Leaders, Innovators and Big Ideas - the Rainforest podcast

Tackling situations from different perspectives and providing innovative solution to business challenges   Title: "Be more efficient in Change"

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: Val McCarty is in the business of helping organizations visualize, communicate, and execute strategy in real time. Her studies were acquired at both University of Alberta and Grant MacEwan University, and encompassed Management, Education, and Human Services, with an aim to continue learning. Her previous experience includes the Financial Sector, Fitness Sector, and Early Childhood Education.  When Val is not at work you can find her outside with her grandkids, or looking forward to the next live jam.

Guest: Steve Krushelniski As a results-driven leader, I offer a combination of expertise in business development, operations management, and strategic planning. Throughout my career, I have helped organizations enhance results by utilizing strategic processes and motivational leadership to drive operational excellence. I have consistently demonstrated my ability to lead organizations through rapid change with a focus on bottom-line results.

As a leader, I’ve been recognized for tackling situations from different perspectives and providing innovative solutions to business challenges. I aim to improve overall success while leaving a lasting impact on my organization!

Currently, I am involved with the A21 Campaign, an organization that helps rescue and rehabilitate the victims of human trafficking. I am also involved with Home of Hope, and these guys build orphanages around the world. 

I believe that good business grows and is profitable both from a social and a monetary perspective.

Guest: Stan Leong I am a leader and CEO with 28 years experience in multiple facets of North American energy services markets, most recently growing a family owned, chemical business into a multi-national, private company with offices in Alberta, Texas and Oklahoma.

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.

Links:

• MissionX.ai

Show Quotes:

"70% of technology projects implemented fail to meet the customer's expectations" 

"innovation is a good thing, not a bad thing"

 

Credits...

This Episode Sponsored By: New Idea Machine

Episode Music: Tony Del Degan

Creator & Producer: Al Del Degan

 

Kelsey & Adam discuss leadership development in business; The future of work; The challenges associated with traditional leadership learning models; The Alberta & Calgary tech ecosystem; What it takes to be a good leader; Fund raising in Alberta, Canada & the USA

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: Adam Ludgate is a technical leader who is involved in the startup/tech community and is enticed by new and innovative ways of solving problems with technology. He has worked previously with the likes of IBM Canada, AOL UK, tech startups in London's 'Silicon Roundabout' as well as with a variety of oil & gas software firms in various software development and leadership capacities.

Guest: Kelsey Hahn is Co-Founder and CEO of Monark, on-demand, digital leadership growth, facilitating experiential learning for all kinds of leaders, at all phases of their careers. Prior to Monark, I was the Managing Director at Viewpoint Research, overseeing a team of talented researchers dedicated to evolving society’s knowledge about business leadership and advanced organizational practices. Everything I have learned has come from my background as a college athlete, and my experiences working with high-performers and executive leaders in private equity, investment, and energy.

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.

Links:

• Monark

Show Quotes:

"Working moms in tech startups is challenging, and we need to have a whole support system behind us in order to succeed."

"What we're seeing is that by 2025 millennials will really have eclipsed baby boomers and Gen Xers in terms of the leadership positions that they're taking in organizations."

 

Credits...

This Episode Sponsored By: New Idea Machine

Episode Music: Tony Del Degan

Creator & Producer: Al Del Degan

 

Unblocking Barriers and Hindrances with Technology Making Technology Easier for Everyone 

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: Val McCarty is in the business of helping organizations visualize, communicate, and execute strategy in real time. Her studies were acquired at both University of Alberta and Grant MacEwan University, and encompassed Management, Education, and Human Services, with an aim to continue learning. Her previous experience includes the Financial Sector, Fitness Sector, and Early Childhood Education.  When Val is not at work you can find her outside with her grandkids, or looking forward to the next live jam.

Guest: John Hetherington Project Manager, Integrator and Implementer with WeDeliverYourVision.com

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.

Links:

• We Deliver Your Vision

Show Quotes:

"When we think about technology used in the right way, it's gonna save time, help grow your business, and ultimately grow revenue."

"Don't let technology be a solution looking for a problem."

 

Credits...

This Episode Sponsored By: New Idea Machine

Episode Music: Tony Del Degan

Creator & Producer: Al Del Degan

 

Advocate for Inclusion and Tech Smarts

Have you considered a neurodiverse workforce? Tara Langan, Employer Engagement Coordinator shares more about how Autism CanTech! an inclusive project Funded in part by the Government of Canada under the Youth Employment and Skills Strategy is building more inclusive work environments and having leaders in industry think differently about the capabilities of individuals on the spectrum.

