Stories from the Ecomm Trenches

Amazon has made online shoppers out of most of us. Now, prompted by the pandemic’s great online migration, more businesses are eyeing the other side of the e-commerce counter and wondering how to take their shops and showrooms virtual.

On episode 16 of the TechTalks Podcast, I’m talking to two New Brunswick-based e-comm veterans: Dawn Pottier, founder and CEO of LuluJo, one of Canada’s biggest baby brands, and Scott MacIntosh of Second Spring Digital, which supports companies in digital transformation.

Whether you’re a retailer who wants to get your goods online or a founder who’s wondering what e-comm means for B2B, you’re going to love this show. For me, it shows how digital transformation shows up in all kinds of businesses, including retail. And Dawn and Scott’s experiences give a great sense of how e-commerce is evolving (and fast!), what it takes to succeed in selling online, and an eye on future trends.

Humble Beginnings

Before she was rocking the e-comm space, Dawn got her start in 2008 with a single product: a baby sling she made herself because she couldn’t buy one locally.

“I knew how to sew from growing up on Rural Route No. 3 in Nova Scotia,” she says. “I really wasn't even thinking about starting a company. At the time, it was just about a product for myself.”

Her first milestone? Selling six units to a Fredericton retailer. Then, in 2010, she went to a trade show in Toronto. After a slow, disheartening morning, she was slammed with orders from across Canada.

She knew she was onto something. When she left her corporate job (as an IT project manager, a skill set that’s come in handy), she was scared, not “that it wasn't going to work,” but because she “knew it was going to be a lot of work.”

Although I suspect even Dawn couldn’t have predicted just how big her baby brand would become, she was right.

Today, LuluJo sells 100 products online and in boutiques in 40 countries. In October, Dawn opened her first flagship boutique in Fredericton.

Some of Lulujo’s top selling products.

The IT Route

Scott’s path to e-commerce winded through entrepreneurship and IT consulting, including with his own company, SwiftRadius, as a systems integrator, working on complex tech projects for large companies. He continued in that vein with Deloitte, which acquired his company in 2015.

In 2019, he founded Second Spring Digital to help companies expand their digital capabilities. And then COVID-19 happened, and the market for his expertise exploded.

“We had several offerings that pretty quickly took us to e-commerce for the simple reason that it seemed to be the quickest way to add value for a company,” Scott says. “We found that in as little as four weeks, we were able to help companies get results and get on a different path.”

Always Evolving

One thing that struck me about my chat with Dawn and Scott is how digital transformation is more a mindset and an ongoing process than a single project.

As Dawn described how her online strategy evolved over the years, it also became clear that it encompasses so much more than just a new platform or tools, but a comprehensive approach that spans branding, marketing, sales, customer relations, and more.  And then there’s the analytics that tell exactly what’s working and not working.  You learn and adjust.

“It's not just your website, it's every single word, every single sentence, everything you post on Instagram, and it's just becoming more and more focused now,” Dawn says. “So you have to have a tight strategy.”

That’s where someone like Scott comes in.

“We try to help people with that whole loop about your customer,” he says, from attracting new ones to conversions and sales, and logistics like packaging, damaged orders, and of course, the bane of online sellers everywhere: shipping. 

“They're looking for one or two days delivery time, thanks to Amazon,” he says. “How do you manage that?”

Start Small

If this all sounds overwhelming, it doesn’t have to be.

These two veterans explain how you can start small then build and grow, learning and adding along the way.

“What we like to do is try to help people pick two or three next moves, get in motion, try some things, make some improvements,” Scott says.

Dawn and Scott stress that e-commerce is a marathon, not a sprint. And Dawn speaks from personal experience when she suggests you get help. No one person can keep up with all the parts, from SEO and optimization to shipping and platforms and more. 

“Don't try to do it all alone now,” she says. “Things are moving really fast.”

There are firms like Second Spring Digital, which does one-on-one consulting and offers other services, too, such as group masterclasses, digital strategies, and SaaS programs around customer development.

Again, it really comes down to making “small moves” and watching closely to see what’s working. And repeat.

I’ll leave you with some great advice from Dawn: “Instead of looking at it as a challenge that's overwhelming, I try to look at it like, what am I going to learn today?”

Love that. Those are words to live by.

Check out our full conversation by clicking here to listen.

Here's a peek at some of the highlights from this episode:

>>[06:22]: Dawn shares the story of building LuluJo from a single product to a big international brand.

>>[13:19]:  Scott on his path from corporate consulting to e-commerce.

>>[21:51]: Dawn on building customer relationships online.

>>[25:44]:  Scott on the test-measure-repeat approach to digital.

>>[37:05]: Dawn talks about creating a consistent global brand. 

>>[40:256]: Scott shares some common misunderstandings companies have about e-commerce and digital.

Don't Miss an Episode.

Do you subscribe to the TechTalks With Cathy Simpson Podcast? If not, please do. Every week, my guests and I cover many different topics around innovation, technology and the future. Click here to listen and subscribe in iTunes. You'll find us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, PodLink and everywhere else you enjoy podcasts.

And sign up for our newsletter to never miss an update.

UNB Central to our Cyber Cluster

You might say that UNB is where cybersecurity got its start in New Brunswick.

