Meet the Board: Dan Oshodin
Dan Oshodin is IABC Maritime Canada’s VP Communications. Dan has extensive experience in marketing and communications, gained working in senior roles in global advertising and media agencies with footprints across Africa.
Dan currently manages marketing and business development at Lobster Made Easy Inc, a technology-driven start-up with a mission to revolutionize the consumer packaged seafood industry. With a keen interest in innovation marketing, Dan is passionate about supporting start-ups to implement customer discovery and go-to-market strategy.
What inspired you to get involved with IABC?
I have always been in love with communications and worked on the agency side for over two decades before coming to Canada. When I arrived, I knew I needed to find a platform where I could meet other professionals and make my integration easier. I joined the IABC Ottawa Chapter while I was then enrolled in a graduate program in communication at the University of Ottawa. When I moved East to Halifax, I was on the lookout for a similar platform when I was introduced to the Maritime Canada Chapter President as my Connector in the Halifax Partnership Connector program. I knew I was in the right place and I did not waste time in pursuing the opportunity to continue to build my network while contributing meaningfully to the industry. And I must tell you, it’s been an exciting time working with some of the most talented people I have ever met.
What’s your favourite part of your work?
Working on the marketing side of a startup with a team passionate about revolutionizing the consumer-packaged seafood business, and helping build the business from scratch is exciting. The seafood industry is a new area for me, but I love it! My favourite part of the job is meeting and negotiating with very interesting people across the value chain: fishermen cooperatives, retailers, packaging specialists, shipping providers, export development agencies and investors.
What do you enjoy doing when you are not working?
Outside of work, you are most likely to catch me reading a new book (I love biographies), watching a true crime documentary, or out on the road on my bike discovering new parts of the city.
What's something you geek out about?
I geek out about how much nature is there to enjoy in Nova Scotia. Every direction you turn, you’re less than a 30 minute-walk to a park, trail, waterfront, beach or lake. I have never seen a place with so much of nature to hug. I am always looking out for the next spot to explore.
What’s the most adventurous thing you’ve ever done?
I won’t say I am an adventurous person, but on my first visit to the US and Canada, I drove through the Peace Bridge across the US-Canada border and visited 5 provinces – Ontario, Quebec, Manitoba, Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia – all in one summer. I thought that was an adventure. It was a lot of fun and thrilling to see how large and beautiful this country is.
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