Jens-Michael Schaal is championing global expansion for Ottawa's thriving tech ecosystem. As Vice President - Global Expansion at Invest Ottawa, he provides strategic leadership to attract foreign direct investment (FDI), drive business retention and expansion (BRE), boost international trade, and draw top talent to Canada's G7 capital—the highest concentration of tech talent in North America. From his roots in Germany to his time as a Canadian Diplomat, in New York City in the United States, and in New Delhi, India, he has fostered partnerships across Canada and beyond. He is passionate about problem-solving, other cultures, and making a difference at the local level.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Attracting FDI and talent to your community.

• The importance of cultural curiosity, being reliable, and having a service mindset.

• Ottawa-Gatineau’s Defence Sector Strategy and its new Defence Innovation Hub.

• Canadian diplomatic relations.

• Consider Canada City Alliance (CCCA), The Executive Committee Canada (TEC), and the Ottawa Board of Trade.

• Advice for economic developers.

• The EDCO Election.

• Listen for more!

Jens-Michael’s global experience is a must-listen for anyone passionate about FDI, tech hubs, or strategic talent attraction.

We even talked about the most important thing he has learned internationally and how it can be applied in your community today!

Now some work for YOU! What’s one tip for attracting international talent to your community? Please put it in the comments and let's keep the conversation going!

#HyperLocalPodcast #EconomicDevelopment #OttawaTech #FDI #TalentAttraction #InvestOttawa #EDCO #EcDev #Ontario #Canada #GlobalExpansion