Leaders, Innovators and Big Ideas - the Rainforest podcast

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.

Trevor Prentice Trevor Prentice has nearly a decade of experience managing and advising on intellectual property (patents, copyrights, trademarks, trade secrets, commercial agreements), and is the founder and lead Intellectual Property Strategist with IP Link. Trevor has a BSc in Physics, a Masters in Aerospace Engineering, and a Certificate of Innovation and Entrepreneurship from the Michael G. Foster School of Business at the University of Washington. Trevor is refreshingly not a lawyer and as such, he will help you understand and optimize your intellectual property protection strategy from a business perspective.

Sophia Fairweather Sophia Fairweather is a very interesting leader and award winner in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math). She is a Board member to AWSN.org, a Policy Influencer, an Entrepreneur, and an Inventor . Sophia's online presence can easily be found on Google by Googling Sophia Fairweather, going to Twitter / LinkedIn, or her Site StartUpBySophia.com/products. She has won 6 Awards and many other recognitions: Canada 150 Women of Inspiration Award, ASTECH Award, Manning Innovation Award Alberta, TECVenture Award, ATB BoostR Award, and Alberta's Leaders of Tomorrow Award. For her efforts she has been recognized in both the Alberta Legislative Assembly, the Canadian Senate and the Parliament of Canada; as well as being invited to speak and present. Sophia is a very motivated youngster who is using STEM Innovation to get youth and especially girls in to Technology and Engineering as well as leadership by opening doors, role modeling and setting an example to both parents and youth. She is showing that "Innovation does NOT Discriminate" and is for everyone regardless of age, lifestyle, and culture. She herself has created and sold 4 products, her favorites being the Windshield BandAid, Funcro, and now an Air Quality System which is new new and is still in R&D .... and is looking for partners to assist other youth like her . Her happiest moments have come from influencing parents and youth about "What is possible !!" and showing them 'That they are not alone !!!"; as well as influencing the Government of Canada to open up an $11 million dollar fund and grant process for girls in STEM which is opening up more doors for girls like her though the Minister Maryam Monsef's announcement in the Budget Implementation Act."

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 Summary: 

 

Show Quote:

"If you have an idea and it doesn’t work, use the good parts to start something new."

"Even if they do fail, they can do things with that failure. Failure is just a way of showing you can get better at something."

"If you do go to an event, if you have a booth, or if you’re up on the stage presenting. It’s good in general but it’s especially good for youth because then you’re taken more seriously."

Credits...

This Episode Sponsored By: Community Now! Magazine

Episode Audio Editing: Kate Day - KD Sound Design

Episode Music: Tony Del Degan

Creator & Producer: Al Del Degan

System Engineering Sponsor: Kris Chase - PODMaster 2020

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.

Lori Farley Lori’s business and voluntary commitments curate and facilitate: connections, relationships, and opportunities for social change through entrepreneurship, partnerships, and alliances between various sectors around the globe including Community development, Arts, Disability, Education, and Technology. Lori is involved in numerous ventures related to social innovation and socio-economic development including Intonovus Canada and Impact Calgary.

Lori is involved in supporting cross-sector social and economic development with a mission of sharing and mobilizing time, money, resources, energy, talents, and best practices that align to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), B Corp standards (B Corp) and IRIS metrics (IRIS), all designed to measure the social, environmental and financial performance of companies and investments.

INTONOVUS Canada is a not for profit designed to partner with those advancing social impact, social enterprise, and impact investing:

IMPACT CALGARY is a social business venture launching coworking, ‘impact first’ business development, and access to funding for social entrepreneurs and benefit businesses. These ventures include foci on social impact technologies (such as Virtual & Augmented Reality (VR/AR), Blockchain, and Artificial Intelligence (AI)), parentpreneurship (child and family-friendly professional work spaces), and crowdfunding.

As part of her passion for rural-urban economic corridor development, she is working to replicate economic diversity in Alberta through rural tech hubs.

