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.

This episode is hosted by Miguel Cortines.  Miguel is an entrepreneur that is passionate about technology innovation, international trade and investment; as well as community projects.   Miguel is Managing Director of Innova International Corporation and focuses his practice in assisting companies to explore business opportunities in Mexico and Latin America. Miguel serves in the Board of Directors of the Canadian Council for the Americas and is President and Founder of Casa Mexico Foundation.

Naomi Pereira is Founder and President of Job Jar Solutions Inc. Naomi's entrepreneurialism has been recognized by a nomination for an Award by Alberta Women Entrepreneurs in 2016, the 21st Immigrants of Distinction Award 2017 and the Women of inspiration by the Canadian Business Chicks.
With a focus on innovation and inspiration, Naomi is always ready to put one foot forward for new endeavors and partnerships.

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.

Credits...

This Episode Sponsored By: Zinc Ventures

Graphic Design: Mackenzie Bedford

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 Manuel Olumorin.  Manuel Olumorin is an engineer who worked in the oil and gas business, now a marketer helping small businesses reach new customers on digital platforms and keep their existing customers happy. His superpower is that he has an insatiable hunger to learn and try new things.

Lenneal is a bubbly, efficient and organized Virtual Executive Assistant who works with business owners (large and small) to help them organize and maintain the day to day administration tasks of their businesses, so they can focus on what they do best.  From creating templates, and multi-page reports to developing sophisticated cross referenced, macro-enabled excel spreadsheets, Lenneal has been “office optimizing” since 2005. Linneal has developed skills in: project management; event planning; and creating organization through data analytics. 

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.

Credits...

This Episode Sponsored By: Zinc Ventures

Graphic Design: Mackenzie Bedford

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 Peter Beaudoin.  Peter manages strategy and partnerships for an innovative alliance of energy companies committed to reducing environmental impacts through collaborative R&D efforts. Peter worked for more than 20 years in Asia building and investing in a variety of businesses. His most recent role outside of Canada was with the World Wildlife Fund, where he was the Chief Executive Officer of WWF China, based in Beijing. Prior to that, Peter lived in Hong Kong for 15 years working in the technology industry.

Jeff LaFrenz is A multi-disciplinary, multi-industrial professional with over two decades business development, management, marketing and technical experience.  Jeff thrives on pulling together complex technical and business requirements, contextualizing them within the local and global environments, and working with a team to develop and implement creative solution strategies.  Jeff is the President of VizworX Inc.

 

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.

Credits...

This Episode Sponsored By: Zinc Ventures

Graphic Design: Mackenzie Bedford

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 is the first episode from Edmonton, and it is hosted by Christopher Drobot.  Having worked and lived across Western Canada, Christopher has recently made a shift out of an 18 year career (with one company) in food retail management to now exploring Edmonton’s innovation ecosystem. His experience launching a store in a new market helped him realize his excitement around bring ideas into reality, and the power of a supportive network in making that happen. His time at Rainforest has been eye-opening in just how much is happening in the community to make things happen.

Christopher is currently involved in the Aquatic Biosphere Project, working on funds development for the push to bring a world-class aquarium to the city of Edmonton; is working towards building a Machine Learning model with retail applications; and is completing the final courses towards his MBA. He is a husband, and a father of two homeschooled children. He sees parallels between the entrepreneurial path and homeschooling and is teaching his children how to unleash their inner entrepreneur as well.

David M. Botwick-Ries is an American serial entrepreneur with a background in coworking, community, and strategy. Currently the Business Development Representative at ConnectAd in Toronto and the Communications Manager for Gun Violence Archive in Washington D.C., David has launched two businesses (Mike & Cookies and Verde Vegan) in two different countries (United States and Mexico), has a background as a freelance marketing consulting, and has worked with startups nonstop since graduating from the University of Maryland with a degree in Political Science in 2011. David also served as Director of Innovation for The Grove Coworking in New Haven, CT and Community Manager for Homestead Coworking in Edmonton.

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.

Credits...

This Episode Sponsored By: Unit B Coworking

Graphic Design: Mackenzie Bedford

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 Allan Marston.  Allan is a Father, Husband and innovator. Mr. Marston is a successful corporate executive heading up departments in Business Development, Sales, Marketing and Human Resources. As a serial entrepreneur Allan has over 18 years’ experience in the technology startup space and was the CEO of his own Silicon Valley company.  Previously Allan spent 25 years in the retail business and was with a company when it created Canada's first loyalty reward card program.  He has had several start-ups and successful exits and is currently the founder of Zenoshi.io where he is building a universal rewards program on the blockchain.

