EVENT SCHEDULE
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NOVA SCOTIA BUSINESS GROWTH SUMMIT
WEDNESDAY MARCH 24TH, 2021
9:30 AM (AST)
KEYNOTE SPEAKER + LIVE Q+A
How Technology Is Changing Legacy Industries (And Processes) From the Ground Up
Technology has touched every industry, from hospitality, to transportation, to finance, and it’s made companies rethink traditional ways of doing things - especially during the era of COVID-19. As consumers have come to expect everything on-demand, instant, and from their mobile phone, and businesses have been forced to go remote, legacy industries have had to shift the way they do business, or risk being left behind.
This presentation will focus on the key trends that have led to digital transformation, including the rise of peer-to-peer apps, software-as-a-service, and mobile, highlighting case studies of companies in legacy industries that are embracing the digital shift. It will also look at how legacy processes, like accounting, are being transformed by technology. You’ll leave inspired to incorporate technology into your company’s operations, and with a clearer understanding of what tomorrow’s consumer will expect.
ERIN BURY
Co-Founder & CEO, Willful
10:30 AM (AST)
LIVE PANEL
Tales from the Continuous Improvement Trenches
Join this panel of noted Atlantic Canadian entrepreneurs as they share insights on this proven method to ramp up productivity and increase employee engagement.
If you are curious about how you can improve your business processes and implement new procedures to increase efficiency, join in and listen to our panel of experts and learn tactics implemented by real business owners.
In the 'Tales from the Continuous Improvement Trenches' you will hear from a panel of your peers and learn how Continuous Improvement can future-proof your business for long term success!
JP Giroux, President Excellence in Manufacturing Canada, will open the session with the big picture and lead the session.
Panelists
JAMES MCKENNA
President, Glenwood Kitchen Ltd.
KAREN CAMPBELL
Founder & Owner, Totally Raw Pet Food
TROY LENIHAN
Director of Continuous Improvement
& Operations, Eden Valley Poultry
Moderator
JP GIROUX
President, Excellence in Manufacturing Consortium
10:30 AM (AST)
LIVE PANEL
Lessons from the Frontlines
Hear first-hand from a panel of entrepreneurs who have pivoted and thrived amidst a pandemic through innovative new approaches to selling products and services outside of Nova Scotia. Topics include maintaining and building connections with customers in the new reality, adjusting to shifting demand, embracing and implementing continuous improvements and outlooks for how the pandemic has forever changed our business environment.
Learn how to:
· Create a culture of innovation
· successfully pivot as we continue to navigate and rebound from COVID-19
· make the right decisions for your business in times of uncertainty
Panelists
SHEENA RUSSELL
Founder & CEO, Made with Local
SUE SIRI
Founder & CEO, Iris Booth
MATTHEW MACKENZIE
Owner & President, MacKenzie Atlantic Tool & Die
Moderator
LAUREL BROTEN
President & CEO, Nova Scotia Business Inc.
10:30 AM (AST)
LAE WEBINAR
Grow Your Business Join the Department of Labour & Advanced Education for a high-level introduction into all Provincial business programs and hiring incentives that are available to employers in Nova Scotia. You will learn how to access training resources like SkillsOnlineNS or Workplace Innovation & Productivity Incentive (WIPSI), and hiring incentives such as Graduate to Opportunity, Innovate to Opportunity or START.
You will also become more familiar with the supports available to help you find the talent your organization needs, such as Employer Engagement Specialists and Nova Scotia Works Centres. Our programs are designed to help your business grow, while retaining Nova Scotian talent at the same time.
MARGARET SCHWARTZ
Outreach Coordinator, Youth Employment
Programs Department, LAE
11:00 AM (AST)
LIVE PANEL
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion: Insights for Leaders
When employees feel included and have a sense of belonging in the workplace, research tells us that it results in direct positive impacts to an organization’s bottom line, more innovation, and overall better decision making. Everyone benefits from having a more diverse, equitable and inclusive workplace. The focus on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) in workplaces has moved from being a ‘good thing to do’ and primarily an HR function to a business imperative that has to be driven by leadership.
Tune into this panel discussion to hear insights from people supporting business leaders to create more welcoming and inclusive workplaces.
PANELISTS
BRITTANY MASTROIANNI
Diversity & Outreach Specialist
MATTHEW MARTEL
CEO, Black Business Initiative (BBI)
FIONA KIRKPATRICK PARSONS
National Advisor, Deloitte Indigenous
MODERATOR
SHAKIRA WEATHERDON
Director, Equity & Belonging, LAE
12:45 PM (AST)
LIVE PANEL
Digitally Transforming Business
Digital adoption enables business innovation, opening new doors for revenue generation and increasing competitiveness. Transform your sales strategy and business processes and get up to speed on industry trends that could impact and benefit your business.
