The CEO EDGE Podcast: Recent Episodes
MacKay CEO Forums
Welcome to the CEO Edge podcast , with your host Dr. Nancy MacKay, CEO and Founder of MacKay CEO Forums. Our vision is to populate the world with better leaders. In this podcast we interview successful CEOs and trusted advisors on topics of interest to CEOs today.
Kevin Brady is Chairman and Founder of Advica Health, one of Canada’s leaders in preventative and supportive healthcare for busy CEOs, Executives and their organizations. Advica Health is also a very valuable Innovator Partner with MacKay CEO Forums.
Kevin’s vast experience includes holding senior management positions within one of Canada’s largest insurance companies as well as starting his own employee benefits company, while leading these organizations, he saw a need to help companies and employees with health solutions and therefore founded Advica Health.
Kevin shares his expertise in the area of health and wellness through volunteering and giving back to his community. He has served on many boards including Board Chair for both the YMCA and his local hospital, where he is currently leading a Capital Campaign to raise $60 million for the hospital. He is also a sought after speaker on the topic of how companies can improve their profits through employee health and wellness.
Kevin has been recognized as Citizen of the Year in 2007 and Philanthropist of the Year in 2010 for his philanthropic work in his city. He has also received the esteemed Queen’s Jubilee Medal that is awarded by the Queen of England in recognition for being an outstanding community member.
Advica Health
Mike Milburn is President of 3D datacomm, which provides virtual business solutions for private, public, governmental and educational facilities across Atlantic Canada.
Mike has been involved in the communications industry for almost 30 years. Starting with NBtel in the late 1980’s, Mike was an Installation and Repair technician as well as a Trainer for new management hires at the NBtel training center.
At the age of 24 he sold his start-up cabling company to a competitor and went on to manage Atlantic Canada for Lucent Technologies. In the late 1990’s, Mike managed a National Telecom sales team that focused on supplying Telecom equipment to incumbent Telephone Companies and Cable companies across Canada.
In 2004, Mike became an owner in 3D datacomm which started as a small communication integrator with 6 employees. Today, 3D datacomm has over 30 employees and five offices. He holds the Registered Communication Distribution Designer (RCDD) designation from BISCI, is a Smart Board-Certified Master Trainer in both Education and Enterprise and is currently working on his CTS designation from Infocomm.
Mike is very passionate about the ever-changing technology industry and participates in many industry advisory councils.
3D datacomm
Eric Sugar is the President of ProServe IT, one of Canada’s leading full stack technology providers to organizations across Canada and a valuable Innovator Partner with MacKay CEO Forums. ProServe IT is recognized as the winner of Microsoft’s 2018 Global Partner for Social Impact Award and as one of Canada’s Best Small & Medium Employers for 2018.
Eric acquired significant experience by working his way up from Principal Consultant to Director of Projects, then VP of Sales & Marketing before becoming President. Working at ProServeIT was a natural fit with Eric’s passion for teaching businesses how they can leverage technology to enable growth and added value.
Aside from doing strategic planning for ProServeIT’s future growth and direction and speaking at worldwide technology conferences, Eric also helps customers to explore and set strategic directions for implementing and optimizing technology within their organizations.
ProServeIT
Rick Denley's extensive background in transformational sales growth strategies, execution and team building has driven needed change in small to large organizations, including creating winning sales processes, with a focus on consultative and relationship based selling.
A people-focused sales leader, Rick has led the Canadian division of multi-national organizations such as Matsushita Group in Japan, Schneider in France, Emerson in the USA, and Phoenix Contact in Germany. In each of these organizations, he has created new revenue streams while realizing the company's growth internally through its people.
In 2017 Rick left the corporate world to continue his passion for leading individuals and organizations to realize their growth potential in an advisory capacity. He re-invented his career to become a highly sought-after advisor, coach and mentor, a keynote speaker and facilitator with his consulting practice, Peak Performance Leadership.
Peak Performance Leadership
Shannon Ballard is Vice President of Customer Innovation at Jan Kelley, a Canadian owned award-winning creative digital agency. With 20 years of experience in brand development and customer experience strategy, Shannon Ballard is an award winning marketer, with a proven track record for helping organizations position, develop and differentiate brands to inspire employees and drive growth.
