Q How did you start out in this industry and how has it brought you to where you are today?

Serendipity. I am a geologist and in 2012 the Zenyatta (ZEN) team was exploring for copper and nickel in Ontario when we ac- cidently discovered an extremely rare form of carbon or graphite which sets us apart from others in the industry. Our graphite deposit according to Dr. Andrew Conly, a geology professor at Lakehead University is unlike any other he has seen currently being mined or even in an advanced stage of exploration globally.

Earlier this year tests conducted in Israel, Japan and Canada identi ed properties of Zenyatta’s graphite showing characteris- tics for use in multiple ‘game changing’ graphene applications which casued us to take a great interest in nano-graphite or graphene.

Graphene was discovered at the Univer- sity of Manchester in 2004. It is a single sheet of pure graphite that is one atom thick, exible, transparent, light, stronger than diamond or steel and is highly con- ductive. This one disruptive nano-material could prove more revolutionary than plas- tic or the silicon chip. Experts believe that graphene will enable many innovative ap- plications, including low-cost solar cells, supercomputers, rapid charge batteries and use in construction.

Challenging moments in our business can be related to rising capital. I always think of a quote from Steve Jobs when we have those challenging times, “Sometimes life is going to hit you in the head with a brick. Don’t lose faith.”

Q What was your A-HA moment or epiphany that you think will resonate most with our reader?

Coming to the realization that we have a special material that is in great demand that no other company owned globally.

For a small company, it is often dif cult to reach the right people in the right compa- nies to make them aware of your product for collaboration. The same can be said about reaching the right people in govern- ment and receiving meaningful support.

Q What are the biggest impediments to innovation in today’s enterprise?

Early stage innovation constantly needs capital to advance product development. This funding is critical and often challeng- ing, especially in tough economic times.

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Step back and analyze your journey, what is the take away you want to give to our audience?

We live in a society that depends on science and technology but not enough people know anything about science and technol- ogy. You need to be well informed and passionate about what you do.

I could name many from Silicon Valley but most recently I visited Israel on a trade mis- sion and was very impressed with the in- credible innovation from the last 60 years. I am presently reading a book titled “Start- up Nation: The Story of Israel’s Economic Miracle” by Dan Senor and Saul Singer. The authors argue that a major factor for Israel’s economic growth can be found in the culture of the Israel Defense Forces, in which service is mandatory for most young Israelis. They believe that military service nurtures potential entrepreneurs with the opportunities to develop a wide range of skills and contacts providing experience and responsibility in an environment where ingenuity and intelligence.

Q What are some of the biggest impediments to innovation in your company or industry sector?

How has innovation become engrained in your organization’s culture and how is it being optimized?

With a new and exciting material, it is a much easier to keep people motivated and therefore innovative. We try to keep the entire ZEN team and our collaborators involved in moving the market and busi- ness development forward. What comes to mind is the innovation program at Proctor and Gamble called ‘Connect and Develop’.

To start a business, you need a great prod- uct, lots of passion and a thick skin: you’ll inevitably encounter negativity from people who criticize you as you build your brand. If you’re doing anything interesting in the world, you are going to have critics. Ignore and move forward passionately with your great product. Also, new discoveries of new materials face dif cult challenges in the marketplace. They must be clearly cheaper and better performing than products al- ready on the market. A new material like graphene with many targeted applications, takes time to develop. You must be patient.

See the full interview online

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What people or organizations do you believe best embody the innovation mindset?

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What is your parting piece of advice?

What was your worst moment in your career?

36 DECEMBER 2016/JANUARY 2017 www.vanguardcanada.com