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.
This program is open to all students enrolled in a NS-based post-secondary institution.
| Sept 16, 2024 | Introduction to Entrepreneurship |
| Sept 18 | E-commerce and Online Retail |
| Sept 23 | Financial Literacy for Entrepreneurs |
| Sept 25 | Design Thinking |
| Oct 2 | Digital Marketing Strategies |
| Oct 7 | Networking and Relationship Building |
| Oct 11 | AI Unleashed: Empowering Startups for the Future |
| Oct 16 | Leadership and Team Management |
| Oct 21 | Social Impact and Sustainability |
| Oct 23 | Introduction to Cloud Tech |
| Oct 28 | Intellectual Property Rights |
| Oct 30 | How to Score 10 Out 10 in Effective Customer Discovery |
| Nov 4 | Crisis Management and Resilience |
| Nov 6 | Scaling and Growth Strategies |
| Nov 18 | Personal Branding and Professional Development |
| Nov 20 | Effective Communication Styles |
| Nov 25 | Innovation and Disruption |
| Nov 27 | How to Pitch: Strategies & Best Practices |
| Dec 2 | Validating Your Business Idea Using Technology Including AI |
| Dec 4 | Black Entrepreneurship Resources: Business Development |
“The ignition sessions have been an eye-opening experience that provided me with practical tools for both personal and academic growth. The workshops I have engaged in so far created a supportive space to learn and reflect with a group of brilliant, diverse students from across different institutions and backgrounds.
Some of the many skills I am continuing to learn include effective strategies for managing stress, adapting to change, and building strong relationships and community.
This program has and is continuing to empower me to navigate challenges with confidence and resilience.”
—Marie Stevens, Ignition Participant
“The Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre gave me an incredible learning opportunity with their Ignition program. I was able to meet many great people within the entrepreneurial and other business fields.
In my attempts to learn as a businessperson and start my own business, the connections I gained, and the second-hand experiences, from their stories, were super helpful. The best part about it is that it’s not just free learning, but they pay for your time!
It was one of my top things to do when school wasn’t too heavy, supporting learning and personal ventures, while creating new friendships with the other ignites and the people who ran it! ”
—Cooper Roberts, Ignition Participant
“Ignition is a program where I found a lot of inspiration from the speakers, and even other students who attend the sessions. To me this program is very meaningful, especially as a first-year student. I often feel like there’s so much I need to learn, not just in class but also in terms of practical skills outside of campus. And Ignition has been a great space for that, because I get to learn and explore more through the experiences speakers shared during the session.
I also love how diverse the topics can be because this allows me to gain a wide range of insights, and perspectives that I think will be helpful as I move forward through the next four years of university.
I’m glad I joined this program and had the chance to build meaningful connections with others. Everyone definitely needs to give it a try!”
—Gia Nguyen, Ignition Participant
“I had an amazing experience facilitating the pitching and presentation session at the Ignition program at Saint Mary’s University. It was such a rewarding opportunity to connect with the students and share practical insights on how to pitch with clarity and confidence.
As a former student of Saint Mary’s, this experience felt especially meaningful. I remember attending similar sessions and finding them incredibly informative, so being able to return as a graduate and now contribute in that same space was truly fulfilling.
I genuinely love opportunities like this to give back, support students, and be part of their learning journey. I would absolutely be excited to do this again in the future. ”
—Adedayo Ojo MTEI’26, Ignition Speaker
“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 BComm’20, Founder & CEO of MACAW Marketing Events and Ignition Speaker
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:
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:
BComm’21
BComm’19
BSc’20
BComm’24
BComm’20
BComm’19
BA’13
BComm’14
BComm’16
MBA’92
BComm’18 MBA’22
BSc’02 MBA’04
BComm’19 BA’19
MTEI’23
MTEI’23
BComm’21
BComm’22
MBA’13
BA'12
BA'23
BSc'25 DipEng'25
