IN THE KNOW
TURNING REMOTE WORKERS INTO Virtual Gurus Indigenous tech founder named 2023 Distinguished Entrepreneur of the Year
JA N E T PL IS K A
1 Runway end safety area 2 Taxiway fillets 3 Apron and terminal expansion 4 Apron expansion (remote parking) 5 Runway extension C Cargo reserve
Bobbie Racette, founder is unique. I am proud of the and CEO of talent-as-aopportunities we provide for service platforms Virtual underrepresented folks, by Gurus and askBetty, is the growing Virtual Gurus without Peter B. Gustavson School of losing focus of our North Star,” Business 2023 Distinguished says Racette. Entrepreneur of the Year Racette was told “no” Award recipient. countless times along her Virtual Gurus trains and startup journey. When she connects highly skilled, remote launched the company in 2017 workers based in Canada and with $300 and some help from the U.S., with companies her mom, more than 170 in need of onventure capitalists demand help that turned her down. can be scaled Instead of quickly to taking their meet the advice and changing sidelining needs of her their clients. personal Racette, values to who is appeal to Cree-Métis, traditional has built investors, she her enterprise redoubled her with the goal of commitment to offering equitable her unique vision, opportunities to and began pitching individuals from “impact” investors. underrepresented Today, more communities. than 800 virtual Says Peter assistants are part Gustavson, chair of the Virtual of the DEYA Gurus platform committee: and Racette — Bobbie Racette, founder “Bobbie’s recently closed and CEO of Virtual Gurus, DEYA Awards Winner unwavering a successful focus on building $8.4-million thriving, inclusivity-first funding round, becoming platforms is changing the the first Indigenous woman Canadian tech industry in in Canada to do so. “Bobbie’s important ways.” commitment to her vision The AI-powered Virtual and drive to empower others Gurus platform, and associated is an important example to app askBetty, celebrate our students and any aspiring diversity and prioritize talent entrepreneur,” says Saul Klein, from among Indigenous former dean of the Gustavson and other underserved School of Business. “She communities. has shown how passion and “We listen to our Virtual tenacity can be translated into Gurus stories, and every one business success.”
“We listen to our Virtual Guru stories, and every one is unique.”
70 Teslas, are a promising alternative to diesel-powered tugs — especially at a time when swift, creative solutions are needed to mitigate global warming. Annually, electric and LNG-diesel models produce less carbon-dioxide emissions than diesel-powered alternatives (54 per cent and 24 per cent, respectively). That’s what makes the HaiSea fleet arguably the greenest in the world. Compared to a five-
tug, diesel-only fleet, HaiSea’s fleet will save 9,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions annually. That’s equal to the yearly emissions of 2,000 passenger vehicles. The marine industry has noticed HaiSea’s new fleet, especially the electric tugs. “We’ve given over 120 tours here at Seaspan from companies all over the world,” says Pechie. “The international attention has been nothing short of amazing.”
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