New CEO Cathy Simpson Plans On ‘Hitting Refresh’ At TechImpact
SAINT JOHN – Cathy Simpson, T4G’s current vice-president of people and culture, has been reading Hit Refresh, a new book by Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella.
The book is about transformation – both Nadella’s own personal transformation and transformation inside Microsoft – and Simpson is excited to bring this spirit to her new role as CEO at TechImpact.
“I am very passionate about our industry, how we overcome our human resource challenges and build talent, how we continue to invest and grow in Atlantic Canada,” said Simpson in an interview with Huddle.
“I think we are ‘hitting refresh’ on the TechImpact mandate and with the incredible talent and group of leaders in the membership, I am confident that we will bring new energy and ideas to the table as we look to have an even greater impact in the region.”
TechImpact, a private sector-led organization focused on growing the technology industry in Atlantic Canada, announced Wednesday that the tech-sector veteran would become its new CEO in August.
As CEO, Simpson will focus on the organization’s three key priorities: workforce development, fostering innovation, and growing businesses.
Simpson says she relishes the opportunity to promote opportunities for employment and growth in the industry, given the central role of technology in our daily lives and the strength of the sector in the region.
“Technology is part of everything we’re doing, whether it be your home, your business, how you manage your family life, your personal life, your social life. There are so many aspects of technology,” said Simpson.
“We have some amazing companies in Atlantic Canada that are doing things that are growing our economy and a lot of people don’t know about them. That hurts us when we’re trying to attract talent, that hurts when we’re trying to keep talent in New Brunswick.”
Simpson also wants to help foster the culture of innovation in the region, addressing questions like, “How do we get more private sector researching and driving innovation? How do we keep creating IP in the region?”
She says TechImpact will also help companies focus on growing their businesses.
“The mandate is very clear around those three pillars (workforce development, innovation and growth),” she said. “This is stuff that I’m very passionate about. We’ve got some great members and it just feels like the perfect time to take on a different kind of leadership role.”
Simpson has been deeply involved in the tech industry in Atlantic Canada over the last 28 years. She started her career at NBTel and Innovatia and was a co-founder of Propel.
She is currently chair of the New Brunswick Innovation Foundation and founder of social innovation start-up Up + Go.
Roman Coba, incoming Chair of TechImpact and CIO of Emera, says the organization welcomes Simpson with her wealth of experience and grasp of the sector’s challenges and opportunities.
“On behalf of the Board and Executive team, we are excited to have Cathy in this CEO role,” said Coba in a release. “Throughout the years, she’s been involved in TechImpact on various initiatives and has a firm handle on our opportunities and challenges as we look for growth in our sector. We are looking forward to her leadership in this new capacity.”