#TechInTheCity Podcast

Episode 18: We Miss You Too But Safety FIRST®

April 14, 2021 01:27 - 45 minutes - 62.8 MB

Whether its humanoids like Sophia, Domino's autonomous pizza delivery robot Nuro R2, or supercomputer like Watson, the rise of automation is showing no signs of slowing down. According to McKinsey, 88% of businesses worldwide plan to adopt robotic automation into their infrastructure. The subject of robots in the workplace is a divisive one; but it's not all doom and gloom. Robots have and will continue to play an important role as we approach the future of work. In fact, robots have playe...

Episode 17: Tech Homecoming with Tyler Lesperance

February 12, 2021 18:49 - 38 minutes - 88.8 MB

COVID-19 has brought many changes including a big remote work shift and athleisure boom. As location becomes irrelevant, cities across North America are now eyeing those who left and looking to attract those who are new. This podcast is the first of a new podcast series called “Tech Homecoming” where we will be bringing Windsor-area expats back to reconnect with the place they once called home and join in on a discussion centered around the city's revitalization. Episode Guest: Windsor-area...

Episode 16: Reflections & Predictions with WEtech Alliance

December 18, 2020 20:22 - 50 minutes - 116 MB

Without a doubt, 2020 has been a year like no other. Despite the challenges that the world and this community have faced, we would be remiss if we did not take a moment to highlight the regional stories of resilience and expose the silver linings of the COVID-19 pandemic. From the tech community coming together to make 3D printed face shields, to seeing our clients pivot, grow and innovate, to supporting the future proofing of Mainstreet through digital transformation, listen in to hear the...

Episode 15: How G20 Young Entrepreneurs Would Like to Shape The World's Economic Recovery

November 05, 2020 02:24 - 40 minutes - 92.1 MB

Every year, young entrepreneurs from across the globe unite at the G20 Young Entrepreneurs' Alliance (YEA) Summit to share insights, learnings, expertise focused on entrepreneurship and more importantly, unite their voices in an urgent call to action for the G20 Leaders. This year, 48 of the nation’s best and brightest young entrepreneurs were selected to represent Canada at the first-ever digital summit hosted by Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Among the Canadian delegates included two Windsorites, ...

Episode 14: Black Boys Code Launches Windsor Chapter

June 27, 2020 16:32 - 53 minutes - 73.1 MB

Despite its size and steady growth, Canada’s technology sector has a disappointing track record on workforce inclusion. Research by the Brookfield Institute revealed substantial gaps in terms of who works in, who benefits from and who makes decisions in the tech sector. South of our border, Black tech workers make up only 9.3 per cent of the industry. At major organizations like Google, black employees comprise around 4 percent to 5 percent of the workforce. In 2018, a U.S. study found just...

Episode 13: How Amazon HQ2 Bid Sparked New Tech Opportunities for Windsor

June 13, 2020 15:53 - 34 minutes - 31.9 MB

In this episode of #TechInTheCity, Yvonne talks with mortgage industry leader, Bekim Merdita of Edison Financial, a new digital mortgage startup proudly based in Windsor, Ontario. We talk about Edison's partnership with Rock Holdings Inc., the parent company of Quicken Loans®, its mission to transform the Canadian Mortgage industry, COVID-19 impacts, job opportunities, and discuss the company’s "for-more-than profit impact” plan. Episode Guest: Bekim Merdita, VP of Market Development at Edi...

Episode 12: A YouTube A Day Keeps The Boredom Away

March 29, 2020 20:24 - 1 minute - 29.1 MB

Stuck at home with the kids because of coronavirus? In this episode of #TechInTheCity, Yvonne talks with Mr. Maker, Chuck Stoffle, who has launched daily bite-size STEM YouTube challenges for homebound kids and parents. We talk makerspaces, tools and resources for parents and educators to support students' STEM learning during school closures and discuss how the global and local makers community is helping fight COVID-19. Episode Guest: Chuck Stoffle is an Educator and Maker who runs Wind...

Eposide 11: There's AI in Whisky Now?

February 17, 2020 16:56 - 48 minutes - 66.1 MB

Most people would not associate tech with whisky. In this episode of #TechInTheCity, Yvonne talks with The Mad Scientist of Whisky, Don Livermore, on the rise of technology and innovation in the whisky industry. We talk Windsor's distilling history, disrupting technologies and discuss what's being done to balance tradition with innovation and technology? Episode Guest: Don Livermore is a Master Blender; Canadian Whisky Blender of the Year 2019 & 2020; PhD Brewing & Distilling from Heriot-W...

