Biv Today

Demand for tech talent is surging in B.C., which is drawing in global giants and serving as the launching ground for throngs of startups. But does the sector’s growing workforce accurately reflect the demographics of B.C. as a whole? A new report from Vancouver-based HR Tech Group reveals gaps within representation as well as strides being made. HR Tech Group CEO Stephanie Hollingshead joins BIV’s Tyler Orton to discuss.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This episode of EDI on BIV discusses the online education platform Deyen, and how it's inviting Canadians to learn about Canada's colonial history from the perspective of Indigenous women. Chastity Davis-Alphonse, founder of Chastity Davis Consulting and Deyen, discusses transformation, truth and reconciliation, and changing the narrative, one person at a time. BIV executive editor Hayley Woodin hosts. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Small businesses are generally feeling optimistic about their fortunes, according to a new survey from Scotiabank that reveals more than half are doing better or the same as prior to the pandemic. Jason Charlebois, senior vice-president of small business at Scotiabank, joins BIV Today to discuss what’s behind this positive sentiment and what headwinds small businesses must still pay attention to. Tyler Orton hosts. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

People are gearing up for holiday shopping as we speak. One of the big questions hanging over us: more than a year into the pandemic, what kind of role will online shopping play vs. the traditional brick-and-mortar experience? Deloitte Canada has released a new outlook on holiday shopping to answer those questions and more. Marty Weintraub, Deloitte Canada’s national retail practice leader and author of the report, joins BIV Today to discuss what we should expect this year from the holiday shopping experience. Tyler Orton hosts.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wendy Hurlburt, CEO and President of LifeSciencesBC, discusses the reasons behind the booming investment climate for British Columbia life sciences firms and the challenges for start-ups as they build scale. She is in conversation with BIV publisher and editor-in-chief Kirk LaPointe. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The many challenges of protecting the intellectual property of ideas and innovations in the cleantech sector are the focus of a discussion with Roch Ripley, who heads the Intellectual Property department as a partner in the Vancouver office of the Gowling WLG law firm, and Jeanette Jackson, the CEO of the cleantech ecosystem accelerator Foresight. They are in conversation with BIV publisher and editor-in-chief Kirk LaPointe. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Frank Palmer, who returned before the pandemic to DDB Canada to run its Vancouver office under the Palmer Stamnes DDB name, talks about how advertising practices and relationships have changed in his half-century in the business See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The UK High Commissioner to Canada, Susannah Goshko, discusses COP26, Canada-UK relations and the drive for a free trade agreement. She is in conversation with BIV publisher and editor in chief Kirk LaPointe.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This episode of EDI on BIV discusses the online education platform Deyen, and how it's inviting Canadians to learn about Canada's colonial history from the perspective of Indigenous women. Chastity Davis-Alphonse, founder of Chastity Davis Consulting and Deyen, discusses transformation, truth and reconciliation, and changing the narrative, one person at a time. BIV executive editor Hayley Woodin hosts. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

About a dozen unicorns have emerged from B.C. over the past 10 months. Prior to the pandemic, startups reaching valuations of $1 billion or more were a rare breed for the West Coast tech ecosystem. Not the case anymore. Trulioo CEO Steve Munford, who leads one of those recent unicorns, joins BIV Today to discuss his company’s journey. Tyler Orton hosts. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Perrin Beatty, the CEO and President of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, discusses the federal cabinet shuffle, the early priorities of the Justin Trudeau government, and the state of the economy and the business environment in this conversation with BIV publisher and editor-in-chief Kirk LaPointe. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Michael Audain, CEO of Polygon Homes, art collector and supporter, philanthropist and one of British Columbia’s most respected leaders, has written a memoir on his many twists and turns in life, many of them surprising. He discussed One Man In His Time, published this week, with BIV publisher and editor-in-chief Kirk LaPointe. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This episode of EDI on BIV looks at maternity leave — how it's viewed in the corporate world, and how it impacts women and their careers. Jen Murtagh and Sonja Baikogli Foley, co-founders of the newly launched initiative Maturn, discuss the motherhood penalty, and support for mothers in the workplace. Chantelle Krish, CEO of the KidSafe Project Society, joins BIV executive editor Hayley Woodin as a co-host. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The pandemic has exposed many of the inequalities and economic hang-ups that were easier to ignore pre-COVID. But it has also opened the door to change the way we live and the way our economy functions. While we’ve seen the rapid adoption of remote working, employment opportunities for many women have dropped significantly amid the pandemic. So where do we go from here? Earlier this month, the Public Policy Forum hosted a virtual summit in Vancouver aimed at addressing many of these questions, especially with regards to Canada’s digital competitiveness. Edward Greenspon, the president and CEO of the Public Policy Forum, joins Tyler Orton to discuss further on BIV Today.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

 Kendra Johnston, president and CEO of the Association of Mineral Exploration (AME), discusses the resumption of its annual Roundup conference and how the resource industries have contended with the pandemic. She is in conversation with BIV publisher and editor-in-chief Kirk LaPointe. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Expa is the brainchild of Canadian Uber co-founder Garrett Camp. It’s in the business of building startups in cities such as Vancouver. One of the B.C. companies to emerge, cybersecurity firm Cmd, was acquired by Elastic over the summer. So what does it take for a startup studio to build success here in the city? Expa general partner Milun Tesovic joins BIV Today to delve into the city’s startup scene. Tyler Orton hosts.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dr. Mark Britnell, KPMG vice-chair and an international authority on health care spending, believes there are more effective and efficient ways to finance and sustain the health care sector. He is in conversation with BIV publisher and editor-in-chief Kirk LaPointe. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This episode of EDI on BIV examines steps companies can and are taking to change their recruitment processes. Michael Dha, managing director of Strive Recruitment, discusses trends related to recruitment, and how employers can consider equity, diversity and inclusion when hiring. Barinder Bhullar, principal of Mainland Strategies, joins BIV executive editor Hayley Woodin as a co-host. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Semiconductors have been thrust into the public consciousness this year like never before amid ongoing global shortages. B.C. firms, meanwhile, have been making significant advances in the development of these microchips critical to electronic components. Vancouver-based Epic Semiconductors was recently accepted into Canada’s only semiconductor-focused incubator. Chief technology officer Wolf Richter joins BIV Today to discuss the leaps in innovation being made within the industry. Tyler Orton hosts. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

About a dozen unicorns have emerged from B.C. in less than a year. The surge of startups reaching these US$1-billion valuations is unprecedented for the local tech ecosystem. While IPOs and exits have been responsible for many of these valuations, startups have also been going south of the border to seek investors willing to put up big-time capital. Natasha Allen, partner at Foley & Lardner LLP and a member of the law firm’s venture capital, M&A and transactions practices, joins BIV Today to delve into what Canadian startups need to know when connecting with potential American investors. Tyler Orton hosts. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.