6 events and books to check out in March

Things to do and read this month to nourish the corporate mind and soul

BUSINESS FOR PUNKS: Break All the Rules–The BrewDog Way
Instead of a business plan, James Watt started BrewDog craft brewery with a manifesto: revolutionize beer drinking in the U.K. Now BrewDog is the fastest growing food and drink manufacturer in Britain, employing more than 500 people and shipping beer to over 50 countries including the U.S., and Watt is the star of the BrewDogs TV show on the Esquire network. Watt’s book shares his revolutionary business tactics, with lessons in crowdfunding, marketing and sales billed as outrageous and true.
Random House Canada; $34 hardcover

GLOBE 2016 CONFERENCE & INNOVATION EXPO
Held every two years in Vancouver, Globe is billed as North America’s largest and longest-running conference series dedicated to business innovation for the planet. More than 1,600 business and government leaders from over 50 countries will gather to advance global business and sustainability agendas. This year’s theme is “innovation”–on subjects ranging from global sustainability megatrends to the Pacific economic/ecological zone, with plenary sessions on technology (Disruptive Innovation & Technology: What Will It Really Take to Slow Our Changing Climate?), finance (Global Leadership on Green Finance & Market Reform) and climate (The Road from Paris & Climate Prosperity: How Carbon Action Can Re-Energize Economies).
Vancouver Convention Centre, March 2 to 4; Delegate $1,795, NGO/academic/government $795, one day $795, student $495

FUNDAMENTALS OF BUSINESS PROCESS MANAGEMENT: Analyze, Document and Redesign Processes for Dramatic Improvement
How can you improve your business if you don’t know what ails it? This new two-day workshop will teach you how to use diagnostic tools to identify and fix broken processes, structural problems, system disconnects and problematic people issues. Then you will learn how to cure them: doing more with less; capturing vital metrics on costs, timing and quality; turning staff frustration into ideas to improve processes, people and systems; demonstrating cost savings and return on investment opportunities to senior management; and developing powerful leadership skills to build a work culture of continuous improvement.
UBC Sauder School of Business, March 7 to 9; $1,995

MINGO RALLY EXPO
Calling all owners, managers, engineers and operations professionals responsible for strata/condominium and apartment buildings: get ready to rally. B.C.’s rental housing market is rapidly expanding, requiring new technologies and services. This one-day review and trade show hosted by LandlordBC demonstrates industry solutions to improve operations and increase revenue. Activities include a bus tour of Vancouver rental properties with an “onsite interactive experience,” a products-and-services expo and an industry luncheon with keynote speaker.
Vancouver Convention Centre, March 29; Depending on number of activities, $29 to $129; with invitation code $0 to $99

DISRUPTHR
DisruptHR is based on the idea that all business leaders (including but not only in human resources) should be ready to take risks, stir the pot and change their approach to people and talent. DisruptHR is a high-energy idea forum where local professionals give five-minute presentations on how to change our thinking on talent. No need to be in HR to attend or to submit to speak–DisruptHR talks have also been given by CEOs, technologists and politicians.
Paysavvy, 1055 W. Hastings, Vancouver, March 30, 5:30 to 9 p.m.; $20

MY ELECTRICIAN DRIVES A PORSCHE? Investing in the Rise of the New Spending Class
The Wealthy Barber is so 1989. Now Vancouver writer and public speaker Gianni Kovacevic tells the story of an electrician-turned-investor who introduces his conservative family doctor to a new investment strategy that considers the impact billions of new consumers will have on our environment and how their entrance to our fast-changing world will affect the economy. The doctor’s new knowledge of realistic environmentalism leads him to opportunities for responsible wealth creation.
Granville Island Publishing; $23.95 hardcover