She is also a partner in business that supports producers, processors, and manufacturers of Alberta agri-food s to access markets in China and Southeast Asia.

Brad Gaulin, P.Eng., MBA, is the Chief Evolution Officer of CEvO Solutions Inc.. Brad is an evolutionary change agent & executive team coach that has been transforming organizations for over 12 years as a consultant, & for over 35 years as a professional, executive & serial entrepreneur. Brad empowers leaders & their teams to consciously change & grow by combining a proven agile change process with a conscious (sustainable/ESG) business philosophy. Clients can leverage his extensive experience in strategy, innovation, growth marketing, organizational design, operational excellence, team building, leadership & cultural transformation. He honed these skills in the upstream energy sector, pipelining, engineering, industrial products/services, automation & information/web technology.

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 Summary: 

 

Show Quote:

Credits...

This Episode Sponsored By: Community Now! Magazine

Episode Audio Editing: Kate Day - KD Sound Design

Episode Music: Tony Del Degan

Creator & Producer: Al Del Degan

System Engineering Sponsor: Kris Chase - PODMaster 2020

 

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.

Graham Sucha has worked within the Calgary business community for nearly 15 years. He has spent the past year working for a tech not-for-profit following a four year stint where he served as the MLA for the constituency of Calgary Shaw.

Dafne Canales Lees has spent nearly two decades working as an entrepreneur, business strategist and marketer. She currently serves on several boards in Calgary and runs Spartan Spark Inc. which helps organizations navigate the digital marketing space. Her most recent endeavor has been the launch of "Project Lemons to Lemonade" which interviews experts who share knowledge and bring hope to the global business community during the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

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 Summary: 

We all faced setbacks that can derail our goals, however sometimes we can leverage these setbacks to create new opportunities for ourselves and the community around us. In this podcast Dafne Canales Lees shares some of her experiences as a marketer, business strategist and entrepreneur. She will discuss her own setbacks and how she is using the lessons learned to help individuals and businesses navigate the challenges faced due to COVID-19.

Show Quote:

"We're going to create this awesome platform called Project Lemons to Lemonade and were going to help other companies get visibility and talk about how we can support each other and learn from each other... I find in times of trouble it's always great to reach out to a community and see how we can be helpful." 

Credits...

This Episode Sponsored By: Community Now! Magazine

Episode Audio Editing: Kate Day - KD Sound Design

Episode Music: Tony Del Degan

Creator & Producer: Al Del Degan 

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.

 

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.

Mark Botkin is a Biochemistry Grad of U of S, has spent time at prominent U of A labs doing medical research. He’s been part of a number of challenging start-ups primarily designing computers and software for communications and construction. Mark became knowledgeable in 3D modelling which has allowed him to model & design a bicycle seat to give people a choice other than the traditional saddle. Product website: https://www.xenomorphix.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.

Show Summary: 

Mark & Adam dive into detail about Mark’s design of a new style bicycle seat which is a form of a mini-bench instead of a traditional style bike saddle. They discuss the value this new design provides, as well as challenges in getting the product to market.

Show Quote:

"Unlike a traditional bike saddle, I've created something that is comfortable to sit on, while also being able to pedal!" 

 

Credits...

This Episode Sponsored By: Community Now! Magazine

Episode Audio Editing: Kate Day - KD Sound Design

Episode Music: Tony Del Degan

Creator & Producer: Al Del Degan 

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.

This episode is hosted by Michael Chui.  Michael learning about different perspectives and challenging assumptions through questions. He has had a diverse career in finance and operations, software and technology, and regulatory economics - including time training as a locomotive engineer and a product owner.  

His diverse experience allows him to look at complex ideas through multiple lenses and pinpoint the simplest core values. He is currently unlearning & re-learning how to build intuitive web applications and effective architecture solutions as a full stack developer. Michael is also volunteering with Chartered Professional Accountants (CPA) Alberta to help accountants better adapt to the latest in software and technology.

