The Edge, A Leader's Magazine | Meghan McPeak

THE MILLENNIAL ISSUE

Technology Then and Now...

The Biggest Impacts of the Last 20 Years

THE ECONOMIC OUTLOOK OF Global Millennials

Key Habits of the Most Productive People

Promising Export Markets for Canadians

+

Millennial Leaders Amplifying Change in Canada

ANDRE DE GRASSE MORGAN SWANK

MEGHAN MCPEAK On her Historic Journey in the NBA and her Advice to the Next Generation

Fall 2022

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OVERVIEW FALL 2022

8

FROM THE EDITOR Reflections

10

COVER STORY Meghan McPeak: Blazing Her Path

16 18 22 23 25 26 29 31 33 34

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BUSINESS 9 Habits of the Most Productive People Creating A Meaningful ESG Strategy Morgan Swank: Championing Diversity in Hollywood Kerin John: From Social Media Fame to Store-Front Success

ECONOMICS Millennials and Retirement: A Sisyphean Journey The Economic Outlook of Global Millennials Diana Paredes: Data-Driven RegTech

START-UP 6 Reasons to Start Using Wealthsimple Loren Shifrin: Success Through Reputation and Relationships Marcela Mandeville: Promoting Parity for Women Entrepreneurs

OVERVIEW

FALL 2022

36

Amanda Cupido: Podcasting For Leaders

37

Randell Adjei: Ontario's First Poet Laureate

38

W

E IN N

RS’ CIRCLE

Andre De Grasse: Six-Time Olympian

TECH & INNOVATION Millennial Innovation Stats Technology Then and Now...The Biggest Impacts of the Last 20 Years Nelly Cheboi: Fixing Poverty in Kenya Through Technological Access James Bateman: Linking Patients to Healthcare Ecosystems

POLICIES Best Work Visa Options for Canadians Looking to Work Abroad 6 Promising Export Markets for Canadians Laurin Liu: Advocating for Change Sam Oosterhoff: Youngest MPP in Ontario

LEADERSHIP How Millennial Leaders Will Amplify Change in Canada Jason Kim: What Tech Can Be Tomorrow Larissa Crawford: Decolonizing Traditional Worldviews

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from the editor

Reflections When Meghan McPeak accepted my invitation to be the fall issue cover story interview, I felt a jolt of energy and enthusiasm because she had been top-of–the-mind for me during the last two years. Her historical achievements, admirable leadership qualities, and promising career path have inspired countless people, globally.

Our millennial issue is chock-full of content on significant industry disrupters, self-starters, award-winning entrepreneurs, innovative contenders, and bold visionaries who have shared their stories on entrepreneurship.

They spoke of businesses across continents and oceans, including North America, Africa, Europe, and Asia.

History records that many of our mostoutstanding achievers are millennials and Gen Zers, whose traits often align closely with one another. They are making their mark on the world, with a focus on inclusion, solid public policies, transparency, strong leadership, and sustainability.

As the world accelerates and we navigate economic volatility, pandemic restrictions, international warfare, tight labour markets, and environmental turbulence, these millennial business game-changers have continued building and expanding their empires to scale economic development.

The same is true for most of the clients we acquired on our first business day. Over the years, they have consistently sustained us with multiple projects and referrals.

Likewise, we collaborated and helped their businesses grow and evolve with new technology and digital transformations.

In the face of a looming recession, combined with lagging inflation and high-interest hikes, how we respond to these external circumstances will ultimately determine our strength of character. We must implement strategic actions to forge through these rocky landscapes and reflect on the future with irrefutable rationality. But amidst the constantly shifting narratives and all the noise, there are myriad ways to: •

Dismantle your fears, dare to take calculated risks, and stay in the game;

•

Exercise humility and kindness; don’t let your ego eclipse your pursuit of greatness;

My interest in millennial matters was initiated in the mid-2000s by the challenges I encountered during my start-up phases.

Since then, I have committed to working with this group to acknowledge and perhaps help to understand the stereotypes and negative perceptions of generational gaps. I have had many discussions at my dinner table, boardroom, and meetings on the value, wit, and knowledge they often bring to the organization.

•

Avoid mediocrity and flourish in the company of masterminds and top stakeholders;

•

Rise above the chaos and clutter to focus on your vision because no one can hijack your spotlight;

•

Develop and retain significant customer relationships and move the needle for your clients;

Surprisingly, many of our millennial staff started with us from the outset and have continued working with us, even during our most tumultuous periods, despite the spectacular employee revolution. Their insights and initiatives have transitioned to become part of the foundation of our company’s very existence.

•

And build socially responsible companies and a footprint for the next generation to value.

Consequently, we provide the tools, training, flexibility, and opportunities for personal and professional growth and development. In addition, we cultivate an 8

inclusive culture that recognizes them for their contribution and empowers them in their roles. One of our company’s long-term goals is to provide more opportunities to groups of less advantaged socioeconomic backgrounds to help build families and communities.

the EDGE Fall 2022

It’s also valid for other opinions that if we learned any lessons from the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, it’s just how fundamental diversification is to all businesses and our interconnection. And it matters.

Thanks for reading, and for the ongoing opportunity to be of service.

Jennifer M. Williams jennifer@theedgeleaders.com

“It’s also valid for other opinions that if we learned any lessons from the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, it’s just how fundamental diversification is to all businesses and our interconnection.

And it matters.”

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cover story

MEGHAN MCPEAK Blazing Her Path

by Jennifer M. Williams Editor-In-Chief

Meghan McPeak's passion for basketball and broadcasting started at a young age. It continued during her time at Humber College in Canada, where she studied journalism and played the game. Even though she did not play professionally, she now uses her experiences and skills to cover numerous NBA games.

As a two-time NBA history-maker, Meghan was the first female play-by-play broadcaster to call an NBA game for over three decades. During women's history month, she also served as a play-by-play broadcaster for the NBA's first all-female broadcast on TSN. In addition, she called more than 20 NBA games, including women's and men's basketball, for the 2021 Tokyo Olympic games.

McPeak has been in the spotlight on many occasions, having received a nomination as Best Colour Analyst by the Canadian Screen Awards, and being named one of Sports Illustrated's 100 Most Influential Women in Sports.

As her career thrived, she became a recent contributor on North Courts on CBC Sports and joined The Bring It In, a show with Morgan Campbell.

These days, the confident and vibrant Canadian native is busy perfecting her craft as a play-by-play broadcaster in Washington, D.C., and credits hard work for her successes. We caught up with Meghan amid her hectic schedule, and she shared her story of perseverance, resilience, and authenticity.

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CBS in two instances covering two other WNBA games. I have always loved the game and dreamt of playing professionally.

Still, it was not in the cards, so I transitioned my education and experience into my broadcasting career. I did not immediately foresee this achievement level, but life can throw you a straight or a curve ball at any time.

How has your previous experience as a basketball player and as a journalist contributed to your current roles?

I took radio broadcasting while at Humber College in Toronto, and during my time there, I would also join the broadcast on the men's basketball game after playing in my game. From there, I continued pursuing my broadcasting career following graduation. Then, I joined CFMU [the campus radio statio] at McMaster University in Hamilton, and that opportunity equipped me to take significant steps in my career.

Being a former player allowed me to create a unique style on how I call games because I have a keen eye for accessing a game.

It also gives me the confidence to step into these rooms and engage in conversations that may be considered uncomfortable for others.

The sports world continues to struggle with diversity and inclusion. Have you ever dealt with gender biases or the glass ceiling, and how do you navigate the situation?

Being a woman in sports, we sometimes face different and often complicated situations. I have always relied on my ability to do my job at the highest level, regardless of the circumstances. I also tend to lean a lot more on my support system when things may become burdensome or overwhelming. I see it more on social media than in person, but those incidents continue to happen all around us, every day; I handle it like I would if I were playing, which is to let my game speak for itself.

When were you convinced that your commitment to sports was right for you, and what are some key factors that continue to keep you motivated?

You made history in 2018 and 2021 as the first woman to hold two significant accomplishments in the NBA establishment. How have these experiences impacted you personally and professionally?

Every day, I am channelling my passion. I am very grateful for all the accomplishments up to this point in my career. I am also grateful to those who have been instrumental in helping me, big or small. My successes are stepping stones and chapters in my journey to more extraordinary things. One of the goals I set for myself over the years is to stay focused on my main priorities, but I am consistently putting in a lot of hard work; without the constant grind, I wouldn't have reached this far today.

As a play-by-play broadcaster for a WNBA team, was this part of your dream while growing up in Hamilton, Canada, and did you ever anticipate this high achievement?

I only do play-by-play for one WNBA team — Washington Mystics — but during this season, I had the opportunity to work with

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Ultimately, the people in positions of power hired me because they saw that my background and experience aligned with the job requirements. But on the other hand, I love the game — I love sports, so it's not difficult for me to stay motivated or continue to push myself to keep scaling up in this industry.

Considering that the de facto centre stage of professional basketball is in the U.S., were there particular challenges for you — as a female and a Canadian — to get a secure footing in the industry?

I wouldn't say I had direct challenges getting to the U.S. as a female or Canadian. However, since I began in this industry, I have continued to do the work like an athlete. So, when the position with Monumental Sports & Entertainment was open, I had already built a solid career in the industry. They were as eager to hire me for the job as I was eager to join their organization.

MSE is the ownership group of the Washington Mystics (WNBA), Washington Wizards (NBA), and Capital City Go-Go (NBA G League) on the basketball side.

You've consistently displayed specific respect toward your on-air analyst in the post-game comments. Is there any sensitivity regarding fair play, or is it par for the course in your profession?

As a play-by-play broadcaster, an essential part of my responsibility is to lean on my colour analyst and align with them to showcase their knowledge and expertise in the game. Without that dynamic of having and displaying respect for each other and collaborating as team players, it doesn't work great and isn't an entertaining broadcast for our viewers and fans. So, I steer the ship and ensure that I put my analyst in a position to excel.

What are your thoughts on athlete culture and social justice within the NBA organization, especially over the last three to four years?

Athletes are humans and are entitled to publicly share their experiences and voice their concerns to bring awareness to some of the issues they frequently encounter. But, at the end of the day, when the jerseys come off, and they step outside the arena, [many] are Black men and Black women. They face the same risks being outside in stores and public places and the same risks “driving while Black” as every other Black person in the U.S. or Canada sometimes faces; the jersey doesn't stop stereotyping and racial profiling. So, for these reasons, they must use their platforms to support others and the greater good.

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cover story

“There will be many failures, challenging and tough times, but any obstacle put in front of you will be nothing you cannot overcome.”

You credit social media with helping you build relationships and garner support from other women in the same field.

How effective are these support systems? Is there anyone specific that you wish to mention?

I love social media because it is one tool that helps people to connect with others, which they otherwise wouldn't be able to unless they were in the same public setting (for example, at work, at a sporting event, etc.) The connections I made and people I met within the sports and broadcasting industry have become some of my closest friends and some I consider family. These relationships have consistently helped me, especially when making tough choices, whether professionally or personally.

As a millennial, you've become an influential role model for many ambitious sportscasters. What advice would you give to someone entering the field?

My advice to the next generation is to be true to themselves because it lets them be authentic. At no point should you overinflate your abilities or lie to yourself to make an impression. The combination of perseverance and hard work is also essential to achieving your long-term goals. If a career in broadcasting is what you want, you must have the mindset and the burning desire to work towards that goal.

But, of course, with the constant changes happening in the world, there are many more opportunities for you to reach your personal and professional goals. There will be many failures, challenging and tough times, but any obstacle put in front of you will be nothing you cannot overcome.

Your striking outfits are among your remarkable characteristics. Does that indicate that you might have pursued fashion design as a side hustle?

I take zero credit for my outfits; I usually get help and wardrobe suggestions from friends when [I’m choosing] clothes for games or deciding what I should wear for different occasions. I've never considered delving into fashion, so there is zero chance I will become a fashion designer.

In 2019, you produced and created a mini-series, Inside the Line, and a documentary, No Mercy: The Pops Mensah Bonsu Journey. Are there other upcoming productions or movie roles in the pipeline?

Maybe one day, I may consider producing other documentaries or mini-series, but I love what I'm doing now!

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Can you elaborate on one of your most memorable sports moments and career highlights?

Being part of two championship teams is pretty high on the record, with the Raptors 905 (Toronto Raptors NBA G League affiliate) and the Washington Mystics. I am cherishing these superb opportunities as part of my ongoing career highlights.

What are some of your favourite activities outside work, and how do they help balance your career?

I am still working to figure out the work–life balance, so I will send a follow-up when I know! [Laughs.] Whenever I have downtime, I use it to spend more time with friends. Since I live in Washington, D.C., I'm away from family, so I maintain a strong relationship with a close group of friends around me to fill the void of missing my family back in Hamilton. Thankfully, there is technology, so that helps!

