Academic Speakers

Is there a connection between happiness and success? Having spent over a decade at Harvard University as the Head Teaching Fellow in Positive Psychology, Shawn Achor is the world’s leading expert on the topic. His acclaimed TED Talk, “The Happy Secret to B...

As the president of the Canadian Black Scientists Network, Professor Maydianne Andrade shows the strength diversity brings to an organization through actively promoting the hiring, retention, and success of a diverse and inclusive workforce. Through her inform...

An organization’s greatest asset is its people. Award-winning CEO Dr. Lisa Bélanger shows leaders and teams how insights from psychology, neuroscience, and behavioural science can be applied in the workplace to optimize performance, productivity, and innova...

How can we increase the pace of innovation? Become more effective at changing minds and influencing? Why do only some products, ideas, and behaviours catch on? Dr. Jonah Berger has spent more than 15 years researching and answering these questions to explain w...

The “knowledge era” is here. Do you know how to survive? An internationally recognized intellectual-capital expert, Dr. Nick Bontis helps individuals and organizations navigate the new world of digital technology, industry disruption, and information bomba...

One of the world’s leading business thinkers, David Burkus’ forward-thinking ideas and bestselling books are changing how companies approach innovation, collaboration, and productivity. He is a skilled researcher and inspiring communicator who has worked w...

Professor Timothy Caulfield is an unrivalled communicator who debunks myths and assumptions about innovation in the health sector — from research on stem cells to diets to alternative medicine — for the benefit of the public and decision-makers. He is a Ca...

For businesses, organizations, and governments striving to succeed in the innovation economy, and anyone who hopes for a bright future, Ilona Dougherty’s perspective is what you have been waiting for. Ilona Dougherty is an award winning social innovator and ...

Canadian corporations were already losing over $4 billion a year to absenteeism before the worldwide pandemic. Today, the satisfaction and well-being of employees is more important than ever. Dr. Linda Duxbury is Canada’s most accomplished researcher, writer...

Described as a “fresh voice on finance and investment strategies — and much more” by Thinkers50, Alex Edmans is a professor of finance at the London Business School (LBS). He graduated from Oxford University before working for Morgan Stanley in investmen...

Richard Florida is one of the world’s leading urbanists and a sought-after speaker. Named one of Esquire’s “Best and Brightest,” alongside luminaries such as Bill Clinton and Bill Gates, Florida has fascinated audiences all over the world with his insi...

As the founding CEO of RISE, a breakthrough wellness company, Suneel Gupta has helped thousands of people build better habits for life and work. Now as a bestselling author and Harvard Medical School visiting scholar, Gupta has taken his mission one step furth...

Described as one of the most sought-after, engaging, thought-provoking, and truly transformative international speakers and scholars in her field, Dr. Robyne Hanley-Dafoe is a multi-award-winning psychology and education instructor who specializes in resilienc...

Bestselling author of The Ingenuity Gap, Dr. Thomas Homer-Dixon shows audiences how to adapt and prosper in a world of ever-increasing complexity, speed, and surprise. Called “one of the best-informed and most brilliant writers on global affairs today...

Described as “a cross between Robin Williams and Einstein,” Dr. Brian Little employs equal doses of humour and intelligence to explain how our personal communication styles influence our experiences with colleagues and clients. A personality psychologist ...

Dr. Vikram Mansharamani is a global trend-watcher who shows people how to anticipate the future, manage risk, and spot opportunities. He gained widespread attention with the release of his first book, Boombustology, which provided a framework for spotting bubb...

Dr. Danielle Martin is on the frontlines of transforming the healthcare system. An internationally recognized health policy leader and executive, Martin is committed to revolutionizing healthcare to meet the demands of the 21st century. She speaks with passion...

“If the majority of people were right, the majority of people would be rich!” So says Wall Street investment visionary Peter Ricchiuti, who teaches audiences why “follow the herd” mentality rarely delivers long-term success when it comes to the markets...

Whether it’s economics, geopolitics, or international security and terrorism, few people have a better understanding of global issues than Professor Janice Gross Stein. Her dynamic presentations provide a unique perspective into what’s really happe...

Dr. David Suzuki has made it his life’s work to help humanity understand, appreciate, respect, and protect nature. A scientist, broadcaster, author, and co-founder of the David Suzuki Foundation, he is a gifted interpreter of science and nature who provi...

Peter Tertzakian is an economist, investment strategist, author, podcaster, and dynamic public speaker. Using entertaining stories, he has a unique ability to distil, clarify, and communicate complicated issues surrounding energy, economics, and the environmen...