Episodes
Saturday Jan 27, 2024
Ep 488 - A Ministry of Entrepreneurialism Guest: Naseem Javed
Saturday Jan 27, 2024
Saturday Jan 27, 2024
Ep 488 - A Ministry of Entrepreneurialism
Guest: Naseem Javed
“The world, and in particular Canada, needs to embrace entrepreneurialism as a new frontier to resuscitate our gasping economy,” says Naseen Javed, the CEO and founder of Expothon. “We need a new Ministry of Entrepreneurialism that can ignite an economic revolution.”
Javed says, “This new Ministry will only work if it is managed by entrepreneurs for entrepreneurs. Bureaucrats, academics, and economists live in a world where their theories don’t survive contact with the real world. When you put them in charge of entrepreneurship, they pour sand in the gears of innovation, business agility, and the magic small and medium business create in solving the world’s challenges.”
The potential is enormous. Canada has an opportunity to embrace this concept, says Javed. “We are a knowledge-based country. If we seize the moment and create a legislative and tax environment that fosters rather than hinders entrepreneurs, we can turn around Canada’s sagging per capita GDP and boost the economy.”
We invited Naseem Javed to join us for a Conversation That Matters about unleashing the power of entrepreneurship in an effort to turn around Canada’s sinking economy.
You can see the interview here https://www.conversationsthatmatter.ca/
Learn More about our guests career at careersthatmatter.ca
Join us Feb 6 for Conversations Live - Lethal Exports
Saturday Jan 27, 2024
Ep 487 - The Greatest Gift of All Guest: Paul Sitnam
Saturday Jan 27, 2024
Saturday Jan 27, 2024
Ep 487 - The Greatest Gift of All
Guest: Paul Sitnam
By Stuart McNish
“Impact investing is an investment strategy that aims to generate specific beneficial social or environmental effects in addition to financial gains,” according to Investopedia. It is upheld as a societal good, but it does not include devoting your life to helping others.
“The greatest gift of giving possible is your life’s work,” says Paul Sitnam. He is a living example having done just that for the past 40 years. Sitnam dedicated his life to international humanitarian work in Africa, the South Pacific and the Middle East. His service to others, he says, has “allowed me to work with people in need of a hand up, rather than a handout. I worked with people to help them recover from disasters that shook their confidence.”
Sitnam says, “I quickly dispelled myself of the notion that I was going to save the world. I just tried to do the best I could with the situation I found myself in and the resources available.” He goes on to speak to the power of empathy over sympathy. “Humanitarian work,” he says, “must facilitate victims of a disaster in a manner that allows them to regain their dignity. They need to be treated as much as possible as partners rather than as vulnerable people or beneficiaries. No one likes to be thought of – and treated – as a beggar.”
We invited Paul Sitnam to join us for a Conversation That Matters about making a difference by being where assistance is needed.
You can see the interview here https://www.conversationsthatmatter.ca/
Learn More about our guests career at careersthatmatter.ca
Join us Feb 6 for Conversations Live - Lethal Exports
Saturday Jan 27, 2024
Ep 486 - Can First Nations Save Canada’s Economy? Guest: Chris Sankey
Saturday Jan 27, 2024
Saturday Jan 27, 2024
Ep 486 - Can First Nations Save Canada’s Economy?
Guest: Chris Sankey
By Stuart McNish
“Canada’s per capita growth has been negative three out of the last four quarters,” says Perrin Beatty, the President and CEO of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce. He adds, “Canada needs to do more to attract investment” – a sentiment that was recently shared by a panel of experts for “Conversations Live” about economic reconciliation. Haisla Chief Counselor Crystal Smith said, “First Nations hold the key to the country’s economic future.”
It is a belief held by Indigenous businessman Chris Sankey, who says that “we can’t afford to obstruct BC’s energy sector any longer.” In an op-ed for the Vancouver Sun, Sankey said, “The chilling effect on the investment landscape of our region and of Canada in general has been terrible.”
Moving forward, Sankey is looking to LNG to generate jobs and economic growth. He says, “More than a billion dollars in indigenous procurement spending and benefits have already been negotiated with Coastal GasLink, Kitimat LNG and Woodfibre LNG. And should the Haisla make a final investment decision on Cedar LNG, the opportunities will continue to grow for everyone – not just First Nations. Everyone.”
We invited Chris Sankey to join us for a Conversation That Matters about economic reconciliation and how it can reverse Canada’s sinking attractiveness to investors.
You can see the interview here https://www.conversationsthatmatter.ca/
Learn More about our guests career at careersthatmatter.ca
Join us Feb 6 for Conversations Live - Lethal Exports
Saturday Jan 06, 2024
Ep 485 - The interconnectedness of all things Guest: Wade Davis
Saturday Jan 06, 2024
Saturday Jan 06, 2024
Ep 485 - The interconnectedness of all things
Guest: Wade Davis
By Stuart McNish
The Roman emperor Markus Aurelius posited in his book “Meditations” that “all things are implicated with one another and the bond is holy.” At the time of his writing, it was a philosophical concept. Today it has been proven by science – genomics in particular.
