9:00 am – 9:30 am | Location: West Hall Cafe
registration check-in and networking breakfast

9:30 am – 9:45 am | Location: Multipurpose Room
welcome to mesh | land acknowledgment

9:45 am – 10:35 am | Location: Multipurpose Room

How to build teams that fuel innovation

with Alicia Wight (Pebble), Jodi Kovitz (HRPA), and April Hicke (Toast). Moderated by Avery Francis (Bloom).

In a competitive marketplace where people are your greatest asset and differentiator, how you attract the best and brightest to your organization and then retain and advance them is critical. In this session we will explore how technology, creativity, and a growing collective sense of purpose are fundamentally reshaping talent, strategy, culture, business dynamics, and the employee experience. We will explore recruitment and retention practices for top talent to empower people to thrive in ever-changing landscapes, and how leading with empathy drives innovation. This session will also dive into equity as a top strategic priority and why companies that fully practice and demonstrate IDEA are better able to respond to challenges, win top talent and meet the needs of different customer bases.

10:35 am – 11:00 am | Location: Multipurpose Room

Networking Break

time to connect and share.

11:00 am – 11:50 am | Location: Multipurpose Room

The rules around AI and privacy are changing — are you ready?

with Dr. Michael Geist (Canada Research Chair in Internet and E-Commerce Law, University of Ottawa). Moderated by Joan Vlasschaert (AltaML).

Canada continues to pursue new digital legislation that will have enormous implications for the Internet, e-commerce, online marketing, and privacy. As Bill C-27 works its way through the House and Senate, the bill brings with it the biggest changes to Canadian privacy law in two decades and AI regulation that would establish significant new requirements for creators and distributors of AI-based services.

11:50 am – 12:10 pm | Location: Multipurpose Room

the mesh innovation showcase

1:30 pm – 2:20 pm | Location: Multipurpose Room

Riding the DX Wave: Strategies for successful digital transformation adoption in every company

1:30 pm – 2:20 pm | Location: Investor Lounge

You succeeded with innovation — now what?

1:30 pm – 2:20 pm | Location: Pitch Stage

What happens when AI starts investing for you?

2:20 pm – 2:50 pm | Location: West Hall Cafe

networking break

2:50 pm – 3:40 pm | Location: Multipurpose Room

How to innovate in risk-averse and slow-moving industries

2:50 pm – 3:40 pm | Location: Pitch stage

Navigating the Ethical Landscape: AI for Social Good

3:40 pm – 4:10 pm |  Location: West Hall Cafe

networking break

4:10 pm – 5:00 pm | Location: Pitch Stage

Building an ecosystem of accountability

Day one wrap

The mesh social

9:00 am – 9:30 am | Location: West Hall Cafe
registration and networking breakfast

9:30 am – 9:40 am | Location: Pitch Stage
welcome to mesh | land acknowledgement

9:40 am – 10:30 am | Location: Pitch Stage

The psychology of digital transformation: How to manage the core and edge of large-scale change

with Kamales Lardi (Lardi & Partner). Moderated by Tyler Chisholm (clearmotive).

In the session we will explore the psychology of digital transformation and the profound impact of rapid technological advancement on both businesses and individuals. Amid a surge in new tech, companies often lose their way, chasing the latest trends while neglecting the human element. We will explore the importance of focusing on people, highlighting the need for diversity—not just in terms of gender and lived experience, but also encompassing culture, education, and neurodiversity.

User-centric design, effective change management, and training are crucial as we implement technologies that might replace human capabilities, raising regulatory and emotional considerations.

Innovation thrives in environments where safety and a sense of belonging are prioritized, allowing for experimentation and exploration. However, balancing this with traditional business operations, which typically resist risk and experimentation, poses a challenge. The concept of “the core and the edge” will be discussed, questioning how and when businesses should shift focus to foster forward-thinking strategies.

Only a small minority of future-focused companies are currently addressing these critical questions so this session will provide context and insight on when to double down, and when to bail, and the psychology of large-scale transformation.

10:30 am – 11:00 am | Location: West Hall Cafe

Networking Break

11:00 am – 11:50 am | Location: Pitch Stage

The good, the bad, and the ugly of AI in content marketing

with Ann Handley (MarketingProfs). Moderated by Chris Hogg (mesh)

It’s been a year and a half since the public release of ChatGPT, and in that time it’s become very clear that artificial intelligence (AI) has totally transformed the marketing function. It’s also left many marketers wondering if they will lose their jobs to AI.