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: Val McCarty is in the business of helping organizations visualize, communicate, and execute strategy in real time. Her studies were acquired at both University of Alberta and Grant MacEwan University, and encompassed Management, Education, and Human Services, with an aim to continue learning. Her previous experience includes the Financial Sector, Fitness Sector, and Early Childhood Education.  When Val is not at work you can find her outside with her grandkids, or looking forward to the next live jam.

Guest: Tara Langan a self proclaimed over achiever who smiles often. A passionate relationship builder who is a natural connector and creator of opportunities.

Currently a matchmaker in the industry connecting employers with qualified talent that can help with data management / data wrangling / Power BI / SQL coding.

Currently passionate about creating work opportunities and partnerships for autistic youth to gain meaningful work experience in the Digital economy. 

Equally passionate about supporting employers in creating workplaces that are inclusive and will help them achieve optimal results.

Tara Langan is an Edmonton based HR Strategic Business Partner with over 10 years of HR experience consulting on a broad range of HR functions in both private and municipal and provincial government.

Tara is also pursuing her Associated Certified Coach credentials and is a practicing Executive Coach with over 60 hours.

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.

Links:

• Autism CanTech

Show Quotes:

"I'm happy to share first and foremost that these students are getting hired. That in itself is, you know, probably the biggest accomplishment of our project."

"I think when we talk about diversity and inclusion, for some of us, the language even gets lost when sometimes we can just boil it down to valuing the skillset of others."

 

Credits...

This Episode Sponsored By: New Idea Machine

Episode Music: Tony Del Degan

Creator & Producer: Al Del Degan

 

A great conversation about Kevin's background, journey into the innovation/tech sector, and the work that Plug and Play is up to now!

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: Jennifer Morrison has over 11 years of experience as an educator and received her Masters of Educational Leadership from High Tech High Graduate School of Education in San Diego, CA. Jen possesses extensive experience in project-based and experiential learning and design thinking. 

Jen spent many years teaching middle and high school students which provided her with a foundational love of learning and passion for exploration and personal growth. Following her natural curiosity and growth mindset, she honed her leadership skills and dove deep into project based learning.

Lead Learning Designer & Strategist with InceptionU, Jen provides valued leadership, guidance, meaningful connections and an engaging learning environment.

Guest: Kevin Dahl's background is peppered with senior roles in community building, ecosystem development, marketing, business development, sales, project management, product development, operations, and HR. He has expertise in several industries including mobile payments, hospitality tech, telecommunications, music, and tech incubation. Kevin is a geek at heart. He loves technology and is fascinated by its impact on society.

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.

Links:

• Plug and Play Tech Centre 

Show Quotes:

"when we talk about startups or we talk about building something, it usually takes a village. It's not the success of a startup. It's not necessarily determined on just the individual founders or even the early employees, but it's about the community that rallies around to support them"

"when we look at how is Alberta going to really create a global competitive ecosystem community that allows us to punch above our weight, I think that it is the fact that we do have a very tight knit community. We have people in the community that value their connections, value their reputation and really value working together."

Credits...

This Episode Sponsored By: New Idea Machine

Episode Music: Tony Del Degan

Creator & Producer: Al Del Degan

 

Are students ready for what comes next? Take on the future growing collaboration between industry and community to close the skills gap in Alberta.

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: Val McCarty is in the business of helping organizations visualize, communicate, and execute strategy in real time. Her studies were acquired at both University of Alberta and Grant MacEwan University, and encompassed Management, Education, and Human Services, with an aim to continue learning. Her previous experience includes the Financial Sector, Fitness Sector, and Early Childhood Education.  When Val is not at work you can find her outside with her grandkids, or looking forward to the next live jam.

Guest: Dan Olesen is working with Alberta schools to connect students to employers for paid internships, in areas of skill shortages. A work integrated learning model that puts experience before post-secondary training.

As a passionate Albertan (born and raised), and a client focused resource professional in process development and program delivery; he has a proven track record in advancing education initiatives with social responsibility. In turn, works with participating partners to effectively engage youth into internship opportunities, as part of Alberta high school off campus education initiatives.

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.

