Digital Journal

Innovation isn’t just an idea — it’s the backbone of western Canada’s tech ecosystem. That’s why Digital Journal is excited to announce it’s going all in as the official media partner for Calgary’s Innovation Week, hosted by Platform Calgary from November 13-21, 2024. As Calgary’s tech ecosystem takes center stage, we’ll be there covering the innovations, talent, and strategies driving industries forward. "Partnering with Digital Journal means the conversations we’re having here in Calgary will resonate across Canada and beyond," says Terry Rock, President and CEO of Platform Calgary. "This media partnership allows us to showcase the region’s cutting-edge innovations on a national platform, amplifying the voices of our entrepreneurs and leaders in critical industries." What we're planning: • On-the-ground reporting from Calgary’s top tech hubs • Exclusive interviews with innovators in Agtech, Fintech, Cleantech and more • In-depth coverage of pitch competitions showcasing tech talent • Features on industry-specific advancements that are shaping the future • Live interviews and photo stories during Launch Party Read the full announcement ➡️ https://lnkd.in/g6UyBrgH Subscribe for coverage ➡️ https://lnkd.in/gT-y69vE #InnovationWeek #CalgaryTech #DigitalTransformation

Estate planning can be more than just a numbers game — it’s about relationships too. Sydney Black, Associate at Burnet, Duckworth & Palmer LLP, dives into the complex dynamics of joint personal representatives in estates and why naming multiple personal representatives can be both a benefit and a risk. From managing large estates with complex assets to navigating family dynamics, the role of a personal representative requires careful planning and, at times, legal counsel. Key takeaways: ➡️ Personal representatives are responsible for distributing assets and making tough decisions — sometimes unpopular ones. ➡️ Multiple personal representatives can help with workload and family dynamics but can also lead to disputes. ➡️ A clear will with built-in dispute resolution is key to avoiding expensive legal battles. ➡️ If you're dealing with estate litigation or need guidance, this article sheds light on when it might be time to consult a lawyer. Sydney is a member of Digital Journal's Insight Forum. Read the full article here ⤵ https://lnkd.in/gTd-c_Ck

Entrepreneurship is tough—75% of venture-backed startups fail. But what if you didn’t have to go it alone? In her latest Insight Forum article with Digital Journal, Tamara Woolgar, Executive Director of the A100, shares how community can tip the scales in your favor. At the A100, tech founders, investors, and leaders in Western Canada unite to share their hard-earned wisdom, helping each other navigate the ups and downs of the startup journey. Here are her 5️⃣ key takeaways for building a thriving online community: ➡️ Create multiple ways for members to participate. ➡️ Gamify the experience to drive engagement. ➡️ Grow strategically, not necessarily rapidly. ➡️ Let your community take on a life of its own. ➡️ Reinforce a growth mindset. Community isn't just about networking—it's about leveling up together. Read more from Tamara on how A100 is fostering an entrepreneurial ecosystem: https://lnkd.in/g9GyecUG

Women in tech are often asked irrelevant or biased questions about their gender rather than their expertise. At the #ToastSummit, however, the script was flipped and executive-level men in tech were asked the same types of irrelevant questions that women frequently face. The goal is to highlight the stark differences in how men and women are treated in professional settings, using humour to shed light on a serious issue. Moderator Ada Slivinski asked a slew of questions of Tate Hackert, Derek Armstrong, Kevin Kliman and Court Ellingson, including: • Tell me about your experience working in tech as a man • What’s it like raising money as a founder, with your unique perspective as a man? • You’re young and probably thinking about starting a family, so how will that impact your role? • How will you tell investors about balancing being home baking sourdough while also building your little business? The Toast panel wrapped with the speakers offering an honest reflection of the privilege they have, how uncomfortable it feels to be asked questions that have nothing to do with experience and their work, and what it’s like to be different from everyone else in the room.