Today, we have a growing sector, with epic exits, successful spin-offs, ambitious industry organizations, a Cyber Centre, local startups and global brands like Siemens and IBM with operations here.

All of this was made possible by building upon the foundations laid at the University of New Brunswick, which, in the 1960s, became the first Canadian university with a faculty of computer science separate from that of engineering or science.

In the third and final episode of our cybersecurity miniseries on the TechTalks podcast, I’m thrilled to be joined by Dr. Ali Ghorbani, director of the Canadian Institute for Cybersecurity at UNB. Ali has spent 30 of his 40-year academic career at UNB and has been instrumental in developing the CIC, building the unique Master’s in Cybersecurity program (more on that below) and growing our international brand and reputation.

And I was also delighted to have Dr. Luigi Benedicenti, the dean of computer science at UNB, back on the show. Since arriving in Fredericton in 2017, he’s been busy growing the faculty, including focusing on cybersecurity.

So what’s so special about the UNB story? What’s happening there today? And what’s coming? My guests and I talked about this and more, including how the education, training, and research that UNB contributes are critical components of a thriving cluster.

The Start of Cyber

While computer science has a relatively long history at UNB, it wasn’t until the late 1990s that Ali’s attention began to be drawn to what was then called network or information security, which fit nicely with his background in machine learning and AI.

Then, in 2000, when a part-time student developed a novel way of reducing hostile attacks on UNB's computer network, and Q1 Labs was born, things really started to happen.

“From that, we actually created a new culture within our faculty that we can work closely with industry partners to make sure that they end up being successful,” Ali says.

This new culture shaped how the university dealt with intellectual property and interacted with business. Every Friday afternoon for over ten years, UNB and members of the research arm of Q1 Labs would meet. When IBM acquired Q1 Labs in one of New Brunswick’s richest tech exits, the meetings continued.

If you haven’t read Gordon Pitts’ excellent recent book, Unicorn in the Woods, you need to get a copy. A ripping good account of our province’s two most significant exits, it shows how much UNB has empowered and enabled a number of successful companies here, including Sentrant Security, Eyesover, Siderian, and more.  

Unique in Canada

The Canadian Institute of Cybersecurity at UNB, founded in 2016, grew out of this context in which academia and industry, research and commercialization, were partners.

The vision for the institute was multifaceted: bring more companies here, increase research, train more people, and treat entrepreneurship as a core pillar to create new solutions, companies and jobs.

Today a team of 66 people from 11 countries works at the CIC. One in five has a Ph.D. It’s a bright, diverse, multidisciplinary group.

“We actually are a business-slash-academic unit, meaning that we make money in order to pay the bill for academic activities,” Ali says. “And in doing so, we have a membership scheme in place, where companies can become a member of the institute and in return receive service.”

 The CIC works closely with the faculty of computer science, including the Masters of Applied Cybersecurity, a professional program for graduates with a foundational knowledge of computer science who want to specialize in cybersecurity.

“I always say that cybersecurity is a practical problem, requiring practical solutions. And therefore, in this program, we make sure there is a mix of training and labs and hands-on experience,” Ali says. Experiential learning is key to the program, including a capstone project where students work on real-world problems with industry partners.

And then there’s the Bell Research Intensive Cyber Knowledge Studies (BRICKS) program, which, along with a Masters of Applied Cybersecurity, gives students scholarship funding, a four-month research internship and, ultimately, a full-time job offer.

The demand for the program is there, both from students (and future job-seekers) and business. While organizations are crying out for talent to fill a looming jobs gap and application rates far outstrip the number of students it can accept, UNB is looking for ways to expand its current 30-seat capacity.

Talking to Luigi and Ali, I was struck, as I so often am, by how much there is to learn about what’s happening right here in Atlantic Canada and, in this case, at UNB, to grow our cybersecurity talent. The university’s deep and unique experience in cybersecurity bodes well for the future of the cluster.

To get the full story, click here to listen to the entire conversation. 

Here's a peek at some highlights from this episode:

>>[07:22]: Ali on how UNB’s computer science program has long worked with industry to provide hands-on experience.

>>[16:30]:  Ali on cybersecurity as an economic development opportunity.

>>[29:27]: Luigi on the province’s value proposition: “New Brunswick is a postcard, and we need to make sure that that postcard fits in the hearts of the people that come here.”

>>[35:50]:  Ali on the origins of the Canadian Institute for Cybersecurity, and the need for multifaceted, multi-disciplinary expertise.

>>[42:48]: Ali on what makes the CIC unique in Canada. 

 Don't Miss an Episode.

Do you subscribe to the TechTalks With Cathy Simpson Podcast? If not, please do. Every week, my guests and I cover many different topics around innovation, technology and the future. Click here to listen and subscribe in iTunes. You'll find us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, PodLink and everywhere else you enjoy podcasts.

And sign up for our newsletter to never miss an update.

Webinar: 10 Simple Steps to a Standout LinkedIn Profile

Date:  Feb. 16,  12-1 pm

About: LinkedIn is crucial to your job hunt. In a recent TechTalks episode, a couple of tech industry veterans said it’s the first thing they look at when they’re recruiting. And yet, too many job-seekers treat LinkedIn merely as a resume recap, missing the chance to wow potential employers.