You were recently quoted as saying: "As a woman of colour, I am more afraid of being stopped by a cop with a gun than being followed by a man on the street at night." Did a personal event or experience elicit that comment?

As I mentioned earlier, whether you are an athlete or not, it's no different for me; I wear a headset and not a jersey. However, over the last few years, there has been an evident and ongoing struggle for people in marginalized and Black communities to feel and be safe.

Unfortunately, we have also witnessed countless Black men and women lose their lives senselessly at the hands of the police; I sometimes fear that I could be another hashtag or the next breaking news story. //

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business

NINE HABITS OF THE MOST PRODUCTIVE PEOPLE

by Robyn Karmazyn

W

hen it comes to being productive, most of us probably wish we could step it up a notch or two. But those who successfully accomplish a variety of tasks in their everyday lives may not have always been that way — which means it’s not too late to check more to-do’s off your daily list. Here are nine habits to consider adopting that can help you be more productive.

Pursuing Personal Development No matter how productive a person might seem to observers, they are likely willing to push themselves to improve further.

Personal development is an important skill in general, but it makes particular sense in the context of productivity. Self-motivation might mean taking educational courses to improve one’s career, signing up for extracurricular activities to improve a skill, selflearning for personal or professional interests, seeking out a life coach, and so forth. As Oprah Winfrey has grown exponentially successful — and productive — in her field, she has always been candid about investing in her own personal growth.

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Setting Realistic Goals There’s nothing like setting yourself up for failure by attempting to achieve too much, too quickly. Studies have shown that focusing only on a few tasks at once can help complete them more efficiently. Starting with easier ones that take less time also provides a confidence booster that further motivates productivity.

The expression “time is money” is notorious for a reason — why put off today what you can quickly check off your list and move on to the next thing?

Exercising Regularly Moving your body, keeping yourself fit, getting outside for physical activity — these types of exercises are all necessary for productivity. The mental health benefits — and from a physiological lens — are the endorphins this produces. This can amp up your drive to accomplish other important tasks in your day-to-day life.

Arianna Huffington, co-founder of The Huffington Post, has said, “I try to exercise every day, even if it’s just for 30 minutes. I also do yoga, and I love taking hikes and riding my stationary bike.”

business

Getting Enough Sleep

Eating Healthy

While some people can survive — and thrive — off limited sleep, most of us need that solid eight hours to truly feel rested and ready to take on the day. It makes sense: while awake, your entire body (from muscles to joints to hormones) is working hard to keep you going. By the end of the day, it needs enough rest to recharge and reboot. That also means quality sleep — i.e., no screens or snacking the last hour before you head to bed.

Bill Gates has been quoted saying, “I like to get seven hours of sleep a night because that’s what I need to stay sharp and creative and upbeat.”

Let’s face it: we are what we eat. So, if you have greasy fast food for lunch, you will probably notice yourself lagging throughout the rest of the day. On the other hand, a hearty, balanced sandwich or salad might give you an important boost to keep going. Fruits, vegetables, and nuts as on-the-go snacks? Even better! John Mackey, the CEO and co-founder of Whole Foods, actually practices what he preaches. The innovator was driven by the idea of helping people eat better and live longer.

Motivating Yourself And Staying Focused

You might encounter naysayers who are simply envious of your productivity, which is why it’s even more crucial to hold your ground and continue to forge ahead to reach the goals you set out for yourself. Just as it would be difficult to meet a successful person who lacks confidence, so too would it be difficult to meet a productive one who is deterred by doubt. Arguably, all business leaders exude confidence. If they hadn’t, they would be neither productive nor successful in their fields.

If at first you don’t succeed — and many people won’t — try and try again. Productive people know you simply have to get right back up again when you’re knocked down. Steve Jobs was fired from his own company, but was determined and selfmotivated to keep going. Between maintaining relationships, the inescapable rising costs of living, and carving out time to unwind, it’s no wonder many of us feel anxious and overwhelmed.

Productivity requires balance — which may mean logging off social media sometimes.

Achieving Work–Life Balance Sure, focusing on work is an important part of completing it, but taking breaks to enjoy yourself — mentally, physically, and emotionally — with other people can be highly underestimated.

Having a good work–life balance is another productivity booster.

Spending quality time with family and friends typically helps rejuvenate your spirit, so you can start back up again. It also helps keep your priorities in check. Mark Weinberger, the CEO of Ernst & Young, has become somewhat notorious for balancing his time between clients and colleagues with significant milestones with his daughter.

Exuding Confidence

Developing Productive Habits Although productivity can be difficult to establish, it requires a simple step — starting. Good habits have various benefits, and moving through your day with efficiency might continually motivate you to keep going. There’s something addictive about establishing goals, completing them one by one, and moving on to another task. As most business leaders have already learned, this is an important step towards achieving success — both personally and professionally. //

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business

by Nigel Taklalsingh

E

nvironmental, social, and governance (ESG) strategies refer to an organization’s focus on achieving goals related to climate change, socio-economic causes, and corporate behaviour. While pursuit of these goals may be driven by the organization, they are primarily a response to the public and subsequent government action.

According to Kayla Barnes’ A History of How Modern ESG Came to Be, organizations have focused on ESG strategies for decades, from the 1950s, with unions investing pensions in affordable housing, to the 1970s, with the introduction of the Clean Air and Clean Water Acts in the U.S. In the 1980s, companies started to divest from South Africa’s pro-apartheid government. The 1990s saw the first sustainability index that reported on companies with ESG ratings. In America, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, which passed in 2002, is one of the more notable steps to improving financial reporting and disclosure, which was in response to the accounting scandals in the early 2000s (Cornell Law School, Sarbanes-Oxley Act, 2021).

Why Do You Need an ESG Strategy?

Today, it is even more important, if not imperative, that organizations identify and pursue ESG strategies. The primary force — the

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business

environmental and social causes. Organizations can also realize revenue gains by attracting consumers who have decided to switch brands or are willing to spend more. Costs savings are also available by leveraging government rebates to reduce energy consumption (McKinsey Quarterly, Five Ways that ESG Creates Value, 2021).

How to Develop and Implement an ESG Strategy

consumer — who initially inspired businesses to pursue ESG strategies decades ago, now has more power and influence.

Consumers can access a global network to choose which goods and services to purchase, and they can influence the purchasing power of others through social media.

Two guiding principles are necessary to develop and pursue an ESG strategy. The first principle is longevity — being able to fund and support the strategy over the long term. The second is transparency in reporting on the progress of pursuing an ESG strategy. Adopting these principles often requires executive-level commitment and accountability to achieve ESG objectives. With the guiding principles in mind, the following five stages will help develop and implement an ESG strategy.

1.

Conduct a 360-degree assessment of the organization to identify the environmental, social, and governance areas of importance, based on input from the employees, consumers, suppliers, investors, and communities in which the organization operates. This step helps align the organization and its stakeholder(s).

2.

ESG-focused organizations are also more attractive to investors, considering the 68 per cent increase in global sustainable investing since 2014, representing a $30 trillion market. Investors also believe that organizations with a proven ESG strategy are more effective at ensuring their longer-term success (McKinsey Quarterly, Five Ways that ESG Creates Value, 2021). Millennial investors have placed a priority on ESG-focused firms by “contributing $51.1 billion to sustainable funds in 2020, compared to $5 billion five years ago” (NASDAQ, Millennials Are a Driving Factor in the Growth behind ESG Investments, 2021).

Prioritize areas of importance and map interests to the short-, medium-, and long-term strategic objectives of the organization. Evaluate the needed funding, time, and other requirements to address each area. Related risks, internal and external dependencies, and necessary assumptions should also be identified (Expert Program Management, RAID: Risks, Assumptions, Issues, and Dependencies, 2018).

This step ensures that the pursuit of the ESG goals are compatible with organizational strategy and resources.

3.

Internally, a strong focus on ESG objectives can benefit an organization by helping to attract and retain employees, particularly with the millennial generation that places a high value on

Identify three to five initiatives representative of environmental, social, and governance topics to be addressed within the year. Develop a plan that addresses each topic and identifies quick-wins and interim goals. The organization should be highly confident in its goals being accomplished within the first year. This helps build internal momentum and demonstrates progress towards achieving the goals.

4.

Establish a reporting cadence to monitor progress towards the goals. An executive review of the reports should take place regularly to track progress and address any delays. If there are delays, document the steps taken or any trade-off to bring the plan back on track. This step brings visibility to the progress and challenges to achieving ESG goals.

5.

Communicate the progress of achieving ESG goals regularly to all stakeholders in a simple and clear manner. Combine reporting on ESG goals with financial reporting to provide a balanced view of the organization’s overall performance.

This step builds trust with stakeholders and demonstrates commitment to ESG objectives.

Based on the 2021 Forrester report, Empowered Consumers Call for Sustainability Transformation, consumers lean more towards brands with strong environmental and community interests. The research states that over 30 per cent of consumers focus on poverty and hunger, and over 60 per cent of consumers make purchases based on a company’s efforts towards energy efficiency. The shift in consumer preferences was also evident in Accenture’s 2021 Life Reimagined report, identifying preferences as “powerful enough to drive brand switching and willingness to spend more.”

Therefore, consumers look for brands that reflect their values.

The pursuit of environmental, social, and governance goals is a minimum requirement for conducting business. Achieving ESG goals creates goodwill with an organization’s stakeholders.

Completing these five stages will help an organization develop an ESG strategy that is achievable — based on organizational priorities — and has meaning to its stakeholders. //

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business

MORGAN SWANK

Co-Founder and CEO of Moonscar Productions Championing Diversity in Hollywood Since #OscarsSoWhite trended on Twitter in 2015 and 2016, Hollywood has been making efforts to improve diversity and inclusion behind the scenes. As it stands now, according to the UCLA Hollywood Diversity Report, there’s still work to be done. While women and people of colour have received more jobs in high profile positions, women comprise less than 22 per cent of directors and 33 per cent of writers.

Moonscar Productions is at the forefront of trying to bring new voices to the field.

Headed by Morgan Swank and her partner Blair Allison, the production company is dedicated to developing projects that illustrate the experiences of women, people of colour, and those identifying as non-binary.

Photo courtesy of Morgan Swank

by Kenny Hedges How does Moonscar Productions bring diversity and inclusivity to the forefront?

There are two people in charge of Moonscar: me and my partner Blair Allison. I’ve always been a writer; she’s mostly done acting, directing, and producing. It gives us a different scope of the industry from both sides. For a while, we had Moonscar as our production house to make us seem more credible. Whenever I was going out for jobs at [for example] Hulu, I had my manager, my agent, and Moonscar behind me.

Around 2019, we made Moonscar a hub to help other creators, writers, directors, [and] producers — anything where people felt like their story had something to do with their gender identity or a reflection of their lives. We were able to then take that and get them in front of a script editor. A team would look through their stuff and say, “Hey, this works; this doesn’t. Let’s fix this up so that you get your story across.”

How can others follow your lead?

It’s really not that hard. It’s easy to just create and collaborate with people who have these stories — this is not even just in entertainment, but in any field. Just listen to people who are marginalized, or not yourself, and say, “This is an awesome thing that you have. Let’s collaborate and

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see how we can get it out there.”

How do you champion sustainability through your production company?

Every set that we have, we try so hard to make sure we only buy recyclable products.

All of our wardrobe is able to be upcycled and thrifted. We don’t buy unnecessary things. We work with companies to send whatever we have left over out to communities that need it, including our wardrobe, food — pretty much anything.

Even if we have smokers on set, we’ll take those cigarette butts, and we’ll send them into TerraCycles. We’re constantly learning and shifting.

As an entrepreneur, what’s the biggest challenge you’ve had to face, and how’d you overcome it?

Straight-up, a pandemic! That’s a whole other conversation, but I think for the most part, funding has been huge, and I’m sure that’s across the board in entrepreneurial tasks. For us, it was, “Okay, we’re not going to get the basic funding that a lot of these big companies have.” They have the opportunity to reach out to angel investors; we just don’t.

So, we worked with friends that work in institutions with money they give out for grants. We have one called the Foxy Fund,

and it’s mostly for women. We have really specific criteria. The people who give us the money for the grants have to approve it. Also, to be under the Foxy Fund, you [must have] at least 60 per cent women or non-binary identifying people [in the company]. So, funding is hard.

You’ve spoken about the importance of collaboration in the office. Can you expand on that?

You won’t have a project unless you’re very good at understanding how to collaborate.

I work on stuff all the time where it’s just not my field. I’m not a director. I can produce it. I can get the money. I can write if I need to, but all the projects I’ve taken on the last few years have been entirely due to the collaborative process — finding the right person for this role and understanding where there’s a need to humble yourself, and branch out to have someone else do your job.

