Podcasts about hp canada

Reporting live from ServiceNow’s Knowledge 2026 conference in Las Vegas, the message from CEO Bill McDermott and NVIDIA‘s Jensen Huang was clear: the era of AI pilots is over. ServiceNow is repositioning itself as the AI Control Tower — the governance layer that sits above every AI agent an organization is running, regardless of where those agents were built. McDermott’s framing centered on what he called the “AI blind spot” — the growing reality that most enterprises are deploying agents without meaningful visibility into what those agents are actually doing. A live demo on stage showed a real-time prompt injection attack being detected and shut down by the platform. The most concrete channel announcement is the new “Go Live AI” offer — a total satisfaction guarantee committing to 100 days to production. Not a pilot, not a proof of concept. For solution providers, this is a commercial tool designed to help move customers from evaluation to commitment by absorbing some of the delivery risk. Jensen Huang’s argument was that AI should be used to “elevate ambition,” not just reduce costs — a framing that gives partners a more expansive conversation to have with clients about what outcomes are now possible. The morning’s most compelling demo came from FedEx CEO Raj Subramaniam, who showed ServiceNow’s new AI agent Otto resolving a distribution hub staffing gap in minutes that historically took three days. FedEx reported 2,000 incidents offloaded, 3,000-plus hours saved, and 85 percent accuracy in production. For Canadian solution providers, ServiceNow is offering two new tools: a governance platform to make AI deployments defensible, and a commercial guarantee to make those deployments sellable. More on what this means for the Canadian market in this week’s In The Channel interviews from the show. In brief:  Zoho research reveals Canada's “false comfort zone” in workforce security. Released ahead of World Password Day, Zoho's State of Workforce Password Security 2026 report—based on over 3,300 respondents including 174 in Canada—finds that while the Canadian attack rate (30%) is slightly better than the global average, significant vulnerabilities remain. The standout finding is the AI belief-to-deployment gap: while 89% of Canadian organizations believe AI will strengthen their security posture, only 46% are actually ready to deploy AI-powered security today. The primary blockers aren’t budget, but legacy infrastructure (52%) and migration complexity (48%). The report also highlights that 73% of Canadian organizations lack complete identity visibility across their workforce, leaving them exposed to orphaned accounts and unmanaged third-party access in highly integrated North American supply chains. Syncro and Guardz embed cybersecurity directly into the MSP workflow. Announced this morning, the two companies have launched a native integration that brings the Guardz cybersecurity platform inside the Syncro RMM/PSA environment. The move is designed to eliminate the “toggle tax” of managing separate security consoles, but the real channel hook is the automated billing: the integration uses Syncro's Universal Billing to automate client invoicing for security services, removing the manual reconciliation that often eats into MSP margins. Coming on the heels of the Guardz 2026 MSP Threat Report—which found that 90% of SMBs have at least one user with compromised credentials—the partnership aims to make proactive security a standard, billable part of the daily workflow. Huntress distribution deals are now officially live. The managed security platform's expansion into major distribution is now official. Huntress has signed deals with Ingram Micro, Vertosoft, Liquid PC, and QBS Software. For the Canadian reseller community, the Ingram Micro partnership is the headline, providing a more streamlined procurement path for the Huntress Agentic Security Platform and its 24/7 SOC. The move signals a transition for Huntress from an MSP-centric “challenger” brand to a broader mid-market and public sector player, using distribution scale to reach resellers who haven’t traditionally played in the “security-only” vendor space. Kiteworks names Oracle veteran Julia Rasekhi to lead partner strategy. The Content Communications Governance (CCG) platform—which has a significant Canadian footprint—has appointed Julia Rasekhi as its new senior vice president of Strategic Partnerships and Strategy. Rasekhi joins after 17 years at Oracle, and her mandate is to accelerate a transition toward partner-led growth for the company’s regulatory compliance and file sharing platform. As enterprise security increasingly moves from “network” to “content,” the hire suggests Kiteworks is looking to scale its GSI and reseller relationships to meet new data sovereignty and CPCSC requirements in Canada and globally. Read Full Transcript Welcome to The Buzz from ChannelBuzz.ca, I’m Robert Dutt, today is Wednesday, May 6, 2026, and here’s what’s happening in the channel today. I’m reporting live from Las Vegas, where ServiceNow’s annual Knowledge conference got underway this morning with what may be one of the boldest keynotes I’ve seen at an enterprise software show in years. CEO Bill McDermott took the stage alongside NVIDIA’s Jensen Huang to make a simple but sweeping argument: the AI pilot era is over, and “Agentic Business” — where autonomous AI agents actually do the work — is here now. The repositioning McDermott is making is significant. ServiceNow is no longer pitching itself as just a workflow platform. It is now positioning itself as the AI Control Tower — the governance layer that sits above all the AI your organization is running, whether it was built on ServiceNow or not. The framing McDermott used was the “AI Blind Spot” — the idea that most organizations are deploying agents without any real visibility into what those agents are actually doing. A live demo on stage showed a real-time prompt injection attack being detected and shut down by the platform. The point was clear: if you don’t have a control layer, you don’t have an AI strategy, you have an AI liability. The most concrete announcement for the channel is what ServiceNow is calling its “Go Live AI” offer — essentially a total satisfaction guarantee. This is, as far as I know, the first time a major enterprise software company has put a guarantee like this in writing. The commitment is 100 days to production — not a pilot, not a proof of concept — an actual deployed agentic workflow. If you’re a partner trying to move customers off the fence on AI investments, this is a commercial tool. ServiceNow is essentially absorbing some of the delivery risk to help you close. Jensen Huang’s contribution to the morning was framing the economic case. He pushed back on the idea that AI is purely a cost-cutting play, arguing instead that enterprises should be using AI to “elevate ambition” — to do things they couldn’t do at all before, not just do existing things cheaper. The NVIDIA partnership is powering a new layer ServiceNow is calling the AI Factory, which provides the compute and model infrastructure underneath the platform’s agentic layer. The most vivid demo of the morning came from FedEx CEO Raj Subramaniam, who walked through a live scenario showing ServiceNow’s new AI agent — called Otto — solving a staffing gap at a FedEx distribution hub in real time. The gap that historically took three days to resolve was closed in minutes. FedEx reported 2,000 incidents offloaded, over 3,000 hours saved, and 85 percent accuracy. Those are the kinds of numbers that end the “pilot conversation” fast. For Canadian solution providers, the takeaway is this: ServiceNow is giving the channel two new tools. A governance platform to make AI deployments defensible, and a commercial guarantee to make those deployments sellable. I’ll have more on what this means for Canadian partners specifically in my In The Channel interviews from the show later this week. And there was plenty going on aside from here at Knwoledge 26. In brief today:  First, New research from Zoho highlights a “false comfort zone” for Canadian workforce security, with local attack rates sitting at 30 percent. While 89 percent of Canadians believe AI will strengthen their security, only 46 percent are ready to deploy it due to legacy infrastructure bottlenecks. Second, Syncro and Guardz have announced a major partnership, embedding the Guardz cybersecurity platform directly into the Syncro MSP workflow. The integration includes automated client invoicing through Syncro's Universal Billing to help MSPs capture security margin without the reconciliation headache. Third, Huntress distribution deals are now officially live with partners like Ingram Micro, Vertosoft, and Liquid PC. For the Canadian channel, the Ingram Micro relationship is the headline, signaling Huntress’s move to scale beyond its MSP roots into the broader mid-market. And finally, Kiteworks has appointed 17-year Oracle veteran Julia Rasekhi as its new SVP of Strategic Partnerships. This newly created role is a clear signal that the content governance player is shifting toward an aggressive, partner-led growth strategy in regulated markets. Full details and links in the show notes or the blog post. Later today on In The Channel, we take a look at third-party risk management, and why it's both an opportunity for managed service providers, and a threat as insurance providers get serious about supply chain risk, with Tim Coach from Cynomi. And if you haven’t heard it yet, check out yesterday's episode with Frances Edmonds, HP Canada's sustabiility leader, on just how important sustainability is on Canadian procurement documents. That’s how we’re seeing the headlines today. I’m Robert Dutt for ChannelBuzz.ca, thanks for listening. Have a great day.