The good news? It’s easy to stand out on LinkedIn to land your dream job and build a stellar career.

In this actionable TechTalks session, LinkedIn expert Eleanor Austin shares her 10-step formula for building an optimized profile that represents you, your talents, and your unique voice and brand. Follow her steps, and you’ll have a profile that sets you apart from the crowd, snags recruiters’ attention and builds your network.

Whether you’re looking for a job or just want to polish up your LinkedIn presence, this practical, insightful session is for you.

Register here: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/10-simple-steps-to-a-standout-linkedin-profile-tickets-140011904375

About Eleanor:

Eleanor is a LinkedIn speaker and trainer who helps others leverage the world’s largest online professional network. She is the founder of New Marketing Today. http://newmarketingtoday.com/

About TechImpact:

TechImpact is an industry-led organization with a mission to help Atlantic Canada embrace and accelerate technology adoption and innovation as the cornerstone of our economic future. Its work focuses on workforce development, fostering innovation and building business. www.techimpact.it

TechTalks with Cathy Simpson is a series of podcasts and webinars that will provide relevant and timely information to students, job seekers, business owners, executives, technology managers, IT professionals, economic development officials and those considering a career in the IT sector.  www.techimpact.it/blog

The Human Side of Cybersecurity

Conversations in the tech sector often focus on facts and data, technology and numbers.

But there’s a very human side to technology, something my guests on episode 14 of the TechTalks Podcast brought to the show. I’m so grateful that David Shipley, CEO of Beauceron Security, and James Stewart, founder and CEO of TrojAI, spent as much time talking about leadership, company culture, giving back and mentoring as they did engineering, product capability and investment.

This show is the second in TechTalks’ three-part miniseries on cybersecurity. It provides an on-the-ground sense of what life in a quickly growing startup is like and why cybersecurity is so critical now.

Many Paths to Cyber

We kicked things off by talking about my guests’ paths into cybersecurity, and I was fascinated by the diversity of their credentials and experience. It also provided so much insight into their passion for what they do, why they love it, and why it’s so personally important to them both!  

James comes from a deeply technical background, with a Ph.D. in computer science and years of tech industry experience. He knows the worlds of both academia and business but says he never felt entirely at home in either camp.

“I found my passion when I joined the police force here in Saint John as a crime analyst,” he says. That was 16 years ago and he’s been an auxiliary officer ever since.

“I love crime. I love the sinister world,” James says. Pair that with his technical background, and he’s got a unique and powerful perspective on safety and security. He brought that to EhEye, his first startup, which used artificial intelligence and computer vision to automate the early detection of weapons and disturbances. He sold it in 2018, founding TrojAI last year to develop solutions to protect artificial intelligence platforms from cyber attacks.

A recurring theme here at TechTalks is debunking the idea that tech or cybersecurity is only for programmers, something David speaks to directly.

“I'm an accidental cybersecurity professional,” he says. “I never envisioned that this was the career I was going to end up in. In fact, when I was a kid growing up, it didn't even exist except in science fiction.”

Self-describing himself as “probably New Brunswick’s second-biggest nerd,” David’s colourful resume includes stints as a soldier, journalist, marketer and hacktivist. His trip down the “Alice in Wonderland rabbit hole of cyber” began in 2012 when he was at Information Technology Services at the University of New Brunswick.

The Local Advantage

Founded in 2015, Beauceron Security grew out this experience in measuring, managing and monitoring cyber risk.

It’s a real New Brunswick story. It came out of UNB like Q1Labs, one of the province’s most significant exits, backed by the local early-stage innovation ecosystem and established companies, and supported by serendipitous introductions and the region’s famously connected culture.

Now, Beauceron is a 27-person company (and growing, check out its job opportunities here) that serves almost 300 customers, including national household brands in telecommunications, banking, government, and more.  2020 saw significant growth as it did just over $2 million in sales.

David’s team embodies the range of roles and talents needed in the sector.

“People think you have to be wearing your hoodie in your basement, going through lines of code,” David says. “We need people that can do risk analysis. We need people that can communicate and market and talk about security and build security cultures.”

Powered by People

Beauceron’s unique value proposition lies in its focus on the human side of cyber, turning people “from passive victims into the most effective line of defence.”

“How do we get people, process and culture to change the security culture in an organization, not just add new security tools to the mix?” David says. I found that while listening to David explain this, I could picture the confidence that would be instilled in the users of their solution. 

Speaking of culture, James is fresh off the TechStars Montreal AI Accelerator, which he calls “a highlight of my entrepreneurial career.” The highly competitive program included leadership training that caused him to reflect upon his intentions and his bigger purpose in building his company.  

“When you get up in the morning, what is it you're trying to do?” James says. “And it turns out,  I've identified mine as creating jobs.”

Help in Many Forms

James spoke of the “give first” mentality at TechStars, where companies are encouraged to ask for and provide help. 

“And that resonates with our DNA here, too,” James says. “If there's a New Brunswick or an Atlantic Canadian company, stop what you're doing to help first.”