What would you say are the ingredients of good leadership as an entrepreneur?

Having that open-minded, collaborative mindset [where] you’re not going to be able to do this all, not at once, maybe not within this year, and you need help. So, having that vulnerability to collaborate with people who might help you more is great. //

business

KERIN JOHN

Founder and CEO of Black Owned Toronto From Social Media Fame to Store-Front Success Black Owned Toronto started as an Instagram directory to showcase Black-owned businesses after Kerin John made a New Year’s resolution in 2020 to support her community through buying habits. It became part of a groundswell in the Black Lives Matter movement as increasingly more people looked to support Black-owned businesses since the George Floyd protests. Now a thriving storefront in bustling Scarborough Town Centre, plus a burgeoning online store, Black Owned Toronto is the number one destination in Canada for Black-owned products. The remarkably hard-working John shares her thoughts on building up the community and her journey through entrepreneurship.

Photo courtesy of Kerin John

by Josephine Mwanvua As a Black female entrepreneur, have you faced any particular barriers or obstacles in the start-up space?

I’ve definitely experienced a lot of barriers in the start-up space, especially since the concept of [my] store — [featuring] only Black-owned businesses — was very new, and it hadn’t been done before. It was difficult finding funding, mentorship, and support. I don’t come from a business background. I never went to school for it.

I also don’t come from a family of business owners. So, it was very difficult finding my way in the beginning.

You’ve got a beautiful pop-up store at Scarborough Town Centre, and recently, you had one at the Eaton Centre in downtown Toronto. Do you envision other pop-ups or permanent locations in the future?

I’ve been loving Scarborough Town Centre.

That’s always going to be my flagship store, but I want to move to more heavy foottraffic malls. When we were at the Eaton Centre, we were there for four months during the holiday season, and we got a tremendous amount of support, not only from the Black community, but from all walks of life.

I was a little nervous going in about how the store was going to be received by the downtown community, but [people] came

and bought. We were able to make about half a million in that very short amount of time. So, I definitely think Black Owned Toronto belongs in heavy foot-traffic malls.

That’s my current goal right now, as well as more funding.

Aside from helping Black-led businesses sell their products, have you, or do you plan to set other initiatives to support the Black community?

I definitely plan on starting new initiatives.

It’s my dream to start my own charity one day where I can do things like support youth [through] business mentorship. They could have an easier journey than I did when they start their businesses. I’m actually having a back-to-school drive right now. When I had my first event two years ago — a holiday market — I was collecting socks and winter essentials for St. Michael’s Hospital and three additional charities. I love doing different work for the community, and I hope I can continue doing that.

What was the most valuable thing or person that helped you as Black Owned Toronto expanded from an Instagram directory to an online store with popup locations?

My Scarborough Town Centre management team have been my ride-or-die girls. Their names are Crista and Caryn. We’re always working together to find new ideas for the

store and find solutions. When I may be feeling down, they’re always encouraging me, and they’re amazing people and friends to me.

What would you want to say to those who are aspiring to become a young entrepreneur?

The first thing — and I know that everybody says this — but you just can’t give up. Even when things are hard, even when you feel like you’re failing and you have no support, there’s always somebody there to help pick you up. There are always resources that you can find. It might be difficult, but you have to keep your head up and stay encouraged because you never know. A small little Instagram page can turn to something big or that small idea that you have in your head can turn to something huge when you get the motivation and the right team behind you.

Also, network as much as possible. I think that’s one thing I didn’t do. Especially in the beginning, I was almost embarrassed of how little knowledge I had in the business, but making those connections and finding people who have the knowledge that can help you is really, really important. Put yourself out there and tell your story, even if you might find it embarrassing or hard to tell because there’s people who are going to encourage you and help you. //

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economics

MILLENNIALS AND RETIREMENT: A SISYPHEAN JOURNEY

A

by Jericho Tadeo

s the oldest cohort of millennials approaches middle age, possibly one of the biggest questions on their minds relates to retirement, specifically with regards to when they will be able to retire and how they will get there. Of course, even the youngest working millennials find themselves pondering the same from time to time as they look to the future. Whatever their position on the demographic’s scale, the average millennial isn’t all that hopeful for a retirement that mirrors that of their parents’ generation.

The reality is that it’s hard being a millennial. On the one hand, there’s the emotional stress of growing up in a world

The Cost of Retirement in Canada Naturally, how much an individual needs to have saved for retirement depends on a multitude of factors. Things like the age of retirement, location, the kind of lifestyle one would like to live, whether one still has dependents (and how many), and mortgages or other kinds of debt all need to be considered when calculating one’s total cost of retirement in Canada.

That being said, many financial planners suggest that 70 per cent of one’s yearly income (pre-retirement) is needed to help pay for expenses for one year of retirement.

For example: using the median market income in Canada of $55,700, one year of retirement would essentially cost $38,990.

Therefore, an individual making $55,700 with the goal of living in retirement for 25 years will need to have saved a total sum of $974,750.

There’s a vast amount of literature, digital and otherwise, that offers many tips on saving for retirement, from setting aside 15 per cent of your income in your 20s and signing up for employer-provided retirement savings plans to contributing to an RRSP or TFSA in your 30s. It’s solid advice, to be sure, but most millennials would likely agree that these measures are practically impossible to follow and, frankly, outdated.

Why Millennials Are Facing Challenges When It Comes to Retirement Savings

that witnessed major acts of terrorism, experienced multiple economic recessions, mapped new territories on the digital landscape (for better or worse), ignited social change, saw an exponential decline in climate health, and is currently managing — or mismanaging, depending on your point of view — a pandemic. On the other hand, there’s the financial ramifications of some of these events, from crippling student debt and a virtually impenetrable housing market to increased costs of living and a lack of concrete employment benefits.

Millennials are generally struggling to balance saving for their future and paying for their present; too often, the necessity is about focusing on the latter at the detriment of the former.

As a result, millennials are reportedly far behind on retirement savings than Generation X.

The most important thing to note about the challenges millennials face when saving for retirement is that it’s a systemic struggle. Despite being the most educated generation, millennials are suffering under the highest amounts of student debt and encountering the most expensive housing market while living in the most uncertain times. As such, the income an average millennial makes today goes primarily towards a plethora of expenses that make it difficult to save for tomorrow.

Since paying off student debt is, indeed, the main priority for millennials, it puts off saving for a down payment on a home — both of which are exacerbated by the soaring rental prices and increased costs of living, particularly in large urban centres, where many millennials reside — which, in turn, delays the urgency of saving for retirement. If the average millennial wants to retire at 65, studies suggest that nearly half of their paycheque needs to be put away starting today, which isn’t feasible when the average millennial today is already allocating 45 per cent of their income towards rent.

What Needs To Be Done To Secure Millennials’ Retirement It’s not impossible for millennials to start saving for retirement. In fact, contrary to older generations’ popular belief that millennials are spending their money on frivolity and leisure, millennials are actively preparing for retirement, saving,

and even investing what they can, playing with the cards they’re dealt. A tech-savvy generation, some millennials are even turning towards investing in cryptocurrency.

However, a systemic problem does require a systemic solution, especially when the odds are heavily stacked against an entire generation of Canadians — and it starts from the top. Branches of government can, for instance, help millennials manage and pay off their towering student debts, thereby assisting them in breaking into the housing market. Additionally, employers can innovate their retirement benefits packages to suit a generation of workers that, unlike Generation X, isn’t all that keen on growing old within a singular company.

Foremos t, change begins with understanding millennials: their desires, their struggles, their goals (financial and otherwise), their approach to work and life, and everything in between and thereafter.

Millennials are navigating structures that were built for a different generation and are expected to follow templates designed for a different generation — but the world has changed exponentially within the last few decades. Retirement, which was once a kind of rite of passage — a celebration of your contribution to society, a blank page ready to be coloured — has now, for many, become a luxury. //

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economics

BLEAK OR BRIGHT: THE ECONOMIC OUTLOOK OF GLOBAL MILLENNIALS

by Rob Shapiro

M

illennials worldwide have suffered greatly due to the COVID-19 crisis, which has exacerbated an already competitive job landscape and stifled the economic growth that many were hoping for. Millennials are the generation that invented the side hustle out of necessity, spent more time in school just to land entry-level jobs, and continue to face unprecedented barriers to home ownership. All these factors are making their economic outlook and chances at a comfortable retirement rather bleak.

Millennials are the most educated generation. Having to spend more time pursuing their post-secondary education has led to postponing life events, like starting a family, while also losing out on some prime earning years. Furthermore, despite gaining more education, they have not been able to advance their careers with the same speed and efficiency as older generations. It’s gotten worse the last few years as millennials have experienced low earnings, less wealth, and have missed out on several important benchmarks due to the pandemic.

According to Andrew Van Dam of The Washington Post, the economic downturn brought about by COVID-19 came at the worst time for millennials who were entering their prime earning years. Millennials across the globe need to consider if there is a country that offers a brighter outlook and more possibilities, or if there is a way for them to inch closer to a happy retirement, than where they currently live.

Ultimately, it must be determined what the future holds for this generation that is coming into prominence — or, at least, what it should be.

Where Are Millennials Struggling the Most?

Based on data provided by MSCI, as of 2019, millennials are the largest adult cohort worldwide. While these numbers fluctuate, the approximate number of millennials per country and continent breakdown is as follows: • 72 million in the United States • 10 million in Canada • 278 million in Africa • 148 million in Europe • 1.1 billion in Asia It’s hard to say which location offers the most challenges to millennials. The U.S., for instance, has seen student loans double between 2003 and 2013 (The Street, 2017). In Canada, two-thirds of millennials expressed concerns over how buying a home would leave them without the savings or assets to comfortably retire, according to a 2019 article by Benefits Canada. In a 2021 survey by Deloitte, millennials in Africa reported high stress levels about finances and job prospects. Clearly, millennial concerns are global, not regionalized or confined to only a few countries or continents.

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economics

The Job Market for Millennials The workplace that most Boomers and Gen Xers think of has drastically changed. Employer loyalty is a thing of the past, and millennials entering the workforce are older on average than ever before.

Millennials have been open about the lack of career progression they have experienced in many industries. This dearth of professional mobility has caused many millennials to find new jobs or hold down more than one job. According to a Gallup report, six in 10 millennials are willing to explore new job opportunities.

Despite their struggles, millennials have put their fingerprints on the global job market.

Their desire for a positive and supportive corporate culture and a triple bottom line (i.e. planet, people, and profits) approach to business has resulted in many millennials forgoing salary and compensation perks during their peak earning years. They might be the first generation to truly attempt to balance lifestyle with finances.

How Much Do Millennials Earn?

CNBC reported the median millennial household pre-tax income was $71,566 in 2020.

Another study by Sunmark Credit claimed that a millennial spends a daily average of $208.77 (including groceries, housing, and more). That works out to spending over $1,400 a week, $5,800 every month, or over $70,000 a year, slightly below the average millennial income.

This is rather bleak on a few fronts. Millennials, on average, are not earning enough and are spending too much to live every year. It’s easy to suggest that millennials need to spend less frivolously, but the cost of living in most countries is relatively high. What this data reveals is that many people are just trying to get by and pay their bills.

How the Pandemic Made the Situation Worse If millennials were in a tough spot prior to 2020, then the COVID-19 pandemic changed everything. According to a CNBC article by Jeff Cox, millennials in the U.S. have been hit particularly hard with respect to job losses. One reason for this is that social distancing impacted many of the jobs that millennials rely upon as either their primary or supplemental source of income.

In "Three Reasons Why Millennials May Face Devastating Setback from COVID-19", policy analyst Ana H. Kent looks at three causes of the economic fallout millennials face due to COVID-19: • They never fully recovered from the financial crisis • They didn’t have the financial means to withstand any type of economic emergency • There are fewer employment opportunities compared to other generations These reasons are not location-specific by any means. COVID-19 cut a swath through careers with greater efficiency than any recession. If the average millennial was having trouble advancing their career to make more income, the pandemic made it that much harder.

Is There a Light at the End of the Tunnel?

The economic hole that millennials must climb out of is deep and seems to be growing by the day. That said, millennials have shown a tendency to be resourceful and put their education and skills to use.

Without government intervention, it’s hard to imagine the economic outlook for millennials improving any time soon. Whether it’s tax breaks or rebate programs, there are several things that a government can do to help millennials become homeowners or save up for retirement. Time will tell if one or more confronts this issue head-on.

