In this episode, hear from Toast Co-Founders April Hicke and Marissa McNeelands, as they discuss how their member-based search-firm organization aims to flip the hiring dynamic in favour of women in tech. Many senior technology roles skew towards men, although newer organizations face greater pressure from VCs and the public to have diverse, inclusive teams. This episode will encourage you to examine your own internal biases, both conscious and unconscious, and consider how your organization approaches diversity, equity and inclusion.

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In this episode, hear from Liz MacRae, Head of Partnerships at Village Wellth, a Calgary tech startup on a mission to make business acquisitions accessible. Many Canadians who dream of entrepreneurship aren’t aware of the possibility of buying an established business. Liz explains how Village Wellth uses a subscription/membership model to connect buyers and sellers on their platform. Their platform also serves as an equalizer; since most businesses are not publicly listed for sale, they provide more opportunities for an exit path to smaller business founders. If you’re interested in learning more about the ins and outs of buying or selling a business, this episode is a must-listen.

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In this episode, explore the nuanced and sometimes uncomfortable world of negotiations with Mark Raffan, Founder of Negotiations Ninja. Regardless of your job title, negotiations are part of our daily lives and influence how we can resolve conflict and communicate. Mark shares his perspective on negotiating, including why the idea of a “win-win” is nothing but a fever dream, and gives you crucial tips on which mindset is the best to approach negotiating with, including considering the incentives of both parties.

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In this episode of CYYC, we are joined by Dr. Jason Rogers, the Head of School at Rundle College Society, who shares his bold vision for the future of education. He is a true trailblazer, driven by a commitment to providing personalized education that’s accessible to all. Jason has been instrumental in creating Rundle’s innovative Studio program, which aims to support neurodivergent students with digital programming. He shares how the program leverages digital tools like Zoom, Canvas, and VR to deliver world-class instruction at an affordable cost with the capability to scale to serve more students. Through the Studio and other programs, Rundle College meets students where they are at and how they learn, and helps them reach their full potential - no matter what barriers they may experience.

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Dive into the world of automation with Jasmeen Virk and Marty Bince, esteemed members of the Society of Automation, in this episode. From your trusty kitchen appliances to large, energy-producing facilities, automation is all around us, revolutionizing how we tackle tasks. Join Jasmeen, who brings her expertise from Spartan Controls, as she highlights the vital role automation plays in enhancing safety, efficiency, and revenue generation. Discover the true essence of automation, its boundaries, and the industries set to thrive with its implementation, and unlock the invaluable resources provided by the Society of Automation for mentorship and education in this cutting-edge field. This episode will reshape your perspective on automation’s boundless possibilities and how Western Canada uses it to create wealth and attract international customers.

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In this episode, hear from father and daughter ranchers and Co-Founders of Business Wide View, BJ and Skyler Fuchs. They understood that just because their grandfather, uncles, and dad did things one way, the explosion of AgTech means viewing ranching through a wider, newer lens. BJ and Skyler highlight the challenges of lessening diversification on farms and ranches and the massive scale modern farms need - most being 10,000 or 20,000 acres in their neck of the woods. But they’re not only focused on building a stronger agriculture community with producers; they’re also aiming to educate and inspire consumers who are curious about finding local products or learning more about the industry.

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In this episode, delve into the significance of ESG from the perspectives of opportunity, challenge, and liability with Conor Chell, Head of MLT Aikens’ ESG Practice Group. Conor’s frank yet optimistic viewpoint sheds light on the predicament faced by numerous small and mid-sized energy companies burdened with ESG compliance obligations that surpass their available resources. He also underscores the advantages of stringent regulations, particularly in terms of investment and policy implications.

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In this episode, delve into the fascinating world of AI implementation in high-stakes environments like healthcare and finance. You’ll hear from Tim Cruz, CTO of Deep Surface AI, as he explores the intricate dynamics of human-AI interaction and why he stresses the importance of responsible communication and integration of AI in high-stakes environments. With tools like ChatGPT changing how we work, Tim reminds us to remain cautious against being misled by its capabilities and other technological advancements. Discover how Deep Surface AI reduces pre-operative anxiety for plastic surgery patients, including under-served transgender patients who want to understand how gender-affirming surgeries will look.

