Entrepreneurial skills aren’t just for entrepreneurs, they are essential to everyone. In times of turbulence and unpredictability, having an entrepreneurial mindset and skills is critical. In this episode, I speak with the research lead of the Future Skills Centre, and we explore what it means to approach work and life with an entrepreneurial mindset, as well as the skills necessary for the future of work.

Dr. Wendy Cukier is a professor of Entrepreneurship and Innovation at the Ted Rogers School of Management at Toronto Metropolitan University, Academic Director of the Diversity Institute, and Academic Research Director of the Future Skills Centre. She co-authored the bestseller “Innovation Nation: Canadian Leadership from Java to Jurassic Park" and is a leader in disruptive technologies and innovation. Formerly the Vice President of Research and Innovation, she has been the architect of many large scale projects and is currently the Academic Research Director for the Future Skills Centre as well as the founder of the Women Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub. With a PhD in Information Systems and more than thirty years of technology consulting, her recent work on the Canadian AI Paradox addresses the gap between Canada’s leadership in the development of AI tools and the adoption of them. With the Future Skills Centre, she has led several related research projects, the development of competency frameworks and strategies to support the adoption of AI among entrepreneurs and Small and Medium Enterprises. She leads Toronto Metropolitan University’s Diversity Institute which has over 80 research staff, 100 research associates across Canada and from around the world, and more than 200 industry partners focused on includive education, employment, leadership and entrepreneurship. Wendy has been recognized with many awards for her volunteer work. She has also received Canada’s Meritorious Service Cross, one of the country’s highest civilian honours. In addition to her PhD in Information Systems from the Schulich School of Business, she has an MBA (Marketing and Information Systems), an MA, and honourary doctorates from Laval and Concordia universities.

Links:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wendy-cukier-9aa85910/

Future Skills Centre: https://fsc-ccf.ca/team/wendy-cukier-2/