Collisions YYC

In this episode of CYYC, we are joined by Dr. Jason Rogers, the Head of School at Rundle College Society, who shares his bold vision for the future of education. He is a true trailblazer, driven by a commitment to providing personalized education that’s accessible to all. Jason has been instrumental in creating Rundle’s innovative Studio program, which aims to support neurodivergent students with digital programming. He shares how the program leverages digital tools like Zoom, Canvas, and VR to deliver world-class instruction at an affordable cost with the capability to scale to serve more students. Through the Studio and other programs, Rundle College meets students where they are at and how they learn, and helps them reach their full potential - no matter what barriers they may experience.If you’re an entrepreneur, chances are you’re fairly comfortable with messiness and failure. Yet the ability to fail, dust yourself off and try another way isn’t a core competency taught in our schools. Rundle College is working to change that with its focus on metacognition and student-centric programming. Jason also explores the true power of universal design and how it can empower more people to gain access to the things that matter to them. You will also gain insights into how technology-enabled classrooms, and programming creates multiple benefits for students and educators, as well as the impact of digital citizenry and AI as the lines between real and virtual worlds continue to blend. 

Dive into the world of automation with Jasmeen Virk and Marty Bince, esteemed members of the Society of Automation, in this episode. From your trusty kitchen appliances to large, energy-producing facilities, automation is all around us, revolutionizing how we tackle tasks. Join Jasmeen, who brings her expertise from Spartan Controls, as she highlights the vital role automation plays in enhancing safety, efficiency, and revenue generation. Discover the true essence of automation, its boundaries, and the industries set to thrive with its implementation, and unlock the invaluable resources provided by the Society of Automation for mentorship and education in this cutting-edge field. This episode will reshape your perspective on automation’s boundless possibilities and how Western Canada uses it to create wealth and attract international customers.Technology is always pushing, and automation is no exception. The Society of Automation was founded in North America and is dedicated to fostering a vibrant community and establishing industry standards. Jasmeen and Marty explain society's programs and how students can connect with them. They also break down the innovation and entrepreneurial aspects of how the Society helps businesses advance their organization or products. This episode is filled with surprising information and observations and will provide context and insights around automation so you can stay ahead of the curve.

In this episode, hear from father and daughter ranchers and Co-Founders of Business Wide View, BJ and Skyler Fuchs. They understood that just because their grandfather, uncles, and dad did things one way, the explosion of AgTech means viewing ranching through a wider, newer lens. BJ and Skyler highlight the challenges of lessening diversification on farms and ranches and the massive scale modern farms need - most being 10,000 or 20,000 acres in their neck of the woods. But they’re not only focused on building a stronger agriculture community with producers; they’re also aiming to educate and inspire consumers who are curious about finding local products or learning more about the industry.As consumers continue to increase their awareness around sustainability and where their food comes from, producers and consumers still have an unfortunate gap. Business Wide View is changing that through fun and educational content that helps consumers understand the realities of farming, such as 15-hour days and the need to do chores even on holidays. When consumers connect with your story, they will spend more and stay loyal. Whether you have farming in your family or are a curious consumer, this episode will inform and delight you while demonstrating the need for innovative avenues to succeed — particularly in tight-margin, high-competition environments.

In this episode, delve into the significance of ESG from the perspectives of opportunity, challenge, and liability with Conor Chell, Head of MLT Aikens’ ESG Practice Group. Conor’s frank yet optimistic viewpoint sheds light on the predicament faced by numerous small and mid-sized energy companies burdened with ESG compliance obligations that surpass their available resources. He also underscores the advantages of stringent regulations, particularly in terms of investment and policy implications. Conor and his team at MLT Aikens guide clients toward mitigating liability and capitalizing on opportunities arising from the growing awareness, regulations and customer preferences for companies with focused ESG commitments. Conor emphasizes the evolving regulatory landscape in Canada, including the introduction of a new anti-slavery bill that mandates reporting obligations and due diligence related to slavery in supply chains, impacting organizations across the board. Gain invaluable insights into ESG, uncover lesser-known aspects, and discover how it can serve as a silver lining for your organization. 

In this episode, delve into the fascinating world of AI implementation in high-stakes environments like healthcare and finance. You’ll hear from Tim Cruz, CTO of Deep Surface AI, as he explores the intricate dynamics of human-AI interaction and why he stresses the importance of responsible communication and integration of AI in high-stakes environments. With tools like ChatGPT changing how we work, Tim reminds us to remain cautious against being misled by its capabilities and other technological advancements. Discover how Deep Surface AI reduces pre-operative anxiety for plastic surgery patients, including under-served transgender patients who want to understand how gender-affirming surgeries will look. AI adoption is rising quickly, but it does come with limitations, as Tim explains. AI can imitate the data it encounters, so there need to be guardrails and transparent communication in place. In fields like finance or healthcare, AI democratizes expert knowledge and allows everyday individuals to access more information and embrace the change it’s brought to their lives. Tim has always been interested in AI, studying data science at university and previously creating an AI club in Calgary. This episode downloads much of his knowledge to help you make sense of the rapidly changing technology landscape and unravel the fascinating world of AI and its impact on high-stakes environments.

