Leadership Perspectives

This is the first episode of Economics Matters, a Signal49 Research podcast. This series will bring you some of the leading economic thinkers from Canada and around the world to talk about key issues in the economy.  In our first episode, we deal with one of the biggest questions facing our economy— what is Canada’s risk of falling into a recession and what, if anything, can be done about it.  To...

In this episode we hear how trade agreement commitments are shaping Canada’s ability to regulate the digital economy.  Matt Malone, Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Law at Thompson Rivers University, talks about how recent trade agreements are shaping the digital economy, often before domestic governments have acted with their own laws and regulations in pertinent areas. He cautions that as C...

Of course, analytics helps the internal operations and management of an organization but how is that, in turn, helping their customers? In this final episode of our five-part series on data analytics, Carolyn Loh talks with host Takara Small about how data analytics can help deepen relationships with customers, and how to better communicate to the public about how data analytics can actually benef...

Organizations often struggle with fostering a data and analytics culture to the detriment of their analytics programs. In this fourth episode of our five-part series on data analytics, Tamara Augsten talks with host Takara Small about her work with data visualization and how organizations can build a culture that makes workers excited to engage in data analytics. About our guest:  Tamara Augsten u...

Analytics has a major role in enabling innovation-induced growth among small and medium sized businesses, allowing them to scale-up rapidly. In this third episode of our five-part series on data analytics, Maxime Cohen talks with host Takara Small about the necessary steps for managers and owners to jump into the data analytics space, as well why small and medium sized organizations cannot afford...

The last two years have changed the way we work and has made us reconsider ways of working, both from an employer and an employee point-of-view.  While we know things have changed, data on how this is impacting workplaces is still quite sparse. This episode we hear how the Conference Board of Canada’s Human Capital team is working to fill in the gaps in HR trends and metrics.   We explore: what’s...

Governments, businesses, non-profits, and academia have tremendous potential to use data to help move forward on their sustainable development goals to make the world a better place. In this second episode of our five-part series on data analytics, Vanitha Lucas talks with host Takara Small about how data can be used to promote social change and what problems data can help solve. About our guest: ...

With massive amounts of data generated every day in organizations, knowing what data is, how to analyze it, and how to communicate and share it is becoming an increasingly necessary skill for everyone. In this first episode of our five-part series on data analytics, Ashley Howard Neville talks with host Takara Small about why everyone should care about data literacy as well as what workers can do...

Today, farming relies on digital tools as another key input.  But is our digital infrastructure up to the needs of modern agriculture?  Dr. Helen Hambly of the University of Guelph talks to Keara about the changing needs of agriculture—and how well Canada’s digital backbone is supporting farmers.   About our guest:  Dr. Helen Hambly is a Professor in the School of Environmental Design and Rural De...

Digital trade is booming worldwide, but countries are struggling to define, measure, and track its impact. Swapna Nair discusses the challenges and opportunities Canada has to become a leader in the international sphere (and international standards) of digital trade.   The full story:   Choosing the Right Ruler: Approaches to Measuring Digital Trade (Impact Paper, November 2021) Digital Trade Meas...

Our climate is changing. How are organizations changing in return? Shelley Gilberg and Sarah Marsh from PwC explain how leading businesses’ net-zero carbon, ESG reporting, and sustainability strategies are evolving for a new world.  Read the Canadian findings from PwC’s 24th annual CEO Survey at https://www.pwc.com/ca/ceosurvey .  Starting November 15, visit PwC’s Net Zero Hub:  www.pwc.com/ca/net...

Are organizations doing enough to protect their data—and their clients’ trust? PwC cyber risk experts Saj Nair and Jenn Johnson discuss CEO/CIO strategies, budgets, and why simplicity matters.   This is the second episode of Beyond the Bounce, a three-part mini-series from The Conference Board of Canada and PwC. Read the Canadian findings from PwC’s 24th Annual Canadian CEO Survey at https://www.p...

What happens when healthcare goes virtual? COVID-19 has ushered in a new era of widespread telemedicine and digital healthcare, but will it last beyond the pandemic? Keara talks to RAND Senior Economist Marco Hafner to understand how Canada can get up to speed in telemedicine—and understand the benefits, barriers, and risks.   Discover more about the digital divide and how TELUS is supporting mean...