Links:

• Careers 

Show Quotes:

"so what do students really need? They need the people with the same values that resonate within the rainforest social contract. They need those people to step up and say hey, I wanna give you my time and show you what I do, and maybe give you a taste for what it is so that you can make better career educated decisions."

"The biggest risk around students is employers treating them like children. And when they do that, they usually have a harder time. When we start to embrace the professional side of students, it's amazing how quickly they step into that role and they're willing to engage. But when we keep them counting Popsicle sticks, they don't feel valued."

 

Credits...

This Episode Sponsored By: New Idea Machine

Episode Music: Tony Del Degan

Creator & Producer: Al Del Degan

 

Geoff Zakiab and Uriel Karerwa are making the digital world more inclusive through their new not-for-profit startup IncluCity that provides user testing with a pool of very diverse testers.

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 I have been involved in software development for more than 25 years. I have started companies, lead companies and worked for companies - doing many different things. I am honored to be considered a leader in Alberta's innovation ecosystem, and I give back as much, and often as I can. When I am not working or podcasting, you will find me pursuing my passions of photography, crypto investing, and wood working along with the occasional round of golf.

Guest: Geoff Zakaib is a community organizer with a strong interest in data and technology. Over the last 10 years he has been involved in a number of initiatives that span the public, private and social sectors. He is a Director of Data for Good and the organizer of the Calgary chapter. He co-founded CivicTechYYC and has helped to build the civic tech ecosystem across Canada. Geoff is one of the founders of IncluCity Calgary and is a partner in the Centre for Social Impact Technology.

Guest: Uriel Karerwa is the project coordinator at IncluCity Calgary, an organization devoted to the inclusion of diverse and underrepresented voices in the design of technology. Uriel is responsible for coordinating the usability tests, the volunteer UX researchers, and the network of communities in Calgary that are consulted in the inclusion-centered design model.

Uriel has a background in Neuroscience, has worked with Neurodiverse groups, and has a history of coordinating community-geared initiatives. Former radio host and podcaster, he's also presented on the TEDx stage, sharing his own atypical neurological development.

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:

• CivicTechYYC
• Data for Good
• Volly Volunteer App
• Civic User Testing
• Vivacity
• Calgary UX
• The Digital Accessibility Handbook

Show Quotes:

"it really does require efforts from everybody and people that are willing to get involved to provide that diverse group of testers and we would do that recruiting for you and conducts the usability tests, all the while keeping in contact with our client organization to make sure that everything is as intended, as expected"

"user design and usability testing is not new. Like we're not suggesting that it is right. So our value proposition, what we bring to the table is that built in inclusive, diverse group of testers. That's really hard to build."

Credits...

This Episode Sponsored By: New Idea Machine

Episode Music: Tony Del Degan

Creator & Producer: Al Del Degan

 

Alisha Olandesca was a stay at home mom for seven years before abruptly finding herself as a small business owner and fractional CFO. Hear how her attitude of "I don't know that yet" and curiosity has lead her to become a successful entrepreneur in the tech sector showing leadership in augmented reality technology.

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: Margo Purcell helps organizations and teams to uncover hidden talent; and generate ideas that lead to transformational change. Margo is a creative, driven and engaging learning and development professional with over 18 years of progressive achievement in training and development, consulting, public engagement, advocacy, customer service and coaching. 

Margo is a skilled leader with an established reputation for creating environments for executive teams to shift perspectives. She is a trusted advisor for major corporations to facilitate discussions that lead to achieving desired results in complex and distributed corporate environments. 

Guest: Alisha Olandesca started SOS Charging Solutions 8 years ago and operated as an event rental company until the pandemic shut them down in March of 2020. She quickly changed course and began offering Web Augmented reality as a digital marketing tool. Her partner, Joel, and herself saw some great traction in 2021 and they are looking to scale their business quickly. Alisha is proud that they kept their team intact and were brave enough to do something complete new!

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.

Links:

• SOS Web AR

 

Show Quotes:

"So the hydrothermal liquefaction process that we have, it was originally developed to liquefy coal."

"these products when put into landfills create problems of methane. So the landfills produce methane and it is estimated that by 2030 landfills in the world will produce 50% of human caused methane emissions."

"we can take that plastic and make a toy dinosaur for a child that child can play with the toy dinosaur. And when he's done, it gets thrown away. When we take the plastic from that dinosaur and we can turn it back into new plastics to create that circular economy."

Credits...

