Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre

Ignition Program

Launch Your Entrepreneurial Journey

Upcoming Events

Smiling woman in Ignition Program promotion.
October 6, 2025

Uncovering the Feminine Genius in Entrepreneurship

Group selfie at Saint Mary's University Ignition Program
October 27, 2025

From Classroom to Boardroom: Strategies for Business Growth

Ignition Program

The Ignition Program offers post-secondary students a 10-week program that gives access to training, mentorship, resources, ecosystem connections and honorariums to support personal and business development.
For any questions, please email inclusion@smu.ca
Ignition program

What to expect

Participants will receive an entrepreneurial skills toolbox that equips them with a well-rounded skillset that goes beyond academic knowledge, fostering an entrepreneurial mindset.

Training and Mentorship
Participants are trained in essential transferrable skills such as goal setting, design thinking, networking, pitching and more, ensuring they will understand the value of those complementary soft skills.


Connections
Students can connect with a diverse roster of mentors, industry leaders and fellow students who come from varied backgrounds, cultures, and educational institutions, ensuring an inclusive and engaging environment.


Coaching and Consulting
The Ignition Program provides a support system through coaching and consulting sessions. Participants can meet with experts to receive guidance, assistance and accountability for achieving their personal goals or transforming their ideas into reality.


Resources
The program offers access to a range of professional and entrepreneurial resources. This access can be crucial for participants as they navigate their entrepreneurial mindset, providing them with the tools and knowledge needed to succeed.

Honorarium

Participants can earn $10 honorarium per session, based on their attendance and engagement.
*Honorarium eligibility is confirmed at the program coordinator’s discretion.

ARTHUR L. IRVING ENTREPRENEURSHIP CENTRE

Eligibility

This program is open to all students enrolled in a NS-based post-secondary institution. 

Schedule

Sept 16, 2024Introduction to Entrepreneurship
Sept 18E-commerce and Online Retail
Sept 23Financial Literacy for Entrepreneurs
Sept 25Design Thinking
Oct 2Digital Marketing Strategies
Oct 7Networking and Relationship Building
Oct 11AI Unleashed: Empowering Startups for the Future
Oct 16Leadership and Team Management
Oct 21Social Impact and Sustainability
Oct 23Introduction to Cloud Tech
Oct 28Intellectual Property Rights
Oct 30How to Score 10 Out 10 in Effective Customer Discovery
Nov 4Crisis Management and Resilience
Nov 6Scaling and Growth Strategies
Nov 18Personal Branding and Professional Development
Nov 20Effective Communication Styles
Nov 25Innovation and Disruption
Nov 27How to Pitch: Strategies & Best Practices
Dec 2Validating Your Business Idea Using Technology Including AI
Dec 4Black Entrepreneurship Resources: Business Development

From our students

Mariah-Mulla

“Being a part of the Ignition program was truly a transformative experience. Over this incredible program, I gained invaluable access to a wealth of training, resources, and opportunities that have propelled me toward success. Being able to be an active participant and engage with the speakers and my fellow participants not only provided me with guidance but also inspired me to push my boundaries and pursue my aspirations with confidence. I would say that Ignition is more than just a program; it is a supportive community of mentors and peers that foster growth, innovation, and collaboration. I am grateful for the mentorship, support, and opportunities that this program has provided me, and I am excited about the possibilities that lie ahead.”

Mariah Mulla, Saint Mary’s University

“The Ignition program has been so informative and eye-opening! I admittedly did not know a lot coming into the session, but my expectations were exceeded. The speakers have all been dynamic and always answer any questions that we may have, happily providing more insights. Need to know about Digital Marketing or how AI can help you run your business? Ignitions got you! The Ignition program expands on pressing subject matters that every entrepreneur should know while forming the foundation for success. I highly recommend this program to anyone who is looking to start a business or who just wants to expand their knowledge on diverse topics.”

Augustina Tucker, Saint Mary’s University

Augustina-Tucker

From our instructors

Mary-Navas

“I had the pleasure of hosting a session for the Ignition program with the Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre and it was such a remarkable experience. We had around 70 students join in, and they were very engaged with the session and the topic, it truly shows the value of mentorship, connections and real-world experience for post-secondary students. We all learned something new that day”.

Mary Navas, Founder & CEO of MACAW Marketing Events and Ignition Speaker

Instructors

The Ignition Program brings the best of local and international entrepreneurs who have years of experience navigating the entrepreneurial world and remain passionate about sharing it with students: 

Smiling person in gray blazer and black shirt.

Adam Singer

BComm’21

Corporate Development & Strategy Manager
Person in burgundy hijab and black suit jacket.

Aliya Ali Shaikha

Founder of Rate my Courses 
Arnob Rahman

Arnob Rahman

BComm’22

Finance Professional
Woman relaxing on couch with a mug.

Ashley Richard

Indigenous Economic Empowerment Advocate
Smiling woman with short brown hair.

Catherine Bagnell Styles

Senior Marketing and Communications Executive - Entrepreneurship Centre
Person holding gavel under nose playfully.

Corrine Boudreau

Small Business Lawyer
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Emo Ikede

MBA’13

Founder of EjiTech Solutions
Person in yellow hijab sitting on a chair.

Fatu Kaba

Award Winning Peace Activist
Smiling woman with long hair in white blazer.

