Tag: Technology

Ignite Growth Conference – Keynote: Thriving through the next wave of disruption with Asiff Hirji (Slides)

Keynote Address by Asiff Hirji, President & COO of Coinbase.
Keynote was given at the Ignite Growth Conference Calgary held in May 2019

Program Overview
As Asiff explores key technology changes of the coming decade, such as autonomous vehicles, cryptocurrencies, and the gig economy, he will frame our discussions centered around emerging trends that pervade industry boundaries. We will not only conceptualize these innovations, but also understand their impact on our lives in a very tangible way. In the face of rapid change, we will learn how vital professional networks and alliances are for successfully navigating and thriving through these disruptions. Join us for an invigorating session to glean key insights into paving the pathway to success.

Speaker Profile
Asiff Hirji is President & Chief Operating Officer of Coinbase. Prior to Coinbase, Asiff focused on accelerating growth at a number of portfolio companies for venture capital partner, Andreessen Horowitz. In 2002, Asiff rose from CIO to COO and ultimately President of TD Ameritrade, the world’s largest online broker, helping them grow to 4,000 employees. He also ran HP Enterprise Services (Reporting to Meg Whitman) with nearly 200,000 employees and $14B in revenue. He has also held senior leadership and governance roles at TPG Capital, Saxo Bank, and Bain Capital including being on the board of directors for several companies including Eze Software Group, TES Global, RentPath, and Citrix Systems.

Space, The Next Frontier – Tahir Merali
The webinar was held on Saturday, March 10, 2019.

Program Overview
Once upon a time, humans only dreamt of the stars, but in today’s world we aspire and work towards a future where we can visit and one day live amongst them! The space industry has been growing and investment firms such as Bank of America, Merrill Lynch and Morgan Stanley predict the industry will be a TRILLION dollar industry in the next 30 years!

Speaker Profile
Mr. Merali is a Project Management Engineer with the Canadian Space Agency‘s (CSA) Enterprise Project Management Office where he works with teams to implement project governance for prudent management of corporate investments. He also contributes to lunar systems engineering activities such as the international Lunar Gateway program alongside NASA. Prior to joining CSA, Tahir worked across aerospace, energy & automotive industries, including as Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) of the Canadian Space Commerce Association (CSCA), formerly Canada’s trade association for space. He has presented innovative strategies to Fortune 500 executives. As an astronaut instructor he developed and delivered training for crew on International Space Station (ISS) systems and operations, and reported on the nanosatellite market as a business analyst with a Dutch start-up. He has spent time at facilities in Canada, Europe, Russia & the United States and has presented work in 8+ nations. Tahir offers unique perspectives having spent 10 minutes in “weightlessness” aboard a parabolic flight and developed 2 microgravity life-science experiments that have flown aboard the ISS. He is a strong advocate for space awareness and education, and has been peer-review published alongside several conference proceedings and panels. He has been recognized across industries by superiors & peers for excellence and leadership. In 2018, he was awarded globally as a Top 35 Under 35 of the space industry, selected by a panel of industry movers & shakers for his achievement, dedication, outreach and contribution to the space business. Tahir is a graduate of the International Space University (M.Sc Space Management) and the University of Toronto (B.A.Sc Mechanical Engineering). He is a licensed professional engineer with the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Alberta (APEGA), certified as a Project Management Professional (PMP), and is a PADI-licensed Advanced Open Water Scuba Diver. Tahir was ranked qualified (Top-163) in the 2016 Canadian Astronaut Recruitment Campaign. Follow him @kulfispace!