Collisions YYC

In this episode, Sabrina Sullivan, Director of Transformation + Ecosystem at the School for Advanced Digital Technology, shares her experiences attending SXSW. Specifically, she attended the EDU track, which brings educators, technologists, futurists, and venture capitalists together to gain new perspectives and applied knowledge to return to their daily roles. When attending a massive event like SXSW, it’s easy to be overwhelmed by choices of what topics to explore. Sabrina helps you understand how to get the most out of any conference you attend and will inspire you to push your thinking to new heights.Sabrina spends a lot of time thinking about complex problems and asking questions about them. Whether it’s the impact of AI avatars in education, focusing on improving accessibility and meeting special needs, or asking who’s responsible for ensuring learners are employable after post-secondary, Sabrina is wildly curious about how to solve these problems. Her ability to challenge her assumptions and seek out diverse opinions are two tools she uses to connect disparate ideas and consider opportunities. No matter what vertical you work in, or what title you hold, this episode will provide you with crucial insights to effective problem solving for the future.

In this episode, learn about Prairies Economic Development Canada, the federal government’s boots on the ground in the prairies, from Derek Armstrong, Manager of Innovation Ecosystems. Derek explains how they operate as a funding agency to support the innovation around us. By helping to grow, scale and diversify the economy, Derek has plenty of valuable insights into the ecosystem and our challenges and opportunities.Derek and his team of five spend plenty of time in the sectors that matter in the Prairies, from CleanTech and energy transition to AGtech and life sciences. His goal is to understand how to best invest in and support entrepreneurs and SMEs and this episode will inform you how they do it. Whether you’re growing, scaling or thinking about your next move, this episode will remind you there are plenty of organizations in your corner with the investment capital to help you succeed. Derek highlights how Prairies Economic Development has been at the forefront of fields like hydrogen and how de-risking projects means more individuals have a willingness to be ‘first’ and take bold risks.

In this episode, hear from the President of IO-Aerospace and Partner of GNO-SYS Technology Ltd., Jon Neufeld, about the innovative world of geographic information system mapping (GIS). Jon is an expert in developing and commercializing innovative technology to solve interesting problems. You’ll gain an understanding of the Canadian roots of GIS and how it has evolved from simple mapping to technology layering insights to think of information in new ways. Whether your organization wants to meet its ESG requirements, find new ways to track what matters or improve data processing, this episode is chock full of relevant insights.Humans use GIS daily - from the map in their phone guiding them to a new restaurant to local farmers analyzing soil data to determine which crops to grow. In fact, you may use GIS without even knowing it! Jon will help you understand the important role geomatics plays in our daily life, and how it can facilitate innovative solutions to pressing problems. Jon also highlights his favourite resources to learn more about GIS and his optimistic outlook on the tech ecosystem in Alberta.

In this episode, hear from innovative CEO Clark Lai of Motiv Innovation Group. The organization works with its clients to help them identify innovation opportunities and create new value through digital technology. Clark explains his perspective of innovation and how Motiv uses its Digital Innovation Model Framework to drive value for companies ranging from startups to Fortune 500s. Whether you’re responsible for digital transformation and innovation or want to understand commercialization from an innovation perspective better, this episode is a must-listen.Digital transformation and innovation bring new opportunities and challenges, but according to Clark, the problem is never the tech. It is very predictable. People, on the other hand, are less so. Innovation is inherently risky and requires an honest look at the risks and possible outcomes before diving in. Clark shares many of the questions he includes in Motiv’s process to help you think through how to validate your innovative idea, and inspire you to explore the possibilities.

In this episode, learn about the risks and opportunities of AI with Ian Hargreaves, Data Science Fellow at ATB Financial. His role is to advise ATB Financial and its data science teams to think about how AI can solve problems for its own business and its clients. As we collectively take part in the world’s biggest AI experiment by using tools like ChatGPT or Midjourney, it’s critical to take a strategic view and think through this technology’s regulatory, ethical, and even legal aspects. Ian will help you consider important questions and understand what they can mean for your business operations.Change can be scary when uncertainties are plentiful. Ian helps address these fears in organizations by helping senior leadership teams have open conversations about emerging technology to voice their concerns and explore opportunities. This episode will help you with many of the key insights Ian shares with his clients. Ian also shares how your organization will keep its competitive edge by having an open mind and flexibility of thought, including the need for senior leaders to advocate for change and push bold ideas forward. Luckily, with Alberta’s entrepreneurial spirit, Ian showcases many of the success stories in our province and what he’s seeing in the province that excites him.