Shannon is a sought-out speaker on the topic of internal culture as she was a key contributor to Jan Kelley's internal transformation which led them to win the Waterstone Most Admired culture award in 2018.
Shannon draws from a unique background of professional sports, hospitality and commercial real estate and has worked with some of Canada's biggest brands
Jan Kelley
As the President of JV Driver Group of Companies, Bill has been at the forefront of growing JV Driver from a two-person operation on Vancouver Island to a large, multi-national corporation offering construction services and engineered products in all sectors.
JV Driver's core values are Take Care of Each Other, Be Innovative, Build Great Things and Have Fun. Along with its core values, JV Driver is driven by a mission to Think Different, Build Better for its people and clients; this mission was spear-headed by Erika Elkington.
Bill won the Entrepreneur of the Year Award for the Prairie Region in 2010 and JV Driver also received the Canada's 10 Most Admired Corporate Cultures 2010 award. JV Driver is consistently recognized as one of Canada's 50 Best Managed Companies.
As the Executive Director of the Erika Legacy Foundation, Chris Maksylewicz leads the fight to reduce the risks of suicide and mental health so that our communities and the people within them can become the best version of themselves.
The Erika Legacy Foundation is a public, Canadian foundation, started in 2016 by the family of Erika Nicole Elkington. The Foundation;s main function is to raise funds and provide financial support to Canadian programs for suicide prevention, thru its three pillars: scientific research; inspiration; and action.
The Erika Legacy Foundation
The Genwell Project is on a mission to make the world a happier and healthier place by reminding people about the importance of face to face social connection.
As the Founder of the GenWell Project, Pete Bombaci is a passionate, grassroots brand builder. Pete has served in senior-level roles in both the for-profit and not-for profit sectors and prior to founding The GenWell Project, he served as Country Director of Movember Canada where he oversaw itÕs launch and position as the largest fundraising campaign globally for 5 years.
Pete is a charismatic and visionary business leader who believes that by doing the right thing every day, exceptional results are created.
Genwell Project
Kirsten Thompson is a Partner in the Corporate group and National Lead of the Transformative Technologies and Data Strategy Group at Dentons Canada. Kirsten's practice has a particular concentration in data-driven industries and disruptive technologies, and she is a leading Canadian practitioner in areas such as Fintech (including blockchain and "smart contracts"), digital identity, Open Data/Open Banking and PSD2 implementation, amongst others.
In her advisory role, Kirsten assists clients in navigating the legal and privacy requirements of new products and technologies. She counsels clients on issues raised by social media, surveillance, online behavioural advertising and FinTech and open banking.
She has worked extensively in the "Internet of Things" area and has advised two leading automakers with respect to their connected and semi-autonomous vehicles, and several companies in respect of their autonomous aerial vehicles (aka drones) and wearable devices.
Kirsten has been recognized in CHAMBERS CANADA as a leading lawyer in the area of Privacy & Data Protection consecutively from 2016-2020.
Dentons Data suite
John Radford and his business partner have enjoyed a 20-year partnership in Vancouver, BC at Transpectives, providing executive consultancy services to CEOs, specifically within family-owned/operated businesses.
The focus of Transpectives is on helping leaders leverage conflict for change in a globally competitive, rapidly changing environment.
As an executive coach John's CEO clients learn to master the inner track of leadership, turning destructive internal tension and personal sabotage into positive energy for change.
Transpectives Inc.
Trudy Pelletier is the President of Trudy Pelletier Consulting, specializing in facilitating difficult conversations within the workplace. Her skills are highly sought after by business leaders interested in optimizing people and performance. She coaches business partners and private businesses on issues such as succession planning and conflict management.
Trudy works with corporate business leaders on communications, leadership development and building an empowering culture. Trudy helps organizations navigate highly charged issues and recurring challenges. Recently, that includes changes to organizational culture following the Me-Too Movement and emerging discussions of gender parity and leadership.
She's a trainer, facilitator with deep sales background, certified executive coach, and designated family enterprise advisor. She has decades of experience in connecting and cultivating understanding of bringing difficult issues from the background into the foreground. Trudy is also licensed in empowering women and men on material now relevant for all genders.