For now, millennials need to consider how to make the most of their peak earning potential while putting themselves in the best position to retire safely and comfortably. //

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economics

DIANA PAREDES CEO and Co-Founder of Suade Labs Data-Driven RegTech

by Stephanie Hawkins

D

iana Paredes co-founded Suade Labs in 2014, following a successful career in investment banking at Barclays and Merrill Lynch. After the 2008 financial crisis, a new wave of regulations prompted the need for sound technology and access to data to the forefront of financial institutions’ agendas. The innovative Paredes sought to help financial institutions gain a better understanding of their regulatory requirements through future-proof, next-generation RegTech solutions, using data standards and modern technology. For the last eight years, Suade has steadily, sustainably, and responsibly maintained its culture, and continues to provide clients with world-class solutions and unrivalled support.

Photo courtesy of Diana Paredes

With a diverse background in finance and banking, how have these past experiences prepared you for your current role?

Having a number of different interests ranging from fintech to social enterprise — with a [bachelor’s and master’s degree] in Civil and Environmental Engineering from Imperial College — and a career in banking has provided me with a solid foundation to grow from.

With my background in environmental engineering, I understood how technology can make the world a better place, not only from an environmental perspective, but also from a social and governance vantage point. I am passionate about enhancing the next generation’s way of living and contributing positively to society, with technology playing a critical role. As the CEO for a tech company and innovator in the space, I believe I have a responsibility to make sure technology is built and used responsibly, and I ensure these values are carried out across Suade.

I am passionate about long-term, sustainable change, and believe that together we can achieve this through technology, education, and innovative mindsets.

What do you feel are some misconceptions around the fintech industry, and how have you navigated its unique challenges?

The concept of inclusion and diversity is a popular topic within the industry. You can really sense [when] a company that has

[inclusive] perspectives — and being able to exchange that in a way that is open-minded — is really valuable. It improves communication, helps in design, and makes a better product.

Even though fintech has a reputation of being diverse, as a female founder and CEO, I am still surprised by the low number of female co-founders and female CEOs. It’s disappointing to see the gender barriers around critical funding and career development that continue to hinder women’s progression in the workplace.

You have said previously that you believe in a data-driven approach to regulation to help prevent the next financial crisis. Can you tell me more about this?

Data plays a critical role in any business, particularly in the financial sector, where regulators are asking for greater transparency and granularity in an increasingly more complex financial system. The only route forwards for the industry is to adopt data standards that enable the use of modern technology and automation as we move towards real-time supervision.

The real challenge comes when the regulator needs to interrogate and understand the data points quickly and easily, as each of these have thousands or even millions of inputs themselves. This level of analysis isn’t possible without automation, and accurate and standardised data. Suade’s goal is to ensure that financial institutions can trust their data and processes, benefit from greater data insights, future-proof their system against ongoing regulatory change, and automate regulatory reporting. //

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start-up

SIX REASONS TO START USING WEALTHSIMPLE

by Arslan Ahmed

L

aunched in 2014 in Toronto as a start-up in the fintech space, Wealthsimple has now reached the status of a unicorn with more than $375 million in investments. There are now more than two million Canadians who are Wealthsimple converts — in the U.K. and the U.S., the company has a million users. The tagline for the company reads: “Invest, trade, save, spend, and even do your taxes in a better, simpler way.” These five financial goals the company helps people achieve are precisely the reasons to start using it. Let’s explore more on how Wealthsimple helps people achieve these financial goals.

Based on the information, the software then recommends an exchange-traded funds (ETFs) portfolio that falls under the following categories: conservative, balanced, growth, socially responsible, or halal. Conservative is on one end of the spectrum and offers the lowest level of risk with the least amount of return, while growth is on the other end of the spectrum with the highest amount of risk and greatest return on investments. A balanced portfolio offers equal proportions of risk and return.

For those interested in investing, Wealthsimple provides a very personalized experience for the users, right from account setup.

After the initial information is filled out, a questionnaire is presented to get to know the person’s goals, investment horizon, level of risk tolerance, and past experience and knowledge in investing.

Another plus to Wealthsimple is the robo-advising service that users can opt for — at one per cent lower commission fees than the broker rate. Moreover, the company lets users set up auto-deposits into their account, and the software can make the decisions regarding reinvestment of dividends and rebalancing of portfolio.

Invest

This is one of the best parts of using Wealthsimple. The reliance on ETFs — bundles of stocks, government and corporate bonds that mimic the movement of a particular financial or economic market, stock exchange, commodity, or another asset — diversifies an investor’s holdings and makes it less risky overall. This is a research-backed way to passively grow money without being actively involved.

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start-up

Trade For those who like to venture out on their own, Wealthsimple Trade is a commission-free platform designed for self-directed trading in more than 8,000 different Canadian and U.S. stocks and ETFs. The company can afford to be commission-free due to its reliance on technology to reduce the costs. Current Wealthsimple users can sign up within seconds, create their own portfolio mixes, and practice more freedom vis-à-vis reinvestment and rebalancing. They can buy stocks of companies they value.

Although it is not recommended to purchase a maximum number of stocks of a single company (Wealthsimple being an advocate for diversification of portfolio through low-cost ETFs), traders can freely practice buying stocks of companies they like or have been following for a while.

Moreover, there are no account minimums, so users are free to put in as much money as they prefer. Plus, the interface is deliberately designed to be uncluttered and clean, and trades can be executed instantly. A big advantage is that the trading account offers Canadian Investor Protection Fund coverage for investments up to $1 million.

Learn A plethora of resources exists for those interested in maintaining good finances and increasing their knowledge. The Wealthsimple magazine is a blog of honest money stories from real people and celebrities, but you’ll also find articles about the financial realities of where some people live — like the Toronto housing market and how it may be hard to leave if you’ve bought a house. But the magazine also contains professional, realistic advice on all financial topics.

Aside from that, their personal finance section carries explanatory articles on investing, taxes, accounts, crypto, and even retirement.

There’s also a detailed income tax calculator that works across all provinces (just choose which one). Wealthsimple is continually adding to their resources so Canadians can be fully equipped with knowledge they might not have had the chance to acquire while growing up.

Save A Wealthsimple Save account offers 0.5 per cent interest rate, much higher than that offered by the top five banks in Canada.

The amount that you transfer into the account can be as little as $1, and there are unlimited withdrawals and free transfers.

Plus, savers can set monthly auto-deposits into their accounts.

Another advantage is that the account rounds up the value of debit and credit card transactions in any linked accounts, and automatically accumulates the leftover change into savings. All

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of this comes with an account that carries no maintenance fees and insures savings amounts worth $100,000 through Canada Deposit Insurance Corporation (CDIC) protection. For someone holding assets greater than $100,000, they are upgraded to Wealthsimple Black, which bestows premium benefits such as reduced fees (0.4 per cent instead of 0.5 per cent) on the investment account.

The Save account carries the benefits of quickly achieving one’s short-term goal of building an emergency fund. With Wealthsimple, the process of accessing the Save account is fairly simplified, which can be seen on the app together with Invest or Trade accounts. Moreover, such accounts are also offered free tax-loss harvesting and financial planning services.

Spend Wealthsimple Cash is a service that offers competitive interest rates on holdings, comparable to the rates on savings accounts from other financial institutions, while performing much like a checking account.

Peer-to-peer payments to friends and family are also possible, with easy transfers of checking account balances to the app — similar to Interac, but much faster. The daily spending limit is $5,000, and there is a monthly spending limit of $20,000. Integration with other Weathsimple accounts is also possible.

Soon, payment of utility bills, credit card bills, or any other bills will be available through Wealthsimple Cash. There will be no need then to change accounts or move money between them.

Also, foreign exchange (FX) fees are due to be waived, making travel and spending money in other countries less expensive.

Taxes Wealthsimple Tax makes it very convenient to file taxes without hiring and paying an accounting service. The interface lays out only those areas of the tax forms that need to be filled according to an individual’s circumstances. The main advantage is that it is approved by NETFILE, the service that allows income tax return information to be sent to the Canada Revenue Agency.

This also means that it is considered secure and meets privacy requirements.

The refund is calculated right away, and data about one’s previous year’s return and other data from a MyCRA account can be easily transferred. Self-employment, small business, and investment property income can be filed too, along with cryptocurrency trade losses and gains of more than 300 exchanges and wallets.

Plus, refunds can be optimized by splitting pensions and spousal dividend claims (increasing tax return by reporting a lower-income partner’s dividends in the higher-income partner’s forms). //

start-up

LOREN SHIFRIN Founder and CEO of REV Capital Success Through Reputation and Relationships

by Rose Ho For 15 years, Loren Shifrin has worked in the factoring business, garnering a sterling reputation before launching his own successful company, REV Capital, in 2017. In a few short years (and through the economic trials of the pandemic), REV Capital has grown into the largest factoring company in Canada, with aims to expand throughout North America. The 33-year-old shared the secret to his success, the lessons he learned as a young entrepreneur, and explained the basics of the lesserknown factoring industry.

Photo courtesy of Loren Shifrin

To what do you credit REV Capital’s rapid success?

One is the hard work and dedication of our team. We’ve got over 100 people working for the company, most of whom are in Canada. All of them are very much committed to what we’re trying to do, which is to support small businesses in their growth. I have surrounded myself with a lot of people who are much smarter and more talented than I am. It’s their hard work that has helped us achieve a lot of the success that we’ve seen.

Another thing that’s been a great help to us is our reputation.

From day one, building a solid reputation for the company has been very important — being a transparent, fair, customer-centric factoring company that legitimately cares about the growth of its clients, employees, and the stakeholders of the company.

What is a lesson you have learned from the early phase of launching REV Capital?

One of the earliest lessons I learned is that I can’t do everything myself. I’ve been in this industry for about 15 years, and, most of that time, it’s been in management-level positions. Early on in my career, I tried to do everything myself. I wanted to be in charge of operations, sales, and marketing. It wasn’t until my partners and I started REV that I had to learn to shift that mentality and realize

that I can’t be all things, especially not to all people. Ironically, it wasn’t until I started to entrust and empower my staff — my partners and my employees — to do their jobs as well as they do them that the company really started to grow and take off.

Can you discuss the importance of mentorship and building relationships in your career?

I’m actually quite young. I’m 33, and I’ve been in the factoring industry since I was 18. Very early on in my career, I was the only person my age sitting at most of the meetings I was in, and having the types of conversations that I was having. It was a little bit alienating, but I learned early on that there were people who cared about my success and wanted to help me grow. I had to learn to look to a few people whom I now consider to be mentors to help me figure out a lot of the stuff over the last 15 years.

It took me a long time to understand this, but I believe that relationships are everything. In the first 10 years of my career, I built tons and tons of relationships, and it wasn’t until I started REV Capital five years ago that I realized I then needed to bank on those relationships. In the first year of REV’s existence, we signed hundreds of clients, all by word-of-mouth. It was on the backbone of the relationships that I had built because people knew who I was, and they knew about my reputation. They knew that if I was in charge of this company and I gave them my word, I would keep it and that the company would keep it. Everything kind of sprouted from that. //

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start-up

MARCELA MANDEVILLE

CEO of Alberta Women’s Entrepreneurs Promoting Parity for Women Entrepreneurs

by Kenny Hedges Marcela Mandeville is dedicated to helping women succeed in every aspect of business. After first joining Alberta Women’s Entrepreneurs in 2008, she left to start Bright Idea International, her own consulting firm. It wasn’t long before her passion for parity in the workplace brought her back as CEO of AWE in 2015, in time to face the unknown challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. Mandeville speaks below about what truly inspires leadership and how to remain positive in the most uncertain times.

Photo courtesy of Marcela Mandeville

Please talk a little about Alberta Women’s Entrepreneurs’ main goals and how they align with your own personal goals?

The main goals for AWE are to create and deliver programs and services to women, based on what their needs are. Also, to advocate for women in the bigger picture, to get us to a point where there's at least parity in entrepreneurship. I'm very passionate about being able to work for and with an organization whose purpose it is to make sure that a significant portion of the population is really getting the opportunities that they deserve.

Having worked in business now for a number of years, I’m unfortunately still seeing the inequity in particular — not just for women, but for other people who have been underrepresented for far too long.

How would you characterize your own leadership style and what qualities do you think are most important?

I believe that continuous learning is really important in growth.

I think with any leader, there's always an opportunity to listen, learn, do better, and be better. That's something that I always strive to do. Having empathy, being kind, listening to the needs of the team, and the people we serve, is really important. And true collaboration. I love rallying people around an idea to bring people together. It's really exciting, and it's challenging. When you do see it come together, it's really affirming as a leader.

In the past, you’ve spoken a lot about your parents and their influence on you. What’s the most important lesson you’ve taken from them?

I think one is tenacity, for sure. Both of my parents came from backgrounds that were very challenging: my dad being from the Northwest Territories and being Indigenous, and then my mom

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being from Mexico City and coming to Canada as an immigrant.