Frances Edmonds, head of sustainable impact at HP Canada For Canadian IT solution providers, sustainability has always been something to think about – eventually. Frances Edmonds says the clock is running out on “eventually.” Edmonds is the Head of Sustainable Impact at HP Canada, a two-time Clean50 award winner, and one of the most recognized voices in the country at the intersection of technology, procurement, and environmental responsibility. On this episode of In The Channel, she makes the business case for why Canadian MSPs and resellers need to be fluent in sustainability today – and what being fluent actually looks like in a sales conversation. The data from HP’s own Amplify Impact program is striking: over 70% of partners who lead with sustainability report winning new business as a result, and self-assessment scores among participating partners have improved 59% since 2021. But the more urgent signal is in the procurement numbers. The Canadian Collaboration for Sustainable Procurement represents organizations with $105 billion in combined spend – and among them, OECM (the Ontario Education Collaborative Marketplace) is already applying a 12% weighting for ESG criteria in bid documents, scored at both the OEM and channel partner level. That’s not a coming wave. It’s already in the water. Edmonds also makes a compelling case on the AI front: Edge AI carries an estimated 90% lower environmental impact than Cloud AI – a stat with real implications for how MSPs frame hardware refresh conversations with clients who have sustainability or data sovereignty mandates. Resources mentioned in this episode: HP Amplify Impact program OECM – Ontario Education Collaborative Marketplace Bob Willard’s Sustainability Advantage – free tools for sustainability planning Climate Fresh training – available through HP Amplify Impact CBSR – Canadian Business for Social Responsibility Read Full Transcript Robert Dutt: Hello and welcome to In The Channel from ChannelBuzz.ca, bringing news and information to the Canadian IT channel community for the last sixteen years. I’m Robert Dutt, editor of ChannelBuzz.ca, and your host for the show. We talk a lot on this show about the “how” of the channel — how to build a practice, how to manage a migration, how to secure a client. Today we’re looking at a different kind of how: how to win deals in an environment where your customers care as much about your carbon footprint as they do about your hourly rate. My guest today has been living this story for 30 years. Frances Edmonds is the Head of Sustainable Impact at HP Canada, and she’s one of the most recognized voices in the country when it comes to the intersection of technology and sustainability. HP’s own data shows that over 70% of partners who lead with sustainability are seeing measurable impact on their win rates. What does that actually look like for a Canadian MSP in 2026? We’re going to dig into the shift in procurement rules, including some hard numbers on ESG weighting in Canadian bid documents, and why the rise of Edge AI might actually be the biggest sustainability story of the year for the channel. Let’s get right into it — my chat with Frances Edmonds. Frances, thanks for taking the time. Frances Edmonds: You’re very welcome. Robert Dutt: You sit in a unique place in that you’ve been focused on sustainability for a while now — long before it was a mainstream business conversation. Can you give us the quick picture of what your role is at HP Canada today, and how that has evolved as the story has evolved over time? Frances Edmonds: Sure. My title today is Head of Sustainable Impact — that’s the name of our sustainability program. And I practice what I call CSR 2.0: corporate social responsibility 2.0. I spent the first half of my career really getting HP Canada to the point where we could call ourselves Canada’s most sustainable technology company — you can find all the proof of that at hp.ca/sustainableimpact. Then we took a look around and said: sustainability from a business context in Canada isn’t really advancing. We’ve got a few leaders, but the vast majority of Canadian businesses aren’t doing very much — including our channel. So we thought: how do we change that? In a capitalist economy, the demand signal for sustainability performance in suppliers comes at the ballot box of procurement. About eight years ago, we switched our strategy to focus on how do we change how Canada buys. That’s really my job today — to encourage everyone in the industrial economy to add sustainability into their procurement criteria and decision-making, so there’s an incentive for all companies to step up and do more. Robert Dutt: Is that all? Frances Edmonds: [laughs] Well, on top of all the other things we do to maintain being Canada’s most sustainable technology company. But I don’t do this alone — sustainability is a team sport. We require all players to come to the table and bring their relative strengths. One thing we’re doing right now: we’re onto our fourth cohort working with a nonprofit called CBSR, Canadian Business for Social Responsibility. We teach sustainability professionals at some of Canada’s largest companies — Walmart, Canadian Tire, the banks, insurance companies — how to work alongside their procurement teams to implement sustainable procurement. We partner with nonprofits like Green Economy Canada, CBSR, other industry associations, and customers and partners to drive the change that’s necessary. Robert Dutt: You mentioned there’s still a need to mature how organizations across Canada are approaching this. The Amplify Impact data shows that 70-plus percent of partners report winning new business by leading with sustainability — that’s a striking number. When a Canadian MSP or reseller is actually leading with sustainability in a sales conversation, what does that look like in the room? Frances Edmonds: It really depends on who the customer is. Some customers have sustainability goals, but the people the MSP is actually talking to don’t know that — there’s often a gap between what the corporation is committed to and what the people doing the buying or the IT implementation are aware