Qaiser Habib currently serves as the Head of Canada Engineering at Snowflake. Habib is a veteran engineering leader and a well-recognized expert in the Canadian market, currently focused on building and leading the Canadian engineering presence for Snowflake. Habib is a champion for community engagement and is committed to cultivating the leaders of tomorrow through university relations and hands-on mentorship.

Shannon Katschilo currently serves as the Country Manager of Canada at Snowflake. Katschilo brings over 15 years of client connection-building and employee stewardship to her role, scaling Snowflake’s presence in the market and taking a data-first approach to improving experiences at all levels of operation. Katschilo is passionate about female mentorship and sponsorship and prioritizes bringing an equitable lens to data-driven decisions by creating opportunities for women and underrepresented groups to take on leadership positions within the field.

SK: Can you give us the backstory on your career and how you landed at Snowflake?

When I made the decision to join Snowflake in 2022, I saw an opportunity to bring my 15 years of client connection-building experience and employee stewardship to a leadership role and be at the forefront of the rapidly evolving data and AI landscape.

I’m laser-focused on expanding the company’s customer base and partnering with Canada’s most iconic brands to strengthen their data foundations to accelerate AI adoption. Since landing in Canada, Snowflake’s achieved significant revenue growth, making Snowflake Canada one of the fastest-growing markets globally for the company.

Throughout my career, I’ve always been committed to knowledge-sharing in the industry by devising and chairing meetings, hosting client events, and regularly presenting at conferences and webinars. I’m also passionate about female mentorship and sponsorship and prioritize bringing an equitable lens to data-driven decisions by creating opportunities for women and underrepresented groups to take on leadership positions within the field.

QH: What has the engineering team been up to since you opened the Toronto office in 2022?

Since first opening our Canadian headquarters in 2022, making Toronto home to one of Snowflake’s five global Engineering Hubs, we’ve grown our headcount and footprint significantly. To support our strategic growth in the Canadian market, we’re on track to double our engineering team in 2024 and we opened a newly expanded headquarters in April 2024, which is more than double the size of our original office space and reflects the evolving needs of our team. 

Snowflake Canada’s Toronto Engineering Hub is powering ground-breaking innovations including the Snowflake Native App Framework and the transformation of how customers globally are building applications. This technology eliminates the need for organizations to move or copy their data during application development, which increases security and helps maintain governance controls.

We’ve seen incredible momentum around Snowflake Native Apps, which we are proud to announce is generally available on AWS and Azure. More than 90 Snowflake Native Apps (as of January 2024) are currently available in Snowflake Marketplace, which opens up opportunities for businesses to create entirely new revenue streams.

SK: What Canadian relationships or partnerships have been instrumental to Snowflake’s growth?

There are a myriad of factors and partnerships that have come together to promote Snowflake’s success and growth in the Canadian market. 

Internally, hiring the right talent and fostering a strong culture has been paramount. It’s imperative to hire from diverse backgrounds and expertise to have people who think differently and can identify problems to create solutions that train AI with an inclusive and broader lens. I also prioritize recognition and spotlighting talent within the workplace to boost visibility and retention.

Externally, building strong relationships with our customers and practicing a customer-first approach has been instrumental. I’ve dedicated my efforts to expanding the company’s customer base and collaborating with some of Canada’s most renowned brands to fortify their data infrastructure and facilitate AI adoption.

Additionally, our strategic partnerships with established industry cloud providers like AWS, Microsoft, and Google have played a crucial role in our growth trajectory. These key relationships continue to fuel our innovation and drive our success in the Canadian tech landscape, with the Snowflake platform being multi-cloud and cross-cloud across all three.

QH: Toronto continues to be one of the world’s top tech talent hubs. Tell us about your hiring efforts and what you look for when selecting a candidate. 

At Snowflake, our hiring efforts are focused on attracting top-tier candidates who align with our values and our dynamic team culture. We prioritize diversity, experience, empathy, and a genuine commitment to serving our customers and collaborating effectively with colleagues. 

From a hiring standpoint, we believe in being ‘engaged employers’ and focusing on the candidate experience.  This involves getting to know each candidate, understanding their potential fit within our team, assessing their unique strengths and assets, and ensuring alignment with our corporate culture.

