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DisruptorsREBOOT: AI in Canada: Leading Innovation, Lagging AdoptionIn this episode of Disruptors x CDL: The Innovation Era, hosts John Stackhouse, Senior VP of RBC, and Sonia Sennik, CEO of Creative Destruction Lab, dive into one of the most transformative technologies of our time: Artificial Intelligence. With the potential to revolutionize industries from healthcare to energy, AI is reshaping the global economy — and Canada is both a leader in research and a laggard in adoption.This week, Geoffrey Hinton, Professor at the University of Toronto, was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics for his research in artificial intelligence that began in 1987.Join John an...2025-07-1529 minDisruptorsDisruptors x CDL: Canada’s Innovation JourneyWelcome to the first episode of Disruptors x CDL - The Innovation Era, where host John Stackhouse teams up with Sonia Sennik, CEO of Creative Destruction Lab (CDL), to explore how cutting-edge technologies are transforming Canadian industries. Over the next eight episodes, they'll dive deep into the disruptive power of innovations like generative AI, quantum computing, and 5G, examining their potential to reshape sectors from entertainment to transportation.In this premiere, John and Sonia discuss Canada’s economic challenges and how embracing technological advances is crucial for future growth. They also shine a spotlight on CDL, an ob...2024-09-2423 minDisruptorsDisruptors x CDL: The Innovation EraDisruptors x CDL: The Innovation Era is a limited podcast series exploring the innovators and technologies reshaping Canada’s economy. Hosted by John Stackhouse, Senior Vice-President at RBC, and Sonia Sennik, CEO of Creative Destruction Lab, this series dives into solutions for navigating unprecedented global change.
2024-09-1701 minDisruptorsDisruptors: Season Seven TrailerWhat an epic, even historic, summer it was.
Heatwaves, wildfires, storms – it was like Mother Nature and Planet Earth were reminding us that no matter where we are, or what we do, the climate is profoundly changing. Now, as climate presents equal parts challenges and opportunities, we’ll need to accelerate climate action.
Meanwhile, the explosion of ChatGPT signaled that AI is really starting to take hold. Now, from regulation to adoption, the race for AI dominance is on.
At such a critical juncture, it’s important to ask where Canada fits in this age of disruption?
And can we lead...2023-09-1904 minDisruptorsReboot of “Disruptors LIVE: In Conversation with Applyboard’s Martin BasiriIt’s no secret that Canada’s labour market is facing significant challenges, but heading into another school year, there’s hope that a series of regulatory changes enacted by the Federal Government could help get more international students into the workforce.That’s why we’re highlighting an episode from the past season of Disruptors, an RBC Podcast, featuring a conversation between host John Stackhouse and tech entrepreneur Martin Basiri. Basiri is the co-founder and CEO of Kitchener, Ontario’s ApplyBoard, an AI-enabled software platform that lets students from around the world quickly identify and apply for post-sec...2023-08-2927 minDisruptorsHow Indigenous Business Can Accelerate Canada’s Net Zero TransitionIf Canada is going to transition to clean energy, we’ve got to involve and engage our Indigenous communities for economic development and reconciliation.On this episode of Disruptors, an RBC Podcast, host John Stackhouse speaks to two leaders working to make a meaningful partnership happen: Annette Verschuren, CEO of NRStor and Matthew Jamieson, the CEO and President of Six Nations of the Grand River Development Corporation. Listen as John and guests dissect the makings behind the recently-announced Oneida Energy Storage project, a 50/50 private and public partnership with Six Nations of the Grand River. The pro...2023-06-2729 minDisruptorsBuilding Green Part 2: Harnessing High-Tech To Lower EmissionsIt all starts with the envelope—a building’s envelope, that is, to create more sustainable, comfortable homes and offices. Then the power of innovative materials and software comes together to create Net Zero buildings. In Part 2 of a special two-part series of Disruptors, an RBC Podcast, focused on greening Canada’s build sector, host John Stackhouse chats with three experts dedicated to building Canada’s next generation of sustainable buildings: Brad Carr, CEO of Mattamy Homes; Carol Philips, Design Leader and Partner, Moriyama Teshima Architects; and Sam Ramadori, CEO of BrainBox AI. Find out how buildings m...2023-06-1330 minDisruptorsBuilding Green: Fixing Canada’s Leaky HomesCanada is a nation of builders—but buildings are our third biggest source of greenhouse gases and release some 90 million tonnes of C02 annually.On Part 1 of a special two-part series of Disruptors, an RBC Podcast, focused on greening Canada’s built sector, host John Stackhouse chats with three experts committed to decarbonizing our buildings. Together, they explore the question, “how can retrofitting old buildings help get us to Net Zero?” We hear from Kent Peterson, owner at engineering services firm P2S and Chair of the ASHRAE Task Force for Building Decarbonization . We then chat with Jody Bec...2023-05-3029 minDisruptorsFrom Ship to Shelf: Vancouver’s Port of the FutureThe COVID-19 pandemic, extreme weather events and record e-commerce demand have shone a spotlight on the world’s supply chains. The journey of how we receive “stuff” is quite complicated—and fragile. Luckily, the power of technologies such as automation, renewable energy and data are helping to both streamline and “green” Canada’s supply chains.Goods valued at more than $275 billion pass through the Port of Vancouver every year, making it the fourth largest logistics hub in North America and a key anchor for the supply chains Canadians tend to take for granted.On this episode of Dis...2023-05-0224 minDisruptorsTen Questions on Climate for Earth DayOn this episode of Disruptors, an RBC podcast, host John Stackhouse is joined by a special guest co-host: Lindsay Patrick, Head of Strategic Initiatives & ESG at RBC Capital Markets, where she leads the Sustainable Finance Group.As the world marks Earth Day on April 22, John and Lindsay explore various questions on climate and call on a cross-section of Canadian experts to help answer them.Listen in to find out what exactly is a nuclear Small Modular Reactor (SMR), and whether electric vehicles ramp up will “blow up the grid?” We promise you will learn something new...2023-04-1822 minDisruptorsSoil: An Unexpected Climate Change ChampionSoil. We have a lot of it here in Canada, with the 12th largest agricultural land holding in the world. Our vast land presents a large opportunity to help combat climate change with sequestering carbon, as well as helping farmers’ bottom lines. Traditionally, agriculture has been all about yield: the more bushels, the better. But there’s a growing push to pay farmers for what they produce and what they preserve.Canada’s soil can help grow food for an increasingly hungry world, but is also a powerful tool in the fight against climate change, because it has an...2023-04-0429 minDisruptorsCyber Wars: A Good Offense Is the Best DefenseCyber threats have been around as long as the Internet, but attacks have ramped up in the last few years, with the pandemic dramatically shifting more of our work—and our lives—online. Organizations also moved more of their operations to the cloud, creating a new potential liability. Recent high-profile security breaches have crippled some of Canada’s largest companies such as Empire Foods, Indigo, and Maple Leaf Foods, with costly impacts to the tune of tens of millions of dollars. Organized crime and some nation states are getting better and better at breaching existing security. It’s up to C...2023-03-2131 minDisruptorsCanada’s Quest for Quantum DominanceImagine a mathematical problem so complex, it would take today’s most sophisticated supercomputer 9,000 years to solve. Now, imagine a new type of computer that could solve the very same problem in just a fraction of a second. That’s the promise of quantum computing—and it turns out, Canada is well on its way to becoming a global force in the research, development, and implementation of that cutting-edge technology.On this episode of Disruptors, an RBC podcast, host John Stackhouse is joined by the CEO of Toronto-based Xanadu Quantum