Collisions YYC

CURRENT & CRITICAL - Alexandra Nuth, spotlight on Business Models of the Future

When COVID-19 left us working from home back in mid-March, we were blindsided to say the least. Many of us were left making tough decisions to get through this pandemic, and it seems we're still trying to find the light at the end of the tunnel  But much like the name of her new innovation agency, my guest Alex Nuth sees this as a now or never opportunity to make sure we aren't blindsided again. In this episode, Alex discusses the future business models that will carry us out of th...

CURRENT & CRITICAL - Jim Donihee, spotlight on Leadership during COVID-19

We are now past the one-month mark of social distancing and working from home during COVID-19. For many of us, we have been able to adjust. For others, the kinks are still being figured out. Luckily, my guest Jim Donihee can help. For nearly 10 ten years now, Jim has been committed to developing leadership skills in others and unlocking their potential through his coaching. As we continue to adjust to our new normal, Jim has been using his insight to help leaders instill confidence...

Guillermo Salazar, Partner of Solesto Solutions, Co-Founder at Raven Hockey & ICwhatUC Inc.

In this episode, Guillermo and I, as per usual, intended to discuss the efforts and innovations being made towards the economic transformation of Calgary. However, in what has since become our new normal, our conversation quickly sparked questions on COVID-19’s effect on our progress.  What are we going through? What might we learn? What does the future even look like for us now ? As we circled these rather bleak areas, we quickly pivoted to the positive side of what we are current...

Nicolas Beique, Founder & CEO of Helcim Inc.

*Please note, this was recorded in the “Good Old Days” before COVID19 Join me as I chat with Nicolas Beique, Founder & CEO of Helcim Inc. Nicolas brings the journey of a start-up to the conversation, comparing the challenges he faced back in 2007 when he founded Helcim Inc. to the challenges innovators and entrepreneurs face today. Helcim Inc. is a Calgary-based company that empowers businesses with their merchant services and business software. At first, it was a company of two w...

CURRENT & CRITICAL - Chantal Milloy, spotlight on Change Management during COVID-19

As we continue to adjust to this new normal, many of us are still adjusting as we try to balance both our work lives and our personal lives from home. Luckily for my guest Chantal Milloy, co-founder and COO of Levvel Inc., balance is her business. Levvel Inc. offers a range of services focused primarily on staffing, organizational and change management, making Chantal's expertise very relevant today. In this episode, Chantal discusses change management in the face of COVID-19, the ...

CURRENT & CRITICAL - Jan Nighswander, spotlight on Human Resources During COVID-19

Join me for another edition of Collisions YYC: Current & Critical, a high-intensity episode where I sit down with local leaders to discuss current topics affecting Albertans. In this episode, I discuss the key role that human resources places during the COVID-19 crisis with Jan Nighswander, CEO of J. Nighswander & Associates Inc.

CURRENT & CRITICAL - Jan Nighswander, spotlight on Human Resources during COVID-19

It is now week four of working from home, a drastic, unexpected change in our day-to-day lives due to the COVID-19 crisis. Many of us weren’t as prepared as we’ve liked to have been, and are doing our best to keep things productive in this disruptive time.  My guest Jan Nighswander and her team at J.Nighswander & Associates Inc., on the other hand, have been hard at work providing their human resources experience to help navigate their clients through this unprecedented situation. ...

CURRENT & CRITICAL - Kevin Crowe, spotlight on Rapid Digital Transformation during COVID-19

When Kevin and I started this podcast, our goal was to create a conversation on the economic transformation of Calgary so that we would all get on the same page in the face of the economic downturn that was impacting us all. Today, we shift our focus to the rapid digital transformation that’s happening to get businesses through COVID-19. As Executive Vice President of Longview Systems, Kevin leads his team to create efficient systems for businesses to operate during these unprecede...

Marc Stachiw, President of the Alberta Wind Energy Corporation (AWEC)

Join me as I chat with Marc Stachiw, President of the Alberta Wind Energy Corporation (AWEC). Marc brings his expertise in renewable energy to the conversation on change, specifically on the efforts from the AWEC to create lasting sustainability for future generations in our province and across Canada. Before his role as President at AWEC, Marc’s career has always revolved around renewable energy, back when it seemed to be, in his words, a "hippie left wing industry". But today, as...

Mike Allan, President & CEO, and Sari Waldman, Client Engagement Manager at Routeique

*Please note, this was recorded in the “Good Old Days” before COVID19 Join me as I chat with two key players at Routeique - Mike Allan, President & CEO, and Sari Waldman, Client Engagement Manager. Usually, on this podcast, my guests and I keep the conversation going on what transformation might look like from an economic perspective. For this episode, however, I discuss the transformation that has already occurred in customer satisfaction with Mike and Sari of Routeique, a cloud-b...

