The Catalyst by Softchoice

Is your business ready for the end of Windows 10, or are you risking being left behind in the next wave of digital transformation?  

In this episode, host Aaron Brooks is joined by industry experts Cameron Allen from Intel, Kirk Sinclair from Microsoft, and Bryan Rusche from Softchoice for a roundtable discussion on now to navigate the shift to Windows 11. 

The panel delves into the strategic importance of upgrading, addressing security, hardware readiness, and the impact of AI. They explore the challenges and opportunities businesses face during this transition, providing actionable advice for IT leaders on how to build a smooth migration strategy and future-proof their IT infrastructure. 

Featuring: Cameron Allen, Partner Account Manager at Intel Canada, Kirk Sinclair, Partner Account Manager at Microsoft and Bryan Rusche, GTM Product Manager at Softchoice  

The Catalyst by Softchoice is the podcast dedicated to exploring the intersection of humans and technology. 

In this episode, co-hosts Aaron Brooks and Heather Haskin take a break from the constant buzz around generative AI and ChatGPT to explore what else is shaping the future of IT. From cybersecurity threats in the age of quantum computing to the rising expectation for businesses to become content creators, this mid-season check-in dives into the trends and insights flying under the AI radar. Don’t miss this candid conversation that uncovers some of the key issues transforming the tech world in 2024—beyond AI. 

Featuring: Aaron Brooks, VP Customer Strategy and Solution Sales at Softchoice and Heather Haskin, Business Development Manager AWS at Softchoice 

The Catalyst by Softchoice is the podcast dedicated to exploring the intersection of humans and technology. 

What's it like being at the helm of a security operation that safeguards thousands of businesses worldwide, with new cyber threats emerging every single day?

In this episode, host Heather Haskin meets with Raja Patel, Chief Product Officer at Sophos, to uncover the strategies that keep one of the world’s leading cybersecurity companies ahead in an ever-evolving digital landscape. As cyber threats become more sophisticated and relentless, Patel shares his unique approach to building resilient security solutions that not only anticipate future challenges but also empower teams to think creatively and collaboratively.

Discover how Sophos is pushing the boundaries of cybersecurity by blending innovation, strategic foresight, and a people-first mindset to protect organizations worldwide.

Featuring: Raja Patel, Chief Product Officer, Sophos

The Catalyst by Softchoice is the podcast dedicated to exploring the intersection of humans and technology. 

What if the key to becoming a more dynamic and effective leader lies not in boardrooms or business school – but on the improv stage? 

In this episode, host Aaron Brooks and guest Stephanie Malek, Corporate Director and Production Manager at Bad Dog Theatre, delve into how the unexpected world of improvisation holds transformative lessons for business and IT leaders. Tune in to learn how to bring the spontaneity and creativity of improv into your leadership style, helping you navigate the complexities of today's business landscape with greater confidence and agility. 

Featuring: Stephanie Malek, Corporate Director and Production Manager at Bad Dog Theatre 

The Catalyst by Softchoice is the podcast dedicated to exploring the intersection of humans and technology. 

Can a leader effectively inspire and drive success without being physically present? As tech giants like Google, Amazon, Meta, and Apple mandate a return to the office, this question is top of mind. In this episode, host Heather Haskin interviews Angela Cope, the Director of Demand Generation at Softchoice, about her life as a remote leader amidst this wave of return-to-office mandates. 

From her home in rural Nova Scotia, Angela shares her unique perspective on leading from afar. Discover her daily routine, the key challenges and advantages of remote leadership, and what it takes to successfully manage a team from a distance in an ever-evolving work landscape. Tune in for an insightful discussion on the future of remote work and effective leadership strategies. 

Featuring: Angela Cope, Director of Demand Generation at Softchoice  

The Catalyst by Softchoice is the podcast dedicated to exploring the intersection of humans and technology. 

In this special bonus episode of The Catalyst, host Heather Haskin welcomes Greg McDonald, Senior Solutions Architect at Softchoice, to discuss the recent CrowdStrike outage that disrupted businesses globally. They focus on actionable steps business leaders and IT professionals can take to enhance their resilience against future incidents.

What You'll Learn:

• Immediate steps businesses should take in response to the outage
• Key prevention strategies to avoid similar disruptions
• The benefits of having a managed service provider for rapid support and recovery

Stay informed and proactive by tuning in to this insightful episode.

Featuring: Greg McDonald, Senior Solutions Architect at Softchoice

The Catalyst by Softchoice is the podcast dedicated to exploring the intersection of humans and technology.

Across organizations, every team is driven by the desire to innovate and perform, adopting its own set of SaaS tools to help drive growth. But without a centralized strategy, suddenly you’re faced with mounting costs, redundant software, and security vulnerabilities. 

On today’s episode, co-host Aaron Brooks meets with John Harden, Director of Product SaaS Management at Auvik, and Raksha Matthias, Director of Software Asset Management Strategy at Softchoice to unravel the complexities of SaaS sprawl, offering practical solutions and strategies for businesses leaders to regain control and drive efficient, secure, and innovative software usage. 

Featuring: John Harden, Director of Product – SaaS Management at Auvik and Raksha Matthias, Director, Software Asset Management Strategy at Softchoice

The Catalyst by Softchoice is the podcast dedicated to exploring the intersection of humans and technology. 

 This episode is brought to you by Softchoice SAM+ To learn more, visit softchoice.com. 

Brian Stevens is the CEO of Neural Magic and former CTO of Google Cloud.

In this episode, Heather speaks to Brian about intersection of AI, open source, and ethical responsibility. Brian shares his insights on the vital role of open source models in fostering transparency, the challenges of navigating AI’s ethical landscape, and the future of responsible development. He discusses why the democratization of AI should be important for business leaders and how to get started with large language models at enterprises of all sizes.  

Featuring: Brian Stevens, CEO of Neural Magic and former CTO of Google Cloud.  

The Catalyst by Softchoice is the podcast dedicated to exploring the intersection of humans and technology. 

This episode is brought to you by Google Cloud. To learn more, visit softchoice.com/google 

What if your team's full potential lay in the hands of an AI assistant that could learn from you, adapt to your needs, and streamline your daily operations? How do you sustain momentum through initial adoption to ongoing optimization? This concern is the focus of the final episode of this miniseries about Microsoft Generative AI.  Kayla Thorpe, Senior Manager for Workplace AI Consulting, and host Braeden Banks delve into the crucial final stages of Softchoice's Microsoft Copilot adoption journey: 'Adopt & Sustain.' Kayla shares her experience and practical tips on how to engage teams, overcome obstacles, and foster a culture that not only embraces but thrives on innovative technology.  

Featuring: Kayla Thorpe, Senior Manager for Workplace AI Consulting at Softchoice  

How do you integrate Microsoft Generative AI into the everyday workflow of your organization without making a mess of it? That's the question that drives the third episode in this miniseries, which focuses on the 'Implement' phase of the Copilot Adoption Journey with guest Craig McQueen, Vice President of AI Solutions at Softchoice. Craig shares his expertise on how to introduce Microsoft 365 Copilot in your organization, starting with a single group, tailoring the experience, and validating its value before scaling further. The conversation reveals how a gradual, careful implementation can lead to profound organizational transformation and set the stage for broader adoption. 

Featuring: Craig McQueen, Vice President of AI Solutions at Softchoice