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In this episode, discover how one Calgary fintech company is on a big, audacious mission to save 10M people 10BN dollars and help end the stressful paycheque-to-paycheque lifestyle that affects more than 70% of Canadians and Americans. To do this, the team purpose-built an app that allows employees to access their earned wages before their next pay period, helping avoid costly NSF fees or payday loans to fill in any gaps or surprise expenses. This episode will inspire you to find creative solutions to big problems while providing key insights into scale-ups, including how Zayzoon achieved 5x revenue growth with minimal operating costs and a work-from-anywhere model.

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In this episode, learn about the challenges of building and sustaining a startup by using proper investment strategies. You'll hear from Mark Mitchell, experienced investor and Co-Founder of Red Thread Ventures and Weave VC, who comes back on the show to shed light on the importance of focusing on what can be controlled to avoid the failure of a company. Whether you're considering seeking outside capital or just want to improve your VC knowledge, this episode is a must-listen!

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In this episode, Cara Wolf, CEO of Ammolite Analytx, highlights the need for securing your business against cyber crimes, attacks, and risks. Cara has a proven track record of conceptualizing, developing and commercializing technology-based solutions in the defence, finance and energy sectors. She explains how security measures begin at a basic level, such as teaching employees how to avoid common errors that can result in data breaches, and should grow as your company does.

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In this episode, you’ll learn about the multi-faceted approach to our climate change targets from SolarSteam CEO, Apostol Radev. His company uses solar thermal technology to help clients efficiently heat their properties, which in turn has a positive benefit on reducing electric grid loads. With the continued adoption of EVs and the endless battery-powered devices we wear and carry, making our electric grid more stable will be one key to ensuring a sustainable, comfortable future.

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In this episode, learn how self-proclaimed “unemployable” Jeff Russell went from corporate Canada to starting and running multiple businesses. If you’ve ever dreamed of the freedom of entrepreneurship, this episode will inspire you to take the leap of faith and provide key insights necessary to ensure you set your business up for success. From operational systems to healthy habits that will lend themselves to your success, Jeff is a walking case study on successful entrepreneurship. Learn how he found the industries in need of his skills and how he grew his medical consulting business in the US.

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In this episode, discover the lost art of finding the “middle” with Joanna Shea, Managing Partner at The Negotiations Collective, a negotiations firm that specializes in conflict training, coaching, and consulting. Their science and research-backed approach is delivered from team members with backgrounds with the FBI, academia, behavioural science and more. From negotiating with her parents at five years old to negotiating acquisitions, mergers, divestments and more in the energy industry, Joanna brings years of expertise to profiling individuals and negotiating to help you avoid conflict where there needn’t be any, know your worth and value, and go after what you want with confidence. 

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In this episode, hear from Lori James, Shalzah Visram, Paul Selway and Tanya Sharma-Moore, of Making Changes Association (aka Calgary’s best kept secret). This 30+ year old company helps women, both teens and adults, to overcome barriers, open doors and create their own path. They do this through their programs, such as Dress For Success, My Best Friend’s Closet, employment and life skill programs, partnerships with more than 100 local agencies and their brand new program, Women In Technology. This episode will remind you that as we grow and scale Western Canada, we must continue to do the critical work to ensure nobody is left behind.

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In this episode, Sabrina Sullivan, Director of Transformation + Ecosystem at the School for Advanced Digital Technology, shares her experiences attending SXSW. Specifically, she attended the EDU track, which brings educators, technologists, futurists, and venture capitalists together to gain new perspectives and applied knowledge to return to their daily roles. When attending a massive event like SXSW, it’s easy to be overwhelmed by choices of what topics to explore. Sabrina helps you understand how to get the most out of any conference you attend and will inspire you to push your thinking to new heights.

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In this episode, learn about Prairies Economic Development Canada, the federal government’s boots on the ground in the prairies, from Derek Armstrong, Manager of Innovation Ecosystems. Derek explains how they operate as a funding agency to support the innovation around us. By helping to grow, scale and diversify the economy, Derek has plenty of valuable insights into the ecosystem and our challenges and opportunities.

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In this episode, hear from the President of IO-Aerospace and Partner of GNO-SYS Technology Ltd., Jon Neufeld, about the innovative world of geographic information system mapping (GIS). Jon is an expert in developing and commercializing innovative technology to solve interesting problems. You’ll gain an understanding of the Canadian roots of GIS and how it has evolved from simple mapping to technology layering insights to think of information in new ways. Whether your organization wants to meet its ESG requirements, find new ways to track what matters or improve data processing, this episode is chock full of relevant insights.

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