I think both of them really showed me the value of hard work [in] everything. Everything takes work, and if it doesn't work, it’s not necessarily a bad thing. It just means we're always trying to do better. [There’s the] value of education and learning. Not necessarily formal education all the time, but learning as we go, doing our best to meet people with different perspectives.

My definition of family includes the family you're born into, and also the family of people you choose to have around you: your friends and other folks.

The pandemic set back every industry and revealed inadequacies regarding diversity and representation.

How did it affect AWE, and how are you confronting those kinds of issues?

There's a lot of information out there about how women specifically were set back by COVID, and then on the organizational front.

We work on the front line with those entrepreneurs. I was one of those optimists at the beginning of the pandemic that thought, “Oh, this will be over in a month.” The team really came through.

We were really grateful that we could be there to help those entrepreneurs through that.

It really solidified our purpose as an organization. It brought us, as a team, very close together. We actually tripled the number of women that we reach through our programming. We were able to connect with our rural clients in ways that we haven't been able to in the past. We went from being able to have maybe 30 people sit in on a programming in person, to having 200 people. //

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winners' circle

ANDRE DE GRASSE Six-Time Olympian Racing to the Top

by Dave Gordon

C Canadian runner Andre De Grasse ran his first race in high school. He impressed former Olympian Tony Sharpe so much that he decided to mentor the young athlete. It didn’t take long before De Grasse consistently won race after race. Over the past ten years, he has made a place for himself as one of this country’s best-known and most medalled runners.

In fact, at age 27, he’s garnered as many medals and awards as he has years of his life. He is a six-time Olympic medalist — one gold, two silvers, and three bronzes — with a long line of national and international top placements going back nearly a decade. The first Canadian sprinter to win three medals in a single Olympics, De Grasse and his teammates won gold at the men’s 4x100m relay at the World Track and Field Championships this July.

Photo courtesy of Dave Gordon

What’s the biggest challenge for you as an athlete?

Just trying to maintain my schedule. I’m trying to have that balance between family, my sport, and having time for myself. All those things play a role. For me, it’s about trying to find that balance.

There is only so much time to go around. So, I try to enjoy the moments I can with the people I love, and also be competitive in my sport to accomplish my dreams as well. I think that’s key to my success: having people around me, in my corner, to help me, and enjoy that moment.

What’s something about your sport that most people might not know?

Knowing that we train six days a week. A lot of people don’t know that we are training four to five hours a day. It’s like a full-time job. A lot of people think we just show up and run. You have to practice and put in the work, Monday through Saturday, with a rest day on Sunday. Even if you are resting on Sunday, you are still actively doing something, like a massage for recovery.

Can you tell me why you created the Andre De Grasse Future Champions Fund, and what is its greatest achievement so far?

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I think the Andre De Grasse Future Champions Fund is my greatest accomplishment. I’m able to give kids scholarships and help provide them with education and resources for Track and Field. Equipment can be expensive, like spikes and running shoes. It’s good to be able to provide that for them and be able to give them that opportunity so they can be that next star. For me, it’s really special.

The reason why I started [Future Champions Fund] was because I had a lot of support when I was growing up, and I wanted to be able to return that favour to the next generation of athletes.

Then, of course, I have other initiatives I’m really proud of as well.

We started branching off and working with SickKids and other organizations — mental health, and things like that. I’m trying to help that next generation in other aspects of life.

What is your advice to aspiring athletes?

For me, really, just have fun, stay positive. There are always going to be ups and downs in the road, but continue to push yourself and keep striving for greatness for yourself, and you’ll be successful. //

winners' circle

AMANDA CUPIDO Award-winning Podcaster, Speaker & Author Podcasting for Leaders

by Arslan Ahmed

a Award-winning Amanda Cupido is a masterful podcaster, speaker, and author. Currently, she divides time between serving as a journalism instructor at Seneca College, founder of Lead Podcasting, and director of “Talk and Talent” at Global News Radio 640 Toronto (part of the media company Corus Entertainment). She shared what fuels her motivation and offered tips for maintaining confidence in public roles.

Photo courtesy of Amanda Cupido

In your decade-plus experience in communications, what are the core principles of effective communication for leaders?

In my master’s in psychology of leadership from Penn State University, I learned that leadership is a process. At no point are you a good and successful leader — check mark — and the job is done. Your role as a leader is constantly evolving.

When it comes to communicating, leaders frequently lose their authentic selves. I'm a big believer in being your true self and human, without having to put on a "face". Teams respond to that. Lastly, I would talk about servant leadership.

Often, leaders get caught up in being a certain, imagined version of a leader. Many times, that is attributed to top-down mandates, guidance, and rules. I like to approach communications and leadership in a way where we're truly listening and having open and genuine conversations with your team.

What are the key takeaways for anyone wanting to start a podcast?

First, I encourage people to be strategic about their show idea.

What do you think you could do differently or better? From the start, perform research about the podcast landscape and home in on a niche to create something meaningful for the audiences.

Second, get creative about the production and the release.

Many people assume (based on the podcasts they're consuming) things like having an interview format or a recurring weekly

podcast to be successful. I encourage people to go beyond and listen to lots of podcasts. Take bits and parts from those and create something that really resonates with [you and your audience.] That might mean releasing a one-off miniseries, and then taking a break.

Third, just do it. It’s never going to feel perfect or the right time, but your podcast can evolve with more feedback.

What motivates you to become a better version of yourself and achieve more in terms of personal development and career growth?

I want to be a lifelong learner and have a growth mindset. Just putting yourself in that position allows you to tap into being the best version of yourself. But there are some tactical things I do, for sure. For instance, I try to block out time once a week for career and professional development to watch TED talks, engage in conferences, or read newsletters.

I have had a goal squad with one of my peers for a very long time, where we set goals for ourselves and then hold each other accountable.

Also, not being afraid to go back to the drawing board. I think when you want to achieve things and become a better version of yourself, those goals that you set for yourself might shift along the way. You need to accept that they could shift, which means that you're really paying attention to them and checking in with yourself. //

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RANDELL ADJEI Founder of R.I.S.E. Edutainment

Ontario’s First Poet Laureate

by Marcus Medford

The Poet Laureate of Ontario title was created in memory of the iconic poet and The Tragically Hip front man, Gord Downie. Poet laureates raise public awareness of poetry and spoken word, and act as spokespersons for literature and the arts, in general. When it came to selecting the first ever Poet Laureate of Ontario last spring, the choice was clear: Randell Adjei.

Born in Ghana and raised in the multi-ethnic Toronto suburb of Scarborough, Adjei is a community leader, spoken word artist, author of the collection I Am Not My Struggles, and the executive director of R.I.S.E. (Reaching Intelligent Souls Everywhere) Edutainment. The organization provides artists with an inclusive space where they can share their work and develop professionally.

Photo courtesy of Mensah Studios

What are some of the ways your life has changed since becoming Ontario’s first poet laureate?

to embody the poem and share that in another sacred space with other people.

That’s a very beautiful thing.

I’m somebody who likes to work and get things done. I like knowing that my gifts and talents can help people. With the poet laureate title, my parents — who felt I was too smart and that my talents could be used elsewhere — got to see the vision that I saw. Part of me feels very humbled by the opportunity, but if I’m being real with myself — knowing who I am and the vision I’ve always had — humbly, I’m not surprised.

In terms of process, I really focus on the words. They have a lot of meaning and value. I’m very cognizant of how I can use words to convey a feeling, to strike something. It can be something that’s timeless, but some poems… they’re temporary. I like most of my poems to be timeless and hold value to someone 20 years from now.

Where do you seek inspiration? Is there a poetic process for you?

I’m inspired by the ability to take an idea and manifest it. When I think about some of my favorite poems, it’s because of something that I went through that sparked the thought. Then, there’s the sacred moment of writing it.

I say “sacred” because it’s a journey within, to explore how I feel and process the experience, and then the opportunity 38

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This year marks a decade of R.I.S.E Edutainment. What goes through your mind when you think about its journey?

It’s surreal thinking about the journey that it’s taken — the doubts, the challenges, the hardships. But also, there’s a friend I know who met someone through R.I.S.E., got engaged, and they now have three children. I think about my friends who’ve grown and found their voice who are now known internationally. R.I.S.E. has been a launchpad for artists, businesses, opportunities, and friendships.

We’ve given almost a million dollars to artists over the past 10 years. It’s really exciting to know that we’ve been a vessel to be able to pay people when, otherwise, our parents and society say you can’t make money from your art.

When you reflect on your awards and accomplishments, what are you most proud of?

There’s an eight-year-old version of me that used to walk around thinking about speaking to thousands of people. What I’m most proud of is that that eight-year-old boy experienced that vision come to life.

I’m proud that I followed my vision, even when people I love and care about told me that this wasn’t a good idea. But I’m glad that they did because if you tell me I can’t do something, I will prove you wrong.

It’s selfish to say, but I do a lot for other people, and I’m starting to recognize that it’s okay to take credit. I never asked for the awards. If I never got the awards, I‘d still do it. The reward for me is knowing that people have met because I tried and risked something. //

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tech & innovation

MILLENNIAL INNOVATION STATS

By Tashon Daley and Rob Shapiro

M

illennials have an undying commitment to environmental and societal change. In America, a whopping 75 per cent of millennials value conscious work environments where they bring about positive changes to them.

In addition, their innovative and passionate nature drives them to take on side businesses or start a business of their own.

The Socially Responsible Generation America There are roughly 71 million millennials in the U.S. 73% of millennials work over 40 hours per week. 75% of millennials are convinced that organizations are mostly focused on profits and not on improving society

“Businesses that hold themselves socially responsible are the most attractive to millennials.”

- Deloitte

Millennials stand to be the most educated generation in U.S. history.

More than 63% of millennials have a bachelor’s degree 75% of millennials want to work in environments where they can usher in positive change

The Millennial Entrepreneur

of millennials are happy to pay more for products or services that are sustainable or that they believe will have a positive impact on the world

U.S. and Canada

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Millennials make up 13% of American entrepreneurs

By 2025, millennials will make up 75% of the global workforce

In Canada, millennials comprise of 1/3 of the entrepreneur population

In the workforce, millennials are the least engaged generation. 30% are engaged, 15% are actively disengaged and 55% are not engaged

tech & innovation

The Side Hustle

“Nearly 30% of U.S. millennials have side businesses or engage in small business ownership.”

- OfficeNeedle 40% of millennials say their side hustle makes up at a minimum of half of their monthly income. Close to 33% of millennials have a side hustle solely to save money

Comparatively, only 20% of Gen Xers and 11% of baby boomers have some type of small business

25 24% of millennials have earned money via the gig economy 20

26% of millennials have two or more jobs. With over a quarter of them working multiple jobs, they are one of the hardest working generations

15

10

Millennials Want to Run the Game

5

62% of millennials have considered starting businesses of their own

0 22% of millennials own businesses 19.04% received loans for their businesses

The millennial entrepreneurial spirit is already influencing the generation’s successors, with Gen Z-ers more than ready to accept the torch and light their way to a brighter future where healthy values like social responsibility can continue to re-shape the workforce of today and the world at large. //

SOURCES CB Insights, 2020. https://www.cbinsights.com/research/millennials-killing-industries/ Deloitte, 2021. https://www2.deloitte.com/global/en/pages/about-deloitte/articles/millennialsurvey-2021.html FirstUp, 2021. https://firstup.io/blog/key-statistics-millennials-in-the-workplace/ Futurpreneur. https://www.futurpreneur.ca/en/press-media/millennials-reshaping-small-business-landscape-at-twice-the-rateof-other-generations/ Ipsos, 2021. https://www.ipsos.com/en-ca/news-polls/covid-19-accelerated-innovation-small-business-world Luisa Zhou, 2022. https://www.luisazhou.com/blog/side-hustle-statistics/ Oberlo, 2022. https://www.oberlo.ca/blog/small-business-statistics OfficeNeedle, 2022. https://officeneedle.com/millennial-entrepreneurs-statistics/ Reviewlution, 2021. https://reviewlution.ca/resources/entrepreneur-statistics/ TeamStage, 2022. https://teamstage.io/millennials-in-the-workplace-statistics/ Verizon, 2013. https://www.verizon.com/business/small-business-essentials/resources/22-shocking-stats-millennials-help-charttomorrow-change-112531305/

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TECHNOLOGY THEN AND NOW…THE BIGGEST IMPACTS OF THE LAST 20 YEARS

T 42

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by Nick Dauk ake a tech-friendly trip down memory lane, circa 2002: Napster filed for bankruptcy months before the LinkedIn domain name was created, the minds at M.I.T. sent the Roomba across household floors, while NASA got the wheels moving on a different type of ground-based robot — the Mars Rovers.

It’s hard to believe how dramatically the landscape of technology changed since the dawn of the millennium.

