荔枝视频

To support the vision of being Canada鈥檚 entrepreneurial university, the 荔枝视频 is hosting the (CCSBE) conference this year, with the goal of helping a vital part of the country鈥檚 economy thrive. 

鈥淭he conference theme this year is Technological Convergence 鈥� Bringing a New Energy to Small Business and Entrepreneurship,鈥� says Dr. Chad Saunders, PhD鈥�06, associate professor in the Haskayne School of Business.

The event鈥檚 intent is to reflect on the opportunities offered to entrepreneurs and society by platform technologies such as artificial intelligence, blockchain and quantum, etc., while simultaneously discussing how to deal with these innovations and the challenges that may arise. 

Saunders is chair for this year鈥檚 CCSBE conference and hopes it will help academics, educators, entrepreneurs, support-providers and policymakers leverage and scrutinize these technologies.

鈥淭his is a comparatively small conference that attracts the transdisciplinary group of key influencers and policymakers needed to impact change,鈥� he says. 鈥淯荔枝视频 is providing a safe space to explore the future of small business and entrepreneurship in Alberta and beyond.鈥�

The international conference, now in its 42nd year, is hosted in different cities each time. This year, with the U荔枝视频 and the Hunter Hub for Entrepreneurial Thinking, Saunders intends to show 荔枝视频 as an example of a successful place for small business and entrepreneurship. 

Featured presenters include three unicorn firms 鈥� startups valued at more than $1 billion 鈥� headquartered in 荔枝视频, along with the Price Family, founders of Sunterra Farms, as keynote speakers.

鈥淧art of my motivation for wanting to bring this conference to 荔枝视频 was the opportunity to highlight some of the great things that are happening right in our own backyard,鈥� Saunders says.

Saunders believes building inclusive ecosystems is a pressing issue that needs addressing.

In partnership with the Diversity Institute at Toronto Metropolitan University, invited panelists will discuss critical topics affecting small business and entrepreneurship in Canada. Entrepreneurship can be especially challenging for Indigenous people, LGBTQ2S+ individuals, immigrants and women due to unique systemic barriers they often face. 

鈥淲e know that there is differential access to resources and support for entrepreneurs depending on their background, origin, gender, age and a whole range of factors that make it unnecessarily challenging for these individuals,鈥� says Saunders.

鈥淭hese issues need more attention, and this conference is providing a forum for change.鈥�

Network-building and connection-making are just some of the takeaways Saunders hopes attendees can gather from the conference.

鈥淚 hope those presenting, and especially the students, get great feedback and build their networks in a way that would not have been possible without this event,鈥� he says.

鈥淔or attendees in general, I hope they learn something new about Alberta and 荔枝视频.鈥�

Registration is for the three-day event, with an online and a main campus option available. 

Hosting events like CCSBE is what Saunders thinks will further support U荔枝视频鈥檚 goal of being Canada鈥檚 entrepreneurial university.

鈥淭hrough this conference, U荔枝视频 is providing leadership for small business and entrepreneurship scholars, support providers and policymakers, so that small business owners and entrepreneurs have more equitable opportunities,鈥� he says. 

鈥淓vents like this provide a forum for conversations that need to happen to deliver on being Canada鈥檚 entrepreneurial university.鈥