One of the other great things accelerators provide are connections, something Beauceron has benefitted from, especially from its involvement in the Rogers Cybersecurity Catalyst, where they met the U.S. chief security officer for Microsoft.

Beauceron has become a Microsoft partner, and will bring new technologies to market this year that integrate with the tech giant’s products. David calls it a “whole new opportunity” to work with large enterprises via Microsoft and make Beauceron products available in its digital store. Exciting stuff!

We closed the show much the way we started: talking about people and culture and how these two leaders are building organizations based on transparency and mentorship, as well as excellence.  

Honestly, I found this conversation so interesting and inspiring. It breaks down myths about tech and tech careers. And it just keeps building on that narrative we’re hearing throughout TechTalks, that big things are happening in our small region.  We’re building a strong cybersecurity cluster and are fortunate to have leaders like James and David here living out their passions and creating opportunities for others.

You’ll definitely want to check out our full conversation by clicking here to listen.

Here's a peek at some of the highlights from this episode:

• [06:22]: David on building his team by surrounding himself with people who are smarter than him. “My job is to get out of their way.”

• [13:19]:  James on AI, and its particular vulnerabilities to cyberattack. 

• [17:27]: David on Beauceron’s “secret sauce” of developing a personal risk score that works like a fitness rating on your Fitbit.

• [26:59]:  James provides some real-life AI cybersecurity examples.

• [33:25]: David breaks down how the CIA–confidentiality, integrity and availability– of data shows up in cybersecurity breaches. 

• [42:26]: James on the mix of technical skills and grit in the local talent pool.

Don't Miss an Episode.

Do you subscribe to the TechTalks With Cathy Simpson Podcast? If not, please do. Every week, my guests and I cover many different topics around innovation, technology and the future. Click here to listen and subscribe in iTunes. You'll find us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, PodLink and everywhere else you enjoy podcasts.

And sign up for our newsletter to never miss an update.

Links

TrojAI

Beauceron Security

Rogers Cybersecure Catalyst

Energia Ventures

TechStars Montreal AI Accelerator

Cylon

ICBA ThinkTECH

N.B. and the Cybersecurity Boom

Does the term “cybersecurity” bring to mind high-tech espionage? Or darkly obscure systems that mysteriously keep our internet safe?

While it may sound complicated or remote, cybersecurity is actually pretty straightforward. And it is all around us, including right here in New Brunswick, which has a promising and growing cluster or center of excellence happening that’s been building over the past several years.

 That’s why I had to kick off our TechTalks cybersecurity mini-series with two local cyber leaders: Larry Shaw, CEO of Ignite Fredericton and Knowledge Park, and Tyson Johnson, CEO of CyberNB. My guests for Episode 13 explained in simple terms what cybersecurity is, why it is increasingly important, and how that need is driving great opportunity for our region.  

 We started our discussion on–what else?–COVID-19. As Tyson says, the pandemic has “put an exclamation point on how important resiliency and trust is in the digital economy.”

 So true. We are more aware than ever of how deeply we rely on digital technology to work, learn, and socialize. (Imagine how different a pre-internet pandemic would have been from the highly connected, yet still distanced, one we are living through).

 “I don't think you can name one organization, one individual, one job, one industry or location, one global footprint that cyber has not impacted,” Larry says.

 Cybersecurity is so common it’s easy to take it for granted. But all of those networks and technologies, from the WiFi in our homes to digital banking and big critical infrastructures like the power grid, work because of cybersecurity. We only notice cybersecurity when it fails and we see the fallout as a result.

“There's a lot of moving parts to make sure that resiliency and that continued security of devices and technologies is omnipresent and always available,” Tyson says. “And that's created this massive growth opportunity in cybersecurity.”

One recent prediction: there will be 3.5 million unfilled cybersecurity jobs globally by 2021, compared to one million openings in 2014. And these are high-paying, interesting, complex, ever-changing and in-demand jobs.

Here in New Brunswick, there is a big push by CyberNB, Ignite and other organizations to become a national leader in this exploding industry.

We are a small province, but our comparative advantages that Tyson and Larry described are significant. Along with strong applied research institutions, we have critical infrastructures such as utilities and industry, big telcos, and vertically integrated energy companies. Add to that access to government leadership and our business community’s famously supportive culture, and it’s a pretty compelling package.

CyberNB and Ignite are racing to meet the demand by working with the government, industry, and academia.

With an eye on the widening jobs pipeline, CyberNB’s education programs start as early as elementary school to teach the next generation about digital citizenship, STEM skills and future job prospects.

They are a national leader in CyberTitan, a Canadian cybersecurity competition for middle and high schoolers. It proved so popular they created a feeder program, the CyberDefence League.

And that activity continues into post-secondary.

“Universities and colleges now understand what skills and competencies to build into their programs,” Tyson says, “so they're graduating students who can walk into tech jobs.”

TechImpact is doing our part to respond to the looming jobs shortfall. We just announced the Bell Research Intensive Cyber Knowledge Studies (BRICKS) program at the Canadian Institute for Cybersecurity (CIC) at the University of New Brunswick with our partners Bell, UNB, and ACOA. BRICKS gives students a Masters of Applied Cybersecurity, scholarship funding, a four-month research internship and, ultimately, a full-time job offer.

