GradusOne Archives - Frank Yang

May 13 2017

GradusTalks – Pathway to Tech

ftyang Archive, Business Seminar Business Seminar, GradusOne, Haidee Kongpreecha, Kraig Docherty, Laura Crawford, Sarah Veness, Tarrnie Williams 0

Date: May 10, 2017

Name: GradusTalks – Pathway to Tech

Presenters: Kraig Docherty, Sarah Veness, Laura Crawford, Tarrnie Williams, and Haidee Kongpreecha

Tech industry is facing a shortage of skilled entrepreneurs; moreover, successful young entrepreneurs are witnessing a good timing to transition themselves into this industry. GradusOne produces GradusTalks events to help young entrepreneurs get closer to their business goals. GradusTalks invites the tech panel to discuss their perspective on the current tech industry. In this presentation, the tech panel will share their unique experience on how to build the necessary skills in their industries. Furthermore, young entrepreneurs will learn their insight and apply to their pathway to tech.

The moderator for this presentation is Kraig Docherty, the Director of Talent Programs from BC Tech. The Tech panel includes Sarah Veness, the Web Developer from Omnifilm Entertainment, Laura Crawford, the senior manager from Mobify, Tarrnie Williams, the CEO of Blueprint Reality, and Haidee Kongpreecha, the Content Marketing Strategist from RED academy.

Keynote from Kraig Docherty

The current ecosystem in Vancouver is elevating the game of tech. There is a shift coming to tech industry. Many young entrepreneurs are looking for opportunities; in addition, tech industry is bringing back the key players to Vancouver.

Docherty believes the tech industry is facing 3 major challenges. First, there is a growing talent deficit. Local companies are required to access talents. The opportunities in tech are rising, but these positions are not filling. Entrepreneurs need to change rule of the game. There will be more graduates who are stepping into tech industry, yet they are competing with existing seniors. Based on statistic, 45% of workface only 10% are in tech sector. Eventually, entrepreneurs will see a shift in the tech industry.

The remaining 2 challenges are compensation level and work drain. BC Government has renewed their BC Tech strategy to help young entrepreneurs. This includes investing in post-secondary capacity, doubling co-op and work integrated learning, and supporting Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality development. BC Government looks for improvement, education, and support in tech industry.

The Tech panel discussion

The question of gender difference in tech industry is raised. Williams believes balance board equals to balance result. Opportunities exist anywhere. In tech, interest plays a bigger role in the industry. Kongpreecha believes passion is the key. Crawford believes networking is essential. Veness starts to see change mindset for young kids in school. Traditionally, school was lacking encouragement. Now, the tech industry is starting to see balance opportunities for everyone. Success cannot be measured by gender; in fact, different perspectives are the key to success.

For young entrepreneurs who want to work in tech industry but no tech skill can be challenging. Veness shares that she always had the interest before she worked in tech industry. With no tech background, she went to many meetups, seminars, and information workshops. She finally took the initiative to enroll herself into a tech course. Crawford had a similar experience. She was following a non-conventional path in her career, but she decided not to become a teacher. She enjoyed the interactions, talking and meeting. One day, she took the risk and stepped into the tech industry. The learning curve was steep, but the opportunity was worth it. Crawford advices young entrepreneurs to be vulnerable and honest.

“Become a sponge first, the hours I put in will pay off”

Williams suggests young entrepreneurs need to look inside themselves and ask why. They need to discover their own values. It is worth the time to think about the passion. Tech is everywhere because everything involves in tech. Kongpreecha does not feel she works in tech industry because she knows tech is everywhere. Young entrepreneurs need to go out and find the right people. They will realize tech industry is not just one industry; in fact, it is a part of everything.

Crawford believes the best way to know about corporate culture is to have informational interview. Networking on LinkedIn is another alternative. The key is that if young entrepreneurs do not ask, they will never know. In Blueprint Reality, Williams hire most employees through referrals. Williams suggests young entrepreneurs to network people who are in that company in their company events. They need to do research, such as following social media. Young entrepreneurs will be surprise how many people are willing to help out.

