Derek Bullen from S.i. Systems

Derek Bullen from S.i. Systems

Author: Evan McCann September 3, 2025 Duration: 43:13

Derek Bullen is the Founder and Board Director of S.i. Systems.


S.i. Systems is one of the largest Canadian IT staffing and consulting firms that connects organizations with skilled technology professionals.

They specialize in providing contract, permanent, and project-based talent across areas like software development, business analysis, project management, and IT infrastructure.


Chapters

0:00 Introduction

2:45 Founding Principles and Evolution of SI Systems

11:02 Shifts in the Contractor Landscape

13:29 The Art of Matching Talent with Opportunity

18:10 Scaling the Business: Lessons Learned

25:28 Building Relationships and Client Trust

29:02 Leadership Transition and Executive Roles

33:22 Personal Growth and Life After Leadership

39:54 Navigating Hard Times and Resilience


Evan McCann sits down with the people shaping Canada's business landscape, moving past the polished success stories to get into the real work that happens behind the scenes. The Hard Part with Evan McCann is built on conversations with founders, investors, and leaders who have navigated unique challenges, focusing on the pivotal decisions and often overlooked struggles that define a venture. This podcast explores the specific strategies and personal playbooks that have driven impact, offering a rare look at the operational truths of building something significant. While the spotlight frequently falls on innovators elsewhere, these episodes are dedicated to the Canadian visionaries whose work is redefining global entrepreneurship from here at home. You'll hear candid reflections on risk, resilience, and the moments that tested their conviction, providing not just inspiration but tangible insight into the mechanics of leadership and growth. Each discussion aims to unpack the nuance of achievement, making it an essential listen for anyone curious about the substance behind the headlines in the Canadian business world.
Author: Language: en-ca Episodes: 100

The Hard Part with Evan McCann
Podcast Episodes
Eliot Pence from Tofino Capital [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:13
Eliot Pence is the Founder and General Partner of Tofino Capital.Tofino Capital invests in frontier markets and frontier technologies. Eliot is also the Chief Business Officer of Osmo. Osmo is giving computers a sense of…
Kevin Callahan from Uniblock [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:30
Kevin Callahan is the Co-Founder and CEO of Uniblock.Uniblock is a fully automated orchestration layer that combines 100s of APIs from 50+ partners into a single unified API.Takeaways- Learnings from Wattpad, Twitter/X a…
Farhan Thawar from Shopify [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 50:19
Farhan Thawar is a VP and Head of Engineering at Shopify.Takeaways- Why Xtreme Labs Was So Special- Why Xtreme Labs Did Almost Zero Interviews- The Role of AI in Engineering- Pair Programming and Collaboration- Story Beh…
Samuel Witherspoon from ANVIL [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:20
Samuel Witherspoon is the Co-Founder and CEO of ANVIL.ANVIL is a Mission First organization. They work with defence, public safety, law enforcement, and national security organizations to accelerate mission-critical deci…
Simon Leroux from Optionality [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 53:48
Simon Leroux is the Founder and CEO of Optionality.Optionality is the AI-powered co-pilot designed to help M&A advisors, corporate finance teams, consultants, accountants, and Private Equity investors discover, qualify,…
Andrew Graham from Borrowell [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:40
Andrew Graham is the Co-Founder and CEO of Borrowell.Trusted by 1 in 10 Canadians, Borrowell provides over 3 million members with comprehensive credit monitoring and personalized insights. Their innovative services, incl…
Mike Silagadze from EtherFi [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:38
Mike Silagadze is the Founder and CEO of EtherFi.EtherFi is a decentralized non-custodial ETH staking protocol. It is the only staking protocol that allows stakers to retain control of their keys while delegating validat…
Roger Kirkness from Convictional [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 50:51
Roger Kirkness is the Founder and CEO of Convictional.Convictional is the infrastructure that powers decisions at the world's most ambitious companies. Takeaways- The Value of Y Combinator Programs- Modern Dropship Acqui…
Yoseph West from Relay [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:32
Yoseph West is the Co-Founder and CEO of Relay.Relay is the business banking and money management platform that puts small businesses in complete control of their cash flow.To check out open roles at Relay, visit relayfi…