Shift podcast
Digging into the key digital trends and topics that can help make your business transformation a reality
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Episodes
Taking a simple idea and scaling it big
What started as a university idea amongst friends, quickly turned into a disruptive digital invention, focused on a seemingly simple concept of knowing what’s in your water. With chemical analysis taking days to get results and field kits often being inaccurate, CEO David LLoyd knew there had to be a better way to optimize this process and enable operators to make more informed decisions about their water treatment. Host Jon Finkelstein sits down with David to hear the story behind his V2R award winning invention “The Field Ready Electrochemical Detector” (FRED) a portable and incredibly simple to use water chemistry kit.
Thinking big to drive enterprise-scale transformation
When you think construction you don’t often think digital. PCL Construction and their Chief Information Officer Mark Bryant have flipped the script, creating a digital-first enterprise focused on construction excellence. With the goal of reducing costs, enhancing safety, driving lean construction practices, and leveraging technology to support greater productivity, PCL has changed the way their employees share information and interact on job sites. Join the conversation with host Jon Finkelstein and Mark, as they discuss how he took his vision to a reality, and what you can learn from the PCL digital transformation story.
Keeping humans at the centre of the equation
Resolving justice problems can be stressful and expensive but with the technology the British Columbia Civil Resolution Tribunal has implemented, citizens now have 24/7 free online access to condo and small claims dispute resolution services. This transformation has provided flexibility and collaboration to resolve disputes as early and inexpensively as possible. Shannon Salter, Chair at the CRT, is the woman behind this legal revolution. In this episode of Shift, she sits down with Jon to share her Vision to Reality award winning innovation, and breaks down the secrets behind their success.
Enabling citizens with digital
In the latest episode of the Shift podcast, host Jon Finkelstein sits down with Chief Technology Officer of the City of Vancouver, Jessie Adcock. The two discuss building a “connected” city, managing citizen trust, and the impact of smart cities.
Keeping the customer at the center of your growth strategy
Cody Green, CEO and Founder of Canada Drives, is bringing the vehicle purchasing experience into the digital age and empowering consumers in their car purchasing decisions, at all optimal price points. In this episode of Shift, Cody and Jon sit down to discuss the challenges and lessons learned of building a company that has revolutionized access to auto financing in Canada. He offers tips on establishing a shared vision to drive employee engagement, keeping customers at the centre of your growth strategy, and navigating the world of emerging technologies in a way that is impactful for your organization.
Building an agile cybersecurity strategy
Cybersecurity and privacy are top of mind concerns for organizations as they become increasingly digital. On this episode of Shift, host Jon Finkelstein is joined by Sean Joyce, PwC US Cybersecurity and Privacy leader to discuss the steps your organization can take to properly prepare and respond in today’s interconnected world in order to maintain your business integrity and customer trust.
Retail evolution & customer experience
The LCBO has gone from being a standalone retailer to playing a number of roles including wholesaler, ecommerce provider and soon to be cannabis retailer. In this episode of Shift, LCBO’s President & CEO, George Soleas, joins Jon Finkelstein to discuss the crown corporation’s digital transformation, customer centricity, AI and of course, cannabis retail, including its implications for alcohol.
Driving customer centricity in complex organizations
From family homes to large businesses, the utilities industry affects us all. In this episode of Shift, we learn about the digital revolution happening in the utilities sector. Host Jon Finkelstein is joined by Eileen Campbell, VP of Customer Service for Alectra Utilities. The two talk about what the current and future of utilities looks like and how they are incorporating new technologies to better personalize the utilities experience. They discuss the shift we are seeing towards consumers wanting greater control over their utilities, the shift of people going from energy consumers to energy producers, and how through greater data and analytics we are enabling the population to make better choices when it comes to energy consumption.
Change and Innovation in the public sector
There is a huge appetite to do things differently in the public sector. In this episode of Shift, Alex Benay, CIO of the Government of Canada, speaks with host Jon Finkelstein about creating a digitally enabled government, driving technology adoption and innovation to better serve citizens, in a sector traditionally considered change averse. We talk about getting better and quicker services to citizens, using open source solutions and prioritizing cybersecurity.
Gender diversity in tech—from awareness to action
People generally know that gender parity makes sense. Research even shows that greater gender diversity enables organizations to have better financial performance. So why is there still such a strong gender disparity in the tech sector, and so many other industries? Jodi Kovitz, CEO of #movethedial, talks about the necessity of bringing more gender diversity to technology and actions organizations (large and small) can take to increase female leadership and representation in the workforce.
Building a city of innovation
Toronto has the opportunity to excel globally as a leader in nurturing and scaling innovation. In this episode of Shift, guest Councillor Michelle Holland, Chief Advocate for the Innovation Economy for the City of Toronto, talks about the importance of building a city of innovation and the journey to do so, from joining forces with small and large organizations, to attracting talent and diversity, to the efforts to become a smart city.
Investing in innovation
Today’s innovation economy is fueled by the startup scene and new business looking to get their big break. On this episode of Shift, guest Brice Scheschuk, CEO at venture capital firm Globalive, offers his views on the opportunities and challenges of innovation in Canada, on spotting good investments in innovation and new funding mechanisms.
Three key factors for a successful digital transformation
Organizations often struggle to realize the benefits of their digital investments, in many cases due to limited technology adoption. Shift’s guests, Jimmy Bremner, Innovation and Transformation Executive at Salesforce, and Christine Robertson, Partner, Marketing, Communications & Sales Leader at PwC Canada, talk about lessons learned and insights from a complex and multi-territory digital transformation.
The journey to omni-channel
"Omni-channel" has become a buzzword, but what does it actually mean? Shift’s guest, Claire Bara, Vice President Strategy & Business Intelligence at Lowe’s Canada, talks about omni-channel as a journey and balancing performance with innovation to deliver differentiated experiences to consumers.
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This podcast has been prepared for general guidance on matters of interest only, and does not constitute professional advice. You should not act upon the information contained in this publication without obtaining specific professional advice. No representation or warranty (express or implied) is given as to the accuracy or completeness of the information contained in this podcast, and, to the extent permitted by law, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, its members, employees and agents do not accept or assume any liability, responsibility or duty of care for any consequences of you or anyone else acting, or refraining to act, in reliance on the information contained in this publication or for any decision based on it.
“PwC” refers to PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an Ontario limited liability partnership, which is a member firm of PricewaterhouseCoopers International Limited, each member firm of which is a separate legal entity.
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Jon Finkelstein
Executive Creative Director, PwC Digital Services
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