Trudy Pelletier Consulting
Rick Hansen, a Paralympic athlete and the founder of the Rick Hansen Foundation, an organization that removes barriers for people with disabilities by changing attitudes, creating accessible spaces and inspiring an inclusive society.
Rick grew up in Port Alberni, British Columbia, with ambitions for professional sport. When he was 15, on his way home from a fishing trip, he suffered a spinal cord injury when he was thrown from the back of a pickup truck. The accident left him paralysed from the waist down. With support and motivation from various mentors, Rick returned to sport less than a year later, and attended the University of British Columbia, where he became the first person with a disability to graduate with a degree in physical education.
Between 1979 and 1984, Rick won 19 international wheelchair marathons, four world titles, and nine Pan American Wheelchair gold medals. During this period, Rick was named Canada's Disabled Athlete of the Year three times and he represented Canada at the Summer Paralympic Games in 1984.
In 1985, Rick embarked on the Man in Motion World Tour, a two-year journey through 34 countries around the world to raise awareness for the potential of people with disabilities. Through the tour, Rick promoted accessibility and inclusiveness for all, and raised $26 million.
Rick founded the Rick Hansen Foundation in 1988 to continue the work of the Man in Motion World Tour. The Foundation focuses on spinal cord injury research, and other programs which aim to create an accessible and inclusive world where people with disabilities can live to their full potential.
Rick Hansen Foundation
Linda Oglov, the Founder and Principal of Oglov Business Development Inc, has experienced multiple "chapters" in her executive career including business development for EXPO 86 and the Vancouver 2010 Winter Games,and international consulting work in Southeast Asia, Australia, South Africa and the United Kingdom.
When Vancouver won the Olympic bid in 2003, Linda left the newly formed organizing committee (VANOC) to set up as a consultant to companies seeking to become sponsors of the 2010 Games, including Bell Canada, RBC Financial and Petro Canada
Linda concluded her career with the Olympics with the London 2012 Games where she worked for BT (British Telecom) for 2 years negotiating that company's multi-million dollar sponsorship, as well as working with future company sponsors for the Sochi 2014 Winter Games and the Rio 2016 Summer Games.
Linda now coaches CEOs and executives in several different industries and also offers workshops in career transition, business development and leadership development. Her passion is inspiring and guiding the success of others.
https://www.oglov.com/
Kevin Brady, Chairman and Founder of Advica Health, Advica Health is one of Canada's leaders in preventative and supportive healthcare for busy CEOs, Executives and their organizations. Advica Health is also a very valuable Innovator Partner with MacKay CEO Forums.
Kevin's vast experience includes holding senior management positions within one of Canada's largest insurance companies as well as starting his own employee benefits company. While leading these organizations, he saw a need to help companies and employees with health solutions and therefore founded Advica Health.
Kevin shares his expertise in the area of health and wellness through volunteering and giving back to his community. He has served on many boards including Board Chair for both the YMCA and his local hospital, where he is currently leading a Capital Campaign to raise $60 million for the hospital. He is also a sought after speaker on the topic of how companies can improve their profits through employee health and wellness.
Kevin has been recognized as Citizen of the Year in 2007 and Philanthropist of the Year in 2010 for his philanthropic work in his city. He has also received the esteemed Queen's Jubilee Medal that is awarded by the Queen of England in recognition for being an outstanding community member.
Advica Health
Rob Follows, founder and CEO of STS, combines his education, 10 years of entrepreneurial leadership and 15 years of international corporate experience to help clients transform business success into personal significance. Rob is also the founding Chairman of Altruvest Charitable Services, a Canadian charity focused on improving the performance of charitable organizations by providing training and tools to enhance the governance of charitable boards.
Rob has been recognized with the Top 40 Under 40 business award for creating 1,000 new jobs in Canada. He is an extreme adventurer, Rob is an ultra-marathoner, has climbed the Seven Summits, skied the North and South Poles, and meditated with Tibetan monks in Nepal and Bhutan.
Charlotte Blumenshein is the Director at STS. A results-oriented client service leader, she has led over 40 M&A transactions during her 9 years at STS Capital. Charlotte has extensive knowledge of the private sector in both Canada and the Caribbean, having worked both as an international trade advisor for the Government of Canada and as a marketing manager for a regional Caribbean firm. Charlotte is an entrepreneur at heart, having successfully owned, operated and subsequently sold two tourist-based, service-focused companies.
