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Innovate through Disruption with Design Thinking (Webinar)

Join Adriana Dolnyckyj, EMBA’02 and moderator Pamela Scott Crace as they explore Design Thinking and how you and your organization can innovate through disruption.

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About Adriana Dolynckyj (presenter):

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Adriana is the Founding and Managing Partner of DesignThinkers Group Canada, a global innovation consultancy, originating from Amsterdam in 2007. Adriana leverages her over 20 years of corporate strategy and marketing experience at the executive level, and combines it with human-centered design to help organizations find their ‘sweet spot’ in value proposition and differentiation; making them compelling to their customers and employees, and unique against their competition. DesignThinkers Group, both consult with clients and teach the design thinking method with the goal of spreading the practice, so organizations can achieve disruptive innovation through thinking differently and rapid iteration.


Adriana has worked with clients across industries, which include: Coca Cola, Starbucks, Bacardi, RBC, Swiss RE, Agropur Dairy, Nature’s Way; and more locally Business & Arts Newfoundland and Labrador, Atlantic Lottery, Halifax Convention Centre and the Sobey School of Business to name a few.


Adriana holds an EMBA [’02] from Saint Mary’s, and was an Adjunct Instructor in the Masters of Technology Entrepreneurship & Innovation program. Adriana has also served as President of the Alumni Association, and on the Saint Mary’s Board of Governors.


In the community Adriana volunteers, formerly Past Chair of Easter Seals Nova Scotia, and on the Board of Easter Seals Canada.

About Pamela Scott Crace (moderator):

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Pamela has a diverse background in publishing and community leadership. Her contributions as a content specialist benefit from two decades as a magazine professional and more recently, a part-time teacher. Currently she is deepening her facilitation practice with a focus on human-centered design and creativity.

A community volunteer with wide interests, she is past chair of the Creative Nova Scotia Leadership Council and The Discovery Centre, current chair of Mocean Dance, and a former director of Engage Nova Scotia. She enjoys active living, reading, the arts, gardening, good conversation, premiership football, and cooking for family and friends.

While editor of Progress Magazine, Pamela enjoyed a strong partnership with leaders of the Sobey School of Business, resulting in an annual balanced scorecard ranking and analysis of the TOP 101 Companies of Atlantic Canada.

Earlier Event: October 8
Unleash Your Money Power (Webinar)
Later Event: February 2
Integrating Consumer Behavior into Your Marketing Strategy During the Pandemic (Webinar)

Executive-In-Residence

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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.