Leaders, Innovators and Big Ideas - the Rainforest podcast

Join Melissa Rizzuto as she welcomes Mark Bowater and Ben Myall, two Australian mining experts and new members of the Explica team, who are bringing their decades of global experience to Calgary. This episode delves into their remarkable careers and their shared passion for revolutionizing an industry often overlooked for innovation. They discuss the frustratingly slow adoption of advanced planning methods in mining and highlight how Explica's Oxygen platform, with its cutting-edge AI agents and stochastic scheduling capabilities, offers a game-changing solution to embrace real-world variability and drive more confident, realistic decision-making. Explore their vision for overcoming industry challenges, simplifying complexity, and ensuring a sustainable future for vital resources.Thank you for listening to the Leaders, Innovators and Big Ideas podcast where we showcase fascinating people who are Leaders, Innovators, and have Big Ideas!HOSTMelissa RizzutoMelissa is a talent acquisition and recruitment strategy professional with 20 years of experience partnering with founders and leadership teams to build high-performing teams, improve hiring processes, and create meaningful candidate experiences. Her background spans full-cycle recruitment, recruitment technology, employer branding, and recruitment marketing. A lifelong Calgarian, Melissa holds a Bachelor of Kinesiology from the University of Calgary, an Executive Leadership Certificate from eCornell University, and a Mini MBA in Engineering & Technology Management from Rutgers Business School. She is also actively involved in community initiatives, including 17 years with the UNICEF Water for Life Gala and volunteer work supporting newcomers through Immigrant Services Calgary. Outside of work, Melissa enjoys dogs, sports, creative writing, and keeping up with emerging technology.GUESTSMark BowaterMark Bowater is a mining engineer with more than 35 years of experience in the Australian and global open pit mining industry, spanning coal and metalliferous operations. He has held senior operational and technical roles, founded and led a successful mining consultancy, and worked across more than 50 mining operations. In recent years, Mark has shifted his focus toward working “on the industry” rather than in it—challenging conventional thinking and advancing how mine planning is understood and practiced. He is the author of Crimes Against Mine Planning and a recognised thought leader on the evolution of mine planning. Through his writing, speaking, and training, he advocates for a fundamental shift away from deterministic planning toward decision-centric approaches that better reflect the realities of uncertainty and variability. Mark is driven by a clear purpose: to leave mine planning in a better place than he found it. He is passionate about helping the industry rethink how mine planning is structured, how decisions are made, and how capability is developed—so that mine planning can better support operational performance and decision-making.Ben MyallBen Myall, founder of MyallsAhead a Brisbane based mining engineering consultancy is focused on solving problems practically for Explica Inc. After completing his Engineering Degree at the University of Queensland, Ben spent 28 years working in the Queensland coal and bauxite mining industry. His last site role was as the operations manager at Andoom, managing 300 people, on the Cape York peninsula before moving to Brisbane with his family to join Rio Tinto's Surface Mining Centre of Excellence. Ben spends three months a year at Palm Beach on the Gold Coast walking the beaches with his wife. When his old body allows he body surfs with his two teenage sons, enjoying the Aussie Heat.LINKS & RESOURCESCrimes Against Mine PlanningMine Planning Matters PodcastMyallsAhead ConsultingTalent Incubator PartnersMount Royal University Audio RoomsSHOW QUOTES"The glass is twice as big as it needed to be. Why didn't we just build

