Collisions YYC

For the past 16 months we have come to rely on technology more than ever before. It allowed our economy to continue to move forward when the world stood still. But if you are expected to be “always on”, how can you sustain the work-life balance that almost all workers have come to enjoy? Employee engagement in the digital age requires creating a sustainable balance between work and life. Digital w...

When you think of Alberta, what comes to mind? For some tourists, it’s a negative perception of a place chock full of rich oil barons and pick-up trucks. But what makes the DNA of Alberta so spectacular are the experiences, the food, the people, the vistas. If you are curious how a well-executed story can bring alignment, investment, and pride to any industry or organization, Royce’s critical insi...

For over a decade, Jennie Gilbert has been at SAIT helping leaders navigate the changing world of work. A leading expert on the subject, Jennie supports business leaders with emotional intelligence so they can become more effective leaders. From psychological safety, adaptability, and relationship intelligence, Jennie helps you to understand the importance of having ‘soft skills' in your leadershi...

The past fifteen months have been a catalyst for the future of work. In the face of uncertainty and fear, companies are embracing the prospect of virtual, remote workforces where employees can work from anywhere in the world. The rise of online working has brought with it new ways to retain and attract top talent, but also raised questions about how these new methods affect employee engagement. Th...

Rather than focusing on a du-jour technology solution for each customer, Robbie’s team at LaunchCode is working to be a nimble member of the Calgary tech ecosystem by providing high-quality technical education for motivated people. As a result, LaunchCode can help Calgarians get a new career in tech or help companies grow with fresh talent with a niche skillset.  We explore how traditional develop...

Cleantech is a popular buzzword right now but to Melanie McClare, CEO of Swirltex, it’s more than that. It’s a path forward to measurably reduce our impact on the environment. She walks us through the challenge of finding the right investor that understands their space (hardware Cleantech) and why Melanie has to look south of our border to find that person.  Alberta needs to foster more early adop...

Alberta’s agriculture industry has always been a key pillar of the province’s economy — but it’s also in unprecedented growth mode right now. As Alberta’s oil and gas sector continues to take a hit, farmers are seeing an opportunity to gain more ground in the agricultural sector.   Scott knows agricultural production in Alberta is growing — that’s why he works so hard to ensure that the technology...

Every business owner knows they need to leverage emerging and existing technologies to stay relevant, or they’ll go the way of the dodo. But with so many opinions and options available, how can an organization cut through the noise to find valuable solutions? John shares his wealth of knowledge and simplifies the technology conversation. Instead of getting lost in the weeds, John centers on simpli...

Lauryn Vaughn has learned plenty on her entrepreneurial journey. From an idea in her basement with some interns to a successful, sustainable consignment company, Lauryn has experienced each stage of the start-up journey. The Upside brings those with fabulous fashions they no longer want, and the buyers who want them, together on one platform for an easy and unique shopping experience.  We enjoy a...

Without supply chain or logistics, our lives would look significantly different. It brings everything to us - from food on our tables to the cell phone you’re reading this on. Supply chain and logistics is a traditional industry, but innovators like Daniel leverage unique technologies to modernize the sector and make it easier to find a perfect match between shippers and carriers. Evotrux is build...

A famous quote says, “A rising tide lifts all ships”, and that is precisely the plan Jeff executes at Momentum. Their unique social profit structure bridges the gap between those struggling to educational and employment opportunities to build on their skills and assets.  They achieve this through three key ways: They work with people to get better jobs. They work with people to create their own jo...

With many global manufacturers moving away from gasoline-powered engines to electric vehicles, there’s another similar niche that Alberta is perfectly positioned to capitalize on: hydrogen and CO2 capture. Our oil & gas industry’s orphan wells and SMR (steam methane reformer) plants, and our provincial expertise in engineering, make the perfect infrastructure and talent pool to build these ind...

Tiffany knew Symend’s why before she even knew their what or how. The why was crystal clear for Tiffany - modernize a traditional industry to help consumers get back on financial track. Symend is a digital behaviour platform that leverages behavioural science and data to empower customers to resolve past due bills.  Join me as Tiffany explains the competitive advantage that Calgary provided her st...

