Disruptors

Latest Episodes:

Climate Crossroads: Unpacking the Dialogue in the Desert at COP28 Dec 15, 2023

Show notes

Amid the backdrop of an increasingly polarized geopolitical landscape, growing socio-economic challenges and intensifying climate conditions, the 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) hosted its largest ever summit in Dubai with 100,000 attendees. Each COP provides a global stage for nations to collectively address urgent climate issues and foster international cooperation — with the outcomes intended to shape national policies, commitments, and strategies to secure a sustainable future for generations to come. And while these climate talks are critical, what matters most is how countries turn diplomacy into tangible climate action to ensure climate ambitions don't get left in the sand. On this special edition of Disruptors, John Stackhouse is in the hot seat as this year's climate talks come to a close. He is joined by the RBC Climate Action Institute's, Trinh Theresa Do to provide key takeaways and insights from his time on the ground and what they mean for Canada in the race toward net zero. CONNECT & SUBSCRIBE: • Follow RBC Thought Leadership on LinkedIn • Follow John Stackhouse on LinkedIn • For more insights visit RBC Thought Leadership Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Bridging the Growth Gap with AI Innovation Dec 12, 2023

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AI has created a dynamic landscape that presents risks and rewards for our nation, and this is Canada’s chance to reimagine its approach in a way that allows us to increase efficiency, remain competitive and enable economic growth. As a nation, we must leverage AI’s true transformative potential to foster an innovative workforce for the future — so business and society can thrive in a world of increased digital disruption. This episode of Disruptors is a recording of a recent session of the Business + Higher Education Roundtable (BHER), a not-for-profit organization that represents some of Canada’s biggest employers and leading educators tackling some of the most pressing issues facing Canadian prosperity. The roundtable's recent annual meeting, hosted by Valerie Walker (CEO at BHER) featured commentary from Dave McKay (CEO at RBC), Anthony Viel (CEO at Deloitte Canada), Mara Lederman (COO at Signal 1) and Joel Blit (Professor of Economics at UWaterloo) with a focus on AI themes such as the practicality of adoption, workforce implications, ethics and accuracy, and Canada's challenges in becoming a global leader. CONNECT & SUBSCRIBE: • Follow RBC Thought Leadership on LinkedIn • Follow John Stackhouse on LinkedIn • For more insights visit RBC Thought Leadership Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Navigating Canada’s Carbon Frontier Nov 28, 2023

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Carbon markets are at the forefront of climate action and the mobilization of carbon credits and offsets are critical — where each carbon credit holds the promise of a greener future for the Great White North. Join us as we unravel the intricate dance of mobilizing these markets — exploring the interplay of trust, transparency, and tradability — while navigating the delicate balance between economic growth and ecological stewardship. On this episode, we are discussing the hype and reality of carbon markets, the innovation and clean tech that enables carbon removal and the climate action activities that markets need to finance. We’re joined by Michael Berends, the CEO of Clear Blue Markets, Phil DeLuna, the Chief Carbon Officer at Deep Sky, and leadership from Coastal First Nations, whose community is accessing carbon markets to help protect the Great Bear Rainforest — the first offset project in North America to be implemented on traditional territory with unextinguished aboriginal rights and title. CONNECT & SUBSCRIBE: • Follow RBC Thought Leadership on LinkedIn • Follow John Stackhouse on LinkedIn • For more insights visit RBC Thought Leadership Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Mechanical Minds: Exploring the World of AI Robots Nov 14, 2023

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The global race to apply AI to robotics in a way that can make society better is on — offering unprecedented efficiency, precision and enhancing productivity to relieve humans from mundane tasks. Though there are concerns regarding ethical dilemmas and potential job displacement — fueling fears about the societal impact of these advancements. Striking a balance between the benefits and addressing these apprehensions will be key to unlocking a harmonious integration into our daily lives. On this episode of Disruptors, John Stackhouse visits Sanctuary AI — a Canadian company recognized on TIME’s Best Inventions of 2023 — to explore the cutting-edge future of humanoid robotics and is joined by visionary, Suzanne Gildert, the company’s Co-founder and Chief Technology Officer. CONNECT & SUBSCRIBE: • Follow RBC Thought Leadership on LinkedIn • Follow John Stackhouse on LinkedIn • For more insights visit RBC Thought Leadership Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Mapping Canada’s New Greenprint with Sustainable Building Materials Oct 31, 2023