Al Del Degan is educated in Computer Science and has spent most of his career as a software developer, business analyst and project manager.  He is a passionate entrepreneur and enjoys working with creative technologies and in business development.  Some links to things Al is involved in:

TECHCareers: http://TECHCareers.ca

Capturing Legacies: https://CapturingLegacies.com

Aduro Photography: https://Aduro.ca

Al's Son Tony's book project: https://tony.deldegan.ca/the-plight-of-steel

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.

Credits...

This Episode Sponsored By: Workhaus Core

Graphic Design: Mackenzie Bedford

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.

I am hosting this episode myself and for some background on me, I am educated in Computer Science and have spent most of my career as a software developer, business analyst and project manager.  I am a passionate entrepreneur and enjoy working with creative technologies and in business development.

If you have listened to past episodes of this podcast, chances are you heard Allan Marston host a few.  On this episode I have the pleasure of having a conversation with Allan about his personal history and how he got to where he is today.  Allan shares his idea for an "investment club" (35:45) to help new startups get a leg up through a unique crowd funding and mentoring opportunity.

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.

Credits...

This Episode Sponsored By: Workhaus Core

Graphic Design: Mackenzie Bedford

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 Allan Marston.  Allan is a Father, Husband and innovator. Mr. Marston is a successful corporate executive heading up departments in Business Development, Sales, Marketing and Human Resources. As a serial entrepreneur Allan has over 18 years’ experience in the technology startup space and was the CEO of his own Silicon Valley company.  Previously Allan spent 25 years in the retail business and was with a company when it created Canada's first loyalty reward card program.  He has had several start-ups and successful exits and is currently the founder of Zenoshi.io where he is building a universal rewards program on the blockchain.

Sean Rooke is the president of Deltatee Enterprises Ltd, a 41-yr old custom engineering and product design institution in Calgary.  As a Manitoba prairie town lad surrounded by agriculture, Sean's interest in electronics and technology products necessitated a move out west to the "big city" life  in Calgary.  After "trying out" a few of the different technical roles in his early days with Deltatee, he found his niche in managing materials, projects and customer expectations within its very unique design and manufacturing environment.  In addition to learning the business ropes from his Deltatee mentor (Gary) and hawking the company's deep expertise in technology product design , he now finds time to play with robots as part of mentoring a local FIRST Robotics Society Tech Challenge team while promoting STEM-based education to the community at large.  

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.

Credits...

This Episode Sponsored By: Zinc Ventures

Graphic Design: Mackenzie Bedford

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.

I am hosting this episode myself and for some background on me, I am educated in Computer Science and have spent most of my career as a software developer, business analyst and project manager.  I am a passionate entrepreneur and enjoy working with creative technologies and in business development.

In this episode I chat with a friend of the Rainforest, Nicholas Luff based out of London in the UK.  Nicholas is an entrepreneur, thought leader and investor supporting innovation and community throughout his international business travels. During one of his recent trips to Calgary I had a chance to sit down with Nicholas and discuss how the innovation ecosystem in Alberta, and in Calgary specifically, could rival that of larger Canadian cities if we break down the silos and build better long-term relationships between startup founders and investors.

Nicholas Luff is an accomplished advisor, strategist and investor with over 25 years experience in the corporate, non-profit and public sectors. Currently based in London (UK) but a very frequent traveller, he is often found leading innovative and collaborative approaches to accelerating the economic development of startup ecosystems, especially in regions that aspire to truly compete on national and global stages.

His work experience has spanned five continents and have included organizations such as IBM, Lockheed Martin, Ballard Power Systems, the United Nations, Microsoft, as well as governments including Canada, UK, Laos and the Philippines. Nicholas completed post-graduate studies in Business at the University of Cambridge (UK), holds numerous management and professional certifications, and has served on a variety of boards. He was also amongst Calgary's Top 40 Under 40 recipients in 2009.

A life-long social entrepreneur, Nicholas brings his passions to startups and early-round enterprises as an angel investor, mentor and/or advisor. Using his skills in accelerating partnerships, executing innovative strategies for scaling-up or developing innovative funding models, he feels equally confident in both the front line trenches as well as the c-suite of organizations committed to meeting bold and ambitious targets.

