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Calling all innovators, tech and non-tech business owners, students, jobseekers, industry and government leaders, recruiters, community members, and more!

We are back! And this time, we are thrilled to host the official after-party for the NACO Summit!

Let’s “talk and tech“ together again on May 6 to celebrate our collaborative community, meet and greet, and build new relationships and opportunities with innovators, entrepreneurs and business owners right across our region.

Join us to mix and mingle with tech, innovation and entrepreneurial enthusiasts alike! Let’s raise a glass together to celebrate our collaborative ecosystem. All are welcome:

• Date: May 9, 2026 (Drop in and out at your leisure)
• Time: 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM
• Location: Beyond the Pale ByWard Market: 21 George St, Ottawa, ON K1N 8W5
• Dress Code: Business Casual
• Parking: Ample street and lot parking is available in the surrounding Market areas.
• Important Information: You DO NOT need a NACO Summit Ticket to gain access; all are welcome and the event is open to the public! If you are currently registered to attend the NACO Summit, email Audrey Willsey at [email protected] to receive your discount code to purchase.
• Ticket proceeds will be donated to Nutritionblocs, whose mission is to ensure that every school-aged child in Ottawa has access to nutritious, affordable and culturally appropriate meals.

With thanks to our partners, you will receive:

• A free drink ticket (redeemable for house wine, draught beer, or soft drinks), and some delicious nibbles while you enjoy an evening of great conversation.
• Additional drinks can be purchased onsite via credit card or cash.

We look forward to collaborating with NACO Canada, who will be bringing back the NACO Summit on May 5-7 at the NAC. A special discount code for Let’s Tech Together can be redeemed with your existing or new purchase of a NACO Summit ticket. Contact Audrey Willsey, at [email protected] for your special discount code today!

This event celebrates and is collaboratively hosted together with amazing partners across our ecosystem including: NACO as our key collaborator together with ADAAWE Indigenous Business Hub, Algonquin College, ByWard Market District Authority, Canadian Black Chamber of Commerce, Carleton University, Capital Angel Network, Chngemker Hub, Elevate International, Immigrant Entrepreneur Canada, Innovation Gatineau, Invest Ottawa, Kanata North Business Association, La Cité, Launch Lab, L-SPARK, One9, Ottawa Coalition of Business Improvement Areas (OCOBIA), Ottawa Tourism, Ottawa Board of Trade, Queens University, SheBoot, St. Lawrence College, Techopia – Ottawa Business Journal, Teknowave, University of Ottawa, and Wesley Clover.

What You Can Expect:

• Conversations with Ottawa’s best and brightest tech, innovation and entrepreneurial leaders from across the region.
• Cold beverages and light snacks.
• An agenda-free evening! This night is all about you and opportunities to connect with amazing people across our community.

Sincere thanks to all partners that inspire, build and impact our ecosystem. We are very grateful for all contributions and look forward to achieving even greater impact together this year and beyond! We look forward to welcoming you.

Note: This event page is for the virtual option of our hybrid model. Click here to go to the in-person event page.

About this workshop:

Are you struggling to create a marketing strategy that truly connects with your audience?
Do you find yourself facing roadblocks that prevent you from building brand loyalty and driving consistent revenue growth? In today’s fast-paced, AI-driven market, entrepreneurs need more than just a great product – they need a strategy that uses AI to build lasting relationships with customers, delivering personalized experiences at scale.

Invest Ottawa is excited to host Lubna Forzley, Founder and CEO of Stories, for an exclusive deep dive into AI-powered marketing strategies. Drawing from her experience with Coca-Cola – an iconic global brand – Lubna will guide you through the critical elements of developing a 360-degree marketing plan.

Discover how AI can amplify your storytelling, streamline your content strategy, and personalize customer experiences, transforming your brand’s presence and driving sustainable growth.

Key Takeaways:

• Learn from Coca-Cola’s Success: Gain insights from Lubna Forzley, Founder of Stories and Coca-Cola alum, as she unpacks the strategies behind building a brand that resonates globally.
• Harness AI for Smarter Marketing: Explore how AI tools can supercharge your content creation, customer segmentation, and real-time data analysis.
• Build a 360-Degree Marketing Plan: Leave with an actionable roadmap – integrating AI and traditional strategies – to elevate your brand’s influence and grow your business.

About the speaker:

Lubna is the Founder and CEO of Stories, a coaching and mental health platform that was proudly recognized as the Most Innovative Mental Health Tech for 2023 by Mentl. With a unique career spanning marketing and coaching, she combines her expertise to grow organizations, while growing their leaders.

