Awards are Not Just for the Winners
Over the last few weeks – Alberta’s Innovation Community has had alot to celebrate!
- As per Alberta’s Minister of Technology and Innovation Nate Glubish’s post this week “..Our tech sector was ranked 12th fastest growing in the world by PitchBook”
- And several STEM-based professional organizations and start-up communities held their annual awards events.
While some events are just returning into full-swing (resuming after a COVID-pause) and still finding their rhythm, others are sold-out and managing the demands of a full-house. What accounts for this difference? I suggest it is – Remembering that the Awards are Not Just for the Winners.
With tickets costing from $0, $90, $290 and above – it was interesting to see that the success of the event was not correlated to price, or the best meal. The winning events? They were the ones with a focus on Building Community. By using the annual event to “Create Milestones and a Foundation that Unites” for their sector and celebrate the contributions of many – of the finalists, of the winners, and of the many supporters that helped raise all these ships.. these were the successful events, as what was remembered was the ‘Why’.
Not only is it important to begin with “Why”.. it is important to end with “Why”. So cheers and thank you to all – who build community through events, by being role models, or by helping us not lose “our way” or “our why”. Congratulations to the many volunteers and recently recognized community builders – whether finalists or winners – like Bill, and Ashif, and Lan, and Kerry, and Paul, and Chris, and Mykola, and more.
Thank you everyone, and see you soon,
Gail
Gail J. Powley, P.Eng
President, Technology Alberta
