Leaders, Innovators and Big Ideas - the Rainforest podcast Al Del Degan

In this episode, host Peter Beaudoin interviews Sheldon Brow, CEO and founder of Pocket Finance, a fintech company that helps users build their financial advisor network. Pocket Finance is a dual platform serving clients and financial professionals. It aims to streamline the process of finding trusted advisors by giving clients quick access and allowing advisors to effectively manage client relationships
Hear the value of having a collaborative network of financial advisors to provide holistic advice. Knowing that this level of nuanced advice cannot be replicated by technology alone, which highlights the continued relevance of human advisors. Sheldon shares the growth journey of his startup, founded in 2019, including participating in pitch contests, accelerators, and moving to Calgary's tech hub
He recently completed the Catalyzer program, which helped refine the business focus and connect with mentors and investors. Sheldon is now looking to raise funds to capitalize on their advisor network and build a trusted ecosystem around clients.
Thank you for listening to the Leaders, Innovators and Big Ideas podcast, supported by Rainforest Alberta. The podcast that highlights those people who are contributing to and/or supporting the innovation ecosystem in Alberta.Host: Peter Beaudoin Peter manages strategy and partnerships for an innovative alliance of energy companies committed to reducing environmental impacts through collaborative R&D efforts. Peter worked for more than 20 years in Asia building and investing in a variety of businesses. His most recent role outside of Canada was with the World Wildlife Fund, where he was the Chief Executive Officer of WWF China, based in Beijing. Prior to that, Peter lived in Hong Kong for 15 years working in the technology industry.
Guest: Sheldon Brow's background as a fisherman's son laid the foundation for his strong work ethic, which he has carried into his role as founder of Pocket Finance. With over 15 years in major banks and as an entrepreneur, he has a strong grasp of the financial sector's challenges and opportunities.
At Pocket Finance, Sheldon is dedicated to improving the tools that financial professionals use to engage with clients, emphasizing the importance of trust, efficiency, and collaborative teamwork.
His goal is to simplify financial planning, making it more intuitive and connected, thus enabling advisors to deliver personalized, high-quality advice more effectively and strengthen relationships in the finance industry.
Please be sure to share this episode with everyone you know. If you are interested in being either a host, a guest, or a sponsor of the show, please reach out. We are published in Google Podcasts and the iTunes store for Apple Podcasts We would be grateful if you could give us a rating as it helps spread the word about the show.
Show Links:
Pocket Finance
Platform Calgary
Catalyser 
Show Quotes:
"Because we go through these dating processes with our institutions, with our professionals that we deal with individually. And there's so many, so many stories about that. It's about trust. It's about trust first, more than anything for the client."
Credits...This Episode Sponsored By: New Idea MachineEpisode Music: Tony Del DeganCreator & Producer: Al Del Degan
 

In this episode, Nathan Clausen, the Director of Continuous Improvement at Trimac Transportation and founder of Innovate Cochrane, shares his insights on fostering community innovation. Key highlights: - Nathan founded Innovate Cochrane to identify and address local needs through grassroots innovation, inspired by his passion for community involvement. - The episode discusses the differences between corporate innovation (often top-down) and community innovation (voluntary, grassroots participation)
Thank you for listening to the Leaders, Innovators and Big Ideas podcast, supported by Rainforest Alberta. The podcast that highlights those people who are contributing to and/or supporting the innovation ecosystem in Alberta.Host:  Mike Procee is an entrepreneur, facilitator, innovator and problem solver. Working in the Calgary Energy Sector, Mike strives to build the innovation ecosystem and community. From his volunteer position on the Strategic Capability Network, where he founded the Calgary Innovation Peer Forum, to pursuing his DBA in Winter 2024, focused on innovation, Mike is pushing the thinking on what it means to be a corporate innovation practitioner. 
Guest: Nathan Klassen is a corporate innovator by day and a personal & community innovator all the time. With a professional background in continuous improvement, change management and organizational transformation, he brought this personal wiring and toolkit into the community arena, co-founding Innovate Cochrane - a community-initiated non-profit committed to raising and releasing innovation capacity to benefit those in Cochrane, Alberta and beyond.
Please be sure to share this episode with everyone you know. If you are interested in being either a host, a guest, or a sponsor of the show, please reach out. We are published in Google Podcasts and the iTunes store for Apple Podcasts We would be grateful if you could give us a rating as it helps spread the word about the show.
Show Links:
Innovate Cochrane
Show Quotes:
"My curiosity around Communication innovation started with continuous improvement and lean, the toolkits we roll out at a company level, but these could also be useful to communities"
Credits...This Episode Sponsored By: New Idea MachineEpisode Music: Tony Del DeganCreator & Producer: Al Del Degan
 

