BLACK BUSINESS
SUMMIT Staff contributed Photography by Paul Adams
Halifax 2019
Opening Plenary: Shifting Tides
Host: Kevin Hewitt, Dalhousie professor and Chair of Senate, Panelists: Nadine Spencer, President of the Black Business and Professional Association (BBPA) and CEO of BrandEQ Agency and Alexandra McCann, the Executive Director of Organization for Nova Scotia Innovation Driven Entrepreneurship (ONSIDE). The panelists spoke about differentiating from the competition to thrive in the 4th Industrial Revolution, classifying this iteration of the Industrial Revolution as a rapid transformation and acceleration of innovation and technology. Key takeaways from this session included: that the disruption is changing how we connect and engage and many systems and businesses are not ready. In the future marketplace, new and emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, big data, nanotechnology and others will have a huge impact as many jobs may become obsolete. The digital revolution will be fierce and if businesses are not ready, they can become extinct.
The 10th biennial Black Business Summit energized the audience leaving them with new connections, additional skills, and new inspirations.
No matter the size of the business, companies need to prepare for the digital age - and this could be a small start. If businesses are attached to the way they are operating or the status quo, the business will suffer. People and businesses should be flexible, and organizations should invest in their staff to help them participate fully in the industrial revolution. Learning new skills especially in communication will be imperative.
Chaired by Ross Simmonds, internationally recognized entrepreneur and Digital Strategist, the 2019 Black Business Summit’s theme and workshops spoke to the rapidly changing economic ecosystem. Experts from across Nova Scotia, Canada, and even traveling from Atlanta, Georgia shared their knowledge on effectively seizing local and international opportunities, developing innovative strategies, and incorporating technology into any organization.
BLACK to BUSINESS
They suggested that companies open to innovation should invest in people and invest in their customers. It is very important to let the stakeholders, such as the clients, know and see you use technology.
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Summer 2019