Disruptors Revisited: Three Companies Redefining Resilience in 2021

Resilience may have been the difference-maker this past year. In physics, it describes the ability of an elastic material to absorb energy—particularly from a blow—and then release that energy as it bounces back. But when we think about the people and organizations suffering body blows during Covid, resilience describes the way many not only “bounced back”—but invented new forms, roles or ways of doing business. In this encore episode of Disruptors, an RBC podcast, we hear inspiring stories from three enterprising leaders. Antoni Cimolino is the artistic director of the Stratford Festival—North America’s largest classical repertory theatre company. Through a combination of limited in-person shows and a robust online offering, Stratford is learning not only how to survive but thrive in 2021. Meanwhile, Andrew Feenstra, owner of Cyclesmith, digitally transformed his Halifax bike shop during Covid—and reimagined what it meant to be a retailer. Host John Stackhouse also speaks with Kelly Schmitt, the CEO of Benevity, in the second half of the show. They discuss how her Calgary-based charitable technology company is trying to “infuse a culture of goodness into the world”—and how the digital pivot required by her charitable partners may change the way they give forever.

Disruptors