Paige Lennox is serving as a Registered Nurse for 25 years and working with patients and families in Acute Critical Care, Addictions and End-of-Life Care. She witnessed many heartbreaking stories:

- Loved ones who don’t know where to turn to get their dying parent the dignity they deserve.

- Critically ill individuals who can’t get an appointment with a doctor.

- Patients sent home too soon when they’re not strong enough and have no one to care for them.

She also experienced a personal healthcare challenge when supporting her mother through a two-year struggle with terminal cancer. This reminded her over and over again of just how overwhelming health issues can be.

These experiences developed her passion for helping patients and their families navigate the medical system. Paige created Canadian Health Advocates Inc. (CHAI) as a way to assist patients, loved ones and ageing adults during a health crisis, on both an emotional and practical level.  

Her professional and personal experience enabled her to bridge the gap between the medical community and the patient. Because she knows the system from both the patient perspective and from the healthcare practitioner’s, she is able to use that knowledge to empower others.

When she is not working, you will find her playing the banjo and climbing mountains (but not at the same time).

Article mentioned:

Telehealth’s future is bright. Here’s what it’ll look like in 2025

 

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 Summary: 

Health advocacy is a niche idea in Canada despite its popularity in the U.S. healthcare system. Paige explains what is health advocacy and how her team helps Canadian better navigate our health care system through health advocacy and telehealth. Hear Paige shares her journey from a registered nurse to the founder of Canadian Health Advocates and what she learned from an accelerator program in B.C.

Show Quote:

"We follow up on referrals and tests that have been done. We don't give hands-on care. We act as consultants to help people navigate the healthcare system." 

"Know your limits. Know what you know and know what you don't know. Be brave enough to ask a lot of questions."

"More people we let know about (health advocacy) and more people can get access to help."

Credits...

This Episode Sponsored By: Community Now! Magazine

Episode Audio Editing: Kate Day - KD Sound Design

Episode Music: Tony Del Degan

Creator & Producer: Al Del Degan 

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.

Another episode from Edmonton hosted by Christopher Drobot.  Christopher Drobot is a passionate cheerleader for the potential of the Edmonton region. Although not directly an entrepreneur himself, his extensive experience in business operations and now mortgage lending help focus his excitement on the ideas that can see the city grow. He is involved in the push to bring a world-class aquarium to the city, is completing an MBA, and – together with his wife – homeschools his two children. The parallels between entrepreneurialism and homeschooling have been many, and he sees an overarching lesson in both: you have to create the world you wish to see.

Ruthann Weeks is the founder of Harmony In The Workplace Ltd. She is a tireless forward thinking crusader whose efforts have helped to bring the importance of an abuse-free work environment to the forefront of public awareness. She is also a gifted corporate keynote speaker who delivers a powerful message about today’s workplace challenges to senior executives and decision makers. Starting off as a Certified Information and Referral Specialist in the human service sector, Ruthann went on to graduate as a Human Resource Manager. She also obtained her CMHA certification as a Psychological Health and Safety Advisor. Along the way, Ruthann discovered that the more she learned about workplace bullying, sexual harassment, and psychological safety, the more she wanted to improve the workplace environment for everyone. That’s when she first established her social enterprise to foster safety in the workplace by addressing violence and harassment through practical education and risk mitigating strategies. In keeping with her desire to build corporate social responsibility into her business model and in furtherance of her grand vision to help create safe spaces for those fleeing abuse, Ruthann donates a portion of all revenues to domestic violence prevention 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.

Show Summary: 

Ruthann shares how she took disappointment and one negative experience at a previous employer and turned it into fuel to start out in another direction entirely – finding ways to help others prevent some of the same experiences she encountered. Not only did she spend time building up her business over the past four years, but has found ways to pivot as COVID began, developing coursework and seminars that continued to move her business forward digitally. Her optimistic approach, and positive mindset enable her to help businesses thrive.

Show Quote:

"Make an appointment with your disappointment – schedule it, put it in your calendar [...] and then get refocused." 