Technologies Inc, Christian Weedbrook. Just last year, Xanadu...2023-02-0728 minDisruptorsBiodiversity 3.0: How to Leverage Nature as an AssetWTF: where’s the finance? It was a hot topic at COP27, the UN Climate Conference in Egypt in November, and it continues to be a source of debate at the 15th Conference of the Parties (COP15) of the Convention on Biological Diversity, which is just wrapping up in Montreal.In 2011, 20 targets were set at the Convention on Biological Diversity. A study done nine years later showed that the world had failed to fully achieve a single one. This is not an opportunity we can afford to waste again. But in order to bridge the $700 billion biodiversity fi...2022-12-1526 minDisruptorsThe Growing Challenge Part 2: Beef, biogas, dairy, and data.When people are asked to name the most innovative industries in North America, Canada’s beef and dairy sectors probably aren’t the first ones to come to mind. But it turns out the agrifood business in our country has been undergoing a rapid and dramatic evolution for a number of years now -- and it’s going to need to keep on innovating if it’s going to meet one of the most pressing challenges of our time; climate change. Because while the beef and dairy industries contribute more than $40 billion to the economy, they’re also a key source...2022-11-0833 minDisruptorsThe Growing Challenge: How Canada Can Lead the Next Green Revolution in AgricultureExtreme weather and geopolitical turmoil have placed the world’s food systems under tremendous stress.At the same time, climate change is slowing agricultural productivity among major producing nations, there’s a growing need for more food: globally, over 800 million people are food insecure — meaning that they don’t have access to enough safe and nutritious food to meet their daily needs. In Canada, one-in-six people are food insecure. As a top agricultural exporter, Canada has both a responsibility and an opportunity to help. But agriculture is also one of the biggest contributors to our carbon footprint: by one e...2022-11-0134 minDisruptorsThe Growing Challenge (Trailer)It may not be top of mind for most Canadians -- or the top issue in most public opinion polls -- but it’s one of the greatest challenges our world has ever faced; climate change. And did you know that 10% of Canada’s greenhouse gas emissions can be traced back to the very food we eat?This fall on Disruptors, an RBC podcast, hosts John Stackhouse and Theresa Do will tackle a critical question for the 2020’s -- how can Canada feed its growing population, and potentially the world, while simultaneously reducing our carbon footprint in order...2022-10-1801 minDisruptorsDisruptors LIVE: In Conversation with ApplyBoard’s Martin BasiriDespite the economic storm clouds on the horizon, there is little doubt that Canada’s labour market is in desperate need of talent — and will be for many years to come.In this special LIVE episode of Disruptors, an RBC podcast, host John Stackhouse speaks with tech entrepreneur Martin Basiri about immigrant and employment — specifically, how Canada can build a pathway to citizenship for immigrants, and how companies can do a better job of attracting and retaining this global talent. Basiri is the co-founder and CEO of Kitchener, Ontario’s ApplyBoard. ApplyBoard has an AI-enabled software p...2022-10-1126 minDisruptorsDisruptors LIVE at ELEVATE Festival: In Conversation with John RuffoloInspiration is something that fuels every entrepreneur’s journey — and few stories are as inspiring as John Ruffolo’s.In this special LIVE episode of Disruptors, an RBC podcast, host John Stackhouse speaks with Canadian tech investing legend John Ruffolo at the ELEVATE Festival in downtown Toronto — the largest gathering of creative thought leaders in Canada. Ruffolo is the founder and managing partner of Maverix Private Equity and previously founded OMERS Ventures, where he made several winning bets on Canadian tech powerhouses, including Hootsuite, Wattpad and Shopify. The two talk about Ruffolo’s amazing investing journey, as...2022-09-2724 minDisruptorsNew School Rules: How International Students Could Ease Our Labour CrunchDespite economic turmoil in 2022, Canada continues to experience a very tight labour market. And in many professions — from healthcare to engineering — jobs continue to go unfilled. The answer to this challenge, according to many: Strengthen the pathways from classrooms to citizenship, and leverage the growing presence of international students — now totalling some 600,000 — to meet Canada’s pressing labour needs.In this episode of Disruptors, an RBC podcast, hosts John Stackhouse and Trinh Theresa Do speak with two women leading the charge to foster and retain top international talent. In the first half of the show, they speak to Larissa...2022-09-1328 minDisruptorsDisruptors Revisited: Indigenous Leadership and Canada’s Energy FutureFrom the invasion of Russia to soaring inflation, the rising cost of energy has forced many countries to delay or scale back their climate ambitions. Suddenly, many are also looking to Canada — and its abundance of energy — for desperately needed supply.But in the wake of yet another summer of record heat and forest fires, the need to balance climate and energy security has never been more apparent. That sort of balance — a more holistic approach to energy development — is something that Canada’s Indigenous leaders have been stressing for decades. In this special “Best Of” episode o...2022-07-2630 minDisruptorsThe 10-Minute Take: Are Carbon Offsets Actually Effective?Carbon offsets could counterbalance some of the environmental damage of human activities, including that of short and long-haul flights. But do they actually deliver on this promise? In this edition of Disruptors: The 10-Minute Take, co-host Trinh Theresa Do casts a critical eye on the voluntary carbon market, specifically, carbon offsets. She’s joined by Suha Jethalal, President of Bullfrog Power, who explains how these credits work, and what consumers should think about when buying them. To learn more about Bullfrog Power or their subsidiary less.ca, visit their website. Disruptors wants to hear...2022-07-1910 minDisruptorsThe 10-Minute Take: How Vehicle Shopping Changed OvernightAre you looking to buy a new or used vehicle this year? You may be in for a long wait. In this edition of Disruptors: The 10-Minute Take, co-host Trinh Theresa Do dives into how global chip shortages, rising fuel costs and the summer travel season have upended the market. She’s joined by Cody Green, founder & CEO at Canadadrives.ca, who describes the challenges today’s consumers face when buying or selling vehicles and how tech is helping address them.To learn more about Canadadrives.ca, visit their website.Disruptors wants to hear from you...2022-07-1210 minDisruptorsDisruptors Revisited: The Travel Sector’s Long-Anticipated ComebackAre you planning to take a trip this summer? After two long years of COVID-related complications, Canadians are finally traveling freely again. The cruise sector is back in business, outdoor festivals and other big public events have returned, and of course, air travel is booming, leading to long lines at Canadian airports, thanks to all the pent-up demand from people forced to spend most of the pandemic on the ground. Thankfully, there are technological solutions to some of the headaches associated with booking a trip.On this encore episode of Disruptors, an RBC podcast, hosts John Stackhouse...2022-07-0526 minDisruptorsThe 10-Minute Take: Layoffs rock the tech sectorHow have job cuts changed the fierce war for talent in tech? In this edition of Disruptors: The 10-Minute Take, co-host Trinh Theresa Do explores the wave of uncertainty that’s hit the sector, how firms should be rethinking their strategies and what it all means for tech workers. She’s joined by Anthony Mouchantaf, Director of Venture Capital at RBCx to offer advice for navigating the months ahead.To learn more about RBCx and its offerings, visit www.rbcx.comDisruptors wants to hear from you! Please fill out our quick 5-minute listener survey and y...2022-06-2810 minDisruptorsA Capital Idea: How Indigenous Economics Can Power our Climate AgendaMany Indigenous communities in Canada face unique limitations that inhibit the use of traditional financing – and access to financing – that has long been a stumbling block to economic development. But it takes more than money to achieve economic reconciliation while on the path to