Collisions YYC

Canada is a country that prides itself on its diversity and inclusion. However, when it comes to accessibility, our laws have not kept pace with the needs of all Canadians. This is where Sean comes in. He helps businesses focus on making their spaces more accessible, so that everyone can live, work, and play without barriers. In turn, this creates opportunities for more people to participate in the workforce and actively contribute to society. Find out what accessibility should look like in a modern world and the benefits of helping create those spaces.

As someone who knows firsthand the struggles of growing up in a single-mother household, Luke is doing something about it. He and the team at Collegium have developed a new tech-driven model for building cities and homes that is much more affordable than the current system. By investing in this new approach, they hope to make a big difference in the lives of people who are struggling to make ends meet. In addition to his personal connection to the issue of affordable housing, Luke shares his insights on how Collegium’s team is putting their money where their mouth is by building a $20M building on their platform. This demonstration project is intended to show the huge potential impact that reducing building costs can have on other areas of life such as healthcare, government budgets, and education.

As a public servant, Jyoti knows she answers to all Calgarians but she also recognizes the harmful division happening online in politics. Regardless, she is a Calgary champion who says, “Yes!” To talking up our city wherever and whenever she can. As mayor, Jyoti brings a unique perspective, thanks to decades of social responsibility consultation work. She understands what needs to be done to bridge the gap between empirical evidence and building relationships with the public and private sectors. You’ll be grateful to live in this great city after this episode!

When you are on the opposite ends of an argument, do you try to score points and win? Or do you try to listen and understand? Rather than identifying with only your peer group, Colin encourages us all to identify our shared hopes, values and dreams so we can ensure our legacy is one we’re proud of. Learn about his work at Calgary on Purpose and how building bridges of inclusivity is one of the best bets we can place on ourselves.

Avanti’s founders were looking for a partner who would be supportive and collaborative, rather than one who act like they have all the answers. They felt that some VCs take too much pride in ownership and control, and Avanti’s team wanted to be able to steer the business themselves. Learn how they found the perfect VC partner who helped them to achieve their goals faster than if they had bootstrapped them.

Calgary-based FinTech company Helcim is a true success story, going from bootstrapped to big funding. In this talk, Nic shares his insights on growing a bootstrapped business, and how it can be beneficial to figure out your company’s identity before seeking outside investment. You’ll also learn about Helcim’s approach to hiring, and how they’ve assembled a team of key talent to help them reach their ambitious growth goals.

No matter what business you’re in, people are the most critical component. And, in today’s modern world of work, pairing purpose with your business is no longer optional. Muni Boga is an entrepreneurial culture smith who can help you understand the importance of the ‘right’ behaviour at work, along with how to identify and foster it. Because ultimately, if you’re driving an organization through purpose, you’re going to experience better outcomes — faster.

Albertans are big believers in supporting local businesses — especially when it comes to produce. That’s why Jim was able to take advantage of this opportunity for West Grow Farms. Not only is it better for the environment, but their fresh leafy green produce can last up to three weeks in the fridge. Find out how West Grow Farms has implemented new agricultural technology to create a more environmentally-friendly way to get local produce.

Fifteen years ago, Calgary wasn’t known as Canada’s tech hub, but Jay Gohill didn’t know that then. He just knew that mid-sized enterprise organizations need help translating their spreadsheets and half-baked processes with technology. To meet this demand, Jay and Joel - Director of Talent Growth and Development - recruited talented, collaborative workers who wanted to prove themselves and have an eye on the end goal. This allowed Arcurve to grow over those 15+ years into a successful enterprise IT company.

Attracting investors to Alberta hasn’t been easy. With Toronto and Vancouver, it’s not always the first choice for key investments. That’s why the government of Alberta created Invest Alberta - a Crown corporation. From hydrogen to agriculture, aerospace to FinTech, Invest Alberta has brought billions of dollars and thousands of jobs to our province. Find out how they are working to attract new jobs and industries in Alberta that can not only keep us competitive but how they’ll keep us ahead.