Wade Davis, the great Canadian thinker and anthropologist, in his talk at the Dr. Rix Distinguished Keynote address “The Wayfinders of Genomic Wisdom,” said that “studies of the human genome have left no doubt about the interconnectedness of all things.”
Davis went on to say, “Genomic science unveils the profound truth that we are all connected by the same genetic cloth.” He argues that “indigenous perspectives combined with genome insights can revolutionize conservation, restore ecological balance, mend cultural divisions and provide the antidote to heal an ailing world.”
We invited Wade Davis to join us for a Conversation That Matters about the interconnectedness of life.
You can see the interview here https://www.conversationsthatmatter.ca/
Learn More about our guests career at careersthatmatter.ca
Join us Jan 23 for Conversations Live - Infrastructure Deficit
Saturday Jan 06, 2024
Ep 484 - How to Stop Stereotyping Seniors Guest: Rudy Buttignol
Saturday Jan 06, 2024
Saturday Jan 06, 2024
Ep 484 - How to Stop Stereotyping Seniors
Guest: Rudy Buttignol
By Stuart McNish
More than 7 million people in Canada are older than 64 – that’s just shy of 20 percent of us. I’m one of those people. The issues that all seniors face include, but are not limited to, financial security, health care, and an end to ageism. Rudy Buttignol, the President of the Canadian Association of Retired Persons (CARP), represents associations across the country advocating with all levels of government on behalf of 330,000 members.
According to Buttignol, “The greatest obstacle to achieving better societal outcomes for senior citizens is ageism.” There is a generally held belief that as you age, your body and mind will fall apart and you’ll be grumpy and lonely and you're going to be ill. Buttignol says, “That’s simply not true. They are, however, the basis of bias directed at seniors.”
Those attitudes towards seniors impact so many other aspects of their lives. Buttignol says, “It’s why families worry that seniors can’t remain in their homes. It affects the way health care providers treat senior patients. It’s discrimination.”
Since 1983, CARP has been working to combat stereotypes about seniors. The organization also advocates for tax policy changes that will support homecare, reframing the concept of retirement residences from “institutions” to “homes.”
We invited Rudy Buttignol to join us for a Conversation That Matters about aging well and why we need to respect our elders.
You can see the interview here https://www.conversationsthatmatter.ca/
Learn More about our guests career at careersthatmatter.ca
Join us Jan 23 for Conversations Live - Infrastructure Deficit
Saturday Jan 06, 2024
Saturday Jan 06, 2024
Ep 483 - Youthful Cities: Attracting and retaining a young population
Guest: Robert Barnard
By Stuart McNish
How a city attracts young adults to live and work matters. Robert Barnard, the founder of Youthful Cities, says, “Young adults are vital today and into the future. Attracting young people is important. Equally [as] important is retention – that is, keeping their residents in the city.” On that account, Vancouver is good at attracting but not so good at retaining.
This is a problem, says Barnard. “The vitality of a city is embodied in the young people it attracts to live and work. The key to attracting young people is ensuring cities meet their needs and today, those needs include housing costs, transportation and a commitment to values such as the environment. Essential to keeping those same people are liveable salaries and affordable housing.”
According to Barnard, “COVID-19 dramatically impacted young adults' ability to secure jobs and job skills.” That, in turn, will compound the already decreasing ratio of working-age young people to seniors. Barnard goes on to say, “The impact of the pandemic also means young people have higher levels of debt and housing insecurity.” Youthful Cities has developed a research program called DEVlab, which examines the workforce and skill development gaps of 15- to 29-year-olds impacted by COVID and how to meet those needs.
We invited Robert Barnard of Youthful Cities to join us for a Conversation That Matters about how we engage young people in the building of better cities.
You can see the interview here https://www.conversationsthatmatter.ca/
Learn More about our guests career at careersthatmatter.ca
Join us Jan 23 for Conversations Live - Infrastructure Deficit
Saturday Jan 06, 2024
Ep 482 - Save Our Streets Guest: Jess Ketchum
Saturday Jan 06, 2024
Saturday Jan 06, 2024
Ep 482 - Save Our Streets
Guest: Jess Ketchum
By Stuart McNish
At a press conference at the Woodwards development, the new Save Our Streets (SOS) public safety coalition said, “The growing crime, violence, vandalism and theft crisis is impacting local communities and businesses.” The costs associated with addressing security and safety, according to SOS spokesperson Jess Ketchum, are “jeopardizing the financial viability of many businesses and threatening their survival.”
