56K
Downloads
297
Episodes
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 29, 2020
Tuesday Dec 29, 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.
Al Del Degan I am a proven leader with over twenty-three years of diverse experience designing, delivering, and supporting software and technology projects. I believe in giving back to my community and I enjoy networking and helping to grow Alberta’s innovation ecosystem. Creatively you will find me pursuing my passions of podcasting, photography and wood working along with the occasional round of golf.
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
Let's countdown the top 10 episodes from 2020.
10.) Episode #82: Mike Chui hosts Aymie Rondeau (The Curvy Shop)
9.) Episode #64: Christopher Drobot hosts Mack Male (Taproot Publishing)
8.) Episode #80: Mike Chui hosts Dr. Byron Chu (Callysto)
7.) Episode #83: Mark Shields hosts Sophia Tang (coRISE)
6.) Episode #88: Adam Ludgate hosts Jason Ribeiro (Calgary Economic Development)
5.) Episode #56: Christopher Drobot hosts Anthony Nagendraraj (Spontivly)
4.) Episode #89: Al Del Degan hosts Greg Hart (Thin Air Labs)
3.) Episode #95: Adam Ludgate hosts Kris Read and Jeff Adamson (Neo Financial)
2.) Episode #53: Adam Ludgate hosts Randy Thompson (Valhalla Private Capital)
1.) Episode #79: Adam Ludgate hosts Nicolas Beique (Helcim)
Credits...
This Episode Sponsored By: Community Now! Magazine
Episode Music: Tony Del Degan
Creator & Producer: Al Del Degan
System Engineering Sponsor: Kris Chase - PODMaster 2020
Tuesday Dec 22, 2020
Tuesday Dec 22, 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.
Alana Snow Alana Snow started out as announcer for rural Alberta Top 40 / Country radio stations. Recently she obtained her Certified Associate in Project Management designation through PMI, as she realized she has a passion for efficiency, processes and executing projects. Her current focus is on contracting out her services to small businesses and startups to support them in building a solid foundation as they scale up.
Kelly McBroom Kelly McBroom is on the Partnerships team at Neo Financial, which is a new challenger bank being built by the same team as Skip the Dishes, based in Alberta. Kelly has a unique background ranging from athletics, to academics, to entrepreneurship, to coaching and education. On paper Kelly has taken many turns in her career, but in every day experience, she believes that each change in direction has ultimately made her a stronger character and led her to pursue a career in tech.
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
Alana Snow talks with Kelly McBroom about her journey from being on the Canadian Alpine Ski Team, to owning her own company Big Dump Plungers, to now working in Partnerships at Neo Financial one of Calgary’s up and coming tech startups. Kelly shares her advice about what she learned along the way.
Show Quote:
"Sometimes i'd be so bold and ask someone... do you poop?... and they would just stop in their tracks."
"Every aspect that your doing when you run a small business is the same thing that you can do at scale."
Credits...
This Episode Sponsored By: Community Now! Magazine
Episode Music: Tony Del Degan
Creator & Producer: Al Del Degan
System Engineering Sponsor: Kris Chase - PODMaster 2020
Tuesday Dec 15, 2020
Tuesday Dec 15, 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.
Al Del Degan I am a proven leader with over twenty-three years of diverse experience designing, delivering, and supporting software and technology projects. I believe in giving back to my community and I enjoy networking and helping to grow Alberta’s innovation ecosystem. Creatively you will find me pursuing my passions of podcasting, photography and wood working along with the occasional round of golf.
Michael Robinson Michael Robinson is an experienced Professor and Chen Fong Fellow in Entrepreneurial Finance with the Haskayne School of Business at the University of Calgary. Michael has a demonstrated history of research and teaching excellence and is a strong education professional with academic knowledge and practical work experience in the areas of private equity, venture capital, firm valuation, and corporate governance. He has been the Academic Director of the Calgary DEP program for the past 15 years, and was the first site lead for the CDL-Rockies program, which he continues as the Academic Director.
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
Al Del Degan has a chat with Michael Robinson to chat about the Haskayne School of Business, the CDL Rockies Program, a whole bunch of other entrepreneurial stuff at the University of Calgary and governance in the ecosystem. This episode is full of excellent information for everyone from entrepreneurs to investors.