In this episode, discover how one Calgary fintech company is on a big, audacious mission to save 10M people 10BN dollars and help end the stressful paycheque-to-paycheque lifestyle that affects more than 70% of Canadians and Americans. To do this, the team purpose-built an app that allows employees to access their earned wages before their next pay period, helping avoid costly NSF fees or payday loans to fill in any gaps or surprise expenses. This episode will inspire you to find creative solutions to big problems while providing key insights into scale-ups, including how Zayzoon achieved 5x revenue growth with minimal operating costs and a work-from-anywhere model.Zayzoon is one of the fastest-growing tech companies in Calgary, and it’s not surprising when you peek behind the curtain! Darcy, the CEO, outlines several key factors breeding success for the company, including a community-first focus that puts customers at the forefront when making decisions. They also support Junior Achievement Southern Alberta to encourage financial literacy in the next generation. It isn’t just the mission that attracts key talent to Zayzoon, it’s also a culture that embraces work from anywhere. Darcy knows how you treat your employees will filter down to your customers, which was one reason Zayzoon embraced supporting work-from-anywhere with its employees. This episode will remind you that technology isn’t a silver bullet, but the purpose behind how you leverage it can create an impact for millions.

In this episode, learn about the challenges of building and sustaining a startup by using proper investment strategies. You'll hear from Mark Mitchell, experienced investor and Co-Founder of Red Thread Ventures and Weave VC, who comes back on the show to shed light on the importance of focusing on what can be controlled to avoid the failure of a company. Whether you're considering seeking outside capital or just want to improve your VC knowledge, this episode is a must-listen!Mark explores the critical need for startups to improve their chances of securing second and third rounds of funding. By incorporating outside perspectives, startups can improve their chances of success and reduce biases faced by VC firms while investing. Mark also touches on the challenges of starting a fund and provides insights on how to establish the right fund structure, tax structure, and fund administration partners and shares some key numbers on how many companies they talk to versus how many they invest in. This episode delivers valuable insights that can help your business succeed. Don't miss out on this opportunity to learn from an expert in the field!

In this episode, Cara Wolf, CEO of Ammolite Analytx, highlights the need for securing your business against cyber crimes, attacks, and risks. Cara has a proven track record of conceptualizing, developing and commercializing technology-based solutions in the defence, finance and energy sectors. She explains how security measures begin at a basic level, such as teaching employees how to avoid common errors that can result in data breaches, and should grow as your company does. Unfortunately, bad actors are everywhere, and their businesses are just as sophisticated as the most sophisticated legal organizations. Whether you’re a start-up founder or C-Suite executive, your company has intellectual property, data and sensitive information that must be protected. As Cara points out, it’s a non-negotiable to lock your home’s front door - why not protect your company the same way? Cara explains changing regulations that will make security needs table stakes, what threats are out there, and the mindset leadership needs to adopt - both in government and business - to avoid costly security breaches.

In this episode, you’ll learn about the multi-faceted approach to our climate change targets from SolarSteam CEO, Apostol Radev. His company uses solar thermal technology to help clients efficiently heat their properties, which in turn has a positive benefit on reducing electric grid loads. With the continued adoption of EVs and the endless battery-powered devices we wear and carry, making our electric grid more stable will be one key to ensuring a sustainable, comfortable future. Apostol helps you understand the benefits of solar thermal energy and how SolarSteam built renewable heat that reduces carbon emissions and costs, while also ensuring their systems are easy to manufacture, ship and install. He has an approachable way of explaining technology to help you understand how this technology works and the ways SolarSteam sees it being applied to multiple industries. Whatever industry you’re in, our shared climate and ESG goals affect us all. This episode is a great primer on how collaboration, innovation and long-term vision are three crucial needs to ensure a sustainable future for all.

In this episode, learn how self-proclaimed “unemployable” Jeff Russell went from corporate Canada to starting and running multiple businesses. If you’ve ever dreamed of the freedom of entrepreneurship, this episode will inspire you to take the leap of faith and provide key insights necessary to ensure you set your business up for success. From operational systems to healthy habits that will lend themselves to your success, Jeff is a walking case study on successful entrepreneurship. Learn how he found the industries in need of his skills and how he grew his medical consulting business in the US.Jeff believes a life well lived needs three things in balance: health, wealth and wellness. Through systematizing multiple businesses, Jeff has the opportunity to work a few hours in each business and spend the rest of his time either helping other entrepreneurs create a similar lifestyle or enjoying the lifestyle he has built. If you’re curious about the reality of entrepreneurship or need some helpful tips to create a business that can run with (or without) you, don’t miss this episode.Jeff is also a published author, whose book "Fire Yourself First" helps business owners learn to let go. He has taken his "secret sauce" on how to analyze, systemize, and scale businesses, and packaged it for you, giving you all his strategies and tips so you can unchain yourself from the daily grind.