In a recent episode of Between Meetings, I had the pleasure of interviewing David Cree. Our conversation delved into his experiences leading the mission-driven venture Common Good, the challenges he faced along the way, the growth of Calgary's startup ecosystem, and his aspirations to bring innovation to city governance as a city council candidate.

Takeaways:

• When we started COMMONGOOD, we thought we understood the problem.
• When someone has a mission, they put their heart into it.
• To run a profitable business, you must listen to customers to understand where the product-market fit is, but that doesn't always align closely with the mission.
• We could save significantly more money by being more innovative, but we are not.
• I am going to run for city council to bring the innovative mindset we've learned to the council.

David Cree is a seasoned sales and marketing professional with a rich career driving impactful campaigns and building effective teams. He specializes in helping startups, particularly those addressing sustainable development goals, acquire and retain major clients. Combining strategic thinking, creativity, and relationship-building expertise, David has a proven track record of breaking organizations into new markets and securing high-value clients. His specialties include Social Enterprise, Mental Health, Marketing and Sales Strategy, Branding and advertising.

Between Meetings is a series of on-the-go interviews featuring industry leaders, entrepreneurs, and corporate innovators. In these interviews, we delve into the latest trends and developments in innovation, technology, and entrepreneurship, catching our guests between meetings in a car ride across town. Along the way, they share inspiring stories, personal experiences, industry insights, and practical advice on how to scale your way to success. Each interview is packed with valuable information and inspiration for anyone looking to make an impact in the tech and innovation world.

🎙 Follow the host Marian Danko on LinkedIn.

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In a recent episode of Between Meetings, I had the pleasure of interviewing Benjamin Reeves, SVP of Data Science & Engineering at Viewpoint and the Founding Director of the YYC Data Society. Our conversation spanned a range of thought-provoking topics, including the current state of data science and AI development, the ethical implications of applying AI in the financial sector, and the immense potential for Calgary to establish itself as a leading hub for applied data science and artificial intelligence.

Takeaways:

• The hard thing about software isn’t writing the code but knowing what code to write.
• Just because you can automate something does not mean you absolve yourself of responsibility.
• I believe Calgary has a generational opportunity to become a leader in applied data science and AI.
• AI is not a differentiator; it is almost table stakes.

Ben Reeves is a founding director of the YYC Data Society, SVP of Data Science and Engineering at Viewpoint Investment Partners, and the principal organizer of PyData Calgary. Starting his career in the energy sector, he transitioned from engineering analytics to software and big data, eventually leading mission-critical cloud SCADA systems. He later joined Viewpoint, an investment management firm, where he built the engineering and data science infrastructure for their global investment strategies. Beyond work, Ben is passionate about growing Calgary's data economy, dedicating his time to empowering others to apply their engineering and data skills in tech.

Between Meetings is a series of on-the-go interviews featuring industry leaders, entrepreneurs, and corporate innovators. In these interviews, we delve into the latest trends and developments in innovation, technology, and entrepreneurship, catching our guests between meetings in a car ride across town. Along the way, they share inspiring stories, personal experiences, industry insights, and practical advice on how to scale your way to success. Each interview is packed with valuable information and inspiration for anyone looking to make an impact in the tech and innovation world.

🎙 Follow the host Marian Danko on LinkedIn.

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In a recent Between Meetings episode, I had the pleasure of interviewing Michael Grantmyre, a Partner at Osler. During our conversation, we delved into various topics, including his role in the community, his passion for startups, Osler's packages designed to support early-stage entrepreneurs, and the reasons behind his move from Toronto to Calgary. Michael also shared common mistakes that startups make and offered valuable advice.

Takeaways:

• Always be more than just a lawyer.
• I really view my role as a community builder and ecosystem supporter; law is the way I contribute to that.
• This is an Osler client; we have seen this type of stuff a thousand times before.
• There is no startup in the world that can afford the legal fees from day one.
• Talking to a lawyer or accountant should not always be a question of whether I can afford it.
• We owe it to our clients to adopt AI.
• Collaboration and openness, among other things, are a secret source that makes those gears start to turn.
• Build a community around you.
• People will say they would rather invest in a bad business with great founders than in a great business with bad founders.

