Dr. Vivienne Ming offers a glimpse into her keynote address at Magnet Network Live. Dr. Ming is a theoretical neuroscientist, entrepreneur, and the co-founder of Socos Labs. Her AI inventions have launched a dozen companies and nonprofits focused on human potential in education, workforce, and health. Dr. Ming explains her idea that we need to challenge ourselves with AI, not simply using it to make life easier, but harder, by having it create “productive friction that makes us better.”

Highlights from our conversation include:

1. Ming says we need to use AI “as our Socrates” to ask us the questions we’ve been “hiding from ourselves.” She asks us to consider what humanity is uniquely good at that AI isn’t. 2. Ming says a great life “goes deep,” is engaged, and is willing to be wrong in order to learn and find something new.

Host: Maggie John

Tiffany Callender joins us to discuss her efforts to help deliver economic empowerment to Black Canadian entrepreneurs. Callender is co-founder and CEO of the Federation of African-Canadian Economics (FACE). Working with the Government of Canada, she co-developed the Black Entrepreneurship Loan Fund. Callender explains how access to capital is an essential need for entrepreneurs, and describes how minorities have traditionally faced difficulty borrowing the funds they need from banks and credit unions. As her work shows, shared lived-experience between lenders and borrowers has improved access to capital for Black Canadian entrepreneurs, illuminating a community of business people “hiding in plain sight.”

Highlights from our conversation include:

1. Callender launched FACE during the COVID-19 pandemic and didn’t meet her team in person until more than a year later. The experience reinforced her belief in the value of digital readiness. 2. “COVID taught us that we need to be everywhere and nowhere at the same time,” she says, explaining how a digital footprint offers an avenue for business growth amid changing circumstances. 3. Networking is an important part of a successful digital strategy, because the right network can help you identify the digital tools you need at different stages of your business’ growth journey.

Host: Maggie John

Darian Kovacs joins us to discuss how small businesses can harness digital tools to maximize the reach and impact of their marketing efforts. Kovacs is the Métis founder of Jelly Digital Marketing & PR and Jelly Academy, based in Vancouver. He hosts the Marketing News Canada podcast, chairs the Digital Marketing Sector Council, and sits on the board of NPower Canada. Kovacs shares what businesses can learn from viral TikTok stars, why the most important social media channels aren’t the ones you think, and why he thinks we’re in the age of “silent social.”

Highlights from our conversation include:

1. Businesses need to be findable and able to respond to customers. The only social media channel that you actually own is your newsletter. You can nurture those contacts and relationships over time, while LinkedIn and Tiktok can change their algorithm tomorrow. 2. Rather than being the sole voice of their brand, businesses need to think about how they can create shareable content that allows customers to be their representatives, while also rewarding that customer loyalty.

Host: Maggie John

Dr. Wendy Cukier joins us to discuss her take on the future of work in Canada. A leading expert on disruptive technologies and innovation, Dr. Cukier is Academic Director of the Diversity Institute at Toronto Metropolitan University. As AI technologies become more common in the workplace, Dr. Cukier argues that workers need both frameworks to support these technologies, and guardrails to ensure they’re used responsibly.

Highlights from our conversation include:

1. Even as Generative AI takes hold, Dr. Cukier sees an ongoing need for non-technical skills, such as the ability to argue, use language, and think critically. Such skills, she says, will be key to effective prompt engineering. 2. Despite rhetoric and backlash against it, diversity remains a competitive advantage for businesses and must continue to be leveraged. 3. Those businesses that are able to leverage inclusion, innovation, productivity, and sustainability will be well positioned for long-term success.

Host: Darian Kovacs

Award-winning and platinum-selling recording artist Jully Black joins us to talk about love and positivity, her accomplished career, and the role of music in advocacy.

Black talks about seizing opportunity, explains what it means to be a ‘co-conspirator,’ and gives us the inside story of her famously edited performance of ‘O Canada’ at the 2023 NBA All-Star game.

Host: Emily Madden

Matt Small joins us to discuss technology’s role in preparing students for the workforce. With more than 20 years of experience in higher education, Small is deeply committed to partnering with the global higher education community to redefine student and institutional success by leveraging Symplicity’s smart, innovative technology. Since becoming President & CEO of Symplicity, he has expanded the company globally with products and acquisitions in Latin America, Canada, Europe, Australia, and the Middle East. Small shares how he sees technology changing the way educational institutions prepare students for the workforce.

Highlights from our conversation include:

1.Students are placing more and more emphasis on employability, and they want to know how universities will prepare them for the workforce and want opportunities to gain work experience through internships and experiential learning. 2. Symplicity helps bridge the gap between students, employers, and post-secondary institutions. The platform has quality jobs that are easy for students to find and apply to, leading to better employment outcomes for students.

Host: Maggie John

Jeff Melanson joins us to discuss how creative industries are leveraging technology to stay innovative. Jeff Melanson is renowned for his inventive approach to disruptive innovation, blending bold strategy with practical vision. As Strategic Partner for Unity Technologies, Partner at the Stratagem Group, and Advisor at Lansberg Gersick Advisors, he excels in identifying hidden talent and growth opportunities. Melanson shares his favourite example of a company staying innovative and changing to keep up with current technology—Nintendo!

Highlights from our conversation include:

1. The importance of encouraging people from a young age to embrace their creativity and thinking outside the box. 2. The necessity of using less technical jargon to make technology more accessible to a wider variety of people. 3. Why being open to change is an important leadership quality for guiding organizations through digital transformation.

Host: Maggie John

Noel Baldwin joins us to discuss the need to address skills gaps in various industries. Noel Baldwin is the Interim Executive Director of the Future Skills Centre (FSC). He brings nearly two decades of experience in leading strategic initiatives and policy development in postsecondary education, adult learning and skills development. Baldwin shares his thoughts on how the pressing need to address skill gaps in various industries requires a collaborative approach between businesses and educational systems.

Highlights from our conversation include:

1. Meaningful engagement from employers is essential to initiate discussions on skills, though SMEs often face challenges in participation. 2. Educational institutions can play a pivotal role by first gaining a deep understanding of employer needs, and then building on Canada's existing skilled workforce.

Host: Maggie John