Join Mike Procee as he hosts Saar Ben-Attar to discuss his new book, "Challengers: How a New Breed of Leaders Collaborates and Wins in a Hyper Competitive World". 
As we shift ever more into a fast-changing, hyper-competitive economy, so does the organizing logic of our organizations must change, to outperform and sustain optimal performance. We are moving from clearly defined industry boundaries to porous borders, where new and emerging opportunity fields are found. There is a change from hierarchical organizational decision-making to autonomous networks that quickly solve challenges and scale new solutions.  
In our conversation we explore:What is a “Challenger” mindset?What areas/organizations should not be challengers?What are the key traits required to be a challenger?and more!
Thank you for listening to the Leaders, Innovators and Big Ideas podcast, supported by Rainforest Alberta. The podcast that highlights those people who are contributing to and/or supporting the innovation ecosystem in Alberta.Host:  Mike Procee is an entrepreneur, facilitator, innovator and problem solver. Working in the Calgary Energy Sector, Mike strives to build the innovation ecosystem and community. From his volunteer position on the Strategic Capability Network, where he founded the Calgary Innovation Peer Forum, to pursuing his DBA in Winter 2024, focused on innovation, Mike is pushing the thinking on what it means to be a corporate innovation practitioner. 
Guest: Saar Ben-Attar is the founder of Ascent Growth Partners, a specialist advisory and consulting firm with offices in Singapore and South Africa.
For the past 20 years, Saar has been working with clients to reach their growth aspirations, in a rapidly changing environment, spanning North America, Europe, SE Asia, the Middle East and Africa, with particular focus on the Resources & Energy, Telecoms and Financial Services sectors. Saar works with his clients to frame their strategic challenges, examine leadership mindset and develop the practical skills needed to transform their organizations into more adaptive and future-ready businesses. 
He is a certified strategy practitioner, by the Association of Strategic Planning in the US and has attained his executive coaching qualification from Inner Life Skills International in 2010. ILS holds the highest level of international accreditation (ACTP) from the International Coaching Federation (ICF), for its coach training qualification program.
Please be sure to share this episode with everyone you know. If you are interested in being either a host, a guest, or a sponsor of the show, please reach out. We are published in Google Podcasts and the iTunes store for Apple Podcasts We would be grateful if you could give us a rating as it helps spread the word about the show.
Show Links:
Challengers: How a New Breed of Leaders Collaborates and Wins in a Hyper Competitive World 
Show Quotes:
"I wouldn't say there are areas in which absolutely there are not circumstance we should not challenge, however there are certainly areas where one needs to do this with absolute caution"
Credits...This Episode Sponsored By: New Idea MachineEpisode Music: Tony Del DeganCreator & Producer: Al Del Degan
 

Mike Procee chat's with Matt Gramblicha and Alex Halat. Alex is chairman of the Hockey Marathon for the Kids. 3 time Guinness world record holder and about to attempt a 4th for the World’s Longest Hockey game. The current record is 261 hours (just shy of 11 days) and Alex and team will be attempting to beat their own record April 5-16 in Chestermere. 
The game started in 2012 when 40 men took to the ice to raise funds for the Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation all while trying to break the Guinness Book of World Records for most consecutive hours of playing ice hockey. The goal was achieved and exceeded by raising 1.2M for the Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation and playing 246 hours of hockey. Two short years later, the game happened again. This time raising 1.7M for the Alberta Children’s Hospital and breaking their own record playing 248 consecutive hours of hockey. Then in 2020 almost 1 M was raised and these 40 hero’s broke another world record of 261 consecutive hours
After 2 years it is time to do it again! The game remains the same, the goal is higher. 40 players will try to play 262 consecutive hours and beat their own record. We want to raise awareness and funds to ensure children will have a chance to survive this horrible disease. No child and no family should have to go through this so we skate for all of those fighting today, tomorrow and in the future. We also play for those that lost their battle, for their memory to continue on each time we are on the ice.
Thank you for listening to the Leaders, Innovators and Big Ideas podcast, supported by Rainforest Alberta. The podcast that highlights those people who are contributing to and/or supporting the innovation ecosystem in Alberta.Host:  Mike Procee is an entrepreneur, facilitator, innovator and problem solver. Working in the Calgary Energy Sector, Mike strives to build the innovation ecosystem and community. From his volunteer position on the Strategic Capability Network, where he founded the Calgary Innovation Peer Forum, to pursuing his DBA in Winter 2024, focused on innovation, Mike is pushing the thinking on what it means to be a corporate innovation practitioner. 
Guest: Alex Halat
Guest: Matt Gramblicka 
 
Please be sure to share this episode with everyone you know. If you are interested in being either a host, a guest, or a sponsor of the show, please reach out. We are published in Google Podcasts and the iTunes store for Apple Podcasts We would be grateful if you could give us a rating as it helps spread the word about the show.
Show Links:
Hockey Marathon 
Show Quotes:
"This event is 2020 volunteers to pull this event, you think the world has changes in the last ten years, and it has, but this event is a community builder."
Credits...This Episode Sponsored By: New Idea MachineEpisode Music: Tony Del DeganCreator & Producer: Al Del Degan
 

