Episode Transcript
[00:00:00] Speaker A: If Canada wasn't so hesitant to explore technologies like the one that we're using in the US I mean we'd be able to deploy in the downtown east side and things like that and run primary care pop ups just like we do in Jersey at the project.
Because of course we work with social services and various government agencies like that.
[00:00:23] Speaker B: That was a quip from today's guest. Everybody. Welcome back. I always, always love talking to people who are out right on the cutting edge of like making stuff happen. And today's conversation is one I've been looking forward to for a long time. So before we get into it, please subscribe to the podcast. And with that, welcome to the Carrie, welcome.
[00:01:03] Speaker A: Thanks for having me. Aram.
[00:01:04] Speaker B: Heck yeah. So for the uninitiated, for those who don't know, who are you and what do you do?
[00:01:11] Speaker A: That's a very complicated question.
I am VP of Strategic Partnerships and Engagement for Zipy Care, which is a New York based remote diagnostic health technology company.
We operate in the eastern US as well as we have our nonprofit arm in Ukraine and Gaza at the moment.
So we are able to provide diagnostic primary care in any context. You know, what was it? It doesn't matter if you're being shelled or you're underground or whatnot. We're able to deliver comprehensive care through our, both our software and hardware. And then I also work for Simon Fraser University's Faculty of Applied Sciences. We have a program there that I'm, I co founded with one of the professors and we are able to collaborate with remote indigenous communities to address systemic gaps such as clean energy systems, local food systems, and in a more holistic way, we're able to address the entire, entire vertical. So whether it be funding, government relations, tech sourcing, development, implementation, curriculum development, workshops, just the gamut of it. To ensure that it's a far more holistic program than the usual academic scope. You know, we do do some research, but we also have IP protocols where that research belongs to the community we're engaged with.
As I mentioned, it's a very collaborative co designing efforts in that respect. And I also sit on about half a dozen boards from military advisory to governor for the Vancouver Foundation, Cabinet member for Salal, which supports women who have experienced sexualized violence. I was at health convener for the Vancouver Council of Women, which just turned 130 years old and so on and so forth. And I just got back from speaking at the UN Summit of the Future at an event called the Black Paper Chronicles where the goal was to you Know, it was a multi day series of engagement with marginalized youth parliamentarians, other leadership, a few ambassadors thrown in there, including Ambassador Bob Ray of Canada, to address the, the gaps in language that excludes minority populations from the UN Charter, as well as discuss what else is going on in the world to support minority populations like, such as, you know, Zifi care, the work we do. What was it the concepts of Afrofuturism, which is really interesting movement that is, you know, what was it is coming out of the US And I'm hoping to bring those concepts up to Canada and you know, different things like that. It was just a wonderful engagement.
[00:04:24] Speaker B: So the through line, like across all of these incredible things you're doing is of being of service, of like identifying gaps, issues and figuring out how to help, how to address it. So where does that come from for you? Because this is like everything you're saying, it's like, oh, there's this clear thing of being of service and trying to help, but not just, well wishing, actually identifying issues and trying to create solutions and create dialogue. So when did, where did that come from for you and when did it start?
[00:04:50] Speaker A: I suppose I've always been a bit of a fixer, you know, personality wise.
Where I grew up, you know, it was a First nations community, there plenty of systemic gaps. We, you know, witnessed racism, particularly towards indigenous populations on the daily.
And you know, as a kid I didn't have quite the power to do anything about it. And as an adult I had that power. You know, I'm able to create the connections, the networks, the resources in order to address causation. You know, instead of slapping these band aids, you know, on problems and declaring them, you know, sufficient. I really want to root out those deep dark causes and you know, be able to build things from the ground up. Sometimes you have to tear things down first, you know, is it. But you know, in the end you're looking at such healthy, integrated, self determined communities and you know, that's just what I want to see both locally and globally.
[00:05:55] Speaker B: Not having the power when we're younger, but then having the power as an adult. When did, when did it start to switch for you where you're like, actually no, now I'm stepping into this. I actually do have the power. At what age and like what was the entry point?
