Innovation Showcase

Innovation Showcase:
How to Build Momentum when Change is the Only Constant  

Presented by Tech@RBC in partnership with University of Toronto entrepreneurship

Join us for a one-of-a-kind innovation exchange.  We’re inviting the next generation of innovators to share their venture ideas and projects with RBC and U of T Senior Leaders, technologists, and domain experts.  Attendees will also get the chance to learn from some of Canada’s leading technology and entrepreneurship professionals as they share what it’s like to design, develop, and innovate at scale.

The first half of the day will be dedicated to a student showcase, with projects and ventures from across the University of Toronto ecosystem.  The afternoon will be dedicated to an RBC business showcase, with demos from teams across the organization working with innovative technology. 

Don’t have a project or venture to spotlight?
Students from any campus, across any program/faculty are invited to attend.  They’ll have the opportunity to network, mingle, and have 1:1 discussions with RBC hiring managers, recruiters, and professionals.

Who is invited?

• Current U of T students from any campus, across any program/faculty with a passion for innovation and technology 
• U of T students and recent alumni (i.e. graduated no earlier than June 2021), with a project or startup they’d like to showcase to RBC Senior Leaders, Technologists, and the UTE community  
• Members of the UTE community including U of T accelerators and incubators 
   

Why attend? 

• To learn about the latest trends in technology in fields such as artificial intelligence and machine learning, data science, and fintech.  
• To meet and network with senior business leaders, domain experts and like-minded students 
• To showcase a venture idea or project you have been working on and get candid feedback and advice from experts 
• To hear talks from successful entrepreneurs, technologists, venture capitalists and business leaders 
• To explore skills and opportunities related to your career development 
• To learn and have fun 

Two ways to register

1. With a venture or project you want to spotlight.  Venture application – includes demo booth
2. As an individual interested in innovation and technology (but no current company). Individual application

Spots are limited and registration will close when the event is full.  Applications to participate will be confirmed on a rolling basis – so apply early to increase your chances of securing a spot!  The deadline to register is January 5, 2024. 

Agenda

TIME	ACTIVITY
9:00 am – 9:30 am	Continental Breakfast + Networking
9:30 am – 9:45 am	Opening Remarks
10:00 am -10:45 am	Student Spotlight + Projects Booth Walk
11:00 am – 11:45 am	Fireside Chat:  Embracing the Fear of Failure to Drive Success
12:00 pm – 1:00 pm	Lunch
1:15 pm – 2:15 pm	RBC Spotlight  + Teams Booth Walk
2:30 pm – 3:15 pm	Panel Discussion: Navigating Change – the only constant in technology
3:15 pm – 3:30 pm	Closing remarks + Wrap up

Speaker Sessions

Fireside Chat

Navigating Change – the only constant in technology

In technology, transformation never stops.  Whether you are the founder of a startup, a technologist, or a business leader you must constantly balance innovation with stability, consistency, security and ultimately – the customer experience.  So how do companies not only survive but thrive and stay ahead of the curve?  How do you establish a culture of continuous innovation while executing at scale? What can startups learn from large companies, and what can large companies like RBC, learn from startups?  

Join senior RBC technologists and startup founders as they share key approaches and considerations on navigating constant change, driving impactful innovation and embracing adaptation to remain competitive. 

Panellists:

• Alex LaPlante, VP Transformation & Chief Operating Office, RBC (also former head of Borealis AI)  
• Filip Stoj, Director, Banking, RBCx – Early stage 
• Kathryn Hume, VP Digital Channels, RBC

Panel Discussion

Embracing the Fear of Failure to Drive Success 

Innovation cultures are generally depicted as fun.  They’re highly collaborative, experimental, and dynamic – with failure being not only tolerated, but encouraged.  We’re told the greatest innovation outcomes happen when you “fail fast and fail often.”  But in reality, letting yourself fail is easier said than done.  If the pursuit of transformative technology hinges on iteration, but successful businesses are built on reliability, where’s the middle ground? How do we maintain momentum when the world is changing so fast around us?  How do we embrace failure while demonstrating consistency?  

Join senior RBC technologists and venture capital advisors as they discuss their experiences with growing and scaling in a world that values constant iteration. 

Panellists:

• Geoff Peart, Sr. Director, Avion Tech
• Laith Shukri, Director, Ecosystem Engagement, RBCx
• Joella Almeida, Co-founder and CEO, MedEssist  

Register below and check back frequently as speakers will be announced!