Mike and Graeme discuss the Energy Disruption Conference, and how it helps support intrapreneurs within Alberta. They also speak to the challenges and opportunities in the energy industry, highlighting the importance of courageous leadership, pushing through discomfort, and taking risks to make a profound difference. Join the conversation on driving impactful transformation and embracing change in the energy sector.
Thank you for listening to the Leaders, Innovators and Big Ideas podcast, supported by Rainforest Alberta. The podcast that highlights those people who are contributing to and/or supporting the innovation ecosystem in Alberta.Host:  Mike Procee is an entrepreneur, facilitator, innovator and problem solver. Working in the Calgary Energy Sector, Mike strives to build the innovation ecosystem and community. From his volunteer position on the Strategic Capability Network, where he founded the Calgary Innovation Peer Forum, to pursuing his DBA in Winter 2024, focused on innovation, Mike is pushing the thinking on what it means to be a corporate innovation practitioner. 
Guest: Graeme Edge Originally hailing from Scotland, Graeme Edge is an entrepreneur, energy enthusiast, talent expert, and avid sports aficionado. Apart from his endeavors in amateur squash and keeping up with his children, Graeme serves as one of the founders and CEO of the Energy Disruptors: UNITE event series.
Established in early 2017, the Energy Disruptors: UNITE summit stands as a multi-award-winning event dedicated to energy transition. It gathers 2500 of the world’s most influential leaders and entrepreneurs to tackle global energy, climate, and transportation challenges.
Based in Calgary, the summit adopts an unconventional approach, featuring diverse content, speakers with contrasting viewpoints, gender parity, influential non-energy figures, bold ideas grounded in science and engineering, live music, artistic performances, and an environment designed to astonish, engage, and captivate attendees.
Energy Disruptors has earned comparisons to "the Burning Man of the corporate world" or "Coachella for geeks," reflecting its innovative and dynamic nature.
Please be sure to share this episode with everyone you know. If you are interested in being either a host, a guest, or a sponsor of the show, please reach out. We are published in Google Podcasts and the iTunes store for Apple Podcasts We would be grateful if you could give us a rating as it helps spread the word about the show.
Show Links:
Energy Disruptors 
Show Quotes:
"Sometimes you feel like you're pushing water uphill, it can be incredibly frustrating so one of the simple things we do is we actually built a community where a lot of those people could hang out together"
Credits...This Episode Sponsored By: New Idea MachineEpisode Music: Tony Del DeganCreator & Producer: Al Del Degan
 

In this episode, Eugene and Noel from GroupLabs discuss their journey into tech entrepreneurship, focusing on AI and ML consultancy services and their product Bridge for streamlined data discovery. Real-life examples demonstrate the efficiency of their solutions, especially in healthcare. They share insights on AI innovation in Calgary, working with startups, and the importance of taking action in entrepreneurship
Thank you for listening to the Leaders, Innovators and Big Ideas podcast, supported by Rainforest Alberta. The podcast that highlights those people who are contributing to and/or supporting the innovation ecosystem in Alberta.Host:  Host: Gurmol Singh has a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from the University of Calgary, where he won the Innovation 4 Health competition for his work on a driving app that helped lower the potential for accidents related to pre-existing medical conditions. He also received a Post-Diploma Certificate in Data Analytics from SAIT and completed the Machine Learning technician program at Amii . He previously worked at Motionhall as a Scientific Analyst, and at Longview Systems as a System Consultant.
Guest: Eugene Paulia As a co-founder of GroupLabs and a Data Analyst at Cenovus, Eugene is passionate about harnessing data to innovate and solve problems. With expertise in Business Analytics and Data Science, he has contributed to key projects at Suncor Energy. Committed to lifelong learning, Eugene aims to create impact through insightful data analysis.
Guest: Noel Thomas has cultivated a robust foundation in diverse subfields of computer science and the life sciences, honed through engagement in numerous multidisciplinary projects. They are eager to channel their enthusiasm and expertise into a dynamic and demanding position within the tech industry, emphasizing a commitment to perpetual learning and advancement.
Please be sure to share this episode with everyone you know. If you are interested in being either a host, a guest, or a sponsor of the show, please reach out. We are published in Google Podcasts and the iTunes store for Apple Podcasts We would be grateful if you could give us a rating as it helps spread the word about the show.
Show Links:
GroupLabs 
Show Quotes:
"Just start, years pass by gaining experience, being young it is the best time to fail""Bridge is a data discovery engine, GroupLabs is trying to solve the problem of structured data so the result can be passed into an LLM model""Understand stakeholders, solve their task, double check with security team. A simple BI project can take weeks and months""My mom was my source of inspiration for going into software, she had a computer science background and got me into programming when I was young"
Credits...This Episode Sponsored By: New Idea MachineEpisode Music: Tony Del DeganCreator & Producer: Al Del Degan