Collisions YYC

Technology debt: choosing the quick win with limited solutions over a better approach that takes longer. Sound familiar? WestJet’s CTO, Stuart McDonald, helps you understand why taking technology shortcuts has damaging consequences for your business. We also discuss the changes that COVID-19 ushered into the airline industry, and how taking a Canadian approach to partnerships can prevent technology silos that fragment the customer experience. 

Developers were not all equally prepared to confront the dramatic change to how homebuyers shop that COVID-19 ushered in. From seeing a house in-person to seeing one virtually, it took a resilient and strategic marketing-focused leader to deeply examine how to design homes that can withstand homeschooling, working, and living.Join me as Tracey takes us through what a CRO does (hint: it’s a combination of all of Tracey’s best talents), how Hopewell’s focus on digital transformation pre-pandemic worked in their favour, and why Tracey is optimistic about Calgary’s future.

As humans, we’re all in the challenge of creating a new economy together - one that is equitable and environmentally and socially conscious. CBSR is encouraging their member businesses to operate in a socially and environmentally responsible way, including becoming net zero by 2050, developing sophisticated diversity and inclusion programs and building Canada’s circular economy.Join me as Leor takes us through his role at CBSR, to hear insights and tips on how strategic partnerships enable your organization to do business like a Canadian and champion business as a force for good.

One of the biggest hurdles in our digital transformation isn’t so much an unwillingness to adapt but a hesitancy to learn. After all, emerging technologies like blockchain and machine learning can seem a bit intimidating at first. That’s why SAIT Corporate Training partnered with Jon Trask and Blockchain Guru to break things down for everyone. The result? A program that takes the intimidation factor out of the picture and practically explains how blockchain and machine learning can help with the bottom line. Join me as Jon tells us about his partnership with SAIT Corporate Training and why it's crucial to get more people in Calgary educated in these emerging technologies.

At one time they seemed like a novelty, but electric vehicles are becoming the way of the future for sustainable transportation. But did you know that 60% more greenhouse gases are emitted to make the battery for an electric vehicle than a combustion engine vehicle? That’s the problem that Amanda and her team want to solve with Summit Nanotech, a green lithium extraction process that uses nanotechnology to help meet the energy storage needs of the future. Join me as Amanda takes us into Summit Nanotech and how they are using nanotechnology to make mining for lithium resources more sustainable.

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.