Kongpreecha believes soft skill is essential in tech industry. This includes good personality, work ethic and continuous learning. Young entrepreneurs need to look beyond technical skills. Team work is important according to Williams, and be resilient is key for Crawford. The ability to say “I don’t know” is significant from Veness. The willing to learn is important. Young entrepreneurs should never be afraid to have human connection. It narrows down to two major questions.

How badly do you want it?
How do you interact?

Veness mentions she loves teaching. Mentorship is a way to help people get motivated. Kongpreecha believes there are many opportunities to guide, especially in soft skills. Docherty was Crawford’s mentor. She had the pleasure to talk to Docherty outside of work. He offered her new perspective that leads to her success. Williams has been a mentor more than mentee. Overall, experience can be passed on and young entrepreneurs are encouraged to share. Being a mentor can learn a lot about themselves.

Comparing with other cities, tech industry in Vancouver has great ecosystem, great diversity, and great inclusive. However, there is limited funding. This means there is noth enough investors in tech who are willing to invest companies to become the next billion dollar enterprise. There is not enough exits in Vancouver. Williams shares when there is limited amount of funding, competitors from other cities will pivot and move on. Vancouver is still not close enough comparing with other cities. Veness advices young entrepreneurs that they should not assume fast pace as the next tech idea. Great idea is great, but great delivery is even greater. In Vancouver, companies tend not to see others as competition because resources are shared. Collaboration leads to better result.

Crawford believes the biggest challenge is the value alignment. Many young entrepreneurs come from different backgrounds. It is important to bring something different to the table. Kongpreecha believes manage expectation can a challenge. Communication must be clear.

Williams believes Virtual Reality will rise. There are many VR events in Vancouver, and many people have the passion to build something from VR. It will change everything. Other than VR, Fintech, Clean Tech, gaming and e-commerce are also booming. Eventually, all companies will become tech companies in future. Kongpreecha looks at it as a bucket of skills, which is digital development, digital marketing, digital design and soft skills. These skills are not just only for tech industry. They are important for all kinds of industries. Any traditional marketing will insert technology aspects.

To prepare for tech industry, it is important to reach out to people for training. Mindset is extremely important. Change can be rapid, support is the key, and focus on experience.

“Interest in tech? ask them to pitch you”

April 13 2015

GradusOne x Technology Tech panel

ftyang Archive, Business Seminar Adrian Duke, BCTIA, Business Seminar, GradusOne, Jayesh Parmer, Jeff Booth, Sarah Lubik 0

Date: April 9, 2015

Name: GradusOne x Technology Tech panel

Presenters: Sarah Lubik, Adrian Duke, Jayesh Parmer, and Jeff Booth

Technology is a huge trend in Vancouver and all leaders need to understand where the potential opportunities are in the market. Moreover, the evolution of technology is increasing the competitiveness in technology market. This panel presentation is hosted by GradusOne and BCTIA. Moreover, Manny Padda, the Managing Director of New Avenue Capital, will moderate this presentation. This presentation invites Sarah Lubik, the Director of Technology Entrepreneurship at Simon Fraser University, Adrian Duke, the Co-founder of Skyturtle Technologies Ltd, Jeff Booth, the CEO of BuildDirect, and Jayesh Parmar, the CEO of Picatic. Furthermore, this presentation will benefit young entrepreneurs who are looking for inspiration from technology sector.

In order to keep up the technology trend, Jayesh Parmar looks at the new product line. Jeff Booth looks at the greater landscape. Adrian Duke focuses on things that will impact daily lives. Moreover, Sarah Lubik looks at the needs from the people who will merge their lives with technology.

The panel describes their defining moments that lead their career in the technology sector. Duke believes many classical games are outdated with their current technology. Due to technology trend, it is an advantage for young entrepreneurs to improve the classic. Lubik shares while she was integrating the current systems through co-op at university, Lubik was inspired from the research that takes scientific fiction to reality. The defining moment for Booth is when he was motivated to create a system in his company that will increase clients’ satisfaction. Parmar suggests young entrepreneurs to get outside and figure out their passion and their challenges.

