A strong community can promote new ideas and ensure accountability. It can also act as motivation, support, and even provide a little friendly competition. The power of community is undeniable and the Okanagan tech community is no exception.

Our community is strong and growing with record speed and maintaining connection through a period of growth like this can be a challenge. Nobody panic, we’ve got a plan.  

Introducing, The Faces of #OKGNtech. A showcase of Okanagan tech entrepreneurs, partners, supporters, and cheerleaders designed to fuel more connection, more growth, and more excitement. Follow along (on the blog and on Instagram @OKGNtech) to learn more about our growing community and what makes them awesome.

Meet Sara. Sara Scott is a Project Coordinator at Accelerate Okanagan. When Sara isn’t working on all things OKGNtech, you’ll find her hunting down the city’s best croissant, buying her toothbrush online from a speciality store in New York, or home with her cat. We recently caught up with Sara to learn more about what she loves about OKGNtech. 

What do you like most about working at Accelerate Okanagan?

“What I love most about working at Accelerate Okanagan and being part of the tech industry is how social it is. There is something to do almost every night of the week if you want to.”

[Editor’s note: Want to plugin to OKGNtech? Check our Accelerate Okanagan’s events calendar]

What do you love about OKGNtech?

 “I like that the OKGNtech community is defining its own identity. We are not trying to be the Silicon Valley North, we are creating our own vision here.” #Itsallherenow #weareOKGNtech

“I feel like almost everyone involved in OKGNtech did a stint at Disney. It’s really neat to see so many of my old coworkers now starting their own companies. The volume of startups has grown significantly during my 10 years in the industry. There are so many people starting their own projects here, which I think is one of the coolest things to see.”

When were you first introduced to the tech industry here in the Okanagan?

“I started at Disney in 2008 but it wasn’t until I started with Accelerate Okanagan in 2014 that I really felt like I got in touch with the community as a whole. It was like this huge bubble that burst. I hadn’t realized how big the tech community was here.” #pop

How long have you lived in the Okanagan?

“I was born and raised in the Okanagan. My family has been here since the 1930s, so I actually grew up on the property that my great-grandfather had originally purchased back in the day.” 

What’s something most people don’t know about you?

“I feel like not a lot of people know that I used to have dreadlocks” #Bringbackthedreads

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received? 

 “Something that has resonated with me recently is Chris Heivly’s statement ‘vote with your feet’. It’s something that’s very tangible for people to pick up. How you spend your time is so valuable and people are often strapped for cash so they feel like they can’t always contribute, but it’s important to know that you can always show up.”

[Editor’s note: Chris Heivly is an Entrepreneur-in-Residence with Techstars, a worldwide network that helps entrepreneurs succeed]

Who inspires you? 

“My boyfriend Jesse inspires me because he’s constantly trying new things and learning about how things work. I really admire how much he is able to slow down, learn something, and learn it well. He is constantly picking up new skills and hobbies. He is a woodworker by trade so he makes beautiful hardwood furniture, he also really enjoys cooking and can make bread really well. He’s even made his own bow and arrow!” #doingthings

 

Connect with Sara. Learn more about Accelerate Okanagan. Hungry for more? Meet Jackie. 

Have you seen the rest of the OKGNtech faces? Follow us on Instagram.