Disruptors

Despite 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 platform that lets students from around the world quickly identify and apply for university or college programs across North America, the U.K. and Australia. Basiri’s tech platform improves global access to education by streamlining the study abroad search and application process for students all over the world.For any listener looking for work — or looking for workers — this is an episode you won’t want to miss! To learn more about The Business + Higher Education Roundtable (BHER) — the non-partisan, not-for-profit organization that hosted this discussion — follow this link.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. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Inspiration 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 well as his inspiring “road to recovery” from a near-deadly cycling accident in 2020.It’s an insight-filled conversation that will resonate with Canadian entrepreneurs everywhere — a story about resilience, bold risks and hard work. To learn more about John Ruffolo and Mavrix Private Equity, follow this link.Ruffolo is also the co-founder and current vice-chair of the Council of Canadian Innovators. You can find out more about their work here. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Despite 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 Bezo — the president and CEO of the Canadian Bureau for International Education (CBIE). The CBIE is a national, non-profit organization helping Canadian education institutions achieve their internationalization goals. And in the second half, they chat with Pat Chaisang, a former international student from Thailand (now based in Vancouver) who has launched Isempower: a job-search platform for international students hoping to secure meaningful work in Canada. To learn more about the work of the Canadian Bureau of International Education — and its advocacy for international students — check out its website.Isempower describes itself as “Canada’s first job search platform for international students.” To find out more, follow this link.In the episode, Theresa and John reference a new report from RBC Economics and Thought Leadership called “Course Correction: How International Students Can Help Solve Canada’s Labour Crisis.” You can read it here. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

From 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 of Disruptors, an RBC podcast, Trinh Theresa Do revisits three conversations she and her co-host, John Stackhouse, have had over the past season with some of Canada’s most thought-provoking Indigenous leaders. First up, we hear from JP Gladu, a Suncor Energy board member and executive director of the Indigenous Resource Network. And in the second half, it’s Mark Podlasly, director of economic policy at the First Nations Major Projects Coalition, and Crystal Smith, chief councilor of the Haisla Nation and chair of the First Nations LNG Alliance — each bringing their experience and wisdom to bear in this vital discussion about Canada’s energy future.SHOW NOTES: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.The First Nations Major Projects Coalition is a collective of First Nations united to promote shared interests and gain ownership in the major developments in their territories. You can find out more here. To learn more about the Haisla Nation and their history, follow this link. During the episode, Crystal mentions the vital oolichan fishery; to understand more, click here.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. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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 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. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Are 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! 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. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Are 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 and Trinh Theresa Do explore the “new normal” for travel and tourism with Hussein Fazal. Fazal is the CEO of SnapCommerce, whose flagship product, SnapTravel, is an AI-powered half-bot half-human service that helps customers book hotel rooms, flights, and car rentals, either through their website, or through SMS, Messenger and WhatsApp. But despite the fact services like SnapTravel have been logging record traffic, there may be a dark lining to those silver clouds. Inflation is at a 40-year high, gas prices are soaring, and Europe remains engulfed in geopolitical turmoil. It’s fair to say that for those in the travel industry — or folks hoping to travel — there may still be some turbulent skies ahead.SHOW NOTES:To 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 is 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 listener survey and you’ll be entered into a draw to win a pair of Apple AirPods Pros. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

