All Hands on Tech with Digital Nova Scotia

In this episode of All Hands on Tech , we sit down with Alan MacKeen, Managing Partner and co-founder of Home + Health , to explore how technology can help Canadians navigate one of life's most complex challenges: caring for aging loved ones. Drawing on decades of healthcare experience, Alan discusses the growing pressures facing Nova Scotia's healthcare system, the hidden toll of caregiving and w...

In this episode of All Hands on Tech , Tanya Dent, Continual Improvement Practice Lead at Nova Scotia Power , joins the conversation to explore what it really takes to build effective, resilient tech teams in fast-moving environments. With a career path that began in law before transitioning into IT, Tanya brings a practical and grounded perspective to topics like continual improvement, Agile, lea...

In this episode of All Hands on Tech , we sit down with Sarah Padovani, Web Team Lead at REDspace , to talk about the realities of modern tech work and what makes teams truly effective. From remote work and return-to-office conversations to process, complexity and collaboration, Sarah shares her experience leading technical teams through constant change in a fast-moving industry. The conversation...

On this episode of All Hands on Tech , we sit down with Jonathan Feindel, Partner and Director of Consulting and Business Engineering at CGI . With a strong and growing presence in Halifax, CGI is helping organizations across sectors tackle complex challenges and evolve how they operate through technology. Jonathan shares a behind-the-scenes look at the role consulting plays across industries, wha...

On this episode of All Hands on Tech , we sit down with Jennifer Hutton, Vice President of Information, Technology & Risk and Chief Privacy Officer at Steele Auto Group . From its roots as a single Halifax dealership to a multi-region operation with more than 60 locations, Steele Auto’s growth story is powered by more tech than you might expect—and Jennifer is right at the centre of it. With o...

For this episode of All Hands on Tech , we’re celebrating 30 years of impact with an organization that’s been helping shape the future of tech in Nova Scotia and beyond. We’re joined by Alex Fenton, Executive Director of SuperNOVA — a Dalhousie University initiative dedicated to engaging youth in STEM, innovation and technology education across Atlantic Canada. For three decades, SuperNOVA has bee...

In this episode of All Hands on Tech , we’re joined by Ingrid Deon , founder of word-craft , an award-winning social media marketing agency specializing in organic social media strategy and content for consumer goods brands. word-craft is known for helping brands find their voice and tell stories that resonate in a digital world where content is everywhere and AI tools are rapidly reshaping how we...

In this episode of All Hands on Tech , we’re joined by Samuel Oladimeji , cofounder of Halifax-based consulting firm Vedesi . Vedesi provides change management, branding, IT consulting and web development services, and is also the creator of Dwelleroo — a digital property management platform designed specifically for Atlantic Canadian property managers. Inspired by a personal family experience, Dw...

In this epiosde, host Claire Quirion is joined by Chris Cocek, Technology Integration & AI Lead with the Halifax Regional Centre for Education , Nova Scotia’s largest school board serving students and educators across the Halifax region. Chris works with HRCE’s Technology Integration & Learning Technologies (TILT) team to support ethical, practical and future-focused use of technology in c...

In this episode, we hear from MJ Leslie, Founder and Principal Consultant at Chapter 3 , a Halifax-based sales and marketing growth consultancy. Chapter 3 helps startups and small businesses turn ideas into actionable growth strategies, blending strategy, storytelling and practical solutions to tackle modern sales challenges. MJ joins us to share insights on relationship-driven selling, the role o...

On this episode of All Hands on Tech , host Claire Quirion sits down with Kristi McKee, Senior Director of Client Strategy at Outshine , to explore the evolving landscape of SaaS marketing. From the rise of brand awareness campaigns to the power of authentic community engagement, Kristi shares her expertise on integrating brand and performance marketing, personalizing advertising with AI, and meas...

On this episode of All Hands on Tech , host Claire Quirion chats with Ian Bezanson, Commerce Cloud Practice Lead at Ateko (formerly CloudKettle), about the fast-moving world of digital commerce. From Ateko’s recent transformation to launching a specialized Salesforce Commerce Cloud practice, Ian shares what it takes to succeed in e-commerce, the role of AI-driven tools in retail, and how the compa...