Net Zero. “Indigenous capital” is a holistic concept that considers the full wealth of resources held by Indigenous nations, whose leadership and partnership is especially needed in light of Canada’s climate goals.In this episode of Disruptors, an RBC podcast, host Trinh Theresa Do discusses the vital importance of Canada’s Indigenous communities...2022-06-2131 minDisruptorsThe 10-Minute Take: The Pressure Is On for Canadian Farm Crops and CommoditiesIn this edition of Disruptors: The 10-Minute Take, co-hosts John Stackhouse and Trinh Theresa Do explore how uncertain weather conditions and economic challenges are affecting the 2022 growing season, and what solutions are available to support Canadian farmers. How can agriculture technology, or agtech help increase yields? They’re joined by Wade Barnes, founder and former CEO of Farmers Edge (and a farmer himself), to offer some insights.EPISODE NOTES:Read the latest Provincial Report from RBC Economics, Western provincial economies shining more brightly in 2022, at RBC Economics.Disruptors wants to hear from you! Ple...2022-06-1410 minDisruptorsThe 10-Minute Take: Can Canada’s Travel Industry Keep Up With the Post-Pandemic Boom?In this edition of Disruptors: The 10-Minute Take, co-hosts John Stackhouse and Trinh Theresa Do explore the travel industry’s powerful post-crisis rebound. Can the industry keep up with pent-up demand given current labour shortages and record inflation? They’re joined by Claire Fan, Economist at RBC Economics, who breaks down what Canadians’ spending habits reveal.EPISODE NOTES:Read Claire’s new, RBC Proof Point, Canadians are scratching the travel itch again, but can the industry meet demand?, at RBC Thought Leadership.Disruptors wants to hear from you! Please fill out our quick 5-minute l...2022-06-0710 minDisruptorsReinventing Innovation: How Canada Can Prosper in Turbulent TimesInnovation is key to lasting prosperity and meaningful improvements to our quality of life. But what does innovation really mean? Is it enough to just “invent things”—or should we be aiming higher, and seeking out ways to improve all corners of the economy? And how do we actually achieve innovation—in a world where people are working remotely, and global forces are challenging the notion of specialization and collaboration? In this episode of Disruptors, an RBC podcast, co-hosts John Stackhouse and Trinh Theresa Do tackle innovation—and explore how Canada can play a leading role in the innovat...2022-05-3132 minDisruptorsThe 10-Minute Take: A New Reality for Canada’s Hot Housing MarketIn this edition of Disruptors: The 10-Minute Take, co-host Trinh Theresa Do explores why Canada’s housing market has suddenly cooled after a heated two-year pandemic-driven rise. She’s joined by Robert Hogue, Assistant Chief Economist at RBC Economics, who shares insights and predictions on what's to come, for both buyers and sellers. EPISODE NOTES:To read Robert’s latest housing report, “Canada’s housing market taps on the brakes as interest rates rise,” visit RBC Economics.Disruptors wants to hear from you! Please fill out our quick 5-minute listener survey and you’ll be...2022-05-2410 minDisruptorsRock On: Blockchain’s Promise to Empower MusiciansThe past 30 years have been among the most disruptive in music. Starting with peer-to-peer file sharing services such as Napster and Limewire, musicians saw a sudden drop in the money received from each recording—as more and more listeners found ways to get music for free. Eventually, Big Tech would get involved and launch subscription streaming services such as Spotify and Apple Music. But still, artists receive just a fraction of a penny for every song streamed.In this episode of Disruptors, an RBC podcast, co-hosts John Stackhouse and Trinh Theresa Do explore the latest technological disruption to...2022-05-1728 minDisruptorsThe 10-Minute Take: Is Canada Poised for a Cashless Future?In this edition of Disruptors: The 10-Minute Take, host John Stackhouse and co-host Trinh Theresa Do examine why demand for cash in Canada is at its highest level in 60 years. They’re joined by Josh Nye, Senior Economist at RBC Economics, who shares insights on what this means for Canada’s future with digital currencies.EPISODE NOTES:To read Josh’s new report, “Proof Point: Canadians can't kick cash,” visit RBC Thought Leadership.Disruptors wants to hear from you! Please fill out our quick 5-minute listener survey and you’ll be entered into a draw to wi...2022-05-1011 minDisruptorsThe Climate Conversations: How Indigenous Leadership Can Drive Canada’s Energy TransitionThe race to reduce our carbon emissions is on—and many Canadian clean-tech companies and energy producers are working hard to get us there. While seemingly at odds with each other, energy security and climate security are now both possible.But we can't talk about the importance of achieving our climate and energy goals without first acknowledging the failings of our collective past when it comes to Canada's First Nations. And we can’t plan our clean-energy transition without including Canada’s Indigenous people—and embracing their leadership and ownership of energy projects.In this episode...2022-05-0333 minDisruptorsThe Climate Conversations: Can Clean Tech Rise to the Challenge?As Canada and the world search for solutions on how to bring down global emissions, many are looking with hope to the technology sector. And in the world of technology, the Greater Vancouver Area—home to 25 percent of Canada’s clean-tech companies—represents a beacon of hope. In this second episode of a special three-part “Climate Conversations” series on Disruptors, an RBC podcast, host John Stackhouse travels through the heart of B.C.’s Clean Tech Valley and meets several innovators working to decarbonize Canada’s economy.The first stop on the road trip takes John to carbon...2022-04-2636 minDisruptorsThe Climate Conversations: How to Achieve Energy Security in a Low-Carbon WorldCanada and the world have experienced a dramatic series of events in recent years. Unprecedented heatwaves. Once-in-a-generation floods and forest fires. And in 2022, geopolitical upheaval in Europe that’s driving energy prices to record heights. It’s a confluence of crises: At the same time as the world is grappling with how to bring down global emissions, we’re struggling with a shortage of affordable energy—and fighting over the path to a Net Zero future. In this episode of Disruptors, an RBC podcast, host John Stackhouse launches a special three-part series, looking at Canada’s various paths to en...2022-04-1932 minDisruptorsThe 10-Minute Take: Food Inflation & AgtechIn this edition of Disruptors: The 10-Minute Take, host John Stackhouse and co-host Trinh Theresa Do discuss the rising cost of food, and how agtech innovation could hold the key to sustainable, and cost-effective food chains. They’re joined by guest Dave Dinesen, CEO of BC-based CubicFarm Systems, and learn why the company’s vertical farming technologies offer a promising solution.EPISODE NOTES:For more information on CubicFarms’ indoor farming technologies, please visit their website.Disruptors wants to hear from you! Please fill out our quick 5-minute listener survey and you’ll be entered...2022-04-1210 minDisruptorsBrain Power: Why Neurotechnology is Making WavesDuring the past two years, consumers have signed up for health apps and wearable technology, like FitBits or Apple Watches, in record numbers. Everybody is looking for something—anything—to help calm their minds, sleep better, or boost productivity. Meanwhile, a new generation of entrepreneurs is taking wearable health technology a step further to solve some of society’s biggest neurological challenges—including depression and traumatic brain injury—as well as find ways to enhance our quality of life.In this episode of Disruptors, an RBC podcast, co-host Trinh Theresa Do tackles the recent explosion of neurotechnology in Canada...2022-04-0528 minDisruptorsThe 10-Minute Take: The Great Nickel Rush of 2022In this edition of Disruptors: The 10-Minute Take, host John Stackhouse and co-host Trinh Theresa Do explore the crisis happening in today’s global nickel market with guest Sam Crittenden, mining analyst at RBC Capital Markets. What impact will shortages have on tech innovators such as EV manufacturers who rely on this base metal?Disruptors wants to hear from you! Please fill out our quick 5-minute listener survey and you’ll be entered into a draw to win a pair of Apple AirPods Pros.
