Is it time to pick a cybersecurity safeword? Mike Storm, Cisco Cybersecurity Distinguished Engineer and our guest on The Catalyst, thinks so. With over 30 years of cybersecurity experience, even he finds himself challenged by new AI-powered scams. Why?   The short answer: At the heart of it, humans are an easier target than computers and software, because human psychology and behaviour have been known quantities for millennia, he says.   Attackers prey on behavior wired into us by...

It’s official: generative AI has permeated the culture, appearing in conversations at work, around the dinner table and yes, even over drinks with friends. With 2024 on the horizon and technology budgets due to reset, C-suite leaders and boards are talking about it, too.   So how do you take this hot topic from casual chat to enterprise strategy?    This week, Craig McQueen, VP of Digital Acceleration at Softchoice, joins hosts Cheryl and Aaron on location at their favorite watering hole to...

Will your next new colleague be a machine? It’s no longer so far-fetched. Natural language interfaces will soon replace software UIs we’re used to with good old fashioned conversation.   That’s according to Doug Smith, GM of Solutions for Microsoft Canada.   This week on The Catalyst, he provides insights into the rapid adoption of GenAI, the hype around it, and why it matters to your business today more than ever.  GenAI tools, such as Microsoft 365 Copilot, are going to make significant...

The best sci-fi stories explore the question, “What exactly does it mean to be human in the face of evolving technology?” As we dive headfirst into the era of generative AI, this philosophical question has taken on a new, more practical dimension. As GenAI begins to upend the ways we work, live and do business, where do humans fit in? How will it change the ways we think about ourselves?  In this episode, host Aaron Brooks explores the influences of AI on the evolution of human society with...

“Upskill or fall behind.” That’s the message to millions of workers facing sweeping changes in technology and a generous helping of economic uncertainty. Okay, but upskill in what, exactly?   In this episode, host Cheryl Stookes meets with Kian Katanforoosh, the CEO and Co-founder of Workera. This California company’s platform uses AI to produce accurate and unbiased skills assessments. From there, it matches workers with the right training plans and materials to meet personal career goals,...

Did you always want to do what you do? Or did your grades and test scores suggest you’d be good at it?  The 2020s are quickly being characterized by astonishing leaps in technology. Meanwhile, our education systems have remained anchored in 19th-century thinking. Rooted in standardized, one-size-fits-all models, the way we engage, develop and measure success for students is about to undergo a profound change thanks to, you guessed it, artificial intelligence.  In this episode of The...

Our data is in danger.   It’s in danger from cybercriminals and malicious state actors. It’s in danger from more frequent and devastating natural disasters. It’s in danger from gaps and oversights in security posture. It’s in danger from people inside our organizations, whether they mean well or otherwise.   It takes heroic efforts from IT teams to prevent the worst outcomes. But who are the people making a difference behind the scenes? How do we find more of them?   This week on The...

Have you ever wondered how the products you use make their way across the world to reach you? The answer is industry ecosystems, intricate webs of people, processes and technology that connect our world and economy behind the scenes. In this episode of The Catalyst, we unravel the concept of industry ecosystems with guest John Comacchio, Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer at Teknion, a future-focused office furniture manufacturer.  From new supply chain hurdles to...

The global semiconductor shortage, triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic, set off a cascading set of challenges. The resulting disruption made it harder than ever to get electronic components and products to where they were needed, leaving consumers, businesses and other organizations in the lurch. Compounding the issue: heavy reliance on semiconductor production in Asia, mainly Taiwan. As uncertainty continues to define the 2020s and geopolitical tensions rise, how can we apply what we’ve...

Decarbonizing our energy grid will take a lot more than adopting alternative power sources. That’s the founding principle behind Recurve, a company on a mission to speed the transition to a carbon-free economy, while making the already fragile energy grid more reliable. Aaron meets with Recurve CEO Matt Golden to discuss why decarbonizing the grid calls for a new approach to flexible demand, through what Recurve calls “virtual power plants.” The discussion highlights the importance of...

You’ve heard of AI applications for all kinds of things, from virtual assistants to super-powered medical research and even voice analysis. But AI-powered window washing? In this episode, Cheryl Stookes meets with Michael Brown, chairman and CEO of Skyline Robotics – the company behind the world's first ever robotic-armed window cleaner. Cheryl and Michael discuss the technology behind OZMO and how it combines lidar and artificial intelligence to transform the window cleaning industry. They...

Leveling up your day-to-day operations may not sound like the most exciting innovation project but let them slip and you’ve lost your customer, possibly for good. In this episode, co-host Aaron Brooks meets with Tommy Yionoulis, CEO and co-founder of OpsAnalitica, an operations management platform designed to help businesses be more efficient (and profitable) through process accountability and data.  Tommy believes the biggest innovation opportunity for businesses isn’t about the shiniest new...

Recessions make business growth challenging – but not impossible. On this episode of The Catalyst by Softchoice, Jason Brommet, Head of Modern Work and Security at Microsoft, returns to the podcast to lay out 3 strategies to help businesses thrive during an economic downturn. From engaging people to closing skills gaps and making things simpler using new AI tools, learn what you need to succeed at doing more with less. Together Cheryl and Jason compare today's situation with the Great...