STS Capital Partners
Sarah Liverance is a Partner and lead Engagement Champion at Sklar Wilton and Associates. Sklar Wilton is Canada's leading strategy and insights advisory firm helping CEOs, CMOs and marketing teams solve tough business challenges to unlock growth and build stronger brands.
Sarah focuses on the internal management of the company which includes the people development initiatives as well as the financial health and smooth operations of the firm. She firmly believes that healthy whole employees are critical to business success and earlier this year she led her Sklar Wilton team in the launch of Headway, a movement to help companies embrace the best mental health practices.
Sarah has served as an officer in the US Air Force designing computer systems for next generation surveillance satellites. While serving in the Air Force, Sarah completed her MBA and that launched her marketing career which started at Kraft Foods in the USA and Canada. She has strong family ties in the US but is now a proud Canadian.
Sklar Wilton & Associates
Bill Cates is an internationally recognized client-acquisition expert, author, and speaker who motivates others to take action with proven strategies.
A successful entrepreneur, Bill started and sold two book publishing companies. Turning his attention to help other businesses grow, Bill has written four best-selling books: Get More Referrals Now, Don’t Keep Me a Secret, Beyond Referrals and Radical Relevance.
Bill has delivered his business-growth message to over 300,000 professionals, small business owners, and salespeople across 5 continents; helping them increase revenue without increasing their marketing budget.
Bill Cates’ client-acquisition system has been featured in such publications as Success Magazine, Entrepreneur Magazine, Selling Power, the Huffington Post and The Wall Street Journal. And his own business success has been featured in Money Magazine.
Bill was inducted into the Professional Speakers Hall of Fame in 2010 (182 living members worldwide).
ProServeIT is recognized as the winner of Microsoft’s 2018 Global Partner for Social Impact Award and as one of Canada’s Best Small & Medium Employers for 2018.
Eric acquired significant experience by working his way up from Principal Consultant to Director of Projects, then VP of Sales & Marketing before becoming President. Working at ProServeIT was a natural fit with Eric’s passion for teaching businesses how they can leverage technology to enable growth and added value.
Aside from doing strategic planning for ProServeIT’s future growth and direction and speaking at worldwide technology conferences, Eric also helps customers to explore and set strategic directions for implementing and optimizing technology within their organizations.
ProServeIT.com
Tineke Keesmaat is the Founder and CEO of TILTCO, Inc. and the 2019 Winner of Canada’s Trusted Advisor Award for CEOs of Large Businesses. Smart, innovative and passionate, Tineke is known for her ability to unlock the potential of leaders and their organizations. She has worked with organizations of all sizes and industries. What is core to her work is finding and supporting ambitious leaders who want to make big things happen for themselves, their teams and their organizations. Tiltco Inc. is a boutique consultancy that focuses on helping ambitious leaders set and achieve a bold vision. Since launching Tiltco in 2013, Tineke has worked with leaders from across sectors and a range of sizes on their toughest leadership and organizational issues. Tineke and Tiltco offer highly customized services to help leaders set their vision, strategy and culture. Tiltco’s programs are designed to deliver the strategy promises while engaging and inspiring team members while committed to modernizing how leaders approach change. http://tiltco.ca/
Steve Foran is a highly rated CEO Forum Chair with MacKay CEO Forums, the founder of “Gratitude at Work” and the 2019 Winner of Canada’s Trusted Advisor Award. Steve has been on the leading edge of gratitude-based research, writing, and teaching for almost fifteen years. He recently released his book, “Surviving to Thriving – The 10 Laws of Grateful Leadership” and is the publisher of the nationally recognized video blog “Keeping Level”. Steve is the founder of Gratitude at Work – a behaviour and culture-changing institution. His science-based program is a simple, yet innovative approach to business growth. An electrical engineer and one of three Canadians awarded the Certified Speaking ProfessionalTM designation, Steve brings a detail-oriented and thoughtful approach to his working relationships and client engagements. Steve has worked with company leaders across North America for the past 10 years, shifting cultures and helping teams bring more gratitude to work every day. Gratitude at Work
