Question and Answers with Jake Stika

INTRODUCING JAKE

Q: How did you get into this business?

A: My own struggles with depression in my late teens/early 20s despite all my privileges highlighted that it was this masculine script of “I’ve got to be tough, don’t show emotion, never ask for help,” that was harming me. My best friend losing his 13-year-old brother to suicide solidified that we wanted something better for the next generation of men than what we inherited.  

Q: What was your first foray into the tech sector?

A: After a brief stint as a semi-pro basketball player, I came home to Calgary to land in … the oil and gas sector and that was a drag. During my time as a Business Analyst, there I networked with a friend of a friend who was COO at a consumer robotics company. Did I know anything about robots? Hell no! But I knew that I liked learning and was up for a challenge. I made the leap to a 6-person startup on the cutting edge of technology to lead their business development and sales. After landing a major deal with an American retailer, I moved on to consulting other small startups and working with Western Canada’s largest angel investor group.

Q: Who made all the difference in your career? 

A: At the beginning of 2018, I brought together a group of nonprofit/charity executive directors to form a support group (including Chic Geek Founder Kylie Woods)! These folks have been invaluable over the past three years as it is a lonely leading social change organizations since the situations we find ourselves in are so unique.

Q: Challenges are part of our life journey, it’s not always easy sailing - Were there moments in your career that challenged you in a way you will never forget? 

A: Whether starting a business or a nonprofit, there is obviously the challenge of making something from nothing. I was really blessed to have two great cofounders,. I would say one of the biggest challenges is to keep building on what we started together. It takes resilience and maybe a bit of bullheadedness to keep pushing. I’m glad that I did. 

Q: Was there a DEI program or effort happening in the organizations you worked with at the beginning of your career? How have you witnessed the evolution of DEI work since then in your field?

A: When I started my professional career in 2013, the most involved’ my workplace was around social issues was the United Way campaign and Movember. There has been a significant mainstream culture shift, uncomfortably prompted by #MeToo, Black Lives Matter, as well as MMIWG/Every Child Matters that has forced us to look at how we react and contribute to or ignore our role in the community/society we operate in. Businesses can no longer operate solely on the bottom line.