The Vancouver tech sector is booming.
For Deloitte Canada, which is soon to welcome the arrival of its new office space, Deloitte Summit, in the heart of downtown Vancouver’s innovation corridor, the tech ecosystem in the region is ripe for opportunity and disruption.
For companies seeking a space to overcome unconventional hurdles, the arrival of Deloitte Summit includes Deloitte Greenhouse, a unique innovation hub designed for change makers or thought leaders to strategize, pilot, and accelerate.
To learn more about the evolving technology landscape in the region, including how the arrival of Deloitte Summit will contribute to the ecosystem, Techcouver sat down with Deloitte Canada Partner and Leader of the Telecommunications, Media & Technology (TMT) practice in BC, Erica Pretorius.
Why is Deloitte Summit a priority for the firm?
EP: Deloitte Summit stands as a beacon of our commitment to the BC region. We are making a real, tangible investment to provide our people, clients, and community with a uniquely designed space to come together and access the best resources and tools to spur innovation and encourage collaboration. The arrival of Deloitte Summit, including its location at 410 West Georgia Street, will also act as a major draw for retaining and attracting new talent and immigration to the region, fostering a deeper level of diversity, equity, and inclusion for the firm, and our clients.
Does this mean you’re asking employees in BC to return to the office full-time?
EP: No, we’re not mandating anyone to return to the office full-time. The timing of our new office allowed us to build it out with a hybrid work force in mind. The technology supports people working both remotely and onsite, whether our clients or our teams. We know that people work better together, and our teams are loving the new space. It provides flexible ways to work – from library spaces for quiet contemplation to many collaboration spaces designed to facilitate in person or hybrid group discussions and teamwork. Deloitte Summit will continue to function under our national hybrid work model, allowing employees to continue to choose how and where they work.
Deloitte Summit is moving into Vancouver’s “innovation corridor”, alongside companies like Apple and Amazon. Why did Deloitte choose this location?
EP: We chose this location very deliberately. The Vancouver tech landscape is thriving and ripe for new opportunity, leading Canada’s innovation economy. We’ve seen this firsthand with the rising number of BC-based winners of our Technology Fast 50 program in recent years. By placing Deloitte Summit in the heart of Vancouver’s innovation corridor, we’re not only better able to serve our clients, we’re able to support the region’s emerging and established technology companies as well, fostering a community of innovation, growth and acceleration. This is what I am the most enthused about.
How will the arrival of Deloitte Summit support this innovative landscape?
EP: We will be able to support Vancouver’s innovative landscape by offering this space for talent, clients and community organizations to work together and turn ideas into action. These companies will now have access to a host of new resources, and Deloitte Summit will act as the one-stop-shop for all their business needs. If they’re looking to collaborate or host an event, we have a variety of unique spaces designed to bolster connectivity. If they require strategic council or other professional services, we have the people and tools to support them on their journey to scale and grow. And if they want to innovate or strategize on business challenges, we have the Deloitte Greenhouse! These are but a few examples of how Summit will compliment what is already happening here in Vancouver, it’s exciting!
What is the Deloitte Greenhouse?
EP: The Deloitte Greenhouse is our solution for helping clients solve unconventional challenges, including how to prepare for major disruptions, create new opportunities, and generate unique ideas. It’s an innovation hub rooted in powerful science and research from the fields of group dynamics, environmental psychology, design thinking, and innovation theory. Designed to help businesses strategize, pilot, and accelerate, the Deloitte Greenhouse is supported by professional facilitators who have collectively delivered more than 8,000 “breakthroughs”, and will showcase some of the region’s most exciting technologies. If you have a complex business problem, Deloitte Greenhouse has the solution.
Image: Julian Fok Photography
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