While you may not lose your job to AI, the threat is very real that you could lose your job to another marketer who is using AI.

New roles are emerging centered around AI implementation and management, and marketers navigating career paths now have more journeys to consider. From data analysis and campaign optimization, to content creation and customer engagement, AI offers both opportunities and challenges for marketers.

And then there’s the not-so-good stuff.

Relying solely on AI for content creation poses risks. AI-generated content can lack creativity and fail to connect with audiences authentically.

The conversation at mesh will delve into the potential rewards of leveraging AI in marketing, such as enhanced data-driven insights, personalized campaigns, and streamlined processes. It will also highlight the risks, including the potential for biased or inaccurate data insights, privacy concerns, and the risk of losing the human touch in interactions with consumers.

11:50 am – 12:10 pm | Location: Pitch Stage

the mesh innovation showcase

Showcasing the 2024 recipients featuring Austen Rowden (Rowden Digital), Paisley Churchill (Carepal), Art Proctor (Indigitech Destiny), and Lulu Mashonganyika (LiiT Care Connect). Moderated by Ibrahim Mohamed (BDC).

1:30 pm – 2:20 pm | Location: Pitch Stage

The OGs of innovation and navigating large transformation

with John Mortimer (Computer Modelling Group) and Paul Twigg (Digital Commerce Bank). Moderated by Sarah Coleman (ACCELERATE)

Oil and gas is one of Alberta’s oldest innovation ecosystems. Now the industry is being pressed to innovate its way to energy transition.

In some circles, oil and gas companies are referred to as the dinosaurs of the energy industry, when in fact they have been some of the biggest innovators. As we move down the path of net zero, energy companies are now introducing technologies to address decarbonization, and energy availability. The challenge, however, is that there’s a big difference between “good” technology and “better technology” in this industry. This monumental challenge has attracted new kinds of leaders to the oil and gas space. These leaders come from tech and other industries, and they know what good and bad looks like at scale. With the introduction of AI, generative AI, and high-performance computing, we’re witnessing an entire industry change at a scale and level of complexity that few outside of oil and gas will ever see.

This session will unpack the innovation and technology challenges around energy transition, and what people outside of oil and gas can learn from what’s happening inside the industry

1:30 pm – 2:20 pm | Location: Multipurpose Room

Empowering Through Education: AI’s Role in Upskilling

with Jenny Kay Pollock (Women and AI), Chelsea Squires (ATB Financial), and Sepideh Bahadoripour (Bosspac Technologies).

This panel explores the transformative impact of artificial intelligence on education and upskilling. Join us as we discuss how AI is revolutionizing learning experiences, enhancing skill development, and opening up new opportunities for individuals and organizations alike. Learn from experts about the latest trends, challenges, and best practices in leveraging AI for education and upskilling initiatives.

1:30 pm – 2:20 pm | Location: Investor Lounge

How Generative AI is changing customer experience

with Naqaash Pirani (Adobe) and Prieeyya Kaur Kesh. Moderated by Michael Vecchiarelli (clearmotive)

This session will explore how GenAI platforms are enhancing customer service workflows, empowering service teams, and transforming brand-customer interactions. We’ll explore GenAI’s capabilities in creativity, questioning what it means when the humanist and technologist converge, and examine the balance between AI’s potential and the irreplaceable value of human intuition and empathy. This session offers a balanced perspective on the synergy between human creativity and AI, its implications for meaningful customer connections, and the profound impact it all has on customer experience. Ideal for business leaders, marketers, designers, and technologists, this session promises to inspire and inform on the evolving relationship between AI and human creativity in customer service.

2:20 pm – 2:50 pm | Location: West Hall Cafe
Networking break

2:50 pm – 3:40 pm | Location: Investor Lounge

Building products in the era of Gen-AI

2:50 pm – 3:40 pm | Location: Pitch Stage

The Modern Investor’s Playbook: Navigating a New Era of Innovation Investments from Different Lens

3:40 pm – 4:10 pm | Location: West Hall Cafe

Networking Break

4:10 pm – 5:00 pm | Location: Pitch Stage

Leadership for the Future

5:00 pm | Location: Pitch Stage

Day two wrap