Episode 10: Awe-Inspiring Black Female Entrepreneurs

February 05, 2020 03:50 - 31 minutes - 26.4 MB

In this impromptu episode of #TechInTheCity, Yvonne is joined by Diversity and Inclusion Trailblazers Sarah Jumah, Founder of StyleID and Innovate Inclusion, Naudia Banton (University of Windsor Alumni), Director of Operation at IntelliFLEX Innovation Alliance and Alana Arthur (University of Windsor Alumni), Owner of Freedom Cycle and Global Marketing Manger at eSentire. Yvonne and guests talk getting more people of colour into tech and entrepreneurship, the success of the Kitchener-Waterloo...

Episode 9: Could Esports Become An Olympic Sport?

January 21, 2020 02:24 - 36 minutes - 33.1 MB

Right now, there are more people who watch esports than HBO, Netflix and ESPN combined. In this episode of #TechInTheCity, Yvonne talks with local esports expert and professor, Shaun Byrne, on the rise of esports in Windsor-Essex. We talk educational pathways, regional growth opportunities, answer common questions such as "Can my son/daughter really build a career by playing video game?" and discuss what's being done on campus and within the industry to help diversify the eSports field. Ep...

Episode 8: Fierce Female Founders in Tech

January 15, 2020 18:20 - 42 minutes - 37.9 MB

In this episode of #TechInTheCity, Yvonne talks with 3 local women who are making waves in the tech scene including Sarah Roddy, Local Owner at GetintheLoop Windsor-Essex | Windsor Chapter Lead at Canada Learning Code, Mara Belano, Founder of Beaux App and Nicole Anderson, Director, Women Entrepreneurship Strategy at WindsorEssex Economic Development Corporation. Yvonne and guests talk entrepreneurship, moving the dial in tech and what's coming up to support women entrepreneurs in STEM and e...

Episode 7: Reflections & Predictions with WEtech Alliance

December 26, 2019 21:08 - 41 minutes - 95.3 MB

Each year the WEtech team takes a moment to reflect on some of their favourite highlights from the past year, and look forward to what's coming in the next in our annual blog. This year, we decided to change it up and created our first "Podcast Edition". Episode Guests: John-Marc Vachon, "The Adams", Victoria Abboud & Michelle Teno-Wachter

Episode 6: Get Cyber Safe This Holiday Season

December 24, 2019 00:19 - 18 minutes - 6.25 MB

In this episode of #TechInTheCity, Yvonne talks about a new initiative from the Government of Canada, Get Cyber Safe, aimed at raising Canadians’ awareness about the importance of cyber security and how they can adopt cyber secure best practices. Pro Tip: Your password should have more characters than a fruitcake has mystery ingredients.

Episode 5: LIVE! From the Windsor Google Developers Group Holiday Party

December 12, 2019 04:26 - 38 minutes - 35.4 MB

In this episode of #TechInTheCity, Yvonne crashes the Windsor GDG Holiday Party to talk with members of the tech community on their 2019's tech highlights and look at what's in store for 2020. Episode Guests: Frank Abbruzzese, President at AlphaKOR, Manan Jadhav, Entrepreneur + Master of Applied Computing Student, John Ulakovich & Shaun Dass, Professors at the Zekelman School of Business and IT & Don Ward, Founder of Windsor GDG + Senior Research Engineer at Quicken Loans.

Episode 4: Debunking Computer Science

December 09, 2019 14:41 - 33 minutes - 77.1 MB

In this episode of #TechInTheCity, Yvonne talks about the misconceptions of computer science and how University of Windsor students should expect to see a lot more Google on campus. Episode Guests: University of Windsor students Noah Campbell and Aislyn Laurent and aspiring computer science student, Nicette Scott.

Episode 3: Hustle & Gig Economy with Gio Petrucci

November 30, 2019 16:17 - 26 minutes - 24.7 MB

In this episode of #TechInTheCity, Yvonne talks with Gio Petrucci, Owner & Designer of GIOGRAFIK, on what it means to hustle in the "Gig" world including the rewards, landing Amazon Canada as a client to design their 2019 Holiday Guide. Yvonne and Gio also talk diversity & inclusion in tech, a Windsor re-brand and the power of creative collisions and collaborations.

Episode 2: Forbes Under 30 Summit Rundown & Millennial Movement

November 16, 2019 16:28 - 50 minutes - 69.9 MB

In this episode of #TechInTheCity, Yvonne talks Forbes Under 30 Summit in Detroit and the rise of the Millennial Movement. Episode Guest: Zain Ismail, a health innovator, millennial, connector, cross border advocate, and intrapreneur, with experience leading innovation in health systems in Canada and the United States.

Episode 1: Entrepreneurship Goes Global

November 16, 2019 15:46 - 37 minutes - 51.7 MB

In this episode of #TechInTheCity, Yvonne talks Global Entrepreneurship Week and how one local indigenous artist is going global thanks to Instagram and Vanity Fair UK. Episode Guests: Sabrina DeMarco, Executive Director, Windsor-Essex Small Business Centre and Kat Pasquach, Owner/Entrepreneur, Culture Shock Jewelry.