The Catalyst by Softchoice
Softchoice
A podcast about unleashing the full potential in people and technology.
When people and technology come together, the potential is limitless. But while everyone is used to hearing about the revolutionary impact of tech, it can be easy to forget about the people behind it all. This podcast shines a light on the human side of innovation, as co-hosts Aaron Brooks and Heather Haskin explore and reframe our relationship to technology.
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Top 10 The Catalyst by Softchoice Episodes
Goodpods has curated a list of the 10 best The Catalyst by Softchoice episodes, ranked by the number of listens and likes each episode have garnered from our listeners. If you are listening to The Catalyst by Softchoice for the first time, there's no better place to start than with one of these standout episodes. If you are a fan of the show, vote for your favorite The Catalyst by Softchoice episode by adding your comments to the episode page.
Decarbonizing the grid with virtual power plants: Recurve’s Matt Golden
The Catalyst by Softchoice
06/07/23 • 35 min
Decarbonizing our energy grid will take a lot more than adopting alternative power sources. That’s the founding principle behind Recurve, a company on a mission to speed the transition to a carbon-free economy, while making the already fragile energy grid more reliable. Aaron meets with Recurve CEO Matt Golden to discuss why decarbonizing the grid calls for a new approach to flexible demand, through what Recurve calls “virtual power plants.”
The discussion highlights the importance of demand-side flexibility and load balancing, the complexities of modernizing a grid, and how Google Cloud is making Recurve's mission possible.
Golden is a recognized thought leader in the energy efficiency industry. Whether testifying before Congress or auditing Ellen DeGeneres’ house, Matt has been spreading the word about energy efficiency for years. An entrepreneur, policy advocate and efficiency agitator, Matt is committed to bringing demand flexibility in the built environment to scale as a grid and climate resource. He has made presentations on emerging demand flexibility markets to the US Senate, at COP 21 and to the UK Parliament.
Featuring: Matt Golden, Founder and CEO of Recurve
The Catalyst by Softchoice is the podcast shining a light on the human side of technology.
This episode is brought to you by Google Cloud.
Speak to Softchoice today to see how we can help you use Google cloud to break down silos, unlock new insights and power innovation.
The Catalyst by Softchoice is the podcast dedicated to exploring the intersection of humans and technology.
From hard hats to high tech: Rachel Skaff’s journey to AWS and the importance of DEI
The Catalyst by Softchoice
02/05/25 • 30 min
The future of tech isn’t just about speed and innovation—it’s about who gets a seat at the table.
In this episode of The Catalyst by Softchoice, Rachel Skaff, AWS Managing Director of America’s Channel and Partner Sales, joins Heather Haskin to explore how Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) are driving innovation in tech.
From her unconventional path into the industry to leading DEI initiatives at Amazon, Skaff shares insights on fostering inclusivity and ensuring AI development remains fair and unbiased.
This episode is brought to you by AWS. Transform your document workflows with AWS Document AI Services. Visit softchoice.com/awsai today!
The Catalyst by Softchoice is the podcast dedicated to exploring the intersection of humans and technology.
The new ROI of Cloud
The Catalyst by Softchoice
06/09/21 • 20 min
The pandemic might have accelerated the journey to Cloud – but it hasn’t made the road there any less bumpy. We speak to Craig McQueen about the pitfalls – new and old – of cloud migration, and the amazing value and innovation you can unlock with a well-executed cloud strategy.
Featuring:
Craig McQueen, Vice President of Innovation at Softchoice
The Catalyst by Softchoice is the podcast shining a light on the human side of IT leaders and reframing our relationship with technology.
Are you a leader in the IT space? Read more on Softchoice’s Innovation Executive Forum, an exclusive, members-only community of over 400 senior IT leaders across North America.
The Catalyst by Softchoice is the podcast dedicated to exploring the intersection of humans and technology.
