In this episode, discover the lost art of finding the “middle” with Joanna Shea, Managing Partner at The Negotiations Collective, a negotiations firm that specializes in conflict training, coaching, and consulting. Their science and research-backed approach is delivered from team members with backgrounds with the FBI, academia, behavioural science and more. From negotiating with her parents at five years old to negotiating acquisitions, mergers, divestments and more in the energy industry, Joanna brings years of expertise to profiling individuals and negotiating to help you avoid conflict where there needn’t be any, know your worth and value, and go after what you want with confidence. 

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In this episode, hear from Lori James, Shalzah Visram, Paul Selway and Tanya Sharma-Moore, of Making Changes Association (aka Calgary’s best kept secret). This 30+ year old company helps women, both teens and adults, to overcome barriers, open doors and create their own path. They do this through their programs, such as Dress For Success, My Best Friend’s Closet, employment and life skill programs, partnerships with more than 100 local agencies and their brand new program, Women In Technology. This episode will remind you that as we grow and scale Western Canada, we must continue to do the critical work to ensure nobody is left behind.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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.

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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.

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In this episode, hear from ViVent Bioprocesses Co-Founders Troy Temple and Griffin Smith, who share their valuable experience of building their start-up with the support of Avatar Innovations. Whether you’re a budding entrepreneur or a seasoned business owner, their insights and advice will resonate with you. They discuss everything from understanding your intention in building a business or product to the need to have multiple horses in the race.

This enlightening conversation provides valuable guidance on navigating the start-up journey, including building a cohesive team and fostering a positive company culture. You’ll also gain insights into iterating your solutions and how joining an accelerator or incubator can provide invaluable perspectives and support. This episode will leave you feeling inspired and better equipped to take on the exciting challenges of the start-up world.

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In this episode, dive into the cutting-edge ways that Thin Air Labs supports Alberta’s thriving innovation ecosystem. It’s no secret that our province needs a tailored approach that isn’t simply a replica of the Bay Area or Toronto. We’re joined by Andrew Browne, Partner and Funding Catalyst Lead at Thin Air Labs, to shed some light on this topic.

Andrew’s background as an entrepreneur and funding expert gives him a unique perspective, and he explains how Thin Air Labs is shaking up the traditional fund development roadmap. Rather than following the status quo, they’ve built their own parameters to identify the most promising founders, companies, and big ideas worth investing in. And once they’ve found them, Thin Air Labs provides a complete 360 package to help these businesses scale significantly.

Discover Thin Air Labs’ innovative approach, the challenges of fostering a thriving innovation ecosystem in Alberta, and how we can continue to support and uplift our local entrepreneurs.

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In this episode, you’ll be reminded about the joys of recess and play with PlayCity Founder & CEO, Hafiz Mitha. After exiting a role and moving back to Calgary, Hafiz stared at tennis courts outside of his condo day after day, pining for a partner to play with. But he didn’t know anyone and felt some anxiety about showing up and standing around, hoping someone might play tennis with him. Around the same time, dating apps were incredibly popular, which sparked Hafiz’s idea - instead of matching someone for a romantic date, why couldn’t you match someone who shares the same activity interests, skill level, and availability as yourself? After that a-ha moment, PlayCity was born.

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In this episode, learn how four friends in a basement created a business based on the idea that sustainability should be easier, not harder. Alex Todorovic, CEO of Arbor, explains how they leverage first-party and shared data to help companies map out their supply chain and emissions so they can greet changing regulations with a game plan to be compliant. Alex will help you understand the complex realities of environmental management through the lens of data, particularly in our globally connected world, where choices Canadian businesses make can have a real impact in the least developed nations.

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In this episode, get an insider’s look at product development with Katie Underwood, Product Traction Lead at Thin Air Labs. She explains how Thin Air Labs is purpose-built to help start-ups grow — whether they’re already enjoying in-market success and need a little push or a scrappy start-up that needs to de-risk product ideas before anything gets built. You’ll understand how product managers fit into Western Canada’s start-up boom and how an obsession with the right thing for the right customer at the right time underscores every approach in product development.

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In this episode, the President of Sabi Mind, Philippe Lucas, shares insights on a common analgesic’s potential in treating mental health issues. He explains how it can help reduce trauma responses, suicidal ideation, anxiety, lack of connectedness, and depression. Sabi Mind is expanding from Calgary to Edmonton and Victoria to provide access to communities with limited exposure to psychedelic medicine. You’ll learn about ketamine’s therapeutic effects in a clinical setting, Sabi Mind’s innovative psilocybin study for alcohol use disorder treatment, and much more. Join us for a fascinating conversation on the promising developments in psychedelic medicine.

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