of. So you have to do your research: understand where the customer is coming from, what the opportunity is, and then align what the MSP and the OEM are doing on sustainability with the customer’s actual pain points. Do they have difficulty managing products at end of first life — the most common issue? Do they understand where their security vulnerabilities are? If you think about managing print, for instance — you’d normally do a print assessment and find printers 15 or 20 years old sitting on the network. That’s a huge security vulnerability that nobody’s really paying attention to. Helping customers with pain points like that — showing them the opportunities, whether it’s getting value back from end-of-first-life equipment to help fund new purchases, or moving into buying as a service — that’s really the sweet spot for both an MSP and a customer to maximize their sustainability performance. Robert Dutt: Is this primarily a large enterprise and government discussion today, or is it moving into the mid-market and down into SMB? A lot of partners are working with smaller businesses who may not have a strong sustainability mandate at the top of their priority list. Frances Edmonds: I think it’s quite spotty, honestly — I see bid documents from across the country in all sectors of the economy, so it’s hard to generalize. One advantage small businesses have is that they’re often purpose-driven, and the owner can make a decision quickly. “I’m buying from a company that puts ocean-bound plastics into their products” — and that’s a faster decision than getting a university to change its procurement policy, which can take three years of approvals. What I am seeing that’s changed over the eight years I’ve been working in this area: before, people didn’t really understand the link between sustainability and procurement. Today they understand it, and the people who want to do it differently often just have inhibitors in the way — or they default to “this product’s carbon footprint is two kilograms less, so I’ll buy it.” That’s not really how sustainable procurement works. You need more information to make a well-rounded decision. Sustainable procurement is still about getting the best value for the goods and services you’re buying — but now you’re also looking at the most sustainable or circular option from the most sustainable or circular supplier, in alignment with your own organization’s goals. And governments, whose sustainability goals range from zero poverty to life below water and everything in between, have a tremendous opportunity to practice this. Robert Dutt: You’ve spoken before about sustainability scoring in RFPs and procurement documents. Where does that stand in Canada right now — is this something MSPs need to be ready for today, or is it still a coming wave? Frances Edmonds: There’s always opportunity for competitive advantage because each customer has a different focus — whether it’s bridging the digital divide in Indigenous communities, disability inclusion, or a dozen other areas. But let me give you some numbers. The Canadian Collaboration for Sustainable Procurement just issued their latest annual report. They represent broader public sector organizations with $105 billion in combined spend. Twenty-seven members have sustainable procurement embedded in their policies. Fourteen have a dedicated full-time person working on it. And one of the best examples to date: OECM, the Ontario Education Collaborative Marketplace, publicly states that they’re applying a 12% weighting for environmental, social, and governance items in bid documents — scored at not just the OEM level, but at the channel partner level as well. Robert Dutt: So if I’m a partner who wants to get ahead of this — with so many angles and approaches to consider — what’s the minimum literacy they need to have in a procurement conversation today? What should they know cold? Frances Edmonds: The universal language is carbon. What are your carbon emissions? How are you working to reduce your carbon impact? That question is coming in some form from customers, regardless of sector. We know our products are carbon-intensive: 80% of a notebook computer’s carbon impact is determined before it ever reaches the customer — it’s in how it’s built. So understanding where carbon sits in the system, and how customers can help reduce it, is the first place to start. Through the Amplify Impact Program, HP offers a wide range of training — from basic 101s all the way through to what we call Climate Fresk. That’s a three-hour workshop that helps a group understand the interconnectedness of climate change and what they can do about it. We deliver it to partner leadership so they can understand how important this is to their business. We’re actually running one next week, and partners are welcome to attend. Robert Dutt: For a partner who’s hearing this and thinking “I’m interested, but where do I start?” — what are the tools and resources inside Amplify Impact that are actually moving the needle? Frances Edmonds: The Amplify Impact Program basically took 80 years of HP’s expertise in sustainability leadership, put it into a web-enabled system, and made it available to partners for free. Everything a partner could possibly need is in there. If you’re not in the program yet, I’d strongly encourage you to join — it’s free and straightforward to get started. You sign a pledge to commit to the program, then complete an online self-assessment. With AI enhancements, it benchmarks you against your peers worldwide and gives you a customized action plan to improve your scores. The results have been meaningful: since we launched in 2021, self-assessment scores globally have increased by 59%. Partners redo the assessment annually, and we’re seeing steady progress. In Canada specifically, we’ve seen over 6,000 sustainability courses completed by partners and employees — which tells you the interest is there at the individual level. For anyone outside the Amplify Impact Program, Dr. Bob Willard at Sustainability Advantage offers a whole suite of high-quality tools for free. That’s another strong place to start. Robert Dutt: How has the partner