There are a lot of women doing really cool shit, and three of them spoke today at the #ToastSummit. Chris McMartin, Kim Belair, Callie Lissinna and three-time Olympian, Eleanor Harvey, joined the panel to talk about strategies and mindset that allow you to break barriers. The panel dove into the video game industry, putting technology into space, and competing at the Olympic level. The thing that ties them all together is a refusal to be confined to traditional limitations, and unwavering drive even when it’s really hard. Some key takeaways from the panel: ** Consistency is key ** Eleanor Harvey shared that instead of relying on motivation alone, she has made a commitment to consistency. Even on days when she doesn't feel motivated, she is committed to putting in the work. ** Don’t be afraid to tell people you do things differently ** Kim Belair said her business model when she was starting out required she charge customers a monthly retainer when everyone else in the industry was charging hourly. “We didn’t want to be taken advantage of at the beginning, and we had to re-explain ourselves to every new client. But at a certain point I realized you can just say, that’s how we work.” ** Figure out what works for you ** Eleanor Harvey said it’s easy to get caught up in comparing, and that isn’t always the best path forward. “It’s easy [for me] to think that a German fencer is training four times a day, and I’m not doing enough.” Instead, she said it’s more important to focus on doing what makes you your best self and avoid comparing yourself to others. ** On avoiding burnout ** Kim Belair said it’s a fallacy to think that if you aren’t working all the time you aren’t solving problems. “Pretend that your stress is a fish, and put it in the aquarium to swim around for a bit. It’s OK to think about other things for awhile.” ** Commitment is different from confidence ** If you’re doing something you’re not comfortable with, don’t think about it as a lack of confidence, said Callie Lissinna. That word makes things feel overwhelming, so instead think about what commitment you can make to getting better. “Commitment can seem approachable,” she said, suggesting that it’s a mindset shift where you tackle big problems a little bit at a time until you get better at it. “[You may think]: I'm an amazing entrepreneur, and I used to be able to do a hard task, but today I don't feel that way. But I can commit to working on this for two hours, so that keeps me on.” Lissinna emphasized how committing to tasks and goals can be more achievable than trying to be confident, especially in challenging situations.

Are purpose and profit mutually exclusive? That was the central theme of the "Tech for Good: Balancing Purpose with Profit" panel at the #ToastSummit in Calgary, where women entrepreneurs talked how to build a business with heart and still make money. Moderated by Hilary Kilgour from Audaxa Ventures, the panel explored how social impact and financial success are two sides of the same coin. After facing fertility struggles herself, speaker Latchmi Raghunanan, Ph.D. turned that into a mission to improve women’s health and founded Maman Biomedical. "This is a problem that can be solved, and I can solve it.” she said, and she’s unapologetic about making money while doing it. After a severe brain injury, Sophie Lemieux was confronted with a new reality where she needed a lot of assistance she hadn’t thought about before. Now head of people at Fable, Lemieux shared her experience as a woman living with a disability and how her company is using tech to serve an often-overlooked population. Maureen Codispodi, founder of Help Clinic Canada, highlighted the importance of making mental health care accessible. Codispodi's company keeps its costs low because she’s focused on getting affordable therapy to those who need it. "Not everyone likes our numbers, but the mission matters more," she said. Kilgour wrapped up with a reminder that aligning values with investors is key. "It's not just about profit margins — it's about reinvesting in your mission and community."

“The gender pay gap has tripled over the past five years,” said April Hicke, Co-Founder of Toast. “I want to pause, and I want everyone to think about what that feels like in your body, and the emotions that you feel when you hear that.” Hicke kicked off a #ToastSummit panel focused on tackling inequity in Canadian tech by pointing out that the pay gap in tech was about $7,000 five years ago, and now men get paid $20,000 more than women on average. You read that right: It’s getting worse. “I actually think the whole narrative that justifies inclusion because it is a fit for business and the economy is a tiny bit silly,” said Viet Vu, Manager of Economic Research at The Dais at TMU who has been researching and reporting this data. “If you think about the other side of that, it’s saying that we don't have to care about inclusion if it's bad for business or if it doesn't benefit the economy.” According to Vu’s research, the number of women working in technical roles within the tech industry has remained virtually unchanged for more than two decades. So what will cause change? Hicke pointed out that if men make up the majority of tech leadership, men need to be engaged in the conversation to fix that — but many men are not sure where to start. “I've heard from men who are not really sure how to direct the change,” she said. “They're not sure how we bring them along on the journey.” Vu said that some men fear becoming active allies, and that needs to be addressed. Vu said there are two kinds of fear with men: 1) The fear of not knowing the right language or actions to take, and not wanting to burden women with having to teach men what to do. 2) The fear of isolating themselves from the spaces and communities they currently belong to by becoming vocal allies, as that could be seen as submitting to a different group. The fix, Vu proposed, is a challenge for everyone. “This is a two-way thing. Men absolutely have so much more to do to earn the trust of women. But by ensuring there is a trusted place for them to be able to fuck up is essential.” Vu gave a shout out to all the women in the room who are already doing this, and said gender inequalities can only be overcome when men and women have trust and become active allies. Read and download Vu’s research here: https://lnkd.in/g8jUenfT

