Speakers / Types: Women of Influence
Women of Influence
It may be that the glass ceiling has yet to shatter, but our women of influence have dealt it a staggering number of cracks. From political figures and business leaders to sports stars and entertainers, these women have blazed paths for others to follow.
Erica Dhawan
Leading Expert on Digital Teamwork, Collaboration & Innovation | Bestselling Author
Erica Dhawan says we all have the power to drive innovation, but first we need to get past the roadblocks we create for ourselves: endless meetings, cross-team dysfunction, resource-wasting duplication, and a lack of real, meaningful inclusion. Drawing on her ...
Sinead Bovell
Futurist | AI & Future of Work Expert
On a mission to bridge the gap between young entrepreneurs and the digital future, Sinead Bovell strives to create conversations that will lead towards a progressive, informed, and thriving new era. She is a futurist and the founder of WAYE, an organization th...
Andrea Bain
News Anchor | TV Host | Podcaster | Author of Single Girl Problems
The multi-talented Andrea Bain is an author, podcaster and on-air personality. A veteran TV host and broadcast news reporter, she is also the author of the book, Single Girl Problems, and host of her own radio show/podcast of the same name. Known as an insight...
Amber Mac
Innovation Speaker | Co-host of Marketing Disrupted and The AI Effect
Considered by many to be the go-to expert on anything to do with technology, Amber Mac helps companies and audiences to stay ahead of the curve. She is an industry veteran, renowned as a journalist, moderator, entrepreneur, consultant, and bestselling author. ...
Tina Varughese
Cross-Cultural Communication and Diversity Expert
An Indo-Canadian daughter of first generation East Indian parents, Varughese says her cultural background allows her to find “the best of both worlds” and shed light, knowledge, and, most importantly, universal humour into the changing workplace. H...
Col. Nicole Malachowski, USAF (Ret.)
First Woman Thunderbird Pilot | Combat Veteran | White House Fellow and Advisor
Colonel Nicole Malachowski defies stereotypes. The first woman pilot on the Thunderbirds, a combat veteran, and a White House Fellow, her distinguished 21-year Air Force career exceeded her wildest dreams. But the dream came to a quick end when a devastating t...
Kindra Hall
Strategic Storytelling Advisor and Expert
As the president and chief storytelling officer at Stellar Collective, Kindra Hall has worked with top organizations across industries to help tackle today’s communication challenges through storytelling. She is a sought-after keynote speaker trusted by ...
Jennifer Barroll
Corporate Leadership and Communications Consultant
Jennifer Barroll is a passionate communicator. With a background as an actor, media personality, and stand-up comedian, Barroll uses her quick wit and energetic personality to deliver practical leadership training and communication tools. Having worked with so...
Kellylee Evans
Juno Award-Winning Singer-Songwriter | Motivational Speaker
Internationally acclaimed Juno Award-Winning singer-songwriter Kellylee Evans has been making waves around the world with her energy-charged performances. She shares her inspirational journey of recovery, and showcases the importance of self-care and finding y...
Melissa Leong
Personal Finance Expert | National Media Personality | Bestselling Author
Melissa Leong is one of Canada’s best-loved authorities on personal finance. A sought-after speaker, national media personality, bestselling author, and award-winning writer, she is currently the resident money expert on CTV’s The Social, Canada’...
Serena Ryder
Juno Award-Winning Musician | Mental Health Advocate
For Serena Ryder, music is medicine. Her raw and earnest songwriting, and beautifully electric live performances, have made her a favourite amongst fans, peers, and critics alike. The award-winning singer-songwriter has won six prestigious JUNO Awards, a MuchM...
Chloé James
Host | Emcee | Moderator | Interviewer
Passionate about fintech, business, financial literacy, inclusion and diversity, and uncovering the behind-the-scenes stories of successful business minds, Chloé James has worked extensively as an emcee, panel facilitator, and interviewer. Her stage roles hav...
Samra Zafar
Human Rights Activist | Social Entrepreneur | Bestselling Author
After escaping a decade of abuse living as a child bride in a forced marriage in Canada, Samra Zafar became a beacon of hope for many people facing exclusion, abuse, and gender-based violence. Now an award-winning international speaker, bestselling author, sch...
Debbie Travis
International Television Icon | Entrepreneur | Bestselling Author
Known for her fantastic dry British wit, Debbie Travis is the centre of a small business empire that has made her a beloved household name and television icon around the world. Her popular TV shows have aired in more than 80 countries, her weekly syndicated ne...
Jana Webb
Entrepreneur | Founder and Creator, JOGA
A lifelong athlete, Jana Webb is on a mission to share her inimitable perspective of fitness and health with the world. She is the founder and CEO of Joga, a unique blend of yoga and sport that has revolutionized how people, including elite athletes, strengthe...