We encourage and engage in open and honest conversations with candidates. This approach allows us to cover key topics such as soft skills, hard skills, and culture fit comprehensively. We understand that assessing these aspects requires depth and exploration beyond a single conversation, which is why we encourage our team to delve deep into different aspects of a candidate’s profile to assess the overall fit.

Snowflake’s Toronto office is continuing to hire for positions across engineering, sales, and more as the organization scales to meet increasing demand from customers. The region has a rich tech talent pool and top universities including the University of Toronto and the University of Waterloo, which we have deep relationships with. Our ultimate goal is to create a workforce and workplace where every team member thrives, and our hiring process reflects that commitment.

SK: Goldman Sachs, Kash Rangan, compared Snowflake to a Ferrari- bigger, better faster, analyzing data. How has the Snowflake platform evolved to deliver more value to customers? 

Snowflake is pioneering the next wave of AI innovation by providing enterprises with the data foundation and cutting-edge AI building blocks they need to fuel powerful AI and machine learning apps while keeping their data safe and governed.

An example of a recent innovation that I’m very excited about is Snowflake Cortex, which empowers all users to securely tap into the power of generative AI with their enterprise data — regardless of their technical expertise.

Snowflake Cortex is Snowflake’s new fully managed service that enables organizations to discover, analyze, and build AI apps in the Data Cloud more easily. With Snowflake Cortex, businesses can now build custom LLM-powered apps within minutes and maintain flexibility and control over their data. This also supports the democratization of generative AI, a key development in making AI accessible so every organization can harness it to drive value. 

QH: What industry trends are you currently seeing in data and AI, and how will these trends impact Canadian organizations [OR] the country’s tech talent? 

Several key trends in the data and AI landscape are impacting Canadian organizations and businesses in 2024, and beyond. 

We are seeing an explosion of large language model (LLM) apps, with the biggest surge in apps that put a natural language conversational layer on top of business problems, making it dramatically easier to talk to your data, generate insights, and even talk to your customers with intelligent chatbots. LLMs are growing exponentially as businesses leverage them to bring customer engagement and operational efficiency to a new standard. 

Additionally, we are seeing organizations get finer-grained about their data governance. There is a shift in focus from stringent data lockdowns to more nuanced data governance approaches. Businesses are exploring ways to make data accessible for authorized uses that align with their values and policies, reflecting an evolving approach to data management.

Lastly, the rise of the unified data platform is reshaping how enterprises are managing and utilizing data. Modern organizations are seeking centralized platforms that break down silos, facilitate integrations, ensure governance and security, and promote collaboration across departments. The growth of Snowflake Native Apps reflects this demand for unified data platforms, offering advantages in efficiency and collaboration.

SK: How do you keep an edge in a competitive tech environment? What are you reading now? Podcasts? Workouts? 

To stay competitive, I maintain open lines of communication with customers, as their feedback is crucial for product development to ensure we meet their needs and bolster their data and AI initiatives. 

Upskilling is another area of emphasis to maintain a competitive edge for my professional growth, alongside the professional growth of my teams. The evolving tech landscape demands continuous skill enhancement for everyone. From my perspective, as AI becomes more prevalent, employer-led upskilling programs will be critical for improved productivity. 

Physical well-being and community involvement have also been priorities throughout my career – from cold plunging to delivering presentations at local schools and forming partnerships with organizations like Toronto Womxn in Data Science. These experiences continue to be valuable for learning best practices, sharing experiences, and making meaningful contributions.

For more information about Snowflake Inc. visit https://www.snowflake.com/en/.

You will connect with:

40,000+ attendees from 130+ countries
800+ speakers
2,000+ next-generation startups
1,000+ world-leading investors
300+ global partners
1,400+ journalists

Here are the top 10 must-experience moments that await you at Collision Toronto this year. Whether you’re a seasoned professional or an emerging entrepreneur, Collision promises an array of opportunities to learn, connect, and be inspired. Let’s dive into the heart of Collision Toronto and uncover the key activities that will make your attendance truly memorable.

1. Explore the Collision Expo Floor

One of the primary attractions at Collision Toronto is the expansive expo floor, where groundbreaking startups, established tech giants, and innovative companies showcase their latest products and services. Immerse yourself in a sea of innovation, engage with industry leaders, and discover cutting-edge solutions that could shape the future of your business. Be sure to plan your visit strategically, as the expo floor is a treasure trove of opportunities for networking and business collaborations.