[00:06:06] Speaker A: Actually it was kind of weird because when, when I was just about to turn 22, I got in a major car accident and became a paraplegic and my power was taken away from me and you know, it was, I had to figure out what my next step was going to be. Was it, was I going to still pursue what I had kind of planned on? You know, what was that on doing with the rest of my life? Or am I going to reinvent my direction, right, the direction of my own life? And I needed to become, you know, even I had always been very independent and very determined and I had to kind of regain that for myself. And I saw a lot of frustrations, you know, especially with ableism and, and things like that that were now directed toward me. And I wanted to basically have the power to change all of these things and more like whatever kind of rolled onto my doorstep, I wanted to be able to correct it in some way. Right. Or at least be able to lend a helping hand to those who are. So I really enjoy like sharing my networks, you know, being able to give people opportunities they might not all, you know, like ordinarily, you know, experience or have. But I'm not sure what generation you come from. But as a Gen Xer, what was it growing up and you know, as a young adult, the mentality wasn't so much collaboration and sharing, it was very much the individual and that wasn't effective at all. I mean, I don't know if you remember that old song Cake about the short skirt and long jacket and it was very much about that, you know, very like hard driving, ambitious woman, you know, and that, you know, leadership doesn't have to look that way. We have much, so much more success when we work collaboratively. We build great teams, people with character, you know, like yes, all the other components of always. That's a great. Teams are important and you know, as you're onboarding people, you know, competence and so on so forth. But for me, character is absolutely everything because I think that's what really determines the effectiveness of whatever you're trying to accomplish.
[00:08:30] Speaker B: So at 22 is when there's kind of this life changing event and that idea of like, well no, I've got to like step back into my power here and start creating things. So what were the first things that you were involved in and really like saying, hey, here's a gap here and here's how we're going to address it.
[00:08:48] Speaker A: Well, it was interesting because immediately after, you know, what was it physically, I was trying to figure things out still, you know, and like being able, my mobility and being able to get around learning to drive again, all those things. And I actually started working for Rape Relief and Transition center and you know, kind of seeing what was happening there and that got me exploring other things. I, I started working as an art therapist for a seniors care home where there were many systemic issues. And then I just kind of started developing resources beyond what my initial abilities and skills and networks were and just exploring like, you know, self educating and, and getting into different fields. And I was helping friends who were, who were engineers who didn't understand the kind of like the marketing and commercialization of things. I was helping them with some of their work and that, you know, got me into clean technology and I started working in that space for a while and, and that wasn't enough because it was so piecemeal. Right. And, you know, we were working on one project or another and it was really being able to develop something far more comprehensive beyond that that got me involved in, you know, organizations like Zippy Care and being able to build this incredible team at Simon Fraser University. And we're currently working in six nations and looking to expand further and just be that added capacity for whatever that community might require of us. And so that's so much more fulfilling than the bits and pieces I was originally accomplishing.
[00:10:40] Speaker B: For most people who are very active in helping and being of service, there's kind of like the story arc of just being like, I just wanted to make, make a difference in someone's life or my life or locally and then kind of scaling up from them. But there's also like a skill set that scales up. Like, you get better at having the kinds of difficult conversations. So what are some of the things that you had to like, work on and like, develop, like skills you had to work on and develop so that you could be as effective as possible as you're kind of like pushing and bringing people in and kind of inspiring change diplomacy. Yeah, that's the number one.
[00:11:16] Speaker A: Right.
I'm very much a straight talker.
You know, I, I had started learning, you know, especially when I started engaging with the UN and you know, other organizations like that, that sometimes that's just not effective and sometimes I had to choose my words more carefully. And, and that's okay. And so I learned how to not temper my words, but choose them, you know, in order to convey my message more accurately in, in order not to escalate things, but to engage. And you're right, like, I mean, having uncomfortable, you know, conversations is something that a lot of people really cringe about. Right. And avoid. And, and I don't like to avoid uncomfortable conversations. I prefer to bring them to the forefront, address them, clear them out. You know, is that like sunlight? You know, is the best antiseptic. So. And if we can talk through it, I think, you know, it really defines whether we're going to continue working together or we're going to build a stronger team. So you have one or the other. Right? And that only comes out of those kinds of engagement.
[00:12:30] Speaker B: So when, when you said diplomacy, like, I love that you went there first because, like, so being, being someone who's like trying to be a service and be a change agent and all those things, you can do it and just like smash people like constantly with all the things that are wrong. And it's going to limit your ability to make kind of like overall bigger, maintain strong momentum. But around this, like, learning how to become a bit more diplomatic, not limit your words, but choose them a little bit more wisely.
What are some of the specifics? Like, anything that you could share about? Like, yeah, I had to really learn this or I had to learn that, or this is what it took me to do this.
[00:13:07] Speaker A: I'm not sure. I just, I kept on just digging in. Like, when I didn't know something, I'd find someone who did, who was able to teach me to fill that gap and, or bring them onto the team to fill that role. And, you know, because I don't believe, you know, what was it that we should really, really focus, like our knowledge into one, you know, what was it? One strength or another? Like, I'm very much a generalist and I really appreciate surrounding myself with people who are smarter than me. And I think that's one thing I really had to, you know, it was that had. Had to understand what I didn't know and be able to find those people who did know and who can share with me and teach me, you know, in a way that I could understand.
