“Your business needs to use illustration.” “Hmm, I don’t know about that—why would you think that?” “Because illustration, at its core, is the ability to create something out of nothing. That’s magic! And who doesn’t want their brand to feel like they’re the magical ones compared to their competitors who are floating in a sea of sameness.” –Illustration as a visual medium is the ability to create something out of nothing. It can be expressed in any number of ways, from editorializing a blog post—to a technical rendering of a product—to your brand story posted on social media. It can be anything! And more importantly, it can be 100% customized to express what your company does so well and what it can do to build a better future. So the big question is—why is illustration not as popular of a visual tool compared to options like photography, stock imagery or user generated content? ‘Illustration’ has a reputation that is often described as juvenile, cartoony or receives the oh-so-familiar reception of, “it’s just not part of our brand”. It can be! With a confluence of creativity and courage, it can be something much, much more than its historical reputation. It’s time […]

Let’s talk about the role Ocean Technology plays in Managing our Oceans Join Digital Nova Scotia and COVE, in celebration of World Oceans week as we discuss the technology being developed and used in ocean management. Our panelists will look ahead at what this could mean for the future of ocean tech and our oceans. Meet Our Panelists: Levi Morrison, Director of Innovation at COVE Levi’s responsibility is to lead and direct the development of on-shore and off-shore infrastructure to support client commercialization efforts and meet COVE’s objectives which include decarbonization initiatives and Digital Harbour. Levi holds over 10 years of engineering experience working with governmental and commercial entities to deliver quality results across diverse teams. Levi has worked with teams in engineering, education, and communications to ensure that cross organizational objectives are met with consistency. While working with Ulnooweg as Senior Project Manager, Levi employed Agile and PMI methodologies in tandem with Indigenous knowledge and values to help operationalize the Education Centre in their implementation of a two-eyed seeing, community first approach to educational curriculum development and delivery. Levi has spoken at such conferences as Engineers Nova Scotia, Indigenous Technology Summit, and the Annual NB Engineering competition to share […]

We all wake up with good ideas, but many are not able to make them great, successful and profitable businesses. Get some tips about what are the major challenges that Startups are facing, and learn what it takes to properly manage and scale your business idea. Get tips about what makes a good entrepreneur, and learn about the important elements for a successful pitch to attract investors. Finally, you will learn as well about how to plan for your exit strategy. 3 Key Takeaways 1. The traits that a successful entrepreneur should have 2. How to structure a successful investment pitch 3. How to plan for your exit strategy Meet Your Presenter... Marc is an expert in Corporate Strategy, Commercial Operations, Marketing & Sales Strategy coupled with a solid understanding of Corporate Finance, Strategic Investment and Leadership. As the founder of Strategy Up he is now assisting his clients by providing consulting services in Strategic Planning, Corporate and Commercial Strategy within the Information, Communication and Technology (ICT) industry.  

Let’s break it down…you have a product or service that solves a problem. There are potential customers out there with that problem. They hear about you and want your product/service. You deliver upon that, you rock at it and your new client loves you now and tells everyone about your business. Simple right….well immediately you say no it’s not. But I’m here to tell you, when you structure your systems and marketing in the right way then you can have that. This is not a “Learn how to run facebook ads”, this is not a “you’re one funnel away from crushing it” workshop. During this workshop we will first knock down the metaphorical lego blocks about how you approach your business growth. Then with our guidance, you will begin to to rebuild your process and approach with purpose, passion and performance in mind. Our time together will be intense, meaningful and productive. If you’re coming to watch a middle age fat guy stand behind a podium while staring at powerpoints, then this workshop is not for you. Rather you’ll see a 42 year old marketing founder challenge your thinking, give you the golden nuggets you need to break through your […]

Let’s talk about the talent climate, hiring, dealing with a labor gap, quiet quitting, and the great resignation as it relates to our province. Join Digital Nova Scotia, as we discuss the climate of our workforce in the province; specifically hiring and layoffs, the perception it may have on the demand for tech talent, and the value proposition of being employed in tech in Nova Scotia. Meet Our Panelists: Nick Miesener, Partner at Venor Nick brings almost a decade of recruitment and human resources experience to the table having worked with venture capital-backed start-ups through to Fortune 100 companies to solve their unique talent challenges. Nick truly believes in the importance of finding and recognizing high-character, high-talent individuals, and putting them in a position to succeed. From blockchain technology through to ocean sensors, Nick has developed a reputation for partnering with businesses and top talent to understand their needs and find the best possible match. Nick holds a BA from Saint Mary’s University and an Advanced Diploma in HR from NSCC. He is also a Certified Human Resources Professional (CHRP) candidate, having successfully passed the National Knowledge Exam.     Dr. Andrew Rau-Chaplin, Professor and Dean in the Faculty of […]