Then there are the bricks-and-mortar pieces, such as the high-security Cyber Centre in Knowledge Park, Fredericton’s innovation district, which CyberNB will soon call home.

“We have to drink our own champagne here, as we're taking a significant footprint inside the building,” Tyson says. Along with offices, there will be centres for training and operations and the recently announced CyberHatch Incubator and Accelerator.

“When you put people in close proximity you get these magical collisions starting to happen,” Larry says.

It’s an understatement to say a LOT is happening in this busy space.

A huge thank you to Tyson and Larry for setting the stage for our cybersecurity mini-series and grounding us on the work their organizations are leading to build this cluster. Next up, we’ll meet some founders who are leading local cybersecurity companies, and we’ll be learning more about educational programs to build up these skills.

Meanwhile, check out our full conversation by clicking here to listen.

Here's a peek at some of the highlights from this episode:

• >>[06:10]:  Tyson explains cybersecurity in simple terms.

• >>[16:30]:  Larry on how partnerships help accelerate and incubate companies.

• >>[24:03]: Tyson on the many partners and programs that will work out of the Cyber Centre.

• >>[28:36]:  Larry describes the enormous job prospects in cyber.

• >>[32:00]: Tyson predicts that in the future, we may not even use the term cybersecurity, as it will be so ubiquitous and embedded. 

• >>[34:14]: Larry on why there’s more opportunity now than ever.

 Don't Miss an Episode.

Do you subscribe to the TechTalks With Cathy Simpson Podcast? If not, please do. Every week, my guests and I cover many different topics around innovation, technology and the future economy. Click here to listen and subscribe in iTunes. You'll find us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, PodLink and everywhere else you enjoy podcasts.

 And sign up for our newsletter to never miss an update.

Links

Canadian Institute for Cybersecurity (CIC)

CyberHatch Accelerator & Incubator

Cyber Center

BRICKS

CyberTitan

Cybersecurity Program Connects Students and Business to Address Growing Cybersecurity Jobs Gap

For Immediate Release

January 15, 2021

Bell first private sector partner with initial $1.2 million commitment 

FREDERICTON–-A unique program at the Canadian Institute for Cybersecurity (CIC) at the University of New Brunswick is responding to the looming shortfall of cybersecurity talent in New Brunswick and beyond by connecting highly skilled students with companies operating in Atlantic Canada.

The Bell Research Intensive Cyber Knowledge Studies (BRICKS) program provides students with a Masters of Applied Cybersecurity, scholarship funding, a four-month research internship and, ultimately, a full-time job offer.

“Growing the talent pool is a key component of Atlantic Canada becoming a cybersecurity hub,” said Cathy Simpson, CEO of TechImpact. “TechImpact is thrilled to be partnering on this exciting pilot project that supports students and industry alike with a focus on developing our much-needed talent pipeline.”

“Cybersecurity is an area of huge economic potential,” said René Arseneault, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages. “That’s why we’re committed to supporting the development of cybersecurity solutions, education, and infrastructure, through programs like this one. By working closely with provincial partners, industry, and learning institutions, we can help build a strong, agile cybersecurity sector here in Atlantic Canada and across the country.”

In August of 2019, the Government of Canada, through the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency announced $997,000 over three years to support the program through curriculum development, industry-specific training, experiential learning opportunities and program management.

Bell is BRICKS’s corporate partner, committing $1.2 million over three years. This initial investment will offer scholarship opportunities and specialized training and research projects for graduate students in the cybersecurity program. Upon graduation, these students will be offered full-time employment in Bell’s security and IT lines of business.

“As Canada’s largest communications company and provider of the country’s most advanced broadband communications networks, Bell is a leader in the research and development of security and IT technology,” said Glen LeBlanc, Bell’s Vice Chair Atlantic. “We look forward to working with our partners at UNB to support the next generation of Canadian cybersecurity talent and welcoming them to the Bell team.”

Cybersecurity is a rapidly growing field, with 3.5 million unfilled positions projected globally in 2021. New Brunswick is emerging as a national leader in cybersecurity with a strong cluster of partners in business, academia, government and business.

“Canadians must feel confident that their online information is held securely and that their privacy is protected,” said Dr. Ali Ghorbani, Canada Research Chair in Cybersecurity, University of New Brunswick and Founding Director at the Canadian Institute for Cybersecurity. “Cybersecurity is an issue that concerns us all, and the Canadian Institute for Cybersecurity is working diligently to provide the next generation of leaders in this important sector, something that will be made easier through the partnership with industry that we are seeing in the BRICKS program.”

For more information or to arrange an interview, please contact:

 Cathy Simpson, CEO, TechImpact

506-650-2540

cathy.simpson@techimpact.it

Isabelle Boulet, Bell

506-457-5554

isabelle.boulet@bellaliant.ca

@Bell_News

Dominique Bouchard, Communications Officer

Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency

506-478-7240

Dominique.bouchard@canada.ca

Hugh Hicks, UNB/CIC

506-458-7047

Hugh.hicks@unb.ca

About the Canadian Institute for Cybersecurity

The Canadian Institute for Cybersecurity, founded in 2017 at UNB, is the first of its kind to bring together researchers and practitioners from across the academic spectrum to share innovative ideas, create disruptive technology and carry out groundbreaking research into the most pressing cybersecurity challenges of our time.