This Episode Sponsored By: New Idea Machine

Episode Music: Tony Del Degan

Creator & Producer: Al Del Degan

 

Talking about a zero waste future by applying the innovative partnering of technologies

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: Val McCarty is in the business of helping organizations visualize, communicate, and execute strategy in real time. Her studies were acquired at both University of Alberta and Grant MacEwan University, and encompassed Management, Education, and Human Services, with an aim to continue learning. Her previous experience includes the Financial Sector, Fitness Sector, and Early Childhood Education.  When Val is not at work you can find her outside with her grandkids, or looking forward to the next live jam.

Guest: Peter Voldeng is an innovative engineer with an extensive background in business and industry. He thrives on developing design concepts, growth strategies, engineering processes and development, and has a strong engineering understanding of industrial, commercial, and municipal infrastructure systems. Peter Voldeng is the Founder and President of VDQ-NRG Systems. 

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.

Links:

• VDQ-NRG Systems

 

Show Quotes:

"So the hydrothermal liquefaction process that we have, it was originally developed to liquefy coal."

"these products when put into landfills create problems of methane. So the landfills produce methane and it is estimated that by 2030 landfills in the world will produce 50% of human caused methane emissions."

"we can take that plastic and make a toy dinosaur for a child that child can play with the toy dinosaur. And when he's done, it gets thrown away. When we take the plastic from that dinosaur and we can turn it back into new plastics to create that circular economy."

Credits...

This Episode Sponsored By: New Idea Machine

Episode Music: Tony Del Degan

Creator & Producer: Al Del Degan

 

In this first episode of a new series that I am calling "Where are they now", I once again connect with Jim Gibson, who I originally interviewed back on episode 32 on September 24th, 2019. A lot has happened since then and Jim has some new insight into the current tech job scene.

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 I have been involved in software development for more than 25 years. I have started companies, lead companies and worked for companies - doing many different things. I am honored to be considered a leader in Alberta's innovation ecosystem, and I give back as much, and often as I can. When I am not working or podcasting, you will find me pursuing my passions of photography, crypto investing, and wood working along with the occasional round of golf.

Guest: Jim Gibson believes we are entering a new era of Innovation and Disruption that is being fueled by exponential technologies and challenged by our centuries old linear models of organization. 

Jim knows this because it has been his life’s work and he has put all of this down in his recently published book, Tip of the Spear: Our Species and Technology at a Crossroads.

Jim has spent 30 years being at the center of technology’s evolution and adoption across the world. He has formed companies in spaces that didn’t exist prior to starting the business. He has succeeded – in varying ways and degrees - in most, and failed in some. Jim has been on the front lines of the very complex and difficult process of building real companies. He has put his company’s payroll on his VISA and has raised millions in start-up capital.

Complementing his entrepreneurial and capital investment is his Management Consultant designation (CMC) along with a Bachelor of Commerce in accounting and an MBA in Finance. With this Jim understands both the accounting and the real balance sheets of the companies with whom he engages. 

With Jim's recent work he has come to appreciate that some of the best technologies, innovations and breakthroughs will come from places in our global economy where we least expect. 

At this stage of his life, Jim is delighted to be able to freely move about the world but he is keen to the challenge of our local innovation ecosystems. He can work from anywhere. He has traveled extensively throughout the world and is naturally empathetic and culturally sensitive. 

Jim is open to new approaches to compensation and reward where risk is matched with return. He wants to generate wealth that includes new experiences, social good and being part of a change agenda for a global firm.
 
Jim looks forward to the next decade of establishing new ways of working – for himself and for the large, medium and small companies he will engage with across the world.

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:

• Episode 32 of the LIBI Podcast with Jim Gibson
• Jim Gibson Author
• Jim Gibson on Twitter
• SAIT SADT

Show Quotes:

"in those situations you have to really be confident. And I I'll tell you, the first year was challenging, but it turns out it was not challenging because the institution was not like me or I wasn't like them. We are standing up a brand new school in the middle of a pandemic."

"I don't wanna get too controversial here, but in rainforest philosophy, you gotta give before you take, and so this was a perfect catalyzing opportunity."

"I'm leaning in hard on that one as a cross initiative to say, how do we build? And, students with this notion of being a better digital citizen. What does that mean? So every SAIT graduate comes out and goes I understand what it means to be agile, to be, you know safe and secure"

Credits...

This Episode Sponsored By: New Idea Machine

Episode Music: Tony Del Degan

Creator & Producer: Al Del Degan