Collisions YYC

Dan got his entrepreneurial start right here in Calgary making websites during the late 90’s. From there, he took part in the golden age of tech consulting in Calgary before growing an interest in product development. That’s when he and his like-minded partner packed up their laptops and moved to Silicon Valley to immersive themselves in the start-up culture. The result – Rallyteam, a platform that enables companies to better understand and utilize their people. Since being acquired by Workday in 2018, Dan spends his time advising start-ups on product and strategy while also dabbling in angel investing. Join me as Dan takes us through his entrepreneurial journey to Silicon Valley, the differences between Calgary’s and San Francisco’s start-up cultures, his transition into angel investing, and the effects that the COVID crisis has had in the start-up world.

Back in 2013, Cathy co-founded 42 Technologies, a modern business intelligence platform designed for omnichannel retailers that makes retail data simple, intuitive, and powerful. This was an exciting idea that quickly gained interest from potential investors and customers, but there was a small setback – they were all in the US, and 42 Technologies was based in Canada. So, Cathy and 42 moved to San Francisco to build closer relationships with their investors, gain better access to their key customer base and accelerate the growth of their product – and they haven’t slowed down since. Join me as Cathy talks about her journey from entrepreneur to CEO, how her experiences in the Canadian and US start-up cultures compare and shares her thoughts to help future entrepreneurs in Canada gain interest and capital for their big ideas.

Western Canada seems to be polarized lately. It’s either left versus right. Oil and gas or environmentalism. Us against them. Whichever side you’re on, it seems we’ve lost the ability to have a dialogue rather than a debate. So, how can we move forward without a clear consensus and direction? That's where my guests Dave and Robin, two professional facilitators, come in to shine a light on how we can all get back on the same page. In this episode, Robin, Dave and I discuss the importance of building a consensus through communication and how we can get back to having a dialogue instead of a debate when it comes to the way forward.

Few have had a journey like Greg has. That is unless they also went from being an entrepreneur to a start-up founder, professor at the University of Calgary, leader of the Alberta Party, investor, and board member. Yet through the many hats Greg has worn during his career, one thing has never swayed – his deep-felt belief in the success of our city. So, who better to talk to about our transformation and what the future has in store for us than Greg? In this episode, Greg and I have a good old fashion chat on all things Calgary from business to technology and our unmatched talents while also discussing where we are now and where we’re heading on the road ahead.

As a leader, business strategy coach, and board director, Lori brings 25+ years of hands-on experience in all aspects of business to the table. Her career as a strategic planner gives her a unique perspective on Calgary and our way forward. So, what’s her take on our transformation? It’s a two-sided coin that presents both opportunities and roadblocks, and we need to keep both in mind as we move forward. In this episode, Lori and I have an honest conversation about the two sides of the coin – the one where we learn and adapt to new opportunities and the other where we lean on our history, our proven track record, and our expertise to thrive.

Jennifer is a champion for women and innovation, not only in Calgary but around the world. That’s how as Director of the Global Innovation Coalition for Change of UN Women with a deep network of female innovators, Jennifer was able to make Alberta the first pilot branch for UN Women called the SHEInnovates Alberta Chapter. As a way to showcase his exciting new partnership, SHEInnovates are hosting Women Leading Innovation – a half-day, live-stream event featuring women at the top of their games discussing tech and innovations in their industries. Join me as Jennifer tells us all about SHEInnovates and the Women Leading Innovation event on September 15th, how you can watch, and how inclusivity in innovation can shape Alberta’s transformation and future for the better.

With a career in oil and gas that spans over 35 years, Ken has worked through many of Calgary’s highs-and-lows. Some of those lows are well-known and not worth reliving. But the highs are what Ken thinks back on the most; when brilliant, talented minds were pumping out countless innovations right here in our city. And it’s those kinds of minds we need to keep here to solve the problems we face today. Join me for a good old fashioned chat as Ken shares 35+ years’ worth of insights in our Oil & Gas sector while discussing how far we’ve come and what barriers need to be overcome as we move forward.

They say the secret to success is to surround yourself with the right people. This could not be more true for me by working side-by-side with my partner-in-crime, Chad Kroeker. Not only is he my co-founder at clearmotive, Chad can rally anyone behind him with his authenticity and honesty, or, as he likes to put it, by being a vulnerable leader. Join me for a good old-fashioned chat with Chad as we discuss his unique style of leadership and why being authentic and honest will always empower the people around you to succeed.

From his early days as a cabinet maker to becoming a world leader in digital interior construction, Mogens’ career is founded on keeping up with innovation and, more importantly, with the times. So, did his adaptive instinct kick in back in March when the world practically shut down due to COVID-19? Of course it did, because for Mogens, you need to be a long-term thinker and be ready for anything to succeed in business. Join me as Mogens walks us through how his company Falkbuilt adapted to the pandemic, the importance of long-term thinking in business, and how we need to diversify our economy to transform Calgary as we know it.

As Co-Founder & CEO of AltaML, Cory is always bouncing between his offices in Edmonton and Calgary, working alongside his teams to conceptualize, develop and commercialize machine learning software products. Aside from a to-be-expected rivalry between Flames and Oilers fans, Cory sees a huge commonality between thought leaders, innovators, and shakers in each city. So, why isn't Alberta seen as an international technology hub? Cory thinks it's because our top talent has their eyes set elsewhere, and we need to join forces to keep them here. Join me and I discuss transforming the relationship between Calgary and Edmonton to keep our talented minds and breakthroughs in Alberta and transform our global reputation.