2022-03-2909 minDisruptorsTaking Off: The Travel Sector’s Long-Anticipated ComebackTo learn more about SnapCommerce and its flagship product, SnapTravel, check out its website here. In the episode, Theresa mentions new travel statistics and trends from the RBC Consumer Spending Tracker. To read more, follow this link.Also mentioned was a new RBC report that looks at the importance of boosting women’s pay and participation in the labour force—and presents some possible solutions. The report, called, “Equal Measures: Advancing Canada's working women in a post-pandemic economy,” can be found here.Disruptors wants to hear from you! Please fill out our quick 5-minute l...2022-03-2226 minDisruptorsThe 10-Minute Take: Cyber Threat – Digital Transformation’s Dark SideIn this edition of Disruptors: The 10-Minute Take, co-host Trinh Theresa Do tackles the hot topic of cybersecurity with Matt Hedberg, Software Analyst at RBC Capital Markets. With cyber attacks increasing in both frequency and severity, how should businesses and individuals protect themselves? For more information on RBC Capital Markets, visit www.rbccm.com.Disruptors wants to hear from you! Please fill out our quick 5-minute listener survey and you’ll be entered into a draw to win a pair of Apple AirPods Pros.
2022-03-1511 minDisruptorsThe Way Forward: The Push for Women’s Inclusion in VCTo learn more about StandUp Ventures, its investment philosophy, as well as its portfolio of women-led enterprises, check out its website here. Diversio uses AI to capture, analyze, diagnose and improve Diversity and Inclusion; learn more at Diversio.com. Diversio, in partnership with the Investor Leadership Network, is also hosting a virtual event, “2022 Inclusion Summit: Closing the Diversity Gap,” on March 24, 2022. To register for the free event, click here.In this episode, reference was made to a report that Diversio worked on with the Canadian Venture Capital and Private Equity Association (CVCA) on the status of di...2022-03-0828 minDisruptorsThe Green Collar RevolutionTo read more about Colin Osborne and what Samuel, Son & Co is doing on the sustainability front, check out the company’s website.In this episode, Theresa mentioned a new report from The Green Skills Network Research Project, which detailed some of the top emerging green jobs in Canada. To read the full report, check it out here. Also mentioned was a new RBC report that looks at how Canadian workers are transitioning to a Net Zero economy. It’s called “Green Collar Jobs: The Skills Revolution Canada Needs to Reach Net Zero,” and you can read...2022-02-2225 minDisruptorsThe Great Resignation . . . or the Great Reshuffle?To read more about David Card and his much-lauded research, check out his website at the University of California, Berkeley. You can also watch his lecture on accepting the Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences here.ApplyBoard uses an AI recruitment platform to connect international students with post-secondary institutions. To learn more, follow this link. And to read about Martin Basiri’s fundraising success (totaling approx. $600 million), check out these two articles.In this episode, Theresa mentioned a new RBC report coming out that looks at how Canadian workers are transitioning to a Net Zero economy. Th...2022-02-0830 minDisruptorsDisruptors: Season Four TrailerDisruptors wants to hear from you! Please fill out our quick 5-minute listener survey and you’ll be entered into a draw to win a pair of Apple AirPods Pros.
2022-02-0101 minDisruptorsThe Climate Conversations: Indigenous Leader JP GladuJP Gladu has taken his extensive experience in corporate Canada to build his own consultancy, Mokwateh. To learn more about what Mokwateh does, check out his website.RBC Economics and Thought Leadership recently published an in-depth report on the path to Net Zero called “The $2 Trillion Transition: Canada’s Road to Net Zero.” The report explores the costs and benefits of Canada’s shift to a carbon-neutral economy—and how it can fuel a new generation of Canadian innovation. To read it, visit RBC.com/netzero. And to hear the full Climate Conversations series, go to RBC.com...2021-12-1435 minDisruptorsThe Climate Conversations: UN Special Envoy Mark Carney To better understand Mark Carney’s role as UN Special Envoy on Climate Action and Finance, read this Q&A published by the United Nations. To learn more about the Glasgow Financial Alliance for Net Zero (GFANZ), co-chaired by Carney, click here. Carney’s latest book, “Values,” was published in March 2021.RBC Economics and Thought Leadership recently published an in-depth report on the path to net-zero called “The $2 Trillion Transition: Canada’s Road to Net Zero.” The report explores the costs and benefits of Canada’s shift to a carbon-neutral economy—and how it can fuel a new generation of C...2021-12-0733 minDisruptorsThe Climate Conversations: Scientist Katharine HayhoeYou can learn more about Dr. Katharine Hayhoe through her personal website or by watching her popular 2018 TED talk, “The most important thing you can do to fight climate change: talk about it." Her latest book, “Saving Us,” was published this fall.RBC Economics and Thought Leadership recently published an in-depth report on the path to net-zero called “The $2 Trillion Transition: Canada’s Road to Net Zero.” The report explores the costs and benefits of Canada’s shift to a carbon-neutral economy—and how it can fuel a new generation of Canadian innovation. To read it, visit RBC.com/netzero...2021-11-3035 minDisruptorsThe Climate Conversations: Can Cities Save Our Planet?Jennifer Keesmaat is one of the founding partners behind Markee Developments, which designs, finances, builds, and affordable housing in Toronto. To learn more, follow this link. To check out some of the projects that Toderian UrbanWorks has been involved in around the world, check out Brent’s website here.Technology companies featured in the episode include SWTCH Energy, Peak Power, and Nexii Building Solutions. Follow the links to find out more about each firm.Finally, RBC Economics and Thought Leadership has recently published an in-depth report on the path to net-zero called “The $2 Trill...2021-11-1637 minDisruptorsThe Climate Conversations: How to Energize Our FutureTo learn more about Suncor’s carbon-reduction efforts, including how it plans to get to net-zero emissions by 2050, read its 2021 Report on Sustainability here.JP Gladu has taken his extensive experience in corporate Canada to build his own consultancy, Mokwateh. To learn more about what Mokwateh does, check out his website.Direct air capture, the technology sold by Carbon Engineering, is best explained by CEO Steve Oldham in this videotaped presentation to the U.S. Senate in 2019. Clean Energy Canada, led by Merran Smith, is regularly undertaking research to better understand the energy lan...2021-11-0936 minDisruptorsThe Climate Conversations: How to Build a Greener Food ChainTo learn more about Maple Leaf Foods and how it is positioning itself to become “the most sustainable protein company on earth,” read the highlights from its 2020 Sustainability Report here. Brent Preston’s journey into organic farming is well documented. You can watch his 2017 TED talk, “The World Needs Less Food,” or read his latest book “The New Farm: Our Ten Years on the Front Lines of the Good Food Revolution,” published by Penguin Randomhouse Canada in 2017.Finally, RBC Economics and Thought Leadership have recently published an in-depth report on the path to net-zero called “The $2 Trillion T...2021-11-0233 minDisruptorsThe Climate Conversations: Where Do We Go From Here?You can learn more about Dr. Katharine Hayhoe through her personal website or by watching her popular 2018 TED talk, “The most important thing you can do to fight climate change: talk about it." Her latest book, “Saving Us,” was published this fall.To better understand Mark Carney’s role as UN Special Envoy on Climate Action and Finance, read this Q&A published by the United Nations. To learn more about the Glasgow Financial Alliance for Net Zero (GFANZ), chaired by Carney, click here. Carney’s latest book, “Values,” was published in March 2021.Finally, RBC Economics and...2021-10-2639 minDisruptorsIntroducing: The Climate Conversations (Trailer)After an unprecedented, deadly summer of wildfire, drought, flooding, and other extreme weather events, Disruptors host John Stackhouse and co-host Trinh Theresa Do cast a critical eye on Canada’s journey toward net-zero emissions, backed by research from RBC’s world-class thought leadership team.