The compounding effects of the rising lawlessness, according to Ketchum, include but are not limited to “concerns for the safety of shoppers, concerns for the wellbeing of staff, and challenges to attract staff.” As a result, business leaders and concerned citizens formed the coalition to call for a “province-wide, non-partisan movement to raise awareness of the issues and the costs that are passed onto families.”
The coalition has developed a 10-point plan, demanding actions from the government to fulfill its responsibility to address a suite of issues related to the current levels of crime, violence, and fear.
I invited Jess Ketchum of SOS to join me for a Conversation That Matters about ways to combat crime and lawlessness.
You can see the interview here https://www.conversationsthatmatter.ca/
Learn More about our guests career at careersthatmatter.ca
Join us Jan 23 for Conversations Live - Infrastructure Deficit
Saturday Dec 09, 2023
Ep 481 - CleanBC’s $28.1-Billion Price Tag Guest: Ken Peacock
Saturday Dec 09, 2023
Saturday Dec 09, 2023
Ep 481 - CleanBC’s $28.1-Billion Price Tag
Guest: Ken Peacock
By Stuart McNish
The government of British Columbia is aiming to lower CO2 emissions by 40% by 2030. It’s a bold ambition – one that will reduce the BC economy by $28.1 billion, according to a model created by the CleanBC Roadmap. Ken Peacock, the Business Council of British Columbia (BCBC)’s Chief Economist, examined the model and discovered the stunning numbers.
Peacock says, “A $28.1-billion setback is significant.” After adding in emissions caps and a scheduled doubling of the carbon tax over the next seven years, Peacock points out, it “will dampen investment and cap exports.”
Peacock says, “We’re concerned about serious job losses and serious impact to income over the next six years.” Canada is already the poorest performing country in the OECD in per-capita GDP growth. According to BCBC’s analysis, provincial average annual economic growth will slow to 0.4 per cent in the second half of this decade.
I invited Ken Peacock to join me for a Conversation That Matters about setting realistic goals and timelines.
You can see the interview on https://vancouversun.com/tag/conversations-that-matter/
Learn More about our guests career at careersthatmatter.ca
Saturday Dec 09, 2023
Ep 480 - The Impact of Energy Poverty Guest: Jock Finlayson
Saturday Dec 09, 2023
Saturday Dec 09, 2023
Ep 480 - The Impact of Energy Poverty
Guest: Jock Finlayson
By Stuart McNish
Energy poverty, according to the Canadian Urban Sustainability Practitioners, refers to “the experience of households or communities that struggle to heat their homes and power their lights and appliances” – a reality that is playing itself out in the Maritime provinces of Canada, and it has forced the hand of the Prime Minister to offer financial relief.
In his blog, “The Honest Broker,” Roger Pielke Jr. wrote of the “Iron Law of Climate Policy,” a law that demonstrates that when push comes to shove, governments will wilt under pressure from voter’s wallets. “It is,” Pielke says, “a boundary condition.”
The theory of “using higher-priced energy as a tool to accelerate decarbonization makes perfect sense – in bloodless computer models.” Noted economist Jock Finlayson agrees and adds, “In the real world, it is a theory that does not survive contact with the harsh financial realities it imposes on most people.”
We invited Jock Finlayson to join us for a Conversation That Matters about the cost of implementing policies that fail to meet their objectives and the hardship they incur.
You can see the interview here https://www.conversationsthatmatter.ca/
Learn More about our guests career at careersthatmatter.ca
Saturday Dec 09, 2023
Ep 479- Social Purpose: The New Business Mantra Guest: Drew Collier
Saturday Dec 09, 2023
Saturday Dec 09, 2023
Ep 479- Social Purpose: The New Business Mantra
Guest: Drew Collier
By Stuart McNish
Social purpose is emerging as an important and necessary part of business. “What is social purpose?” you ask. Drew Collier, the President and CEO of LGM Financial Services says, “Social purpose is the reason to be in business. It is not just a nice-to-have policy. It is the company’s reason for being – its social ambition – and it is the path to profitability.” It is, in the words of Simon Sinek, “the ‘why we do what we do,’ versus the ‘what we do.’”
In 2022, Larry Fink, the CEO of BlackRock (the largest investment firm in the world), in his letter to CEOs, said, “Your company’s purpose is its north star. Putting your company’s purpose at the foundation of your relationships with stakeholders is critical to long-term success. Employees need to understand and connect with your purpose and when they do, they can be your staunchest advocates.”
The focus on purpose is a move beyond corporate social responsibility, which is a focus on doing good things because they were good. “Social purpose,” Collier says, “is a guidepost that informs products, services, a company’s goals and strategies.”
We invited Drew Collier to join us for a Conversation That Matters about a new way of doing business and doing it with an objective of contributing to a better world.
You can see the interview here https://www.conversationsthatmatter.ca/
Learn More about our guests career at careersthatmatter.ca