Collisions YYC

As the conversation on racism and discrimination continues around the world, I know as both a leader and as a human that it’s time for a long-overdue change. That is why I’m honoured to be joined by Eve Akinyi Aboka-Griess. As the Founder of Capability Career Group, Eve reaches out and helps organizations in Calgary identify discrimination and racism that exists in their ranks and helps them understand, learn, and address it to create equal opportunity for all. So, who better to help us understand what we as a city, a province, and a country can do better? Join me as Eve and I have an honest conversation on the issues of racism, diversity, and inclusion as she shares what we as leaders and organizations we can do to understand and end the discrimination so many people face daily.

Scott is the Co-Founder and CEO of Scope AR, a Silicon Valley-based company specializing in using AR to solve some of the toughest problems that many industries face. But before he was making waves in the tech start-up capital of the world, Scott was born and raised right here in Alberta. So, what led to his decision to move to Silicon Valley? What do they have that Alberta doesn’t? Join me as Scott shares some insight into why he moved to California, what Alberta was missing at the time and what we as a province must do to keep our top talent here to enable our digital transformation journey. 

“Digital transformation” may be turning into a buzzword in Alberta, but it’s definitely a complex term with many meanings. And if you know one thing about this series it’s that I want to understand our digital transformation from every possible angle. So, when Lora and Craig reached out wanting to expose people to how they’re helping our organizations plan and implement transformational change, I had to have them on the show. 

Join me as Lora and Craig take us through their roles at SAIT and walk us through their framework for change management as we dissect and discuss Alberta’s digital transformation.

Dan got his entrepreneurial start right here in Calgary making websites during the late 90’s. From there, he took part in the golden age of tech consulting in Calgary before growing an interest in product development. That’s when he and his like-minded partner packed up their laptops and moved to Silicon Valley to immersive themselves in the start-up culture. The result – Rallyteam, a platform that enables companies to better understand and utilize their people. Since being acquired by Workday in 2018, Dan spends his time advising start-ups on product and strategy while also dabbling in angel investing. Join me as Dan takes us through his entrepreneurial journey to Silicon Valley, the differences between Calgary’s and San Francisco’s start-up cultures, his transition into angel investing, and the effects that the COVID crisis has had in the start-up world.

Back in 2013, Cathy co-founded 42 Technologies, a modern business intelligence platform designed for omnichannel retailers that makes retail data simple, intuitive, and powerful. This was an exciting idea that quickly gained interest from potential investors and customers, but there was a small setback – they were all in the US, and 42 Technologies was based in Canada. So, Cathy and 42 moved to San Francisco to build closer relationships with their investors, gain better access to their key customer base and accelerate the growth of their product – and they haven’t slowed down since. Join me as Cathy talks about her journey from entrepreneur to CEO, how her experiences in the Canadian and US start-up cultures compare and shares her thoughts to help future entrepreneurs in Canada gain interest and capital for their big ideas.

Western Canada seems to be polarized lately. It’s either left versus right. Oil and gas or environmentalism. Us against them. Whichever side you’re on, it seems we’ve lost the ability to have a dialogue rather than a debate. So, how can we move forward without a clear consensus and direction? That's where my guests Dave and Robin, two professional facilitators, come in to shine a light on how we can all get back on the same page. In this episode, Robin, Dave and I discuss the importance of building a consensus through communication and how we can get back to having a dialogue instead of a debate when it comes to the way forward.

Few have had a journey like Greg has. That is unless they also went from being an entrepreneur to a start-up founder, professor at the University of Calgary, leader of the Alberta Party, investor, and board member. Yet through the many hats Greg has worn during his career, one thing has never swayed – his deep-felt belief in the success of our city. So, who better to talk to about our transformation and what the future has in store for us than Greg? In this episode, Greg and I have a good old fashion chat on all things Calgary from business to technology and our unmatched talents while also discussing where we are now and where we’re heading on the road ahead.

As a leader, business strategy coach, and board director, Lori brings 25+ years of hands-on experience in all aspects of business to the table. Her career as a strategic planner gives her a unique perspective on Calgary and our way forward. So, what’s her take on our transformation? It’s a two-sided coin that presents both opportunities and roadblocks, and we need to keep both in mind as we move forward. In this episode, Lori and I have an honest conversation about the two sides of the coin – the one where we learn and adapt to new opportunities and the other where we lean on our history, our proven track record, and our expertise to thrive.

Jennifer is a champion for women and innovation, not only in Calgary but around the world. That’s how as Director of the Global Innovation Coalition for Change of UN Women with a deep network of female innovators, Jennifer was able to make Alberta the first pilot branch for UN Women called the SHEInnovates Alberta Chapter. As a way to showcase his exciting new partnership, SHEInnovates are hosting Women Leading Innovation – a half-day, live-stream event featuring women at the top of their games discussing tech and innovations in their industries. Join me as Jennifer tells us all about SHEInnovates and the Women Leading Innovation event on September 15th, how you can watch, and how inclusivity in innovation can shape Alberta’s transformation and future for the better.

With a career in oil and gas that spans over 35 years, Ken has worked through many of Calgary’s highs-and-lows. Some of those lows are well-known and not worth reliving. But the highs are what Ken thinks back on the most; when brilliant, talented minds were pumping out countless innovations right here in our city. And it’s those kinds of minds we need to keep here to solve the problems we face today. Join me for a good old fashioned chat as Ken shares 35+ years’ worth of insights in our Oil & Gas sector while discussing how far we’ve come and what barriers need to be overcome as we move forward.