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Meet Kelly Kennedy

I’m Kelly Kennedy, an award-winning podcast creator, host, and entrepreneur based in the Edmonton region of Alberta.

I’ve built my career by starting conversations, asking questions, and taking a chance on ideas I believed in. Today, that work lives through I Used To Work There, The Business Development Podcast, The Catalyst Club, and Capital Business Development.

My curiosity has taken me from conversations about building businesses to firsthand accounts of survival, outrageous workplace encounters, and moments that changed someone’s life. I love helping people feel comfortable enough to tell their story in their own words, then shaping an experience that makes others want to listen.

Business development is where I learned to open doors. Podcasting is where I found what I wanted to do once they opened.

 

From Building Businesses to Creating Podcasts

I started my career in sales at 18 and moved into business development by 23. There was no clear roadmap. I learned through experience, building relationships, winning opportunities, making mistakes, and figuring out what actually helped businesses grow.

In December 2020, I founded Capital Business Development. Through that work, I helped companies approach growth with greater clarity and developed programs including Business Development Mastery and Capital Catalyst™.

But I kept coming back to something I had struggled with early in my own career: where do you go to learn this work from people who have actually done it?

In February 2023, I launched The Business Development Podcast to help answer that question.

Through practical advice and honest conversations with founders, entrepreneurs, and leaders, the show became the resource I wished I had when I was starting out. It also opened up a future I hadn’t anticipated.

I discovered that I loved the entire process of creating a show: finding the right guest, asking the question that opens up a conversation, and turning what we recorded into something worth sharing.

Today, podcasting and storytelling are at the centre of my creative work. My experience in business development continues to shape how I build shows, develop partnerships, and help others grow their brands and companies.

 

I Used To Work There

In March 2026, I launched I Used To Work There.

The idea was simple. Almost everyone has a story from work they will never forget. Some are hilarious. Some are disturbing. Some sound impossible until you hear them from the person who was there.

I wanted to create a place for those stories.

The show brings listeners into extraordinary workplace experiences, from a magician’s assistant getting revenge to a business lunch with an axe murderer and a six-week work trip that became thirty-one months as a hostage.

Every story is told by someone who lived it. My job is to help them tell it well and give listeners a reason to stay with them.

In its first year, I Used To Work There won the 2026 Quill Award for Best New Podcast and was featured in Apple Podcasts’ New & Noteworthy.

It represents the direction I’m most excited to keep exploring: true stories, memorable shows, and the connection that happens when someone lets you into their world.

 

The Business Development Podcast

The Business Development Podcast brings together practical advice and honest conversations about what it takes to build and grow a business.

With hundreds of episodes and listeners across the globe, the show shares the lessons and personal experiences of founders, entrepreneurs, and business leaders.

It has earned the 2023 Quill Award for Best Business Podcast, two 2024 w3 Silver Awards, and a 2025 Signal Award Bronze, along with Top 100 rankings in more than 40 countries.

What matters most to me is hearing that a conversation helped someone take action, approach a challenge differently, or keep going when they were ready to stop.

That is a meaningful thing to be part of.

 

The Catalyst Club

I founded The Catalyst Club to bring people together to build brands, grow companies, and support each other through the challenges that come with both.

It is a place to build alongside me and a community of entrepreneurs and business leaders who care about seeing each other succeed.

Through expert-led sessions, honest conversations, and shared experience, we explore how to earn attention, build trust, create opportunities, and turn ideas into action. Our sessions cover business development, branding, leadership, and the ways content, podcasting, and storytelling can help people become known for what they do.

I bring what I’ve learned from building a business and creating award-winning podcasts. Our guests bring their expertise and perspectives. Our members bring their own experiences, questions, and ambitions. We all have something to contribute.

My aim is for members to leave each session with something they can use in their own business: a clearer message, a practical next step, a new relationship, or the confidence to move forward.

Just as important, I want them to have people they can turn to. People they can ask for help, celebrate progress with, and talk honestly with when things get difficult.

The Catalyst Club is about building a brand people know and trust, growing a company you believe in, and finding people who care about seeing you succeed.

 

What Comes Next

Today, I’m focused on creating and producing podcasts, building relationships with listeners and sponsors, and helping others use their voice to build their own brands and companies.

I bring an entrepreneur’s understanding of what it takes to build something and a host’s curiosity about the people behind it.

Some listeners and clients have come to know me as The Hope Dealer. That name means something to me. Helping someone see a possibility, believe in their abilities, and take their next step has always been a part of my work.

I’m also a father and a partner. My work matters deeply to me, and so do the people I’m building my life with.

I’m proud of what I’ve created so far. I’m excited by how much there is still to learn and how many stories I haven’t heard yet.

The next chapter starts the way the best ones always have: with a conversation.