Uncertainty, sustainability and the semiconductor: Lessons from the global chip shortage
The Catalyst by Softchoice
06/21/23 • 28 min
The global semiconductor shortage, triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic, set off a cascading set of challenges. The resulting disruption made it harder than ever to get electronic components and products to where they were needed, leaving consumers, businesses and other organizations in the lurch. Compounding the issue: heavy reliance on semiconductor production in Asia, mainly Taiwan. As uncertainty continues to define the 2020s and geopolitical tensions rise, how can we apply what we’ve learned to prevent another crisis? In this episode of The Catalyst by Softchoice, host Cheryl Stookes joins Phil Vokins, Director of Channels, ISVs and Cloud at Intel. Drawing on his deep experience in the semiconductor industry, Vokins dives deep into the coordinated efforts, strategic investments and sustainable approaches by business and government to address the recent shortage and gird against future disruptions.
Featuring: Phil Vokins, Director of Channels, ISVs and Cloud at Intel
The Catalyst is the podcast shining a light on the human side of technology.
This episode was brought to you by the Intel vPro platform, delivering unmatched performance and comprehensive security right to your fingertips. See how Softchoice can help you unlock the full potential of your hybrid workspace with Intel vPro today.
The Catalyst by Softchoice is the podcast dedicated to exploring the intersection of humans and technology.
Employee cybersecurity training: Your first and last line of defense.
The Catalyst by Softchoice
05/12/21 • 28 min
A few episodes ago, we talked to David Kennedy about the new obstacles that IT leaders are facing - as cybersecurity threats get more advanced and even more dangerous. But there was a lot more to this conversation that we had to unpack.
Why are employees and people still the weakest link? What part of security awareness training isn’t sticking?
Erika Van Noort meets up with Sharyl Givens, Chief Human Resources Officer at Proofpoint to unpack the tangible steps you can use to protect your people and your company. It’s time to turn your weakest links into your strongest assets.
Featuring:
Sharyl Givens, Chief Human resources Officer at Proofpoint
Special appearance by:
Molly Moreash, Commercial Account Sales Leader at Softchoice
Robbin Simpkins, Senior Manager of Services Improvement at Softchoice
Soraya Mohamed, Cloud Advisor for V.M Ware at Softchoice
Sabina Beckman, Territory Sales Account Executive at Softchoice
The Catalyst by Softchoice is the podcast shining a light on the human side of IT leaders and reframing our relationship with technology.
Are you a leader in the IT space? Read more on Softchoice’s Innovation Executive Forum, an exclusive, members-only community of over 400 senior IT leaders across North America.
The Catalyst by Softchoice is the podcast dedicated to exploring the intersection of humans and technology.
1-DEGREE/Shift: Small changes, big impact
The Catalyst by Softchoice
01/08/25 • 29 min
What if your company could leverage AI to not only increase productivity but also improve your mental well-being? What if the secret to transforming your workplace culture and achieving extraordinary results lay in the smallest, most intentional changes?
In this episode of The Catalyst by Softchoice, host Heather Haskin sits down with 1-Degree/Shift founders Suchitra Davies-Webb and Nick Foster to explore how small, intentional shifts in leadership can drive transformative change in workplace culture.
From fostering conscious accountability to utilizing innovative AI tools, discover how their unique approach helps organizations achieve inclusivity, well-being, and high performance. Listen in to learn how small changes can lead to extraordinary results.
Featuring: 1-Degree/Shift co-founders Suchitra Davies-Webb and Nick Foster
The Catalyst by Softchoice is the podcast dedicated to exploring the intersection of humans and technology.
Leading from afar: Strategies for success in a remote world
The Catalyst by Softchoice
07/31/24 • 28 min
Can a leader effectively inspire and drive success without being physically present? As tech giants like Google, Amazon, Meta, and Apple mandate a return to the office, this question is top of mind. In this episode, host Heather Haskin interviews Angela Cope, the Director of Demand Generation at Softchoice, about her life as a remote leader amidst this wave of return-to-office mandates.
From her home in rural Nova Scotia, Angela shares her unique perspective on leading from afar. Discover her daily routine, the key challenges and advantages of remote leadership, and what it takes to successfully manage a team from a distance in an ever-evolving work landscape. Tune in for an insightful discussion on the future of remote work and effective leadership strategies.
Featuring: Angela Cope, Director of Demand Generation at Softchoice
The Catalyst by Softchoice is the podcast dedicated to exploring the intersection of humans and technology.