Host Melissa Rizzuto welcomes her guests: Bruno Rizzuto and Dumitru Cernelev who share the story behind Explica, their innovative AI and simulation company revolutionizing decision-making for industrial assets. They delve into how their platform, Oxygen, creates "simulation twins" – alive, interactive virtual realities of complex operations like mining and supply chains, differentiating it from traditional digital twins. Explica integrates contextualized large language models to allow users to ask systems-level questions, moving beyond fragmented approaches and outdated tools like spreadsheets. The discussion also covers the evolution of the Alberta startup ecosystem, the changing perception of AI in the marketplace, and crucial advice for entrepreneurs, emphasizing speed, transparency, and the importance of diverse perspectives in building future-proof businesses. Thank you for listening to the Leaders, Innovators and Big Ideas podcast where we showcase fascinating people who are Leaders, Innovators, and have Big Ideas! HOST Melissa RizzutoMelissa is a talent acquisition and recruitment strategy professional with 20 years of experience partnering with founders and leadership teams to build high-performing teams, improve hiring processes, and create meaningful candidate experiences. Her background spans full-cycle recruitment, recruitment technology, employer branding, and recruitment marketing. A lifelong Calgarian, Melissa holds a Bachelor of Kinesiology from the University of Calgary, an Executive Leadership Certificate from eCornell University, and a Mini MBA in Engineering & Technology Management from Rutgers Business School. She is also actively involved in community initiatives, including 17 years with the UNICEF Water for Life Gala and volunteer work supporting newcomers through Immigrant Services Calgary. Outside of work, Melissa enjoys dogs, sports, creative writing, and keeping up with emerging technology. GUEST Bruno RizzutoBruno Rizzuto, CEO and Co-Founder of Explica, is a technology and innovation leader with more than two decades of experience turning complex ideas into opportunities. His career has taken him across industries including energy and mining, where he has seen firsthand how technology can transform the way organizations understand problems, make decisions, and operate. As an entrepreneur, Bruno is particularly passionate about breaking down the barriers that keep powerful technology out of reach for smaller organizations. His vision for Explica is rooted in making advanced simulation more accessible—and ultimately taking an Alberta-born idea to a global audience. Dumitru CernelevDumitru Cernelev, CIO and Co-Founder of Explica, is an engineer at heart with a passion for understanding how things work—and figuring out how to make them work better. His technical career spans engineering, simulation, optimization, and technology development, giving him a deep understanding of how to model complex systems and turn data and engineering principles into practical tools. Dumitru brings the technical curiosity and problem-solving mindset behind Explica's technology. He thrives on taking something complicated, breaking it down into its fundamental pieces, and building a smarter way forward. For him, the challenge isn't just developing sophisticated technology—it's making that technology genuinely useful to the people who need it. LINKS & RESOURCES Explica Inc. Mount Royal University Audio Rooms Talent Incubator Partners SHOW QUOTES "I think that goes to show that the way technology is moving today, that regardless of your background technology has a place to play." "What do we do? We do gaming for industrial assets. We're really creating a very-- we're taking a very complex operating assets and complicated operations...and we're turning into the virtual reality, a game." "The AI train is out of the box. It's not coming back... it's gonna be a fundamental component in how people build the

Al Del Degan welcomes Scott Muhlbeier, founder of TEATRX, to LIBI. Scott reveals how his company evolved from a one-man show to an award-winning leader in designing and integrating the world's easiest-to-use meeting rooms. Discover how TEATRX tackled the hybrid work scramble, innovated beyond off-the-shelf solutions with custom programming and even 3D printing their own components like retractable table cubbies. Scott shares fascinating insights into how artificial intelligence is not only accelerating their development cycle from months to days but also reshaping the entire AV industry, promoting automation and seamless collaboration. This episode unveils a refreshing approach to technology that prioritizes user experience, transforming frustrating fumbling into instant productivity, and includes a discussion on their unique remote management services. Thank you for listening to the Leaders, Innovators and Big Ideas podcast where we showcase fascinating people who are Leaders, Innovators, and have Big Ideas! HOST Al Del Degan From software developer to serial entrepreneur and executive, Al Del Degan has built a career focused on innovation. Grounded in a computer science education, his experience across technical, analytical, and management roles gives him a rare 360-degree view of what it takes to scale a technology business. He actively applies this perspective by building ventures designed to solve critical industry gaps and fostering the next generation of tech talent. As a recognized leader within Calgary’s innovation ecosystem, his work consistently focuses on strengthening the community and creating new opportunities for growth. GUEST Scott Muhlbeier Scott Muhlbeier is an AV and IT integration specialist who has spent nearly two decades helping organizations eliminate technology friction and build reliable digital environments. As the founder of Calgary-based Teatrx, Scott approaches technology with a simple philosophy: systems should be intuitive, dependable, and designed around the people who actually use them. Over his 19-plus years in the industry, he has spearheaded complex integrations spanning audio-visual design, network architecture, access control, and managed IT services consistently advocating against over-engineered "black box" solutions that teams end up abandoning. Scott firmly believes that every modern business, regardless of size or sector, is fundamentally powered by its technology. His focus on the podcast is helping leaders ask the right questions about their infrastructure moving past the headaches so their technology works for them, not against them. LINKS & RESOURCES TEATRX Inogeni PTZ Optics SHOW QUOTES "Our core focus is designing and integrating the easiest-to-use meeting rooms in the world. That's what we want, make things easier for people." "AI is now allowing us to talk to each of their pieces of hardware, integrate that into a working solution. It allows us to customize our drivers and our communication of how we're talking to the devices. So for example, we are now building our own drivers using AI. things that we can now do in eight days would have taken us twelve months before." "I used to say I want a room up and running in one minute or less. Now I say to my staff, 'I want it in 10 seconds or less.' And so I think that's where the world's going." CREDITS Episode Music: Tony Del Degan Creator & Producer: Al Del Degan Sponsor: New Idea Machine Inc.