| Katie Bennett is a highly rated CEO Forum Chair with MacKay CEO Forums, the founder of Double Black Diamond Coaching and a 2019 Winner of Canada’s Trusted Advisor to Executives of Medium to Large Businesses Award. After 11 years working in advertising at some of the world’s top agencies, Katie started Double Black Diamond Coaching in 2000. Her work at Double Black Diamond Coaching focuses on the intersection of three key areas: Creating a highly effective Executive Team, Developing the individual Leaders, and Building alignment around a simple One Page Strategic Plan. Katie’s business focus is working with CEO’s and their executive teams to build high functioning teams that are firing on all cylinders and delivering outstanding results. She does this through a primary focus on helping her teams understand the value of getting offsite on a quarterly basis to deepen the connection among the leaders, ensuring alignment around key priorities and developing a method of holding teams accountable to results. Katie’s clients include CEO’s and executive team members from large organizations through entrepreneurial businesses. Her industry experience includes technology, wealth management, the clean energy sector, commercial real estate, big pharma, media and advertising, retirement living, insurance, construction, manufacturing, engineering and more. https://doubleblackdiamondcoaching.com/ |
Mike Johnston founded and has led REDspace for over 19 years. With his talented team comprised of over 200 full-time employees, REDspace creates award-winning web, mobile, video and gaming experiences for its global partners including Turner, Viacom, Sony Pictures, IBM and NBC Universal. Mike began his IT career in Boston after graduating magna cum laude from Harvard University. Passionate about education and inspiring the next generation of innovators, Mike is the founding president of the Harvard Club of Atlantic Canada and currently serves as Interview Chair. He is also a National Interview Chair for the prestigious Loran scholarship and a NSCC IT Program Advisory Committee member. https://www.redspace.com/
Foley’s Candies is Western Canada’s largest manufacturer of chocolate and confectionary coatings and since 2006 has had an extraordinary period of growth and learning, with EBITDA over 30% and profits over 20% since 2016. In 2006 Brian purchased Foleys Candies and together with an exceptional management team built Foleys into the largest chocolate manufacturer in Western Canada. A commitment to quality, customer service and product innovation allowed Foleys to enjoy consistent growth in revenue and profitability. In late 2015, Brian made the decision to sell the business yet currently remains active on the Board. Prior to Foleys, Brian’s career included banking with a US headquartered commercial bank and in the early ‘80s he made the move to Vancouver where he worked in corporate / commercial banking, fixed income and investment banking over the next 25 years. In October 2016, Andrew Elliott was hired by Yellow Point Equity Partners as the new President and CEO of Foley’s Candies. Andrew and the Foley’s Candies’ executive team initiated cost management, product rationalization and procurement disciplines that have grown EBITDA over 30% and profits over 20% since 2016. The group also launched a number of team focused initiatives to support career and professional development and culture building. In December 2018 Foley’s acquired Brockmann’s Chocolate’s, a premium confectioner based in Delta, British Columbia. By living their purpose of “Sharing Happiness by Creating Products in Partnership”, Foley’s and Brockmann’s deliver bespoke indulgence and exceptional service to customers throughout North America. Before joining Foley’s, Andrew’s career included leading the fruit and nut business unit of Golden Boy Foods and nearly a decade with Coca Cola Bottling Company. Foley's Candies
Murray Neilson leads client development and relationship management at Nicola Wealth. Murray is also a highly-rated MacKay CEO Forums Chair. Nicola Wealth is a full-service wealth planning firm for high net worth families and individuals. Nicola Wealth is also one of MacKay CEO Forum’s valuable National Partners. A highly regarded advisor, business leader, speaker and moderator, Murray works tirelessly to help his clients rise to their potential and expect more from life. He has over 40 years of experience helping CEOs and entrepreneurs plan and achieve their goals through sophisticated wealth management and planning strategies. Murray has a tremendous talent for bringing together diverse groups of people to problem solve, collaborate and accelerate goal achievement. Combining listening, leadership and questioning with a strong sense of fun, Murray brings tremendous passion and dedication to all aspects of work and life. Murray is a Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU), Chartered Financial Consultant (CHFC), Chartered Financial Planner (CFP) and a Family Enterprise Advisor (FEA). He is called on each year to facilitate the highly anticipated, industry leaders panel at the annual CALU conference. Nicola Wealth
Bill is an internationally recognized client-acquisition expert, author, and speaker who motivates others to take action with proven strategies.