2. Attend Inspiring Keynote Sessions

Collision Toronto boasts a stellar lineup of keynote speakers who are visionaries in their respective fields. From tech gurus to industry disruptors, these thought leaders share insights, trends, and predictions that can reshape your perspective and fuel your business strategies. Make a point to attend keynote sessions that align with your interests, and prepare to be inspired by the wisdom and experiences of these trailblazers. Align your interests with the 15+ Collision content tracks across 10 stages, over 3 days.

3. Visit the Toronto Inc. Pavilion

We would be remiss if we didn’t highlight the Toronto Inc. Pavilion as a hotspot for networking, insightful panels, and game-changing announcements. In 2023, the Toronto Inc. Pavilion hosted a Rolodex of Toronto’s top tech innovators in panel discussions on cleantech innovation, the future of AI, sports tech, city building and more. The booth is also frequented by policymakers like Canada’s Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, François-Philippe Champagne, Ontario’s Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade, Victor Fedeli and city mayors from across the region – all in attendance in support of exciting announcements from companies expanding in Canada’s tech hub, the Toronto Region.

Last year, day one of the bustling conference was complete with a happy hour hosted by the Toronto Inc. Pavilion, providing a great opportunity for Toronto’s government, investors and startups to mingle and share insights about the day. Don’t miss out on the action and come visit the Toronto Global team!

4. Participate in Workshops and Masterclasses

Enhance your skills and knowledge by participating in the various workshops and masterclasses offered at Collision Toronto. These intimate sessions provide a deep dive into specific topics, allowing you to gain hands-on experience, practical insights, and actionable strategies. Collision’s workshops are an invaluable resource for professional development. Past speakers include Reed Hastings, Ryan Reynolds, Serena Williams, Mark Cuban, Margaret Atwood and more! 

5. Engage in Roundtable Discussions

For those seeking more interactive and intimate conversations, the roundtable discussions at Collision Toronto offer the perfect platform. Join industry-specific roundtables to share your experiences, learn from your peers, and engage in meaningful discussions that address the challenges and opportunities within your niche. These sessions foster connections and often lead to collaborative efforts that extend beyond the conference.

6. Network at Night Summit

The networking opportunities at Collision Toronto extend well into the evening with the Night Summit events. Unwind, socialize, and connect with fellow attendees in a more relaxed setting. From rooftop mixers to themed parties, the Night Summit provides a casual yet effective environment for building relationships and expanding your professional network. Don’t underestimate the power of these informal gatherings in forging lasting connections.

7. Pitch at PITCH Contest

For startups looking to make a splash, the PITCH contest at Collision Toronto is a golden opportunity. Witness the next wave of innovation as startups compete for attention and funding in this high-stakes pitch competition. The PITCH contest showcases the entrepreneurial spirit and creativity that defines the tech landscape.

8. Experience the Future at ALPHA and BETA Stages

For a sneak peek into the future of technology, head to the ALPHA and BETA stages at Collision Toronto. These stages feature early-stage startups and innovative prototypes that are poised to disrupt industries. Engage with the minds behind these pioneering ideas, explore emerging technologies, and gain insights into the trends that will shape the business landscape in the coming years.

9. Dive into Sustainability Talks

As sustainability becomes an increasingly integral part of business strategies, Collision Toronto dedicates a space to discussions around environmental responsibility and ethical business practices. Attend talks and panels that address the intersection of technology and sustainability, and discover how your business can contribute to a greener and more sustainable future.

10. Enjoy Toronto’s Culture and Entertainment

Beyond the conference walls, take some time to explore the vibrant city of Toronto. Indulge in its diverse culinary scene, visit iconic landmarks, and immerse yourself in the local culture. Collision Toronto is not just a conference; it’s an opportunity to experience the richness of the city and forge memorable connections both inside and outside the event venue. Plan your tour and get inspired with ideas from Destination Toronto.

Collision is more than a conference; it’s a dynamic ecosystem of ideas, connections, and opportunities. Join us in Toronto, June 17-20 where the tech world collides.

Contact Toronto Global to connect at the ‘Olympics of Tech’.

