French insight to Microsoft’s culture during Seattle Industry Tour

Microsoft… Well, unless you’ve been living in a cave for the past few decades, you must be pretty familiar with this name. Let’s briefly remind us the Microsoft success story.  It has been founded in 1994 by Paul Allen and Bill Gates (you know, the guy we’ve all dreamed of sharing a bank account with). The name Microsoft comes from the fusion of the words microcomputer and software. Indeed its activities are focused on computer software, hardware and consumer electronics. Its products are in our daily lives under the famous brands Windows, Office, Skype, MSN or Xbox and many others. Microsoft has a worldwide presence and in 2015 registered a revenue of 93.58 billion US dollars.

How to do consulting differently? George Ghali, Slalom, meets GEM & SFU students during Seattle Industry Tour

It was our pleasure to meet George Ghali, managing director of technology enablement, and almost complete team of senior consultants at Slalom. This consulting company offers a service that links business and technology but for them, technology is not seen as a solution but as a tool in order to succeed. It’s especially Slalom’s new way of doing consulting business that will be remembered in our minds.

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation…A call for a better world

As we entered in the lobby of the foundation, we felt the humility of the atmosphere. The foundation stems an instantaneously positive and good feeling of impacting communities. “It’s all about people” said Patrick McMahon, our guide. The aim is to create a sustainable system that supports all communities across the world.

Koru outlines to GEM & SFU students career development issues during Seattle Industry Tour

On Thursday February 11, 2016,  we had the pleasure of visiting the headquarters of Koru, a startup which aims at reducing  unemployement of college graduates. The company’s offices are located in Boston, Seattle, and San Francisco. In the United States, a lot of graduates currently encounter problems with finding a job. They often do not fit the required standards of corporations, 53% of them are un-employed or under-employed.

Tom Britton, Elastic Path, talks to GEM & SFU students during Vancouver Industry Tour

    First day of the Vancouver Industry Tour was concluded by a visit at Elastic Path. We were lucky to have Tom Britton, Senior Director Product Development, as our guest speaker. Mr Britton gave us great talk about challenges in product development, innovation, and customized approach to customers.

Sylvain Celaire, Modo, describes how Modo represents the best of Vancouver

We step into their office space and to be honest it was smaller than expected. Then Sylvain Celaire, Modo’s Business Development Manager, says “Yes we have approximately 15,000 members right now so things are going pretty good”.

So, you mean to tell me that this group of 25ish individuals are responsible for one of the largest car-sharing companies in Canada?

Sylvain responds, “Well we operate as a cooperative which brings us great flexibility when it comes to making decisions because our customers and shareholders are the same group. This freedom allows us to really exercise our entrepreneurial spirit and drive”

Jorge Marques, BC Hydro, talks to GEM & SFU students about sustainability during Vancouver Industry Tour

Today we had the pleasure of listening to Jorge Marques, Manager of DSM Strategies at BC Hydro, speak about sustainability and innovation. With over 20 years of experience in the energy and sustainability industry, Jorge has many ideas of how process can help invoke sustainability into every day transactions. While traditional DSM (demand side measure) programs work towards energy savings, Jorge is working toward a goal of total market transformation. He not only wants companies and citizens to use less energy, but wants them to do so in a smart and efficient way. “Treat the market as a system and apply leverage to transform market activities,” Jorge explained to us.

Geocaching, let the adventure begin…. during Vancouver Industry Tour

As you walk in Geocaching offices, you discover that working here is all about games and innovation: foosball & ping pong tables, an amazing kitchen but also stand up desks, some people playing Fifa and others analyzing data on their computers!

Frederick Davidson, Energold, talks to GEM & SFU students about environmental challenges for a drilling company

During the morning in downtown Vancouver, we got to visit the head office of Energold, a leading global speciality drilling company. We were welcomed by Frederick Davidson, President and CEO, as well as Jerry Huang, Investor Relations Manager, into their office to discuss the impact Energold has on the mining, oil, water, and geotechnical industry.

Radius outlines to GEM & SFU students entrepreneurial challenges during Vancouver Industry Tour

RADical Ideas, Useful to Society. Everything is in the name. Radius is the Beedie School of Business’ social innovation lab and venture incubator. The aim? Helping the new wave of entrepreneurs who want to create innovative rules in the present and complex environment.