Collisions YYC

There’s plenty of innovation coming out of our start-up community that will transform the way we work. While many are modernizing established industries, Deborah’s innovation just might transform the way our bodies work. That innovation – Path Therapeutics, a biotech platform that uncovers new therapeutics and novel druggable targets for diseases of the central nervous system. Join me as Deborah takes us into Path Therapeutics, her experiences raising funds as an academic and entrepreneur in Calgary, and why education and trusted investments can make Calgary a new, biotech hub.

You can learn a lot about someone based on their resume. Where they’ve worked, what they’ve learned, and what they’ve accomplished. That information is important for hirers, but for Allie, a recruitment and HR professional, something equally if not more important is often missing – a candidate’s potential. To solve that problem, Allie launched ResumeFree™, an online screening tool that connects candidates and employers based on traits and metrics that aren't found on a resume. Join me as Allie shares her take on Alberta’s start-up community, the resources she used to bring her idea to life, and why the traditional resume has become antiquated in the age of digital and social networking.

From short how-to videos on YouTube to years-long college and university programs, people have plenty of options for digital education. But what about large organizations that need to educate and re-train their entire team? Where do they turn? Enter Xpan Interactive Ltd., a Calgary-based global leader in custom and immersive digital knowledge solutions. Since 2001, Ron has led his team to increase engagement, performance and competency to over 5 million learners across more than 250 large organizations. Join me as Ron talks about XPan’s evolution over the past 20 years from pioneers to global leaders in digital learning and connects the dots between education and a thriving economy.

Even with all of our recent breakthroughs and innovations, everyone still thinks of Alberta as an oil and gas province. It’s going to take more than just innovation to change our reputation. As CEO of her own PR firm, Ellen helps businesses and brands thrive through thoughtful communication strategies. So, who better to shed light on how to flip Alberta's narrative? Join me as Ellen shares the power of branding, the importance of telling our stories, and how we can make the world think of Alberta as more than just oil and gas.

Jim was the very first guest on this podcast. So, it’s only fitting that he’s the first guest for our three-month partnership series with SAIT’s Corporate Training. As Chief Catalyst at SAIT, Jim is bridging the gap between two sides of our digital transformation. On one side is new talent that’s innovating for the future. On the other are established organizations that need support in re-training and up-skilling of their workforces. His goal? To create a streamlined network that will create new opportunities, transform existing jobs and get everyone on the same page. Join me as Jim talks about SAIT’s goal to transform education into an ecosystem of opportunities that will keep new talent here in Alberta and help retrain our workers for the future to come.

As it continues to grow stronger, plenty of exciting technologies have been coming out of Calgary’s start-up community. While start-up founders certainly have the skills to design and develop their latest innovations, many are at a loss when it comes to growing their business. Enter Carey Houston and 321 Growth Academy, a Calgary-based consultancy that teaches founders how to sell and market their products and build and manage their teams. Join me as Carey shares what 321 Growth Academy does, her thoughts on Calgary’s start-up community and why we need to introduce entrepreneurship as a career to the next generation.

There are plenty of new, innovative businesses and organizations popping up in our province that are well poised to become Albertan success stories. For Hilton, having a long-term strategy and valuable product or service is one thing, but having a strong culture is something much more powerful; something that can either make or break our chances at success. Join me as Hilton shares his views on the importance of culture and why success will remain out of reach for the organizations that lack it.

From AI to machine learning to cryptocurrencies, supply chains, robotics and renewable energies, we’ve covered many topics on this podcast. But for my co-conspirator Kevin Crowe, we still need to discuss the one thing that ties all of these areas together; what he believes is the key to Alberta’s digital transformation – The Internet of Things (IoT). As Co-Chair of the Alberta IoT Centre of Excellence, Kevin and his team are on a mission to make our province the global hub for IoT technology. Join me for a spirited conversation with Kevin as he walks us through the concept of IoT and why we are well poised to be a global leader in this new technological space

“If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” is a mentality that keeps a lot of business stuck in their ways rather than keeping up with the times. But for Jeremy and Adrienne, it’s not always a case of stubborn business leaders. Some are simply unaware that the technology they’ve been using for years is holding them back in this modern age. That’s where Xerris comes in, a Calgary-based digital solutions service that helps companies break down technical barriers and re-imagine their business for the digital-first consumer. Join me as Jeremy and Adrienne take us through Xerris and their rapid growth, remote-first mindset, and how they empower their clients to start thinking differently.

Good Earth Coffeehouse is yet another Alberta success story that's been serving up fresh coffee for 30 years. So, what's their secret? Is it having the right beans for the right price? For Wendy, it's all about having the right balance of marketing and brand experience; one that, in Good Earth Coffeehouse’s case, makes customers feel like they've been transported to an Italian café. Join me as Wendy talks about her role at Good Earth Coffeehouse, the importance of brand experiences and how this Albertan success story is looking to the future while maintaining their social responsibility and environmental values.