Media
Emerging Business Models in the Education Sector - MaRS Best Practices
Thinking of starting an education technology (edtech) startup? Krista Jones and Aron Solomon, Senior Advisors at MaRS, tell you what's working (and not working) in education technology business models. They explore this by examining startups like Code Academy, Edmodo, Knewton, and others.
How will young people fit into the changing workforce? | Krista Jones | Walrus Talks
McKesson Canada Presents: The Walrus Talks Innovation. Recorded October 21, 2015, at the University of King’s College in Halifax. To purchase tickets to the next Walrus Talks in your area, visit http://thewalrus.ca/category/events/ Krista Jones is the senior advisor and lead of MaRS’s Education Technology cluster, which applies innovative technologies and advances in pedagogy to develop the global education industry. Krista has personally advised over 350 start-ups and worked with 1,300 ventures in the ICE industries, and she is known for her comprehensive knowledge of ICE technologies and architecture. Previously, Krista and her husband owned a children’s education-technology franchise, which fostered early innovation in robotics, animation, digital art, and video game design.
#FutureofWork: Artificial Intelligence in Finance & Commerce (Video of Panel)
MaRS Discovery District, February 22, 2017Television
URL: https://www.facebook.com/MaRSCentre/videos/10154069162492132/
Change inevitably brings uncertainty. It is an economic necessity for Canada that we adapt to the emerging models of work that AI and robotics are initiating. What does all of this mean for the #FutureofWork in Finance & Commerce?
#FutureofWork: Artificial Intelligence in Finance & Commerce (Video of Panel)
MaRS Discovery District, February 22, 2017Television
URL: https://www.facebook.com/MaRSCentre/videos/10154069162492132/
Change inevitably brings uncertainty. It is an economic necessity for Canada that we adapt to the emerging models of work that AI and robotics are initiating. What does all of this mean for the #FutureofWork in Finance & Commerce?
Your relationship with artificial intelligence will soon determine whether you’ll be a have or a have-not
Financial Post, February 28, 2017Online
URL: http://business.financialpost.com/executive/careers/0306-biz-lb-louise
"The warnings are dire: artificial intelligence is poised to blow through all sectors of the economy, not just manufacturing, destroying jobs and shaking the very foundations of the workforce. A whopping 40 per cent of banking jobs in the United States could be lost to digital automation, cautions an executive with investment firm Citibank. An even more dramatic scenario is posed by online travel company The Priceline Group, which suggest some 80 per cent of its future customer contacts could actually involve no human interaction." by Louise Brown, Special to Financial Post
Automation and AI - is your job next?
DMZ - Ryerson UniversityOnline
URL: https://dmz.ryerson.ca/automation-ai-job-next/
"As new technology makes the world smarter, gadgets and apps continue to optimize our personal and professional lives. As more and more intelligent machines enter the workplace, many are divided over the effects of increasing automation- the replacement of workers with technology and computerization." by Michelle Song
Human spirit still uncloneable: MaRS forum aims to quell fears of job loss to AI
Financial Post, November 28, 2016Online
"If your job is boring — marked by the same old repetitive tasks — there will soon be a robot to do it." by Louise Brown, Special to Financial Post
Continuous skills training the key to closing the employment gap
Toronto Star, October 4, 2016Online
In today’s economy, the best companies understand that education never stops, and provide venues for employees to take advantage of learning opportunities.
Skill up, early and often: Retooling employees is the new corporate challenge
MaRS Discovery District, September 6, 2016Online
URL: https://magazine.marsdd.com/skill-up-early-and-often-7fb7fb87f872#.kmymv1ql5
Retooling employees has become a real challenge, not only for corporations, but for educators who must train current employees, as well as those of the future, to stay ahead of the technology curve. The pace of change is now measured in weeks and months, and the traditional systems of learning can’t keep pace, which is why both corporations and higher education must embrace continuous learning.
What millennials really want from employers
Financial PostOnline
URL: http://business.financialpost.com/executive/careers/what-millennials-really-want-from-employers
The “gig” economy of freelance and part-time workers — the ramifications of which are just starting to be understood— started long before the term “uberization of everything” was popularized.
