Growth Pod Advisor Team connects student entrepreneurs with experienced professionals for one-on-one advising sessions.
Personalized Expert Advice
Access to Experienced Professionals
Targeted Skill Enhancement
Networking Opportunities
Currently studying or recently graduated a post-secondary institution in Canada (Preference will be given to students from Saint Mary’s University)
Have a business or idea
Committed to the program and interested in learning from experienced individuals
Nithin Eapen
Expertise:
With over a decade of global design experience across Milan, Bangalore, and Halifax, I specialize in user-centered product design, branding, packaging, and digital experiences. I currently serve as Director of Marketing & Communications at Fusion Halifax, empowering the next generation of leaders through strategic communications and community engagement. As the Founder of Handyield Designs, a Halifax-based design studio, I work with businesses to bring meaningful, manufacturable, and ergonomic product and brand solutions to life, blending creativity with business impact. My past roles include teaching at top design institutions, co-founding a sustainable upcycling startup, and showcasing design work at Milan Design Week.
Teo Kim
Expertise:
Teo Kim is the Director of Marketing & Communications at the Atlantic International Film Festival (AIFF), with over 14 years of experience in strategic marketing, branding, and customer engagement. He has led award-winning campaigns in South Korea and Canada across diverse industries including film, nonprofit, and economic development. Prior to AIFF, he managed the Halifax Connector Program at Halifax Partnership, connecting students with industry leaders. In the Korean film industry, he directed marketing for major films like Train to Busan and Netflix’s Okja, and represented them at Cannes. As the founder of Teo Creative Studios, he leverages his experience as a former international student in Halifax to help students and early-stage entrepreneurs build brands and grow impact-driven ventures in Canada.
Nabila Mahabub
Expertise:
Nabila Mahabub is a dynamic marketing leader with over 13 years of experience in product and brand marketing across Asia and North America. She excels at leading go-to-market strategies, refining product positioning, and fostering cross-functional alignment. As a Senior Marketing Manager at TELUS, she drives Go-To-Market strategies for Wireless HomePhone and leads customer acquisition for Streaming Add-On services. Previously, as Director of Marketing and Chief of Staff at Pathao, she scaled the company’s user base by 20x. Nabila is also passionate about financial literacy, having launched a club to empower young adults and women, advocating for financial education in high school curriculums.
Manish Shinde
Expertise:
Manish is a multi-faceted entrepreneur with ventures spanning the food and consulting industries. He currently works as a Grant Analyst at YWCA Halifax and coaches startup founders on accounting, finance, and tax compliance. With a strong passion for numbers and a solid foundation in accounting, Manish specialises in streamlining financial operations through technology integration. He is also actively engaged in mentoring students and women entrepreneurs in the field of accounting at NSCAD and YWCA Halifax. Manish is a food enthusiast who loves exploring different cuisines and is deeply passionate about cooking.
Kent Murphy
Expertise:
Kent graduated from the University of New Brunswick in 1989 and has spent his entire career in Sales and has been helping start-ups, SMBs, and mature companies grow globally for the past two decades.
Today, Atlantic Growth Solutions is recognized as the results-driven sales process expert in North America and the partner of choice for companies in growth mode. Organizations who have tapped into our expertise include UNB TME (Fredericton), Energia and The COVE – Innovate UK.
Pranay Malusare
Expertise:
Pranay Malusare is a graduate of the MSc. in Computing and Data Analytics program at Saint Mary’s University and currently works as a Data Analyst at Nova Scotia Power. With a strong passion for technology and problem-solving, Pranay specializes in transforming complex data into meaningful strategies while also exploring innovative digital solutions for business growth. Alongside professional work, Pranay has taught students in the Master of Business Analytics and Computing & Data Analytics programs, mentoring the next generation of tech professionals with practical industry insights. With experience across data, web, and technology-driven projects, Pranay enjoys supporting aspiring entrepreneurs and students in navigating their journey, turning ideas into impactful ventures.
Jonas Slaunwhite BComm’12
Expertise:
Jonas Slaunwhite is a Manager in Technology Consulting (Data & AI) at BDO Digital and a part-time instructor in Generative AI at Concordia University. With a background spanning financial services, consulting, and entrepreneurship, Jonas specializes in helping organizations and founders turn emerging technologies into practical, value-driven solutions.
A graduate of the Sobey School of Business at Saint Mary’s University, Jonas brings a strong foundation in accounting, analytics, and risk management, paired with hands-on experience delivering data platforms, AI-enabled workflows, and digital transformation initiatives. A self-taught python developer with 4+ years of development experience, his work focuses on bridging the gap between business strategy and technical execution ensuring ideas are not only innovative, but implementable.
Jonas is passionate about mentoring founders and operators as they navigate growth, technology decisions, and scale. He is particularly interested in how AI can be responsibly applied to improve decision-making, operational efficiency, and long-term competitiveness in Atlantic Canada and beyond.
Federico Cetraro
Expertise:
Federico Cetraro is a Data and Machine Learning Engineer with extensive experience designing and delivering data-driven solutions across a wide variety of industries. As a Team and Technical Lead at BDO Digital, he combines strategic thinking with hands-on expertise to help organizations leverage AI and analytics to achieve tangible business outcomes.
In addition to his industry experience, Federico has served as a university assistant professor teaching Python and Final Thesis courses, underscoring his commitment to mentorship and knowledge sharing. Fluent in English, Spanish, and Portuguese, he regularly collaborates with international teams and senior stakeholders to drive successful, globally aligned initiatives.
Have a different topic or advisor in mind? Let us know and we can connect you!
Reach out to David Campbell at growthpod@smu.ca