Are you a woman looking to get hired in tech? There are a few things to consider said Nneyen Umana, Iva Kubickova and Amenze Sholanke at Toast's second annual #ToastSummit. The panel, moderated by Natalie Taylor, offered a transparent and very real look at the challenges that happen for women who come from other industries or countries. Some of the key takeaways for women looking to get into tech: 1) Does sending resumes work? Umana said it took her just over a year to find her job. She spent time on LinkedIn, replied to Indeed postings, and lost count of how many resumes she sent. She had multiple versions of her resume and even considered not using her real name because she said some people find it hard to pronounce. Instead of firing off resumes, Umana focused on becoming part of the community. Building genuine connections in a community allows people to be seen for their skills, rather than just the name on a resume, she said. 2) Does cold emailing work? For the most part, nope. Amenze Sholanke said she did one-on-one outreach, but that was only moderately successful. If you are going to reach out and email you need to focus on finding common ground for conversation. For Iva Kubickova, emailing didn’t work at all. Instead, she suggested that women could consider volunteering at a company, which can often lead to job offers. 3) How do you prepare for the interview process? Umana said it’s important to own what you know and what you don’t, and don’t worry about not knowing an answer. If you aren’t sure how to address a question, focus on what you do know and expand on that instead. For Kubickova, being curious creates opportunities for great conversation. When she was applying to her current role she didn’t know everything about the industry, but preparing ahead of time and asking open-ended questions built dialogue. 4) How do you get into tech if you don’t have a tech background? Kubickova said a lot of people focus on working with big companies, but smaller companies are often more likely to value leadership skills and see your experience as transferable. Sholanke suggested looking at entry-level roles, or asking to become part of projects as a way to get in and demonstrate what you can do.

Is diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) dead? That was the question posed at the opening of the #ToastSummit in Calgary which champions more women in tech and creating inclusive workplaces. Toast co-founder and CEO, Marissa McNeelands, kicked off the summit by talking about rollbacks in DEI efforts across sectors, including a move away from the terminology, or removing the equity aspect of DEI. “We're seeing it tied to an economic downturn, especially in tech,” said Margaux Miller in the opening fireside chat. The move away from DEI language and efforts is happening because some companies struggle to describe the value of efforts, don’t know how to measure a return on investment, and to avoid tokenization, Miller said. The pullback is happening in the U.S. primarily, but also increasingly in Canada. Miller cited recent data that shows companies that include DEI statements in job openings actually attract fewer people when hiring. “People don’t want to be commodified and become a token hire,” Miller said. Part of the problem with DEI efforts today is tokenization and reducing efforts into surface-level metrics that makes people feel commodified rather than valued for their unique contributions. To avoid that, McNeelands advocated for building community to build a sense of belonging instead of implementing top-down DEI policies that sit on top of a business. Community plays a vital role in fostering true DEI because it prioritizes belonging over tokenization and when people feel like they are part of a genuine community, they experience support, shared purpose, and meaningful connections which drive engagement and retention. Miller agreed, pointing to the Toast Summit as an example. “When you're in this environment, you automatically feel a sense of safety and connection with people there to be that way right from when you walk in the door,” she said. Community-based approaches also allow for organic relationships and collaboration, empowering diverse voices to flourish authentically, while also addressing structural challenges in a more inclusive and sustainable way.

We talk a lot about thought leadership because it works. Congrats to our friends at Digital Journal Group (DJG) and Computer Modelling Group for their well-deserved award for best use of thought leadership in the U.S. Learn more about the program below #B2BElevationAwards #ThoughtLeadership