The January Agenda

Uber is just one example of disruptive mobility presented at the upcoming transportation conference
DRIVING CHANGE | Uber is just one example of disruptive mobility present at the upcoming transportation conference

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

MOVING WITH TECHNOLOGY
What are the province’s transportation plans? Find out at this one-day transportation conference showcasing future direction and trends co-hosted by the Association of Consulting Engineering Companies of B.C., the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure, and TransLink. Discover current technological trends and where future technologies may lead us. Tour UBC student project demonstrations, the triumf lab for particle and nuclear physics or the Regional Transportation Management Centre in Coquitlam. Then reconvene for presentations on disruptive mobility and planning for autonomous vehicles, seismic planning, Uber, Compass card, Car2go and more.
Sheraton Wall Centre, Vancouver; January 28, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. $360, $180 for students, $125 awards dinner 

EVENT SERVICE PROFESSIONALS ASSOCIATION CONFERENCE
Convention service managers keen to learn more about the nature of outstanding service can do so at the 28th annual Event Service Professionals Association (ESPA) conference at the Fairmont Vancouver Hotel. This multifaceted field will be approached from all angles through breakout sessions, networking opportunities and keynote addresses. CSMs can find mentoring opportunities through top meeting planners and peers alike while adding to their sales and revenue enhancement toolkits and doubling productivity by learning everything there is to know about Microsoft Office. There will be open discussions on “voluntourism” and third-party planners–and for some final food for thought, a taste of the trendy “farm to plate” on Sunday.
Fairmont Hotel Vancouver, January 8 to 10 $800; one day $350 

HOW TO CREATE A WINNING SOCIAL MEDIA STRATEGY
What is a winning social media strategy and how can you get one? This one-day SFU boot camp calls on recent graduates, professionals, service providers, marketers, community managers, executives and business owners who want to get social with their personal brand, department or organization. Topics include how to build a voice and values around your brand; finding channels that fit; and how to grow an online “ecosystem.” Along the way, boot campers can find the balance of a good content strategy, practise listening and engagement tactics, and begin to set goals and measure social media growth–through real-time practice with the class hashtag.
SFU Vancouver campus; January 30, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. $166.95

ACCOUNTING AND AUDITING PRACTICE UPDATE
Professional accountants who practise public accounting, especially small and medium-size businesses, sharpen your pencils. The CPA Canada handbook has been revised, and this seminar will get you up to speed on the changes in the International Financial Reporting Standards as these often precede similar revisions to Accounting Standards for Private Enterprises. Understand problem areas in the application of standards through the lens of the Private Enterprise Advisory Committee and other sources. Learn about recent CPA Canada pronouncements, and how to identify the potential implications and apply them.
Sutton Place Hotel, Vancouver, January 26, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. $425 

THE PRODUCTIVITY PROJECT: Accomplishing More by Managing Your Time, Attention, and Energy Better
Consider this bit of productive procrastination: fresh out of Carleton’s Sprott business school, Chris Bailey turned down two fine job offers. Instead, he spent the next year interviewing productivity gurus and testing theories on himself. Waking up at 5:30 every morning, avoiding caffeine and sugar, and working a 90-hour week were just a few of his experiments. He monitored and mused and blogged his insights–then landed a book deal. Here Bailey shares counterintuitive wisdom: strive for imperfection; schedule less time for important tasks; and use the 20-second rule to distract yourself from distractions.
Penguin Random House Canada, available in hardcover January 5 $32