Leaders, Innovators and Big Ideas - the Rainforest podcast

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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 Jul 16, 2024

From Pilot to Programmer: Seizing Unexpected Opportunities

Tuesday Jul 16, 2024

In this captivating episode, we follow the remarkable journey of Melvin Adekanye, who pivoted from his childhood dream of becoming a pilot to finding success as a thriving app developer. Melvin's story is a testament to the power of serendipity and perseverance, as he navigated unexpected life changes and discovered his passion for coding.

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 is a software developer and tech leader in Alberta's innovation ecosystem. He is also a Web3 enthusiast and podcaster, sharing his knowledge and passion for emerging technologies with his audience. Al is the founder and CTO of New Idea Machine, a software company dedicated to helping new developers gain hands-on experience building real-world applications. With his commitment to giving back to the community, Al is always available to offer advice on technology and business. His passion for innovation and entrepreneurship is evident in everything he does, making him a respected leader in the tech industry.

Guest: Melvin Adekanye is a testament to the power of serendipity and perseverance. Born in Nigeria, his initial dream of becoming a pilot was redirected when his family moved to Canada. A chance encounter with a friend hacking websites sparked his interest in coding, leading him to create a YouTube channel where he shared tutorial videos and built a following of aspiring coders. This small decision profoundly impacted his life, transitioning him from a childhood dream to a successful career as a tech innovator. Melvin is now the founder of the Jam app, a platform revolutionizing networking through unique features like "Jam Bingo" that foster authentic in-person connections. With a team of marketing interns and a new developer from Brazil, Melvin is expanding Jam’s reach across Canada, emphasizing the importance of leveraging existing connections and resources. His journey highlights the significance of perseverance, creative thinking, and the impact of seemingly small decisions on achieving great accomplishments.

Show Links:

Show Quotes:

"I called my mom and I was like, Jam just made it's first buck"
"We thought, why don't we create a situation where people are forced to be in networking situations"

Credits...

This Episode Sponsored By: New Idea Machine

Episode Music: Tony Del Degan

Creator & Producer: Al Del Degan

Tuesday Jul 09, 2024

Microloans and Macro Impact: Mario's Peruvian Innovation Journey

Tuesday Jul 09, 2024

Mario León y León, a finance professional from Peru, shares his journey to Canada and his passion for supporting startups and entrepreneurs. With a background in corporate finance, micro-lending, and small business lending, Mario found himself drawn to the vibrant startup ecosystem in Canada. He has leveraged his expertise to coach entrepreneurs on financial best practices, helping them navigate the challenges of building a successful business.

Guest: Mario León y León Specialized in risk and finance, Mario has been evaluating enterprises—from corporate to small and micro—to help them access credit. He has also worked for several government enterprises to assist low-income families in gaining access to housing and agricultural resources. Now in Calgary with his family, as his wife is studying, Mario aims to contribute to the startup finance industry by increasing the level of success in their growth path and reducing their risk perception. He enjoys singing whenever he gets the chance and meeting different people to understand their cultures. Mario is passionate about learning more about the future of humankind and how technology can support this journey.

Show Links:

Startup Weekend Calgary

Show Quotes:

"It's like giving a very little small amount of money with high interest because of the amount. But at the end, you foster people to grow"

Credits...

This Episode Sponsored By: New Idea Machine

Episode Music: Tony Del Degan

Creator & Producer: Al Del Degan

Tuesday Jul 02, 2024

Intrapreneurship: Driving Innovation from Within

Tuesday Jul 02, 2024

Mike Procee believes in the necessity for large organizations to innovate like startups by collaborating with the startup community. He emphasizes the importance of building a strong culture of innovation across organizations, cautioning against isolated "innovation teams" and advocating for a more integrated approach. Mike highlights the value of leveraging existing research, external partnerships, and community engagement to foster innovation. Additionally, he shares insights on maintaining psychological safety and a team-oriented mindset to navigate the complexities of corporate innovation.

Guest: Mike Procee is an entrepreneur, intrapreneur, board member of SCN, and a corporate innovator. Pursuing his DBA with a focus on Innovation within large organizations, while having founded the Calgary Innovation Peer Forum, Mike Procee aims to build the innovation ecosystem in Calgary, and beyond.

Show Links:

All of Mike's episodes so far:

Show Quotes:

"Nobody wants to be the next Kodak or Blockbuster. I'm sure we've all heard those examples. So I started focusing around that."

"We want to see people act like owners. So definitely the term intrapreneur is resonating right now"

Credits...

This Episode Sponsored By: New Idea Machine

Episode Music: Tony Del Degan

Creator & Producer: Al Del Degan

Tuesday Jun 25, 2024

From Unnoticed to Unstoppable: Marketing Hacks for Entrepreneurs

Tuesday Jun 25, 2024

How can entrepreneurs get noticed and get the recognition they deserve? On the episode we explore with Jim James, the founder of the UnNoticed Entrepreneur, some of the marketing and communications tools and strategies available to help entrepreneurs to get noticed.

