NASA has literal rocket scientists on staff, and even they crowdsource. An example of a project, NASA was able to obtain the design for a rover that would withstand the temperatures of the planet Venus through a $30,000 prize challenge on HeroX. It was equivalent to the work of three senior project teams, one that would have cost millions, and the winning teams provided them with five designs that met 100% of the requirements. This is what's possible when you take your challenges and cast them out to the global crowd.

Making an impact in real-time is both rewarding and intoxicating. Crowdsourced solutions happen fast, allowing organizations to keep up with the pace of business and market change while also fueling and supporting the future of work for innovators. And I get the pleasure of working side by side with an extraordinary team to build, develop and drive the growth of the organization. It’s the culture that compels me. Our team shows up every day in service of one another. Cultivating a strong, collaborative, and supportive company culture is one of the pillars of HeroX.

Kal started her career in finance with HSBC Bank Canada. By the age of 26, she was heading up the HSBC mutual fund valuation team. In 2003, Kal joined the Standard Life mutual fund wholesaling team. After almost eight years, she left her position as sales manager for Western Canada and the corporate world to join Westward Advisors, a small boutique tax and estate planning firm. She worked closely with the co-founder to drive growth in the business, and after a few record years, found herself at a crossroads. Her accomplishments to date were all rewarding, but she couldn’t shake the feeling that something was missing. Intrigue and curiosity led Kal to HeroX, a tech startup in the crowdsourcing space. In just one meeting, she knew that the organization was perfectly suited to where she wanted to be: making an impact at the intersection of business, technology, and the future of work. Additionally, she had the opportunity to express her passion for empowering leaders through core values and culture.

“I walked into the meeting not knowing what to expect, I walked out absolutely certain that I wanted to be a part of HeroX. I didn't know exactly what I was going to do day-to-day...operations, sales, or leadership? All I knew is I hadn't felt this excited about a company or position in a very long time. I've been blessed with working with good companies and good people, but this was different. I felt humbled to have been given the opportunity. Any formal meeting where you've accepted a job offer typically ends with a handshake. This one ended with a hug."

Kal joined HeroX in June 2015 with a focus on driving revenue growth. Inevitably heading up operations, she pioneered the adoption of open innovation as a strategy across multiple industries and received the Intercon Top 50 Tech Visionary Award in 2019. In July 2021, the board appointed Kal president and CEO of HeroX.