fix It)In this episode of Smart Growth Rocket, Francesca Cadhit sits down with Melodie Moore, Founder and CEO of Business Tech Ninjas, to talk about what really holds small businesses back from scaling, and why the answer isn’t just better software.With over a decade of experience building high-performance systems for membership-based busi
Against All Odds: An IMG’s Journey to Becoming a Doctor in Canada | Family Medicine Resident Dr. Nooshin Sarreshtehdari
Against All Odds: An IMG’s Journey to Becoming a Doctor in Canada | Family Medicine Resident Dr. Nooshin Sarreshtehdari May 28, 2025 00:57:03 Getting into residency in Canada is hard enough, but imagine being an international medical graduate (IMG) on top of it all. For Dr. Nooshin Sarreshtehdari, giving up was never an option. In this deeply inspiring episode, Francesca Cadhit sits down with Nooshin, an incoming PGY1 Family Medicine Resident at the University of Toronto, who shares her remarkable journey from Iran to Canada, and all th
Curiosity, Coding, and the Future of Education | Ramy Ghattas of Logics Academy
Curiosity, Coding, and the Future of Education | Ramy Ghattas of Logics Academy May 14, 2025 00:23:38 What does it take to future-proof the next generation? In this episode, I sit down with Ramy Ghattas, founder of Logics Academy, to talk about digital literacy, AI in the classroom, and why curiosity is the root of innovation. From engineering to education, Ramy shares his journey and how Logics Academy is reshaping how students across Canada learn STEM and problem-solving skills from an early age
So You Want to Be a Pilot? Start Here.
So You Want to Be a Pilot? Start Here. May 11, 2025 00:14:54 Think being a pilot is all about cool uniforms and exotic destinations? Think again. This episode is a bit of a departure from the usual Smart Growth Rocket programming, but in the best way possible.Every once in a while, we dive into less conventional journeys. And today? It's all about aviation.In this episode of Smart Growth Rocket, Francesca Cadhit speaks with a licensed pilot-in-training

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