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Leaders, Innovators and Big Ideas - the Rainforest podcast showcases those who are contributing to and / or supporting the innovation ecosystem in Alberta. Rainforest Alberta is a world-class community of dreamers and doers, connected by a common goal of making Alberta fertile ground for building, developing, and growing innovative ideas into sustainable ventures. https://rainforestab.ca
Episodes
Tuesday Dec 20, 2022
Tuesday Dec 20, 2022
Tasty, Without the Wastey. Earthware is a reusable/returnable container service for restaurant takeout and delivery. It is a great startup that will stop millions of single use containers from going into Canadian landfills.
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 MacInnes' passion is creating jobs. He has spent most of his life raising and working on his own companies. Over the past 20 years John has taken his own experiences as an Entrepreneur and worked with several companies to help them grow. Some of these companies John has invested in, some he just helped because it is fun.
Currently John is very much involved with Earthware, a reusable/returnable container service for restaurant takeout and delivery. It is a great startup that will stop millions of single use containers from going into Canadian landfills.
At his companies they have built an excellent blueprint for running a business that he enjoys sharing with others. The blueprint is easy to adopt and it virtually guarantees a great strategy followed by measurable execution.
Someday, when John has time, he will get it all down in blogs and videos so that business owners can use the blueprint for their own companies.
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:
Show Quotes:
"And when you get these containers, you've got a choice like a bottle or can, you can do something with it and get some of that deposit back."
"But our ultimate goal with this is that we are able to take this plastic and in the future we want to manufacture here and use that plastic to create new reusable containers."
Credits...
This Episode Sponsored By: New Idea Machine
Episode Music: Tony Del Degan
Creator & Producer: Al Del Degan
Tuesday Dec 13, 2022
Tuesday Dec 13, 2022
The LIBI Podcast normally showcases a guest that is contributing to the innovation ecosystem. However this is episode 200, and I thought it might be a good time to talk about Rainforest Alberta itself and who better to do that than the Community Manager and the Community Story Teller.
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: Amber Rowden is digital marketing strategist and storyteller who loves connecting and building community. She works with multiple companies within the YYC tech ecosystem and has helped startups and SMEs grow their businesses through social media campaigns, content creation, graphic design, personalized storytelling, paid advertising, deep-dive analytics, event management and more. She has a background in and passion for theatre. She is an advocate for mental health and the LGBTQ2S+ community and hosts the YYC Queer Innovation Meet-ups to bring the LGBTQ2S+ and innovation community together to collaborate and connect.
Guest: Brigitte Legault is a community and strategy consultant currently working with Rainforest Alberta, TuskHub Inc., and Village Wellth. She is driven by community-led strategies that drive business results and empower its members. Connecting people and resources is her super power!
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:
- Rainforest Alberta
- The Rainforest: The Secret to Building the Next Silicon Valley
- GoodLawyer
- CRIN
- Inqli
- InceptionU
- 8-Bit Cortex
Show Quotes:
"we're innovators, so let's stop looking to the past and start looking to the future. And even though we are doing a lot of new initiatives in the rainforest, we're always focused on the core of the movement, which is the social contract"
"[re: the Rainforest Social Contract] You know, they're values that every person should incorporate into their life and their professional life. And, yeah, there are quite a few individuals that are living these values already. People that are in the rainforest exemplify them. And there are companies that are taking this on too."
Credits...
This Episode Sponsored By: New Idea Machine
Episode Music: Tony Del Degan
Creator & Producer: Al Del Degan
Tuesday Dec 06, 2022
Tuesday Dec 06, 2022
Innovation will leave you in the dust if you don't choose to be a part of it. Jennifer Armand decided to dive right in and learn about web3 technology and NFTs. Her company, Boris Walks Alone Art Inc., helps traditional artists get their work on the blockchain where they can find new revenue streams and explore the intersection between art and 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: 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: Jennifer Armand is the Owner of Boris Walks Alone Art Inc. which provides technical and marketing expertise aimed at expanding sales of digital and traditional artwork on behalf of the Artists that create them. This service allows the Artist to benefit from the expanded opportunities available to them in the form of NFTs (Non-Fungible Tokens) on popular cryptocurrency platforms - without having to become an expert in technology.