Your relationship with artificial intelligence will soon determine whether you’ll be a have or a have-not
Financial Post, February 28, 2017Online
URL: http://business.financialpost.com/executive/careers/0306-biz-lb-louise
"The warnings are dire: artificial intelligence is poised to blow through all sectors of the economy, not just manufacturing, destroying jobs and shaking the very foundations of the workforce. A whopping 40 per cent of banking jobs in the United States could be lost to digital automation, cautions an executive with investment firm Citibank. An even more dramatic scenario is posed by online travel company The Priceline Group, which suggest some 80 per cent of its future customer contacts could actually involve no human interaction." by Louise Brown, Special to Financial Post
What millennials really want from employers
Financial Post, December 3, 2015Online
URL: http://business.financialpost.com/executive/careers/what-millennials-really-want-from-employers
The “gig” economy of freelance and part-time workers — the ramifications of which are just starting to be understood— started long before the term “uberization of everything” was popularized.
Biography
Krista Jones has been the driving force behind the creation of Momentum, a MaRS program helping to scale Canadian companies. She has been an innovator and builder of technology-based businesses for over 30 years and has personally advised and been actively involved in over 200 startups. Jones has experience working in both large public companies and in startups. She is an engineer, entrepreneur, mentor, and an expert at solving ambiguous problems. She has a unique combination of strategic, technical, operational, and marketing expertise. She is known for her comprehensive knowledge of existing and emerging Information & Communications Technology (ICT) technologies and architectures as well as innovation practices.
Jones and her husband owned a children’s technology educational franchise that fostered early innovation and creativity in robotics, animation, digital art, and video game design. She brings technical, operational and marketing expertise in technology-based businesses. Over the years she has held executive positions in operations, engineering, marketing and business development for companies such as Nortel, MTS Allstream (formerly AT&T Canada), Metronet (the most successful start-up Competitive Local Exchange Carrier in Canada) and Personeta (an Israel-based venture-backed software startup). Jones is a engineer who holds a BS in Electrical Engineering from the University of New Brunswick.
Recognition/Reconnaissance
Lead, EdTech Cluster, MaRS | Professional
Education Technology Cluster helping entrepreneurs in the commercialization of technology in K-12, higher ed and corporate training and development.
Managing Director, Work & Learning Sector, MaRS | Professional
MaRS Work & Learning is dedicated to helping high-impact startups revolutionize both how we acquire knowledge and how we put it to good use.
Head of Work & Learning Cluster, MaRS | Professional
The Work & Learning Cluster is the evolution of the EdTech Cluster due to the intersection of work and learning.
Entrepreneurship Mentor – The Next 36 | Professional
The goal of The Next 36 is to help launch the careers of Canada’s most promising and innovative undergraduates.
Co-founder – JOLT Accelerator | Professional
JOLT is a technology accelerator dedicated to building high-growth web and mobile companies that promise to transform the way consumers and enterprises interact with technologies.
Director – Children's Technology Workshop
Children’s Technology Workshop (CTWorkshop) was founded in 1997 by Darryl Reiter, a school teacher, technology enthusiast and father. CTWorkshop is now a global company focused on the development and delivery of hands-on, applied-technology curriculum.
Advisor and Practice Lead: IT, Communications and Entertainment, MaRS
MaRS is where science, technology and social entrepreneurs get the help they need. Where all kinds of people meet to spark new ideas. We stimulate, identify and harness great ideas, nurture their development and guide the transformation of those ideas into reality.
Additional Titles and Affiliations
MaRS Discovery District
Past Talks
Workshift: The Emerging Workforce
MaRS Work & Learning
Toronto, ON., February 16, 2016
Future Talent Today
MaRS Work & Learning
Toronto, ON., May 16, 2016
#FutureofWork: AI & Robotics
MaRS
Toronto, ON., November 24, 2016
#FutureofWork: AI & Robotics in Finance & Commerce
MaRS
Toronto, ON, February 22, 2017