Listeners will hear from an array of experts, including Mark Carney, the U.N.’s special envoy on climate action and finance; Katherine Hayhoe, a world-renowned climate scientist; Mark Little, CEO of Suncor Energy; Michael McCain, president and CEO of Maple Leaf Foods; and many more.
“The Climate Conversations,” a special miniseries on Canada’s path to Net Zero...2021-10-1201 minDisruptorsDisruptors Revisited: Youth Mental Health in the Age of CovidTo learn more about the organizations mentioned in this episode, and the important work they’re doing, you can visit their websites: The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Homewood Research Institute, Frayme: Youth Mental Health Resources. You can also check out these three articles from RBC’s nine-part Resilience 101 series that profile youth mental health leaders and organizations from across the country: How Going Virtual Helps You Access Services and Support, Creating New Life Lines for Youth in Rural Communities, and Taking a Small Town Approach to Youth Mental Health in B...2021-08-3133 minDisruptorsDisruptors Revisited: How 5G Will Transform the Canadian EconomyIn this episode, two reports from RBC’s Thought Leadership group are mentioned. Click the links to read Farmer 4.0: How the Coming Skills Revolution Can Transform Agriculture, and Paging Dr. Data: How the Coming Skills Revolution Can Transform Healthcare. For details on the City of Hamilton’s digital transformation, visit their website. To learn more about IBI Group’s work in building the cities of tomorrow, click here. For the latest on Bell Mobility’s rollout of 5G services, go to Bell.ca—and for the very latest on the Government of Canada’s spectrum auction, follow this link.2021-08-0328 minDisruptorsThe Creativity Economy Part 2: From the Classroom to the BoardroomTo learn more about the companies and institutions who participated in this podcast, visit their websites: I-Think, Sheridan College, Shopify, Lululemon, and Ubisoft Montreal. Richard Florida can be contacted through the strategy firm he founded, the Creative Class Group, and you can also follow him on Twitter; @Richard_Florida. Click the following link to listen to the first episode in this series; The Creativity Economy Part 1: A (New) Power Skill for the 2020s. John also referenced a previous Disruptors episode about gaming and esports, which you can find HERE. You can access RBC’s full research hub on creativity at...2021-04-2737 minDisruptorsCharging Ahead: Canada’s Role in The E-V RevolutionFor details on Propulsion Quebec, its mission, and its business areas, visit propulsionquebec.com. You can learn more about GBatteries and its unique, ultra-fast charging technology at gbatteries.com.Click the following links to read up on GM’s commitment to electrification, its Brightdrop announcement, and its new test track in Oshawa. RBC’s new thought leadership report, “Trading Places: Canada’s Place in a Changing Global Economy”, can be found HERE.John also mentioned a previous Disruptors episode about the ‘Intangibles Economy’ featuring Jim Balsillie, which you can listen to HERE.
2021-03-3043 minDisruptorsDiversity In/Action: Improving Inclusivity in the Tech SectorIt’s something that has the power to enable both empathy and exclusion; to provide us with new perspectives while simultaneously silencing other voices that deserve to be heard: technology.And while the tech platforms we interact with every day demonstrated their value in the lead-up to and during last year’s BLM protests, the companies and culture that created them have long-standing issues with diversity and inclusion. In this Black History Month episode of Disruptors, an RBC podcast, John Stackhouse is pleased to welcome as co-host Michael Carter, the Global Head of Technology Investment Banki...2021-02-1636 minDisruptorsThe Business of Benevolence: How Technology is Changing Charitable Giving in CanadaIt’s something that’s always been a part of the Canadian identity, but has taken on a new urgency over the past twelve months: our tendency to support charities, non-profits, and community organizations. In 2018, Canada’s charitable sector was the second largest on the planet, and we also had one of the highest rates of volunteerism in the world, trailing only the United States, New Zealand, and Norway. Then came the COVID-19 pandemic.On this episode of Disruptors, an RBC Podcast, host John Stackhouse is joined by Kelly Schmitt, the incoming CEO of Benevity, in her first ma...2021-01-2635 minDisruptors2021, Year of the Gamer: How Video Game Culture is Conquering Canada and the WorldDid anyone in your household wake up to find a new video game, virtual reality headset, or console under the tree over the holidays? Do your kids spend hours on end online, watching their favourite gamers on Twitch, Tik-Tok, or YouTube? Is your business struggling to connect with young people, those elusive members of Gen-Z who don’t watch TV, listen to radio, or read newspapers? If your answer to any of those questions is ‘yes’, this podcast is definitely for you.On this episode of Disruptors, an RBC podcast, it’s ‘game on’, as host John Stackhouse di...2021-01-1237 minDisruptorsPandemics, Pivots, and Predictions: Looking Back on 2020 and Ahead to 2021Extraordinary. Unprecedented. Devastating. There’s no shortage of words that have been used to describe everything Canadians have endured over the past 12 months. COVID-19 has fundamentally disrupted our daily lives to such a degree that -- even though a vaccine is now being rolled out -- the ripple effects will be felt for years to come. But what will this “new normal” look like for businesses? Which changes will stick around, and which ones will disappear along with the pandemic? And how will the needs of consumers continue to evolve as we turn another page on our calendars?On t...2020-12-1537 minDisruptorsImpersonal Information: Data and Privacy Protection in 2020 and BeyondWhat do digital privacy and COVID-19 have in common with climate change, Kompromat, counter-espionage hackers, and the new Netflix movie “The Social Dilemma”? They’re just a few of the many topics that come up in a timely and compelling conversation with Canada’s so-called “Hacker King”, on the latest episode of Disruptors, an RBC podcast.On the heels of new federal privacy legislation, host John Stackhouse sits down with Ron Deibert, founder of the Citizen Lab at the University of Toronto’s Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy, and author of Reset: Reclaiming the Internet for Ci...2020-12-0835 minDisruptorsThe Intangibles Economy: How to Make Canada an IP PowerhouseIt’s a term that’s been front and centre this fall, as the federal government considers ways to shepherd Canada out of the economic downturn caused by COVID: intellectual property. But what exactly is IP -- and how could it be central to the recovery?On this episode of Disruptors, an RBC podcast, host John Stackhouse sits down for a no-holds-barred conversation with one of Canada’s most outspoken tech and innovation advocates: Jim Balsillie, a businessman, philanthropist, former co-CEO of Research in Motion, and Chair of Council of Canadian Innovators. Balsillie believes there’s simply too much...2020-11-2432 minDisruptorsFrom Connected Cows to Smart Cities: Enabling the 5G EconomyThere’s been no shortage of hype. Now, after years of headlines heralding it as a transformative technology, an evolution in wireless service, even a “game changer for humanity,” 5G is finally being rolled out across Canada by the big three telecom providers. But are we ready to make the most of it? And what does 5G’s arrival really mean for consumers and businesses? The possibilities are legitimately exciting.On this episode of