What does it take to build a business that is not only technology-enabled, but research-driven, human-centred and built to last? Thank you to the Toronto Business Development Centre for inviting Generation1.ca CEO and Founder Arundati Dandapani to train its cohort of founders through the masterclass Powering Your Business Growth with Research and Technology.
The session drew on a body of work Arundati has developed for the Future Ready Innovators credential and beyond and also taught across organizations including the American Association for Public Opinion Research (AAPOR), Canadian Marketing Association (CMA), Esomar and post-secondary institutions including universities, spanning research, technology, AI governance, data, storytelling and the human dimensions of innovation. Her courses have attracted strong participation including a recent AAPOR short course that was the association’s highest-selling course of the 2025-26 calendar year. Her research and industry achievements have earned national and international recognition, including Esomar’s Best Paper Award of the Year in 2024 against hundreds of global researchers.
For this founder cohort in-person training, Arundati’s emphasis was practical: How can research, data and AI make a business stronger? Participants explored using technology to improve workflows, teams and decision-making; the difference between using AI for velocity versus value; and where human context, culture, judgment and accountability remain essential.
A central idea ran through the masterclass:
Information → Insight → Story → Influence → Action → Change.
The timing matters. As AI capabilities advance, important questions are being raised about who participates in developing these systems—and whose knowledge, experiences and interests inform how they are deployed. This makes entrepreneurship and business education an important part of the AI governance conversation too.
The objective is not simply faster AI adoption. It is building the capability to create and use transparent, explainable, accountable AI that works for all.
And that requires participation beyond the technology sector. People and communities affected by AI should have meaningful opportunities to influence how it is developed, governed and deployed.
For those interested in contributing directly, the Government of Canada is inviting input on advancing AI transparency in Canada until September 23, 2026:
Have your say on advancing AI transparency in Canada
Being future-ready is not simply about adopting AI faster. It is about building the research, judgment and governance capacity to decide what we should build, how we should use it—and who it should serve.
If you’d like to stay connected to all these teaching and work, consider participating in our upcoming events.
- September 25, Friday: Quantum Careers: Superposition, Strange Matter, and Serious Talent (free for jobseekers, terrific sponsorship and partnership opportunities for various organizations)
- November/December: Future Ready Governance: Preparing Institutions for AI Maturity (secure sponsorship and participation opportunities soon!)
For more information and opportunities to connect and partner, please email Arundati@generation1.ca
