Disruptors

Latest Episodes:

The 10-Minute Take: Layoffs rock the tech sector Jun 28, 2022

Show notes

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.com
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A Capital Idea: How Indigenous Economics Can Power our Climate Agenda Jun 21, 2022

Show notes

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, f ollow 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.
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The 10-Minute Take: The Pressure Is On for Canadian Farm Crops and Commodities Jun 14, 2022

Show notes

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.
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The 10-Minute Take: Can Canada’s Travel Industry Keep Up With the Post-Pandemic Boom? Jun 07, 2022

Show notes

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.
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Reinventing Innovation: How Canada Can Prosper in Turbulent Times May 31, 2022

Show notes

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.

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The 10-Minute Take: A New Reality for Canada’s Hot Housing Market May 24, 2022

Show notes

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.

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Rock On: Blockchain’s Promise to Empower Musicians May 17, 2022

Show notes

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.

CONNECT & SUBSCRIBE:

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The 10-Minute Take: Is Canada Poised for a Cashless Future? May 10, 2022

Show notes

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.

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The Climate Conversations: How Indigenous Leadership Can Drive Canada’s Energy Transition May 03, 2022

Show notes

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.

CONNECT & SUBSCRIBE:

• Follow RBC Thought Leadership onLinkedIn
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• For more insights visit RBC Thought Leadership

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The Climate Conversations: Can Clean Tech Rise to the Challenge? Apr 26, 2022

Show notes

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.

CONNECT & SUBSCRIBE:

• Follow RBC Thought Leadership onLinkedIn
• Follow John Stackhouse onLinkedIn
• For more insights visit RBC Thought Leadership

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