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RISE Again Retail (On-Demand)


RISE Again Retail is a program designed for retail executives and managers to help them navigate the challenges posed by the pandemic and to enable retail companies to take advantage of the opportunities ahead.

VIEW BROCHURE FOR MORE DETAILS: Rise Again Retail Brochure  

Registration

Registration for the on-demand webinar series is limited. Qualifying companies (must be retail and based in Atlantic Canada) can register any time between August 1 and December 30, 2020. Once registered, webinars can be viewed on-demand.

REGISTER HERE

The David Sobey Centre for Innovation in Retailing and Services is part of the Sobey School of Business at Saint Mary’s University. It is a unique retail-focused centre in Canada that focuses on retail research and innovation. RISE (Retail Innovation, Strategy and Excellence) is the David Sobey Centre’s flagship education program for retail executives and managers.  

Leaders in retail companies must not only manage their business through the current chaos, but also position their business for success in the post-pandemic economy. This is uncharted territory for everyone. Leading during and after the crisis requires attention to certain leadership attributes. This is also an opportunity to strengthen or, in many cases, rebuild the organizational culture. While the future may be uncertain, this is the time to think strategically and innovatively. It is also the time to build a stronger connection between your brand and your customer. We are pleased to offer RISE Again Retail, a specially designed executive program that will help leaders build stronger retail businesses.

The online program consists of 6 modules, each 120 minutes in duration. The modules will be delivered two per week over the course of three weeks. 

Criteria:

  • Must be a retail small business

  • Must be located in Atlantic Canada

Program Sponsor

The RISE Again Retail program is graciously sponsored by the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency allowing 200 small business retailers a virtual seat in this high level program.

Partners

RISE Again Retail is brought to you in partnership with Saint Mary's University Entrepreneurship Centre and Halifax Partnership.

For questions, email davidsobeycentre@smu.ca

Earlier Event: July 30
A Fresh Start or a Dead End? Demystifying Canada's Insolvency Regime
Later Event: August 7
What Machine Learning Can Tell Us About the Post-Pandemic Labour Market (Webinar)

Executive-In-Residence

Ian Smith headshot.jpg

Ian D. Smith | Chief Executive Officer

Clearwater Seafoods Limited Partnership

Ian D. Smith is the Chief Executive Officer of Clearwater Seafoods.  Mr. Smith joined Clearwater in May 2010 and has over 33 years of international experience in the food and consumer products industry.  Prior to joining Clearwater, Mr. Smith held senior leadership positions at the Campbell Soup Company within Canada, the United States and China.  Prior to his time at Campbell’s, Mr. Smith held various marketing, sales and international business development positions with Allergan, Colgate-Palmolive and the Gillette Company.

Mr. Smith currently participates as a director on a number of boards and advisory councils focused on international trade and public policy including; The Business Council of Canada and the Asia Business Leaders Advisory Council of the Asia Pacific Foundation.  He is a graduate of McGill University (BA Economics, MBA), a former Captain in the Canadian Armed Forces Reserve and currently serves as Honorary Colonel of 36 Canadian Engineer Regiment located in the Province of Nova Scotia.

Alumni-In-Residence

Wendy Luther | President and Chief Executive Officer

Halifax Partnership

Wendy Luther Proud Sobey School of Business at Saint Mary’s University. EMBA’08

Wendy Luther is a leader in economic and export development, with vast experience promoting Nova Scotia and its assets globally. Halifax Partnership is Halifax’s public-private economic development

organization. Wendy joined as President & CEO in 2019. In 2023, Halifax

Partnership was honoured with four Excellence in Economic Development

Awards from the International Economic Development Council (IEDC)

including Gold for Economic Development Organization of the Year. Prior to joining Halifax Partnership, Wendy was President & CEO of EduNova, a co-operative association of public and private-sector education providers committed to promoting Nova Scotia’s knowledge economy internationally. Under her leadership, EduNova was honoured with the prestigious international PIEoneer Association of the Year Award in 2017. Earlier in her career, Wendy worked in export development with the Atlantic Canada World Trade Centre and Nova Scotia Business Inc. (NSBI) where she led trade missions to over twenty countries and has mentored and advised hundreds of Nova Scotian exporters on how to be competitive in international markets. At NSBI, through her role as Nova Scotia’s first Private Sector Liaison Officer (PSLO), she was appointed by the World Bank and Inter-American Development Bank to connect entrepreneurs and institutions to opportunities funded by International Financial Institutions. Wendy has served on and led numerous boards and committees including advisory boards for two private sector companies (Canada and U.S. based). Currently, Wendy serves on the Board of Directors and the Management Resources and Compensation Committee of Canadian-owned LED Roadway Lighting; the Board of Directors and as Vice Chair of the Governance Committee of Mitacs, a national not-for-profit organization focused on increasing Canada’s innovation competitiveness; and is Membership Chair on the Executive Committee of the International Women's Forum (IWF) Atlantic Chapter. Born in Vancouver, Wendy graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of British Columbia, and an MBA from Saint Mary’s University. She holds a Certified International Trade Professional designation (CITP) and is an alumna of the Caribbean Canada Emerging Leaders Dialogue and Royal Canadian Navy Canadian Leaders at Sea (CLaS) Program. In November 2023, she attained her ICD.D designation through the Institute of Corporate Directors, Director Education Program and is really geeking out on governance! In March 2023 Wendy was honoured with Atlantic Canada's 25 Most Powerful Women in Business award.