Bonus: The Catalyst gets clear on Microsoft Generative AI – The business case
The Catalyst by Softchoice
05/21/24 • 16 min
Businesses everywhere taking a good, hard look at Microsoft Generative AI are all wondering the same thing: is it really worth the hype? That's what we're here to find out.
On the inaugural episode of this brand-new miniseries courtesy of The Catalyst by Softchoice, host Braeden Banks and guest Jaime Waterfield, Director of Microsoft Category at Softchoice, explore the crucial beginnings of building a Copilot business case for Microsoft 365. Discover the best practices and potential pitfalls in planning your strategy and learn how to effectively generate buy-in and set the stage for success. Tune in to start your journey with a solid plan and get inspired to transform your business's digital landscape.
Featuring: Jaime Waterfield, Director of Microsoft Category at Softchoice
See how we can help you unleash the potential of your people and technology with Copilot: softchoice.com/microsoft-copilot
The Catalyst by Softchoice is the podcast dedicated to exploring the intersection of humans and technology.
Bonus: The Catalyst gets clear on Microsoft Generative AI – Getting ready
The Catalyst by Softchoice
05/28/24 • 16 min
'Look before you leap' is often the difference between success and failure when it comes to adopting a new technology.
When it comes to Microsoft Generative AI, the importance of assessing your organizational readiness before you implement can’t be overstated.
On this episode of this miniseries on The Catalyst podcast, step into the 'Assess' phase of the Copilot Adoption Journey with Matt Vasil, Director of Emerging Technology at Softchoice. We get into the essential preparations for implementing Copilot for Microsoft 365, from measuring the potential licensing impacts to minding security gaps to answering the question, “Are our people truly ready?”
Matt offers key insights into how to evaluate your environment to make sure your Copilot adoption stays on course and ultimately sticks the landing.
Featuring: Matt Vasil, Director of Emerging Technology at Softchoice
The Catalyst by Softchoice is the podcast dedicated to exploring the intersection of humans and technology.
Tailored learning: AI is shaping the next generation
The Catalyst by Softchoice
09/22/21 • 35 min
Legacy education systems in the US have not changed in 100 years, and now we’re seeing a fresh perspective on education from one school district in Mesquite, Texas.
In this episode, Erika Van Noort is joined by Dr. David Vroonland and Softchoice’s Ron Espinosa, who are at the center of it all. They’re working with Google and SoftServe to create “AYO”: a program where a student’s aptitude and passion is mapped using Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning to create a “tailored learning” experience for each student.
Now, Mesquite Independent School District envisions this program being applied in other schools and districts across the US and even North America - and completely changing how our future leaders and change makers are being shaped.
Featuring:
Dr. David Vroonland, Superintendent at Mesquite Independent School District
Ron Espinosa, Specialty Sales Executive, Google Cloud, Softchoice
Special appearances by:
Jessica Schmidt, Associate Podcast Producer
Nicole Francis, Senior Manager, Content Operations
Kattie Laur, Podcast Producer
The Catalyst by Softchoice is the podcast shining a light on the human side of IT leaders and reframing our relationship with technology.
Are you a leader in the IT space? Read more on Softchoice’s Innovation Executive Forum, an exclusive, members-only community of over 400 senior IT leaders across North America.
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FAQ
How many episodes does The Catalyst by Softchoice have?
The Catalyst by Softchoice currently has 94 episodes available.
What topics does The Catalyst by Softchoice cover?
The podcast is about News, Information Technology, Tech, Tech News, Podcasts, Technology, Cio and Innovation.
What is the most popular episode on The Catalyst by Softchoice?
The episode title 'Digital Fitness Communities: A "spin" on hybrid life' is the most popular.
What is the average episode length on The Catalyst by Softchoice?
The average episode length on The Catalyst by Softchoice is 29 minutes.
How often are episodes of The Catalyst by Softchoice released?
Episodes of The Catalyst by Softchoice are typically released every 14 days.
When was the first episode of The Catalyst by Softchoice?
The first episode of The Catalyst by Softchoice was released on Sep 15, 2020.
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