Irene Saliendra

CEO and Co-Founder of Fem Entity
Person smiling in a blue fur coat

Keisha Turner

BA'12

Co-founder of Starberry Drink Co.
Man in blue suit smiling at camera.

Manish Shinde

MTEI student

Accountant
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Martina Kelades

Professional Storyteller, Founder of Life Out Loud
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Max Emerson Taylor

Social Media Influencer
Meena Riley

Meena Riley

Networking Coach
Natasha Headshot

Natasha Fernandes

BA'23

Business Consultant - Entrepreneurship Centre
Smiling man in glasses and blue suit.

Peter Chapman

Founder of SKUFood
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Pranay Malusare

Data Analyst, Nova Scotia Power
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Rashmi Prakash

CEO and Founder of Aruna Revolution
Shahriar Amin

Shahriar Amin

Startup Consultant
Sheheryar Khan

Sheheryar Khan

Founder of Alaagi
Tashauna Reid

Tashauna Reid

Project Lead at Canadian Blk Women in Excellence Society NS & BC

Past Instructors

Adam-Khamis

Adam Khamis

BComm’21

Project Specialist at Digital NS
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Andreas Robinson

BComm’19

Social Impact Entrepreneur / Founder, Infinitus Academy Inc.
Areeb Khawaja

Areeb Khawaja

Engineer in Training at TELUS
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Aymen Dewji

CEO and Managing Partner, ShiftRight Consulting
Bisola Ogamba

Bisola Ogamba

Venture for Canada
Canberk Bal

Canberk Bal

CEO & Founder, Haligone
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Dianna Rievaj

Highlander Law Group
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Divya Bharti

Director at Deloitte
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Dr. Claudia De Fuentes

Associate Professor at the Sobey School of Business
Dr.-Darren-Burk

Dr. Darren Burke

Founder, Future Foods
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Dr. Jaime E Peters

Assistant Professor of Finance and Assistant Dean of Accounting at Maryville University
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Emily Neil

Project Manager at Dalhousie University
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Evan VanderMeer

Indigenous Entrepreneurship Coordinator / MycoNutrients
Jason Buchanan

Jason Buchanan

Founder, Premiere Van Lines
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Jennifer Montgomery

Blue Door Group / 40 Cups of Coffee
JulieAnne Dayrit

JulieAnne Dayrit

BSc’20

Founder and CEO, Herbiome Skincare
Kate Elliot

Kate Elliot

Founder of Up Public Relations
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Keisha Turner

Starberry Drink Co. / Akwekon Enterprises Inc.
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Kevin Buchan

Director, Office of Innovation and Community Engagement at Saint Mary’s University
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Lopsii Olagoke

Founder, Ooreva Software & Technology Inc.
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Madeline Bristol

BComm’24

Manager, Enactus Canada
Mary Navas

Mary Navas

BComm’20

Owner & CEO of Macaw Marketing & Events
Mel-Holmes

Mel Holmes

SpaceX
Meredith Drost

Meredith Drost

BComm’19

COO Athena’s Playground, Senior Project Manager at Saint Mary’s University
Micah Brown

Micah Brown

BA’13

BATLX/ Halifax Harbour Hawks
Michael Polak

Michael Polak

BComm’14

President at Akwekon and Interim Director of Administration at Glooscap First Nation
Mohammed Issa

Mohammed Issa

BComm’16

CEO & Founder, Eureka Technologies Inc.
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Nevell Provo

Founder, R&B Kitchen/Smooth Meal Prep
Nikki Kearl Headshot

Niki Kearl

Business Development Executive at Bonsai Growth Solutions
Omena Babalola

Omena Babalola

MBA’92

Vice-President and Director on the Athletics Manitoba Board
Ossama Nasrallah

Ossama Nasrallah

BComm’18 MBA’22

Founder, Nova Glamping and Co-Founder, Harbour Watercraft and Adventure Tours
Peter Owusu

Peter Owusu

Regional Manager of the Black Community Business Development at TD
Ritika Saraswat

Ritika Saraswat

Founder, Redefined
Saeed El Darahali

Saeed El Darahali

BSc’02 MBA’04

President & CEO, SimplyCast
Sahil-Ahuja

Sahil Ahuja

Volta Labs
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Sehmat Suri

BComm’19 BA’19

Founder, POCketbook
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Shubhra Singh

MTEI’23

Founder, EmployNXT
Solmaz Ziaabadimiya

Solmaz Ziaabadimiya

MTEI’23

Women’s Entrepreneurship Specialist at ISANS
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Stephanie Clark

Blue Door Group / 40 Cups of Coffee
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Stephanie Holmes-Winton

Social Impact Entrepreneur / Founder, Infinitus Academy Inc.
Tanvi Dabas Headshot

Tanvi Dabas

Program Coordinator at Skills Canada NS
Tia-Upshaw

Tia Upshaw

Founder, BWIE/Femme Noir Business Consulting
Zahra Qureshi

Zahra Qureshi

Executive Director, Social Venture Circuit
Ziyaan Virji

Ziyaan Virji

Founder &CEO of Leaders of Today

The program is made possible with support from TD Bank Group

Partner Institutions

Partners at Saint Mary’s University, NSCAD University, Mount Saint Vincent University, Nova Scotia Community College, University of King’s College and the Atlantic School of Theology provide opportunities for people to connect and then nurture those connections as ideas become reality.
Saint mary's University
University of kings
Mount Saint Vincent. University
NSCC
NSCAD
Atlantic School of Theology