Links
Creative Destruction Lab Rockies
Hunter Centre for Entrepreneurship and Innovation
Sensorup (CDL Rockies success story)
Show Quote:
"This CDL Rockies program is drawing both companies, mentors, investors, as well as students from across our province."
"To-date the CDL Rockies program has helped raise about $45 million dollars of equity capital for these early stage companies in Alberta and across the world."
Credits...
This Episode Sponsored By: Community Now! Magazine
Episode Music: Tony Del Degan
Creator & Producer: Al Del Degan
System Engineering Sponsor: Kris Chase - PODMaster 2020
Tuesday Dec 08, 2020
Tuesday Dec 08, 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.
Adam Ludgate Adam 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.
Jeff Adamson is the Co-Founder of Neo Financial, Co-Founder of Skip the Dishes, a former Canadian olympic wrestler and Pan American Games Medalist.
Kris Read is the Co-Founder of Neo Financial, Calgary tech community advocate and speaker, and has been the CTO or Head of Engineering at a variety of tech startups in Canada & across North America.
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
Adam speaks with Kris and Jeff about Neo Financial, the Canadian banking industry, tech startups on the prairies, Alberta tech innovation, the landscape of rewards programs, the state of employment and work in Alberta, and the technical challenges involved in creating a new credit card company.
Show Quote:
Credits...
This Episode Sponsored By: Community Now! Magazine
Episode Music: Tony Del Degan
Creator & Producer: Al Del Degan
System Engineering Sponsor: Kris Chase - PODMaster 2020
Tuesday Dec 01, 2020
Tuesday Dec 01, 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.
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.
Chris Doble Chris Doble is the Program Manager of the Venture Mentoring Service of Alberta (VMSA); an entrepreneur mentorship program focussed on developing entrepreneurial leaders through team mentorship and coaching. Chris joined the Calgary VMSA program in January 2020 after spending three years supporting Edmonton-based entrepreneurs in the VMS program at the University of Alberta. Chris is a born-and-raised Calgarian. Prior to jumping into the innovation space, he spent a number of years working in the music industry in New York, Toronto, and Calgary, in a variety of roles including artist marketing and publicity, studio management, and audio post-production. He has a Honors degree in Communications and Business Administration from the University of Ottawa. Chris is a hobbyist musician, enjoys being active in the mountains, and loves talking baseball.
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
In this show, Peter Beaudoin discusses with Chris Doble about the Venture Mentoring Service of Alberta (VMSA). The VMSA program. based on a program developed at MIT, provides mentorship and coaching to entrepreneurs who are just beginning to scale their venture.
Show Quote:
Credits...
This Episode Sponsored By: Community Now! Magazine
Episode Music: Tony Del Degan
Creator & Producer: Al Del Degan
System Engineering Sponsor: Kris Chase - PODMaster 2020
Tuesday Nov 24, 2020
Tuesday Nov 24, 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.
Al Del Degan I am a proven leader with over twenty-three years of diverse experience designing, delivering, and supporting software and technology projects. I believe in giving back to my community and I enjoy networking and helping to grow Alberta’s innovation ecosystem. Creatively you will find me pursuing my passions of podcasting, photography and wood working along with the occasional round of golf.
Steve Armstrong From the Arctic to the European countryside, from Asia to Africa, Steven Armstrong has seen and done it all as a member of the Canadian Armed Forces and the Red Cross. Now the leader of Paratus Education, he uses the skills he learned while leading complex strategic situations around the world to help others achieve their leadership goals and create long-lasting positive results.
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
In this episode Al has a conversation with Steve Armstrong talking about the different leadership styles and what leaders can do to build trust and loyalty with their teams.
Show Quote:
"I didn't spend enough time on the sales part... I was actively and aggressively selling, by waiting for the phone to ring."
"Most people know how to lead. We all have families, we all have sports teams, we all have whatever."
"Seventy to eighty percent of people, when they leave a job they are leaving a supervisor... and who's fault is that? It's not the supervisor's fault, it's whomever put them in that position."
Credits...
This Episode Sponsored By: Community Now! Magazine
Episode Music: Tony Del Degan
Creator & Producer: Al Del Degan
System Engineering Sponsor: Kris Chase - PODMaster 2020
Tuesday Nov 17, 2020
Tuesday Nov 17, 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.