For those interested in making podcasting part of your business strategy, here is a discount coupon for Jim's podcast course: https://www.jimajames.com/gifts

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: 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.

Guest: Jim James has built businesses from a suitcase over the past 25 years using public relations. He started EastWest Public Relations in 1995 and has opened offices in Singapore, China, India, and the UK, serving over 500 clients. In China, Jim set up the business as the official importer of Morgan Motor Company sports cars, held the position of interim CEO of Lotus, was the founding president of the EO Network Beijing Chapter, established the British Business Awards, and was the vice chair of the Chamber of Commerce. He returned to the UK in 2019 and hosts The Unnoticed Entrepreneur podcast, is a published author under Wiley (NYSE:WLY), and is a coach to young, up and coming entrepreneurs.

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:

"AI (artificial Intelligence) gives the entrepreneur super powers"

Credits...

This Episode Sponsored By: New Idea Machine

Episode Music: Tony Del Degan

Creator & Producer: Al Del Degan

Tuesday May 21, 2024

Navigating Innovation in Highly Regulated Sectors: Lessons from a Corporate Innovation Expert

Tuesday May 21, 2024

Join Mike Procee interviews Zoe Harrison, a seasoned corporate innovation expert. Zoe shares insights on driving innovation within highly regulated industries like banking and insurance. Despite the perception that these legacy organizations struggle with innovation, Zoe has navigated the complexities of fostering change in risk-averse environments for nearly 20 years across Canada, the UK, and Scandinavia. The discussion highlights the challenges of innovating in highly regulated sectors, where organizational structures, cultural attitudes, and a perceived need for stability often act as barriers to 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: Mike Procee is an entrepreneur, facilitator, innovator and problem solver. Working in the Calgary Energy Sector, Mike strives to build the innovation ecosystem and community. From his volunteer position on the Strategic Capability Network, where he founded the Calgary Innovation Peer Forum, to pursuing his DBA in Winter 2024, focused on innovation, Mike is pushing the thinking on what it means to be a corporate innovation practitioner.

Guest: Zoe Harrison is a corporate board director and innovation strategist. She has global experience working with major financial institutions. She has made her home in Alberta and is committed to growing the local innovation community and creating space for people of all backgrounds to innovate.

Show Links:

Innovation Management

Show Quotes:

"These cultures in these large companies there is a lot of structure and bureaucracy that's built up over time, and it's what perceived as keeping things stable"

Credits...

This Episode Sponsored By: New Idea Machine

Episode Music: Tony Del Degan

Creator & Producer: Al Del Degan

Tuesday May 07, 2024

Why Don't You Listen to The Bruce Lee Podcast: #604 Flowing with Sifu Singh

Tuesday May 07, 2024

Since we don't actually have an episode of the LIBI podcast for you this week, we decided to refer you to an incredibly inspiring episode of the Bruce Lee podcast titled: "Flowing with Sifu Singh"

Sifu Singh is a Martial Artist, Philosopher, Keynote Speaker, Author and High-Performance Coach. Sifu Singh teaches elite audiences and organizations "How to Master Their Center and Flow in Chaos”.

Listen in on how chaos informed Sifu Singh’s life path and led him to learn peacefulness and healing in the face of his inner conflict!

Show Links:

The Bruce Lee Podcast

Credits...

This Episode Sponsored By: New Idea Machine

Episode Music: Tony Del Degan

Creator & Producer: Al Del Degan

Tuesday Apr 30, 2024

Trail to Triumph: Richard Campbell's Story of Turning Passion into Profit

Tuesday Apr 30, 2024

Richard Campbell, the founder of 10 Adventures, shares his entrepreneurial journey of turning his passion for hiking into a successful travel tech platform and podcast. After a career in startups, he created 10 Hikes, showcasing his favorite hiking trails, which organically grew into a business offering custom and private travel experiences with vetted local guides.

We also discuss the importance of hiring and retaining top talent, particularly in knowledge-based organizations, and the value of job simulations as a more effective hiring tool than relying solely on resumes and credentials.

Guest: Richard Campbell is the founder and CEO of 10Adventures, a platform to book customizable and private active vacations. With trips in 85+ countries and travellers from 35+ countries, 10Adventures is a global platform that enables people to create meaningful travel experiences with the people that matter most in their lives. These shared experiences end up as the photos on their walls, the stories that are told at family reunions, and the memories that last a lifetime.

Richard has spent his 25-year career in high-growth start-ups and scale-ups, having worked across three continents, and worked in English, French, and Spanish. In addition, Richard is an adventure traveler himself, and now spends his weekends exploring the Rocky Mountains with his wife and 3 children.

Show Links:

Show Quotes:

"And so it's like we discovered this little pot of gold that none of our competitors were looking for."

"You test everybody. And then you interview the people who can do the job, which means you become way more diverse and remove almost all the bias out of the hiring process."

Credits...

