2011 will go into the record books as the year of the tablet.

IDC predicted that 1.5 million tablets would be sold in Canada during 2011 and yet for a majority of owners, they are simply using these devices for the basics: web surfing, watching movies and (of course) playing Angry Birds. Luckily, there are other Canadians using tablet PCs as productivity tools, personalizing the experience to their industry and enjoying new levels of full-featured mobility.

The Fujitsu Slate Summit highlighted two such examples and gave media and influencers in Toronto and Montreal a firsthand look at the ways in which tablet technology is being rolled out across Canadian industry. Steve Rush from St. Andrew’s College discussed his school’s enthusiasm for Fujitsu tablets, both at a student and a faculty level, dazzling attendees with seamlessly demos of Microsoft OneNote and customized course materials. Dr. Michel Hébert also appeared, talking about how the speed, portability and performance of Fujitsu tablets has been integral in the launch of Kinlogix, an innovative electronic patient record system.

Attendees such as CTV News, the Globe and Mail, Metro and L’Actualité took in the hour-long panel discussion and then enjoyed some 1-on-1 time with the new Fujitsu STYLISTIC Q550 slate PC (and some 1-on-1 time with the panel members themselves), diving deeper into this incredible device and learning the ways in which Fujitsu is becoming a brand of choice for advance tablet users across Canada.

To kick-off to the annual Canon Envirothon, one of North America’s largest high school environmental competitions, High Road worked with Canon Canada and Harris/Decima to release a new survey on teens’ interest and knowledge of green jobs.  The research revealed that 56 per cent of Canadian teens are interested in a career in the environment, but close to the same amount (51 per cent) aren’t clear on the career opportunities available to them. Also interesting to see is that 68 per cent of Canadian teens believe jobs in the environmental sector are increasing, yet the don’t feel they know enough about the types of jobs available. In fact, 88 per cent agree that more access to information about environmental jobs is needed.

 Some other interesting results from the survey included:

• 85 per cent of teens surveyed had started to seriously think about their career path already, including 67 per cent of grade nine students
• 51 per cent consider job availability when choosing a future career path
• Of those who are interested in an environmental career, 69 per cent cite making the world a better place as the reason  
• One third (35%) of Canadian teens learn about possible career paths from their extra-curricular activities
• 77 per cent agree that participating in environmental extracurricular activities would help with their decision about whether to pursue a green career

The results speak to the importance of engaging students in extra-curricular activities within the environmental sector like the Canon Envirothon, which successfully opens students’ eyes to the range of green career opportunities as well as introduces them to network of professionals working in the field – i.e. environmental engineers, natural resource managers, environmental policy makers and more.

 This year, the Canon Envirothon was held in Sackville, NB and brought together more than 250 green teens from across Canada and the United States from July 24 to 29.

The first-place winners, Swan Valley Regional Secondary School team, received a total of $25,000 in Canon scholarships.  West Hill Secondary School, Owen Sound, Ontario ($20,000), and Spartanburg High School, South Carolina ($15,000), placed second and third, respectively. The fourth-place team, Oromocto High School, Oromocto, New Brunswick, received $10,000, and the fifth-place team, Housatonic Valley Agriscience, Connecticut, received $7,500. Teams that placed first through tenth received Canon products for their advisors and sponsoring agencies/organizations to use in science education.

 The top 10 teams at the 2011 Canon Envirothon:

1. Swan Valley Regional Secondary School, Swan Valley, Manitoba
2. West Hill Secondary School, Owen Sound, Ontario
3. Spartanburg High School, Spartanburg, South Carolina
4. Oromocto High School, Oromocto, New Brunswick
5. Housatonic Valley Agriscience, Falls Village, Connecticut
6. West Johnston High School, Benson, North Carolina
7. Fort Defiance High School, Fort Defiance, Virginia
8. Middleton High School, Middleton, Wisconsin
9. Jupiter High School, Jupiter, Florida
10. The Wheeler School, Providence, Rhode Island

 Mia’s current column talks about an interesting trend she has observed among the many women executives she has met.

 She writes: “I’ve spoken with countless executives over the years and I’m inspired everyday by the women I meet who are truly making their mark on the business world. That said, I’ve noticed a surprising trend among these women. I’ve heard it from editors of major publications and I’ve heard it from the women themselves: no matter how talented, hard-working or respected they may be for their leadership skills and business acumen, they prefer to avoid the spotlight. For some women, self-promotion is a dirty word.”

Mia stresses the importance of cultivating a strong personal brand, and explores the benefits that this type of public relations can deliver to your small business.

She writes: “Sharing your personal story is crucial to developing a relatable identity with the public, your teams and your stakeholders. Small companies often can’t afford big advertising campaigns and this is one of the most cost-effective and credible ways to get your message out, raise the profile of your business, drive sales and aid in the recruitment of top-tier talent. Whether you’re a man or a woman entrepreneur, if you are armed with a solid communications plan, taking the stage won’t just be a simple exercise in self-promotion; your personal story is an essential component of your company’s corporate branding – you just need to share it.”

Check out Mia’s column every Thursday in the Globe and Mail’s Report on Business.