E533 – Hugo Lafontaine, Future-Proofing Canadian Industry
“If you ask me what is the challenge of digital transformation, there’s three aspects. There’s a technology adoption, there’s technology, and the way you implement technologies.”
Hugo doesn’t just talk about digital transformation—he’s lived it. As Vice President at Schneider Electric, Hugo has helped steer some of Canada’s most complex infrastructure projects into the digital era. But in this wide-ranging conversation, he’s not selling buzzwords. Instead, he offers a grounded perspective on why Canada lags behind in tech adoption, how to lead change within risk-averse organizations, and where the real leverage points for innovation lie. He discusses the slow pace of smart building implementation, the cultural drag on AI adoption, and why mentorship and simplicity are underrated tools for accelerating change. Hugo also talks about Schneider Electric’s growing footprint in Calgary, and why Alberta may be better positioned than most realize to leap ahead in sustainability and digital leadership.