conversation in Canada on this evolved over the last five years, and where does it need to go next? Frances Edmonds: Let’s look at the economic situation partners are in today. Prices are going through the roof, availability is constrained. What does a logical customer do in those circumstances? They start thinking about buying for durability and longevity — and that leads right into the “as a service” conversation. This is about deepening relationships with your customers. Customers don’t want a one-time fix anymore — they need a partner at the table. And selling as a service, with a longer and deeper customer relationship, is where the market is going. We’re moving away from selling boxes to selling services, and sustainability is just another one of those services that’s part and parcel of that shift. I always think of security and sustainability as two sides of the same coin. That’s what customers need — and we can deliver both. Robert Dutt: Security as a service is certainly well-established. Where do you see sustainability as a service in terms of maturity and adoption? Frances Edmonds: Within the Amplify Impact Program, for instance, if a partner wants to measure and manage their carbon footprint, HP has negotiated a globally discounted rate for partners to acquire a software-as-a-service tool to do exactly that. They become carbon-literate in a hands-on way and understand how to report on it to their own stakeholders — employees, investors, customers, whoever. In some cases, we even allow partners to use MDF to pay for that software. We’re essentially paying them to get started with carbon management. Robert Dutt: I have to ask about AI — it’s the conversation everyone in the channel is having right now. There’s a real tension between the push to build AI infrastructure, which is enormously energy-intensive, and sustainability goals. How should partners be navigating that for their clients? Frances Edmonds: Great question. Let’s start with the distinction between cloud AI and Edge AI. Edge AI — which, in a country of small and medium businesses like Canada, is where AI is really going to drive productivity — is estimated to have greater than 90% lower carbon impact and to be more secure than cloud AI. So we’re already on a winner there, assuming we can get AI-enabled devices into the right businesses. At its simplest: most tech people don’t actually know the relative carbon footprint of doing a Google search versus running a generative AI query. Can we just educate people to use the right tool in the right place? Don’t burn your carbon budget on something where a Google search would do. When you get into the ethics of AI use broadly, that’s a much longer conversation — and I’d like to see a lot more guidance documentation coming out on that front. Robert Dutt: That’s quite telling — that much lower footprint at the edge also speaks to what solution providers control, and brings in data sovereignty, security, many different factors. Frances Edmonds: Exactly. Security is the other piece — and they really go hand in hand. Robert Dutt: One last question: what’s the one thing you wish more MSPs and resellers understood about sustainability that they’re currently either getting wrong or overlooking? Frances Edmonds: Even when partners have made real investments in becoming more sustainable — gone through the training, completed the program — I don’t think they’re maximizing that return on investment by actually selling with sustainability. And I think it often comes down to the people taking the education not being the people making the go-to-market decisions. But as we see this shift into selling as a service, I think it will come along with it naturally. If you think about WXP — HP’s Workforce Experience Platform — there’s sustainability built right into it alongside security. The opportunity to delight customers with sustainability is real, and it’s not hard to do. It’s really just about making sure everyone knows, understands, and can connect it to what the customer actually needs. Robert Dutt: Some great advice in there. I appreciate you taking the time to share where things stand and where you see them going. Frances Edmonds: Thank you. From Canada’s most sustainable technology company — listed as one of the top 100 most sustainable corporations worldwide — this is near and dear to my heart. We’re here to make a difference, and this is one of the ways we do that. Robert Dutt: Brilliant. And it’s a conversation HP Canada has been having consistently for a while now — so it’s clearly not just an Earth Month thing. There you have it — Frances Edmonds from HP Canada. I’d like to thank Frances for her time today. It’s rare to talk to someone who can bridge the gap between high-level environmental goals and the gritty reality of a municipal RFP response, and I think she gave us some real clarity on where that line is being drawn right now. And as always, I’d like to thank you for listening. My big takeaway from that conversation is that sustainability is becoming a hard technical requirement, much like security. When you hear that organizations like OECM are moving toward a 12% weighting for ESG in their procurement documents — that’s not a nice-to-have anymore. That’s a gating factor. If you’re an MSP and you aren’t literate in this space, you’re essentially spotting your competitors a 12-point lead before the conversation even starts. I also found Frances’s point about Edge AI particularly striking. The idea that processing at the edge carries 90% less carbon impact than the cloud is a powerful narrative for partners — especially when you layer in the data sovereignty benefits we discussed. It’s a rare triple-win of performance, privacy, and planet that fits perfectly into the AI PC refresh cycle we’re seeing right now. If you enjoyed this episode, please make sure to follow or subscribe to In The Channel on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your shows. Ratings and reviews are always hugely appreciated — they really do help other Canadian channel pros find the show. Until next time, I’m Robert Dutt for ChannelBuzz.ca, and I’ll see you in the channel.

Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by SK. In this episode, we explore how AI PCs, modern technology, and purpose driven leadership are reshaping productivity, security, and fulfillment in Canadian workplaces.Our guest is Michelle Biase, President and Managing Director of HP Canada. With over three decades in Canada's IT channel and a strong commitment to inclusive leadership, Michelle shares how HP is helping SMBs embrace AI, accelerate transformation, and build a more resilient future of work.Key HighlightsCanada's Work Reset: Why fulfillment is declining and how leaders can rebuild purpose and connection within their teams. AI as a Fulfillment Driver: How modern tools help SMBs reduce busywork and unlock new confidence in day to day productivity. Next Gen AI PCs: How HP's AI powered devices turn efficiency into measurable results for Canadian businesses. Empowering SMBs: How HP's OneHP approach supports entrepreneurs with secure, integrated AI and technology solutions. Inclusive and Sustainable Vision: Michelle's leadership philosophy and HP Canada's commitment to meaningful, long term impact.Special Thanks to Our Partners:RBC: https://www.rbcroyalbank.com/dms/business/accounts/beyond-banking/index.htmlUPS: https://solutions.ups.com/ca-beunstoppable.html?WT.mc_id=BUSMEWAGoogle: https://www.google.ca/A1 Global College: https://a1globalcollege.ca/ADP Canada: https://www.adp.ca/en.aspxFor more expert insights, visit www.canadiansme.ca and subscribe to the CanadianSME Small Business Magazine. Stay innovative, stay informed, and thrive in the digital age!Disclaimer: The information shared in this podcast is for general informational purposes only and should not be considered as direct financial or business advice. Always consult with a qualified professional for advice specific to your situation.

