3. www.envisioninglabs.com
What is it?
Corporate Social Responsibility Innovation (CSR-I) is an innovation training service that empowers
organizations in identifying innovation opportunities while assisting new immigrants (Internationally-
Trained Professionals, ITPs) obtain their first professional Canadian job experience.
Background
Innovation is a multidisciplinary exercise that can be taught and systematically executed. Envisioning
Labs has trained dozens of organizations in proven innovation methodologies that have allow them
to exploit opportunities for growth and innovate, thus creating new value-added products, services or
experiences for their clients.
CSR-I relies on the unique value that only Internationally-Trained Professionals (ITPs) can bring to the
innovation exercise. ITPs are normally professionals with undergraduate and graduate degrees
coupled with 6+ years of working experience (normally 10+ years). However, due to lack of “Canadian
experience” these professionals remain underemployed for as long as 5 years after arriving to the
country. We have proven that this talent pool of qualified individuals is a remarkable innovation asset
to corporations if we direct their expertise, potential and international experience through our
systematic training.
How does it work?
Envisioning Labs
scouts for ITPs with
our partners of
MOSAIC, ISSofBC,
Red de Talentos
Mexicanos and
Vancouver
Innovation Labs
Talent Scouting Project Selection
Client decides the
nature of the project
(normally non-critical
projects), and
designates employee
to participate in the
training
Innovation Workshop
Envisioning Labs
trains 4 ITPs + 1
employee on
Design Thinking*
& Scenario-
Focused
Engineering*
Deliverables
Proof of concept
of a new product,
service or
experience.
Employee trained
in innovation
methodologies
* Innovation methodologies used by GE, Microsoft & Google
4. www.envisioninglabs.com
Deliverables & Benefits
Client
• 6-Day Innovation Training for one employee
• Prototype (proof of concept) of a new product, service or experience
• Final Innovation Report
• Presentation deck of the prototype
• Assisting immigrants in obtaining their first professional Canadian experience
• Cost-effective way to explore organization's ‘wish-lists’ and determine viability
Internationally-Trained Professionals
• 6-Day Paid innovation training that helps boost their professional skills
• Acquisition of first professional Canadian labour experience
• Intensive, teamwork interaction while delivering real results to a client
• Regulated professionals are also encouraged to participate to enhance their employability
for alternative careers
Remarks
Envisioning Labs has trained and assisted organizations improve their innovation capacity in several
industries. Current and past clients include: City of Vancouver, Seaspan, Microsoft, Camp Pacific,
University of British Columbia, Vancouver Aquarium, Sinclair Dental, Government of British Columbia
and Ombrae Studios to name a few.
Our ethos “Innovations that Matter” extend beyond our core services as we apply what we teach
seeking new business models that will have a positive impact in the society we live in.
5. www.envisioninglabs.com
FAQ
CORPORATE CLIENTS
How much does this training cost?
Contact us to determine professional fees.
How could this program be part of our social responsibility budget?
There is a direct investment into a social cause that is pervasive across 45% percent of the population
of new Canadians. The vast majority of immigrants are highly qualified professionals that are not
landing a job because they lack “Canadian job experience”. Your organization will be boosting their
employability and therefore making a positive impact into the overall job marketplace.
What type of “innovation” projects are suitable for this program?
Non-critical projects are ideal for this program, that is, projects that belong to the ‘wish list’ of the
organization where there hasn’t been time, resources or commitment to explore these options further.
Some example of projects that ITPs had worked on in the past include: improving the front desk
customer service experience, fostering diversity dialogue and learning transfer and streamlining
internal training for employees. These projects are normally complex in nature and benefit from a
multidisciplinary approach to provide ‘out of the box’ solutions.
How do we select these ‘innovation’ projects?
Our consultants work with clients to scope the innovation project one or two weeks prior to the start
of the training.
Are my employees required to work full time on this training?
Yes, this is an intense hands-on workshop/training that requires participant employees (up to 2) to be
fully engaged for six days. The upside of course is that they are laser-focused on exploring additional
value-added options for the company.
What about intellectual property (IP) and sensitive information?
All IP generated is owned by the client. If the project entails dealing with sensitive information, all ITPs
and Envisioning Labs consultants shall sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement.
Who are these ITPs (Internationally-Trained Professionals)?
ITPs are new immigrants from around the world with undergraduate and graduate degrees coupled
with 6+ years of working experience (normally 10+ years). Candidates considered for this program
are pre-selected by our program partners: ISS of BC and MOSAIC.
Where can I see testimonials of past projects?
We have some video testimonials of people who participated in our program in our YouTube channel:
http://www.youtube.com/envisioninglabs
When does the program start?
First cohort is scheduled for May 1
6. www.envisioninglabs.com
FAQ
PARTICIPANTS
(Internationally-Trained Professionals, ITPs)
How much does this training cost?
Nothing for ITPs.
Do I get compensated for my work designing a solution?
Yes. We pay ITPs $500 to $600 per project, depending on the company we work for. Bear in mind that
while this is a *paid* training in innovation techniques to boost your employability, you will still be
required to deliver professional results. The ultimately goal of the program is for you to get your first
professional Canadian job experience (and hopefully a good reference letter as well).
So, I will be designing a solution while I’m learning a new innovation methodology?
Yes. This is a hands-on workshop that teaches how to find innovation opportunities and along the
way building a proof of concept of a new product or service. You get to work side by side with
company’s employees as an innovation team providing fresh perspectives to some of the company’s
problems.
Do I need to be qualified in any particular area?
No. The innovation methodology we teach thrives on having multidisciplinary professionals as they
contribute their own individual ideas and perspectives (based on your professional expertise and
international experience). The basic qualifications we seek in candidates for this program are: a
university degree, a minimum English level of 7 based on the Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB),
and at least 6 years of professional experience.
What about any intellectual property that we create during the project?
All intellectual property generated during this program belongs to the company.
Do I need to sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement?
Very likely, however it will ultimately depend on the company we work for.
Where can I see testimonials of past projects?
We have some video testimonials of people who participated in our program in our YouTube channel:
http://www.youtube.com/envisioninglabs
When does the program start?
First cohort is scheduled for May 1.
7. www.envisioninglabs.com
About Envisioning Labs
We are a Vancouver-based innovation house that
assists organizations in identifying growth,
innovation and business opportunities. We are
technologists, sociologists, designers and
researchers interested in exploring how new
technologies merge with other disciplines to
transform the future of your business.
www.envisioninglabs.com
@envisioninglabs
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