How 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 you’ll be entered into a draw to win a pair of Apple AirPods Pros. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Many 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 as we work to find an economically and environmentally sustainable path to Net-Zero. Her main guest is Sharleen Gale, chief councilor of the Fort Nelson First Nations and chair of the First Nations Major Projects Coalition. Chief Gale is working to bring disparate voices together, from across the country, to build a new model for economic development. We also hear from RBC assistant chief economist Cynthia Leach, lead author of a new RBC report on Indigenous capital; Dawn Madahbee Leach, chair of the National Indigenous Economic Development Board and one of the leaders behind Canada’s new National Indigenous Economic Strategy, and Mark Podlasly, director of economic policy at the First Nations Major Project Coalition.SHOW NOTES:To learn more about the work of the First Nations Major Projects Coalition, follow this link.Chief Sharleen Gale spoke in the episode about how the Fort Nelson First Nation was working to produce geothermal energy from the depleted Clarke Lake gas fields in B.C.; to read more about that initiative, click here. To read more about the National Indigenous Economic Strategy—a blueprint for inclusion of Indigenous Peoples in the Canadian economy—click here.Finally, RBC Economics and Thought Leadership recently launched a new report called “92 to Zero: How economic reconciliation can power Canada’s climate goals.” To read it, and other thought leadership pieces, visit RBC.com/thoughtleadership.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. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In 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! 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. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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 listener survey and you’ll be entered into a draw to win a pair of Apple AirPods Pros. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Innovation 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 innovation economy. Their guests include innovation guru Dan Breznitz, Munk Chair of Innovation Studies at the University of Toronto and author of the 2021 book, Innovation in Real Places: Strategies for Prosperity in an Unforgiving World; and Karen Nutarak and Tessa Lochhead, co-founders of Pirurvik—a groundbreaking preschool in the remote arctic community of Pond Inlet, Nunavut. Whether it’s product or service innovation, process innovation or a wholesale business model innovation, bold risks are what’s needed for Canada to prosper in “an unforgiving world”—and to build a more sustainable future for all. SHOW NOTES:To learn more about Dan Breznitz, click here. His latest book, Innovation in Real Places: Strategies for Prosperity in an Unforgiving World, is available through Oxford University Press or from your favourite book retailer.Pirurvik Preschool combines traditional Inuit knowledge and ways and traditional Inuit child-rearing with Montessori methods; to learn more about it, follow this link. Pirurvik was one of six winning teams at the 2022 Governor General’s Innovation Awards; to read about all the winners, click here.Finally, RBC Economics and Thought Leadership recently launched a new series of reports, with timely economic insights, called Proof Point. To read recent Proof Point reports on how demand for cash is at its highest level in 60 years, or why Atlantic Canada has become a magnet for new residents, visit RBC.com/thoughtleadership.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. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In 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 entered into a draw to win a pair of Apple AirPods Pros. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The 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 shake the music business—blockchain—and ask: Are we ready to pay once again for music—and fully support creators? Their guest is Raine Maida, lead singer of the Juno-award winning band Our Lady Peace and Chief Product Officer for online music marketplace S!NG.Whether it’s NFTs (non-fungible tokens) or disintermediated streaming services, Maida and others believe that the future of music lies in the blockchain—with new ways for enterprising artists to capitalize on their creative output, cut out the middleman, and establish a profitable relationship with their biggest fans. SHOW NOTES:To learn more about the S!NG—and how it creates NFTs for musical artists and stores them in a blockchain wallet—follow this link.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.In the episode, Raine Maida referred to his involvement in a new startup called Drrops—a mobile platform that delivers exclusive experiences, photos and merchandise to fans at live events. Find out more here. Our Lady Peace is touring throughout Canada this summer, starting in Victoria in June. To see their full schedule, click here.Finally, Sasha Braganza from RBCxMusic mentioned a new initiative to support emerging artists, partnering with Sounds Unite to deliver a global mobile music education ecosystem. You can find out more by following RBCxMusic on Instagram. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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 win a pair of Apple AirPods Pros. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The 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 of Disruptors, an RBC podcast, host John Stackhouse speaks with two Indigenous business leaders on how to build a just and equitable energy transition: Mark Podlasly, director of economic policy at the First Nations Major Projects Coalition and an adjunct professor at UBC’s Sauder School of Business; and Crystal Smith, chief councilor of the Haisla Nation and chair of the First Nations LNG Alliance.SHOW NOTES:The First Nations Major Projects Coalition is a collective of First Nations united to promote shared interests and gain ownership in the major developments in their territories. You can find out more here. To learn more about the Haisla Nation and their history, follow this link. During the episode, Crystal mentions the vital Oolichan fishery; to understand more, click here.The First Nations LNG Alliance is a collective of First Nations participating in, and supportive of, LNG development in B.C. You can read more here.Finally, click here to read a new RBC Economics and Thought Leadership report called The New Climate Bargain: How Canada Can Manage Energy & Environmental Security. It explores how Canada can play a role in calming nervous oil markets while developing a framework for a competitive—and decarbonized—oil-and-gas sector.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. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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 capture innovator Svante Inc., where we meet the Burnaby company’s CFO Matt Stevenson. Next up is Loop Energy, also in Burnaby, where John gets a tour of the fuel-cell manufacturer from Loop’s Director of Operations, Rob Stevenson, and CEO Ben Nyland. And the final stop takes John to Vancouver’s Gastown neighbourhood, where we meet Jay Giraud, the CEO and co-founder of electric motorcycle pioneer Damon Motors Inc.SHOW NOTES:To read more about Svante’s carbon capture technologies, and where it’s being applied in the industrial sector, follow this link.Loop Energy’s hydrogen fuel cell technology is being used in both the transportation sector as well as for stationary power generation. To learn more, click here.Damon Motors is building a new 110,000-square-foot manufacturing plant in Surrey, B.C., capable of producing 40,000 electric motorbikes a year. To read more about that, click here. For more on Damon’s EV technology, follow this link.Finally, click here to read, “The New Climate Bargain” a new RBC Economics and Thought Leadership report on how Canada can play a role in calming nervous oil markets while developing a framework for a competitive—and decarbonized—oil-and-gas sector.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. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Canada 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 energy and climate security—and some of the key implications of whatever path we choose. To launch the series, John visits the GLOBE sustainable energy conference in Vancouver, and speaks with some of the key players in the sector. Among his guests: Peter Tertzakian of the ARC Energy Research Institute; Susannah Pierce of Shell Canada; Linda Coady of the Pembina Institute; and Clean Energy Canada’s Merran Smith. Along the way, John and his guests try to answer a few critical questions, including: (1) Is it possible to create a greener oil patch?; (2) Should we be moving more aggressively into renewable energy?; and (3) Who should have a seat at the decision-making table? It’s a thought-provoking series that you won’t want to miss. SHOW NOTES:Calgary’s ARC Energy Research Institute regularly produces blogs, videos and podcasts tackling the biggest energy issues of the day. Check it out by following this link.Shell Canada has committed to becoming a net-zero emissions producer by 2050. To read more about Shell’s commitment, click here.Calgary-based Pembina Institute released a report in March 2022 on the challenges of reducing carbon emissions in Canada’s oilsands. To read it, follow this link.Clean Energy Canada is regularly undertaking research to better understand the energy landscape. To read more on those efforts, check out its website. To hear a previous Disruptors episode featuring executive director Merran Smith, click here.Finally, keep your eye out for a new RBC Economics and Thought Leadership report on how Canada can play a role in calming nervous oil markets while developing a framework for a competitive—and decarbonized—oil-and-gas sector. To read it, follow this link.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. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In 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 into a draw to win a pair of Apple AirPods Pros. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