Yassmin Abdel-Magied
Leadership & Diversity Expert | Social Advocate
Yassmin Abdel-Magied is an engineer, author, broadcaster, and award-winning social advocate. Her powerful TED talk, “What does my headscarf mean to you” has more than 1.8 million views, and she has become an internationally renowned speaker on the topics o...
Dr. Hadiya Roderique
Diversity and Inclusion Advocate | Journalist | Lawyer
As a young, black woman working as a lawyer on Bay Street, Dr. Hadiya Roderique delivered a wake-up call to corporate Canada in the form of her Globe and Mail feature essay, “Black on Bay Street.” Shared more than 13,000 times on Facebook, with the acc...
Tanya Talaga
Award-winning Journalist | Author of Seven Fallen Feathers
An award-winning journalist and author, and the First Ojibway woman to deliver the CBC Massey Lectures, Tanya Talaga is an acclaimed storyteller. Her book Seven Fallen Feathers, a national bestseller that introduced us to seven Indigenous high school students ...
Dr. Robyne Hanley-Dafoe
Expert on Resiliency and Workplace Wellness
Dr. Robyne Hanley-Dafoe is a multi-award-winning psychology and education instructor who specializes in resiliency, navigating stress and change, and personal wellness in the workplace. Described as transformational, engaging, and thought-provoking, Hanley-Daf...
Lital Marom
Innovation Strategist and Visionary
A thought leader on agile business processes, digital transformation, and the future of work, Lital Marom is an expert at helping organizations unlock the potential of their business by leveraging emerging technologies and new economic models. In her practical...
Maydianne Andrade
Expert on Creating Equitable Workplaces
As the Vice-Dean of Faculty Affairs and Equity at the University of Toronto Scarborough (UTSC), Professor Maydianne Andrade shows the strength diversity brings to an organization through actively promoting the hiring, retention, and success of a diverse and in...
Fotini Iconomopoulos
Negotiation and Communication Expert
Nicknamed “the negotiator” since childhood, Fotini Iconomopoulos is an expert communicator with a passion for helping organizations and individuals get what they want. For the last decade, she has been helping Fortune 500 clients and audiences to a...
Mandy Gilbert
Entrepreneur, CEO & Innovator
Having successfully built two international businesses from the ground up, Mandy Gilbert has been recognized as a United Nations Global Accelerator and ranked as one of Canada’s Top Female Entrepreneurs on Canadian Business‘ Profit 500 list and Cha...
Jacqueline Carter
Leadership & Mindfulness Expert
The world is facing a global leadership crisis. 77% of leaders think they do a good job of engaging their people, yet 88% of employees say their leaders don’t engage enough, and 65% of employees would forgo a pay raise to see their leaders fired. Leaders...
Risha Grant
Diversity Done Differently
Risha Grant is diversity personified. From her race, gender, and lifestyle choices, to being a small business owner and tackling economic issues, every area of Risha’s life intersects diversity. The founder and CEO of an award-winning diversity consulting an...
Lainey Lui
Co-Host, The Social | Correspondent, etalk | Founder, LaineyGossip
Elaine “Lainey” Lui has been breaking entertainment news since the launch of her world-famous celebrity gossip website, LaineyGossip.com, and as a correspondent on CTV’s Canada’s #1 entertainment show, etalk. Also a co-host on CTV’s The Social, Laine...
Dr. Lisa Bélanger
Behavioural Change Expert | Researcher
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...
Jade Simmons
Transformative Leadership Expert | Motivational Pianist
How do you get to be named Classical Music’s “No.1 Maverick?” By repeatedly defying expectations, delivering riveting performances, and combining passion and innovation at every turn. Called a “musical force of nature”, Jade Simmo...
Allison Massari
Inspirational TED Speaker | Burn Survivor | Visual Artist
Hailed by audiences worldwide as “life-changing”, “riveting”, “extraordinary”, “bold”, and “deeply moving”, Allison Massari’s message of courage, kindness, and resilience resonates with participants long after an event has finished. Liste...
Mel Robbins
Expert on Defeating Doubt | Award-Winning CNN Commentator | Bestselling Author
In her globally acclaimed TEDx talk, Mel Robbins wowed the world with the science-backed secret to change: The 5 Second Rule. More than 17 million views later, the 5 Second Rule has become a bestselling book and a life-changing movement that challenges thinkin...
Neen James
Sales, Leadership, and Productivity Expert
Today’s leaders and team members live, work, and breathe in a whirlwind 24/7 cycle of commitments, distractions, data, and deadlines, causing them to feel stressed, overwhelmed, and out of control. Productivity, sales, and leadership expert Neen James’ hig...
Jennifer Keesmaat
Former Chief Planner, City of Toronto | Renowned Urbanist
Jennifer Keesmaat is passionate about creating places where people flourish. Named one of the “most powerful people in Canada” by Maclean’s, one of the “most influential” by Toronto Life, and one of the top Women of Influence in Canada, she spent fiv...