In this episode, host KJ Burke speaks with Frances Edmonds, head of sustainable impact at HP Canada, about the intersection of sustainability and technology. They discuss the importance of a circular economy, the role of procurement in sustainability, and the challenges organizations face in implementing sustainable practices. Frances shares insights from her extensive career, emphasizing the need for change management and leadership in driving sustainable initiatives. The conversation highlights the urgency of addressing climate change and the potential for technology companies to lead the way in creating a future that is environmentally responsible.To learn more, visit cdw.ca

Tune in to the GetConnected Podcast! 

In this captivating episode of the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, we're honored to host Mary Ann Yule, the President and CEO of HP Canada. With a distinguished career spanning over two decades, Mary Ann is celebrated for her visionary leadership in driving innovation across personal systems and printing technologies, as well as her commitment to sustainability and diversity in the tech sector. Under her guidance, HP Canada has emerged as a leader in sustainability and has been acknowledged as one of Canada's Best Diversity Employers. Mary Ann shares her career journey, insights from the HP Work Relationship Index on hybrid work, the importance of inclusive leadership, sustainability and security initiatives at HP Canada, and strategies for digital transformation.Key Highlight PointsMary Ann Yule discusses her path to becoming President and CEO of HP Canada, highlighting the crucial decisions and lessons learned in leadership, innovation, and effecting change within a major corporation.Exploration of the Work Relationship Index findings, including small business owners' perspectives on work relationships and the role of leadership, technology, and workspace in promoting a healthy work environment.Strategies for building more inclusive and equitable workplaces, with a focus on the impact of technology in achieving these leadership goals.How HP Canada is leading the charge in making technology more sustainable and secure, offering strategic advice for small businesses on enhancing their practices in these areas.Guidance on how small businesses can navigate digital transformation to remain competitive, including examples of successful strategies witnessed by HP Canada.We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Mary Ann Yule for her illuminating conversation and the wisdom she has imparted in this episode. Her leadership at HP Canada serves as an inspiring blueprint for integrating technological innovation with a steadfast dedication to sustainability, diversity, and equitable practices. The insights shared today underline the significance of forward-thinking leadership and the impact it can have on shaping the future of work, championing sustainability, and ensuring the security of our digital world.A special thank you to our partners, Exclusive Banking partner RBC, Exclusive shipping partner UPS, exclusive accounting software partner Xero, and exclusive E-mail partner Constant Contact. We encourage our listeners to subscribe to CanadianSME Small Business Magazine by visiting our official website at www.canadiansme.ca  for more inspiring content.

Joining us on the podcast today is Frances Edmonds, Head of Sustainable Impact at HP Canada. We discuss all of the opportunities in Canada for a more sustainable and circular economy. . . . Follow us: https://linktr.ee/Spyder.Works Contact: sromero@spyder.works . . . Part podcast, part blog series, part live event, Say Hi to the Future is an inclusive platform aimed at highlighting the human side of ingenuity: clever, inventive, and original thinking. We are a global community driven by passion, savage curiosity, and the audacity to make a difference. . . . . Hosted by: Ken Tencer Produced by: Sonia Romero Johnson Matt Miller

Mary Ann Yule worries about the long-term economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on women. “Many working women struggled to balance the responsibilities that came with assuming dual roles,” says the President and CEO of HP Canada. “They are 12 times more likely to step away from their jobs to take care of their family.”The risk, she points out, is that many women's career trajectories will be hindered or knocked off course. She cites a recent study that concludes global GDP could be one trillion dollars lower by 2030 if action isn't taken to mitigate pandemic-related job losses for women.In a wide-ranging conversation with Goldy Hyder on the Speaking of Business podcast, Yule discusses solutions to ensure all employees are engaged and supported – including through mentorship and hybrid work options.And she offers her own lessons in leadership. “There is a privilege that comes with leadership – and an obligation. We need to pay it forward by helping young leaders and blazing the trail for future generations.” Listen to the full conversation – including how and why HP Canada is investing in the circular economy – on the Speaking of Business podcast.

Monica Gomez joins us on The betterHUMAN Podcast!Monica Gomez has been producing exceptional Events and Experiential Marketing campaigns since starting boutique agency, The Concierge Club, in 2011. She has had the honour of producing Events for notable brands such as LVMH, JTI  MacDonald, Diageo, Sephora and HP Canada, as well as memorable events for individual clients like Justin Bieber. Monica lives by the belief that the human experience comes first. She and her team are known for their ability to dream up bold designs and craft original ideas while seeing them through with style, flair, and attention to detail.She puts relationships with her clients first and that includes their well-being, as well as the well-being of their employees and teams. The connection Monica has with you, and your entire team is paramount. Monica's agency is 100% Woman-Owned Certified through WE Connect International and 100% Minority-Owned Certified through CAMSC (Canadian Aboriginal Minority Supplier Council).⚡ Connect with Monica Gomez: theconciergeclub.ca | LinkedIn⚡ Connect with Greg Witz: witzeducation.com | LinkedIn | Instagram | Twitter | FacebookGreg's sole mission in life is to challenge all of us to be better. MAKING HUMANS BETTER HUMANS has been at the foundation of Witz Education for over 30 years. As an entrepreneur, thought leader, author, mentor and father, Greg creatively blends psychology and communication skills with street smarts and a no BS approach. From startups to the White House, bringing entrepreneurs and business leaders to the top of their game is Greg's passion. His rich understanding of organizational and human development coupled with his own corporate experience allows Greg to effectively and energetically design and deliver tailor-made programs that have transformed thousands of Witz clients' careers and personal lives.Learn more about what Witz Education can do for you at witzeducation.com or call 1.866.907.9480 toll-free from anywhere in North America.

Pressure from investors and customers is driving the sustainability agenda forward for several companies, on the surface at least. In practice, only a dire few are making the necessary strides in sustainability, with most engaged in 'green washing'. The inability to recognize the financial value in embracing sustainability is preventing businesses from taking action. In this session, we're joined by Frances Edmonds, the Head of Sustainable Impact of Canada's most sustainable tech company, HP, to discuss why sustainability is an environmental and business imperative and how HP Canada's relentless pursuit for it is paying off.   About the Speaker Frances Edmonds has dedicated over 21 years to HP Canada. As the Head of Sustainable Impact, she is responsible for setting the sustainability strategy, implementing it, and driving business value. Her passion for sustainability and the circular economy, coupled with her relentless drive in furthering this agenda, has been instrumental to HP's success, with HP Canada now recognized as Canada's most sustainable technology company.