"When someone’s in the right position for them, they feel it in their core. If you feel energized by your work, you’re on the right path"

"We’re all in the same storm, but not in the same boat [...] now more than ever is the time to be gracious towards others."

"You must invest in yourself, you have to. Rather than a scarcity mindset, to be an entrepreneur you have to have an abundance mindset."

 

Credits...

This Episode Sponsored By: Community Now! Magazine

Episode Audio Editing: Kate Day - KD Sound Design

Episode Music: Tony Del Degan

Creator & Producer: Al Del Degan 

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.

Lori Farley Lori’s business and voluntary commitments curate and facilitate: connections, relationships, and opportunities for social change through entrepreneurship, partnerships, and alliances between various sectors around the globe including Community development, Arts, Disability, Education, and Technology. Lori is involved in numerous ventures related to social innovation and socio-economic development including Intonovus Canada and Impact Calgary.

Lori is involved in supporting cross-sector social and economic development with a mission of sharing and mobilizing time, money, resources, energy, talents, and best practices that align to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), B Corp standards (B Corp) and IRIS metrics (IRIS), all designed to measure the social, environmental and financial performance of companies and investments.

INTONOVUS Canada is a not for profit designed to partner with those advancing social impact, social enterprise, and impact investing:

IMPACT CALGARY is a social business venture launching coworking, ‘impact first’ business development, and access to funding for social entrepreneurs and benefit businesses. These ventures include foci on social impact technologies (such as Virtual & Augmented Reality (VR/AR), Blockchain, and Artificial Intelligence (AI)), parentpreneurship (child and family-friendly professional work spaces), and crowdfunding.

As part of her passion for rural-urban economic corridor development, she is working to replicate economic diversity in Alberta through rural tech hubs.

She is also a partner in business that supports producers, processors, and manufacturers of Alberta agri-food s to access markets in China and Southeast Asia.

Rachneet Randhawa. I'm Rachneet and my hometown has always been Calgary. I have noticed that we are often not taught to find "our voice" before "we speak." Schooling doesn't teach us that – not entirely. I've also always been a wanderer and have wanted to be a travel bug. It was a couple of trips to India to see the family growing up that I was shocked to see a country ridden with both a) poverty and b) pollution and also culture shock towards my South Asian heritage and roots. I always reflected on: what more can I do for my community? Having this unique point of view of being Canadian and coming from a different culture, I realized that there was so much more I need to see, learn and experience from other countries, states and cities across the globe.

I have attended and represented Initiatives of Change (Canada), a peacebuilding forum and the completed the Caux Scholars Program (CSP) of Initiatives of Change, USA. I also had the chance to network with an alumnus of CSP of over 1000 people from 109 countries. It was an exhilarating experience I was grateful for. Because of it, I am now able to assess the adversity in old and destructive narratives and have a proactive approach to becoming a problem solver. For instance, our epidemic of domestic violence in Calgary is regardless of culture, creed, tradition, or socio-economic status and overlooks the malevolence of gender disparity of power and control within intimate partner violence. My internship with Impact Calgary and Intonovus Canada was an eye-opening experience because for once I began to see what I can offer my community rather than what it can offer me. And most extraordinarily of all - we as youth can be the change we wish to see in the world through social impact and social entrepreneurship. What is the most fascinating is the social impact not only addresses the triple bottom line of People, Profit and Planet but has the grit and ingenuity to change people's values, attitudes and behaviours - the most powerful transformation of all. As a generation of millennials, we are falsely associated with a sense of entitlement and status oriented. This is because we are not taught how to use our potential capability in a dignified and humbling way and become changemakers.

So what is my story? Well, I am for a career in law/journalism and social enterprise. What does that exactly mean? I want to combine my interests in writing and mediography to pursue solutions of innovation for sustainability, women's rights and security and the way we can use social media to realize the everlasting benefits of the "giver's gain."

One everlasting piece of advice I would tell youth graduating from university/college nowadays is to be open to the possibilities and to make decisions out of love and not fear.

