Board Spotlight: Q&A With Ashley McInnis

Our Board Spotlight series continues this month, highlighting the leaders who lend their time, experience and perspectives to Digital Nova Scotia’s Board of Directors.

Representing organizations from across Nova Scotia’s technology ecosystem, our Board members play an important role in guiding Digital Nova Scotia’s work and helping us stay connected to the opportunities, challenges and priorities shaping our sector.

Each month, Board Spotlight gives us the chance to get to know one of those leaders a little better, and for our September Spotlight, we’re joined by Ashley McInnis, Senior Manager, Regional Marketing at Doane Grant Thornton LLP and a Director on Digital Nova Scotia’s Board of Directors. Ashley reflects on her journey into the tech sector, her experience on the Board, what excites her about the growth happening across Nova Scotia and why she wants more people to know there’s space for them in tech.

Tell us a bit about yourself and your professional journey. What brought you to Nova Scotia's tech sector?

I really didn't have a typical professional journey, especially in the early days. I left university and had a baby at 22, before returning to school a couple of years later as a single mom. I hold an Advanced Diploma in Public Relations and expected I would spend my career in the non-profit sector as a professional fundraiser! I actually fell into tech and really had never imagined that there was a space for me - an arts girlie - in tech!

I've been so fortunate to have spent time growing and developing my career with some really bright tech startups and scale-ups in Atlantic Canada before I launched my own business following a lay-off while I was pregnant with my third child. I provided marketing and communications support to small to medium-sized businesses and ghostwriting/copywriting for entrepreneurs. It was perfect at the time, allowing me to continue the work I love while also being able to be home with my growing family.

Outside of work, I'm the mom of three boys, a hockey coach, and an avid runner (though I'm slowing down a bit these days…). Last year, I started playing golf and really enjoy getting out on the course with my soon-to-be husband and our oldest kiddo!

What do you do in your current role, and what excites you most about the work?

I recently joined Doane Grant Thornton LLP as Senior Manager, Regional Marketing — Atlantic Bay and I oversee the firm's marketing strategy, large campaigns/events/sponsorships, and lead a team for Atlantic Canada and Northern Ontario. It's hard to narrow down what I enjoy most about my work but it generally comes down to:

1. Being creative in a space where people might not expect fun and creativity (professional services)
2. People-management and team development — I love coaching people and helping them discover strengths and skills they may not have seen in themselves
3. Geeking out over metrics and data and understanding what drove certain results
4. Working closely with people across the region, with different experiences and perspectives to guide our work

After being remote (or mostly remote) for almost seven years, it's been such a treat to be back out in the world every day and to have a full team of rockstars to collaborate with. They're making me better every day, which is so exciting.

How would you describe your organization and the impact it has on the community or industry?

Doane Grant Thornton has its origins right here in Halifax, Nova Scotia and, while the firm has evolved and changed names over the years, it has always been focused on helping clients grow their business by staying close to trends and shifts in the market. Professional services like accounting aren't necessarily the shiniest or most exciting at the surface level, but our practitioners are always levelling up their training and certifications, and we are closely aligned to technology advancements that enable us to provide better services for our clients. Our clients are able to build their businesses and support their families and communities at home, which is so special to be a part of. Nova Scotia sometimes is labelled as a "have not" province which I absolutely refuse to believe — we have so much innovation, passion, and excellence here and I'm really honoured to play a small part in helping put us on the map as a place to bring your business.

How long have you been involved with the Digital Nova Scotia Board, and what inspired you to join?

I've been involved with the Digital Nova Scotia Board since 2022, which feels a bit impossible to believe. I had always known of Digital Nova Scotia and had attended events as a DNS member. I felt that DNS really added a lot of value to my own experiences and created such an inclusive community for members. I was inspired to join for two reasons: The first is I had just cut my maternity leave short and I was really excited to get back into work and further immerse myself in the tech sector. The second is that I wanted to inspire others who perhaps haven't felt like the tech sector is "for" them to know that there's a space for everyone here.

What's been the most rewarding part of serving on the Board?

Honestly, I don't know where to begin. I'm really proud of the Board and of the work Digital Nova Scotia is doing. I think one of the most rewarding parts of serving on the Board has been learning from the expertise and lived experiences of my fellow Directors and the Digital Nova Scotia staff team. We are a very collaborative and engaged group and everyone is truly here with the best intentions! When I first joined the Board, I felt like a bit of a fraud but I've developed meaningful relationships that have morphed from professional to personal friendships and I'm so grateful for that. It's also incredibly rewarding to see the Tech Forward Awards recognizing and rewarding individuals and organizations each year. I've loved learning about the nominees, hearing their stories, and being a part of the celebration each year.

What's one thing you'd like more people to know about Digital Nova Scotia?

Everyone is welcome here. You don't have to be the most tech-savvy individual or even directly tied to the tech sector to gain value from DNS. In today's digital world, we all need to engage with a multitude of tech every day and Digital Nova Scotia makes that a little more approachable through the various programs and services.

Interested in helping shape the future of Nova Scotia's tech sector? Digital Nova Scotia is currently seeking passionate leaders to join our Board of Directors. If you're interested in contributing your expertise and helping strengthen our province's technology ecosystem, we'd love to hear from you. Learn more about becoming a Board member and apply here.

In the meantime, stay tuned for more Board Spotlight conversations, where we'll continue introducing the dedicated leaders helping guide Digital Nova Scotia and support our growing tech community.