Even the software and hardware created from the last decade can feel generations-removed from their parent concepts. Case in point: wireless wearable technology like Fitbit allowed software to engage with us in the real world, then virtual reality encouraged us to engage with technology in the virtual world.

From AR to AI and so many innovative inventions in between, let’s look at some of the hardware and software created in the last twenty years that have impacted the world in profound ways.

tech & innovation

Cloud-Based Storage

Mobile Operating Systems

A millennial nightmare summed up in a single action — forgetting to click “save” on a Microsoft Word document before exiting the program — students and professionals alike dreaded the scenario. Auto-save was helpful, as were document-recovery protocols. And there’s also no denying that flash-drives saved the day for countless individuals who found themselves helpless during a hard-drive crash.

One would be remiss to not mention social media as one of the greatest inventions of the last 20 years, but the true unsung hero in social media’s dominance — as well as the driving factor in the success of many other applications — is the rise of mobile operating systems.

But cloud-based storage changed the data-saving game in the most extreme way.

Not only is data accessible at any time and protected by the latest IT securities, but remembering to save data has become a thing of the past. Automatic and manual syncing ensures data is backed up consistently. The ability to edit living files in real-time with other users, and have all changes saved and recorded instantaneously, is a vital resource that few professionals could function without today.

Blockchain Millennials know all too well the dangers of the internet; their indoctrination to the world-wide web occurred as they matured into adults. Instead of facing scams, data breaches, and other threats first-hand, many watched instead as the generation preceding them fell victim to these malicious acts.

It comes as no surprise then that blockchain technology has grown immensely popular since the first implementation in 2008.

Whether it be cryptocurrency or property deeds, the system’s near- impossibility to be changed, hacked, or otherwise maliciously edited is the key takeaway. With companies like IBM investigating ways of integrating blockchain ledgers into their cloud-based applications, blockchain technology will revolutionize how data is stored, secured and, most importantly, verified as legitimate.

While the IBM Simon Personal Communicator of the 1990s was the first conceptual smartphone, the smartphones of today would be nothing without their mobile operating systems. iOS, Windows Mobile, Android, WebOS, and others have paved the way for portable computing. Myspace and AOL Instant Messenger proved that social media would still thrive without portability, but it’s the mobile operating systems that have accelerated and amplified social media usage to unfathomable levels.

It's almost impossible to imagine a world without Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok commanding so much of the average user’s attention.

The mobile operating system hasn’t replaced the personal computer, but it has revolutionized the ways in which people accomplish their daily tasks via the internet. Mobile operating systems keep us connected to the world wherever we go. It’s more than a computer in our pocket — it’s all our resources, desires, and necessities, readily available with the tap of a finger.

iPhone Apple is an elite company whose contributions to the world of technology are immense. Inventing the iPod and the iPad are both significant accomplishments, though it’s hard to argue that there was no product more revolutionary in the millennium than the release of the iPhone.

Its operating system, functionality, and wealth of applications created a new paradigm; the iPhone’s most profound impact transcended technology itself and integrated the device into mainstream culture.

An iPhone is as much a personal device as it is a personal statement. Consumers continue to covet the latest iPhone release, even if its technological specifications do not exceed the capabilities of similar devices from other brands. Android and Google both have significant followings, but history will show that it’s Apple’s iPhone that captured the zeitgeist of the early millennium.

Self-Driving Car AI and machine-learning are inarguably the future of technology, and the selfdriving car is perhaps the most important example of why this tech will revolutionize the world. Driverless technology has the potential to change the way the world relies on transportation-based services.

It’s beyond moving a single person from place to place; autonomous vehicles on land, sea, and — eventually — air could restructure the global supply chain in ways that reduce energy output and limit the need for manual operation.

Tech in Twenty Years The question isn’t if these technologies will endure for another 20 years, but rather, how they will interact with the century’s yetto-be-introduced hardware and software.

What will 2042 look like, now that selfdriving cars, at-home 3D printing, and decentralized currency are integrating themselves into daily life? Social media will almost certainly continue to dominate the landscape, but how will emerging players compete in an arena where possibilities are as limitless as our imaginations?

Such questions and their answers are ultimately meaningless if these technologies are not leveraged to their fullest potentials.

Whether these innovations change the fabric of our society forever (or act as nothing more than a trendy novelty) depends on the business leaders and entrepreneurs of tomorrow. Technology is ultimately nothing more than a tool that requires brilliant, creative, and disciplined minds in order to yield appropriate results. //

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NELLY CHEBOI

CEO and Founder of TechLit Africa Fixing Poverty in Africa Through Technological Access

by Jericho Tadeo

Like many entrepreneurs and change-makers, Nelly Cheboi first looked within her community.

Growing up in rural Kenya, Cheboi was acutely aware of the ways in which poverty affected those around her. She sought to understand why those who worked tirelessly, like her own mother, were seemingly unable to achieve upward mobility.

This led to a thorough understanding of the institutions that effectively disabled financial improvement.

Armed with the goal of “fixing poverty,” Cheboi studied hard in school, received a scholarship to attend university in the United States, lifted her family out of poverty, and founded TechLit Africa. With an emphasis on self-efficacy, TechLit Africa recycles old computers and IT tech, establishes computer labs in schools across Kenya, and teaches kids the skills they need to enter the digital economy.

In early 2022, Cheboi was named in Forbes’ 30 Under 30 feature, catapulting her company — and cause — to international acclaim.

By the end of the year, Cheboi hopes to expand the number of TechLit labs in Kenya to one hundred.

What inspired you to start TechLit Africa?

I grew up in rural Kenya in poverty — going to bed hungry, going to school barefoot — and I became really motivated to find sustainable solutions towards poverty. What was crazy to me is that I saw my mom working really hard but not [experiencing] upward mobility. She’d been [running] small businesses, but wasn’t able to lift her family out of poverty.

As I grew older, I was reading books about societies, how they are formed, and all these forces that play together. I realized that we really don't have the strong institutions that actually enable people to start their own businesses, grow them to be middle-sized businesses where they can hire more people, and then lift the economy up. So, it's really hard to have that upward mobility.

I was thinking about fixing poverty, [but] those systems are very expensive to fix. Looking at digital infrastructure, I realized that if we can get people online and become skilled enough to work remotely for Google or do minimum-wage jobs (like make a logo on Fiverr), you don’t need good infrastructure for that — we just need internet and the skills.

Photo courtesy of Nelly Cheboi

TechLit Africa’s mission seems like a massive undertaking.

What were some of the initial steps you took to turn your goals into reality? Were there any particular challenges you faced?

I [initially] thought that what I needed to do was get the youths who just graduated high school [computer] skills. So, I got old computers and brought them over to Kenya, and then tried to get them to become digital natives. It was really hard to go from never using a computer to spending endless hours on [one]. For them, it wasn’t valuable — they did not understand.

It really showed the disparity between the skills needed to be successful online and the skills they had. Most of the people don’t know how to send an email, [but] it’s really not their fault.

So, what we decided to do instead is actually work with kids.

[We thought,] “How can we incorporate this as part of their growing up, [and] as part of [schooling]? How can we teach them all these skills?” It became easier to go into existing schools and have these classes as part of their day-to-day activities.

You were named in Forbes’ 30 Under 30 this year. What does that recognition mean to you? Has it brought more awareness to TechLit? As an entrepreneur, it has never been about being recognized. It’s [about] being on the ground and seeing the impact. It’s making the kids see that you can actually [accomplish something]. Like, if I struggled to type, and I’m [now] getting a seven-year-old to learn how to type — that is so powerful.

In terms of its impact on TechLit, it’s crazy. Many people have found TechLit through that, and they’re reaching out, so it really has taken on a bigger platform, which is something that I cannot take for granted. // Fall 2022

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JAMES BATEMAN

CEO and Co-founder of Marble Linking Patients to Healthcare Ecosystems

By Stephanie Hawkins

James Bateman has had a unique path — he worked in his family carpentry business for 9 years, went back to school to pursue his passion for quantum physics (including earning a PhD), and then co-founded MedChart (now known as Marble) in 2016. In addition to giving back — he and his team are currently fundraising for Parkinson’s research by running the 900 km Bruce Trail from Niagara to Tobermory — he is on a mission to transform access to health data.

Photo courtesy of James Bateman

You co-founded Marble in order to streamline ease of access to patient medical records. How did this come about?

Unfortunately, my father-in-law became very sick and passed away from cancer. It was really going through his care journey that sparked the idea of Marble. My co-founder, Derrick Chow, and I got our start at the Entrepreneurship Hatchery, which is an incubator program at the University of Toronto. We won prize money and attracted our first angel investor, who within a few weeks wrote us our first $50,000 cheque.

We’re growing. We have offices in Toronto, Waterloo, and Dallas (Texas), with over 100 staff, and [we] have raised about 17 million USD in capital. We really leveraged the University of Toronto entrepreneurship ecosystem as well as the venture capitalist system within Canada, specifically Toronto. They were all great in helping us to build a hyper-growth, scalable business that is going to be able to compete on the world stage.

What are some of the challenges around patient consent, authorization, and data in this space?

This goes back to the lightbulb moment for our company. When my father-in-law was sick, my family was trying to coordinate care. He was at multiple hospitals [for different specialists], with two homecare agencies coming in, along with family caregivers and his palliative care doctor. Trying to get information from a homecare agency to a research hospital that’s doing a clinical trial was all so disconnected.

The “ah-ha” moment was that my mother-in-law could ask for a copy of the files. They’d print them out and she’d get the data every time with 100 per cent of the information. It's really about making data connect with technology to become more accessible at scale and being a catalyst to innovation because you can't build a digital health ecosystem on faxed and paper datasets.

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Marble was founded to help “build a new generation of digital health applications and experiences.” How is this innovative and unique in the health application space?

Currently, there’s no company out there that is providing a single access point for developers, digital health app builders, or patient services to plug into all their user’s health data — it just doesn't exist. However, it does exist in other industries.

In the financial industry, companies like Plaid created that single access point and became the front door to all financial institutional data. In the U.S., there were 90,000 digital health apps published and their only way to get user data was to ask patients about their medical history. Nothing was connected to official medical data.

What's exciting is being at the forefront of creating the same thing for health that Plaid created for the financial industry. We have an opportunity to pioneer an entire new wave of innovation that is world-changing in terms of benefiting patient lives and building an entire ecosystem around digital health. It’s super exciting to be at that forefront.

What do you envision in the future of the med tech space?

The future is one where, as an individual, you're going to be able to engage with the apps or services of your choice, to say, “Yes, access my medical information,” and it's there. Medical services that you engage with, except for family physicians or hospitals, are on the outer limits of access to your information. The only way to obtain it is through printed documents or screenshots of emails. The future is one where all services have the same information that you have granted access to. We're going to be the catalysts of making that possible and that's really exciting. //

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BEST WORK VISA OPTIONS FOR CANADIANS LOOKING TO WORK ABROAD

by Sean Plummer

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he desire to see the world is a universal one, especially for young people — as is the need to find meaningful work. Sometimes, those desires can be combined.

But boarding a plane is expensive, so it is no surprise that many eager, young, Canadian tourists choose to work while they travel in order to offset their costs.

Others find their dream job beyond Canada’s borders.

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For many Canadians, working while traveling is preferable to staying in place and saving up during the precious years of their youth. Add to this the benefit of having a foreign country on one’s resumé, and it is no surprise that many Canadians see working abroad as a preferable alternative to working here.

Of course, the reality of working overseas has been complicated in recent years by serious factors like the pandemic and global conflicts. China, not surprisingly, stopped issuing visas for foreign workers due to the country’s fluid COVID status. Some Canadians have also lost out on work abroad (like on cruise ships) due to their mixed vaccination status not being recognized by the relevant authority. And the situation between Russia and Ukraine has increased processing times for Canadians looking for work visas in many European countries as government resources have been taken over by processing refugee claims.

That said, there are still many Canadian and foreign government programs that help to find jobs in someone’s country of choice or assist in someone getting there once a job is secured. An applicant’s ability to access them, though, will be determined by a variety of factors, including age, length of stay, and employable skills.

The “working holiday” is primarily aimed at young Canadians (usually 18 to 35) who want to travel and are financing their sojourns by getting a job in their country of choice. The most significant Canadian government portal here is International Experience Canada (IEC). This branch of Immigration and Citizenship has reciprocal agreements with over 30 countries, meaning their citizens can come to Canada to work as well.

(America, by comparison, only has agreements with six.) They help applicants get work permits or visas in their host country faster and cheaper than if they tried to do it themselves. These trips generally last anywhere between 90 days and two years.

IEC applicants can also choose to use a so-called Recognized Organization (RO) — meaning recognized by the Canadian government — to help them get work permits or visas in the country of their choice, including those without IEC agreements.

