In this episode of Collisions YYC, Tyler is joined by Hugo Lafontaine, Vice President of Schneider Electric, to unpack the human side of digital transformation in Canada’s infrastructure and energy sectors. From automation to AI, Hugo offers a refreshing take on why technology alone isn’t enough to drive progress—and why Canada needs to rethink its approach to risk, mentorship, and innovation culture.

In this episode:

The three pillars of successful digital transformation: tech, adoption, and implementation
Why Canada’s conservative business culture is slowing innovation
How Schneider Electric is investing in Calgary’s energy and tech ecosystem
The rise of smart buildings and what’s stalling their mainstream adoption
The promise and pitfalls of AI in operations and training
The importance of simplifying tech to make it more human

Top 3 Wisdom Bombs

"By doing all that at the same time—making sure you grow, making sure you’re profitable, and being sustainable—they’re not mutually exclusive, they actually can work quite well together.” - Hugo Lafontaine

“The main reason [the US is accelerating] is the massive investment that countries, sectors, and so on are doing with technology.” - Hugo Lafontaine

“Technology is not going to come and fix your process.” - Hugo Lafontaine

This episode is brought to you by clearmotive marketing. When it comes to marketing that truly matters to your business, clearmotive is your go-to partner. With a proven track record of more than 15 years, they understand what makes your business tick. Learn more at https://www.clearmotive.ca and discover how clearmotive can help your marketing thrive.

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Host links:

Tyler’s website: https://www.tylerchisholm.com

Tyler’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tylerchisholm

Guest links:

Hugo Lafontaine’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hugolafontaine

Schneider Electric’s Website: https://www.se.com/ca/en/

Schneider Electric’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/schneider-electric

Schneider Electric’s Facebook: https://www.instagram.com/SchneiderElectric

Schneider Electric’s Instagram: https://www.facebook.com/schneiderelectric

Schneider Electric’s X: https://www.x.com/SchneiderElecCA

Schneider Electric’s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/SchneiderElectric

Collisions YYC is a Tyler Chisholm original production // Brought to you by clearmotive marketing

Hugo Lafontaine, Future-Proofing Canadian Industry