This Professional Life

In this episode of "This Professional Life", we dive into the overlooked dimensions of artificial intelligence, where we explore the hidden layers of AI's impact on society, regulations, and environmental concerns. We attempt to uncover the intricate web of artificial intelligence beyond its technological marvels, focusing on the pressing need for comprehensive AI regulation, the environmental footprint of AI related computing centers, semiconductor fabrication facilities, and the profound implications of data usage and privacy. This episode sheds light on the critical conversations we need to have about AI's role in our future, urging a balanced approach to its development and application.Thank you to Daniel Stanley of Future Narratives Labs futurenarrativeslab.org and The Joseph Rowntree Foundation for commissioning the article from Dan https://www.jrf.org.uk/ai-for-public-good/what-we-dont-talk-about-when-we-talk-about-ai

In this podcast episode, we dive deep into the mind of Shawn Kanungo, a master strategist, author of "The Bold Ones", and innovation expert. Shawn shares his insights on how to emulate the disruptive tactics of history's most influential figures, from Drake to Elon Musk, and apply them to your own business endeavors. Whether you're an entrepreneur looking to shake up your industry or an intrapreneur aiming to innovate from within, this conversation is packed with actionable advice, personal anecdotes from Shawn's journey, and a roadmap for creating your own disruption.

I sat down with Leah Tolton, an accomplished lawyer, entrepreneur, and Family Enterprise Advisor (FEA), as she shared her unique journey from a rural upbringing to a thriving legal career. In this episode, Leah delves into the challenges and rewards of corporate law, the significance of building strong professional relationships, and the importance of lifelong learning. Her experiences in navigating family-run businesses, managing high-profile clients, and balancing personal and professional growth offer valuable lessons for professionals like lawyers, accountants, and financial planners. Gather insights, practical advice, and inspiration for professionals looking to advance their careers and grow their practice.

Lynette Tremblay, former COO of Invest Alberta, shares insights on economic development strategies for cities, states, and countries looking to attract business investment. In this episode, we chat about a few topics:The importance of talent attraction and retention policies that focus on company culture and values rather than treating people like commoditiesDiversifying Alberta's energy sector into renewable energy, clean tech, hydrogen, carbon capture, and critical mineralsLeveraging Alberta's expertise in sustainable resource development to provide emissions reduction solutions globallyAg tech innovations happening in Alberta like meat packaging technology to keep meat fresh for 2 years and plant-based proteinsThe concept of circular economy and the symbiotic relationships between companies reusing each other's waste and byproductsThe value of targeted strategic partnerships that align with a region's authentic strengths and specializationsCool innovations Lynette has seen like stingless bees, mushroom protein mimicking meat, and unexpected partnerships between Alberta and BrazilThe need for better storytelling to inspire youth, retain talent, and shift outdated perceptions of Alberta

Join me on This Professional Life's Season 3 Episode 1 podcast as I explore Alberta's emerging tech scene and its rapid transformation from an energy-focused province to a global tech hub. With a forecasted $20 billion spend on digital transformation by 2024, record-breaking venture capital investments, and cities like Edmonton leading in AI research, Alberta is on the tech world's radar. I invited special guest Michael Grantmyre of Oslers, a national law firm in Canada, to share his perspectives and insights on this maturing tech industry in Alberta. Michael is a Partner at Oslers and leads their emerging growth and technology practice group in Alberta. He is often on the front lines helping entrepreneurs turn their visions into commercial reality.

In today's episode, we sit down with Matthew Burgoyne, Partner at law firm Oslers, and co-lead of their digital assets and blockchain practice group. We chat all things law and crypto related, as well as their office's newly built SkyHub, an incubator type space for their startup clients.As we plunge into the middle of 2023, the world of cryptocurrency is experiencing several intriguing trends. One of the most significant is the increasing institutional acceptance of digital assets, with an influx of major corporations, banks, and even countries integrating cryptocurrency into their operations. Decentralized Finance, or DeFi, is another hotspot, revolutionizing traditional financial systems by enabling peer-to-peer transactions and eliminating the need for intermediaries. With NFTs (Non-fungible tokens), we are seeing an unprecedented melding of the arts and digital finance, creating a whole new avenue for artists and creators to monetize their work. Finally, amidst the rising concern for the environmental impact of crypto mining, "green cryptos" have surged to the forefront, pushing for sustainable solutions in blockchain technologies. These trends signal not only the maturation of the crypto space, but also the increasing interplay between cryptocurrencies and the broader socio-economic landscape.

RJ Cui grew up in an Asian family household where career choices like film and media were often frowned upon. Traditional careers like medicine, dentistry, and law were more in line with expectations from a generation of parents where status and higher education took priority over passion. None the less, RJ found a way to harness his creativity and channel his passion for music and film production into a successful media production company.On this episode of This Professional Life, we chat with RJ Cui, CEO of PlanIt Sound, a media production company in Edmonton, AB, Canada, about his journey to success and his insights into the future of media production. PlanIt Sound has created amazing marketing campaigns for an impressive list of clients. Most recently, he was part of the production team working with ESPN on a documentary about a basketball team bringing together the world’s best Indian-origin players to compete in ESPN's TBT basketball tournament.

Ian Bennett is the co-founder and co-owner of Lifted, a video and music production company in Colorado that he runs with his wife to create brand films and online marketing campaigns for small and medium sized businesses. Growing up, Ian was always surrounded by family and other friends that were very business oriented and he points to that as influencing his decision to be an entrepreneur. One of his first jobs was in sales, and he credits some of his earlier experience with giving him the confidence and skill set to strike out on his own.The episode dives into the journey of how Ian and his wife started Lifted, including the mindset he has developed to drive his success forward. Ian also shares some of his insights into the future of digital content production in the face of growing AI tools in the industry.