Dear clients, partners and friends,

For children, the holiday season is all about magic. How does Santa Claus make all those deliveries in a single night? He uses magic. How do Rudolph and Co. get airborne? With a light sprinkling of magic dust. How does the Elf on the Shelf report back to Santa without getting dinged for using too much data? You guessed it: Magic. 

As I write this, with festive lights sparkling outside my window, I’m reminded of the words of Arthur C. Clarke: “Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.” 

To anyone on the outside looking in, the journey of an innovative idea, from eureka moment to game-changing product or service, can be especially spellbinding. No wonder a magical animal – the unicorn – has come to symbolize tech companies that go from startups to being valued at $1 billion and up.

As someone who works closely with many of Canada’s top innovators, I have some idea of how much hard work goes into developing solutions that make the world a better place. That’s a big part of what motivates the Switchboard team to ensure that the incredible stories behind those solutions, filled as they are with dedication, passion, perseverance and courage, get the attention they deserve.

With 14 B.C. companies reaching unicorn status in 2021, and many others experiencing impressive growth, our mission has never been more exciting and productive. For instance:

• AbCellera’s Carl Hansen named “Innovative CEO of the Year” by ROB Magazine 
• Langley-based CubicFarms launched an “agricultural revolution” with its own category, local chain ag-tech
• The Rival Technologies founder, Andrew Reid reflects on his third decade of entrepreneurship, his leadership style and Rival’s return to work plan

In short, there are plenty of reasons to feel optimistic about 2022 and beyond. I’m confident the new year will be one of continued rapid growth for Switchboard as we add to our team and grow alongside the clients we serve. Nothing makes us prouder than to have played a role in our clients’ successes, and we wish each and every one of them the very best this holiday season. At the same time, we look forward to overcoming the challenges of the new year with the same passion and determination that made 2021 so memorable. 

Cheers, 

Kathleen 

Founder & Chief Communications Officer