The following is the text of an address by Gerry Pond given at the recent Saint Mary’s University convocation, where he was awarded an honorary doctorate:

As you graduate from this fine university and begin the next stage in your journey, you will receive considerable amounts of advice, all well intentioned, and much of it useful. Let me add my voice to the chorus with some thoughts on how you can take what you’ve learned here at Saint Mary’s and use it to create a rewarding life.

There is a world of opportunity before you. You have talents, insights and passions that can create positive change in the world. Advances in technology have created a time of disruption unequalled in history. That disruption sets the stage for change.

Individuals can, and do, create tremendous change. You can too. Every single one of you can harness your energy and focus it on creating real change in the world.

Dream big. Think globally. Think about making a difference while making a living. Certainly, the world needs you. There are many challenges facing us – economic, social and environmental. You can help solve them.

Don’t be modest, don’t be timid, and don’t be afraid to get started.

I want to go beyond this simple exhortation. I want to offer three direct suggestions to you as you consider what you will do next.

Rise to the challenge of entrepreneurship

I want to encourage you to consider charting your own path by becoming an entrepreneur. This is not a new idea for you – entrepreneurial teaching runs deep at SMU. Entrepreneurship is a great way to use your educational investment by changing the status quo in almost any field.

Entrepreneurs are smart and nimble. They work hard to find a better way. Entrepreneurs aren’t limited to business. It’s about a mindset. Entrepreneurs are vital to helping not-for-profit or social enterprises tackle difficult issues like poverty or environmental degradation. Entrepreneurs are also needed – quite badly – in the public sector. It’s no secret that governments need to find better and more cost effective ways of delivering services.

At its core, entrepreneurship is about improving upon the status quo, about determination, about starting with nothing, about managing assets wisely, and about delivering an impact locally and globally. In fairness, it could also be about creating a better coffee, hamburger, or mousetrap.

Entrepreneurship is often surrounded in layers of mystery and intrigue. It can seem glamorous and exciting, and it often is. But remember that the “Social Network” was a movie. In most cases, entrepreneurship is about plain hard work and a powerful determination to make something better, and in turn, reap the personal and/or financial rewards.

Stay in Atlantic Canada

Most of you graduating today are from Atlantic Canada; others have come to Halifax from other parts of Canada or the world. I want all of you to recognize that this region is a great place to launch and grow a new company. The start-up or new business formation ecosystem is maturing throughout our region and is now better enable to assist with early stage growth.

This ecosystem for entrepreneurs is composed of a network of mentors attached to accelerators such as Propel ICT, and incubators like Volta in Halifax, along with university-based programs such as the Wallace McCain Institute, and capital funding sources both private, like First Angel Network and Brightspark East, and public, like lnnovacorp, NBIF, and Build Ventures. Over the last 10 years a rich, interconnected support structure has emerged for early stage entrepreneurs.

So as you consider taking the entrepreneurial step, know that you won’t be alone. There are many organizations in place that will support you and help you succeed.

What’s more, many of our existing businesses have become “early adopters” of the region’s start-ups’ products or services and many professional organizations are gearing their practices to support entrepreneurs’ needs as well. Atlantic Canada’s ecosystem is ready to support local or immigrant entrepreneurs in a meaningful way.

Do it Soon

Timing, some say, is everything.

There is a consensus building in Atlantic Canada that we need to boost our economy with new businesses. Some would say the economy is in a crisis.

We have deep roots in starting world-class businesses from this region with iconic names like Sobey, Irving, Bragg, Rowe, McCain, and Dobbin leading the way. However, the growth in our economy has slowed compared to the demand for public services in health and education, in particular. We need to renew our entrepreneurial capacity. It needs to happen now.

So how will you add your name to the list of extraordinary entrepreneurs that have come out of Atlantic Canada?

Again, technology is helping drive new opportunities. There are many options open to you to build the next “Sobey’s” of medical devices, Internet security, robotic manufacturing, green cars, aquaculture or senior care.

What’s stopping you? Remember, entrepreneurs just like you are creating the future. Atlantic Canada is a wonderful place to build a world-class company or social enterprise. There is a growing and vibrant ecosystem here to support you.

I urge you to get started and be a positive force for change. And I wish you well in all your future endeavours.

Gerry Pond is the Co-Founder and Chairman of Mariner Partners and Co-Founder of East Valley Ventures. He lives in Saint John.