Tim Cruz, Co-Founder and Director of AI & ML at Calgary AI Club

Join me as I chat with Tim Cruz, Co-Founder and Director of AI & ML at Calgary AI Club. Tim brings his wealth of knowledge for artificial intelligence to the conversation around change, explaining its potential to transform our city and help us navigate the COVID-19 crisis. As a co-founder of the Calgary AI Club, Tim brings curious thinkers in our city together to discover how AI can solve human problems, both on a local and global scale. During our conversation, Tim takes us throu...

CURRENT & CRITICAL - Guillermo Salazar, spotlight on Customer Service Transformation - How to create customer-driven experiences for your business using smartphones & augmented reality

In this episode, I discuss the importance of connectivity in the time of Covid-19 with Guillermo Salazar, Co-Creator of ICwhatUC, a customer self-service support application that uses smartphones and augmented reality to simplify customer-driven experiences. Up until two weeks ago, Guillermo and his partners had a product that represented a solid idea with huge potential to shift how we work. Now, it’s an essential one as more businesses are looking for ways to continue their workf...

CURRENT & CRITICAL - Jay Palter, spotlight on social networking during the COVID-19 crisis

Join me for another edition of Collisions YYC Current & Critical, a high-intensity series where I sit down with local leaders to discuss current topics affecting Albertans. In this episode, I am joined by Jay Palter, Chief Engagement Officer at Jay Palter Social Advisory, as we discuss the idea of social networking during the COVID-19 crisis. Since 2010, Jay has successfully guided many business leaders and their companies to build their brand and relationships through social netwo...

CURRENT & CRITICAL - Iggy Domagalski, spotlight on Teck Resources Frontier Mine Decision

Join me for another edition of Collisions YYC Current & Critical, a high-intensity series where I sit down with local leaders to discuss current topics affecting Albertans. In this episode, I discuss Teck’s decision to abandon the Frontier Project, a $20 billion-dollar mining construction project in Northern Alberta, with Iggy Domalgaski. As CEO of Tundra Process Solutions, an Alberta based distributor of industrial process equipment, Iggy is closely tied to the current and future ...

Rohit Joshi, CEO and Co-Founder of Brightsquid

Join me as I chat with returning-guest Rohit Joshi, CEO and Co-Founder of Brightsquid. For this episode, Rohit and I discuss another area in need of transformation in Alberta – health care. Rohit shares his insights in the health care communications industry and on the opportunity to use innovative secure communications to narrow the gap between health care providers and their patients. During our conversation, Rohit shares the challenges smaller organizations face against the big ...

Brenda Beckedorf, Executive Director of The Alberta IoT Association

Join me as I chat with Brenda Beckedorf, Executive Director of the Alberta IoT Association. Brenda takes us into the world of the Internet of Things, stressing the need for Alberta businesses to learn and adapt to this rapidly growing industry. The Alberta IoT Association was founded by businesses rooted in this industry with the mission to make Alberta a global Internet of Things hub. As Executive Director, Brenda's focus is to increase their awareness, both on a government and lo...

Todd Hirsch, Chief Economist of ATB Financial

Join me as I chat with Todd Hirsch, VP and Senior Economist at ATB Financial. Todd brings his vast experience as an economist to the conversation of change and the fact that although transformation can be a slow and long process, it needs to start happening quickly. As VP and Senior Economist at ATB Financial, Todd’s travels through Alberta, delivering presentations that focus on our economy, while also overseeing quarterly forecasts that give him a better understanding of where we...

Barry Davidson, Director, Strategic Engagement of Davidson Global Advisory Group

Join me as I chat with Barry Davidson, Managing Director at Davidson Global Advisory Group. As a strategy, risk and security consultant, Barry’s provides his extensive experience within the regulated cannabis sector in Canada and abroad, partnering with many of the top professionals in the industry. But as a third-generation Calgarian, Barry has lived through many versions of our city, from the highs to the lows, and he brings that insight to the conversation on change. During our ...

Interview with Megan Zimmerman, Director of Business Development, Calgary Economic Development

Join me as I chat with Megan Zimmerman, Director of Business Development at Calgary Economic Development.   Megan brings her vast experience in economic development to the table, stressing the need to build our strengths that led to success in the past and use it to move forward in new industries. As Director of Business Development at Calgary Economic Development, Megan works to bring innovative companies from multiple industries to Calgary, making her a key player in the effort ...