With Earth Day 2023 just around the corner, new co-host Cheryl Stookes meets with Anureet Kaur, Softchoice’s Sustainability Manager. They discuss what goes into creating an effective ESG strategy – one that aligns environmental and social impact with your business’ bottom line. They also delve into the challenges of reporting on ESG initiatives, a relatively new set of obstacles that many businesses are now facing in today’s economic climate.  Anureet is a Toronto-based sustainability...

Welcome to Season 5 of The Catalyst. In this episode, new co-host Aaron Brooks meets with Sean Austin, CEO and co-founder of Helios, a company pioneering the new field of speech analytics through a voice tone intelligence technology. Helios’ groundbreaking “tonal analysis” application can identify changes in tone, pitch and other vocal characteristics that indicate the speaker's emotional state, attitude and even their level of confidence.  While today Helios is marketing itself to Wall...

From Chat GPT to a looming economic crisis, business leaders everywhere are living through turbulent times. Thankfully, The Catalyst by Softchoice is back with our biggest and most ambitious season ever. In Season 5, we’ll continue to search for answers across 19 new episodes, exploring the intersection of people and technology. And we’ll be doing it all with the help of two new co-hosts. Introducing Cheryl Stookes, Vice President of Revenue Growth and Marketing at Softchoice and Aaron...

In 2023, organizations face big challenges: an exhausted workforce, growing supply chain pressures, rising inflation and a hyper-competitive talent landscape. In this bonus Season 4 episode, Erika meets with Indeed Canada’s Michelle Slater to talk about the era of quiet quitting and rage applying. They get to the heart of why it’s crucial for employers to pay attention to emerging work trends so they can set strategic talent goals for long-term success. Erika also bids farewell to listeners,...

A global pandemic, an ongoing supply chain crisis, a growing skills gap and a concerning labor shortage. The time for transformational businesses to build a more resilient future is now.  What are the biggest lessons of the last few years – and how can we better prepare for what’s to come in 2023? Erika meets with the Chief Operating Officer at Softchoice, Andrew Caprara, to discuss how IT leaders can tackle the challenges ahead strategically and collaboratively, while driving...

The July 9th Rogers telecommunications outage left millions of people and businesses without cell phone or internet service, which in some cases lasted for days. In a world dependent on its digital telecommunications network – how do you prepare for the worst? Erika meets with Softchoice’s Vice President of Business Technologies, Al Lakhani, to discuss the impact of the July 9th Rogers service outage, and what digital leaders can do to be more resilient and better prepared for worst-case...

We all know the best offense is a strong defense – and that’s as true for cybersecurity as it is for football. For all the attention we devote to cybersecurity, it’s a wonder that one essential tool can make all the difference...cyber insurance.  Erika meets with Softchoice’s Director of Security, Matt Sirbu, to discuss the best practices and policies for businesses to stay afloat in a digital era and keep their bottom lines safe.  Featuring: Matt Sirbu – Director of Security at...

Technology leaders need to constantly communicate about complex, nuanced topics – and get people to act on those insights. So, what’s the best way to do it? The answer for Google’s Chief Content Officer, Priyanka Vergadia, lies in visual storytelling. Erika meets with Priyanka – better known as “Cloud Girl” to her online followers – to discuss the beauty and benefits of technical storytelling, female leadership in tech and getting creative with cloud computing.  Featuring: Priyanka Vergadia –...

With the pandemic (mostly) behind us, organizations are struggling to shape their return to office policies. For Microsoft’s Head of Modern Work and Security Business, Jason Brommet, the answer is a no-brainer – the future of work is hybrid and there’s no going back. Erika meets with Jason to discuss how organizations can plan for a future-focused work environment. They explore ways to define the employee experience in a hybrid era and the three tenants that lie at the heart of this...

Blockchain isn’t just about crypto gains and trading NFTs. Aside from endless industrial use cases, you can now use it to invest in the world’s finest wine. Erika meets with Corey Parkinson, the Global Head of Product of Cult Wines, to talk about how his organization is innovating and democratizing the fine wine trade through blockchain technology. Plus, Corey shares insights on how to make the most of Cult Wines new trading app.  Featuring: Corey Parkinson, Global Head of Product at Cult...

How will the metaverse transform modern business? And how can companies seize this virtual opportunity? Medha Parlikar, co-founder and CTO of CasperLabs, joins Erika to explore how IT leaders can leverage the metaverse with real-world applications. Medha reviews the pros and cons of engaging in a virtual world and explains how a 3D version of the internet will create the most immersive user experience yet.  Featuring: Medha Parlikar, Co-Founder and CTO at CasperLabs. Special thanks to...

While on vacation last Spring, Erika caught COVID-19. When her symptoms went from bad to worse, she decided to head to her local hospital, where she was treated and monitored using their highly innovative, digital post care program. On this episode of The Catalyst, Erika speaks to the Director of Community Partnerships at Southlake Regional Health Centre, Gayle Seddon, and the VP of Strategy, Analytics and Communications, Tyler Chalk, to discuss the integrative and collaborate approach they...