[00:13:53] Speaker B: The reason I'm asking specifically about this is, and I'm sure you've seen or heard this many times, is that like a critique that is often given to people who are advocating for themselves or others on a professional level or a social level? So perhaps someone who's asking for fair pay or asking for a promotion or asking for changed work conditions or asking that for that for others, or talking for their own or other groups on a social level, they get this critique. It's like, be more direct. No, I don't like how you're being direct. That's too direct. Be more like this. And there seems to be this ever moving target of how people who are in marginalized situations or have marginalized identities, they're never quite asking for something, just the right way to have the right kind of dialogue. And I'm real interested in, like, what's the line between modifying how you speak versus just saying what you mean?
[00:14:47] Speaker A: Well, I don't think there's really a line between it. It's just choosing different words that mean the same thing. And because there's some words that seem to be a little more triggering to some people and some that are less. And so it's still speaking plainly. It's just in not a way that is offensive, like directly confrontational. And so sometimes, you know, you just gotta sit back with your thoughts. I mean, of course, there's always that desire to react to a difficult situation.
I mean, it's human, but, you know, it's so important to be able to just, like, take a breath, take a pause, reflect, and then think. Okay, so I think this person is really asking me that, you know, and trying to identify that concern with it, that wicked problem, if you will. And, you know, then being able to respond calmly and rationally. You know, they say use active listening, and I, you know, it was. I find that a little bit on the cheesy side. You know, I hear you. I think you're, you know, it, you know, it. It doesn't. It doesn't scream sincerity to me. And. And a lot of people, I think, feel that way. And so. But it's. It's being able to kind of being able to assess the real situation, what they're truly asking for. Because sometimes when people ask for things, they don't know how to ask what they. What they really need either. Right, right. It's so easy to just jump on that and react like, perhaps from a personal. Like, you know, a personal offense or something like that might trigger yourself. And it's just. Don't let that happen. Take the breath and then respond calmly and rationally and. But yeah, diplomacy is not, you know, kind of pulling your punches.
It's. It's just saying in a different way that will actually be heard.
[00:16:45] Speaker B: I love that you're saying that. I think that there has never been a time where it's more crucial for. For people to kind of come together and have difficult conversations and really try and meet the other person where they're at as best you can to have the right. The right kind of conversation rather than being kind of like reactionary or retracting from people. But that's hard. It's like so hard to be in that space. It takes a lot of discipline.
[00:17:08] Speaker A: Well, we are living in an increase, you know, increasingly divisive world, especially politically. I don't think a lot of people understand how important the upcoming coming US election is to, to Canadian everything and, and how those decisions will reflect on the. We decide for leadership as well, what was it? But geopolitically, just the impact of those changes is going to affect us astronomically. But it's also understanding that a lot of people are not understanding or not self educating themselves on all the facts. Like social media has been pulling people into all kinds of wormholes and, and it's really incredibly dangerous. Right. Instead of digging in, finding the facts, I mean there's so much data out there that it can be overwhelming. I think Covid did us a huge disservice because well beyond of course all the death and horrifying illness and whatnot. But as communities, because we became more comfort with isolate, you know, comfort with isolation. And we did. We weren't engaging at a community level like talking to our neighbors and you know, what was on topical events, talking to our colleagues in the same way. It was just everything's from one zoom to the next zoom to the next zoom. And instead of having these different viewpoints kind of filter our own perspective. And you know, in growing up, you know where, when and where I grew up in Williams, like it was incredibly multicultural and you know the, there were basically new immigrants from all over the world.
They held these great celebrations, these international celebrations at junior high school where everybody brought something like some food and, and things and dressed in their traditional dress from wherever they came from. And it was this beautiful melting pot where you actually got to know your neighbors. But that's when Williams Lake was like, you know, like less than 10,000 people.
Now they have drive bys and it's a much different community. But I think if we got back to some of more of that community living, community engagement and you know, being involved, you know, with people and cultures other than our own, a lot more traveling, you know, just understand that just everybody is just like us in one way or another. You know, we just have to, you know, concentrate on those wonderful commonalities and celebrate those beautiful differences.
[00:19:58] Speaker B: Right, Yeah, I fully agree. Let's go into the professional side. I would love to know. And you know, again for. We get a bunch of different listeners. Some people come from like the pure corporate world, some people come from like the social services world. We have early career people listening to this podcast. So let's just go right for like the most basic question. VP of Strategic partnerships. What does that, what does that mean.
[00:20:25] Speaker A: For the layperson is basically I mean, I make friends for a living.
[00:20:31] Speaker B: That's not a bad job.
