Happy International Women’s Day! Speakers’ Spotlight is proud to represent numerous Women of Influence who speak on a wide variety of topics–from business matters to social media, from human rights to their deeply personal stories. Below is a selection of just a few of the women we are thrilled to represent:
Zahra Al-Harazi: Chatelaine’s Top Entrepreneur of the Year (2011)
Zahra Al-Harazi can’t take no for an answer. It’s how she’s wired, and why her skyrocketing success shouldn’t surprise anyone. Sharing her no-holds-barred attitude and her passion for success with audiences, Zahra discusses her unique approach to entrepreneurship and leadership, as well as her personal experience as a pioneering woman and an immigrant in the business world….Read More…
Trey Anthony: Award-Winning Canadian Playwright
Trey Anthony was the first Canadian black woman to have her own program on a prime-time Canadian network. Based on her ground-breaking play of the same name, ‘da Kink in My Hair was a television hit and put her on the map as a mentor and role model. Trey’s infectious energy, humour, and determination inspires audiences to go after―and achieve―their dreams….Read More….
Bal Arenson: Host of Television’s The Spice Goddess
Bal Arneson is as remarkable and as she is resilient. Growing up in an Indian village during a time when girls were raised only to serve their eventual husbands, Arneson felt the weight of her future crushing down on her, and decided to escape her fate. Nineteen years later, she is the host and star of television’s acclaimed cooking series, Spice Goddess, and author of two bestselling cookbooks. She shares her deeply personal and inspiring story with audiences, encouraging her listeners to dream big and act on their desires….Read More….
Arlene Dickinson: CEO of Venture Communications/”Dragon” on Dragons’ Den
“The purpose of marketing is to deliver results,” says Arlene Dickinson, renowned CBC “dragon” and one of Canada’s most successful communications entrepreneurs. Whether explaining how to leverage marketing in even the toughest of economic times, sharing backstage stories from “The Den,” or giving audiences a look into her personal story of success, Dickinson’s experience and expertise always shine through….Read More….
Mellissa Fung: Journalist/Hostage Survivor/Author of Under and Afghan Sky
In 2008, CBC journalist Mellissa Fung was leaving a refugee camp outside of Kabul, Afghanistan when she was grabbed by armed men, stabbed, stuffed into the back of a car, and driven off into the desert. For 28 days, Fung lived confined in a small room, deep underground, until her release. She speaks with passion, grace, and humility about her experience, and on the importance of forgiveness and human rights….Read More….
Jessica Holmes: Comedic Entertainer and Improviser
Jessica Holmes, a favourite on CBC TV’s Royal Canadian Air Farce, has brought the house down opening for giants such as Ellen DeGeneres, Leslie Nielsen, Jerry Seinfeld, and Oprah Winfrey. Her comedic high-jinks and crazy antics, topped with her unique knack for skewering celebrities (including Celine Dion and Britney Spears), are sure to amuse even the most straight-faced audiences. Her grace, bilingualism, and ability to react on the fly make her natural choice as an entertainer, emcee, or more….Read More….
Clara Hughes: Six Time Olympic Medalist in the Summer and Winter Games
“Being a champion is not just about winning,” says six-time Olympic medalist Clara Hughes. Believing that actions off the track define us as much as those on it, Hughes inspires people toward success in all areas of their lives. Her candid, personal talks range from how she believes sports can change lives to her struggle with depression—fully embodying the idea that each of us can overcome challenges to become the champions we’re meant to be….Read More….
Sarah Kay: Spoken Word Poet
Sarah Kay began performing her phenomenal spoken-word poetry when she was only 14 years old—quickly becoming a fixture at the famous Bowery Poetry Club in New York City. Sarah was a featured speaker at the 2011 TED Conference, on “The Rediscovery of Wonder,” which has been seen by over two million people on YouTube. She uses the power of spoken word to inspire creativity and self-empowerment in others….Read More.…
Amanda Lindhout: Kidnap Survivor/Humanitarian
As Founder and Executive Director of the Global Enrichment Foundation (GEF), Amanda Lindhout has gained international acclaim for her work supporting development and aid in Somalia—the country where she once spent 460 days as a hostage. With passion, grace, and humility, Lindhout now talks about her experience in Somalia, and the importance of forgiveness, peace-building, human rights, and education. Since GEF’s inception in 2010, Lindhout’s award-winning humanitarian work has provided aid and education to over 300,000 people living in the wartorn country….Read More….
Marnie McBean: Three-Time Olympic Gold Medalist/Athlete Mentor For The Canadian Olympic Team
Marnie McBean is one of Canada’s most decorated Olympians, and an expert in turning potential into performance. Drawing on years of experience as a top competitor, she leaves audiences with a recipe for success—one that transcends sport and that can be applied to any endeavour. As a Specialist in Olympic Athlete Preparation and Mentoring for the Canadian Olympic Committee, McBean prepares athletes emotionally and psychologically to ensure that they perform at the highest level in everything they do….Read More….
Nilofer Merchant: Bestselling Harvard Author of Social Era
The Industrial Era and the Information Age are over and their governing rules are passé. Leading in the Social Era requires a rethinking and reimagining of what can be. During her 20-year career, Nilofer Merchant has earned an impeccable reputation for her ability to guide both Fortune 500 companies and start-up organizations alike through impossible odds. An expert in creating value in the new era of innovation and social media, Merchant shares her unique business insights to help audiences understand the changes in their approach that need to be made in order to excel in the fast-paced, ever-changing world….Read More….
Dr. Samantha Nutt: Founder and Executive Director of War Child Canada
One of the most original and influential voices in the humanitarian arena, Dr. Samantha Nutt, a medical doctor and the founder of the internationally renowned non-profit War Child Canada, is a speaker who is constantly in demand. For over 15 years, she has been at the front lines of many of the world’s major crises, in countries such as Iraq, Afghanistan, Somalia, and Darfur. These experiences have given her unique insights into the brutality of modern conflict: why it begins, what sustains it, and what must be done to prevent children being held in its terrifying grip….Read More….
Barbara Stegemann: Celebrated Entrepreneur/Bestselling Author
Barbara Stegemann’s entrepreneurial vision was formed after her best friend—a soldier—was severely wounded in Afghanistan. Understanding that supporting Afghanistan’s economy was a key to building stability for its people, Stegemann created The 7 Virtues Beauty—a company that sources organic oils from countries (such as Afghanistan, Haiti and the Middle East) experiencing turmoil to encourage change and to reverse the effects of war and poverty. Despite addressing complex global matters in her talks, she uses humour to explain how individuals can effect change both at home and worlds away….Read More….
Tara Sutton: Award-Winning Video Journalist
Award-winning filmmaker and war correspondent Tara Sutton has reported from many of the world’s most troubled places and received international acclaim for her brave, daring, and emotional documentaries. Sutton is the only Canadian female journalist who was based full-time in Iraq from the start of the war, and her documentary, A War in Words: An Iraqi Family Diary received the Common Wealth Broadcasting Association’s Rolls Royce Award for Exceptional New Feature. Sutton speaks about her experiences on the frontlines, as both a journalist and a woman….Read More….
Margaret Trudeau: Celebrated Canadian/Mental Health Advocate
Margaret Trudeau has garnered more publicity than any woman in Canadian history, enduring both the highs and lows of being in the spotlight for so long. Sharing her personal life story, from becoming a prime minister’s wife at a young age, to the loss of both her son and her former husband, to her journey of acceptance and recovery from bipolar disorder, she reminds others of the importance of nurturing the body, mind, and spirit….Read More….
To see more of our amazing Women of Influence Speakers, click here.