Month: March 2017

Over the past two years, the B.C. tech industry has grown by 14%, with much more promise to continue growing. This is a huge opportunity to Vancouver especially, where most of B.C.’s business is facilitated.

Many economists, politicians and journalists have already made predictions of business movement from the US to Canada, following Trump’s immigration ban on the 7 muslim dominated countries. Many people are being turned away at the border, oftentimes people returning to their homes in the U.S. after vacationing. Some, having valid green cards and working permits are being denied entry and out of matter of principle and pride, many people are choosing to leave. Canada is opening it’s arms to people of any ethnicity and faith to join the country in a strive for greater diversity and economic prosperity.

This means a lot especially for new and innovative businesses located in Vancouver. We have some of the largest government sponsorships for projects that innovate and explore technology in every way. Some of the newest and most developed sustainable technologies have been discovered in Vancouver due to the large amount of resources to conduct vast research and development.

In the next few months Vancouver is expecting an influx of young technology professionals from all across the globe. This will bring a lot of diverse new talent and ideas to the existing B.C. tech industry, and help it develop into a greater and more resourceful sector of the economy.

B.C. tech has developed 4 categories for the tech industry, starting with information & communications, digital media & entertainment, life sciences & health and ending with clean tech.

Clean tech is an area that needs to be developed much more, as currently there appears to be multiple small solutions being developed for one big problem. Ultimately, humanity needs one large overall solution to substitute fossil fuels, and hopefully with the arrival of young tech professionals and innovators this solution can be found.

Companies such as Carbon Engineering, Salt Works and the B.C. innovation hub will be able to research deeper into pollution abatement technologies with the aid of global talent.

 

Adidas has built itself an impeccable reputation of lifestyle, creativity, modernity, culture and sport. Since their birth in 1949, they have gone through a whirlwind of different projects, initiatives and movements.

Since about 2010, Adidas has been diving head first into Sustainability to better develop their business and brand in our ever growing market place. I have researched deep into the efforts they make and the messages they spread, and can’t help but applaud.

They put people before profits, and encompass people and profits with their endeavours to maintain the planet. Adidas’ core values include empowering their workers and increasing people’s awareness of health and education. All of Adidas’ products are produced in countries with cheap and fast labour, where worker’s rights aren’t necessarily the main objective.

The Adidas SMS Worker Hotline was established in 2011, and has since allowed 260,000 employees to anonymously voice concerns, ideas, opinions, and overall inquiries to their employers. Giving the workers in the suppliers factories in less developed countries a chance to be a bigger part of the business process empowers, but also educates.

In my opinion this is one of the most innovative new initiatives launched by any business. Giving people the option to play a larger role in such a big business will spread a level of importance as well as self pride. Additionally, i think this spreads an important message that every persons voice is valuable, and no matter what the circumstances in terms of race, gender and monetary situation.

While the famous 3 stripes will last forever in consumers’ minds, Adidas hopes to also push forward every effort they are making to be one of the most desired and admired brands in the world. Ranking number 5 on the “Global 100 Most Sustainable Corporations” list, it’s efforts can’t be dismissed as they have a strongly voiced passion to empower people to embrace themselves and respect the planet while making vast profits in the meantime. Adidas will never stop learning and improving as they have the necessarily resources and influence to create actual change.

I love Adidas and always will. Knowing about their plentiful efforts along the way make them so much more promising and inspiring for the future.