We have an impressive roster of speakers often featured in the media as contributors and experts in their fields. Here’s a round-up of some select media coverage in August 2019.
Preet Banerjee | Behavioural Finance Expert
Money expert Preet Banerjee spoke with Global News on the best ways to teach your kids about money.
Erin Bury | Technology and Marketing Expert | Start-Up Fanatic
Crunchbase News spoke with Erin Bury as part of their “Proust Goes Tech” feature about what job helped her be a better leader, her issue with The Office, and why her nickname is Mary Poppins.
What skill do you wish you possessed?
The first entrepreneur [who] I worked for, she told me that I was a bad judge of character. I always like to see the best in people, I have a really hard time seeing people for what they really are. I assume the best in people, and usually that’s great quality but I think I get taken advantage of sometimes. I wish I had the ability to see people for what they truly are and was a better judge.
The National Post spoke with Professor Timothy Caulfield on stem cell therapies and how Canada is slow to act against unproven stem cell treatments.
Chris Hadfield | Astronaut | First Canadian Commander of the International Space Station
Colonel Chris Hadfield was honoured with Canada’s Walk of Fame Hometown Star in Sarnia, and his hometown celebrated with a big bash.
- “Chris Hadfield honoured with Canada’s Walk of Fame Hometown Star in Sarnia, Ontario” via Hello! Canada
- “Hometown salutes hero and birthday boy Chris Hadfield” via The Sarnia Journal
Chris was also the keynote at Silicon Valley Comic Con where he performed David Bowie’s “Space Oddity” and was joined on stage by Mythbuster’s co-host Adam Savage for a rousing conversation that included intel into whether or not flatulence can propel you in space. Spoiler: it can’t.
Chris also spoke with Global News on what to expect at this year’s Elevate Tech Fest.
Nilofer Merchant | Former Tech Executive | Bestselling Author
Renowned business strategist and innovator Nilofer Merchant spoke with NPR on the one workplace hack that can improve your health.
Nilofer also wrote a great thinkpiece for Harvard Business Review on the meteoric rise of director Ava DuVernay in Hollywood.
Neil Pasricha | Happiness Expert | Bestselling Author of The Book of Awesome
Forbes shared the seven secrets to being happy right now drawing on Neil Pasricha’s bestselling book The Happiness Equation.
Happiness Tip 1: Three Walks
If you are like me, you feel better after getting some exercise. The happiness equation suggests taking a brisk 30-minute walk at least three times per week. Can you spare 90 minutes per week to improve your happiness?
Beyond improving your happiness level, this should also help improve your health. So a win-win, in my book at least.
Michele Romanow | “Dragon”, CBC’s Dragons’ Den | Co-Founder & President, Clearbanc
Tech titan Michele Romanow secured an additional $300 million in support of her company, Clearbanc, to fuel the growth of Canadian e-commerce startups.
- “Dragons’ Den star’s startup gets $300-million to fuel growth of e-commerce companies” via Globe and Mail
- “Reality TV Star’s Alternative Lender Gets Top Canada VC Funding” via BNN Bloomberg
- “Reality-TV Born Startup Clearbanc Raises $300 Million to Help Companies Buy Instagram Ads” via Fortune
- “Investors bet another $50M on Clearbanc’s revenue share model” via TechCrunch
Michele also spoke with WWD on what it takes to start a business and why venture capitalism isn’t the right route for all entrepreneurs.
Margaret Trudeau | Celebrated Canadian | Mental Health Advocate
It was announced this month that Margaret Trudeau’s hit show “A Woman of a Certain Age” is coming to Toronto this fall as part of JFL42, and New York this September at Audible’s Minetta Lane Theatre. Vogue called it one of the 9 on and off broadway show to see this fall.
Sheila Watt-Cloutier | Environmental, Cultural, and Human Rights Advocate
Craig Kielburger spoke with Sheila Watt-Cloutier for Canada.com on climate change and why she sees it as so much more than an environmental issue – it’s a matter of people.
Q: What do you most want people to understand?
A: Think about the interconnectedness of the arctic ice. What happens in the arctic doesn’t stay in the arctic. It’s affecting the rest of the planet. The arctic is the air conditioner for the world, and it’s breaking down.
People need to listen to those who are most affected in the far north, whose ice is melting, whose livelihoods are affected, whose health is affected, and understand how that connects back to them. Then we can understand better that our planet is one, and that if we protect the arctic, we save the planet.
The Inuit right to be cold is connected to everyone’s right to a healthy environment.
