Date & time
Thursday, January 22, 2026
11 a.m. – 3 p.m.
11 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Registration is closed
Workshops & seminars
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Talking Shop: Innovating in the Age of AI
Cost
This event is free.
Organization
Where
J.W. McConnell Building
1400 De Maisonneuve Blvd. W.
4TH SPACE
Accessible location
Yes - See details
Join us for two live podcast recording sessions, hosted by Richard Sejean, Faculty Lecturer at John Molson School of Business, exploring how AI is transforming marketing, creativity, and entrepreneurship. Discover how AI is sparking creativity, boosting productivity, and reshaping the human side of work — creating new opportunities and evolving roles along the way.
Session 1: Marketing & Entrepreneurship (11AM-12PM)
Hear from Nectarios Economakis, Partner at Amiral Ventures and Ben Rodier, CEO at FrontlineIQ on how AI is redefining marketing and entrepreneurship — from new skill sets to faster decision-making and untapped opportunities.
Session 2: Creativity & Engagement (2PM-3PM)
Multiplatinum-selling musician and CEO in the AI space, David Usher shares his perspective on how AI is transforming creativity and engagement in new and unexpected ways.
How can you participate? Join us in person by filling out the Eventbrite or online by registering for the Zoom Meeting or watching live on YouTube.
Have questions? Send them to info.4@concordia.ca
Speakers
David Usher
David Usher is the founder and CEO of Reimagine AI, an artificial intelligence venture studio launched in 2018 that builds AI-powered companies at the intersection of digital immortality, healthcare, and entertainment. He is also the CEO of SecondEcho, a digital immortality platform.
A multiplatinum-selling musician, David has sold more than 1.4 million albums, won four Juno Awards, and reached #1 on charts singing in English, French, and Thai. He is also a best-selling author and an international keynote speaker, traveling worldwide to share insights on creativity, innovation, and the future of AI.
David holds a degree in political science from Simon Fraser University, and his book on creativity and the creative process, Let the Elephants Run: Unlock Your Creativity and Change Everything, is available now.
Nectarios Economakis
Nectarios is a strategy executive with over 20 years of experience in the technology industry. He is currently a partner at Amiral Ventures, scale-up and growth venture capital firm, managed by three VC & technology industry veterans, leading funding rounds with capital and expertise, and partnering with exceptional entrepreneurs to build the next technology flagships.
He also cofounded The PNR, a management consulting firm focused on corporate strategy and M&A. At The PNR, Nectarios advised on several technology transactions and led the strategic planning practice. He also led the value creation practice which was employed by several institutional investment firms and pension funds. Under his leadership, the firm also created an innovative and proprietary software which was used by dozens of leadership teams and board of directors.
Ben Rodier
Entrepreneur with 20 years of experience building companies and developing technology that drives innovation in commerce and retail. As Co-Founder of Salesfloor, I helped redefine the role of sales associates in driving performance and customer engagement. Now, as CEO of FrontlineIQ, I’m focused on unlocking the power of AI sales coaching for distributed sales teams.
Richard Sejean
Richard is a marketing practitioner and faculty lecturer at Concordia University’s John Molson School of Business. With 15+ years helping e-commerce businesses grow and creating marketing campaigns for CPG and retail leaders, he works at the intersection of strategy, execution, and training. Richard has spoken at conferences across North America and published research in the Journal of Business Research and the Journal of Behavioral Decision Making.