On this episode of All Hands on Tech , we sit down with Daniel Roscoe, CEO of Roswall Development to explore how the Halifax-based company is helping drive Nova Scotia’s energy transformation. From large-scale solar and wind projects to the Mersey River Wind Farm—set to provide 45% of HRM’s corporate electricity—Dan shares insights on the technology, data, and innovation powering renewable energy....

Our host Claire is joined by Eilidh Lindsay-Sinclair and Laura Hawkins, Digital Skills for Women+ (DS4W+) co-founders, who talk all things related to the program.  Created in 2018, the two discuss their tech career journeys and how it influenced them to build the DS4W+ program. Find out how it bridges the gap between women and gender diverse individuals into the tech industry, creates community an...

Kindred AI is redefining how emotional intelligence can be measured, practiced, and scaled in the workplace.  In this episode of All Hands on Tech, host Claire Quirion speaks with Amanda Richardson, Growth Manager at Kindred AI, about how their platform blends AI and EQ to help employees grow, reflect, and lead with empathy. They dive into the challenges of teaching emotional intelligence through...

From landmine detection to sustainable farming, Palladium MC is redefining how AI and robotics can transform industries. In this episode of All Hands on Tech, Claire Quirion speaks with founders Olesya Shyvikova and Chris Curtis about their journey from d

In this episode of All Hands on Tech we're joined by Michael Broley, Founder & CEO of MBD Studios, to talk about his journey from working in sales at Xerox to founding an agency, un-trendy marketing tactics, and mascots?! Michael discusses the excitement of helping businesses bring their brands to life from logos to customer journeys by using agile creativity and genuine curiosity. You don't n...

In this episode, we're joined by Patrick Manifold, Founder & CEO of Nova Social Media & Marketing. Patrick discusses his journey from growing up in England, becoming a professional basketball player, moving to Nova Scotia and launching the business. Learn how Nova Social has created their local-first brand through organic development and programs like the Tourism Digital Assistance Program...

What happens when cutting-edge AI meets the vast, mysterious world beneath the waves? This episode of All Hands on Tech with Digital Nova Scotia dives into how students, researchers, and industry are teaming up to tackle some of our biggest ocean challenges. Discover how underwater drones, smart sensors, and machine learning are tracking thousands of migrating fish, spotting hidden debris from dro...

Ever wondered what really goes on inside a Security Operations Center (SOC)? In this episode, host, Claire Quirion chats with Derek Halfyard from GoSecure about his journey from NSCC to leading threat hunts and helping clients stay safe around the clock. We break down what a SOC is, who works there, what roles like threat hunters and detection engineers actually do, and what it’s really like to bu...

In this episode of All Hands on Tech, host Claire Quirion welcomes Jeff MacArthur, CEO of Konnekt Digital Engagement and a longtime leader in Atlantic Canada’s tech industry.  With over a decade of involvement in the Digital Nova Scotia tech community, including service on the Board of Directors, Jeff shares his insights on the evolving local tech scene, the early days of social media, the rise of...

In this exciting episode of All Hands on Tech, host Claire Quirion is joined by  Mike Reeves, President and Owner of Mobia Technology Innovations. From cybersecurity to cloud architecture, Mobia's work bridges technical expertise with real-world impact, and all with an east coast edge. Mike discusses Mobia's 40 years of evolution, their "people first" approach, and how they've developed and mainta...

In this exciting episode of All Hands on Tech, host Claire Quirion sits down with Ryan Sno-Wood from the Interactive Society of Nova Scotia (ISNS) to talk about the fast-growing world of game development in the province. From small indie teams to major collaborations with government and schools, the local gaming industry is expanding fast, and Ryan has a front-row seat. Ryan shares how ISNS is hel...

In this episode of All Hands on Tech , our host Claire Quirion sits down with Daphne North, Director of Product Marketing and Content at Dash Social, to explore the bold rebrand of Dash Hudson, and what it means for the future of creator marketing. Daphne shares her journey into the world of content and product marketing, offering a behind-the-scenes look at Dash Social’s evolution and its mission...

In this heartfelt and inspiring episode of All Hands on Tech , host Eilish Bonang-Smith speaks with Ashley MacInnis, founder of AMPR, a communications and PR consulting firm built on the power of strategic storytelling. Ashley shares her journey from being laid off while pregnant to launching her own business, and how that leap of faith became the foundation for a career centred on helping others...