Leaders, Innovators and Big Ideas - the Rainforest podcast

Meet Katerina, a single mom who has had an incredible journey and overcame real hardship with hard work and tenacity to build a better life for her son. Now on an entrepreneurial journey with a much-needed software platform to connect farmers with their customers in a new way. 

Thank you for listening to the Leaders, Innovators and Big Ideas podcast, supported by Rainforest Alberta. The podcast that highlights those people who are contributing to and/or supporting the innovation ecosystem in Alberta.

Host: Al Del Degan is a software developer and tech leader in Alberta's innovation ecosystem. He is also a Web3 enthusiast and podcaster, sharing his knowledge and passion for emerging technologies with his audience. Al is the founder and CTO of New Idea Machine, a software company dedicated to helping new developers gain hands-on experience building real-world applications. With his commitment to giving back to the community, Al is always available to offer advice on technology and business. His passion for innovation and entrepreneurship is evident in everything he does, making him a respected leader in the tech industry.

Guest: Katerina Strelina is a co-founder of "Local Eats," an online platform connecting farmers and food vendors directly to local customers across Canada. With over 5 years of experience in Alberta's agriculture industry, she is passionate about supporting local businesses and local food systems. Katerina also brings over 15 years of expertise in customer service and sales spanning various B2B and B2C markets. Her background in journalism enables her to effectively communicate and build partnerships to ensure satisfaction for all parties involved. In her leisure time, she enjoys horseback riding, hiking, reading, and taking road trips. She is also a dedicated volunteer at 4:13 Therapeutic Riding Association, providing therapeutic horseback riding to the children with special needs.

Please be sure to share this episode with everyone you know. If you are interested in being either a host, a guest, or a sponsor of the show, please reach out. We are published in Google Podcasts and the iTunes store for Apple Podcasts We would be grateful if you could give us a rating as it helps spread the word about the show.

Show Links:

• Local Eats
• Everblue Nursery 

Show Quotes:

"I came there to make money. I didn't come there to build a career, make friends, have fun. I new I needed money, I had no choice."
"Like a circus with one artist, you do everything."
"From fashion like red carpet sometimes with the high heels, the day after I was in my rubber boots in my military pants and I was walking through the mud."
"We only die once, we live every day"

Credits...

This Episode Sponsored By: New Idea Machine

Episode Music: Tony Del Degan

Creator & Producer: Al Del Degan