Disruptors, an RBC podcast, host John Stackhouse examines the true potential of this next-generation of wireless networks, as well as the apps and devices...2020-11-1033 minDisruptorsCan an Algorithm Be Racist? The Growing Push for Ethical AIFrom facial recognition software that fails to recognize women and people of colour, to Twitter algorithms which seem to prefer white faces in photo previews, there’s been no shortage of negative headlines about artificial intelligence over the past few months. But whether we like it or not, AI is at work all around us, all the time, and there’s a growing movement to make sure it’s being used in an ethical way.A new survey from RBC’s world-class artificial intelligence research center, Borealis AI, reveals that most businesses in Canada believe it’s important...2020-10-2028 minDisruptorsApps, Anxiety, and Adolescence: Youth Mental Health in the Age of CovidIt was already a challenge, even before the pandemic: helping young people and their families navigate Canada’s complex, fragmented mental health system. But experts say COVID could also serve as a catalyst for much-needed change, an opportunity to make meaningful improvements. Just like the rest of us, young people are spending more time than ever in front of screens; up to 7.5 hours per day, in the case of high school students. But those same apps and social media sites that are taking up more of our days could also be a force for good, as long as we us...2020-10-1335 minDisruptorsThe SheEO Model: How Female Entrepreneurs Can Lead the RecoveryCanadian women entrepreneurs are a dynamic and powerful economic force. After all, women own and operate almost one-third of all firms in Canada, and they start businesses one-and-a-half times more often than men, driving more than 117-billion dollars of economic activity per year. In other words -- if we want full economic recovery, we need to make sure female entrepreneurs are being given the tools they need. In this episode of Disruptors, powered by RBC, John Stackhouse speaks with Vicki Saunders -- founder of SheEO, an organization of "women supporting women-led Ventures working on the world’s to-do list,” abou...2020-10-0635 minDisruptors8 Ways COVID is Still Disrupting the EconomyThe past eight months have been an unprecedented time of disruption in Canada. The COVID-19 pandemic has affected everything from how we work, learn, and shop to how we travel, entertain ourselves, and obviously, take care of ourselves when we get sick. Businesses have been forced to adapt almost overnight or close. Entire industries have been forced to pivot, and supply chains around the world have been strained or severed completely.It’s against that backdrop that the RBC Thought Leadership Team released a document back in May called “8 Ways COVID Will Disrupt the Economy and Transform Ever...2020-09-2936 minDisruptorsHow the NEXT Generation of Entrepreneurs Could Kickstart a Wave of ChangeWhen others see obstacles, entrepreneurs see opportunities. Nowhere is that more true than the up-and-coming generation of business minds, many fostered through NEXT Canada. The organization gives entrepreneurs a boost through education, mentorship, funding, and access to a strong entrepreneurial network.In this episode of RBC Disruptors, host John Stackhouse speaks with three members of NEXT’s Class of 2020, who have bold goals for reshaping economic and social systems and the environment - which could have wide-ranging impacts for Canada and the world as a whole. They speak confidently, clearly, and urgently about the imperative for better so...2020-09-2235 minDisruptorsCancon and Beyond - How Wattpad Is Becoming a Global Content Destination and DistributorCOVID lockdown restrictions have boosted the desire to consume creative content higher than ever. What’s new about this era is where the content is coming from -- a diversity of voices from around the globe, not originally directly linked to traditional publishing firms, production companies, or movie studios. We explore this phenomenon in this episode of RBC Disruptors by looking into the origin story of Wattpad. As co-founder and CEO Allen Lau tells host John Stackhouse, the company was inspired by the desire for a good app for reading on mobile phones. Now, it’s turne...2020-09-1530 minDisruptorsGenomics and the Bio-Revolution: A roadmap for Canada's economic recovery.It's a branch of molecular biology that humans have been harnessing for centuries, but has come to carry a negative connotation for many Canadians due to concerns about genetically modified organisms: Genomics.A recent report from the McKinsey Global Institute suggests that as much as 60% of the physical inputs to the global economy could be produced biologically, with potential savings of up to 4 TRILLION dollars per year. And as Canada works to recover from the COVID crisis, bio-manufacturing is also being billed as a massive opportunity to address issues like the supply chain vulnerabilities revealed by pandemic...2020-09-0836 minDisruptorsDisruptors Revisited: The Next Generation of EntrepreneurshipFollowing last week’s International Youth Day, Canadian youth might feel like they have few things to celebrate. As one of the hardest-hit groups in the COVID-induced economic decline, they’re faced with a staggering 30% unemployment rate and potential long-term career setbacks. Youth need support more than ever, and the economy needs them. To rebuild, we need to tap into the energy and creativity of young people to reimagine what’s possible. In this episode, we revisit an RBC Disruptors conversation from September, 2019 with Julia Kirouac and Braden Ream, two 20-something founders who decided to start their own ventures. They share...2020-08-1841 minDisruptorsBeyond Silicon Valley: Why We Need a Global Playbook For InnovationNearly 10 years ago, venture capitalist Marc Andreessen famously claimed that “software is eating the world.” But today, a new crop of “frontier innovators” are straying away from disrupting existing industries with software in favour of building new industries, improving current innovation models, and addressing market gaps that Silicon Valley ignored. In his new book, Out-Innovate: How Global Entrepreneurs--from Delhi to Detroit--Are Rewriting the Rules of Silicon Valley, Alex Lazarow interviews more than 200 entrepreneurs from around the world about their challenges, success stories, and what he calls the "frontier," the growing constellation of startup ecosystems, outside of the Valley. On this epi...2020-08-0427 minDisruptorsDisruptors Revisited: Data is Bigger than OilTo succeed in the post-COVID economy, businesses will need more than just a pivot to digital – they’ll need to lean into and harness data to gain an advantage. As the COVID crisis disrupts traditional business models, it’s more important than ever for companies to understand how to leverage data on user behaviour, sales trends, and other variables to re-position themselves for the future. In this episode, we revisit an earlier RBC Disruptors conversation from February, 2020 with Sam Sebastian, CEO of Pelmorex Corp, which owns The Weather Network, on how firms can capitalize on data to gain an edge and gr...2020-07-2836 minDisruptorsDisruptors Revisited: Rewiring the Brain (June 2019)The COVID pandemic has brought everyday life online and made us more reliant on technology than ever. Many of us are working from home and glued to our screens all day, and then Zooming with friends or streaming movies in the evenings. Not to mention our shift to online shopping and ordering food. What effect is all this technology having on us? In this episode, we revisit an earlier but still incredibly relevant RBC Disruptors conversation from June 