E25 - Interview with Megan Zimmerman, Director of Calgary Economic Development

Join me as I chat with Megan Zimmerman, Director of Business Development at Calgary Economic Development. Megan brings her vast experience in economic development to the table and stresses the need to build our strengths to change Calgary’s reputation and be seen as more than an oil and gas city.

CURRENT & CRITICAL - Chris Hogg, spotlight on Digital Transformation

Join me for another edition of Collisions YYC Current & Critical, a high-intensity series where I sit down with local leaders to discuss current topics affecting Albertans.   In this episode, I discuss mesh 2020, a digital transformation conference coming to Calgary, with Chris Hogg, President and Partner of Digital Journal Group (DJG). At DJG, Chris combines his journalistic roots and vast knowledge of marketing to transform brands’ relationships with their audiences through stor...

CURRENT & CRITICAL - Rohit Joshi spotlight on Opportunity Calgary Investment Fund (OCIF)

Join me for another edition of Collisions YYC Current & Critical, a high-intensity series where I sit down with local leaders to discuss current topics affecting Albertans. In this episode, I discuss the Opportunity Calgary Investment Fund (OCIF) with Rohit Joshi, CEO of Brightsquid. A direct response to our current economic environment, The OCIF is a $100-million fund offering opportunities for transformative investments that will be the catalysts for Calgary's economic growth. Br...

Interview with Lisa Eyamie, Senior Manager of End User Experience with WestJet

Join me as I chat with Lisa Eyamine, Senior Manager of End User Experience with WestJet. Lisa brings her extensive background in project management and process improvement to the conversation on change, stressing the importance of setting goals for Calgary and acting on them. As Senior Manager of End User Experience with WestJet, Lisa’s focus is to find innovative ways for her teams to improve in both collaboration and productivity. A strong advocate for technological innovation in...

Interview with Dan Giurescu, President, CEO & Founder of TerraHub

Join me as I chat with Dan Giurescu, President, CEO & Founder of TerraHub. Dan walks us through the world of blockchain, a new technology that is very much underestimated and not understood enough as to what its value can be for the economic transformation of Calgary. Having immediately recognized its untapped potential, Dan created TerraHub, the first Calgary-based blockchain education, incubator and consulting institute that is now internationally recognized. Dan holds nothing ba...

Interview with Laura Jo Gunter, President & CEO of Bow Valley College

Join me as I chat with Laura Jo Gunter, President & CEO of Bow Valley College (BVC). Laura brings the notion of education to the conversation on change, specifically on Pivot-Ed, a new program from BVC that will have a direct impact on the transformation taking place in Calgary. As a lifelong learner and a champion for strong community connections, Laura’s goal with Pivot-Ed is to create an accessible platform for employees and employers to receive meaningful education in order to ...

Interview with Jeff LaFrenz, President at VizworX Inc.

Join me as I chat with Jeff LaFrenz, President & CEO of VizworX.  Jeff brings the value of resilience to the conversation on change, taking us through the trials and tribulations VizworX faced during Calgary’s economic downturn. Having close ties to the oil and gas industry in 2015, VizworX had to make tough decisions to survive, which included exploring new industries, which led to a period of rapid growth. With over 25 years’ experience in technology commercialization and a passi...

CURRENT & CRITICAL - Jake Surrey spotlight on Facebook and social media influence

Join me for another edition of Collisions YCC Current & Critical, a high-intensity series where I sit down with local leaders to discuss current topics affecting Albertans. In this episode, I discuss Brexit and the recent victory for the Conservatives in the UK with Jake Surrey of Fountain Partnership and UK-born digital media specialist who’s been traveling back and forth from Calgary since 2011. Being well-versed in all things digital and political, Jake sheds light on the strate...

CURRENT & CRITICAL - Terry Rock, spotlight on SAIT

Join me for another edition of Collisions YYC Current & Critical, a high-intensity series where I sit down with local leaders to discuss current topics affecting Albertans. In this episode, I discuss David Bissett’s $30M donation to the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT) with returning-guest Terry Rock and how it presents a great opportunity to provide the latest in digital education and to advocate for change. Not to be overshadowed, however, Terry sheds light on othe...

E16 - Interview with Evan Hu, Founding Partner and G7 Associate at Creative Destruction Lab

E15 - Interview with Damarys Zampini, Executive Strategist

E14 - Interview with Terry Rock, President and CEO of Platform Calgary

Join me as I chat with Terry Rock, President and CEO of Platform Calgary Terry shares his notion of establishing the right ecosystem to fuel economic change in Calgary, specifically on how a digital transformation can lay the groundwork. Knowing the responsibility that comes with being both a leader and, as he likes to call himself, a truth-teller, Terry’s mission is to empower entrepreneurs and thinkers into building the next economy by bringing everyone together to find a common purpose, ...

