DEI done right makes a world of difference—for those who need it most. We sit down with author, activist, educator and catalyst Jarvis Sam to discuss what ‘done right’ looks like and why the majority of DEI efforts, while well intentioned, fall short of expectations for employers and underrepresented talent groups alike. As founder and CEO of The Rainbow Disruption, his insights and experience continue to carry the true potential and profit of DEI forward.

While often touted as progressive, Canada’s tech industry has, until now, lacked the data to back up its claims – particularly in regards to the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. With non-profit QueerTech’s release of Queering the Tech Ecosystem: Barriers and Opportunities—the first research report targeting the queer experience in Canadian tech—that progressive picture is largely questioned by the data compiled. We sat down with QueerTech’s Co-Founder Naoufel Testaouni to talk about not-so-ancient history, the impact of quantifying the queer experience in tech and finding the good news in hard numbers and first steps.

Previously a topic plagued by taboos, mental health has become such a common concern for organizations that the doors of discussion are opening. For change strategist and governance professional Shona McGlashan, that conversation has become more prevalent in her work, offering leaders organizational insight in the areas of governance, equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) and, increasingly, wellbeing of the mental sort. That all three speak to a unity of greater purpose and profitability is the mark of an evolving economy grounded in greater demands from talent and greater stressors for everyone—leaders included—than ever. We sit down to better define workplace responsibilities, as well as leave leaders with a few healthy practices of their own.

While leaders of every industry will speak to the virtues of innovation, when asked to actually define it and point the way for others, most agree that would be a great idea. Fortunately, as one of the world’s largest employers, Google was built upon empowering innovation across a global talent base, which currently sits at about 180,000. We sit down with Google Culture and Innovation Evangelist, Anna Baird to talk about what really drives innovation at any scale—and why these very human traits are of even greater importance to unlock the full potential of the emerging AI and generative AI technologies.

If you think every problem is someone else’s fault, Michael Timms, principal of Avail Leadership, would be the last person to blame you—but he does have a few handy habits to pass on that might change your life, as well as those looking to you at work. Both on the page and from the stage, Michael has been helping evolve the leadership dialogue and business results alike with the wisdom within his latest book, How Leaders Can Inspire Accountability. We sit down with Michael to sort through why breaking up with blame is key to resolving daily dilemmas and bottom lines alike.

Despite greater strides towards gender equity in policy over the past 60 years, the gender gap remains to the detriment of organizations and female talent alike. Nowhere else is this gap more prevalent across all industries than with maternity leave and the years around it, which represent the number one off-ramp for organizations losing female talent. We sit down to talk about the motherhood penalty and finding ways to stem that loss with Jen Murtagh and Sonja Baikogli Foley, mothers on a mission and co-founders of Maturn—a Vancouver-based social venture committed to supporting mothers and organizations at the intersection of motherhood and leadership.

When it comes to dollars and sense, the bigger picture of total compensation has changed so much in the post-pandemic world that many leaders in tech are still in transition. We sit down with 3rd Quartile Inc. founder Steven Osiel to talk about the state of total comp in a pay-focused present and why some leaders are struggling to strategically steer compensation conversations beyond hardcore numbers alone.

Despite layoffs and hiring reductions—or perhaps because of them—many tech companies are gearing up their competitive offers, while taking a good look at how their employee stock ownership programs (ESOPs) might serve everyone better. We sit down with McKenzie Hunter, Senior Director of People & Culture with 7shifts, to talk about why ESOPs have become a hot topic and what to keep in mind when creating or retuning yours to optimum benefit.

For Tonie Minhas, Neuroinclusion Services Project Manager with Auticon Canada Ltd., there is a clear business case to be made for DEI, but it can become one that serves everyone when approached through the lens of inclusive design—wherein grudging accommodations become individualized opportunities to fully contribute. Bearing in mind the need for due diligence in addition to data, we sit down to quantify the larger organizational opportunity by exploring four KPIs that drive and define the success of not only DEI efforts these days, but business itself.