Welcome to this week’s Midweek Memo. In this issue, there’s a must-watch talk from GrowthPoints’ Kate Fagan Taylor, an accolade for Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce's Bruce Williams, an update from Outway’s Rob Fraser, and plenty more.

Now, onto today’s briefing. It’s 770 words, a three-minute read.

-James, @jimmermatthews

BestHuman, formerly Locelle, welcomes you to the human era of workplaces

When Victoria Tech Journal caught up with local leader Humaira Ahmed last year, we asked what leadership in a technology business meant to her.

“As an immigrant from Pakistan with a background in software engineering, and being a mother of two girls, it means a lot to have representation,” she answered. “Most CEOs and leaders in the tech industry are men (predominantly white) and that makes it even harder for underrepresented folks to see themselves in those positions. I love that I get to challenge the status quo and break the stereotype, and show my girls — and other girls and women — that they too can lead in a male-dominated industry like tech, and do well. I love that I get to showcase a different face of leadership.”

Now, she’s challenging that status quo within her own organization. Her company, Locelle — an advocate for equitable workplaces and champion of women in tech — announced a rebrand to BestHuman. The change reflects a renewed commitment to creating inclusive, diverse, and empowering work environments.

Locelle's journey began in 2018 with a mission to foster equitable workplaces, primarily focusing on supporting women in technology and advancing a more inclusive workforce. The company's evolution has been marked by several significant milestones. These include a networking app launched in 2019 that provides a safe, secure, and supportive space for thousands of women in the tech industry to connect. It currently boasts over 3,000 users. The company’s mentoring program to support women in tech was also a hit, and the program has facilitated over 2,500 hours of mentorship.

With these invaluable lessons learned over a half-decade of innovation, Locelle is taking the next significant step in its mission to create more equitable workplaces. The company's platform has evolved to support all individuals while maintaining safe spaces for women and underrepresented groups. Its new identity as BestHuman marks the company’s transformation into a learning and development platform, offering coaching and mentoring-based learning programs. BestHuman is dedicated to empowering high-potential individuals, managers, and executives to become the best leaders they can be through the power of group learning, the company says.

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Solving a controversial problem

COAST’s latest podcast episode features Akvafuture's Dean Trethewy, who discusses the future of sustainable salmon farming and the benefits of their closed barrier technology, which reduces the use of antibiotics. Learn more about the company's expansion into Canada and why their technology is poised to become a market leader.

📰 More Victoria innovation news

🏆️ For your trophy cabinet: Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce CEO Bruce Williams was named Canada’s top chamber executive.

🧦 For your feet: Local socks outfit Outway unveiled some product updates:

📺️ For your watchlist: Check out GrowthPoints leader Kate Fagan Taylor’s TedxRoyalRoadsU talk about how to make choices with greater freedom:

🕴️ Tech jobs of the week

Find your next career:

• Accounting Technician at Westin Bear Mountain

• Enhanced Executive Support Analyst - Temporary at ISM

• Sales Development Representative at Waterworth

Hiring in Victoria? Reply to this email and let us know!

📅 Upcoming events

Oct 25 | Diversity Equity and Inclusion in STEM: How Migrant Women Can Leverage the Power of Networking: Whether you're a migrant woman already thriving in STEM or aspiring to make your mark, join to gain tools and connections that will help you excel in your STEM journey.

Oct 25 | ProductTank Victoria & ProductBC Fall Mingler: Join for an evening of networking, learning, and exchanging ideas about product design, development, management, business modelling, metrics, user experience, and more. This session will have live music, networking, and 20-to-30 minutes to present your product or side project.

Have an upcoming event? Reply to let us know.

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Email your requests to [email protected].