Manu Sharma

After 25 years of deep thinking, introspection, and practice, I’ve embarked on a journey to bring my experiences, values, and ideas to life through writing. "500 Days of Insight and Introspection" reflects my personal and professional commitment to exploring the themes that shape individuals, leaders, and communities.

Spanning from March 2024 to July 2025, this disciplined initiative involves writing a long-form article every day for 500 days. The topics include ideas curated over years,… Show more

After 25 years of deep thinking, introspection, and practice, I’ve embarked on a journey to bring my experiences, values, and ideas to life through writing. "500 Days of Insight and Introspection" reflects my personal and professional commitment to exploring the themes that shape individuals, leaders, and communities.

Spanning from March 2024 to July 2025, this disciplined initiative involves writing a long-form article every day for 500 days. The topics include ideas curated over years, reflections on current events, and personal experiences, forming a tapestry of timely and timeless insights.

Articles are published daily on my blog at: https://manusharma.ca

A key aspect of this journey is my commitment to share my professional strategic coaching and leadership development work for free. In 2024, I pledged to release my strategic toolsets and materials under a CC-BY-NC license. This includes proposal templates, strategy frameworks, coaching tools, teaching materials, measurement frameworks, and presentation templates - empowering others to create meaningful impact. This effort reflects my dedication to democratizing knowledge and empowering others to use these tools to achieve meaningful impact.

This journey is a convergence of strategic interests, professional expertise, and my dedication to helping others discover and act on their purpose. Each article reflects my belief in the power of intentionality, introspection, and disciplined practice - values central to my career in strategy, coaching, and leadership.

Through these writings, I aim to engage, provoke thought, and inspire action, offering readers a lens into my personal and professional journey while encouraging them to reflect on their own. This project is as much about the discipline of writing as it is about sharing meaningful insights and creating connections through words.

Let’s connect and explore the insights that emerge over these 500 days. Show less

Welcome to the heart of the 'AI for Social Good' initiative, a pioneering project at the intersection of cutting-edge AI technologies and transformative social impact. This initiative is driven by the vision to leverage the immense potential of artificial intelligence in addressing some of the world's most pressing challenges, with a steadfast commitment to ethical principles and sustainable solutions.

At the core of 'AI for Social Good' is a vibrant community of practice, bringing… Show more

Welcome to the heart of the 'AI for Social Good' initiative, a pioneering project at the intersection of cutting-edge AI technologies and transformative social impact. This initiative is driven by the vision to leverage the immense potential of artificial intelligence in addressing some of the world's most pressing challenges, with a steadfast commitment to ethical principles and sustainable solutions.

At the core of 'AI for Social Good' is a vibrant community of practice, bringing together a diverse group of professionals who share a passion for ethical AI solutions. This collaborative network delves deep into the realms of AI and machine learning, aiming to enhance operational efficiency, amplify outreach, and create a significant, lasting impact on society.

This project is more than just a series of objectives; it's an Ottawa, Canada, based movement toward a future where AI and machine learning are harnessed responsibly and inclusively, breaking down barriers and uniting practitioners and experts across disciplines in the pursuit of the greater good.

'AI for Social Good' is a collaborative safe space for those who envision a world where technology serves humanity's best interests, advocating for a inclusive approach to innovation. It invites all who believe in this vision to come together, share insights, and contribute to shaping a world where compassion and technology converge for the betterment of all. Show less

Leading the design and development of a pioneering community social finance initiative led by first-generation immigrants. Our mission is to address prevalent gaps within immigrant communities by providing micro-investments to model and pilot initiatives aimed at delivering immediate relief and/or build long term value. This initiative will seek to serve as a catalyst for socio-economic empowerment and integration, fostering resilience and innovation within immigrant populations.