Power, prices, and choice: Canada’s Competition Act hasn’t been updated in two decades. What does this mean for digital competition in Canada, and the ways we could bridge the digital divide? Keara talks to two leading researchers for a lively discussion on how Canada’s competition space has changed in the digital age—and what needs to be done to ensure an equitable playing field for all.   Discov...

COVID-19 has exacerbated the digital divide—the gap between Canadians who have reliable, fast broadband Internet access and those who don’t. What can we do to close it? In this first episode of our five-part series on the digital divide, Sam Andrey and Helaina Gaspard talk about the complications, challenges, and solutions in increasing digital access and adoption for all Canadians.  Discover more...

PwC’s annual CEO survey is a big indicator of business confidence. The bottom line for 2021: Canadian CEOs are optimistic—and anticipate immense growth in the upcoming year—but they’ll need to be smart about their priorities to sustain it. In this first episode of our mini-series exploring CEOs’ plans for the future, National Managing Partner Matthew Wetmore shares insights from PwC’s 24th Annual...

How has the pandemic impacted Canada’s immigration admissions? Dr. Iain Reeve explains what’s changed in our intake numbers and the characteristics that set the COVID-19 immigrant cohort apart.   Find out more about our immigration research at https://www.signal49.ca/focus-areas/immigration     And access all our research at signal49.ca   

In its November 30th fiscal update, Canada’s federal government tallied up the costs of COVID-19. The deficit will swell to $385 billion in 2020–21. The provinces and territories have also tallied record deficits—$92 billion, on aggregate. What do figures like these mean for our recovery? Keara talks to Chief Economist Pedro Antunes for these answers and more.  The full story: Challenges Ahead: Ca...

The role of technology in Canada's post-pandemic recovery is top of mind right now at IBM Canada. How are they responding to businesses' need for speed, flexibility and agility in 2021?  We learn from President and General Manager Claude Guay about how IBM is helping companies accelerate their digital transformations. He talks about how technologies like hybrid cloud and artificial intel...

Canada’s track record on mortality rates due to cancer isn’t as good as you might think. Isabelle Gagnon-Arpin joins us to talk about provincial disparities, COVID-19's impact on cancer detection, and how we measure up internationally.  The full story: Measure of Life: Is Canada Doing Enough to Reduce Deaths from Cancer?   View this online experience at conferenceboard.ca/focus-areas/health/m...

Dr. Olateju returns to our podcast to talk plastics—and how the sustainable finance industry could give Canada’s plastics recycling market a much-needed boost.   Discover more sustainability and access all our research at https://www.signal49.ca/focus-areas/sustainability / https://www.signal49.ca/product/banking-on-a-dual-transition-sustainable-finance-for-petrochemical-plastic-producers/ https:/...

What happens when businesses go local on their supply chains—especially during COVID-19? Julie Ades from the Global Commerce Centre explains the motivations, trends, and possible impacts.  The full story: Bringing Them Home: Reshoring Supply Chains Is Not a Panacea (Issue briefing, October 20, 2020)  Discover more Canadian Economic projects and access all our research at conferenceboard.ca . 

Richard Chartrand, 3M’s USAC R&D Operations and 3M Canada Sustainability Leader, explains how 3M is balancing sustainability and innovation—and how a company known for over 100 years of ingenuity is planning a better future for everyone.  Learn more about 3M’s initiatives at sciencecentre.3mcanada.ca/sustainability .   This is the fifth episode of Breakthroughs, our mini-series presented by th...

Chris Dulny, PwC’s Chief Innovation Officer, explains how rapid technological change demands new skills to help people thrive and future-proof themselves in the new world. This affects every company. Learn about PwC’s journey and check out their New world. New skills. initiative here: pwc.com/ca/en/today-s-issues/upskilling.html .   This is the fourth episode of Breakthroughs, our mini-series pres...

Discover how two major Surrey, B.C. projects are repurposing and reinventing the region. We talk to Rowena Rizzotti, Vice President, Healthcare & Innovation of Lark Group in British Columbia, about the Health & Technology District and the Legion Veterans Village.  This is the third episode of Breakthroughs, our mini-series presented by the Council for Innovation and Commercialization. Disc...