The Catalyst by Softchoice

Business leaders have access to more employee data than ever before. But, as with everything else that’s happened with the shift to remote working, there are risks in every opportunity.  Unified communications thought leader Kevin Keiller and Microsoft’s Sherief Ibrahim join Erika Van Noort to examine the ethical issues and the positive impact these new data and intelligence capabilities bring to...

We aren’t ever going back to the office – at least not in the same way. So what does that mean for the workplace, and even what “work” really is?  IT leaders today are tasked with rapidly building the infrastructure, security and user experience needed to create a sustainable and modern Hybrid Workplace. But they’re also operating with no playbook in hand!  In this episode, Erika speaks to a thoug...

The year 2020 saw IT leaders quickly adapting to a new world, creating changes that sometimes felt like they were a long-time coming. Now, a year later, the only way forward is to keep up the courage and continue to push ahead with bold new ideas. There’s no turning back.  This season, we’re once again shining a spotlight on the intersection of people and technology. We'll find out where the...

The year 2020  pushed us all to great lengths to achieve things we never thought possible – and it was no exception for those in the IT space.   With the year almost behind us, the question is: what now?     In this episode, host Erika van Noort is joined by her Softchoice colleague Aaron Brooks – Senior Director of Strategy -- for a year-end, season finale. Together they review the key insights w...

As Canada’s longest-running restaurant chain, White Spot and Triple O's Restaurants served more than 17 million guests last year. But since the world nearly stopped in March 2020, Vice President of IT Shauna Begley has been tasked with finding innovative solutions to keep burgers and shakes a part of people’s everyday lives.  In this episode we’re taking a deep dive into the new user experien...

For nearly a century, the way people travelled the world didn’t change much. And then came COVID-19. Now, Erika Van Noort feels strange leaving her house at all.  In this episode, Erika sets out to understand the ever-present relationship between travel and technology and what is top of mind for travelers, industry leaders and travel bloggers alike.  In a featured interview, Erika meets up with De...

It’s been a while since we had “tickets to the game”. Calgary Flames IT Leader, Ziad Mehio, is feeling the impact of a sports season unlike any in history. He’s laser-focused now on how he’ll be getting fans off the couch and into the seats of a brand new, digitally-driven arena.   So, what potential does tech have to innovate the sports fan experience? How are sports fans staying energized? Will...

The journey back to school this year was a lot like the beginning of the pandemic all over again, filled with uncertainty. Erika, like many parents, questions whether kids will get much out of online learning, as schools try to sort out ways to make virtual classes more engaging.   Peter Singh from the Toronto District School Board - the fourth largest schoolboard in North America and largest in C...

The global pandemic has forced businesses to evolve at lightspeed - not something most security and compliance professionals are huge fans of!  As opportunistic attacks continue to rise and hackers get worse, should everyday people really be the last defense?  Erika sits down with cybersecurity leader, David Kennedy, to discuss how the disruptions of COVID19 has changed the game for security profe...

Here’s the question we’re all getting a lot these days: “ how are you hanging in there ?”. But it’s a loaded question.   Erika Van Noort has been checking in with her colleagues, friends and family remotely over the past seven months, and realizing how fundamental technology is in everything we do. It’s played a starring role in maintaining her success, her relationships, and her own mental health...

When people and technology come together, the potential is limitless. But while everyone is used to hearing about the revolutionary impact of tech, it can be easy to forget about the people behind it all. This podcast shines a light on the human side of IT leaders, as host Erika Van Noort explores and reframes our relationship to technology. It premieres October 1st, 2020. The Catalyst is an origi...