Should you wish to contact Nicholas, you can do so through Twitter (@nicholasluff https://twitter.com/nicholasluff) and on LinkedIn
at https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicholas-luff-16023610/

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.

Credits...

This Episode Sponsored By: Capturing Legacies Inc.

Graphic Design: Mackenzie Bedford

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 April DeJong.  April is a serial entrepreneur, a trait she received from her parents who owned a furniture store in Edmonton that she worked at growing up.  That experience set the tone for her business life - do it all, do it well.

After working in international trade and economic development, April left that career to start a family and work alongside her husband in their award-winning residential design firm, DeJong Design Associates.  Over the past year, April started a real estate team with another Realtor who comes from a design background as well. For most people that would be enough, but April also owns and operates a vintage clothing pop-up shop with two of her friends, and she has a boutique graphic design studio. April is now helping her kids launch their own businesses.

Rick Weissenborn founded Tools4Boards in 1990 to develop the Pro 500 Ski Vise, a product designed to hold new ski constructions better than existing conventional ski vises. The commercial success of this invention, first sold in Japan through Hong Kong based trading house Jardine Matheson and then globally through Norwegian ski wax producer Swix Sport AS, inspired Rick to invent and manufacture several more products sold for 17 years through Swix Sport and Burton Snowboards. As a former ski racer Rick has always been passionate about skiing and even more passionate about inventing. 28 patents later Rick’s inventions are now the intellectual property behind a comprehensive suite of innovative, award winning ski and snowboard tools, vises and stands sold exclusively under the Tools4Boards brand to a global market through select retailers including Amazon.com, Mountain Equipment Co-op and direct to consumers through the tools4boards website. Awards won in 2018 include the German ISPO Award recognizing only the most exceptional sporting goods for outstanding innovation and Red Dot, the world’s most prestigious design competition dating back to 1955 and one of the top design awards in the world.

April has an interesting conversation with Rick about invention v.s. innovation and industrial design, patents and collaboration.

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.

Credits...

This Episode Sponsored By: Zinc Ventures

Graphic Design: Mackenzie Bedford

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.

Quote(s):

“The most rewarding part was figuring out how little I know.”

“You can’t textbook real-life situations.”

Summary:

Hear how Community Now Magazine is a great platform for SME businesses to tell their story on a monthly bases. It is a magazine that is published digitally every month, and it also raises money for great causes.

Stacy is working on a Blockchain-based money transfer mobile system that sends money safely and securely around the world in 90 seconds

Notes:

This episode is hosted by Allan Marston.  Allan is a Father, Husband and innovator. Mr. Marston is a successful corporate executive heading up departments in Business Development, Sales, Marketing and Human Resources. As a serial entrepreneur Allan has over 18 years’ experience in the technology startup space and was the CEO of his own Silicon Valley company.  Previously Allan spent 25 years in the retail business and was with a company when it created Canada's first loyalty reward card program.  He has had several start-ups and successful exits and is currently the founder of Zenoshi.io where he is building a universal rewards program on the blockchain.

Stacy Richter is better known as the Marketing Mindbender. To kick start his career, Stacy completed his Bachelor of Commerce degree at the University of Calgary with a double major in Marketing and Information Systems. This was quickly followed up by completing an Industrial Marketing minor at the University of Kaiserslautern in Germany.

Stacy has successfully lead marketing initiatives in nearly every sector known in the business world including oil and gas, ecommerce, retail, hospitality, manufacturing, professional services, finance and fintech.  He also completed his MBA at the University of Phoenix before joining a boutique marketing agency as a senior associate. At the time of his exit 4 years later, he and his partners had grown the agency to 6 offices and 30+ associates across North America.

Oro is the bank for the unbanked.
We are developing a platform where nannies, caregivers, labourers and retail workers can send money directly to their family as if they were handing the money to them in person.  Built on the blockchain and operating over mobile devices or an internet browser, Oro allows foreign workers easily and instantly send money back to their families in their home countries.

Allan has a great conversation with Stacy about the Rainforest, starting a financial technology company, and the success of Community Now magazine, which Stacy is a regular columnist.

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.

Credits...

This Episode Sponsored By: Zinc Ventures

Graphic Design: Mackenzie Bedford

Episode Music: Tony Del Degan

Creator & Producer: Al Del Degan