[00:20:33] Speaker A: It's not a bad job at all. No, but I mean, that's basically the long and short of it, is that I make friends for a living. I meet wonderful people from all over the world and, you know, sometimes their pieces of the puzzle fit into things and sometimes they don't. Sometimes I can refer them to people they do fit with. And it's all about, you know, kind of putting the pieces of the puzzle together, both for local work and for international work and supporting other people's work as well.
You know, I've been able to meet so many exceptional people from around the world, you know, through the course of, you know, my career. And, you know, whether it be in health, tech or government or academia, I'm always meeting such interesting, interesting people doing phenomenal work. And I'm able to see kind of from a very macro perspective, you know, what works and what doesn't. So, for instance, I had some contacts at New York City hall that I had engaged with prior to the pandemic. Not on a professional level, but when the pandemic hit and we were, you know, we were basically a concierge healthcare service, right? We're going into people's homes and they're reporting that intimate partner violence escalated by 400%. That got me a little freaked out for our clients, for our patients, as well as for my staff who are going into, you know, potentially dangerous, dangerous situations. And so I was able to set up a partnership with the New York Mayor's office and GBB department, which then supported zivi care with training and workshops that basically taught our entire staff how to identify and appropriately respond to red flags of intimate partner violence, child and elder abuse, trafficking, things like that. And, you know, so you never know when these relationships might like, bear fruit in a, in an employable way or in, you know, in a professional way. But also I love meeting these people because they teach me so much from their perspective just, you know, as an individual, one who's, you know, always looking to learn and grow and understand and, you know, just our engagement in New York recently, I was able to bring in, you know, some people I've met both in Canada and the U.S. what is that? I was working in partnership with this exceptional woman. She's a Swiss parliamentarian and the head of the Global Minority Parliamentarians Caucus was that Appio. And so Appio and I had pondered over the exclusion of minority leaders in the high form conversation and how to change that. And so we basically did it ourselves. And so I was able to bring in these pieces like Appio, who I had met at an annual conference I go to in Reykjavik. And you know, what was it? Some contacts here were, you know, amazing female indigenous leaders from Canada, some locals from New York. And you know what we said, we brought an ambassador Ray and just pulling all these pieces together, what was it from her networks and mine to create something beautiful.
[00:24:08] Speaker B: I love that. What can you tell us about the organization and the technology?
[00:24:15] Speaker A: What was it? So basically a group of like minded, value oriented people from different backgrounds, engineering, technology, business, like myself and physicians of course, many, many physicians in New York was it. And me here in Canada, I'm the one, you know, I'm the remote and you know, kind of got together because there we're experiencing such a healthcare crisis and that has been going on for so many years. This is not a new thing, this is not an NDP thing up here in Canada. This is, this has been long forming and you know, and in the US these physicians identified this situation where their post surgical patients were being hospitalized. So often there was not preventative care for them in their homes. And we're not talking about kind of check in nursing care or anything like that, but actual primary care. And so you know, for people who have for instance criminal chronic illnesses or comorbidities, people who maybe experience isolation and not wanting to enter clinical spaces, which of course we saw a lot more of during the pandemic, but people for instance who have dementia or autism, maybe on the spectrum, things like that, we're going out of their homes, creates anxiety and you know, which of course then reflects on baselines and things like that. You're not going to be able to get accurate health reads.
So you know, these amazing engineers and software designers and whatnot just built this phenomenal technology. So it was basically a Penguin case that is fitted with everything you can find in an urgent care center. So you know, you can, you know, have a sonogram or an EKG or whatever. And always it through the software, the proprietary software, that data is live streamed to a remote physician. So the physician can be anywhere. Like in Ukraine, we have physicians in like New York, in Israel, like all over the place who speak the language. And we have volunteers on the ground that are able to basically follow the physician's directions, be able to kind of apply whatever tools that the physician is requiring, be able to do labs on the spot in order to create treatment plans, care management teams, fill out prescriptions, whatever that patient requires in order to keep them out of hospital. And of course in situations like Ukraine where all the hospitals have been bombed and, you know, the physicians are either deployed to the front lines or who have evacuated, you know, being able to offer services like this is is incredibly important. We were actually fortunate. We were able to present our work to NATO and the allied forces, you know, to kind of fill them in on the work that we're doing because of course we also kind of expanded our service to various amputee programs and then we were able to also share a lot of resources from from Canada actually. I was able to introduce is it some leaders in PTSD and veteran support to, you know, the veterans leaders over in Ukraine because of course more and more soldiers out of Ukraine are requiring, you know, what was it such treatments whether to expedite their their healing to get them back to the front or to, you know, safely what was it transition them into, you know, into retirement and keep them healthy one step, one step, one step beyond.