These include placement agencies like Stepabroad; schools like Memorial University in Newfoundland and Labrador; and SWAP, which arranges “teach and travel” programs in Thailand, among other services.

There are also non-profits like AIESEC Canada that provide leadership opportunities for young Canadians. It should be noted, though, that there is some controversy around whether some of AIESEC’s programs constitute “voluntourism.” This is because applicants pay significant amounts of money to work in foreign countries while providing a dubious amount of value to its citizens. One former participant referred to AIESEC as a “resumé-polishing service” in a January 2020 article published

by The McGill Daily website.

On that note, any Canadian using a recruitment agency that is not an RO to arrange a working holiday or full-time job abroad should be cautious, as there are plenty of unscrupulous operators.

A major red flag is being asked to pay for their services because they are already getting paid by employers seeking recruits. Their loyalty is to the employers, so they may not be able to help with visa or moving needs. Not surprisingly, avoid any agency that has a free online email address (like Hotmail or Gmail); hires by resumé alone (i.e., does not conduct interviews); promises exorbitant pay; or asks that applicants lie at any stage of the application process.

For skilled Canadians who have already launched their careers, each country has different opportunities and needs. For instance, the UK — which includes England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland — has a “skilled worker scheme” that helps provide visas for foreign workers. Applicants must provide a “certificate of sponsorship” from their employer (who must be approved by the UK’s Home Office in turn) and guarantee that they will be doing a job on a list of eligible occupations. (Chemical scientists in Scotland and electronics jobs in England are in demand as of summer 2022.) This “skilled worker visa” can last up to five years, after which workers may have to apply for permanent residency.

The types of work found abroad will vary based on type of stay (working tourist or skilled worker) and country of choice. One young Canadian backpacked in Australia and told the writer that foreigners there often “do jobs that locals don’t want to do,” like working on chicken processing plants and farms. The “New to Denmark” government website, meanwhile, has a special section for foreigners looking to provide au pair services. In terms of more skilled labour, Germany needs nurses and IT consultants, while Italy is projected to have a shortage in STEM occupations in the coming years.

Indeed, what will be asked of foreigners looking to work abroad will vary by the country, which is why it is important to do thorough research. ROs and recruitment agencies are so popular because they have done much of this work already. In general, though, Canadians will need a valid passport, an appropriate work visa, a clean criminal record, health insurance, a promise of internship or employment (especially for a skilled worker), and enough money to cover the initial stay. One should also expect to pay a variety of applicable processing fees.

There is no denying that travel broadens not only the mind but also opportunities. If you want to work outside Canada, you very likely can. Look into the programs that can help you out, be patient, and start getting ready for the adventure of a lifetime now. //

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6 PROMISING EXPORT MARKETS FOR CANADIANS

by Peter Campbell

A

s a result of a global influx of opportunities, Canadian exporters have intriguing options ranging from across the border to across the pond, and the other side of the world. Essentially, any country willing to work with your company is worth pursuing.

JAPAN Japan, Canada’s second longest trading partner, accounted for $14.3 billion in total Canadian exports in 2021, according to the Government of Canada.

Canada and Japan continue to enjoy good relations — sharing common science, technology, and innovation objectives. The primary exports from Canada to Japan include coal, copper ores, canola seeds, pork, and pharmaceutical products.

The Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) helped make Japan one of Canada’s most successful markets for value-added wood products and forest products. Among the gains in this sector, the CPTPP includes the elimination of all Japanese tariffs on forest products and value-added wood products — which provides significant opportunities for Canadian wood exporters in the Japanese market.

UNITED KINGDOM The U.K. is Canada’s second largest destination for Canadian direct investment abroad.

In 2020, Canada exported $13.2 billion worth of products to the U.K. — including $11.4 billion worth of gold, $424 million worth of crude petroleum, and $270 million worth of iron ore, according to the Observatory of Economic Complexity (OEC) and TrendEconomy.

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Historically, Canada and the United Kingdom have enjoyed mutually advantageous commercial relations. In 2019, the U.K. was Canada’s third-largest destination for merchandise exports worldwide and was also a key source of foreign direct investment, as well as science and technology partnerships.

As stated on the Government of Canada’s website, the aim of the two countries is to “improve global economic conditions so that free and fair international trade and investment can thrive.”

AFRICA A report published in 2022 by WorldsTopExports.com states that Africa (including South Africa and the Central African Republic) accounts for one per cent of Canada’s exports.

According to the OEC, in 2020, exports from Canada to South Africa (totalling $269 million) included $32 million in wheat, $17.6 million in diamonds, and $13 million in excavation machinery.

In the same year, exports from Canada to the Central African Republic (totalling $152,000) included $85,000 in broadcasting equipment and $65,900 in cars.

Africa is one of the fastest-growing economic regions on Earth, with one-quarter of the world’s fastest-growing economies located in sub-Saharan Africa, according to the Government of Canada.

INDIA A 2022 study by WorldsTopExports.com reports that India accounts for $2.35 billion — or 0.5 per cent — of total Canadian exports.

According to the OEC, in 2020, Canada exported $2.7 billion in products to India. Those products included $524 million in dried legumes, $406 million in coal briquettes, and $365 million in potassic fertilizers.

In the previous (pre-pandemic) year, according to the Export Development Canada (EDC), Canada engaged in more than $4.5 billion in trade with India. India comes in ninth place as a major export destination to Canada. Due to its large scale and rapid change, some believe India may be the world’s third-largest economy as soon as 2030.

CHINA Though relations between the two countries have been somewhat strained in recent years, Canada’s second top exporter — accounting for $19.3 billion of total Canadian exports in 2021 — continues to be China, according to the OEC. The opportunities for Canadian exports to China is tremendous.

China boasts the fastest growing economy on Earth, has the largest retail and e-commerce market, and is the largest exporting nation on the face of the planet. It also has a middle-class population with ever-increasing purchasing power.

Export Edge Canada reports that China’s economy is shifting from resource investment and the manufacturing of exports to consumer goods and services.

According to the OEC, Canadian exports in 2020 to China included $2.09 billion in iron ore, $1.46 billion in sulfate chemical wood pulp, and $1.27 billion in wheat. In the 25 years previous, Canada’s exports to China rose from $3.17 billion in 1995 to $19.3 billion in 2020 — an annualized rate increase of 7.5 per cent.

And Canada’s number one export partner? Not surprisingly, coming in first place is the United States.

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA The richest nation on Earth, with a population of approximately 334 million and a quarter share of the global economy, the United States is Canada’s chief exporter — by a significant margin — accounting for $380.4 billion, or 75.6 per cent of total Canadian exports, according to WorldsTopExports.com.

Due to the low dollar, coupled with a revival in U.S. consumer spending, that 75.6 per cent is increasing and represents hundreds of Canadian businesses actively engaged with the States. This active involvement is both lucrative and diverse — because the U.S. isn’t simply one market, it’s several.

The top target export states in the U.S. continue to be New York, Ohio, and Texas. However, a new state — North Dakota — has entered the export revenue playing field, and has become the fastest growing state in terms of the U.S. economy.

From 1995 to 2020, Canadian exports heading for the U.S. rose steeply — from $143 billion to $264 billion. That’s an annualized rate increase of 2.49 per cent. Last year, Canada’s top exports to the U.S. included $45.4 billion in crude oil, $29.7 billion in cars, and $8.02 billion in vehicle parts, according to the OEC. Though the pandemic certainly made exporting/importing with the U.S. more difficult, necessity made it a reality. According to a report published in 2021 by the International Trade Administration, Canada now does about $1.7 billion worth of trade with the United States each day.

Canada and the U.S. don’t just share a border, they share a hunger for growth.

Finally, as per the 2022 online report from WorldsTopExports. com, for 2020, Canadian exports represented about 2.9 per cent of the value of the world’s total exported goods. Canada saw $503.4 billion in trade products distributed throughout the world in 2021.

Simply put, export revenue opportunities await, so don’t limit yourself. It’s a big world, after all. //

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LAURIN LIU

Former Member of the House of Commons of Canada Advocating for Change Laurin Liu was elected at 20 years old to Parliament in 2011, the youngest member at the time. In her four-year term, she proposed and advocated for bills that affected up to 435,000 individuals in Canada, including low-income seniors, interns in federally regulated industries, and patients with eating disorders. She continues to create positive change as an activist, advocate, and communications specialist.

Photo courtesy of Laurin Liu

by Stephanie Hawkins In Canada’s history, you were the youngest woman elected to the House of Commons. Did you have to struggle to get yourself heard?

Lots of organizational researchers emphasize that leadership is a role we play in the service of others. That means anyone can be a leader. Seeing leadership this way invites diversity — not only when it comes to characteristics like race, gender, and background, but also in personality, approach, and philosophy. It also doesn't leave a lot of room for ego.

competitive environment. Constantly holding space can get exhausting. In part, I owed much of my ability to be successful in the space to work allies, who either experienced sexism themselves or had enough empathy to [understand].

Allyship [from my peers included] simply acknowledging the difficult experiences that people from equity-seeking groups undergo on the Hill, without minimizing or brushing off abuse or harassment that occurs. Advocating for other women, too, was not just a nicety, but a matter of survival in the workplace.

One of my first involvements with the NDP came when I attended a meeting of the Québec youth wing. There was an election for co-presidents, and I sat next to an organizer who made me raise my hand to be nominated. I had never held a leadership role like that before. Even though I was a terrible public speaker, over the years, I would continue to stand to be heard over and over again. When you step into a role as a public representative, you rapidly learn to care about the things that matter and forget about the things that don't.

Recruitment, support, and mentorship for people who don't typically see themselves in leadership is very important. We need to do more to make sure that it's not always the loudest people in a room who raise their hands, are given leadership roles, or are listened to in decision-making.

What challenges do you feel young people face, in general, when trying to bring about change in their communities? How can the government help youth equip themselves to lead?

Many women who have spent time on [Parliament Hill] have talked about how toxic and sexist the workplace can be, especially in such a crowded and hyper-

Collective organizing and community mobilization is hard work. It's important to build relationships at the speed of trust and not come with pre-made solutions.

In 2012, tens of thousands of student protestors in Québec took to the streets in what would be known as the Printemps Érable to protest tuition hikes, and — at the same time — challenge the very structural injustices that reproduced social and economic inequality in Québec society.

It was a moment that was marked by social solidarity and the sense of collective power and action that shaped the way an entire generation viewed the power of popular protest. The protests eventually led to the election of a new provincial government that halted tuition hikes.

Part of leadership is reminding people that they're stronger when they organize together to make themselves heard by governments and decision-makers, and advocate for the collective good, instead of acting in ways that ignore how a society that has more solidarity and less gaps in opportunity benefits us all.

What should those in power or leadership roles focus on, in order to improve government policies?

One tool [from the] NDP [that was used] when developing policy proposals was the inclusion of gender-based analysis in every legislative brief. That meant that a feminist lens came into play when proposing or debating legislation or amendments to it. This was incredibly valuable in ensuring that gender equality was mainstreamed in policy discussions, rather than treated as an afterthought.

What are your future goals and what issues do you wish to address next?

After leaving politics, I obtained a master’s degree in human rights from the London School of Economics, which led me to working in strategic communications for international philanthropies and NGOs. Over the years, I've had the good fortune to work on projects supporting activists defending basic rights around the world and campaigns fighting for international justice and accountability. I hope to continue the same and maintain my curiosity around how we can build a more just and equal society. //

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SAM OOSTERHOFF

Youngest MPP Elected in Ontario Less Talk, More Action For Sam Oosterhoff, growing up on the family farm meant no job was too big or too small — from feeding the pigs to shipping at four in the morning. It meant knowing what was required, jumping in to fill the task, and doing what needed to be done. That work also required him to be a humble listener, such as when he needed advice from crop specialists and veterinarians.

Photo courtesy of Sam Oosterhoff

by Dave Gordon These principles proved helpful when he decided to run for provincial parliament six years ago at age 19. “I believe it's important to listen to the voices of people in my constituency. I ran to ensure that their voices were being heard,” he said.

jobs, that they're able to put food on the table, and have that economic opportunity,” he says. “I believe a strong economy and sustainable public services matter to young people as much as they do to anyone else.”

“One of the things I learned quite quickly is that we've been given two ears and one mouth for a reason. And it's important to use them accordingly. So, it’s having the opportunity to just meet with people from so many different walks of life and backgrounds and to hear their stories.”

What, precisely, are the solutions to these tough issues? Less talk, more action, insists Oosterhoff.

In addition, he stepped forward because he felt as though the government needed more representation from a younger generation.