Michael Grantmyre is a tech lawyer, a biz dev guy, a wanna-be skier, an outdoors enthusiast, a cyclist, a soccer player, and a tech geek. As a Partner at Osler, Michael works with tech companies that are starting out, and those that are well-established, to advise on a range of corporate matters to add every bit of value possible for their day-to-day business and legal needs.

Between Meetings is a series of on-the-go interviews featuring industry leaders, entrepreneurs, and corporate innovators. In these interviews, we delve into the latest trends and developments in innovation, technology, and entrepreneurship, catching our guests between meetings in a car ride across town. Along the way, they share inspiring stories, personal experiences, industry insights, and practical advice on how to scale your way to success. Each interview is packed with valuable information and inspiration for anyone looking to make an impact in the tech and innovation world.

🎙 Follow the host Marian Danko on LinkedIn.

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Subscribe to the podcast via other services to be notified when a new episode is released. We are on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, and more.

🎙 Follow the host Marian Danko on LinkedIn.

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In a recent Between Meetings episode, I had the pleasure of interviewing Sabina Bruehlmann, CEO at Nimble Science. We discussed the role of a PhD in running a startup, Sabina's unique expertise, her initial experience with startups, and why Calgary is an excellent location to start your business.

Takeaways:

• Any startup founder who is thinking about the salary is not a true startup founder.
• A PhD does not necessarily make a great startup founder.
• Entrepreneurship has become significantly more challenging due to the high expectations investors have.
• Intellectual property and regulatory expertise are valuable skillsets to bring into entrepreneurship.
• IP and regulatory are the most diametrically opposed thought processes 
• In IP, you argue that you are different from everybody else. In regulatory, you argue that you are the same as everyone else.
• Speed is crucial; you have to move quickly. Every hour counts.

Sabina Bruehlmann has twenty years of medical technology commercialization experience in developing and managing mature IP strategies, obtaining regulatory clearances for novel products, establishing workable quality systems, innovating and managing successful R&D programs including clinical trials, setting up small-scale regulated manufacturing, and raising funds.

Between Meetings is a series of on-the-go interviews featuring industry leaders, entrepreneurs, and corporate innovators. In these interviews, we delve into the latest trends and developments in innovation, technology, and entrepreneurship, catching our guests between meetings in a car ride across town. Along the way, they share inspiring stories, personal experiences, industry insights, and practical advice on how to scale your way to success. Each interview is packed with valuable information and inspiration for anyone looking to make an impact in the tech and innovation world.

🎙 Follow the host Marian Danko on LinkedIn.

Find us on YouTube, LinkedIn, Twitter

Subscribe to the podcast via other services to be notified when a new episode is released. We are on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, and more.

🎙 Follow the host Marian Danko on LinkedIn.

Find us on YouTube, LinkedIn, X

In a recent Between Meetings episode, I had the pleasure of interviewing Kevin Dahl, Director of ElevateIP at Innovate Calgary. Our conversation dove into his professional journey, explored the early days of Calgary's innovation ecosystem, highlighted his impactful stint at Plug and Play, and delved into his current role at Innovate Calgary. 

Takeaways:

• I am always in the corner of the underdog.
• Fifteen years ago, innovation was just this little shiny object over to the side.
• Becoming a startup founder is not just cool; it is actually viable now.
• Energy OR innovation, agriculture OR innovation. To me, 'OR' is simply rooted in fallacy. It should be an 'AND' conversation.

Kevin Dahl has expertise in several industries including mobile payments, hospitality tech, telecommunications, music, and tech incubation. He is a geek at heart. Kevin loves technology and he is fascinated by its impact on society. 

Between Meetings is a series of on-the-go interviews featuring industry leaders, entrepreneurs, and corporate innovators. In these interviews, we delve into the latest trends and developments in innovation, technology, and entrepreneurship, catching our guests between meetings in a car ride across town. Along the way, they share inspiring stories, personal experiences, industry insights, and practical advice on how to scale your way to success. Each interview is packed with valuable information and inspiration for anyone looking to make an impact in the tech and innovation world.

🎙 Follow the host Marian Danko on LinkedIn.

Find us on YouTube, LinkedIn, and Twitter.

Subscribe to the podcast via other services to be notified when a new episode is released. We are on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, and more.

🎙 Follow the host Marian Danko on LinkedIn.

