Micropulse Canada
By Tanmat
Micropulse CanadaNov 28, 2021
The Subtleties of Tea and Innovation: a Conversation with Suzanne Balima
Micropulse Canada is excited to share a conversation between Tanya Matanda and Suzanne Balima titled: The Subtleties of Tea and Innovation: a Conversation with Suzanne Balima of The Black Spinel Initiative where we discuss her upbringing, work experience, diversity, inclusion and volunteerism.
Suzanne holds a Bachelors degree in Biomedical Mechanical Engineering and a Masters Design in Strategic Design and Innovation, with academic and professional experiences across four continents and multiple industries. From a young age, Suzanne has always been interested in learning about cool natural phenomena and man-made structures and asking questions like how does the immune system work to fight diseases when you are sick, how does a heavy structure like an airplane fly, and how does the fridge create a cold controlled environment?
She has worked on research projects, designing and building medical equipment for hospitals, and implementing technology in large companies in her professional life. She is now working in innovation: creativity for problem-solving. In her current job, she uses technology to solve problems and co-create solutions to improve safety in mining.
Suzanne strongly believes in giving back to the community and chooses to volunteer her time in STEM and diversity initiatives. To pursue this purpose, Suzanne officially co-launched an educational non-profit this year (2021), the Black Spinel Initiative, a channel to introduce Black youth to various career paths through ESTEAM programs (Engineering Science Tech Entrepreneurship Arts Math). The programs are founded on the belief that developing an analytical mind and a creative one will prepare Black Youth to adapt to a rapidly changing environment. The programs are hands-on, and the educators are STEM professionals - acting as Black STEM role models and helping the kids and their parents see the breadth of career opportunities in the STEM space.
Website: https://www.blackspinel.com
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/suzannebalima
A Leader's Journey & Atomic Habits, a Conversation with Kyle Monczak, Executive Director of Business in the Streets
Kyle Monczak is the Executive Director at Business in the Streets, a Canadian charity that makes entrepreneurship a more accessible pathway for young people from underserved communities.
Kyle received his education in business and project management at George Brown College in Toronto, where he was awarded the Dean’s Medal for performance and academic standing. He joined BITS in 2015 and immediately fell in love with the organization’s mission and purpose after seeing the impact it had on the community. In 2018, he assumed the role of Executive Director and currently leads all strategy, fundraising, and program development.
Perspectives on Indigenous and Afrofuturism in the Arts and Beyond with Quentin VerCetty
Quentin VerCetty is an award-winning, multidisciplinary storyteller, artpreneur and activist, based in Montreal, Canada. Among many accomplishments, he is a co-founder and director of the Black Speculative Arts Movement, a movement grounded in second-wave Afrofuturism that provides new perspectives to reimagine public spaces. In addition, he designed the Joshua Glover Memorial - Toronto's first monument dedicated to a person of African Descent and co-edited Cosmic Underground Northside: An Incantation of Black Canadian Speculative Discourse and Innerstandings (2020) - a seminal collection consisting of works from cross-generations and pan-national Black creatives and cultural producers from Canada.
Recognized as a leader in Canada's arts and culture sector, I am excited to be releasing a podcast conversation with him on 29th of August titled: Perspectives on Indigenous and Afrofuturism in the Arts and Beyond. We talk about his early life, influences and long-term perspectives on socio-economic development.
Photo credit: Odile / @eaudesiles
Instagram: @keepgrowinggq
Website: https://www.vercetty.com
Poetry, Prose and Harnessing Life Energy for Positive Change with Chukky Ibe
Chukky Ibe Is a social entrepreneur passionate about youth development, arts, culture and public service. He is the founder of TRAD Magazine: TRAD is a grassroots educational organization that creates African-centered educational experiences, published under tradmag.ca and makes learning tools for students, teachers, and the community.
Additionally, he has had about five years of work experience in Public Service, initially working for a Municipal Councilor and, more recently, the Ontario Government. He has also had an impressive career as a poet and youth leader.
Please tune in to learn about the pivotal moments in Chukky’s personal development, how he approaches building community and the social impact of TRAD Magazine.
Eyitemi Popo: Ayiba Magazine, Girls Trip Tours and finding your why
Eyitemi Popo is a creative entrepreneur passionate about female empowerment. Among many extraordinary ventures, she is the founder of Ayiba Magazine, an award-winning online platform that chronicles Africa’s Renaissance and amplifies the African female voice in the media. She is also the founder of Gitgirl; an educational technology platform, giving African women skills that pay the bills and Girls Trip Tours; a travel experience promoting female empowerment through cross-cultural exchange and mentorship. She graduated with high honours from Mount Holyoke College with a major in International Relations and Digital Media. She also holds a Master’s in Digital Experience Innovation from the University of Waterloo and is certified in digital publishing from NYU.