Interview with Evan Hu, Founding Partner and G7 Associate at Creative Destruction Lab

Join me as I chat with Evan Hu, Founding Partner and G7 Associate at Creative Destruction Lab. Evan brings his entrepreneurial attitude to the conversation of economic transformation and explores what we need to do to push Calgary forward. With several successful startups under his belt, including OmniLogic, MapleMusic, and Ideaca, Evan offers up a fresh perspective outside of the Oil & Gas sector when it comes to how we can innovate our current landscape. The way Evan sees it, our...

Interview with Damarys Zampini, Executive Strategist

Join me as I chat with Damarys Zampini, President & CEO of Sustrategy. Damarys brings a worldly perspective to the conversation of economic transformation, specifically on the need for us to look past our city limits and find insights on a global scale that we can adopt here in Calgary.  As a champion of constantly learning and always being curious, Damarys guides the disrupters in our city towards sustainable growth, both locally and globally, through innovative and personalized s...

Interview with Terry Rock, President and CEO of Platform Calgary

Join me as I chat with Terry Rock, President and CEO of Platform Calgary Terry shares his notion of establishing the right ecosystem to fuel economic change in Calgary, specifically on how a digital transformation can lay the groundwork. Knowing the responsibility that comes with being both a leader and, as he likes to call himself, a truth-teller, Terry’s mission is to empower entrepreneurs and thinkers into building the next economy by bringing everyone together to find a common ...

E13 - CURRENT & CRITICAL - Jon Wycoco, spotlight on Car2Go

Join me for a special edition of Collisions YYC Current & Critical, a new high-intensity series where I sit down with local leaders to discuss current topics affecting Albertans. In this episode, I discuss Car2go with former YYC General Manager Jon Wycoco and the hard reality we face as Calgarians of no longer having the car sharing service in our city.

CURRENT & CRITICAL - Jon Wycoco spotlight on car2go

Join me for a special edition of Collisions YYC Current & Critical, a new high-intensity series where I sit down with local leaders to discuss current topics affecting Albertans. In this episode, I discuss Car2go with former YYC General Manager Jon Wycoco and the hard reality we face as Calgarians of no longer having the car sharing service in our city. We share our perspective on how quickly Calgary embraced the service and the trials and tribulations that ultimately led to Car2go...

E12 - CURRENT and CRITICAL - Alex Putici, spotlight on WeWork

Join me for a special edition of Collisions YYC Current and Critical, where I am joined by Alex Putici, sharing our perspective on how WeWork reached a peak evaluation of over $47 billion to its recent value of less the $5 billion.

E12 - CURRENT & CRITICAL - Alex Putici, spotlight on WeWork

Join me for a special edition of Collisions YYC Current and Critical, where I am joined by Alex Putici, sharing our perspective on how WeWork reached a peak evaluation of over $47 billion to its recent value of less the $5 billion.

CURRENT & CRITICAL - Alex Putici spotlights on WeWork

Join me for a special edition of Collisions YYC Current & Critical; a high-intensity episode where I sit down with local leaders to discuss current topics affecting Albertans.   On this episode I discuss WeWork and the rise and fall of the co-working unicorn. I am joined by Alex Putici, founder of Alberta’s largest co-working organization, Work Nicer. We share our perspective on how WeWork reached a peak evaluation of over $47 billion to its recent value of less the $5 billion. Wh...

E11 - Interview with Shannon Pestun - Director, Women’s Entrepreneurship at ATB Financial

Join me as I chat with Shannon Pestun, Director of Women’s Entrepreneurship at ATB Financial, Business and Agriculture. Shannon brings the notion of gender intelligence to the conversation of economic transformation, specifically on the entrepreneurial potential of women in Calgary. Having noticed the imbalance in opportunities given to male and female entrepreneurs, Shannon became a champion for women to reach their full economic potential, never shying away from asking tough questions in ...

Interview with Shannon Pestun - Director, Women’s Entrepreneurship at ATB Financial

Join me as I chat with Shannon Pestun, Director of Women’s Entrepreneurship at ATB Financial, Business and Agriculture. Shannon brings the notion of gender intelligence to the conversation of economic transformation, specifically on the entrepreneurial potential of women in Calgary. Having noticed the imbalance in opportunities given to male and female entrepreneurs, Shannon became a champion for women to reach their full economic potential, never shying away from asking tough ques...