Toronto Global is the first point of contact for international businesses looking to accelerate expansion, make connections and access talent in the Toronto Region, Canada’s business, tech and financial capital. Our business-driven team has provided complimentary concierge services to more than 250 companies – including Sanofi, Netflix, Infosys and Unilever – setting the stage for success in the fastest-growing, most educated and diverse market in North America.

VerAI Discoveries is disrupting Mineral Exploration by deploying a revolutionary Artificial Intelligence Platform that detects concealed mineral deposits. There are no more easy discoveries. The remaining ore deposits are concealed under covered terrain making them challenging to discover. Enormous quantities of metals are essential as the foundation of the green-energy transition, which involves decarbonization and electrification of the global economy.

TG: Can you tell us about how VerAI was founded and your role at the company?

TG: How are you using AI to solve a major problem like accessing concealed mines and limited minerals globally? What led you to join VerAI?

LG:  In mineral exploration, trying to find the next big mine or deposit, can feel like you are looking for a needle in a haystack. We’re changing this with AI. The main concept behind our approach is that it starts with the “right” data – geophysics – which is objective and measurable. Geophysics gives a signal that indicates what is below the surface. Using AI, we can detect patterns in the geophysical data to see what we can’t see with our eyes alone.

As VerAI started to bring their technology to new partners they needed someone with business acumen to help them take things to the next level. I had been working for the last 25 years in the SaaS software world starting at Geosoft, who was acquired by Seequent, and finally Bentley Systems.

Through that journey, my role focused on building the business across different verticals, industries, and regions. My background was in Geophysics, as a graduate of York University, and I had worked in mineral exploration early on in my career. This role at VerAI was a great fit given my history in the mining industry, business experience, and understanding of geophysics. I saw what VerAI is doing as a game-changer, bringing something new and innovative to the market.

TG: What is the environmental impact of leading with a technology solution instead of traditional mining?

LG: There is a sustainability element – by pinpointing with better certainty where to start your exploration program there is less site investigation, less ground disturbance, and fewer drill holes needed.

TG: VerAI is a great example of how AI is adaptable and can be used to help solve critical industry problems. Can you expand on the role VerAI plays in the mining industry? 

LG: Our business model is acting as a partner to mining companies and the value that we provide as their partner is faster, better, cheaper, and higher probability rates for discovery. The discovery rate of an exploration project becoming a mine is generally accepted today to be 1 in 1000. Only 4 mines went into production in Canada last year. We are using AI to improve the odds – the probability of success – in finding the next big discoveries to support the demand for minerals, particularly the critical minerals needed for green energy.  

TG: Can you share why VerAI is looking to Toronto for Canadian talent?

LG: Canada is an international mining hub, with Toronto as the headquarters for many mining companies. Toronto also hosts the annual Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada (PDAC) conference, which is one of the largest mining conferences in the world. Based on research centres like the Unilever AI Centre now in the Toronto Region, there is also a lot of AI talent.

For our decision, it came together around the talent search. I am based out of Toronto, and we are building out a world-class business team with one or two commercial division hires this year. I want to build a team at VerAI that is making a difference and loves what they do.

TG: What are your top career highlights and how have you developed your leadership skills over the years?

LG: I love building high-performance functioning teams. I look to build team synergy and collaboration to have everyone pulling in the same direction with the mantra ‘when one wins, we all win.’ A career highlight for me is that I co-founded the Women’s Leadership Circle at my previous company to provide networking and support for young women. I’ve also had the opportunity to travel and work in some amazing places with ties to mining in the Yukon, northern British Columbia, Ontario, and internationally.

TG: In past roles, you’ve mentored women (ie. Women’s Leadership Circle) in a male-dominated industry. What has changed since you started your career and what work still needs to be done?

LG: When I graduated in Geophysics, I was 1 of 2 women graduates, and today I’m thrilled there are so many more women in science. Seeing more women in STEM and in leadership roles are two areas I’m passionate about. I was fortunate to have great mentors throughout my career, both men and women. Today there are more female leaders who can be role models and mentors to help other young women see themselves as future leaders.

Lorraine’s Recommended Reads: Quiet Leadership by David Rock and Find Your Why by Simon Sinek

For more information about VerAI discoveries visit: https://ver-ai.com/.