Events for July 30, 2025 – Digital Nova Scotia – Leading Digital Industry

SNMA Summer School: Igniting Marketing Magic: How Micro-Internships Power Innovation and Results

Join Sarah Blackmore, VP of Operations at Riipen, as she explores how micro-internships are helping marketing teams bring in fresh talent and new ideas. She’ll share examples of how these short-term, funded student projects contribute meaningful support and help drive innovation while giving emerging professionals valuable experience. About your host: Sarah Blackmore is a seasoned executive with over 20 years of experience in HR, operations, strategy, and leadership, specializing in scaling technology startups and fostering high-performing, human-centric cultures. As the VP of Operations and Head of People & Culture at Riipen, Sarah drives operational excellence and organizational growth while ensuring an inclusive, people-focused environment. Passionate about team development and delivering exceptional service, Sarah leads Riipen's Operations division, which encompasses Marketing, Strategic Project Delivery, Employer Success, Data & Compliance, and People & Culture. Her leadership has been instrumental in delivering outstanding experiences for Riipen’s partners, transforming how organizations engage with talent and create lasting impact. Let's level up your marketing with fresh perspectives! See you there!

Free

From COBOL to Co-Pilot: 70 Years of “Soon We Won’t Need Programmers Anymore”

VOLTA 1800 Argyle Street #Unit 801, Halifax

Speaker: Andrew Burke (Co-Founder, Developer at BeanCounter Technologies) Join us for a captivating journey through seven decades of tech predictions, hype cycles, and the enduring spirit of developers. From the early promises of COBOL automating business logic to the current buzz around AI tools like GitHub Copilot, this TechTalk Atlantic event explores a recurring theme in tech: "We won’t need programmers anymore"—and why that never quite comes true. We'll dig into the historical moments when new technologies promised to replace coders, examine why those predictions fell short, and discuss what today's AI moment means for the future of software development. Whether you’re a seasoned engineer, an emerging dev, or just tech-curious, this talk offers a mix of history, insight, and a healthy dose of humor. Expect real talk, bold questions, and a forward-looking conversation on what it means to be a programmer in an age of rapid automation. Spoiler: programmers aren’t going anywhere—but their tools (and titles) are evolving fast. 🧠 Insights from the past. 💡 Lessons for the future. CODE OF CONDUCT Agenda: 6:00PM – 6:15PM: Welcome & Registration 6:15PM – 6:20PM: Sponsor Speech 6:20PM – 7:00PM: Speaker Presentation 7:00PM – 7:45PM: Networking 7:45PM – 8:00PM: Program End

Free