About TechImpact

TechImpact is an industry-led organization with a mission to help Atlantic Canada embrace and accelerate technology adoption and innovation as the cornerstone of our economic future. Its work focuses on workforce development, fostering innovation and building business.

About Bell

Bell is Canada’s largest communications company, providing advanced broadband wireless, TV, Internet and business communication services throughout the country. Bell Media is Canada’s premier multimedia company with leading assets in television, radio, out of home and digital media. Founded in Montréal in 1880, Bell is wholly owned by BCE Inc. To learn more, please visit Bell.ca or BCE.ca.

The Bell Let’s Talk initiative promotes Canadian mental health with national awareness and anti-stigma campaigns like Bell Let’s Talk Day– scheduled for January 28 this year – and significant Bell funding of community care and access, research and workplace leadership initiatives throughout the country. To learn more, please visit Bell.ca/LetsTalk.

Programme sur la cybersécurité mettant en relation des étudiants et des entreprises pour trouver une solution à la pénurie de talents dans le domaine

15 janvier 2021

Bell est le premier partenaire du secteur privé avec un engagement initial de 1,2 M$

FREDERICTON--Un programme unique mis en place par le Canadian Institute for Cybersecurity (CIC), à l’Université du Nouveau-Brunswick (UNB), vise à répondre à la pénurie de talents qui s’annonce dans le domaine de la cybersécurité au Nouveau-Brunswick et ailleurs en mettant en contact des étudiants hautement qualifiés avec des entreprises qui opèrent au Canada atlantique.

Le programme Bell Research Intensive Cyber Knowledge Studies (BRICKS) permet en effet à des étudiants d’obtenir une maîtrise en cybersécurité appliquée, des bourses d’études, des stages de recherche de quatre mois et, au final, une offre d’emploi à temps plein.

« Pour que le Canada atlantique devienne un véritable pôle en matière de cybersécurité, il faut multiplier le nombre de talents, a déclaré Cathy Simpson, PDG de TechImpact. TechImpact est heureuse de s’associer à ce projet pilote très intéressant qui vise à soutenir à la fois les étudiants et l’industrie et qui met l’accent sur l’accroissement du nombre de talents indispensables. »

« La cybersécurité est un domaine au potentiel économique énorme », a déclaré René Arseneault, Secrétaire parlementaire de la ministre du Développement économique et des Langues officielles. « C’est pourquoi nous nous engageons à soutenir le développement de solutions, d’éducation et d’infrastructure de cybersécurité, par le biais de programmes comme celui-ci. En travaillant en étroite collaboration avec les partenaires provinciaux, l'industrie et les établissements d'enseignement, nous pouvons contribuer à bâtir un secteur de la cybersécurité solide et agile ici au Canada atlantique et partout au pays. »

En août 2019, le gouvernement du Canada, par l'entremise de l'Agence de promotion économique du Canada atlantique, a annoncé 997 000 $ sur trois ans afin de soutenir le programme par l'élaboration de programmes d'études, des formations sectorielles, des possibilités d'apprentissage par l'expérience ainsi que la gestion des programmes.

Bell, qui est l’entreprise partenaire de BRICKS, s’est engagée à verser 1,2 M$ sur trois ans pour le programme. Cet investissement initial permettra d’offrir aux étudiants inscrits au programme des possibilités de bourses, des formations spécialisées ainsi que des projets de recherche. Une fois diplômés, ces étudiants se verront offrir un emploi à temps plein au sein des services de sécurité et des TI de Bell.

« Étant la plus grande entreprise de communications du Canada et le fournisseur des réseaux de communication à large bande les plus évolués du pays, Bell est un chef de file en matière de recherche et de développement pour les technologies de sécurité et les TI, a indiqué Glen LeBlanc, vice-président exécutif, région Atlantique. Nous nous réjouissons de pouvoir travailler avec nos partenaires à l’UNB pour soutenir la nouvelle génération de talents en cybersécurité et l’accueillir au sein de l’équipe Bell. »

La cybersécurité est un domaine en pleine croissance, et on prévoit qu’il y aura 3,5 millions de postes vacants dans le monde en 2021. À l’échelle nationale, le Nouveau-Brunswick est en train de devenir un véritable chef de file en matière de cybersécurité grâce à un solide groupe de partenaires dans le monde des entreprises, les universités et le gouvernement.