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 Summary: 

How this millennial, has been learning to use her potential capability to become a changemaker through entrepreneurship.

Show Quote:

"I think things aren't going to change until people my age, they've realized that, it's really, the resources are inside of them. It's not really somewhere out there. There's a lot of potential in your own city, they don’t have to look halfway across the country." 

 

Credits...

This Episode Sponsored By: Community Now! Magazine

Episode Audio Editing: Kate Day - KD Sound Design

Episode Music: Tony Del Degan

Creator & Producer: Al Del Degan 

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.

Another episode from Edmonton hosted by Christopher Drobot.  Christopher Drobot is a passionate cheerleader for the potential of the Edmonton region. Although not directly an entrepreneur himself, his extensive experience in business operations and now mortgage lending help focus his excitement on the ideas that can see the city grow. He is involved in the push to bring a world-class aquarium to the city, is completing an MBA, and – together with his wife – homeschools his two children. The parallels between entrepreneurialism and homeschooling have been many, and he sees an overarching lesson in both: you have to create the world you wish to see.

Shelvie Fernan moved to Edmonton when she was 20 years old fresh from the Philippines. She was finishing her degree in Bachelors Of Science in Electronics and Communications Engineering when her entire family decided to move to Canada.  She worked as a manager of a clothing retail store for a year then she decided to pursue her degree in Business Administration Major in Entrepreneurship and Innovation. Throughout post-secondary, Shelvie was a student leader serving as a club executive for the Filipino Students Association. She also competed in various case competitions representing NAIT. Prior to graduation, Shelvie got a job offer by Manpower Alberta as the Job Placement Consultant of TECHCareers. This experience exposed her to the local tech ecosystem and introduced her to Rainforest. A few months into the job, Shelvie decided to pursue her entrepreneurial dream by starting Fly and Fetch. She is currently the CEO of this early stage start-up leading her team and tasked with business development, sales, and operations.

Victoria Celi was born and raised in Ecuador, where she worked for the Government  in topics related with eradication of poverty and redistribution of wealth. She founded a company whose mission was to promote ventures and facilitate their access to the national market. This experience helped her to discover her passion for entrepreneurship, so she decided to move to Canada to improve her knowledge and skills in this field. Currently, she is studying a BBA in Entrepreneurship and Innovation at NAIT, and is the co-founder of Fly and Fetch, an online Peer-to-Peer Shipping Marketplace that connects travelers, with extra luggage space, and shippers who need to send a package abroad.

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 Summary: 

This is the story of how one idea will often lead you to another – or how you need to recognize when opportunity is actually knocking on your door. Shelvie and Victoria were both talking about a different business that Shelvie had started up, and upon encountering a problem in that business that would be easily solved through paying a friend who was travelling...a business was born! Hear the story of idea to product – and the backgrounds of the two entrepreneurs themselves – for an “obvious” idea (that no one is doing!) that these two energetic entrepreneurs decided to bring to life in a formalized way.

Show Quote:

"Rainforest was one of the first places where I really felt comfortable to speak up and share my ideas" 

"Our travellers are going to be really attached to their community – because there will be that sense of trust"

"Because a lot of the travellers are going to be from the same backgrounds, it’s more than just about the products that are being shipped – it’s like we speak the same language, being able to reminisce about “home”, wherever they are trying ship."

"Before, when I had started a company in my home country, it was me and my co-founder, and we didn’t have any insight from outside. Here in Edmonton we feel so much more supported by the community as a whole."

"Be open to change: you need to be versatile, you need to be agile. Things will happen that you don’t expect, but don’t give up"

Credits...

This Episode Sponsored By: Community Now! Magazine

Episode Music: Tony Del Degan

Creator & Producer: Al Del Degan 

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.

 

Jade Alberts is the Founder of Peer Guidance and a Business Strategist / Entrepreneur / Connector / Investor that Tells It Like It Is. Asking for help is not a sign of weakness. Sometimes you have to let go to grow, so contact him to set up an Honest Meeting.