E10 - Interview with Danielle Torrie - Manager, Startup Calgary

Join me as I chat with Danielle Torrie of Startup Calgary. Danielle sheds light on Startup Calgary, an organization that holds regular events that bring like-minded entrepreneurs together to guide, support and point them in the right direction in reshaping Calgary’s economy. Seeing this as a great time for different industries to collide, Danielle stresses the need for more entrepreneurs to exchange and validate each other's ideas, no matter how big and small, while also looking outside of ...

Interview with Danielle Torrie - Manager, Startup Calgary

Join me as I chat with Danielle Torrie of Startup Calgary. Danielle sheds light on Startup Calgary, an organization that holds regular events that bring like-minded entrepreneurs together to guide, support and point them in the right direction in reshaping Calgary’s economy. Seeing this as a great time for different industries to collide, Danielle stresses the need for more entrepreneurs to exchange and validate each other's ideas, no matter how big and small, while also looking ou...

E9 - Interview with Colin Szopa - Co-Founder & CEO, Plankk

Join me as I chat with Colin Szopa, Co-Founder and CEO of Plankk, the world’s largest fitness influencer company. Colin takes us into Plankk, an international fitness influencer company that has thrived right here in Calgary, while also discussing the trials and tribulations of running a tech start-up and the importance of building upon the right skill sets to fuel business growth. Seeing Alberta as an entrepreneurial province, Colin stresses the importance for investors to re-invest into n...

Interview with Colin Szopa - Co-Founder & CEO, Plankk

Join me as I chat with Colin Szopa, Co-Founder and CEO of Plankk, the world’s largest fitness influencer company. Colin takes us into Plankk, an international fitness influencer company that has thrived right here in Calgary, while also discussing the trials and tribulations of running a tech start-up and the importance of building upon the right skill sets to fuel business growth. Seeing Alberta as an entrepreneurial province, Colin stresses the importance for investors to re-inve...

E8 - Interview with Judy Fairburn - Change-maker, Board Director, Public Speaker, C-suite experience, Engineer

Join me as I chat with Judy Fairburn, Co-Founder of The 51 Ventures and Board Director for MEG Energy, Tundra Oil & Gas, VEERUM, PureWeb and the Business Council of Alberta. You may recognize Judy from this month’s cover of Business in Calgary magazine, and now she’s bringing her trailblazing attitude for innovation to the conversation on economic transformation, emphasizing the importance for business leaders to constantly be curious about emerging opportunities in both the energy and tech...

Interview with Judy Fairburn - Change-maker, Board Director, Public Speaker, C-suite experience, Engineer

Join me as I chat with Judy Fairburn, Co-Founder of The 51 Ventures and Board Director for MEG Energy, Tundra Oil & Gas, VEERUM, PureWeb and the Business Council of Alberta. You may recognize Judy from this month’s cover of Business in Calgary magazine, and now she’s bringing her trailblazing attitude for innovation to the conversation on economic transformation, emphasizing the importance for business leaders to constantly be curious about emerging opportunities in both the energy...

E7 - Interview with Kirstie Boyle - Director of Market Development at Interface Fluidics

Join me as I chat with Kirstie Boyle, Director of Market Development at Interface Fluidics, a Calgary-based oil and gas technology start-up. Kirstie brings perspective to our economic transformation from the consultant angle, highlighting a well of groups and resources for entrepreneurs in Calgary and their innovative business ideas, while also stressing the importance of customer discovery and market validation. With more technologies being used in one industry that have potential to benef...

Interview with Kirstie Boyle - Director of Market Development at Interface Fluidics

Join me as I chat with Kirstie Boyle, Director of Market Development at Interface Fluidics, a Calgary-based oil and gas technology start-up. Kirstie brings perspective to our economic transformation from the consultant angle, highlighting a well of groups and resources for entrepreneurs in Calgary and their innovative business ideas, while also stressing the importance of customer discovery and market validation. With more technologies being used in one industry that have potential...

E6 - Interview with Graeme Edge - Co-Founder, Energy Disruptors & McLaren Dion Edge

Join me as I chat with Graeme Edge, co-founder of McLaren Dion Edge & Energy Disruptors. Graeme shares the inspiration behind ‘Energy Disruptors’, an event where the very best of the oil and gas industry come together to find pragmatic and profitable solutions for major energy challenges, both in Alberta and on a global scale. By looking at our current state as an opportunity to thrive and build resiliency, Graeme identifies what he feels is the next bold step needed in Calgary as we get t...