« Les Canadiens doivent être certains que leurs renseignements en ligne sont sécurisés et que leur confidentialité est protégée, a indiqué le Dr Ali Ghorbani, titulaire de la Chaire de recherche du Canada en cybersécurité, à l’Université du Nouveau-Brunswick, et directeur fondateur du Canadian Institute for Cybersecurity. La cybersécurité est une question qui nous concerne tous, et le Canadian Institute for Cybersecurity travaille sans relâche pour former la nouvelle génération de leaders dans ce secteur important, ce qui facilitera le partenariat avec l’industrie dans le cadre du programme BRICKS. »

Pour en savoir plus ou obtenir une entrevue, veuillez vous adresser à :

Cathy Simpson, PDG, TechImpact

506-650-2540

cathy.simpson@techimpact.it

Isabelle Boulet, Bell

506-457-5554

isabelle.boulet@bellaliant.ca

@Bell_Nouvelles

Dominique Bouchard, Agente des communications

Agence de promotion économique du Canada atlantique
506-478-7240

Dominique.bouchard@canada.ca

Hugh Hicks, UNB/CIC

506-458-7047

Hugh.hicks@unb.ca

À propos du Canadian Institute for Cybersecurity

Le Canadian Institute for Cybersecurity, qui a été créé en 2017 à l’UNB, est le premier du genre à réunir des chercheurs et des praticiens du monde universitaire pour partager des idées innovantes, créer des technologies de rupture et mener des recherches novatrices afin de pouvoir relever les défis les plus urgents en matière de cybersécurité.

À propos de TechImpact

TechImpact est une organisation sectorielle ayant pour mission d’aider le Canada atlantique à adopter et à accélérer les innovations technologiques en tant qu’élément fondamental de l’avenir économique. Son travail vise à développer la main-d’œuvre, à favoriser les innovations et à faire croître les entreprises.

À propos de Bell

Bell est la plus grande entreprise de communications du Canada. Elle fournit un ensemble évolué de services sans fil, de télévision, Internet et de communications d’affaires large bande partout au pays. Première entreprise canadienne de services multimédias, Bell Média possède des actifs de premier plan dans les secteurs de la télévision, de la radio, de l’affichage et des médias numériques. Fondée à Montréal en 1880, Bell est la propriété exclusive de BCE Inc. Pour en savoir plus, visitez Bell.ca ou BCE.ca.

L’initiative Bell Cause pour la cause fait la promotion de la santé mentale au Canada par des campagnes nationales de sensibilisation et de lutte contre la stigmatisation comme la Journée Bell Cause pour la cause, prévue le 28 janvier cette année, et par le versement de dons importants pour les soins communautaires et l’accès à ces derniers, la recherche et les initiatives de leadership en milieu de travail à l’échelle du pays. Pour en savoir plus, visitez Bell.ca/Cause.

Top Tips to Land Your Next Job

We recently had the pleasure of sitting down with tech sector veterans Brian Dunphy, Senior Director of Product Development at Cvent, and Ryan Strynatka, SVP and COO of the Salesforce Marketing Cloud on the TechTalks podcast. The theme of our conversation revolved around technology job interviews and employer expectations, we pulled some awesome advice from the conversation and created this infographic with Resume Do’s and Interview Tips! Please feel free to share it out!

If you want to hear more, check out the podcast episode here:

Insider Advice for Tech Job-Seekers

If landing your dream job in tech is a goal for 2021, this show is for you!

On the latest TechTalks Podcast, I’m joined by two industry veterans with years of hiring experience at software companies. Brian Dunphy, senior director of product development at Cvent, and Ryan Strynatka, SVP and COO of the Salesforce Marketing Cloud, offer up a goldmine of insights on how to wow potential employers.

We dig deep, exploring the breadth of opportunities and so much more. Too often, students or job seekers get hung up on their technical or engineering experience. But careers in tech go far beyond programming as we’ve been highlighting in our podcasts. I loved how Brian described each job function as a pillar of the software development process that’s tracking towards a common goal. And how Ryan said that when it comes to working in this sector, it’s not one career, but many, so adaptability is critical for growth and career progression.

In fact, some of the most valued skills they described might surprise you. I’m talking about those so-called “soft skills” or as I like to call them “employability skills” like emotional intelligence, empathy, passion, hustle, drive and humility.

Brian Dunphy

Ryan Strynatka

This episode is jam-packed with actionable advice. From resumes and the power of your LinkedIn profile to the value of your community and life experience, the need to embrace lifelong learning and some cringe-worthy candidate fails you will want to avoid in interviews, it’s all here.

Ryan and Brian’s Top Tips to Land Your Next Job

Resume Dos

• Share your “lateral” skills/experience, including team-based and extracurricular activities.

• Cut the fluff: Don’t inflate your experience or add irrelevant details to puff it up.

• Pay attention to detail: Edit typos and formatting inconsistencies.

• Illustrate your passion for the field through your volunteer and work experience.

• Demonstrate your adaptability and willingness to learn and try new things.

• Show how you bring a “servant leadership” approach.

• Keep your LinkedIn profile up-to-date.

Interview Advice

• Think of the interview as a pitch: You’re the salesperson and the product is you. What value do you bring? How does your experience show this?

• Do your research: Learn about the company, products, industry, emerging trends, competition, etc. This is a must-do.

• Don’t be modest: Without seeming egotistical, you need to articulate how your experiences would benefit the role.

• Define your goals: Be prepared to talk about the kind of job you want and the type of team you want to work with.

• Be patient: Hiring can be a long process that may include a screening call with a hiring manager, testing for skills and things like cognitive aptitudes, and multiple interviews.

• Brainstorm questions: Prepare for both theoretical, scenario-based and experience-based types of questions.

• Get personal: Share how your volunteering, travel and other life experiences relate to the role.