“If I know what I know, I will not start it”

The panel shares what they feel the most important qualities that young entrepreneurs need to be successful in technology startup. Parmar believes young entrepreneurs need the passion of vision, intellect, and without the fear of failure. Booth recognizes young entrepreneurs with curiosity mind, self-awareness, and care for teammates. Duke believes the personality of doers and hustlers, also young entrepreneurs must have the ability to execute. Lubik focuses on passion, commitments, coachable and humble.

The panel shares their hardest parts to break into the technology sector. Lubik shares while she was in the technology sector, she needs to study the technical production to break through the communication barrier. There are many people who know the technology, but they do not speak in engineer language.

Adrian shares the determination is the hardest part to break into technology sector. Many industries are changing due to technology, and the intersection between the traditional sectors and new innovative sectors are getting bigger. Therefore, Booth believes the hardest part is to figure out the passion to improve the intersection.

There are a lot of great ideas, but to find the team to execute the great ideas is difficult. Parmer believes the hardest part is to find a team that can follow the vision. It is important to get the right people and the right market in the business.

“You are doing it for the right reason”

There is a debate of whether business degree is a requirement to be successful in technology sector. Parmer emphasizes many corporation leaders in technology sector do not have degree. They believe in lifelong learning and the ability to figure out the answers. Booth does not believe business degree is important. It is more important to learn on their ways.

“Outside view will never match with inside view”

“If you are not failing, you are not trying hard enough”

Lubik believes education is important. Young entrepreneurs must understand that the degree by itself is not important, but the skills young entrepreneurs gain in the process of getting the degree is significant.

Duke also believes degree is not important. The important thing is to be around with successful people. Education is just a factor in the entrepreneur journey. Degree shows the ability to learn and young entrepreneurs can use education to prepare themselves in the market.

Parmar suggests young entrepreneurs do not afraid to fail. Booth suggests young entrepreneurs not to hesitate on their journey. It is important to jump in and learn to see what others do not see. Young entrepreneurs must believe that they are right and others are wrong. Duke indicates there are many accelerated programs that will help young entrepreneurs to be surrounded by experts who are motivated and driven. Lubik suggests young entrepreneurs to network with people who might be their potential customers.

“Do not assume people will buy it until you build it”

Mentorship impacts the panel in their journey. Duke learned to care for others, the importance of building effective relationship, and to take risk. Booth shares his mentors are his parents. He learned the gift of learning and relationship. Young entrepreneurs can build the level of trust from helping others. Parmer mentions mentorship can help young entrepreneurs to shrink time to get to the answer faster. If mentors do not know the answer, they will refer to someone else. It is important to ask clear question.

The panel shares their examples of their minimal viable products. All their initial designs are not attractive. However, with new modification and upgrades, all prototypes are in the market helping other people’s lives.

Parmer believes volunteering is a great way to find the initial problem. Young entrepreneurs can use the volunteering time to discover what they need to do. While volunteering, Booth recommends young entrepreneurs to act like CEO. Volunteering can satisfy young entrepreneurs’ learning curves. Duke recommends young entrepreneurs to enjoy the moment of volunteering. Lubik wants young entrepreneurs not to work for free; instead, they should think the skill sets they can acquire during volunteering. They need to figure out the initiative, and people will pay.

In technology sector, Lubik believes there is a need of improvement in the Healthcare center. Duke believes the sharing economy will be a trend opportunities in technology sector. Booth indicates the old “command and control” method is gone and empowering is the new trend for the new generation. Parmer asks young entrepreneurs to find the passion that will keep them up at night.

The panel has been asked what they will do if they are not in the technology sector. Parmer wants to be a family member who can create memory for his family. Booth wants to treat every moment with his family to build a stronger relationship. Duke wants to travel and help people. Lubik wants young entrepreneurs to know that jobs opportunities in technology sector will always exist; therefore, they should choose things they believe in it.