A passionate advocate for growth and transformation, Lubna is an ICF-accredited (PCC) coach and a certified practitioner in Dr. Gabor Maté’s Compassionate Inquiry Program. She has worked with royalty and leaders from Fortune 500 companies—including Coca-Cola, Google, American Express, BP, Bayer, and Square, BASF, US Department of Airforce, Federal Aviation Administration and CVC Health Corporation

With over 20 years of leadership and consulting experience, Lubna has held regional executive positions at Coca-Cola, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and BNP Paribas, as well as advising startups across various industries, including e-commerce, FMCG, banking, and human development. As a Coca-Cola alumna, she spent years building the iconic brand and driving impactful initiatives.

Speaking and Thought Leadership:

Lubna is a globally recognized speaker, having delivered hundreds of talks worldwide, including two TEDx talks. She has engaged with organizations like Johnson & Johnson, Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Center, Endeavor, Invest Ottawa, and TiE, among others. She has hosted global conferences and roundtables featuring luminaries such as Sophie Grégoire Trudeau, Dr. Gabor Maté, and over 40 household names. Additionally, she has shared stages with notable figures like Steve Wozniak, co-founder of Apple.

Published Work and Media Features:

Lubna is the author of Enhancing Business Community Relations, published by the United Nations Development Programme, and is currently working on her next book, Crack It, which delves into the power of transformation. Her insights have been featured in major outlets, including Associated Press, Fast Company, and Entrepreneur Magazine, as well as in the book Something to Believe In: Creating Trust and Hope in Organizations.

Advocacy and Personal Life:

As a board member for griefstories.org, Lubna continues her mission to foster meaningful change. A tireless advocate for women in leadership, she is also a proud mother of three, balancing her professional and personal life with grace.

*Please note that you will receive an email with the link to join this webinar upon registering and before the session. If you do not receive it, please check your junk mailbox.

Note: This event page is for the in-person option of our hybrid model. Click here to go to the virtual event page.

About this workshop:

Are you struggling to create a marketing strategy that truly connects with your audience?
Do you find yourself facing roadblocks that prevent you from building brand loyalty and driving consistent revenue growth? In today’s fast-paced, AI-driven market, entrepreneurs need more than just a great product – they need a strategy that uses AI to build lasting relationships with customers, delivering personalized experiences at scale.

Invest Ottawa is excited to host Lubna Forzley, Founder and CEO of Stories, for an exclusive deep dive into AI-powered marketing strategies. Drawing from her experience with Coca-Cola – an iconic global brand – Lubna will guide you through the critical elements of developing a 360-degree marketing plan.

Discover how AI can amplify your storytelling, streamline your content strategy, and personalize customer experiences, transforming your brand’s presence and driving sustainable growth.

Key Takeaways:

• Learn from Coca-Cola’s Success: Gain insights from Lubna Forzley, Founder of Stories and Coca-Cola alum, as she unpacks the strategies behind building a brand that resonates globally.
• Harness AI for Smarter Marketing: Explore how AI tools can supercharge your content creation, customer segmentation, and real-time data analysis.
• Build a 360-Degree Marketing Plan: Leave with an actionable roadmap – integrating AI and traditional strategies – to elevate your brand’s influence and grow your business.

About the speaker:

Lubna is the Founder and CEO of Stories, a coaching and mental health platform that was proudly recognized as the Most Innovative Mental Health Tech for 2023 by Mentl. With a unique career spanning marketing and coaching, she combines her expertise to grow organizations, while growing their leaders.

A passionate advocate for growth and transformation, Lubna is an ICF-accredited (PCC) coach and a certified practitioner in Dr. Gabor Maté’s Compassionate Inquiry Program. She has worked with royalty and leaders from Fortune 500 companies—including Coca-Cola, Google, American Express, BP, Bayer, and Square, BASF, US Department of Airforce, Federal Aviation Administration and CVC Health Corporation

With over 20 years of leadership and consulting experience, Lubna has held regional executive positions at Coca-Cola, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and BNP Paribas, as well as advising startups across various industries, including e-commerce, FMCG, banking, and human development. As a Coca-Cola alumna, she spent years building the iconic brand and driving impactful initiatives.

Speaking and Thought Leadership:

Lubna is a globally recognized speaker, having delivered hundreds of talks worldwide, including two TEDx talks. She has engaged with organizations like Johnson & Johnson, Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Center, Endeavor, Invest Ottawa, and TiE, among others. She has hosted global conferences and roundtables featuring luminaries such as Sophie Grégoire Trudeau, Dr. Gabor Maté, and over 40 household names. Additionally, she has shared stages with notable figures like Steve Wozniak, co-founder of Apple.

Published Work and Media Features:

Lubna is the author of Enhancing Business Community Relations, published by the United Nations Development Programme, and is currently working on her next book, Crack It, which delves into the power of transformation. Her insights have been featured in major outlets, including Associated Press, Fast Company, and Entrepreneur Magazine, as well as in the book Something to Believe In: Creating Trust and Hope in Organizations.

Advocacy and Personal Life:

As a board member for griefstories.org, Lubna continues her mission to foster meaningful change. A tireless advocate for women in leadership, she is also a proud mother of three, balancing her professional and personal life with grace.