• Be honest. Don’t misrepresent your experience or degree of expertise. Admit what you don’t know.

• Don’t bad-mouth previous employers: This makes you seem difficult and hostile.

• Think about times you felt pride: What goals did you achieve? What value did you bring to the team?

• Don’t fixate on compensation: Pay is important, but too much pay talk can make it seem like you’re only interested in the money, not the role.

• Show your passion: Bring your energy, enthusiasm, hustle and drive to the interview.

• Understand the size/stage of the employer: Startups are often seeking generalists, while established firms may be looking for more specific skills.

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5 Big Takeaways from 2020

At the end of a year unlike any other, I’ve been reflecting on the impact of COVID-19 on our region and, of course, in particular on our innovation agenda and tech sector.

There have been some real glimmers of hope and success among the stress and challenges. Never before have our unique advantages in Atlantic Canada been so clear.

What shines brightest is how this remarkable year has confirmed our people’s resilience and our industry’s potential. The pandemic shone a spotlight on our strengths, lighting the way forward.  Sounds a bit cheesy but guess what, it’s true.

This year brought more compassion and kindness in our everyday living, and I hope it continues into 2021.  What a gift it would be for all of us.  Hearing people’s stories brings such insight into where they have been.  We learn their personal perspectives.  It also gives us an opportunity to pause because when we listen to their stories, something often resonates inside each of us.  We relate in some way.  Through the TechTalks Podcast and blog and a host of other platforms, so many stories about our region and the people who make it great were shared.  And we’re just getting started. 

Here are some personal reflections about what this year has confirmed to me:  

1.    Our People Are Our Superpower

You hear it all the time: our community is supportive, welcoming and sharing.

Sometimes, when something is repeated over and over, you start to question it. Is this true? Is it really so special? Isn’t it like this everywhere?

It’s not. And the benefits of our culture of connection go beyond feeling good about being friendly. The results are tangible. Our ecosystem’s welcoming and generous nature results in a kind of altruism that’s rare and authentic. It means people are willing to give of themselves for the greater good. That the people who surround you believe that your ability to stay, grow and thrive is not only your success. It is theirs. They are invested in you.

This year, we saw how this neighbourliness is rooted in our broader culture.  When COVID-19  stay-at-home orders tested everyone’s commitment to each other, we passed with flying colours. We truly are in this together.

2.    We Are a Remote-Work Haven

While city-dwellers the world over rattled their condo cages, New Brunswickers were enjoying room to move indoors and outside. For the price of a downtown flat in Toronto or Vancouver, a home (with a home office with a door and a water view) is in reach here. Along with affordable housing and a competitive cost of living, there’s a high quality of life here, too, in our cozy cities, good schools and safe neighbourhoods.

As remote-work and hybrid models are widely becoming accepted, and the ability to work from anywhere increases, Atlantic Canada makes sense to both employers and staff.  Global companies can be based here and enjoy a lower cost of doing business and other advantages while still having an international workforce. And remote workers can swap condos and commutes for the Atlantic Canada good life.

In a world where you can work anywhere, work here. It’s affordable, beautiful, welcoming and safe.

3.    We Are a Small Place Where Big Things Happen.

Gordon Pitt’s fantastic new book, ‘Unicorn in the Woods,’ charted the thrilling rise of Radian 6 and Q1 Labs, the two biggest exits in New Brunswick history, totalling nearly $1 billion. Today, those sales are still motivating founders as examples that it can happen here. And then the darling of 2020 was Verafin!  WOW. WOW. WOW.  What else is there to say?

We punch above our weight for start-up growth, and with our incubators and accelerators, we’ve got the structure and support to do even more.

While being located far from the centre of things (according to some) has some drawbacks, such as arduous business travel, it brings benefits: the space to work, and without the distractions of the Silicon Valley or Waterloo scene. Our entrepreneurs aren’t drinking from the same well as those in other dense tech locales. There’s an independence of thought. 

Plus, there’s a culture of hard work, inventiveness, and resilience from coming up in a small and struggling place. We often shy away from talking about some of our region’s challenges, but pearls come from grit, right?

4.    Our Ecosystem is Mature and Resilient

A healthy ecosystem relies on a diverse mix of organisms, which is as true in the tech sector as it is in the natural world.  Atlantic Canada is home to a thriving network of tech professionals, mentors, support organizations, and funding partners. Together, we are growing the industry and successfully incubating and accelerating new companies and building clusters of expertise.

Our experience with building successful companies from idea to exit is significant. We know how to start-up and scale-up. Our entrepreneurial mindset and successes demonstrate the capability that’s been building for over 20 years, with IT companies of all sizes working alongside locally headquartered multi-nationals to create a critical mass of technology excellence.

5.    The Future is Bright

The pandemic has accelerated digital transformation, the ways we learn, live and work. What would have previously taken months, if not years, is happening in far shorter timelines. As every aspect of our lives becomes increasingly digital, opportunities abound. And we are ready.

We have the people and talent. We have the infrastructure. We have the history. We have the companies. Our doors are open here in Atlantic Canada.  We welcome your ideas, your culture, and your experience. 

2021 - let’s do this 2021.  We’re ready to go.