2019 with Dr. Murali Doraiswamy, a physician and brain scientist at Duke University, on how technology is changing the brain and mind.2020-07-1436 minDisruptorsBeyond the Cart: How Grocery Commerce is TransformingIn the midst of a global crisis, getting food from farm to fork has never been more important, and in some ways, more challenging. Nothing has been more essential than keeping Canadians fed and supplied. At the forefront of this is Loblaw, a fourth-generation Canadian company and the largest non-government employer in the country. Through their COVID pivots they are leading the charge on enhancing customer convenience and keeping Canadians safe and stocked up. Instacart is the North American leader in online grocery – they have the largest grocery delivery network in America with more than 500,000 active full-service shoppers. On th...2020-07-0729 minDisruptorsGlobal Canadians: The Tech Sector's Secret WeaponOver the last 153 years, millions of Canadians have spread to every corner of the world. We have been part of major global movements from the birth of Hollywood to the strategy behind modern day peacekeeping. We know that Canadians are going to play a key role in rebuilding the global economy as we look beyond the pandemic. Laura Buhler, Executive Director of the C100, an association of Canadian expats in the Valley that has helped build Canada's tech ecosystem, and Andre Charoo, General Partner of Maple VC and co-chair of the C100, join John Stackhouse on RBC Disruptors to...2020-06-3027 minDisruptorsThe New Mall: Digital, Data and DeliveryRetail is a massive originator of data, generating 40 terabytes per hour globally. As the industry continues to undergo unprecedented disruption, to survive and continue to thrive in today’s environment, winning retailers are using that data to understand their customers, empower their employees, create intelligent supply chains, and reinvent their business models. Jose Ribau, Executive Vice President, Digital & Innovation at Cadillac Fairview, and four guests join John Stackhouse on RBC Disruptors to explore the future of retail and how malls can compete in a post-pandemic environment.Key Takeaways:The mall of the future will be built on...2020-06-2328 minDisruptorsA Digital Cure for HealthcareOn this episode of RBC Disruptors, John Stackhouse is joined by Valerie Pisano, CEO of MILA in Montreal, and Abhinav Sharma of McGill University to discuss Canadian innovations in AI and machine learning for healthcare delivery, progress in the development of digital contact tracing applications, and the importance of healthcare professionals working hand in hand with technology.Key Takeaways:What will the patient experience look like in 2030?Technology is going to increasingly shape healthcare. But without the human adoption of technology, we'll never see its potentialHow do we navigate data and privacy concerns, while understanding the...2020-06-1632 minDisruptorsHow the COVID-19 Crisis will Transform Higher EducationIn March of 2020, Canada’s post-secondary institutions moved over 2 million students to online learning in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. As the urgency of crisis measures fade to operating in the “new normal”, we are likely to see students demand more from digital-based learning to give them greater flexibility in where, when and how they learn. This collective moment of mass disruption can be seized to move higher education to the digital age. In this episode of RBC Disruptors, John Stackhouse is joined by John Baker, President and CEO of D2L, Charlotte Yates, Provost and Vice Presiden...2020-06-0131 minDisruptorsHow to Build a Strong Tech Workforce in a Post-COVID EconomyCanada has always had a place for talent from all over the world, but post-crisis, will our approach to acquiring global talent need to change? How do we ensure Canadian businesses and workforces are set up for success as the landscape of work has evolved? Innovation and design-centric thinking are key, and for companies of any size, so is building proactive, adaptive and agile teams. On this episode of RBC Disruptors, John Stackhouse is joined by Sheetal Jaitly, Founder and CEO of TribalScale and Eman Faiz, senior product designer at TribalScale to discuss:How do we approach talent...2020-05-2625 minDisruptorsHow Is “Photography 3.0” Helping Us Experience the World in a Post COVID Society?Art has always acted as a mirror to society. Our art changes as things like technology, globalization, and now, a global pandemic drastically alter the way we live our lives. Canada is a hub for creative digital technologies and the arts. In this episode of RBC Disruptors, John Stackhouse is joined by iconic Canadian photographer Ed Burtynsky and his business partner and gaming expert, Vikas Gupta. Together at AVARA Media, they are pushing the boundaries of photography using augmented reality, virtual reality and photogrammetry to create immersive, three-dimensional visual experiences. With people across the globe adjusting to a widely...2020-05-1930 minDisruptorsCan Alberta Tech Transform Global Energy?Alberta’s economy will shrink by billions of dollars in 2020 and the unemployment rate is set to exceed 20%. Starting the year with a price war launched by foreign countries, combined with a global pandemic, demand has been decimated and Alberta’s economy is in crisis.In this episode of RBC Disruptors, John Stackhouse is joined by Alice Reimer, Co-Founder of the51 and Site Lead for Creative Destruction Lab and Marty Reed, CEO of Evok Innovations, to discuss the challenges facing Alberta’s energy sector and the steps Alberta needs to take to ensure our energy sector is a crit...2020-05-0520 minDisruptorsWill the COVID Crisis Lead to a Digital Revolution in Government?In today’s episode of RBC Disruptors, we are joined by Alex Benay, Partner, Digital and Government Solutions at KPMG, former CIO of Canada and one of the world's 100 most influential people in digital government, and Hillary Hartley, Ontario's first Chief Digital and Data Officer, to discuss how governments have pivoted to push out billions of dollars in support to Canadians through the COVID-19 crisis almost entirely through digital channels – and what that could mean for a digital government of the future. In today’s episode we discuss:How the government rapidly shifted to a digital-first approach during the CO...2020-04-2826 minDisruptorsCanadian Innovation in CrisisFor today’s episode of RBC Disruptors, we’re kickstarting our new season with Michael Serbinis and Janet Bannister. Mike is a serial entrepreneur, and founder of League, a Toronto startup focused on providing a digital alternative to traditional health insurance. Janet is the managing partner of Real Ventures, a Montreal-based VC firm. She’s also the first woman to head a major VC outfit in Canada. In today’s episode we discuss:Steps that every business needs to consider to overcome this pandemicThe future of work in Canada, and how we can use technology to transform a lot of pro...2020-04-2132 minDisruptorsRBC Disruptors: Season Two TrailerRBC Disruptors is an ongoing podcast series hosted by SVP John Stackhouse about reimagining Canada’s economy in a time of unprecedented change. It features thought-provoking conversations with Canadian business and innovation leaders about planting the seeds of a new economy.2020-04-2002 min
DisruptorsIs Data Bigger than Oil?The data economy in Canada is worth more than $200 billion. Over the past two years, more data has been created than ever before. And, while Canadian companies invest $40 billion a year in data, many believe that Canada is falling behind its peers when it comes to collecting and leveraging data. So what’s holding us back?