With the onset of the pandemic and the subsequent lockdowns in place, many aspects of the business world changed and entrepreneurs are still feeling the impact of that change. It is no surprise that this unprecedented situation has created havoc for the business owners and because of the lack of proper technology and resources, the challenges have only heightened. To match the evolving needs of business owners, HP solutions is trying to overcome the technological barriers with modernization and innovation. Mary Ann Yule, the President, and CEO of HP Canada Co. is one of the key figures leading this change. She brings 20 years of extensive experience as a leader in the technology industry on the table and is credited with establishing HP amongst the most sustainable technology company in Canada as well as one of Canada's Best Diversity Employers. In this episode of the CanadianSME podcast, we have Mary Ann Yule herself, here to discuss the challenges that the business world is facing right now and how HP Canada is trying to play an irreplaceable part in helping bring about a transformation. Yule also shares her thoughts on the role of digital technology in today's age in comparison to a few years ago. Additionally, Yule believes in a diverse and inclusive work culture, which she tries to bring about in her organization as well. We also try to understand if she found it difficult to juggle all of the different technological strategies and platforms in order to better promote her business and reach a broader audience.

Our hosts Leor and Dan are joined by the Head of Sustainable Impact for HP Canada, Frances Edmonds to talk about the circular economy and the importance of procurement as a tool to reach sustainability goals in Canada.

Today I’m joined by one of Canada’s top sustainability professionals. In her role as Head of Sustainable Impact at HP Canada, Frances Edmonds is responsible for driving business from sustainability leadership and, focusing on Canada’s sustainable procurement practices, she’s working to change how Canada buys. Frances has founded sustainability and environmental education programs, given TedX talks and sits on sustainability boards – this award-winning woman is truly using her platform to change the world. Today we’ll be talking about her long-standing career, her passion for sustainability, why it’s so important – and the changes we can all start making in our businesses right now. IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS: [08.11] Frances’s background, and her journey to sustainability. [09.42] Frances’s role at HP, and her responsibilities both internally and externally. “We realised that not many businesses are going to try and become a leader in sustainability because there’s no recognition for that in the marketplace – we’re in a capitalist system.” [12.21] From external recognition to thinking big, the key sustainability strategies and goals at HP. “In Canada, we have less than 20 companies who have set a science based target for carbon reduction, in the decade of climate action.” [14.06] Practical ways businesses can begin their own sustainability journeys. “The fastest way to green your business is to buy from one that’s already green.” [16.27] HP’s commitment to a circular economy and a services vs goods approach; how these strategies help extend the shelf life of technology; and how consumers are responding. [24.00] The environmental impact of supply chain, and the importance of carbon literacy. “Sustainability is the golden thread that ties all of the pieces together.” [29.07] Frances’s WWF programs and the positive impact of volunteering and setting personal sustainability goals. [36.48] How Frances has seen the industry’s approach to sustainability change. [39.14] Some key tools and resources. [40.23] Future sustainability trends to watch out for. “Transparency is a key component of sustainability leadership.” RESOURCES AND LINKS MENTIONED: Explore HP’s sustainable impact on their website or head over to LinkedIn to connect with Frances and find out more. Check out our other podcasts HERE.

Join Erin Andrews as she chats with Frances Edmonds, the Head of Sustainability at HP Canada. We talk about why giving employees paid volunteer time off of their day job makes businesses more money, how HP attributes over $1 billion of their revenue to their sustainability initiatives, how to reduce the carbon footprint of a laptop, and much more!----- LINKS -----HP Refresh:  www.hp.com/ca/en/solutions/education/refresh.htmlLearn more about Sustainability at HP: www.hp.com/ca/en/hp-information/sustainable-impact.htmlSustainable Purchasing Guide: www.hp.com/go/sustainablepurchasing Learn more about Instant Ink: store.hp.com/CanadaStore/Merch/Join the Impact Zero Network: impactzero.ca/prospective-membersSponsor the Impact Project Accelerator: impactzero.ca/corporate-sponsorshipsDonate to Impact Zero: impactzero.ca/donatePartner with Impact Zero: Email ErinJoin a Circular Networking Night: impactzero.ca/guest-passLearn More about The Fiddlehead Project: www.fiddleheadproject.comFollow The Fiddlehead Project on Instagram: www.instagram.com/thefiddleheadprojectFollow The Fiddlehead Project on YouTube: www.youtube.com/channel/UChFDKrZZOQqR0sFoRUJTDkgSupport the show (https://impactzero.ca/donate)

