MaRS

Water coolers: Where is all happens in Canadian culture

Canadian office culture may not seem intimidating, but if you’re a new Canadian, your qualifications and global experience may not be enough to move ahead in your career. Understanding the value of small-talk in the office can be paramount to progressing into a management position. That’s where MaRS client KIOSK steps in.

KIOSK offer English as a Second Language (ESL) communications solutions and specialized language camps, helping new Canadians who have  skills to integrate into the workplace.

Statistics Canada reported in March that Toronto’s visible minority population  could more than double from 2.3 million in 2006 to nearly 5.6 million by 2031. This means the work of organizations like KIOSK will only become more important with each passing year — for immigrants and businesses alike.

Is this sandbox just for the big kids?

The Social Innovation Fund (SIF), a White House effort to pump millions of private and public dollars into projects that are effectively tackling pressing social problems, awarded its first round of grants this month, totaling nearly $50 million.

The Corporation for National and Community Service, which operates the SIF, announced 11 grants – ranging in size from $2 million to $10 million each – to intermediary organizations, which will in turn award money to non-profit groups working in the areas of economic opportunity, youth development and healthy habits. Seen as a breakthrough announcement by a new kind of President in 2009, the Fund has understandably attracted attention from the non-profit community in the US as well as north of the border.

Andy Grove sounds the alarm about innovation

By dropping the social in innovation, is North America breaking the innovation chain?

Andy Grove, a co-founder of Intel and a Silicon Valley icon, is sounding two alarms about innovation’s future. Both flow from his disagreement with the accepted article of faith that the US tech sector necessarily should focus high-end jobs in the US and export manufacturing jobs.

Sir Ronald Cohen talks about social finance

In a recent article in the Telegraph, Sir Ronald Cohen, the “father of private equity” in the UK and founder of Apax Partners, is quoted as saying “An important part of the capitalist system is having a powerful social sector to address social issues.”

Those of us interested in social finance in Canada have long looked to the UK in general, and the work of Sir Ronald Cohen in particular, for advice and direction. Sir Ronald (as he is affectionately called) recently addressed student at Harvard Business School telling the students about the next big thing in the business world – social finance.

Coming soon to Ontario?

If you have an early stage social venture or you’re still at the conceptual stage, the School for Social Entrepreneurs (SSE) may be of interest to you.  It is a one-year program that will train you to use your abilities in effective ways to set up a social enterprise or social purpose business – developing your abilities and your venture plan at the same time.

Ready to sign up? Not just yet.