Learn how to:
· integrate e-commerce into your sales strategy, inventory control, and enterprise planning processes
· navigate the global shift to digital first
· reduce supply chain risk through digital transformation
· use digital sales techniques to remove barriers to selling beyond our borders
· maximize the inclusivity of your digital strategies
PANELISTS
SAEED EL-DARAHALI
President & CEO, Simply Cast
DARREN GALLOP
CEO, Securicy
DR. DAWN JUTLA
Founder & Co-CEO, Peer Ledger
Moderator
PETER MACASKILL
Chief Operating Officer, Nova Scotia Business Inc.
12:45 pM (AST)
LIVE PANEL
Innovation in “Traditional” Industries
Innovation in “traditional” industries is critical to drive competitiveness and growth. We’ll reveal how innovation builds stronger relationships with customers in the current and post-pandemic environment, and how Nova Scotia can leverage its strengths in the coming years.
Learn how to:
· adopt and implement a continuous improvement mindset across all areas of your business
· maximize technology to grow in your industry
· build stronger and deeper relationships with your customers and communities
· contribute to our risk-taking culture in Nova Scotia
panelists
SCOTT MCCAIN
President, JSM Capital Corporation &
Chairman, McCain Foods
LORI KENNEDY
Owner, Louisbourg Seafoods
ERIC FRY
President & Owner, Sandler Training
Moderator
LAUREL BROTEN
President & CEO, Nova Scotia Business Inc.
12:45 pM (AST)
KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Leading Mindfully in a Fast-Changing World
With lockdowns, working virtually, hybrid workplaces, protocols and more, leading your organization is incredibly complex. Everything’s changing so fast it can leave your head spinning and up all night worrying – it wears you down.
The way through this fast-changing world is to slow yourself down so you shut off your stress response, get more resourceful and focus on the small pressure points that create the changes you want – to respond instead of react. To grow your resilience and the resilience of your team; to chart your course through these turbulent times.
Discover how mindfulness can be your secret resource for leading and supporting your team, growing resilience and working more effectively than you ever dreamed possible. You’ll learn some of Ravi’s “Jedi Mind Tricks” to bring mindfulness from the mountaintop to the meeting room – and the rest of your life.
RAVI TANGRI
CEO & Chief Rocket Scientist,
Chrysalis Strategies Inc.
1:30 pM (AST)
ONLINE LEARNING INFORMATION SESSION
SkillsonlineNS.ca – learn how to access free online training for your employees
Did you know that SkillsonlineNS.ca offers free online training on a variety of topics like HR, international trade, productivity, sales and communication skills? Join us for an overview of the platform and learn how to leverage the employer learning networks for your business. SkillsonlineNS.ca is an initiative of the NS Association of CBDCs, funded by Labour and Advanced Education.
LAE
1:30 PM (AST)
LIVE PANEL
Implementing Continuous Improvement - "Are we there yet?"
The age old question of business owners and entrepreneurs, "Are we there yet?". Are you questioning if you have done enough, have enough growth, success, client relationships? If you do, this panel is custom built for you and your questions!
Join entrepreneurs from across multiple sectors, from right in your own backyard of Nova Scotia and across Canada. We have curated this panel of experts to encourage you to learn how to implement success measures and inspire a growth mindset across your organization through continuous improvement tactics.
From where to begin, to the range of industry and agency supports to get you started, this panel will offer insights on the lessons learned to create and sustainable continuous improvement company culture.
panelists
JAMES MCKENNA
President, Glenwood Kitchen Ltd.
KAREN CAMPBELL
Founder & Owner, Totally Raw Pet Food
TROY LENIHAN
Director of Continuous Improvement
& Operations, Eden Valley Poultry
Moderator
MARC BABINEAU
1:30 PM (AST)
FIRESIDE CHAT
Sustainable Innovation
We can transform Nova Scotia’s economy by embracing a clean and sustainable future. In this one-on-one conversation, we tackle global climate change through transformative clean technologies and discuss the opportunities for Nova Scotia.
Topics include:
· How products and technologies developed in Nova Scotia and Canada are creating a cleaner, more sustainable global recovery.
· The most exciting developments in clean technologies in Canada.
· How can we ensure collaborative innovation in a virtual world.
· How businesses can start down the path to sustainability.
SPEAKER
ANNETTE VERSCHUREN
Chair and CEO, NRStor Inc.
Moderator
LAUREL BROTEN
President & CEO, Nova Scotia Business Inc.
2:00 pM (AST)
KEYNOTE + LIVE Q+A
Digital Transformation - No Longer Nice to Do
After 32 years and millions of air miles away, Martin Suter returned home to Nova Scotia in mid-2020, where he leads the US eCommerce business for AB InBev. While Covid was an accelerant, the plan had been to eventually return and to make NS his Forever Home.
During his talk today, Martin will describe the impact that Covid has had on the world’s largest beverage company, as the world went into lockdown, closing bars and restaurants and cancelling sporting events. Fortunately, the company had begun to build digital capabilities and businesses, which allowed it to react in real-time as consumer behaviour changed overnight. Martin will also touch on how this has impacted the People, while creating lifestyle opportunities. And lastly, Martin will give a glimpse into how he helped build a B2B start-up that went from zero to $50m exit in 3 years without the benefit of road warriors, a journey that is particularly relevant in a post Covid world.