March 8, 2022 by Speakers' Spotlight
Break the Bias: Celebrating International Women’s Day 2022
2022’s theme for International Women’s Day is “break the bias”, and we’re proud to represent a diverse group of women who, as leaders in their fields, use their platforms to enact positive change worldwide.
We’ve curated some of our most popular blog posts below that showcase the expertise that these women bring to every stage as keynote speakers. Their powerful, compelling, and informative talks leave audiences motivated and equipped to face the challenges of today and build a brighter tomorrow.
Entrepreneurship
Recommended reading — From Caviar to Clearco: How Michele Romanow Made It
Best recognized as a “Dragon” on CBC’s Dragons’ Den, Michele Romanow flipped the venture capitalist industry to place power back into the hands of founders. She co-founded Clearco in 2016 to democratize access to capital and take bias out of investing. Clearco’s funding model is completely automated and data-driven, and, as a result, they have funded 25x more women-led companies than traditional funders.
Recommended reading — Business for Good: Barb Stegemann Affects Positive Change Through New Product Launch
In 2011, Barb Stegemann launched her company, The 7 Virtues, out of her garage, armed with only her personal credit card and a dream to help people rebuild in war-ridden countries. Today, The 7 Virtues is an award-winning social enterprise and clean perfume brand that sources organic, fair trade essential oils from countries experiencing turmoil (such as Afghanistan, Haiti, and Rwanda). It is a leader in the clean and conscious beauty movement and the #1 selling “Clean at Sephora” perfume brand in both the US and Canada.
In celebration of International Women’s Day in 2022, Barb launched a new product in partnership with Days for Girls to shatter stigma and limitations for women and girls worldwide by tackling period poverty.
Meet more inspiring female entrepreneurs:
Zahra Al-Harazi |
Erin Bury |
Joanna Griffiths |
Mental Health and Wellness
Recommended reading — Medical Trailblazer Dr. Chika Stacy Oriuwa Named to Maclean’s 2022 Power List
Dr. Chika Stacy Oriuwa is upending racism in medicine while blazing a path forward for a new generation of doctors. After being the only Black medical student of her graduating class, Chika has become a vocal advocate for improving disparities in healthcare and confronting institutional discrimination. She was recognized as one of Maclean’s Power 50 in 2022 as a medical trailblazer.
Currently a psychiatry resident at the University of Toronto, Chika draws on her clinical experience to share insight into mental health and wellness, especially as it affects racialized populations.
Recommended reading — Dr. Shimi Kang’s Five Tips for Managing Stress and Loneliness
In the lead-up to Bell Let’s Talk Day this year, Dr. Shimi Kang joined CTV’s Your Morning to share five coping strategies to better manage stress and sadness, especially during challenging times. She draws on her 20+ years of clinical experience to provide science-based solutions for health, happiness, and achievement in the workplace and at home.
Meet more inspiring mental health and wellness speakers:
Dr. Lisa Bélanger |
Dr. Robyne Hanley Dafoe |
Jessica Holmes |
Future of Work
Recommended reading — Sinead Bovell’s New WIRED Series Explores How Tech is Changing Our World
Futurist Sinead Bovell believes if we want to get our future with technology right, everyone needs to be a part of the conversation. In partnership with WIRED magazine, she’s launched a new YouTube series that dives deep into how technology is changing our world — the opportunities, the red flags, and everything in between — so we can all learn and prepare for what’s next.
Recommended reading — Amber Mac: The 2022 (Mostly Business) Survival Guide
Innovation expert Amber Mac outlines the new thinking and action necessary to not only survive but thrive in our new world of predictable unpredictability. Her 2022 (mostly business) survival guide explores three key areas of focus — digital discipline, purpose prioritization, and workplace wellness — needed to build future-ready businesses.
Meet more future of work experts:
Lital Marom |
Nilofer Merchant |
Takara Small |
Global Affairs and Politics
Recommended reading — “A Shift in the World Order”: Geopolitical Expert Discusses Russia’s Attack on Ukraine
The founding director of the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy at University of Toronto, Professor Janice Gross Stein recently shared her insight into Russia’s devastating attack on Ukraine. She shared why this invasion marked a shift in the world order and its impact on the future of global security.
Recommended reading — COVID-19: Where Do We Go from Here with Dr. Samantha Nutt
A medical doctor and founder of the internationally renowned non-profit War Child, Dr. Samantha Nutt has been on the frontlines of many of the world’s major crises. She is a leading authority on current affairs, public health, war, international aid, and foreign policy.
Samantha joined us for a virtual Q&A as part of our Virtual Speaker Series, where she answered audience-provided questions about the pandemic, from vaccine effectiveness and Omicron to mental health and what happens next.
Meet more of our global issues experts:
The Hon. Rona Ambrose |
Sheila Watt-Cloutier |
The Hon. Jody Wilson-Raybould |
Hosts and Entertainers
Canada’s got talent, and we’re lucky to work with so many iconic Canadian entertainers and television personalities. They bring their enthusiasm to every stage as hosts and performers, guaranteeing a rollicking good time for every audience.
Jann Arden |
Jessi Cruickshank |
Kellylee Evans |
Andrea Bain |
Tracy Moore |
Serena Ryder |
Interested in learning more about our keynotes speakers and what can bring to your next event? Contact us at [email protected].