The Hon. Rona Ambrose
Former Leader of Canada’s Official Opposition in the House of Commons
The Honourable Rona Ambrose is a dynamic national leader, a champion for the rights of women and girls, the former Leader of Canada’s Official Opposition in the House of Commons, and the former leader of the Conservative Party of Canada. Rona knows politics....
Erin Bury
Technology and Marketing Expert | Startup Fanatic
Named one of Marketing Magazine‘s “Top 30 Under 30”, Erin Bury is an entrepreneur, marketer, former technology journalist, and startup advisor. A monthly columnist for the Financial Post and a tech commentator on CTV News, Bury shares the ins...
Brodie Lawson
Host of The CFL | CFL Game Time | The Grind
What is it like to always have a front row seat at the CFL? From interviewing the league’s top players and coaches, to sharing behind-the-scene moments with fans, Brodie Lawson holds the job that many only dream of. The host of the Canadian Football Leag...
Jill Heinerth
Explorer-in-Residence, The Royal Canadian Geographical Society
More people have walked on the moon than have visited many of the places that Jill Heinerth has seen on Earth. From the most dangerous technical dives deep inside underwater caves, to searching for never-before-seen ecosystems inside giant Antarctic icebergs, ...
Susan Stewart
The Lighter Side of Work and Life
Comedian Susan Stewart blends the wit and wisdom she’s known for with powerful messages about not taking life too seriously — especially in times of adversity and uncertainty. In her stand-up comedy style, Stewart shares ways to see the lighter side of lif...
Perdita Felicien
World Champion Hurdler | Two-Time Olympian
Perdita Felicien is a two-time Olympian, 10-time National Champion, two-time World silver medalist, and the only Canadian woman to win a World Championship gold medal in track and field. During her career as a 100-metre hurdler she earned numerous honours, inc...
Dr. Danielle Martin
Acclaimed Physician and Health Care Expert
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...
Sarah Ferguson
The Duchess of York
Internationally recognized for her inspiring story, Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, is an acclaimed author, humanitarian, broadcaster, and spokesperson who has spent much of her life in the glare of the public spotlight. Speaking candidly about her person...
Stacey Hanke
Communication Expert
Today’s fast-paced business environment requires leaders who can create impact and influence others with sound communication practices. Stacey Hanke has trained over 15,000 executives to influence, persuade, sell, or simply effectively communicate face-to-fa...
Liane Davey
Expert on Building Effective Teams, Improving Communication, and Increasing Leadership Effectiveness
Known as the “teamwork doctor,” Liane Davey knows how to create high performing teams. Having worked with organizations, including Fortune 500 companies, from across the globe helping teams from the frontlines to the boardroom, she has developed a unique p...
Michele Romanow
"Dragon", CBC's Dragons’ Den | Co-Founder and President, Clearbanc
Tech titan Michele Romanow is a serial entrepreneur who started six companies before her 35th birthday. A “Dragon” on CBC’s hit show Dragons’ Den, Romanow is the Co-founder and President of Clearbanc. Clearbanc has invested more than $1B into 3...
Nicole Verkindt
Tech Entrepreneur | Founder, OMX
Nicole Verkindt is passionate about leveraging the talents of entrepreneurs and innovation. Named “Canada’s Woman Entrepreneur of the Year” by StartUp Canada in 2017, Verkindt has a knack for finding industry gaps and building innovative plat...
Nicole Stott
Astronaut | Aquanaut | Artist
Nicole Stott has explored from the heights of outer space to the depths of our oceans. She has dedicated her life to sharing her spaceflight experience and the beauty of Earth with others. She believes that sharing the orbital and inner space perspectives has...
Molly Fletcher
CEO | Business Author | Former Sports Agent
Molly Fletcher is a trailblazer in every sense of the word — a rare talent of business wisdom, relationship brilliance, and unwavering optimism. As the former president of client representation for sports and entertainment agency CSE, she was hailed as the &...
Janice Gross Stein
Founding Director of the Munk School of Global Affairs, University of Toronto
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...
Carol Roth
Panel Moderator | Business Media Personality
An authoritative voice in business and news media, Carol Roth is a highly sought-after panel moderator and emcee who always ensures that “business is never boring”, making her a time and time again favourite with all audiences. She is also known for prov...
Pamela Meyer
Certified Fraud Examiner | Bestselling Author of LieSpotting
Pamela Meyer’s mission is to help people get to the truth. Extensively trained in the use of visual cues and psychology to detect deception, Meyer teaches audiences how to go from lie-spotting to truth-seeking to trust-building. Her riveting TED Talk, Ho...
Jennifer Jones
Skip of the 2014 Olympic Champion Curling Team
Jennifer Jones is Canada’s most decorated and recognizable female curler. She won an Olympic gold medal as skip of the Canadian team at the 2014 Olympic Games in Sochi, just 18 months after having ACL surgery, and 15 months after becoming a mother for the fi...