Monthly Newsletter
August 2016
TECHtalks & Presentations
 
W e have some exciting news - the TECHtalks from the Retreat and other various presentations from the last couple of years are now available on our website!  You'll notice these are split into 6 categories depending on what you're looking for.  They are as follows:
  • Change Management
  • Finance & Growth
  • Human Resources
  • Leadership
  • Marketing
  • Sales
Did you miss the retreat? Not to worry because these resources are here for you to use time and time again.  This is also an excellent resource for you to use to share concepts you learned at the Retreat with your staff, or to refresh your memory on a particular idea you want to implement.
In This Issue
Summit Series on Professional Service Excellence
 
Have you ever felt your company was being held back because your c ustomers are not able to implement your software fast enough? Or when
they do, there were a myriad of problems and complications that keep them from being a reference?
 
Have you faced the challenge that the price of your implementation services contract is more than your software and makes your solution sound too complicated to implement? And yet the cost of your professional services team is higher than the revenue they produce.
 
Have you had to deal with the customer fallout when a software implementation project goes off the rails?
 
Have you ever had to explain to potential investors that "yes, you really are a software company, even though you employ more billable consultants than developers".
 
If so,   SAVE THIS DATE: On  September 26 from 8am to noon,  AceTech Ontario will be hosting Part 1 of the Fall Summit Series - Services.  The Fall Summit Series is designed to help each our members improve different areas of their businesses. Kicking off the series will be our  Professional Services Summit. This meeting is designed for all CEO's and all Executive Members. 

We will start the morning with a o ne-hour Overview and Q&A on Professional Services and how to make it effective in meeting your company objectives. Then after a short break, we will re-convene with a 90-minute panel discussion that will allow the audience to ask their questions of 4 top professionals who have years of experience leading some of the best PS teams in the industry.
 
To make the morning valuable for all, we are allowing lots of time for networking and interactive Q&A.
 
We will be announcing the speakers and panelists soon, but for now, block September 26 8am to noon and stay tuned for more details.
Interactive Peer Group Session  
How to Turn HR into a Revenue Generator  
Save the Date - September 16th from 12PM - 2PM
 
Driving revenue, or "top line growth" is on the mind of every CEO.  Yet it seems that people in other roles, such as sales, become the Corporate Heroes because they've demonstrated a more straightforward impact on this critical goal.  HR, on the other hand, has been typically seen as a cost centre and more focused on the bottom line.  Some progressive leaders have realized this is a huge mistake and partnered with their HR teams to flip this view on its head. 

AceTech CEOs will have an opportunity to have an intimate Q&A with Andy Aicklen, one of these Leaders, on how to grab the steering wheel and start driving revenue.

Andy Aicklen is a Principal at Aicklen & Associates , Friend of AceTech, Past President of PeopleSoft and trusted CEO advisor & Sales Leader. He has spent his entire career in tech sales and sales leadership. Andy has worked at the largest (Oracle, PeopleSoft & HP) and the smallest companies (his own firm as well as several startups) and loves the "Art of the Sale". He works closely with CEOs primarily with their sales challenges, but is also a coach and mentor to a variety of senior leaders. 

Invitations will be sent out shortly.

 

Community Partners
 
Edward Snowden speaking at SecTor 2016
As a proud sponsor of the Security Education Conference Toronto (SecTor), we are pleased to announce former intelligence officer and whistleblower Edward Snowden as this year's opening keynote speaker .
Three years on from being charged with espionage, despite also being responsible for the most significant reforms to US surveillance policy since 1978, Edward Snowden will engage audience members via video link from his exile in Russia.
SecTor marks Snowden's first and only commercial conference appearance in North America this year. In the spirit of SecTor's education focus, his keynote will address his take on today's most threatening cybersecurity issues, while also providing a unique view on matters closer to home, including government surveillance and Bill C-51.
Don't forget you can save 10% off the current conference registration price when you register using our discount code ACETECH2016. You can add the CSA Summit or IoT Hacking training to any new or existing SecTor 2016 registration .
SecTor takes place in the Metro Toronto Convention Centre (MTCC) on October 18 and 19, with pre-conference training and sessions on October 17. Join us and take advantage of the exceptional value we provide:
  • Over 50 sessions and keynotes from the industry's most respected and trusted experts
  • The largest Expo of leading IT Security vendors and interactive centres in Canada
  • The Expo Theatre - where you can meet and learn from our sponsors
  • SecTor lounge brought to you by IBM
  • Networking Party @ Steam Whistle Brewing sponsored by Rapid7 - for all Full Conference Attendees
  • IoT Hack Lab and the Lock Pick Village return
  • Register today and receive up to 24 CPE credits.
For groups of five or more, email [email protected]   to save 20% on current registration rates. Can't make it to the full conference? Use the discount code ACETECH2016expo for a free expo pass.
 

AceTech Blog
See the links below to get a look at our most recent posts on our website blog. Our blog includes member profiles and contributions, news features, and sponsor highlights. If you have any feedback or would like to contribute, please contact our Community Manager, Nomi Cuneo ( [email protected]).

Articles of Interest

Entrepreneur Rising
The C100 and AceTech Sponsor, KPMG recently surveyed 52 of Canada's top growth company founders seeking insights and best practice advice on funding and scaling a world-leading tech company and leveraging Silicon Valley partnerships. Their accomplished panel of company builders discuss these outcomes and their advice regarding talent management, pivots, fundraising challenges, exits and understanding the metrics expectations and mindsets of Silicon Valley.


Click here for the full report.
Members In The News