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Climate change and housing affordability are on a collision course, and we're going to need to think differently about how we build our communities across the country. Buildings are critical to the climate transition, whether it’s our homes, offices, hospitals or schools, these structures all have a role to play in the journey to net zero and we need a plan that changes how we design, construct and renovate to make them more sustainable. This week on Disruptors, we’re joined by two leaders in the development of sustainable buildings, Chris Stern, CEO and Co-founder of Carbicrete and Patrick Chouinard, the Founder of Element5 — as we aim to understand how Canada's new greenprint can help solve two of our biggest crises. CONNECT & SUBSCRIBE: • Follow RBC Thought Leadership on LinkedIn • Follow John Stackhouse on LinkedIn • For more insights visit RBC Thought Leadership Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Soaring Toward a Greener Future with Sustainable Aviation Fuel Oct 17, 2023

Show notes

Flying is at the centre of our culture and acts as an enabler for economic growth and development — connecting Canadians and facilitating integration into the global economy.

Sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) is shaking up the aviation industry with an alternative method to power existing aircrafts, with aims of decarbonization to achieve a more sustainable sky.

But can it help Canada reach new heights in the fight against climate change? We’re joined by two experts when it comes to aviation sustainability in Canada, Angela Avery, Executive Vice President, Chief People, Corporate & Sustainability Officer at WestJet Group and Geoff Tauvette, Executive Director at the Canadian Council for Sustainable Aviation Fuels (C-SAF) — as we embark on a journey to better understand how this revolutionary fuel could shape the future of air travel.

CONNECT & SUBSCRIBE:

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

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Forging Canada’s path in a future filled with AI Oct 03, 2023

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Disruptors: Season Seven Trailer Sep 19, 2023

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CONNECT & SUBSCRIBE:

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

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Reboot of “Disruptors LIVE: In Conversation with Applyboard’s Martin Basiri Aug 29, 2023

Show notes

It’s no secret that Canada’s labour market is facing significant challenges, but heading into another school year, there’s hope that a series of regulatory changes enacted by the Federal Government could help get more international students into the workforce.

That’s why we’re highlighting an episode from the past season of Disruptors, an RBC Podcast, featuring a conversation between host John Stackhouse and tech entrepreneur Martin Basiri. Basiri is the co-founder and CEO of Kitchener, Ontario’s ApplyBoard, an AI-enabled software platform that lets students from around the world quickly identify and apply for post-secondary programs in North America, the U.K. and Australia.

Basiri came to Canada as a student himself and has valuable insights to share about the challenges and opportunities facing our country and those who want to study here. You’ll also hear about the Business Higher Education Roundtable, a group of leaders in both business and education who are trying to create better connections between employers and educators right across the country.

CONNECT & SUBSCRIBE:

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

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Reboot of “The Growing Challenge: Part 3: The Hidden Threat of Food Spoilage and Waste” Aug 15, 2023

Show notes

Summer bounties are hitting our dinner, picnic and BBQ tables, and farmers are busy gearing up for another fall harvest season. But have you ever considered how much of the food we produce in Canada never even makes it to your plate? Or how much goes into the green bin?

This year on Disruptors, an RBC Podcast, we tackled the challenge of food waste in a special series called “The Growing Challenge: How Canada Can Lead the Next Green Revolution in Agriculture.” We’re showing good progress on limiting food spoilage and waste, but we can – and need to do – more.

Listen in as host John Stackhouse hears from a variety of experts including Meeru Dhalwala, author, chef, and the co-owner of Vij’s and Rangoli restaurants in Vancouver; Randy Huffman, the Chief Food Safety and Sustainability Officer at Maple Leaf Foods; Kevin Groh, Senior Vice President of Corporate Affairs at Loblaw Companies Limited; and Jeremy Lang, the founder and Vice-President of Sustainability at Pela Earth, the creator of a smart composting system called Lomi.

CONNECT & SUBSCRIBE:

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

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