Worked closely with multiple local, regional, and global organizations, including Municipalities, Economic Development Agencies, Higher Education Institutions, Think Tanks, and Community Foundations, committed to advancing innovation and human capital development, including Mindtrust Leadership, Invest Ottawa, Centre for Social Enterprise Development (CSED), Ottawa Network for Education (ONFE), Youth Ottawa, Caribbean Local Economic Development Project (CARILED), Federation of Canadian… Show more

Worked closely with multiple local, regional, and global organizations, including Municipalities, Economic Development Agencies, Higher Education Institutions, Think Tanks, and Community Foundations, committed to advancing innovation and human capital development, including Mindtrust Leadership, Invest Ottawa, Centre for Social Enterprise Development (CSED), Ottawa Network for Education (ONFE), Youth Ottawa, Caribbean Local Economic Development Project (CARILED), Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM), Desjardins, Ottawa Centre for Research and Innovation (OCRI), 1125@Carleton, Ontario Centers of Excellence, MITACS, TiE Ottawa, Junior Achievements Ottawa, Shad Valley Program, Ottawa Eco Talent Network, Carleton University Foundry Program, University of Ottawa Entrepreneurship & Innovation Endowment Fund, Wes Nicol Business Plan Competition, Canadian Youth Business Foundation, Tech Venture Challenge, and Students in Free Enterprise. Show less

Together with Claude Haw, President of Mindtrust Leadership, and Matt Haw, I contributed to the concept, design, development, and launcht of the Youth Leadership Program (YLP). YLP builds on the long history of the successful Mindtrust Leadership Development Program (MLDP). YLP is responding to the need to develop next generation leaders. This program is intended for young, impact-driven, and demonstrated leaders with an interest in the future of leadership.

From 2013 till 2021, I was a member of the core team that designed and delivered the yearly TiECon Canada, TiE’s flagship entrepreneurial conference.

Organized in partnership with Canadian sister chapters in Toronto and Vancouver, and global chapters in Boston and Silicon Valley, the goal of TiECon Canada is to create new opportunities for entrepreneurs to connect with industry leaders, investors and partners from across our region and around the world and help them.equip themselves… Show more

From 2013 till 2021, I was a member of the core team that designed and delivered the yearly TiECon Canada, TiE’s flagship entrepreneurial conference.

Organized in partnership with Canadian sister chapters in Toronto and Vancouver, and global chapters in Boston and Silicon Valley, the goal of TiECon Canada is to create new opportunities for entrepreneurs to connect with industry leaders, investors and partners from across our region and around the world and help them.equip themselves with the knowledge, skills and perspective required to compete in a global market to achieve greater success in business. One of the biggest entrepreneurship conferences in Canada, TiECon Canada brings together hundreds of entrepreneurs, SMEs and industry veterans, investors and other members of the Canadian and global business community, and the conference also features a highly successful startup pitch competition for seed funding. Show less

Conceived and hosted at OAK Computing, the goal of Young Maker was to give shape to our belief in the importance of introducing 3D printing to our local youth, particularly in disadvantaged communities where access or exposure to these tools is practically non-existent. Through the support of the Ottawa community, that was secured through a crowd funded campaign, we procured a desktop 3D printer (and accessories) that are used exclusively for community benefit. The idea was to showcase the… Show more

Conceived and hosted at OAK Computing, the goal of Young Maker was to give shape to our belief in the importance of introducing 3D printing to our local youth, particularly in disadvantaged communities where access or exposure to these tools is practically non-existent. Through the support of the Ottawa community, that was secured through a crowd funded campaign, we procured a desktop 3D printer (and accessories) that are used exclusively for community benefit. The idea was to showcase the 21st century tool as a means of empowering youth (especially in disadvantaged communities) so that they could be inspired to:

- help discover their inner talents that can open new pathways to education and employment
- develop self-confidence in their ability to learn-by-doing and learn-by-sharing
- activate their potential to be creative and transform ideas into reality
- become part of a supportive and welcoming community of 'makers' in Ottawa and around the world

The 3D printer was hosted at OAK Computing offices in the ByWard Market and was available to community organizations to borrow for onsite demos . The project team worked with the organizations requesting support to manage all aspects of community engagement, planning and delivery of pop-ups and ongoing equipment maintenance.

In the second year of the project, through the kind support TD Canada Trust in the form of CAD 5K grant we were in the process of securing a second 3D printer which was also made available to the local community organizations to host their own 3D printing demos and pop-ups.

Project Update: The project has successfully been transitioned to a University of Ottawa team of young change-makers for them to continue the awesome work in the community. This is in line with the founding vision of the project, where the plan was to pass on the project to the next generation of youth leadership for them to grow the project further. Show less

Incubated at OAK Computing, TourZap was an advanced web based tour-building platform for the real estate industry.