Jade enjoys building trusting relationships with "Handshake Honesty." He has a genuine passion for both people and businesses. Honesty, Authenticity, Networking, Connecting, and Sharing are the pillars of his belief system.

Join Jade on his Facebook Live “Telling It Like it Is” Interview every Wednesday 9:30am MST. It's a 15-minute discussion that shares Small Business Owners' stories.

www.PeerGuidance.ca

 

www.facebook.com/JadeAlbertsConsulting

Derek Fraser is a seasoned and energetic executive who is committed to enlarging the pool of financial resources to fund the changes in our world worthy of investment. Committed to a donor-centred approach to realizing impact and philanthropic success. Derek possesses an expert level of knowledge with years of service to many organizations, and delivers results quickly. Stressing the importance of stewardship in all philanthropic activities and an advocate for it at all levels. Fostering and maintaining significant relationships worldwide through a genuine interest in donors, their families and the broader philanthropic sector. Ardent supporter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals’ (AFP) Donor Bill of Rights, and the AFP Code of Ethics demanded for membership in AFP. Let's make this HAPPEN!

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 Summary: 

One of the pillars of Rainforest Alberta is "Giving Back".  In this episode, Jade speaks with seasoned executive and philanthropist, Derek Fraser about the importance of philanthropy and ethics.

Show Quote:

"The opportunity to reach out to people because often you’re afraid to ask for help" 

"People Care about you and your longevity"

 

Credits...

This Episode Sponsored By: Community Now! Magazine

Episode Music: Tony Del Degan

Creator & Producer: Al Del Degan 

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.

Another episode from Edmonton hosted by Christopher Drobot.  Christopher Drobot is a passionate cheerleader for the potential of the Edmonton region. Although not directly an entrepreneur himself, his extensive experience in business operations and now mortgage lending help focus his excitement on the ideas that can see the city grow. He is involved in the push to bring a world-class aquarium to the city, is completing an MBA, and – together with his wife – homeschools his two children. The parallels between entrepreneurialism and homeschooling have been many, and he sees an overarching lesson in both: you have to create the world you wish to see.

Mack Male is a dedicated community-builder who has given back through thousands of hours of board, committee, and volunteer work for more than a dozen different organizations. Along his own journey in the technology space, he was involved early in the pre-DotCom boom, and has continued to grow and evolve along the way. Today, he is co-founder of Taproot Media, and has received numerous distinctions over the years such as Top 40 under 40 from Avenue Magazine, and one of Alberta’s Next 10 Most Influential People by Alberta Venture Magazine. He is also deeply involved in the tech community in Edmonton, and shares an interest in municipal politics – a subject on which he co-hosts his own podcast, Speaking Municipally.

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 Summary: 

Mack shares with us his story within the Edmonton tech community – from early days in the pre-DotCom area, through to now. Along the way, he shares some great words of wisdom regarding how to make your venture “stick”, while also advising people to recognize when the time is right to move on. As a co-founder of Taproot Media, he has seen the value of going “all-in” on a project, and the results that can come through focused efforts. Mack’s journey is one of questions, and of an appreciation for good journalism – of truly getting to the bottom of things. Thankfully for us, there’s always another question to ask, and Mack and Taproot Media are there to find the answers.

Show Quote:

"Cadence and frequency are really important, it builds habit and expectation from your audience – if you show up and continue to work at it, it’s bound to pay off." 

"First and foremost we wanted to build a really successful business. We figured if we could make something work here, then we could have an impact on media and journalism worldwide."

"The decentralized network of people within the community is far more successful than having one wayfinder. You need to try things, talk to new people, and be open to making new connections – that’s how the most successful people stay open to opportunity."

"You don’t need to be a 22-yr-old white man living on ramen to build a company. That’s the person we see in pop culture, but that’s not consistent with who is actually able to do something. You just have to go out and start something. That’s it."

Credits...

This Episode Sponsored By: Community Now! Magazine

Episode Music: Tony Del Degan

Creator & Producer: Al Del Degan