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In a recent installment of Between Meetings, I had the privilege of interviewing Ken Xu, a Partner at CMC Capital Partners. Our conversation delved into the formative years of the VC industry in China, his experiences at Gobi Partners, and the pivotal decisions that startup founders must navigate in a post-COVID world.

Takeaways:

• Back in the early 2000s, 75% of Gobi's startups were from Beijing
• The effects of COVID-19 will stick around longer than we think
• CMC Capital Partners mainly invests in China
• If you're a foreign company wanting funding in China, be clear about what you want to leverage from China
• To succeed in China, have locals on your team

Ken joined CMC Capital in 2018 and serves as a partner. While at CMC, he has made investments in Clobotics, Revobit, and TAGE. Before joining the Firm, Ken served as the Managing Partner of Gobi Partners China and managed the operation of the fund. During this period, his successful investment included: Lingtu Software, Madhouse Inc., CSDN, Hanchen DT, Link Motion, 36kr, etc.

Between Meetings is a series of on-the-go interviews featuring industry leaders, entrepreneurs, and corporate innovators. In these interviews, we delve into the latest trends and developments in innovation, technology, and entrepreneurship, catching our guests between meetings in a car ride across town. Along the way, they share inspiring stories, personal experiences, industry insights, and practical advice on how to scale your way to success. Each interview is packed with valuable information and inspiration for anyone looking to make an impact in the tech and innovation world.

🎙 Follow the host Marian Danko on LinkedIn.

YouTube, LinkedIn, Twitter

Subscribe to the podcast via other services to be notified when a new episode is released. We are on WeChat Channel, bilibili, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, and more.

🎙 Follow the host Marian Danko on LinkedIn.

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I had the pleasure of interviewing Rachel Daydou, Partner at EY Fabernovel, in a recent episode of Between Meetings. We discussed various topics, including her childhood dream of visiting the Shaolin Temple, the valuable lessons she learned while running two startups, her dedication and hard work at Fabernovel, as well as the challenges that international companies encounter in China and much more.

Takeaways:

• What kept me in China was the feeling that I was in the center of everything fascinating happening in the world.
• What made me start to feel like an entrepreneur was connecting with other entrepreneurs through Startup Grind.
• Being an entrepreneur totally changed my life.
• Get into action: 85% action, 15% reflection.
• Get it done because you learn as you are doing.
• Take care of yourself: you are the first asset of the company.
• One of the pain points multinationals are trying to solve is localizing appropriately for the Chinese market.
• Another challenge for multinationals is keeping up with China's speed.
• China teams have more autonomy than before.
• There is less trust between China teams and global teams.
• Multinationals are trying to derisk the non-China business connected to China.

Rachel Daydou is a driven, authentic, and multicultural C-level executive with 10+ years of experience building innovative businesses in China. My responsibilities have covered management, sales, and marketing in various industries covering F&B distribution, Fashion retail, Digital Marketing, and Education.

Between Meetings is a series of on-the-go interviews featuring industry leaders, entrepreneurs, and corporate innovators. In these interviews, we delve into the latest trends and developments in innovation, technology, and entrepreneurship, catching our guests between meetings in a car ride across town. Along the way, they share inspiring stories, personal experiences, industry insights, and practical advice on how to scale your way to success. Each interview is packed with valuable information and inspiration for anyone looking to make an impact in the tech and innovation world.

🎙 Follow the host Marian Danko on LinkedIn.

YouTube, LinkedIn, Twitter

Subscribe to the podcast via other services to be notified when a new episode is released. We are on WeChat Channel, bilibili, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, and more.

🎙 Follow the host Marian Danko on LinkedIn.

Find us on YouTube, LinkedIn, X

On the latest episode of Between Meetings, I had the pleasure of interviewing Oscar Sum. He discussed his international background and shared his journey from being a dentist in the UK to founding a tech startup in China. Oscar delved into the challenges of dentistry and candidly shared the mistakes he made as a first-time entrepreneur.

Takeaways:

• Understanding science and practical application are two different skills
• I sought a challenge and chose a different path than my peers in dentistry
• The dental industry has been slow in adopting technological advancements
• China faces a significant shortage in the number of dentists
• Prototyping must be tested with the actual market rather than just a group of friends
• It was surprising to discover how challenging people find using technology

Dr. Oscar Sum graduated from one of the world’s top dental programs at King’s College London before moving to Shanghai to work in the private sector & becoming the Dental Director of Global Healthcare China. He is a pioneer in AI dental care having gained a MSc in the field of Dental AI and creating his own company Aidencare.

