Collisions YYC

Join me for another edition of Collisions YYC Current & Critical, a high-intensity series where I sit down with local leaders to discuss current topics affecting Albertans.In this episode, I discuss the Opportunity Calgary Investment Fund (OCIF) with Rohit Joshi, CEO of Brightsquid. A direct response to our current economic environment, The OCIF is a $100-million fund offering opportunities for transformative investments that will be the catalysts for Calgary's economic growth. Brightsquid recently received $1M in OCIF support for their HATCH incubator program. In our conversation, Rohit and I discuss the application process, the benefits and opportunities from this fund and the importance to keep transformative investments going, even when the OCIF money runs out.

Join me as I chat with Lisa Eyamine, Senior Manager of End User Experience with WestJet.Lisa brings her extensive background in project management and process improvement to the conversation on change, stressing the importance of setting goals for Calgary and acting on them. As Senior Manager of End User Experience with WestJet, Lisa’s focus is to find innovative ways for her teams to improve in both collaboration and productivity. A strong advocate for technological innovation in Calgary, Lisa knows that the transformation of our city isn't an endpoint but rather a continuous journey that needs our constant commitment.

Join me as I chat with Laura Jo Gunter, President & CEO of Bow Valley College (BVC).Laura brings the notion of education to the conversation on change, specifically on Pivot-Ed, a new program from BVC that will have a direct impact on the transformation taking place in Calgary. As a lifelong learner and a champion for strong community connections, Laura’s goal with Pivot-Ed is to create an accessible platform for employees and employers to receive meaningful education in order to adapt to the changes ahead in Calgary.

Join me as I chat with Dan Giurescu, President, CEO & Founder of TerraHub.Dan walks us through the world of blockchain, a new technology that is very much underestimated and not understood enough as to what its value can be for the economic transformation of Calgary. Having immediately recognized its untapped potential, Dan created TerraHub, the first Calgary-based blockchain education, incubator and consulting institute that is now internationally recognized. Dan holds nothing back as a champion for transformation in Calgary and stresses the need for more of us to find our voice and expose what we're doing and where we’re going.

Join me as I chat with Jeff LaFrenz, President & CEO of VizworX. Jeff brings the value of resilience to the conversation on change, taking us through the trials and tribulations VizworX faced during Calgary’s economic downturn. Having close ties to the oil and gas industry in 2015, VizworX had to make tough decisions to survive, which included exploring new industries, which led to a period of rapid growth. With over 25 years’ experience in technology commercialization and a passion for innovation, collaboration and community, Jeff and the team at VizworX use advanced technology to transform their client’s businesses, a concept of transformation that needs to be adopted in our city.

Join me for another edition of Collisions YCC Current & Critical, a high-intensity series where I sit down with local leaders to discuss current topics affecting Albertans.In this episode, I discuss Brexit and the recent victory for the Conservatives in the UK with Jake Surrey of Fountain Partnership and UK-born digital media specialist who’s been traveling back and forth from Calgary since 2011. Being well-versed in all things digital and political, Jake sheds light on the strategies used behind the scenes during the late-2019 election that led to such a landslide victory for the UK Conservatives, and how social media played a key role in it. In our chat, Jake and I draw the curtain back further and further and get to the bottom of the influence that social media has in society and whether or not the decisions we make our actually our own, be it in politics or simply in our day-to-day.

Join me for another edition of Collisions YYC Current & Critical, a high-intensity series where I sit down with local leaders to discuss current topics affecting Albertans.In this episode, I discuss David Bissett’s $30M donation to the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT) with returning-guest Terry Rock and how it presents a great opportunity to provide the latest in digital education and to advocate for change. Not to be overshadowed, however, Terry sheds light on other organizations that have already contributed to the economic change in our city, such as The League of Innovators, Platform Calgary, Techwest Collect, Evolve U and Creative Destruction Lab.  While this is a great sign of our city welcoming the idea of a digital transition, Terry and I delve into the skills that got us to this point, and if those with the skillset that brought us here can be, or are willing to be a part of Calgary’s new story.

Join me as I chat with Evan Hu, Founding Partner and G7 Associate at Creative Destruction Lab.Evan brings his entrepreneurial attitude to the conversation of economic transformation and explores what we need to do to push Calgary forward. With several successful startups under his belt, including OmniLogic, MapleMusic, and Ideaca, Evan offers up a fresh perspective outside of the Oil & Gas sector when it comes to how we can innovate our current landscape. The way Evan sees it, our ship hasn’t sunk yet - but that doesn’t mean we don’t need to spark a change. By shaking things up between industries and diversifying away from the fuel economy, Evan believes the ship that is Calgary will smoothly sail towards economic change.

Join me as I chat with Damarys Zampini, President & CEO of Sustrategy.Damarys brings a worldly perspective to the conversation of economic transformation, specifically on the need for us to look past our city limits and find insights on a global scale that we can adopt here in Calgary.  As a champion of constantly learning and always being curious, Damarys guides the disrupters in our city towards sustainable growth, both locally and globally, through innovative and personalized strategy - something she feels needs to happen more in Calgary. When it comes to the transformation of our city, no assumptions can be made, and Damarys brings home the fact that before we think globally, we need to build a solid network amongst all businesses right here at home.

Join me as I chat with Terry Rock, President and CEO of Platform CalgaryTerry shares his notion of establishing the right ecosystem to fuel economic change in Calgary, specifically on how a digital transformation can lay the groundwork. Knowing the responsibility that comes with being both a leader and, as he likes to call himself, a truth-teller, Terry’s mission is to empower entrepreneurs and thinkers into building the next economy by bringing everyone together to find a common purpose, get on the same page, and push forward towards a better future for our city.