During 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 with her guest Derek Luke, CEO of InteraXon. InteraXon is the maker of Muse, a popular EEG-powered headband that senses brain activity through meditation exercises and provides real-time feedback to users’ phones or tablets. The idea is a simple but powerful one: by leveraging neurotechnology, consumers can find meaningful ways to live a healthier, happier life.But this technology is not without its limitations, as Derek and Theresa discuss. There are important privacy considerations in handling sensitive data—and ethical considerations with more intrusive forms of neurotech. Still, there’s little doubt that as brain-computer interfaces and headsets like Muse’s grow in popularity, the era of superhuman cognition may be just around the corner.EPISODE NOTES:To learn more about Muse and its brain-sensing headband, follow this link. In the episode, Derek talks about some of the ways in which Muse and its EEG technology is being used in research. To read about those projects, click here.Also mentioned was the University of Toronto’s Creative Destruction Lab, and its new Neuro Stream for entrepreneurs, scientists, researchers and investors. To learn more, click here.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. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In 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. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

To 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 listener survey and you’ll be entered into a draw to win a pair of Apple AirPods Pros. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In 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. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

To 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 diversity, equity, and inclusion within the Canadian venture capital and private equity space. You can read it here.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 listener survey and you’ll be entered into a draw to win a pair of Apple AirPods Pros. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

To learn more about Communitech and their mission to help founders start, grow and succeed, visit Communitech.ca.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. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

To 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 it by visiting RBC Thought Leadership’s homepage.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. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

To learn more about RBCx and their mission to help companies scale, visit rbcx.comDisruptors 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. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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. The report maps out the sectors and jobs undergoing the greatest disruption, the ways skills are shifting within specific professions—and what workers and businesses need to build the green workforce of the future. To learn more, 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 win a pair of Apple AirPods Pros. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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.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/disruptors.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. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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 Canadian innovation. To read it, visit RBC.com/netzero.And to hear the full Climate Conversations series, go to RBC.com/Disruptors.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. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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.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/Disruptors.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. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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 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, especially in the energy sector. To read it, visit RBC.com/netzero.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. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

To 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 landscape. To read more on those efforts, check out its website.Finally, RBC Economics and Thought Leadership has 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, especially in the energy sector. To read it, visit RBC.com/netzero.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. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

To 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 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, including in the agricultural sector. To read it, visit RBC.com/netzero.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. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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 Thought Leadership have recently published an in-depth report on the path to net-zero—called “The $2 Trillion Transition: Planning for Canada’s place in a Net Zero world.” 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.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. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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, is coming soon to Disruptors. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

To 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.C. For more on RBC’s partnership with HRI to study the effectiveness of mental health apps, click here.And for those interested, try the Resiliency Quiz to learn more about how resilient you are today and the strategies you can adopt that will enhance your life-long resiliency. This quiz has been developed by Strong Minds Strong Kids, Psychology Canada with support from RBC Future Launch. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