In this episode, learn how Lauren pivoted her career goals from becoming a therapist to working with robots, thanks to a fateful conversation with a professor during her Master’s studies. Now, Lauren is the Academic Chair for Data Analytics and Artificial Intelligence at the School for Advanced Digital Technology at SAIT. She articulates the requirement to get students familiar with tech to ensure they are career-ready and dives deep into the impact of AI on society and people. This episode will get you informed about the intersection of communication, culture, technology and practice, and what the future of technology interactions could look like.You don’t need to be an engineer or programmer to contribute to the future of technology, and Lauren proves that. Her background in communications brings a unique perspective to AI, including how it affects humans, the problem of bias, and the possibility of widening socio-economic gaps due to uneven access to high-speed internet and technology, even here in Canada. Lauren explores the need for a balanced approach that considers every angle and shares her thoughts on how we can embrace the opportunities of AI and automation without losing our humanity in the process.

In this episode, learn about the Alberta Cancer Foundation from its CEO, Wendy Beauchesne. Wendy’s career spans decades in health, deploying hundreds of millions of capital into transformational campaigns, and she’s thrilled to bring her expertise to her CEO role. Wendy shares the optimistic stories of how the Alberta Cancer Foundation supports Albertans across the province in the face of a cancer diagnosis and some of the positive changes to the expected quality of life, thanks to innovative research. You’ll gain clarity on ACF’s role in the province, how to spur innovation and commercialization in non-profits, and why Wendy believes non-profits shouldn’t be treated differently than any other business.A cancer diagnosis can make time stand still - and the fight against it is emotionally and physically taxing. However, cancer can also be financially burdensome - often costing thousands of dollars in out-of-pocket expenses, such as lost time at work or hospital parking costs during treatment. Wendy explains how the Alberta Cancer Foundation taps into the philanthropic spirit of Alberta to deliver $1.5M to offset these burdens, while also investing donations into accelerating innovative cancer treatments. This inspiring episode will show you there is no limit to what we can achieve through collaboration, generosity and an innovative approach.

In this episode, Geri Greenall, CFO of Spartan Delta Corp. and EPAC board member, shares her insights on how the energy industry can showcase its positive impact on communities. Geri is leading an initiative to encourage energy companies to partner with Classroom Champions and provide financial support to drive positive change in the rural classrooms where energy workers live and raise their families. By forming local partnerships, the energy industry proactively addresses negative perceptions and demonstrates its commitment to sustainable development and community well-being. The Energize Communities campaign aims to shape a more positive narrative around the industry's efforts to give back to the communities they serve. Explore Geri's leadership and the industry's efforts to promote sustainable development and community well-being through local partnerships and education initiatives.Proactivity beats out reactivity every time - whether in shaping the narrative of an entire industry or getting ahead of trauma to ensure all kids are set up for future success. While these two topics might seem unrelated, Geri helps you understand how big players in the energy sector are putting millions of dollars into contributing to local communities. If you’re curious about storytelling, public relations and impacting your business or industry, this episode is a must-listen!

In this episode, Co-Founder and Executive Director of Givesome, Jay Whitelaw, explains the power of being allowed to see the real difference generosity and giving can make. Jay shares the a-ha moment he experienced while teaching in Namibia that helped him realize what’s missing from the generosity journey - seeing the impact. He explains how generosity can be crucial to employee and customer engagement and the ins and outs of the Givesome platform, including the advanced metrics and data that companies receive to report back to employees, partners and others to demonstrate tangible outcomes from giving.If you give to charities, you might wonder what your donation actually resulted in achieving. Givesome aims to reduce that while moving more people towards generosity as table stakes in daily life. Jay details building a non-profit and how to remain true to your north star, even if outside pressures try to box you in. With a focus on the donor first, Givesome is uniquely positioned to transform philanthropy for individuals and businesses while contributing to causes that can positively impact our communities. This episode is certain to inspire you to examine the other side of any equation to find opportunities.

In this episode, we chat about event management with Sheri Moore, Partner and Creative Director at Moore Carlyle Consulting & MCC Destination Management. Sheri is a self-proclaimed “event geek” and an original founder of the renowned mesh conference. After taking some time off, mesh is now bringing the conference to Western Canada, and Sheri gives us an inside look at what goes into planning an event of this magnitude.You’ll gain valuable insights from Sheri’s experience in the industry and come away with a better understanding of the ins and outs of event management. Whether you’re a seasoned event planner or just starting, tune in for an informative and engaging discussion on planning unforgettable events.Explore the power of smaller, more intimate settings when it comes to breaking past personal barriers and exposing yourself to new people, ideas, concepts, businesses, and conversations. Sheri Moore has a wealth of experience in event planning and a unique perspective on Western Canada, having grown up in Eastern Canada. She shares her insights on building a conference that curates the best possible experience for speakers and attendees and what questions and rules you should consider when doing so. Throughout the conversation, Sheri’s optimistic outlook on the DNA of Calgary shines through as she shares how this city is comfortable doing interesting things by breaking, disrupting, and transforming.