Okoye Franklin aka Bad Friends is a record producer, sound engineer, DJ, musician & songwriter from Halifax.

Bad Friends was recently nominated for “DJ OF THE YEAR”, “ELECTRONIC ARTIST OF THE YEAR”  Awards – MUSIC NOVA SCOTIA and Emerging Artist of the Year – ANSMA.

Supported by Spinnin’ Records and recently signed to One Seven Music, distributed by Sony Music, Bad Friends mixes his Nigerian roots with his new Canadian home in a thunderous heartfelt track that lets EDM and Afrobeat mingle on the dance floor.

Check him out @badfriends_music

Courage has 10+ years of experience in the corporate world in different continents and across sectors. She is currently a Business Development Manager at Futurpreneur and supports Young Entrepreneurs in Nova Scotia in launching their businesses through the organization’s various program offerings.

Courage has developed a number of skill sets in her career journey, and combined with her diverse experience, she is able to support and champion different causes across Africa – first in her home country, Nigeria and two Eastern African countries – Ethiopia and Kenya. Some of these causes include financial literacy training for women and tech education for children.

A lover of art and entrepreneurship, Courage operates a digital media outfit in Halifax and spends her weekends photographing individuals, and helping professionals and small business owners create memorable brands through photography and storytelling.

Courage holds a master’s degree in International Development from The New School, New York, a Bachelor’s degree in Guidance and counselling from the University of Ibadan, Nigeria; and several certificates in finance, Web design, Marketing and Project Management.

In her downtime, Courage enjoys photographing, designing, bead crafting, cooking, reading, volunteering and travelling.

Linda Espinosa Valencia is an equity, diversity and inclusion consultant and alongside Ana Maria Desmasion Cornejo co-founded Ventura Collective. Ventura Collective is a Latine women-owned equity, diversity, and inclusion consulting collective. Ventura utilizes the Diversity and Inclusion ISO 30415 standard to disrupt the current DEI status quo and enact systemic change in organizations.

Linda holds a Marketing and International Business Degree, a Diversity and Inclusion Certification from Cornell University and a Diversity and Inclusion Service Management ISO 30415:2021 certification from the University of Georgia. Linda was the first DEI consultant in Canada to be certified to implement ISO 30415:2021 Diversity and Inclusion Framework in organizations. 

Linda has lived and worked in Mexico, Canada and the US. Living in these three different settings has taught her that differences are what make places and organizations thrive and diversity must be celebrated. She is fluent in both English and Spanish. 

Most recently, Linda joined the Standards Council of Canada (SCC), the national representative to the ISO (International Organization for Standardization). She has introduced the first DEI Certification in Canada, based on the International Standard ISO 30415, specifically for DEI professionals.

Learn more @venturacollectiveltd

 

Deji Majekolagbe, born in 1996 in Lagos, Nigeria, currently resides as a photographer in Halifax, Nova Scotia. His portfolio encompasses a diverse spectrum of photography, including weddings, fashion, street, and portrait photography. Deji’s passion lies in capturing the essence of individuals from various walks of life.

In his creative process, Deji emphasizes the importance of simplicity, aiming to evoke emotions, stillness, and vulnerability through his work. His focus is on showcasing the genuine and best versions of his subjects. In the dynamic and ever-evolving world of photography, Deji is dedicated to finding his unique voice, embracing a journey of continual learning, overcoming failures, and persistent experimentation.

Check him out @dejimajek