Between Meetings is a series of on-the-go interviews featuring industry leaders, entrepreneurs, and corporate innovators. In these interviews, we delve into the latest trends and developments in innovation, technology, and entrepreneurship, catching our guests between meetings in a car ride across town. Along the way, they share inspiring stories, personal experiences, industry insights, and practical advice on how to scale your way to success. Each interview is packed with valuable information and inspiration for anyone looking to make an impact in the tech and innovation world.

🎙 Follow the host Marian Danko on LinkedIn.

YouTube, LinkedIn, Twitter

Subscribe to the podcast via other services to be notified when a new episode is released. We are on WeChat Channel, bilibili, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, and more.

🎙 Follow the host Marian Danko on LinkedIn.

Find us on YouTube, LinkedIn, X

During a recent episode of Between Meetings, I engaged in a captivating conversation with Scott Pollack, delving into his early experiences in Asia, his remarkable entrepreneurial journey, the transformative shift from being a player to a coach, and his ongoing role as a CEO and leadership team coach.

Takeaways:

• One of the takeaways from my early career was learning how a laptop can travel. It's a mentality.
• I decided to transition from being a player to a coach to have a meaningful impact on people I can relate to.
• I don't think coaching has changed in the past years. What has changed is the perception of coaching.
• A coach is not someone better than you; it's about making you better.

Almost 30 years of strategy, business development, sales, marketing, product and consulting experience primarily in Internet, digital media, telecom, technology and information services. Successful at developing businesses in the United States and Asia. Holder of an MBA/JD from UCLA, and a BA in Economics from UC Berkeley. Fully conversational in Mandarin with basic Chinese reading proficiency.

Between Meetings is a series of on-the-go interviews featuring industry leaders, entrepreneurs, and corporate innovators. In these interviews, we delve into the latest trends and developments in innovation, technology, and entrepreneurship, catching our guests between meetings in a car ride across town. Along the way, they share inspiring stories, personal experiences, industry insights, and practical advice on how to scale your way to success. Each interview is packed with valuable information and inspiration for anyone looking to make an impact in the tech and innovation world.

🎙 Follow the host Marian Danko on LinkedIn.

YouTube, LinkedIn, Twitter

Subscribe to the podcast via other services to be notified when a new episode is released. We are on WeChat Channel, bilibili, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, and more.

🎙 Follow the host Marian Danko on LinkedIn.

Find us on YouTube, LinkedIn, X

In a recent episode of Between Meetings, Mark Bawtree discussed his journey towards sustainability, the lessons he learned while running his startups, the challenges of ESG, and how Akila is aiding its clients in making data-driven decisions.

Takeaways:

• Renewable energy sources have increasingly targeted the local market from a sales perspective, whereas they were primarily manufactured for the international market in the past
• The potential for profit in the local market has led to a faster adoption of renewables
• Rather than focusing solely on financial metrics, businesses, and investors are now also taking into account the environmental impact of their operations, as reflected in carbon footprint calculations
• The individuals responsible for collecting data on-site for ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) reports may not be personally invested in or concerned about ESG issues

A hands-on technical sales professional with a focus on sustainability, energy optimisation, and clean energy solutions from hardware to software. With over 20 years of Sales, Project Management, and Key Account Management. Starting in IT and data centers, shortly after arriving in Shanghai moved into renewable energy solutions product development, design, and implementation.

Between Meetings is a series of on-the-go interviews featuring industry leaders, entrepreneurs, and corporate innovators. In these interviews, we delve into the latest trends and developments in innovation, technology, and entrepreneurship, catching our guests between meetings in a car ride across town. Along the way, they share inspiring stories, personal experiences, industry insights, and practical advice on how to scale your way to success. Each interview is packed with valuable information and inspiration for anyone looking to make an impact in the tech and innovation world.

🎙 Follow the host Marian Danko on LinkedIn.

YouTube, LinkedIn, Twitter

Subscribe to the podcast via other services to be notified when a new episode is released. We are on WeChat Channel, bilibili, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, and more.

🎙 Follow the host Marian Danko on LinkedIn.

Find us on YouTube, LinkedIn, X