On RBC Disruptors, meet former Google exec Sam Sebastian, CEO of Pelmorex, the Canadian data giant behind The Weather Network that connects with 60M users globally each month. Sebastian and John Stackhouse discuss:
- How Pelmorex is using AI and ma...2020-02-2836 min
DisruptorsWhy Are There so Few Black Entrepreneurs in the Digital Economy?Today on RBC Disruptors, John Stackhouse sits down with two Torontonians who are working to ensure black entrepreneurs have access to more opportunities in the city’s thriving tech sector. They discuss the challenges unique to Canadian black entrepreneurs, the barriers they face getting their ideas off the ground, and why companies that invest in diversity and inclusion tend to be more successful.
Isaac Olowolafe Jr., who heads a Toronto-based asset management firm, is the founder of Dream Maker Ventures – a venture capital fund that invests in diverse founders from marginalized communities. He’s joined by Abdullah Snobar...2020-02-2135 min
DisruptorsHow a Canadian Company Used AI to Detect the CoronavirusOn New Year’s Eve, BlueDot—a Toronto technology company aiming to fight epidemics using AI—saw something concerning. By the next day, BlueDot had alerted its clients of the possible outbreak of a novel coronavirus in Wuhan, China—days before the World Health Organization.
On RBC Disruptors, meet Dr. Kamran Khan, a Canadian physician and entrepreneur using AI and Big Data to create an early-warning system for infectious diseases. Khan and John Stackhouse discuss:
How BlueDot’s early warning system detected the 2020 coronavirus ahead of everyone else
Why Canada is a challenging environment for healthcare innovation...2020-02-1439 min
DisruptorsThe Skills ShiftIn the age of automation, we are undergoing a skills shift. By 2022, 54% of frontline workers will need significant reskilling. Carol Leaman, CEO of Axonify joined us on RBC Disruptors to discuss how they are revolutionizing the way companies retrain their frontline workers
2019-11-0634 min
DisruptorsThe Audience Strikes BackPeoples’ viewing habits are shifting dramatically, with the rise of streaming services and mobile viewing – yet, digital isn’t stopping live entertainment from drawing crowds. Cameron Bailey and Joana Vicente – the co-heads of the Toronto International Film Festival joined the 50th episode of RBC Disruptors to speak to the power of audience in an age of digital experience.
2019-10-0926 min
DisruptorsDisrupting DemocracyTechnology is transforming the vote. Shuman Ghosemajunder, CTO of Shape Security and former click fraud czar at Google joined us on RBC Disruptors to discuss what technology is doing to democracy, and how technology can fix it.
2019-09-1837 min
DisruptorsIn Conversation with Two Next Gen EntrepreneursThe changing nature of work is keeping millennials and gen Z up at night. In a tech-driven economy, the path to success is no longer clear -- so young people are taking control. On this episode of RBC Disruptors, two young entrepreneurs joined us to explain why they founded their companies—and why others should follow in their footsteps. This episode's guests are Julia Kirouac, Founder & CEO of NudFud, and Braden Ream, Founder & CEO of VoiceFlow.
2019-09-0341 min
DisruptorsFrom Burberry to Apple: A Shift in Retail (July 8, 2019)There is a shift happening in retail. Angela Ahrendts, former SVP of Retail at Apple and CEO at Burberry joined us on RBC Disruptors to discuss the trends she's seen from her time at two iconic global brands and to share her vision for the future of retail.
2019-07-0842 min
DisruptorsDisrupting the daily RITUAL Event Highlights (April 24, 2019)When Ritual CEO Ray Reddy was a product manager at Google, he learned a trick from Larry Page: the toothbrush test. If you can use a product twice a day, it will become habit-changing. A ritual. Reddy took this premise and applied it to the last frontier of digitization: the local market. At its core, Ritual is about connecting the physical and digital worlds by monetizing the local, in-person experience. He joined us at the last RBC Disruptors event to share how he’s working to make lines a thing of the past, allowing customers to place orders ahead of...2019-04-2639 min
DisruptorsThe Future of Shipping Event Highlights (April 3, 2019)Global shipping ushered in the modern economy — but in 2019, it still has a 19th-century problem: too much paperwork. With growth in global trade contracting, there is tremendous pressure to find efficiencies. At our latest RBC Disruptors, we took our show on the road to Halifax to talk about the future of shipping with Karen Oldfield, who is tasked with making Halifax the most tech-savvy port on the Eastern seaboard, and Todd Scott, who is at the forefront of simplifying global trade with Blockchain technology.
2019-04-0837 min
Disruptors"Hey Alexa, What's Next for Voice Tech?" Event Highlights (March 28, 2019)The most common question people ask their voice tech assistant isn't “How's the weather?" Not anymore. Today, it's “Alexa, will you marry me?" With 80,000 skills and growing, marriage is maybe the one thing Alexa can’t do. This year, the smart speaker industry will grow to be worth an estimated $7 billion, and demand could potentially surpass that of smartphones. Al Lindsay, a Canadian voice tech pioneer and Amazon’s VP of Alexa Engine Software joined us at the last RBC Disruptors to share his insights into a voice-first world.
2019-04-0224 min
DisruptorsBlackBerry's Big Pivot Event Highlights (Jan. 16, 2019)John Chen didn't set out to be The Turnaround Guy. He just played to his strengths. He’s had plenty to fix at BlackBerry, the iconic Canadian tech company he took over as executive chairman and CEO in 2013. BlackBerry’s CEO & Executive Chairman says he’s driven to do what others think isn’t possible. He spoke at the last RBC Disruptors about trade tensions between the U.S. and China, the future of mobile devices and how artificial intelligence is changing cybersecurity.
2019-01-2131 min
DisruptorsThe Spin Master [Toy] Story Event Highlights (Dec. 4, 2018)Spin Master was founded in 1994 by three friends fresh out of university. They had early hits with the Earth Buddy and Devil Sticks; but it’s when they started investing heavily in R&D that their toy company took off. Today it’s one of the top five toy companies in the world, with sales exceeding $1.5 billion last year. Ronnen Harary, their Co-Founder and Co-CEO joined us at the last RBC Disruptors to share more of their story, and innovation lessons learned along the way.
2018-12-1325 min
DisruptorsSlack: Changing The World With Chat Event Highlights (Oct. 1, 2018)It's hard to talk about Stewart Butterfield without getting into his unorthodox path to the heights of tech. The Canadian entrepreneur spent his early childhood without electricity, taught himself to code, and studied philosophy at Cambridge before falling into a tech career that’s now pitting him against Microsoft and Google. Butterfield’s biggest business success, Slack, is a corporate communications tool aimed at reducing some of the 269 billion emails sent around the world each day. He joined us at the latest RBC Disruptors.
2018-10-1925 min
DisruptorsMental Health In The Digital Age Event Highlights (Sept. 26, 2018)Millions of people have turned to wearables to track their steps, monitor their heart rate and sleeping patterns, and more. For many of us, the fitness tracker is a constant companion. Should tracking our mental health be any different? This was the theme of the latest RBC Disruptors in advance of Mental Illness Awareness Week. This episode's guests are former Olympian and mental health advocate Silken Laumann, Sam Duboc of BEACON and Dan Seider of Stigma.
2018-10-0226 min