Jen’s goal is to provide this opportunity to as many artists as possible.
This past March, Jen with her partners helped create and launch the #T7NFT collection on Opeansea.io from over 24 established artists. Jen built a 3D metaverse gallery to showcase their works and enable anyone with a computer and access to the internet the ability to view and purchase from the collection.
Jen loves tech and helping people.
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:
Show Quotes:
"Probably about 12 years ago, I'd always said to the artist, you know, one of these days these files are gonna be where something more."
"The power is in the secondary sales, and so when your sale goes through, it is backed on a ledger just like a bank only it's a public ledger, everyone can see it. So when it's sold again royalty then gets brought back to the artist, which is very powerful"
Credits...
This Episode Sponsored By: New Idea Machine
Episode Music: Tony Del Degan
Creator & Producer: Al Del Degan
Tuesday Nov 29, 2022
Tuesday Nov 29, 2022
Meet the guy behind the high quality audio of the LIBI podcast. Tony has many talents and most of them are around creativity. He decides he wants to do something and then just goes and figure it out. Get inspired hearing Tony's stories.
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: Tony Del Degan is a perfectionist, and believes in quality and worth-while art. You’ll usually find him carving his own path instead of following those well-traveled.
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:
- Tony's Website
- The Evermore Compendium
- The Recognition
- CERES
- Recycling Styrofoam
- Community Now Magazine
Show Quotes:
"I believe that Lord of the Rings for me is my personal favorite story ever written. And so if I'm going to give my contribution to that genre, it has to be huge. It has to be well thought out and have depth."
"If you submit a short story to them, they can get it put into the Calgary Public Library's short story dispensers. And so I submitted that to and they responded and said, oh, well this is really great. We wanna put this in thedispenser. And so I got a confirmation back and then that whole process happened and now that story is available."
Credits...
This Episode Sponsored By: New Idea Machine
Episode Music: Tony Del Degan
Creator & Producer: Al Del Degan
Tuesday Nov 22, 2022
Tuesday Nov 22, 2022
How can we support one another in finding more purposeful, meaningful work? As we all navigate the innovation ecosystem, what questions are you afraid to ask and how might you ask them? Join Jen and Rebecca as they talk all things INQLI.
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: Rebecca Kirstein Resch is an accidental tech CEO on a mission to ensure that everyone has access to opportunities for meaningful work and fulfilling lives.
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:
Show Quotes:
"And so I think we kind of shifted from this mentality that like, millennials were really entitled and they didn't wanna work hard. And you know, this kind of belief about that whole generation of people who actually, like any other human beings, very deeply wanna connect to a sense of meaning and purpose at work. So it's not that they don't wanna work hard. They actually want their work to mean something."
"I think that's part of learning and part of Inqli and part of Rain Forest. Is the vulnerability to say I don't have all the answers. In fact, I have a lot of questions and I think the more and more you step into leadership, The more and more uncertainty there is and therefore the more questions you have."
"Ask yourself what questions are you afraid to ask? Because I think that tells us a lot about where we are and what we need. And the follow up to that is where might you ask those questions?"
Credits...
This Episode Sponsored By: New Idea Machine
Episode Music: Tony Del Degan
Creator & Producer: Al Del Degan
Tuesday Nov 15, 2022
Tuesday Nov 15, 2022
They call it the third version of the Internet (web 3), but what does that mean? What is the Metaverse? Join Al Del Degan and guest Sid Sharma as they unpack this complicated new world.
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: Sid Sharma is a co-founder and CEO of REHUMAN Inc. a decentralized identity & metaverse company with a mission to build an inclusive and equitable global digital economy. REHUMAN is based in the US, Canada, and Africa.
REHUMAN was founded in 2019 with a dream to make a positive impact in the world through innovative products and philanthropy. And for the past 3 years, REHUMAN Foundation is committed to providing daily meals to 1500 children in Africa, along with funding for the school infrastructure and maintenance.
Sid has over a decade of experience in HR tech, identity management & cybersecurity, He got involved in blockchain development in 2016 starting with Ethereum, and Hyperledger which eventually led him to self-sovereign identity/ decentralized identity/ ToIP in 2018.