Join Al Del Degan on LIBI as he welcomes Gabe Dunlop, CEO of UpTeaming, for an insightful conversation about navigating the breakneck speed of venture-backed companies. Gabe shares his unique journey from corporate communications and media leadership to building a global community dedicated to providing founders and engineering leaders with unparalleled access to critical knowledge, connections, and support. Discover why "speed without wreckage" is the core DNA of modern business, how UpTeaming helps unlock crucial "doors" for scaling companies, and the often-overlooked challenges around building trust and effective people systems that can make or break a high-growth enterprise. This episode is a must-listen for anyone building or leading a fast-moving organization. Thank you for listening to the Leaders, Innovators and Big Ideas podcast where we showcase fascinating people who are Leaders, Innovators, and have Big Ideas! HOST Al Del DeganAl Del Degan is a software developer and tech leader in Alberta's innovation ecosystem. He is a Web3 enthusiast and podcaster, sharing his knowledge and passion for emerging technologies with his audience. Al is also the founder and CTO of New Idea Machine, a software company dedicated to helping new developers gain hands-on experience building real-world applications. With his commitment to giving back to the community, Al is always available to offer advice on technology and business. His passion for innovation and entrepreneurship is evident in everything he does, making him a respected leader in the tech industry. GUEST Gabe DunlopHi I'm Gabe. I ran the fastest growing media company in Canadian history, diply.com during its peak. Prior to that I was part of the revenue team at Astral before it was acquired by BCE for $3.3B. I specialize in assembling a-teams to overcome otherwise immovable obstacles and achieve exceptional results together. The method is called teaming and its coined by Harvard business scientist Amy Edmondson in 2012. LINKS & RESOURCES UpTeaming SHOW QUOTES "I grew up in a small town in southern Ontario that's like a farm community. I could tell you how to grow and farm tomatoes, but when I was in my 20s, I couldn't tell you how to build a business." "My observation is you don't have to move in order to cash in on all those things. There's great talent. There's great people. There's great capital everywhere. You no longer have to be where those things are for it to work. But you have to find doors." "The core DNA of UpTeaming is the DNA that every company wants, which is speed without wreckage." CREDITS Episode Music: Tony Del Degan Creator & Producer: Al Del Degan Sponsor: New Idea Machine Inc.

Join Rea Hailley as she sits down with the brilliant coach Ruth Andermatt for a deeply insightful conversation on the essence of self-leadership and personal empowerment. In a world saturated with distractions and external pressures, Ruth illuminates the profound impact of cultivating presence, setting genuine intentions, and finding moments of "homecoming" throughout your day. Discover why aligning your business with your authentic self is crucial for true impact, and learn practical strategies for navigating loneliness, managing your energy, and embracing a leadership style rooted in kindness and truth. This episode is a powerful invitation to reconnect with your inner wisdom and lead your life with purpose and unwavering personal power.Bonus: Stay tuned at the end of this episode for a short guided meditation by Ruth. Thank you for listening to the Leaders, Innovators and Big Ideas podcast where we showcase fascinating people who are Leaders, Innovators, and have Big Ideas! HOST Rea HailleyDriven by a deep-seated belief in the power of entrepreneurship, Rea leads New Idea Machine in empowering businesses with innovative digital solutions. Having witnessed the grit and triumph of her parents building a business from scratch, Rea is passionate about enabling significant revenue growth and seamless operations for startups and Small/Medium Businesses, ensuring their dedication translates into tangible success. GUEST Ruth Andermatt Ruth Andermatt has never taken the expected path, and that’s exactly her greatest asset. From playing women’s university ice hockey on one of Canada’s first athletic scholarship programs in the early 1980s, to being the only woman in the country at her level in corporate—the token skirt in a room full of suits—to choosing herself over a system that was never built for her, Ruth has gathered wisdom the only way that counts: through lived experience. With over 28 years of leadership coaching, she works with senior leaders and C-Suite executives who are done performing a version of themselves that was never really them. She helps them to find their home base and lead from there—when everything is on the line and the crowd is watching, and especially in the quiet moments in-between the big moments when momentum matters. Sport taught Ruth performance. Music taught her to listen for what's underneath. And her dog, Ryder, reminds her daily that showing up fully present is the game changer. She knows what it takes to find her way back to herself, every day, and she knows how to usher others through that same door. LINKS & RESOURCES Andermatt Consulting Experience Inc SHOW QUOTES "To get here and be here and operate from here, that is the best tool we've got, and I would say it's one of the most challenging." "I refer to self-leadership as when I can lead myself, I can lead the world. But if I am not managing me, I don't stand a chance." "Your business is a reflection of you. I don't care what your business is, whether you're a landscaper, making fabulous cappuccinos, coaching, a marketing coach it is a reflection of you, and if it doesn't reflect you, there's a gap." CREDITS Sponsor: New Idea Machine Inc. Episode Music: Tony Del Degan Creator & Producer: Al Del Degan