I was one of the two co-founders of the OAK Technology Access Fund, an OAK Computing initiative that built and donated over CAD $250K of web and mobile technology to give non-profits and community organizations access to the best-in-class technology solutions to drive their strategic growth. Starting in June 2011, we built pro-bono or highly subsidized technology solutions for over 20 local organizations and initiatives to support their quest for social change in our community. Some of the… Show more

I was one of the two co-founders of the OAK Technology Access Fund, an OAK Computing initiative that built and donated over CAD $250K of web and mobile technology to give non-profits and community organizations access to the best-in-class technology solutions to drive their strategic growth. Starting in June 2011, we built pro-bono or highly subsidized technology solutions for over 20 local organizations and initiatives to support their quest for social change in our community. Some of the prominent organizations/projects supported by OTAF are:

TEDxCarleton U
Hidden Harvest Ottawa
HUB Ottawa
Impact Academy
The Centre for Innovative Social Enterprise Development (CISED)
Ottawa Local Immigration Partnerships (OLIP)
Veterans Emergency Transition Services Canada (VETS Canada)
2013 TiECon Canada
Young Maker
UmmahHub Show less

Delivered for MITACS, a Canadian not-for-profit organization that offers funding for internships and fellowships at Canadian universities, "Demystifying Industry Connections" was a workshop series of 8 live online 90-minute webinars that focussed on graduate students/post-doctoral fellows actively looking for potential industry partners for collaboration. Through participation in the workshop series, participants were expected to:

- Develop a solid understanding of the emerging industry… Show more

Delivered for MITACS, a Canadian not-for-profit organization that offers funding for internships and fellowships at Canadian universities, "Demystifying Industry Connections" was a workshop series of 8 live online 90-minute webinars that focussed on graduate students/post-doctoral fellows actively looking for potential industry partners for collaboration. Through participation in the workshop series, participants were expected to:

- Develop a solid understanding of the emerging industry landscape in Canada and its impact on talent engagement
- Develop a deeper understanding of what industry is looking for and how to make an impact
- Develop specific strategies on where to look for prospective industry partners
- Develop a broadened view of research application to industry
- Develop understanding of the communication guidelines/messaging that you need to approach industry
- Develop a personal industry engagement strategy, with specific elements dedicated to profile, presentation, networking and discovery

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At OCRI, I developed TalentBridge with the support of City of Ottawa to create learning/professional development opportunities for high potential local entrepreneurial talent to help them turn their ideas into market-ready products and services. We were also seeking to build an inclusive self supporting network of Ottawa's next generation of entrepreneurs and innovators while creating unique opportunities for collaboratiove ideation and collaborative venture development. A key focus of the… Show more

At OCRI, I developed TalentBridge with the support of City of Ottawa to create learning/professional development opportunities for high potential local entrepreneurial talent to help them turn their ideas into market-ready products and services. We were also seeking to build an inclusive self supporting network of Ottawa's next generation of entrepreneurs and innovators while creating unique opportunities for collaboratiove ideation and collaborative venture development. A key focus of the program was to mobilize and engage Ottawa's best and brightest to generate solutions for community issues/problems.

TalentBridge aimed to:

1) accelerate the development of the next generation of innovation leaders; and,
2) create meaningful linkages between the next gen innovation leaders and the broader community in Ottawa.

The program facilitated:

Professional Skill Development: Through a combination of seminars, workshops, professional events and one-on-one mentorship, all TalentBridge participants had access to professional development opportunities in sales, marketing, project management, relationship development, relationship management, business communications and innovation management. The program was highly successful in leveraging Ottawa based SME’s and business leadership to help support the development, training and engagement of future innovation leaders

Entrepreneurial Training: TalentBridge participants were specifically encouraged to work on their own entrepreneurial ideas during their TalentBridge placements. Individual support was provided through a combination of face-to-face mentorship and training on an as needed basis and as requested.

Business Relationships: TalentBridge participants were encouraged to work on existing or new community specific micro-initiatives to facilitate exposure to real life project development and management, while helping anchor strategic relationships with the broader business community and with each other. Show less

Incubated at TalentBridge, I was the developer/curator/manager of the Ottawa Community Challenge - a multi-phase competition for Ottawa based entrepreneurially inclined post-secondary students and recent graduates with an active interest in social innovation and social enterprise and those looking to make a difference in the community. OCC was a community-wide initiative, open to talent and organizations from across Ottawa. The vision of OCC was “To create a network of high-potential young… Show more

Incubated at TalentBridge, I was the developer/curator/manager of the Ottawa Community Challenge - a multi-phase competition for Ottawa based entrepreneurially inclined post-secondary students and recent graduates with an active interest in social innovation and social enterprise and those looking to make a difference in the community. OCC was a community-wide initiative, open to talent and organizations from across Ottawa. The vision of OCC was “To create a network of high-potential young individuals who shared a common passion for social innovation, social enterprise and social change.”