For this episode of The Comms Shift, I’m delighted to introduce, straight from Canada, a country which I was lucky enough to call home for 10 years, the one and only, Priya Bates. Priya Bates is probably one of the most qualified professional communicators you will ever meet. If you look her up on LinkedIn, she goes by Priya Bates, ABC, MC, SCMP, IABC Fellow. Let’s break those down. Priya is an Accredited Business Communicator (that’s ABC) and one of the first Certified Strategic Communication Management Professionals in the world (that’s SCMP). In 2010, she received the Master Communicator designation (that’s MC), which is the highest honour you can possibly have as a communication professional from IABC Canada by the way. As if that wasn’t enough, about 4 years ago, Priya was recognized as an IABC Fellow, a global lifetime achievement award for her contribution to the profession. She’s been doing this for 20+ years. She’s led communication for organizations including Loblaw Companies Limited, HP Canada, Compaq Canada, and The Ontario Nurses Association. These days, she’s the President and Owner of Inner Strength Communication where she works with organizations across a variety of sectors who are looking to build strategic internal communication expertise that drives business results. In this episode, Priya and I dissect her 5 I’s framework for evolving internal comms into strategic thinking: - What are the 5 I’s and how can you apply them at your work? - How IC professionals can take a strategic vision of the tactical work they’re given - Priya’s approach for understanding internal audiences at large corporations with a dispersed workforce - How to combine relationships with knowledge of the organization to influence decisions - The Yogurt story - A practical example of measurement in internal comms Whether you’re new to internal comms or a seasoned veteran, I think you’ll enjoy this conversation. Grab a coffee and listen on!

On BIV Today… HP Canada president and CEO Mary Ann Yule discusses the power of storytelling ahead of her roundtable discussion at the Women Deliver conference in Vancouver. Yule talks about her own experiences as a female leader in technology, and offers advice for women rising through the ranks of male-dominated industries. Hayley Woodin hosts, see more at https://biv.com/.

ON THIS WEEK'S SHOW:Sleep expect Amanda McGinn shares her favorite sleep tips and what tech can help.Lufthansa stops by to give us a “fly by” of their technology and innovation.In celebration of International Women’s Day, we chat with Mary Ann Yule, CEO and President of HP Canada.

Women in Tech, Talent and Diversity

Women in Tech, Talent and Diversity

Host Sherrilynne Starkie volunteers as Professional Development Director, IABC Canada East Region and invited Priya Bates to attend a recent meeting to discuss member engagement and engagement strategies generally.  Priya is an award-winning professional communicator and president of Inner Strength Communication. Her practice focuses strategic internal communication, engagement, branding and transformational change. In her 20+ year career, Priya has led communication for organizations including Loblaw Companies Limited, HP Canada and Compaq Canada. Priya is an Accredited Business Communicator (ABC) and a Certified Communication Management Professional (CMP). In 2010, she was named an IABC Master Communicator (MC) and in 2016, she became an IABC Fellow. She was the driving force behind the IABC's global rebrand. In this edition of The Voice, we listen in on Priya's presentation where she explains her engagement process right from strategy development to evaluation. She said: “Most people look at engagement as a program. I look at it as a system. Most look at is as tactical. But if we start with the tactics…we often miss the bigger picture. Communication is operational as opposed to philosophical. I like to make it very clear. Really define what it is we are trying to do?” Listen Now! Join the conversation! Connect with Sherrilynne Starkie, Priya Bates,  IABC Ottawa and IABC. Leave a comment or question below and please rate the show on iTunes! IABC Ottawa's The Voice podcast is part of the FIR Podcast Network.  It's sponsored by Thornley Fallis Communications and this episode was produced by IABC volunteer Abby Radovski.  

Synopsis This episode I sit down with Dave Frederickon who has a unique viewpoint on cloud computing from a Canadian point of view, as well as a VP of the HP Canada business.  I pose some tough questions to Dave including "Is 'cloud' just marketing hype?" and other discussion topics and we have a good chat on the reality of cloud computing, who's adopting it and how it's changing and revolutionizing Information Technology at the pace of business.  This is another great podcast in the cloud series, and you should not miss it! Guest Dave Frederickson - (Vice President & General Manager Enetrprise Servers, Storage & Networking Business at HP Canada) - Dave Frederickson is the VP of the ESSN group and is located in HP Canada's HQ in Mississauga, Ontario.  He is responsible for leading sales, pre-sales, channels, marketing and product management teams, achieving top and bottom line and market share objectives.  His role also includes responsibility for Enterprise marketing for HP and linking HP services and software.  He is a board member of Sharcnet and Schulich Corporate and Social Reponsibility.

Synopsis   This special episode of Down the Rabbithole is sponsored exclusively by HP Canada, and I wanted to thank them for hosting this fantastic event!  In this episode I sat down with Charlie Bess and EG Nadhan to talk about Cloud Computing.  Now, this isn't your standard cloud discussion ... no my friends, these are two of the top technologists HP has to offer from the labs and services organizations talking about the paradigm shifts in computing that "the cloud" offers.  We talk through business adoption, getting over the "it's cheaper" mentatlity, security ... and even some of the things learned here at the event in Montreal.   What a fantastic opportunity to pick the brains of some extremely smart people, and hear their responses to one of the most difficult and rewarding business shifts in technology in the last 10 years.  You're not going to want to miss this. Guests EG Nadhan - Distinguished Technologist, HP Enterprise Services Charlie Bess - Fellow, HP Labs

Marisa Oldnall, PMO Lead for HP Canada’s Enterprise Services, shares key concepts of ITIL and project management best practices that we need to incorporate into our next project. Brought to you by: Project Management Telesummit: March 8-10, 2011 – Don’t miss this opportunity to hear fifteen of today’s leading and emerging voices in Project Management. Joining...