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.
Lisa Poole Lisa Poole is a family care partner and provides insight from a perspective of lived experience. Her father John has a diagnosis of vascular dementia and resides in LTC. Lisa sits on Dementia Network Calgary’s Strategic Council, Alzheimer Society of Calgary’s Board of Directors, AGE-WELL’s Older Adult and Caregiver Advisory Committee, Alzheimer Society of Canada’s COVID-19 Task Force, Canadian Foundation for Healthcare Improvement’s Community Based Dementia Care and Support Advisory Team, is co-chair of Dementia Advocacy Canada, and is the founder and editor of Dementia Connections Magazine.
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
In this episode, April has a conversation with Lisa Poole talking about Dementia and why she started Dementia Connection magazine.
Show Quote:
Credits...
This Episode Sponsored By: Community Now! Magazine
Episode Music: Tony Del Degan
Creator & Producer: Al Del Degan
System Engineering Sponsor: Kris Chase - PODMaster 2020
Tuesday Nov 10, 2020
Tuesday Nov 10, 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.
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.
David Chavez David Chavez leads the Partnerships team at Platform Calgary. This small and mighty team is responsible for working with partners helping build the new Platform Innovation Centre, the program partners that will activate the space, and the funding partners helping to launch and operate the centre sustainably. David has more than 20 years experience building and leading technology organizations. Previously, he led R&D and product management teams in Canada and China for Nortel and Ericsson, leading global suppliers of telecommunications and networking gear. David is a Professional Engineer with a degree in Engineering Physics from the University of British Columbia. He is the founder and is a Fellow of the Calgary Innovation Coalition. Outside of work, David is usually skiing, playing pickleball, or cooking something delicious with his lovely wife Pat.
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
In this interview, David Chavez of Platform Calgary discusses the new Platform facility, scheduled to open in mid-2021. The space will be the central hub of our innovation community. With already 32 organizations signed on as partners, the launch will be a milestone in Calgary's tech community's evolution.
Show Quote:
Credits...
This Episode Sponsored By: Community Now! Magazine
Episode Music: Tony Del Degan
Creator & Producer: Al Del Degan
System Engineering Sponsor: Kris Chase - PODMaster 2020
Tuesday Nov 03, 2020
Tuesday Nov 03, 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.
Due to a technical glitch, unfortunately we were unable to have a show this week. Please subscribe and tune in next week for another episode.
Credits...
Episode Music: Tony Del Degan
Creator & Producer: Al Del Degan
System Engineering Sponsor: Kris Chase - PODMaster 2020
Tuesday Oct 27, 2020
Tuesday Oct 27, 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.
Al Del Degan I am a proven leader with over twenty-three years of diverse experience designing, delivering, and supporting software and technology projects. I believe in giving back to my community and I enjoy networking and helping to grow Alberta’s innovation ecosystem. Creatively you will find me pursuing my passions of podcasting, photography and wood working along with the occasional round of golf.
Greg Hart is a lifetime entrepreneur who has been studying, applying and innovating in the area of behaviour-based design for thirty years. He has applied these approaches in over 200 different challenging design settings from manufacturing to software and even urban spaces. He is a partner in Thin Air Labs and the co-founder of InceptionU. When he wants to relax, he referees lacrosse.
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
Greg talks about how he went from a quiet childhood to becoming a young entrepreneur rocking through to leading world-changing organizations. Greg looks at things differently through the eyes of design and critical thinking. He believes that there are better ways of doing things in nearly every aspect of life, and he is not just thinking about it, he is making it happen.
Show Quote:
"It's interesting when you start going into an industrial space and you start bench-testing ideas [...] when it comes time to build a full prototype you don't get to build a fifteen thousand dollar version of it [...] you actually have to build a fifteen million dollar version of it."
"The whole process of creating the Rainforest was creating this very amorphous, messy situation that lives up to the metaphor of an actual rainforest."
"There's a role for people who are wanting to invest in something that's different. "
Credits...
This Episode Sponsored By: Community Now! Magazine
Episode Music: Tony Del Degan
Creator & Producer: Al Del Degan
System Engineering Sponsor: Kris Chase - PODMaster 2020