Testimonials
Over the last two decades, I've had the privilege of leading and supporting public and private sector organizations navigate digital transformation and systems change through stakeholder engagement - from strategic ideation through implementation.
Below are samples of the feedback I've received:
En décembre 2020, toute l’équipe de JEU, Revue de théâtre, membres du comité de rédaction et dirigeants, s’est réunie afin de réfléchir aux grandes orientations, de préciser la mission de l’organisation, de se doter d’un système de valeurs communes et de se fixer des objectifs stratégique, incluant un plan pour le numérique, pour les années à venir.
Nous avons eu la chance d’être accompagnées par Akoulina Connell, avec qui nous sommes entrées en contact par l’entremise de CAPACOA. Grâce à son expertise et à son talent de facilitatrice, elle a su stimuler les échanges en créant un “safe space” où tous et toutes ont pu contribuer et apprécier cet exercice de co-création.
L’équipe est plus mobilisée que jamais à travailler dans le même sens afin d’animer la critique, la réflexion et la recherche sur les arts du spectacle vivant, en préserver la mémoire, tout en se maintenant à l’avant-garde des enjeux de la pratique théâtrale afin de contribuer à son rayonnement, qui s’avère être d’une grande richesse pour l’organisme.
Brigitte Couture
JEU, Revue de théâtre
I reported to Akou in my capacity as Event Coordinator for an Indigenous arts symposium. Akou had a great deal of cultural sensitivity and understanding of what it meant to be inclusive. She took guidance from both elders and youth who served on the steering committee for the event, knowing that special accommodations sometimes needed to be made.
She was extremely thorough and gave excellent guidance in helping me through the inaugural event. She provided clear instructions and helpful feedback. I always felt like Akou was on my team, and I never felt intimidated to ask for advice.
On top of all of this, Akou was just a wonderful person to be around... which made my job much easier and enjoyable!
I could tell how much she also meant to the steering committee members and other event participants - she clearly put a lot of heart into her work.
Genevieve Allen Hearn
Tourism Strategy Manager, Valley Regional Enterprise Network
I’ve always been extremely impressed with Akou’s ability to communicate with such clarity. She has a real gift of making the complex accessible to us all.
Dawn Arnold, ICD.D, O.N.B
Canadian Senator / Sénatrice canadienne
In her role as Executive Director of New Brunswick Arts, the most brilliant, thoughtful, articulate and visionary Akou, partnered with me as the Executive Director of the State of Maine Arts Commission, creating a memorandum of understanding which brought my US state and the Province of NB into cross cultural partnership; international conferences on the creative economy, public art projects, indigenous First Nations people symposiums, Artist residency exchanges and the like.
Akou was a delight to collaborate with, recognizing positive innovation, a strong advocate for a good idea, she is visionary and razor smart.
Donna McNeil
Executive Director non- profit / curator
Having worked with Akou Connell on several projects, both in her role as Goose Lane’s Managing Editor and as ArtsNB’s Executive Director, I admire her ability to manage multiple projects efficiently, competently and strategically. She has real marketing savvy, and is both honest and ethical. But what truly shines with Akou is her understanding of human nature, and her clear-eyed perception and keen intuition.
She sees the potential in others and genuinely wants to help them reach for better versions of themselves.
Deborah Carr
Author, Freelance Writer, Speaker, Writing Coach
I had the absolute pleasure of collaborating with Akoulina on the Linked Digital Future project with CAPACOA. As Project Manager, Akou created a welcoming and collaborative environment for our team of Digital Navigators and Coaches, all working remotely from cities across Canada.
Even as COVID-19 disrupted our entire sector, Akou maintained a steady hand on the project. She provided sage counsel on tackling specific issues with stakeholders and through her leadership I felt connected, informed and empowered to carry out our work to provide advice to performing arts companies on how to navigate the ongoing digital shift in our sector.
I also had the opportunity to further collaborate with Akou through my role at Mass Culture - As the facilitator of our discussion "Current Climate: An Analysis of the Arts 2020" Akou led a discussion about the current state of arts funding in Canada with a distinguished panel of guests.
Her questions were timely, insightful and her deft holding and sharing of space allowed our guests to provide articulate and nuanced responses. A companion report by Akou also provides rich analysis of this ongoing and evolving discussion.
I highly recommend Akou and her work.
Bridget MacIntosh
Award-winning Cultural Strategist & Advisor | Cultural Planning, Public Art, Placemaking & Cultural Infrastructure | Building stronger cultural ecosystems across Canada
I worked closely with Akoulina on a number of projects to map, measure and study Manitoba's and Canada's Cultural and Creative Industries. Akoulina has a keen and practical understanding of both the need for robust indicators of performance and the limitations of what currently serves the cultural community. In consequence she has pioneered the development of innovative means for agents to identity, quantify, and manage in the challenging arena of grant-funded cultural endeavour.
This extends to measures which are widely sought after but seldom achieved, such as the demographics and Social Return on Investment indicators which she developed - the first effort among Canadian Arts Funders on this front.
Akoulina has a warm and responsive personality and is great to get along with. She will be a credit to any agency lucky enough to land her.
Alan Freeman
Research Director at Geopolitical Economy Research Group
J'ai eut l'honneur et le plaisir de travailler comme membres du Conseil d’administration des arts du Nouveau-Brunswick de 2011 à 2014, artsnb. Notre travail en tant que membre du conseil fut de régler des situations problématiques et de réorienter la direction que devait prendre le Conseil des arts à ce moment. Des défis qui se résolvent alors avec aplombs sous la direction éclairée de Mme Akoulina Connell.
Mme Connell s’est avérée une personne compétente, connaissante de ses dossiers et sachant orienter la discussion pour que nous puissions arriver à des résultats tangibles et durables.
Durant son mandat, j’a assisté à des rencontres cordiale avec mes confrères où le respect et la convivialité régnait. Mme Connell savait bien mener les réunions sachant tirer le meilleur de son équipe et du Conseil d’administration. Sous sa direction artsnb a vu une croissance et une nouvelle orientation qui a profité au milieu artistique.
Je vous la recommande avec toute la confiance que je lui voue.
Denis Lanteigne
Directeur du Centres d’artistes la Constellation bleue et de la Galerie Bernard-Jean
As a Director, Akou's leadership style made for a collaborative and productive work space. By keeping us informed on the higher-level management decisions being made, she built trust among the individuals and a general sense of goodwill from the group.
On a personal level, she is fair and constructive in her directives to employees, recognizing when there is a need for specific direction in tasks, but also enabling employees to discover their own productivity styles.
A strong mentor to me in the field of Public Relations, she imparted knowledge of writing styles and how to approach PR communications with agility and tact.
A great leader for her employees, and endlessly dedicated to the community that she serves, Akou is a strong advocate for the arts and a privilege to work for!
Greg Toole
Senior Program Advisor - Canada Arts Presentation Fund
Begin Your Transformation
Submit the inquiry form to discuss your objectives and determine how a tailored consulting engagement can advance your strategic priorities.