The Catalyst by Softchoice

Quantum computing promises to be one of the most disruptive technologies of our time. But it also brings the risk of unparalleled cybersecurity threats.  In this episode of The Catalyst by Softchoice, we delve into the world of quantum computing and its implications for cybersecurity. Dr. Vito Nozza, Principal of Security at Softchoice Design Studio and a PhD in cybersecurity, joins us to discuss...

In this special episode, host Heather Haskin dives deep into the world of AI-driven digital transformation with Rekha Narang, Director of Partner Technology at Microsoft. Rekha provides an inside look at the evolution of Microsoft Copilot, a tool that has transformed how organizations work, collaborate, and deliver results.  They explore Copilot’s journey from its launch in November 2023 to its ga...

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 impo...

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 mi...

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 th...

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 t...

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...

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...

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,...

There wasn’t anything in open source that was more than a toy a year ago, but that’s all changed according to today’s guest. Brian Stevens, CEO of Neural Magic and former CTO of Google Cloud, is helping redefine the landscape of AI.  In this episode, we explore the intersection of AI, open-source innovation, and ethical responsibility. Neural Magic’s groundbreaking software enables businesses to h...

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...

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 Mic...

The biggest architectural change to the humble chipset is underway. Its aim: deliver artificial intelligence to the PC.  Host Aaron Brooks meets with Cameron Allen, partner account manager at Intel Canada, to get the details. We'll hear about all the reasons Intel is taking this quantum leap toward portable AI, herald the arrival of neural processing units (NPUs), and discuss what all this me...

'Look before you leap' is often the difference between success and failure when it comes to adopting a new technology.   When it comes to Microsoft Generative AI, the importance of assessing your organizational readiness before you implement can’t be overstated. On this episode of this miniseries on The Catalyst podcast, step into the 'Assess' phase of the Copilot Adoption Jour...

Businesses everywhere taking a good, hard look at Microsoft Generative AI are all wondering the same thing: is it really worth the hype? That's what we're here to find out. On the inaugural episode of this brand-new miniseries courtesy of The Catalyst by Softchoice, host Braeden Banks and guest Jaime Waterfield, Director of Microsoft Category at Softchoice, explore the crucial beginnings...

What lessons from elite athletic coaching can empower today’s business leaders? With the summer Olympics just around the corner, we asked Pete Steinberg, leadership consultant and celebrated rugby coach, that very question. He discusses how feedback is the fuel of high performance, in sports and business. Like a rugby coach leading from the stands, the further up the leadership ladder, the less co...

How will Adobe’s foray into Generative AI impact how your team creates and collaborates? That’s what we wanted to find out.  On the latest episode of The Catalyst Podcast, co-host Heather Haskin sits down with Adobe’s Principal Product Marketing Manager, Lori DeFurio, to explore the transformative role of AI within Adobe's ecosystem to empower human productivity. DeFurio provides valuable ins...

Season 6 of The Catalyst by Softchoice kicks off with an episode that questions conventional wisdom about IT leadership. Aaron Brooks sits down with Eric Champagne, CIO of La Vie en Rose, to hear how Eric is flipping the script. Eric’s story is all about bridging a longstanding gap between IT and end-users, with the goal of making technology a tool for empowerment and efficiency. Gone are the days...

This season on The Catalyst, a podcast about unleashing the full potential in people and technology, co-hosts Aaron Brooks and Heather Haskin explore the transformative power of tech, not just within businesses, but also through the personal journeys of those at the forefront of change. Every episode is packed with stories of triumph and the valuable lessons learned from the setbacks along the way...

Imagine everyone with a great business idea could make it happen without a deep engineering bench or tens of millions of dollars in funding.  How would that change competition in an already hypercompetitive marketplace? How do the principles of responsible AI show up when AI is accessible to everyone? What responsibility do enterprise firms have to help shape a world where this technology benefits...

Robotic exoskeletons have gotten a whole lot better. No longer just for rehabilitation, manufacturer German Bionic is applying active exoskeleton devices to support workers in a number of ways. These wearable robotic devices work in tandem with the user, allowing them to handle a wider range of physical tasks. The result: physically-demanding jobs are now open to a wider range of candidates. Megha...

Is a cybersecurity utopia – where no CISO lies awake at night worrying about threats known and unknown – even possible? If you believe “yes,” how do you get others to share that vision?  That’s what we discussed with Lou Senko, Chief Availability Officer at global banking technology company Q2 on this episode of The Catalyst. First and foremost, Senko doesn’t believe in leading with the fear facto...

As a CISO, how do you know when you’re getting through to the board and the C-suite?  One way is to look at the quality of the questions they ask you.  Are they learning?   This is just one of the questions Kevin Magee fields a lot during “CISO therapy,” a discipline he finds himself practicing more often as Chief Security Officer at Microsoft Canada. Aside from the technology components, the thin...

 Is it time to pick a cybersecurity safeword? Mike Storm, Cisco Cybersecurity Distinguished Engineer and our guest on The Catalyst, thinks so. With over 30 years of cybersecurity experience, even he finds himself challenged by new AI-powered scams. Why?   The short answer: At the heart of it, humans are an easier target than computers and software, because human psychology and behaviour have been...

It’s official: generative AI has permeated the culture, appearing in conversations at work, around the dinner table and yes, even over drinks with friends. With 2024 on the horizon and technology budgets due to reset, C-suite leaders and boards are talking about it, too.   So how do you take this hot topic from casual chat to enterprise strategy?    This week, Craig McQueen, VP of Digital Accelera...