What I Actually Do: Darren Burke in Halifax as a Mentor, Founder, and Advisor

People often ask a simple question after finding my site.

“What do you actually do now?”

For most of my career the answer was easy. I was a scientist. Then I was a professor. Then I was a founder running companies day to day. Today the answer is more nuanced, and more interesting.

I am based in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and my work now sits at the intersection of science, entrepreneurship, and human performance. Rather than operating one company full time, I spend most of my time helping people build better ones.

If you have not read my background, you can start here:
👉 Darren Burke Halifax homepage

Mentoring Founders

A large part of my work involves mentoring founders. Many early stage entrepreneurs are navigating complex decisions with very little real guidance. Advice is everywhere, but experienced, practical guidance is rare.

Having built companies myself, I know where founders typically struggle. Strategy, partnerships, focus, hiring, and knowing which opportunities to ignore often matter more than product ideas.

My role is not to run their companies. It is to help them think clearly and avoid expensive mistakes early. The goal is not speed alone. The goal is durable companies that can actually last.

I wrote more about my background here:
👉 Darren Burke Halifax: Science, Entrepreneurship, and Building What Matters

Working With Students and Researchers

I also work closely with students and researchers. As Entrepreneur-in-Residence at Saint Mary’s University and Industry Professor at McMaster University, I help translate research into practical outcomes.

Many researchers produce important discoveries but have little exposure to commercialization. I help them understand markets, communication, partnerships, and implementation. Science has its greatest impact when it reaches people outside the lab.

This role mirrors my own career path. I moved from academic research into entrepreneurship and now help others make that transition with fewer missteps.

Advising High Performers

Not all of the people I work with are traditional founders. Some are professional athletes and high performers navigating pressure, decision-making, and career transitions.

Performance is not only physical. It is cognitive. Focus, stress management, and mental clarity increasingly determine outcomes in sport, business, and leadership.

This work eventually led to the co-founding of Headstrong, a brain health and performance company I help guide strategically. I mentor a young professional hockey player as he builds his first company, helping him approach business with discipline and long-term thinking.

Why I Focus on This Work

Earlier in my career I was primarily an operator. I ran companies directly. Over time I realized my highest leverage was not running one organization, but helping many people build responsibly.

I have made mistakes in business and learned from them. Those lessons are valuable only if shared. Mentorship shortens learning curves, reduces preventable failure, and helps good ideas survive long enough to matter.

Today, my work is about enabling progress. Helping founders build sustainable companies. Helping researchers implement real solutions. Helping high performers think clearly under pressure.

Why Halifax

I live and work in Halifax intentionally. It is a growing innovation community with strong universities, talented students, and increasing entrepreneurial activity.

You no longer need to live in Silicon Valley to build meaningful companies. With the right networks and mentorship, serious work can happen anywhere. Halifax offers both quality of life and an emerging innovation ecosystem.

Ongoing Writing

This site exists as a central place to share my work and thinking. I write about entrepreneurship, leadership, performance, and responsible company building.

You can also read:
👉 Why I Stopped Studying Performance and Started Building It

If you are a founder, student, researcher, or high performer navigating decisions and uncertainty, I hope some of these perspectives are useful.