 

Career Highlights

  • Creator and host of I Used To Work There

  • Founder and host of The Business Development Podcast

  • Founder of The Catalyst Club

  • Founder and CEO of Capital Business Development

  • Creator of Business Development Mastery and Capital Catalyst™

  • More than 18 years of experience in sales and business development

 

Awards and Recognition

 

I Used To Work There

  • 2026 Quill Award Winner: Best New Podcast

  • Featured in Apple Podcasts’ New & Noteworthy

The Business Development Podcast

  • 2023 Quill Award Winner: Best Business Podcast

  • 2024 w3 Awards: Two Silver Awards

  • 2025 Signal Awards: Bronze Winner

  • 2025 Quill Awards Finalist: Podcast of the Year and Best Business Podcast

  • Top 100 rankings in more than 40 countries

Kelly Kennedy

  • Named a 2024 Emerging Leader by The Peak

Featured In

 

Kelly Kennedy has been featured across some of North America's most respected business, leadership, and entrepreneurship platforms. As a trusted voice in business development, Kelly has shared his insights on shows like One Big Thing with Steve Campbell, The Joy Journey Podcast with Jillian Schecher, Live in the Lab with Keith Bilous, This Professional Life with Chris Yeung, Pathfinders with Vijayan Swaminathan, Executive Wins with Gordon Sheppard, Lessons of a CEO with Ross Huartt, The GBDA Podcast with Tony Gray, and The Ambitious Coach with Cam Lawson. He is also the co-host of Authentic Hustle Live and host of The Business Development Podcast, a top-ranked global podcast now heard in over 40 countries.

Through these appearances, Kelly has become known for his no-fluff approach to leadership, his unwavering belief in the power of relationship-building, and his ability to break down complex growth strategies into simple, actionable steps. Whether he's discussing the mindset behind cold outreach, the role of authenticity in modern branding, or the loneliness of entrepreneurship, Kelly brings practical advice, contagious energy, and deep empathy to every conversation. His features reflect his mission: to help business owners, sales leaders, and entrepreneurs close bigger deals, build meaningful relationships, and scale with confidence.

 

Live in the Lab with Keith Bilous

This episode features a mix of invaluable insights starting with business development expert Kelly Kennedy discussing the nuances of business growth, overcoming introversion, leveraging podcasts, and the importance of fostering genuine business relationships for successful entrepreneurship and digital marketing strategy.

The Rainmaking Podcast with Scott Love

On this episode of The Rainmaking Podcast, I sit down with Scott Love to unpack what truly makes the best rainmakers unstoppable. We dive into the foundation of every great business development engine — the ability to open doors and secure high-value meetings.

I share my philosophy that business development isn’t about chasing deals, it’s about building a system that consistently creates qualified opportunities. Through my “meeting math” framework, I walk listeners through how to reverse-engineer their monthly activity targets from revenue goals and close rates, bringing clarity and control to the entire process.

ONE BIG THING with Steve Campbell

I had the pleasure of joining Steve Campbell on One Big Thing to share my journey—from selling cars to becoming a business development coach and podcast host. We dove into the uncomfortable truth behind growth: imposter syndrome, burnout, and the relentless pursuit of more.

The Joy Journey Podcast with Jillian Schecher

I was honored to join Jillian Schecher on The Joy Journey Podcast for a powerful conversation that hit deep. We explored what it really means to stay human in a world moving faster than ever, and why the things that scare us most are often the exact things we need to say yes to.

I opened up about the balance between ambition and personal life, the value of authentic connection, and how fear and self-doubt can actually guide us to our greatest growth.

This Professional Life with Chris Yeung 

I had the opportunity to join Chris Yeung on This Professional Life for an honest conversation about the future of personal branding and why authenticity is more important than ever in 2025.

We explored my journey from the car lot to Capital Business Development, the uncomfortable but necessary growth that shaped me, and how building real relationships—not just reach—has been the key to long-term success.

The PATHFINDERS Podcast with Vijayan Swaminathan

I joined Vijayan Swaminathan on Pathfinders for a powerful conversation about entrepreneurship, business development, and what it really takes to grow something meaningful from the ground up.

We talked about the freedom and isolation that come with building a business, the importance of curiosity and adaptability, and why genuine relationships still matter more than ever. From navigating failure to celebrating small wins, this episode is packed with real talk on leadership, podcasting, and the mindset that fuels long-term success.

Executive Wins Podcast with Gordon Sheppard

I sat down with Gordon Sheppard on Executive Wins to break down what really drives success in business development—and it’s not luck.

We got into the power of consistency, mindset, and having a structured process that actually works. From leveraging digital introductions to using your CRM as a performance tool, this episode is all about setting yourself up to win. If you want to close bigger deals and book more meetings, this conversation lays out the roadmap.

Lessons of a CEO with Ross Huartt

I joined Ross Huartt on Lessons of a CEO to share the story behind Capital Business Development, how I went from car sales to the oil patch, and why I chose to launch my own company in the middle of a global pandemic.

We talked about building real customer relationships, separating business development from account management, and how cold calling and goal-setting still drive real results. I also shared how launching The Business Development Podcast helped me overcome imposter syndrome and step fully into my lane. If you're a founder or sales leader looking to grow with intention, this episode is packed with practical insights and real-world strategy.

GBDA Podcast with Tony Gray

In this impactful conversation, I sit down with Tony Gray, Volunteer National Director of The Global Business Development Association, to share the top 3 business development tactics that are driving success in 2025. We dive into the mindset and strategies behind consistency, dedication, and persistence—and why they’re more critical than ever for business developers today.

The Stern Truth with Marshall Stern

In this conversation with Marshall Stern, host of The Stern Truth, Kelly Kennedy breaks down what business development actually is and why it is often misunderstood.

Kelly explains how business development differs from sales, focusing on identifying the right opportunities, building trust based relationships, and creating long term revenue before a deal is ever closed. The discussion also dives into the realities of getting ghosted, why follow up remains one of the most underused growth tools, and how consistent, intentional outreach opens doors over time.

Let’s Connect

Have a question, curious about coaching, or just want to say hi? I’d love to hear from you. Fill out the form below and I’ll personally get back to you as soon as I can. Let’s explore how we can build something great together.

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