Paul Kent, President and CEO
Greater Halifax Partnership

(Recognized as being an Advisor to EF and a Strategic Partnership with GHP)

When vision, mission, and action are in alignment, good things happen. Nova Scotia’s Greater Halifax Partnership is dedicated to creating an environment where businesses large and small can thrive. The Partnership is also a key community contributor to Entrepreneurs’ Forum. Paul Kent is President and CEO for the Partnership, and he has been an EF Advisor for 15 years.Paul believes that mentorship is a key component of building strong business.  In Paul’s vision of EF, the words Mentor and Advisor are interchangeable.  He says, “The EF environment provides clients with access to credible mentors who take the time to pause and give advice as a way of giving back.  In that spirit, I became involved, and at that time I was working with the Province of Nova Scotia.   It has been a privilege:  I love creative thinking and ideas.  I am often awed by the courage and conviction entrepreneurs have about their ideas, and I respect the fact that EF counsel is honest and fair, but frank.”

Paul sees the EF Advisory Session process as one of empowerment.  Paul says, “For young entrepreneurs particularly, starting a business is daunting on so many levels.  Some clients are just getting on with learning how to speak publicly when their sessions take place, and they’re talking with leading experts in relevant fields.  It’s an exposed position to be in for the entrepreneur.  But then, once the session gets going and it becomes clear that the Advisors want success for the entrepreneur, you can see their shoulders relax.  Then the real dialogue begins.”

And the real dialogue is beneficial to all parties.  “One of the most interesting things about being an EF mentor is what you learn,” says Paul.  “It’s a two-way relationship, and there has been more than one instance that through other Advisors, or the client that I’ve left the session with multiple learnings that I hadn’t anticipated.”

One of the learnings is how businesses are harnessing advancing technologies.  Paul says, “I’ve seen some changes in the way entrepreneurs go about their business.  Now it’s often about leveraging the power of technology and networks.  It’s a very creative process.”

Paul is inspired by the power of technology as it relates to building business.  “So many great things start small.  EF focuses on people who are building something from nothing.  It brings new value to the economic environment.  There is real systemic growth in supporting entrepreneurship and fresh ideas.  In this way, the purpose of EF is sympathetic to the role of the Greater Halifax Partnership.  We know EF is there to help entrepreneurs on a personal level.”