He is also a contributor at W3C, DIF, and Hyperledger. Sid currently leads the Hyperledger chapter for Alberta and the Western Canada chapter for Government Blockchain Association.
Sid is a community builder and a supporter of Alberta’s startup ecosystem. In 2019, he launched a western Canada chapter of the Founder Institute. And built a team of over 100 mentors, investors, and ecosystem partners such as Dentons, KPMG, Platform Calgary, Calgary Economic Development, Thin Air Labs, Valhalla Angels, and more.
Sid is a champion for diversity, mental health, and inclusive leadership.
In his free time, Sid hosts a podcast and a youtube channel. In Dec 2017, RE:HUMAN podcast (formerly JOLSID podcast) was ranked in “the top 48 podcasts in the world for entrepreneurs” by Entreprenur.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 Links:
Show Quotes:
"You go to places and basically they want so much information about you or they won't even do background checks on you. They just look at you and just because you don't look like the usual demographics, you don't get the same opportunity."
"So many people move to this country and they're educated doctors and physicians and stuff, and we have shortage of those people, but they drive cabs, so somebody's failing them"
"The late majority only adopts things when user experience has been simplified. And right now user experience sucks in Web3"
"If we really want Alberta to be next level, we have to go back to our roots of being pioneers and taking a little bit risk as opposed to we have to be political this, political that. And sometimes you just have to do it."
"From a creator's perspective, you, you have to think about it. Have we done enough to protect our kids?"
Credits...
This Episode Sponsored By: New Idea Machine
Episode Music: Tony Del Degan
Creator & Producer: Al Del Degan
Tuesday Nov 08, 2022
Tuesday Nov 08, 2022
How to Get Started With Solar. A conversation with a Solar expert will give you insights and open doors to Solar Energy for homeowners and industry.
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: Jordon Kruhlak is a graduate of the NAIT Alternative Energy Program and U of A School of Business with experience in energy auditing, Solar PV and entrepreneurship. Jordan is the current owner and founder of Glean, a sustainability marketplace that helps homeowners learn if solar is right for them. Glean gets homeowners 3 solar quotes and help them decide which installer is right for them.
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:
Show Quotes:
"The questions asked the most are about Batteries, Snow, and Electricity"
"Most solar installations actually don't have batteries. They're what we call a grid connected solar installation. And so the electricity grid actually acts as your battery."
"We have a network of solar installers. And we present each homeowner with three solar quotes in an easy to compare format. And then what we do is we do a one-on-one call with each homeowner to explain the unique features of each quote and help them decide which installer is right for them."
Credits...
This Episode Sponsored By: New Idea Machine
Episode Music: Tony Del Degan
Creator & Producer: Al Del Degan
Tuesday Nov 01, 2022
Tuesday Nov 01, 2022
If you are looking for a path to successful passive investing then look no farther than Kenton Shouldice. Straight-forward, no-nonsense education and guidance on how to be like the squirrels.
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: Kenton Shouldice is a CFA Charterholder with over 13 years of experience in the investment management industry. Most recently, as Vice President of Portfolio Management at Fiera Capital where he oversaw $3 billion in High Net Worth client assets. Founded Shouldice Wealth in 2016 to bring integrated wealth management services, typically only available to high net worth individuals, to the emerging affluent.
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:
Show Quotes:
"at the very least, if I can get this book in front of a child and just instill the habit of saving for the future, the other things can come."
"Over a 15 year period or longer, 90% of active managers underperform the benchmark."
"We all feel panic and fear, and that affects our decision making. Now, when we're under stress, we lose 10 IQ points, I think is the study. So we can't necessarily distrust our, our heads or our emotions in these times. So that's where becoming a probability based investor is, is the key to success."
Credits...
This Episode Sponsored By: New Idea Machine
Episode Music: Tony Del Degan
Creator & Producer: Al Del Degan
Tuesday Oct 25, 2022
Tuesday Oct 25, 2022
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:
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
Tuesday Oct 18, 2022
Tuesday Oct 18, 2022
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:
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