In collaboration with Manitoba Start, we offer 3 PitchLab sessions (spring, fall, winter) to help Manitoba’s newcomers learn how to showcase their international Interactive Digital Media (IDM) skills to Canadian employers.

This free weeklong in-person hands-on program culminates with a final capstone project where you’ll meet IDM industry leaders and present your career pitch.

The PitchLab program covers:

• Resume creation with a focus on highlighting your international IDM, tech, and transferrable skills
• Networking skills
• LinkedIn
• Interview prep
• Mock interviews
• Pitch prep including how to pitch yourself in different environments 

Next Info Session: May 26th @ MB Start

Next PitchLab runs from June 8th – 12th from 9am to noon with a Capstone Pitch Event on the evening of June 17th at New Media Manitoba’s StudioLab xR.

Connect with MB Start to find out how you can jumpstart your international knowledge in the Canadian landscape.

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Winnipeg has remarkable creative talent, emerging tech leadership, and strong community values. Now is the moment to shape how AI intersects with human creativity — before the conversation is shaped for us.

The AI + Creativity + Ethics (ACE) Club fosters a trusted, welcoming space where creatives, educators, students, technologists, policymakers, and whoever feels called can come together to explore AI’s capabilities alongside the ethical and societal implications of its use.

This group is particularly focused on AI’s evolving impact on creative work and those who make it, and strives to remain grounded in mutual respect and ethical responsibility for all humans.

WHAT TO EXPECT

A welcoming, inclusive space that embraces diverse perspectives and is grounded in mutual respect for human creativity

Member-led discussion topics

“What We’ve Learned” reflection

Clear next steps to contribute to the broader community

Upcoming opportunities to engage across Manitoba’s AI, creative, and ethics ecosystem

As interest and membership grow, we will invite guest speakers aligned with our mission

WHAT TO KNOW OR BRING

Curiosity, creativity, and ethical reflection

This club brings together community members who are curious about shaping how AI influences creative practice, education, and ethical decision-making

The goal is not only to exchange ideas, but to translate shared insights into meaningful action that benefits Manitobans

We welcome all voices who want to create a welcoming, inclusive space open to differing perspectives, founded in mutual respect for human creativity and innovation

About the hosts:

AI + Creativity + Ethics (ACE) Winnipeg is hosted by a group of Founding Members dedicated to creating a trusted, welcoming space to explore not only what AI can do, but what it should and should not do, in the creative industry — grounded in mutual respect for human creativity and innovation.

This Event’s Founders Include:

Sara Berger
Sara is a Business Consultant passionate about connecting ideas and people to create momentum, whether inside organizations or across Manitoba’s innovation and non-profit communities. She believes meaningful progress comes from asking thoughtful questions, listening well, and simply doing the next right thing.

Ari Quinn
Ari is a graphic designer and illustrator who designs with intention, not just aesthetics. Her work is illustration-driven and rooted in problem-solving, helping turn complex and sensitive information into visuals that feel clear and approachable.

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New Media Manitoba’s AI Adoption Project is funded by Prairies Economic Development Canada | Développement économique Canada pour les Prairies.

Proudly supported by:

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Manitoba Women in Tech and Wawanesa invite you to: Betting on Yourself: Risk-Taking in Careers

Career growth in tech and business demands calculated risk-taking. Betting on Yourself brings together senior leaders from Wawanesa to unpack what it looks like to step into opportunities before you feel ready, make high-impact decisions in complex environments, and transform failure into a strategic advantage. This panel discussion is designed to challenge risk-averse thinking and equip attendees with practical approaches to advancing their careers with confidence.

Session Focus Areas

• Stepping Up Before You’re Ready: Recognizing and acting on stretch opportunities despite imposter syndrome
• High-Stakes Decision-Making: Frameworks for navigating complex, technical, and business-critical choices
• Learning from Failure: Creating feedback loops and leveraging psychologically safe environments for growth
• Confidence in Practice: Tools to build credibility, resilience, and leadership presence

Panelists from Wawanesa

• Kimberly Palatnick, SVP, Chief Personal Lines Officer
• Yelena Kropivnitskaya, VP, Advanced Analytics
• Lucy Hathaway, VP, Business Development 

Moderated by Ramneet Mavi, Director, Application Delivery – Enterprise Solutions 

Key Takeaways

• Practical strategies for evaluating and taking career risks
• Insight into executive-level decision-making under pressure
• Techniques to overcome imposter syndrome and build confidence
• Real-world examples of failure reframed as growth 

This event is proudly sponsored by the Women+ Employee Resource Group at Wawanesa Insurance, an initiative rooted in the organization’s broader commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. Through programs like this, Wawanesa actively creates space for underrepresented voices, supports leadership development, and fosters a culture where individuals are empowered to take meaningful risks in their careers. Betting on Yourself is hosted in partnership with Manitoba Women in Tech, bringing together community, industry, and leadership to advance inclusive growth across Manitoba’s tech ecosystem. 

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