This Episode Sponsored By: New Idea Machine

Episode Music: Tony Del Degan

Creator & Producer: Al Del Degan

Tuesday Apr 23, 2024

From Pitches to Programming: Keegan Dargie's A.I. Evolution

Tuesday Apr 23, 2024

In this episode, Keegan Dargie shares his fascinating journey from a sales professional to an A.I. enthusiast and expert. Despite having no formal background in A.I., Keegan's curiosity and passion for understanding technology led him to dive into programming and explore the power of large language models like GPT-3. Keegan discusses how he leveraged A.I. technologies to solve real-world business problems, showcasing the potential of A.I. in automating tasks and providing creative solutions

Guest: Keegan Dargie is genuinely enthusiastic about crafting technological solutions that drive organizational growth through automation and Artificial Intelligence. Taking the lead in developing tools using machine learning and LLM, he swiftly engineers automation processes to streamline manual tasks and boost efficiency. Keegan's track record speaks volumes about his achievements, fueled by his penchant for creative thinking, adept problem-solving skills, and friendly organizational approach.

Show Links:

Show Quotes:

"... agents is a little bit different, because you're not trying to solve the problem, you're basically just creating the people who can solve the problem, and then giving them the resources to do it."

"A.I. is a custom tutor for any subject that you want."

"if anybody gets anything from this episode, I want to just let people know that if you have questions about anything in the world, as little as like, how does an ant colony work? Or how does a jet plane work or anything you can just ask these A.I. systems and it'll give you a pretty good answer. A lot of the time, fairly accurate as well, you know the ability to get knowledge is just so great now where you can just learn anything."

Credits...

This Episode Sponsored By: New Idea Machine

Episode Music: Tony Del Degan

Creator & Producer: Al Del Degan

Tuesday Apr 16, 2024

Building Trusted Financial Advice Networks with Pocket Finance

Tuesday Apr 16, 2024

In this episode, host Peter Beaudoin interviews Sheldon Brow, CEO and founder of Pocket Finance, a fintech company that helps users build their financial advisor network. Pocket Finance is a dual platform serving clients and financial professionals. It aims to streamline the process of finding trusted advisors by giving clients quick access and allowing advisors to effectively manage client relationships

Hear the value of having a collaborative network of financial advisors to provide holistic advice. Knowing that this level of nuanced advice cannot be replicated by technology alone, which highlights the continued relevance of human advisors. Sheldon shares the growth journey of his startup, founded in 2019, including participating in pitch contests, accelerators, and moving to Calgary's tech hub

He recently completed the Catalyzer program, which helped refine the business focus and connect with mentors and investors. Sheldon is now looking to raise funds to capitalize on their advisor network and build a trusted ecosystem around clients.

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: 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.

Guest: Sheldon Brow's background as a fisherman's son laid the foundation for his strong work ethic, which he has carried into his role as founder of Pocket Finance. With over 15 years in major banks and as an entrepreneur, he has a strong grasp of the financial sector's challenges and opportunities.

At Pocket Finance, Sheldon is dedicated to improving the tools that financial professionals use to engage with clients, emphasizing the importance of trust, efficiency, and collaborative teamwork.

His goal is to simplify financial planning, making it more intuitive and connected, thus enabling advisors to deliver personalized, high-quality advice more effectively and strengthen relationships in the finance industry.

Show Links:

Show Quotes:

"Because we go through these dating processes with our institutions, with our professionals that we deal with individually. And there's so many, so many stories about that. It's about trust. It's about trust first, more than anything for the client."

Credits...

This Episode Sponsored By: New Idea Machine

Episode Music: Tony Del Degan

Creator & Producer: Al Del Degan

Tuesday Apr 09, 2024

Fostering Community Innovation: Lessons from Corporate and Grassroots Approaches

Tuesday Apr 09, 2024

In this episode, Nathan Clausen, the Director of Continuous Improvement at Trimac Transportation and founder of Innovate Cochrane, shares his insights on fostering community innovation. Key highlights: - Nathan founded Innovate Cochrane to identify and address local needs through grassroots innovation, inspired by his passion for community involvement. - The episode discusses the differences between corporate innovation (often top-down) and community innovation (voluntary, grassroots participation)

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: Mike Procee is an entrepreneur, facilitator, innovator and problem solver. Working in the Calgary Energy Sector, Mike strives to build the innovation ecosystem and community. From his volunteer position on the Strategic Capability Network, where he founded the Calgary Innovation Peer Forum, to pursuing his DBA in Winter 2024, focused on innovation, Mike is pushing the thinking on what it means to be a corporate innovation practitioner.

Guest: Nathan Klassen is a corporate innovator by day and a personal & community innovator all the time. With a professional background in continuous improvement, change management and organizational transformation, he brought this personal wiring and toolkit into the community arena, co-founding Innovate Cochrane - a community-initiated non-profit committed to raising and releasing innovation capacity to benefit those in Cochrane, Alberta and beyond.

Show Links:

Innovate Cochrane

Show Quotes:

"My curiosity around Communication innovation started with continuous improvement and lean, the toolkits we roll out at a company level, but these could also be useful to communities"

Credits...

This Episode Sponsored By: New Idea Machine

Episode Music: Tony Del Degan

Creator & Producer: Al Del Degan