From chatbots to intelligent virtual assistants and cybersecurity to copywriting, Artificial Intelligence has made its way into the mainstream. But how can AI be equitably accessed by small and medium-sized businesses that may not have in-house resources to develop AI to suit their needs? Since 2019, ISAIC has been providing resources to ensure Western Canadian businesses can adopt and commerciali...

Telling a story well can be the difference between a sale and no sale or an investment and a goodbye. In Calgary, it could be the difference between transforming our reputation or keeping our success hidden in the shadows. Christine Gillies, Director of Product & Client Marketing at Benevity, shares a great story about how the foundational components of marketing are often overlooked - and how...

Technology debt: choosing the quick win with limited solutions over a better approach that takes longer. Sound familiar? WestJet’s CTO, Stuart McDonald, helps you understand why taking technology shortcuts has damaging consequences for your business.  We also discuss the changes that COVID-19 ushered into the airline industry, and how taking a Canadian approach to partnerships can prevent technolo...

Developers were not all equally prepared to confront the dramatic change to how homebuyers shop that COVID-19 ushered in. From seeing a house in-person to seeing one virtually, it took a resilient and strategic marketing-focused leader to deeply examine how to design homes that can withstand homeschooling, working, and living. Join me as Tracey takes us through what a CRO does (hint: it’s a combin...

As humans, we’re all in the challenge of creating a new economy together - one that is equitable and environmentally and socially conscious. CBSR is encouraging their member businesses to operate in a socially and environmentally responsible way, including becoming net zero by 2050, developing sophisticated diversity and inclusion programs and building Canada’s circular economy. Join me as Leor ta...

One of the biggest hurdles in our digital transformation isn’t so much an unwillingness to adapt but a hesitancy to learn. After all, emerging technologies like blockchain and machine learning can seem a bit intimidating at first. That’s why SAIT Corporate Training partnered with Jon Trask and Blockchain Guru to break things down for everyone. The result? A program that takes the intimidation fact...

At one time they seemed like a novelty, but electric vehicles are becoming the way of the future for sustainable transportation. But did you know that 60% more greenhouse gases are emitted to make the battery for an electric vehicle than a combustion engine vehicle? That’s the problem that Amanda and her team want to solve with Summit Nanotech, a green lithium extraction process that uses nanotech...

There’s plenty of innovation coming out of our start-up community that will transform the way we work. While many are modernizing established industries, Deborah’s innovation just might transform the way our bodies work. That innovation – Path Therapeutics, a biotech platform that uncovers new therapeutics and novel druggable targets for diseases of the central nervous system. Join me as Deborah t...

You can learn a lot about someone based on their resume. Where they’ve worked, what they’ve learned, and what they’ve accomplished. That information is important for hirers, but for Allie, a recruitment and HR professional, something equally if not more important is often missing – a candidate’s potential. To solve that problem, Allie launched ResumeFree™, an online screening tool that connects ca...

From short how-to videos on YouTube to years-long college and university programs, people have plenty of options for digital education. But what about large organizations that need to educate and re-train their entire team? Where do they turn? Enter Xpan Interactive Ltd., a Calgary-based global leader in custom and immersive digital knowledge solutions. Since 2001, Ron has led his team to increase...

Even with all of our recent breakthroughs and innovations, everyone still thinks of Alberta as an oil and gas province. It’s going to take more than just innovation to change our reputation. As CEO of her own PR firm, Ellen helps businesses and brands thrive through thoughtful communication strategies. So, who better to shed light on how to flip Alberta's narrative? Join me as Ellen shares the pow...

Jim was the very first guest on this podcast. So, it’s only fitting that he’s the first guest for our three-month partnership series with SAIT’s Corporate Training. As Chief Catalyst at SAIT, Jim is bridging the gap between two sides of our digital transformation. On one side is new talent that’s innovating for the future. On the other are established organizations that need support in re-training...