Mission of OCC:

- To build a self-supported and self-sustaining network of individuals seeking to drive social change in the Ottawa community
- To bridge socially conscious entrepreneurial talent with community organizations, specifically not-for-profits and social enterprises
- To provide unique problem solving opportunities to Ottawa’s young talent in the domain of social innovation
- To provide a community-supported platform for incubation and development of socially driven ideas Show less

Incubated at TalentBridge, I was the developer/curator/manager of The Ottawa Experience - a community event put together by a team from the program (with the support of local community organizations and all post secondary institutions) to extend a big Ottawa welcome to the new international and out of province students joining Ottawa educational institutions. A social event, the intent of TOE was to help incoming and current international students discover the true potential of Ottawa, and to… Show more

Incubated at TalentBridge, I was the developer/curator/manager of The Ottawa Experience - a community event put together by a team from the program (with the support of local community organizations and all post secondary institutions) to extend a big Ottawa welcome to the new international and out of province students joining Ottawa educational institutions. A social event, the intent of TOE was to help incoming and current international students discover the true potential of Ottawa, and to showcase the diverse professional, social and entrepreneurial opportunities in Ottawa. TOE was held in the year 2010 and then again in 2011, with 200 plus new students attending the first event in 2010 and in excess of 400 new students attending the event in 2011. Show less

Was an integral part of the core team that conceived, planned and executed the 1st Carleton University TEDx event with the theme "Ideas Driving Innovation". Under the stewardship of Luc Lalande, curator of TEDx Carleton U, the team came together to give a platform to compelling innovators driving change for the betterment of our local community and our world by extension.

Our goal was to not only to engage our audience with “ideas worth spreading” but to connect people, build lasting… Show more

Was an integral part of the core team that conceived, planned and executed the 1st Carleton University TEDx event with the theme "Ideas Driving Innovation". Under the stewardship of Luc Lalande, curator of TEDx Carleton U, the team came together to give a platform to compelling innovators driving change for the betterment of our local community and our world by extension.

Our goal was to not only to engage our audience with “ideas worth spreading” but to connect people, build lasting networks and create positive change. TEDxCarletonU was held on Tuesday, March 30, 2010 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Gladstone Theatre in Ottawa. Show less

Incubated by the TalentBridge team, I was a co-developer and curator/manager of the Ottawa Innovation Challenge (OIC) - an Ottawa based community initiative developed and lead by participants of OCRI TalentBridge that brought together talented post secondary students, recent graduates and industry leaders, in a weekend-long business competition where aspiring entrepreneurs and innovation leaders had the opportunity to showcase their creativity and entrepreneurship skills. During the challenge… Show more

Incubated by the TalentBridge team, I was a co-developer and curator/manager of the Ottawa Innovation Challenge (OIC) - an Ottawa based community initiative developed and lead by participants of OCRI TalentBridge that brought together talented post secondary students, recent graduates and industry leaders, in a weekend-long business competition where aspiring entrepreneurs and innovation leaders had the opportunity to showcase their creativity and entrepreneurship skills. During the challenge, tech entrepreneurs and industry leaders presented strategic challenges to teams of Ottawa’s top talent, and the participant teams then had 48 hours to propose and develop a unique solution to address the problem. Real time mentoring and advisory support was provided to all participants. Show less

The Foundry Program represented an innovative yet complementary model to traditional university technology transfer based on a philosophy focused on building and nurturing an innovation and entrepreneurship culture on campus and community engagement. The Foundry approach extended beyond the practice of university technology transfer offices in primarily selecting "investment-grade" patentable intellectual property. I worked closely with the Director of the Program, Luc Lalande, to help give… Show more

The Foundry Program represented an innovative yet complementary model to traditional university technology transfer based on a philosophy focused on building and nurturing an innovation and entrepreneurship culture on campus and community engagement. The Foundry approach extended beyond the practice of university technology transfer offices in primarily selecting "investment-grade" patentable intellectual property. I worked closely with the Director of the Program, Luc Lalande, to help give shape to the program. Show less