The young politician adds, “I believe people don't want to see more committees struck, more task forces, more report writing, more infighting and politicking. They want to see shovels in the ground, and they want to see governments that won't make excuses.” He also thinks it's important for businesses not to be burdened by certain growth-preventing regulations.

“In every area of life, there's going to be things that people might not be completely happy about. I didn’t like the ‘old boys club.’ But the beauty of democracy is that you can run, and you can try to fix that, or you can get involved to change it,” he said.

Also, here’s where Oosterhoff believes the government can directly address the needs of youth: school curricula need to impart vital skills to thrive for the future, including financial literacy, skilled trades, and interpersonal skills.

Prior to his campaign, Oosterhoff’s only political experience was a stint as a legislative assistant on Parliament Hill. But it didn’t deter him — or voters — as he went on to become the youngest MPP elected in Ontario. “You don't have to be 55 with a successful business under your belt, a law degree, and political knowledge, and all these sorts of things,” to enter politics, Oosterhoff says.

He is now a three-time elected parliamentarian for Niagara West under the Progressive Conservative Party.

There are, however, no guarantees of policy success, Oosterhoff notes, even when those policies are well-intentioned. As most politicians do, he often receives criticism about how things are handled. In response to these concerns, he tells people: “I believe that we have a very good system of government. We have strong institutions in Canada. But that doesn't mean you're always going to get the result each and every time you like.”

Even though he tossed his hat in the ring so that the system would have “a diversity of perspectives from people of all ages and backgrounds [which is] important for our democracy,” Oosterhoff is quick to note that the concerns of the day affect everyone.

“They're perhaps exacerbated and felt more by youth, but they're not unique to youth. Things like economic opportunity, lack of housing, ensuring that there are good, well-paying

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Oosterhoff states that if an individual feels strongly enough that the outcome or policy is going the wrong way, he or she can step forward and have their say, just as he did with his run for office.

“You can get involved very early on, whether that's as simple as buying a membership for a political party and voting in a leadership race, or getting involved with a local riding association, or running yourself.”//

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HOW MILLENNIAL LEADERS WILL AMPLIFY CHANGE IN CANADA

by Vanessa Huasasquiche

I

t is no surprise that millennial leaders have impacted society, given their current position as the largest generational adult population. Multiple studies and reports have shown that millennials are demanding change from long-standing institutions and are actively taking part in creating a better future. The achievements of young leaders today point to the initiative, creativity, and perseverance we can expect going forward.

Two major economic events and numerous ongoing global crises shaped millennial lives and substantially differentiated their experiences from that of their predecessors; the 2008 economic recession and the COVID-19 pandemic hampered millennials’ ability to accumulate wealth and changed their priorities from seeking stability to adaptability. Additionally, environmental, social, and political concerns shifted drastically in their lifetimes. As a result, there is a quantifiable divide between younger and older generations, each believing the other has or will leave society worse than they found it, according to a survey of baby boomers and millennials conducted by Angus Reid Institute (ARI) in 2021.

Despite the challenges, millennials have found ways to survive and thrive. A significant response to economic uncertainty was the growth of the gig economy, in which a large portion of millennials participate. They are also making career choices based on their employer’s practices aligning with their personal values, according to “The Deloitte Global 2021 Millennial and Gen Z Survey.” While millennials believe businesses have greater obligations beyond their own goals and growth, they often do not see this expectation realized, so leaders are taking such action themselves.

Millennials also hold companies to high moral standards and

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are acutely aware of their shortcomings. They demand diversity, inclusion, social responsibility, philanthropy, and environmental sustainability from their workplaces. Mental health has become more important than ever since the beginning of the pandemic, and some companies have made changes to reduce and manage stress for their employees. However, many millennials think the efforts are inadequate and do not feel supported enough to voice their concerns individually.

One thing younger and older generations share is a concern for the future and climate change. The rapid environmental recovery witnessed through pandemic lockdowns gave millennials hope for effective climate action. Millennials believe environmental sustainability is more important than economic growth, and leaders have taken steps to act on that belief.

An example of innovation, creativity, and activism, Phil De Luna dedicated his life to decarbonizing Canada and fighting for aggressive climate action. Following his Ph.D. research on new renewable energy, De Luna became the youngest-ever director at the National Research Council of Canada, tapped to lead a $57 million collaborative research program. He also ran for the Green Party in the 2021 federal election to push for a more sustainable economy.

leadership

While many millennial leaders have focused on revolutionary scientific solutions, Natalie Pecile and Brianna Brown show the value of changing how businesses affect the environment. Pecile works as the senior manager for sustainability at Restaurant Brands International, the parent company of many large fastfood franchises, including Tim Hortons. She helped develop sustainable standards for brands worldwide to reduce the company’s greenhouse gas emissions by 50 per cent by 2030.

Brown co-founded Decade Impact, a consulting firm that helps businesses improve their social and environmental performance and earn B corporation certification (the green standard for corporate accountability).

Like any other generation, millennials’ social views immensely influence their priorities and expectations. Discrimination is an issue most millennials believe immeasurably affects society, with one in five feeling personally discriminated against all the time, according to the previously mentioned Deloitte survey. They are also more likely to believe that there are historical precedents and reasons for inequality. However, as the country increasingly diversifies around them, millennials favour cultural diversity more than integration into Canadian society, according to the previously mentioned ARI survey.

Taking action against inequality comes in many different forms for millennial leaders. Claudia Li works toward cultural preservation through the Vancouver-based Hua Foundation, which promotes Asian culinary traditions and socially conscious work. She also helped set up the Youth Collaborative for Chinatown, which offers historical walks and mah-jong tournaments to preserve the area’s culture.

One major advantage millennials have in making their voices heard is growing up around rapidly evolving and connective technology. They can stay informed, organize, and raise awareness quickly through social media, allowing them to take action more efficiently than ever before. Taking action online — through using hashtags or congregating on Zoom — has a perceptible effect on the real world, and many young people feel more empowered in online environments.

Those who are considered millennial leaders believe they can amplify change as individuals. Countless changes supporting environmental sustainability have been made by millennials because they feel compelled to act on their values. Part of the reason they are so critical of businesses is their belief in working towards the common good over their own interests.

The achievements and innovations of millennial leaders thus far prove they will continue to work towards the change they want to see in the world. //

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INDONESIAN IRON AND STEEL PRODUCTS ARE SUITABLE FOR CANADIAN CLIMATES

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Jason Kim Co-Founder and CEO of Big Whale Labs

What Tech Can Be Tomorrow

by Rose Ho

Jason Kim has had about a decade of experience in start-ups, having founded Taloflow, a software company backed by the prestigious Y Combinator, before launching Big Whale Labs, a zero-knowledge social protocol that offers increased privacy and security through emerging branches of cryptography.

Photo courtesy of Jason Kim

Can you explain to a less tech-literate person, the principles and capabilities of zero-knowledge products?

Zero-knowledge is a concept in cryptography which basically allows users to verify information or verify a statement without revealing more information than they need to. In layman’s terms, let's say you're trying to buy alcohol where the legal drinking age is 19. How authentication is done today is you go to a liquor store and you show your ID. But the issue with that is your driver's license has way more personal information on it than what is needed in that authentication — you may have your full name, your address — basically, a whole slew of information gets leaked during the process.

What zero-knowledge allows people to do is to verify certain statements like, "I am over 19, but maybe you don't need to know my name and my address." And so, you can issue credentials that say, "I'm over 19," versus giving away more information than you need to. That's the main benefit.

The less data that gets exchanged, the less likely it is for sensitive information to get leaked, or your own personal data to get taken advantage of. It's very useful, not just in the crypto space, but just in general [when] using the internet because, while authenticating in person may happen only when you get carded or when you go to the hospital, digital authentication or verification of statements are happening at a much larger scale — and many more times in a day. By

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reducing the surface area for data leakage, we can help maintain more privacy.

What are the challenges and risks for new tech in your sphere that you look out for, and how do you deal with them?

In the zero-knowledge space, there are a lot of challenges. I think the top two challenges I see are — one — while it provides a lot of benefits like privacy, it's also very computationally taxing. It requires more energy, more time, more effort for these applications to go to production and then be used by users, which means that you're fighting an uphill battle.

One of the ways you can solve that is just by optimizing it so that it doesn't hinder users, as much as possible. And the space in general is improving rapidly over time, so there's a lot of progress being made there.

Secondly, because the latest sets of technology are so new around zeroknowledge — although the field has been around for decades — it's quite challenging to find engineers and scientists that actually know how to utilize the technology. You have to create your own repertoire to learn a lot of this. Some [knowledge] comes from academia. Some knowledge comes from small hacker groups on the internet. Some comes from cryptography groups all over the world.

How we're addressing that is we're building everything in a way where it's open source.

All the code that we write at Big Whale Labs is open source, which means that anybody

can just look through the code and see how it works. I think that's the best way to contribute to an emerging field because you're showing your work. Other people can build on top of it and critique it and the space overall, and the level of knowledge overall can improve together.

Do you have any opinions on cryptocurrency?

For crypto to actually take off as a space, we need to move beyond just pure speculation and actually build products and services that users want, need, and use. That's going to be the next frontier. I think there's a ton of teams, us included, that are working to solve that.

I know right now [in July 2022] this is a little bit of a contrarian statement because the amount of usage volume and trading activity around NFTs have dropped off significantly; however, I still strongly believe that NFTs are a useful technology and something that is going to get more and more widely adopted as time goes on.

The initial use cases around NFTs were about art, collectibles, and different things like that, but in the next wave of NFTs, I think you'll see a lot of things like credentials, things to do around identity — which is exactly what Big Whale Labs is working on. When you're trying to assess technology, it's not just good to look at like what it is today, but you really got to think about what it can be tomorrow. //

leadership

LARISSA CRAWFORD Founder and Managing Director of Future Ancestors Services, Inc.

Decolonizing Traditional Worldviews

by Tashon Daley

Larissa Crawford has paved her way into recognition through the work she does as a researcher, activist, artist, and organization leader.

Her approach of using decolonized methods and traditional knowledge, from her Afro-Caribbean and Métis background, is outstanding. Crawford and the founding directors of Future Ancestors Services lead with the intent of eliminating barriers that prevent diverse peoples from succeeding in a capitalist-driven society. Bearing alternate methods and a 14-year-long background in anti-racism research and experience, Crawford explained how Future Ancestors Services operates.

Photo courtesy of Rose and Range Photography

You mentioned that too many organizations in the non-profit and humanitarian sector use capitalist models and compete for limited grants and sponsorships. How does Future Ancestors Services differ?

We're working to remove barriers that harm diverse people, non-human kin, and Earth; in order to remove those barriers and address harm deeply rooted in our minds, institutions, and ecosystems, we need to acknowledge that no one business or individual is going to be able to achieve that alone. We need to work together. Another firm or individual doing the same work we’re doing is an ally, not a competitor.

At Future Ancestors Services, we reflect on what we and our communities want our relationships to look like: what do healthy, ethical relationships to Earth, or our colleagues in our sector of work, or the communities we belong to and serve, look like? What do relationships to trauma and healing-informed workplaces look like?

How can traditional knowledge and ways of being be leveraged as tools to challenge institutional racism?

Worldview impacts how we make decisions, complete our work, assign responsibility, and navigate relationships. Yet, many of us rarely pause to examine and reflect on our worldview. When we examine the way that capitalism and colonialism have informed the way we understand who has valuable knowledge and what constitutes a qualification, a hierarchy of worldviews — that privileges Western science, history, and thought, and invalidates Indigenous knowledge systems and ways of being — emerges.

Really reflect on the ways your lived experiences in navigating and overcoming the adversities you’ve been — and are — faced with inform your value, skill, and your qualification. Practice saying it, writing it out, including it in your CVs, and take the time to not only teach yourself but teach those around you in seeing the value that you bring. Now, this isn't a responsibility that you have — to teach others to treat you with respect — but I do find that this is an act that serves a purpose greater than yourself.

Future Ancestors Services prioritizes a decolonized experience of time. In practice, this looks like: having honest discussions early in our relationships with new clients about boundaries and respect that are unique to the individuals we work with; ensuring our team members are empowered to resist deadlines and schedules that do not honour their time or schedules; and where our team members are encouraged to take time away from work for healing and well-being.

Can you reflect on the milestones you are accomplishing as a leader of the organization?

As a mother, career woman, and activist, what advice would you give to women who feel powerless and face systemic injustices?

Through our work in articulating and asserting [our unique and individual selves and experiences], we find that we support our clients and community partners in understanding that for themselves. [We decentre] capitalist, colonial legacies in order to create more space to acknowledge the value and position other world views and consequential relationships [have].

We're finding that this is the incubator space for the most effective, just, and sustainable innovation that we're seeing. //

Fall 2022

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the EDGE Fall 2022

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the EDGE Spring 2022