For more on how the Stratford Festival has embraced a hybrid future—including limited live performances through September, and digital offerings via StratFest@Home—visit their website. To check out Halifax’s Cyclesmith and their online shop, as well as details on its “click and collect” service, click here.And to read Benevity’s The State of Corporate Purpose Report—and how companies are evolving in their approach to charitable giving—follow this link. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In 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. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

To learn about Clearco and its financing model for entrepreneurs, follow this link.If you want to understand more about the record VC year for Canadian tech startups—and how that looks in the global context—check out CB Insights’ State of Venture Q2’21 Report via this link (registration required).In this episode, John also mentions a new report from the RBC Economics and Thought Leadership Team called The Coming Creativity Boom: How human ingenuity will power the 2020s. To read it, go to RBC.com/creativity. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

To learn more about the Centre for Indigenous Innovation and Technology, click here. And to find out more about EntrepreNorth, follow this link. (The work of EntrepreNorth is supported, in part, by the RBC Foundation.)In his segment, Jarret referenced a photo series he was a part of titled “Concrete Indians”; to see the photos, check out his website. Benjamin, in his segment, mentioned a new podcast that EntrepreNorth has launched called Venture Out. You can listen to it here or wherever you get your podcasts.The report referenced from the RBC Economics and Thought Leadership Team— Building Bandwidth: Preparing Indigenous youth for a digital future—will be made available at thoughtleadership.rbc.com Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

To learn more about AbCellera and its antibody discovery platform, follow this link.Canada’s biotech sector was in the spotlight during Covid. To learn more about how it responded—and how the national industry association BIOTECanada views the future of its ecosystem—check out the October 2020 report, Canadian Biotechnology: Solving for today. Building for tomorrow. In his intro, John talks about some of Canada’s supply-chain challenges coming out of the pandemic. For more on the topic from the RBC Economics and Thought Leadership Team, read our recently released report,Trading Places: Canada’s place in a changing global economy, by following this link. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

To learn more about the companies mentioned in the show and the services they offer, follow the links for Maple, Well Health, and Dialogue. Last December, the CD Howe Institute published a report on how technology is transforming healthcare called Canada’s Virtual Care Revolution: A Framework for Success. You can read it here. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

To learn about NASA’s Lunar Gateway project — an outpost that supports a return to the lunar surface as well as deep-space exploration — click here. To see how MDA’s AI-powered Canadarm3 will work on the lunar outpost, watch this video. Curious about what satellites the size of a grilled cheese sandwich can actually do? Follow this link to learn more about Swarm’s tiny two-way communications technology. Sara also mentioned NASA’s CubeSat Launch Initiative — which provides access to space for small satellites to conduct research. Find out more here. In this podcast, Theresa also mentioned new research from the RBC Economics and Thought Leadership team on creativity and its role as an emerging power skill. If you’d like to learn more, please click here. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

To 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 RBC.com/thoughtleadership.*Brittany Forsyth has announced she will be stepping down from her role at Shopify effective June, 2021. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

RBC Tech for Nature is RBC’s multi-year commitment to preserving our natural ecosystem and works with partners to leverage technology and innovation capabilities to solve pressing environmental challenges. Learn more here. To read RBC’s Climate Blueprint, click here.For details on Blockchain for Climate—and how Joseph and his team are using the BITMO platform to issue and exchange climate credits—click here. For more on EcoTrust Canada, which partners with Blockchain for Climate to implement its blockchain project, click here. Joseph also talks about “Article 6” from the Paris Agreement; if you want to do a deep dive into that seminal international agreement, click here.For more information on what Datastream is doing to ensure cleaner waters, click here. Carolyn cites a study from WWF-Canada, and how little is known about the quality of watershed health in Canada; more about that study can be discovered here. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Click the following links to learn more about Cirque du Soleil and its creative process. You can find details on the programs and streams offered by The Creative Destruction Lab HERE, or visit the Rotman School’s page on the University of Toronto’s website. Acumen Law’s homepage is vancouvercriminallaw.com, and you can also follow Kyla Lee on Twitter @IRPLawyer. Learn more about the programs offered by OCAD University on the school’s website. Arrange a tour, or find details about the Metalworks Institute in Mississauga HERE. Theresa referenced a previous episode of Disruptors about NEXT Canada, and the next generation of Canadian entrepreneurs. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

For 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. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

To learn more about DoorDash, its philosophy, and its origin story, you can visit the company’s website. For details on its revenue during the pandemic, read this recent Bloomberg article. John mentioned two previous pieces of RBC research during the podcast, including; “Small Business, Big Pivot” and “Humans wanted: How Canadian Youth Can Thrive in the Age of Disruption”. RBC has also released an updated version of its report on how the pandemic has disrupted the economy, called “And Now the Reset: 9 ways COVID has changed consumers, and business, for the decade ahead.” Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.