A successful entrepreneur, Bill started and sold two book publishing companies. Turning his attention to help other businesses grow, Bill has written four best-selling books: Get More Referrals Now, Don’t Keep Me a Secret, Beyond Referrals and Radical Relevance.
Bill has delivered his business-growth message to over 300,000 professionals, small business owners, and salespeople across 5 continents; helping them increase revenue without increasing their marketing budget.
Bill Cates’ client-acquisition system has been featured in such publications as Success Magazine, Entrepreneur Magazine, Selling Power, the Huffington Post and The Wall Street Journal. And his own business success has been featured in Money Magazine.
Bill was inducted into the Professional Speakers Hall of Fame in 2010 (182 living members worldwide).
Bill Cates
Dominick Gauthier is one of the most influential minds in the Canadian Olympic realm. A business leader, world-class coach, mentor, fundraiser, broadcaster, and former Olympic mogul skier, Gauthier has coached multiple Olympic Champions and created the B2ten Foundation. With 33 Million dollars raised from the private sector, B2ten builds optimal preparation plans for Canada’s best Olympic athletes, with the goal to have a significant impact on the Canadian Olympic sport system. Dominick now leads the organization, over which he insures that 20 athletes at each winter and summer Olympics are fully prepared. Amongst his most famous athletes are Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir, for whom he built and directed the team behind their success. Gauthier’s understanding of high-performance, the ability to think differently and thereby maximize the result of the athlete and/or team, relates perfectly to workplace and everyday life.
The Great Kitchen Party Canada
Doris understands the evolution of small to mid-market businesses and the people challenges inherent in any growing venture. For over twenty years, through the founding and growth of Centrepoint, she has consulted and advised leaders of owner-managed businesses, non-profit and government organizations, as well as budding entrepreneurs in the chaos of business start-up.
She is passionate about helping leaders develop and deliver on a vision for themselves and their organizations so they can achieve their personal, professional, and business goals with clarity and confidence. By defining the work people do, assessing talent needs, reimagining recruitment strategies, or advancing leadership growth, she supports their commitment to see people thrive and business accelerate.
She works with clients to plan and scout the road ahead, engaging them in essential conversations to resolve their people issues without second guessing the decisions they make. Whether working with founders, CEO’s, emerging or tenured leaders, she provides fresh perspectives and strategies to help them navigate their journey with wisdom and integrity.
Doris is an accomplished speaker, facilitator, and frequent presenter to various CEO and executive forum groups, professional associations and management teams.
As a writer and educator, she has authored many articles, blog posts, white papers, and management tool kits to advance workplace innovation and contemporary people practices. She is the author of the book Basic to Brilliant: The definitive guide to transforming your people practices, A playbook for the small to mid-size enterprise. (Available at all major online retailers.)
She holds Bachelor of Arts and Education degrees, has completed graduate work in organizational development, and holds the Chartered Professional in Human Resources (CPHR) designation, along with certifications in a number of psychometric assessment instruments.
CentrePoint
Yellow Point partners with leading business owners to help guide their companies to the next level of success. Since 2004, Yellow Point has delivered top quartile returns to investors and helped many of their partners multiply the value of their equity stakes.
As one of the co-founders of Yellow Point, Brian Begert is primarily involved in sourcing and assessing prospective partnerships, as well as facilitating growth and new initiatives in investee companies.
Previous to Yellow Point, Brian co-founded Goepel Shields & Partners in 1989 (an investment firm which was acquired by Raymond James in 2000) and served the following 14 years as managing director of investment banking for Raymond James and its predecessor companies.
In his capacity at Raymond James, Brian facilitated capital raises, public offerings, and private placements for numerous services, industrial and technology companies.
Dave Chapman is a Yellow Point co-founder and Managing Partner and spends much of his time identifying new investment opportunities and encouraging growth in existing portfolio companies.
He was previously CEO of Greenlight Power Technologies, a privately held energy technology company that he successfully repositioned from a small niche player to the global leader in its field.
In 2003, Dave engineered the sale of Greenlight to a strategic buyer. Prior to Greenlight, Dave was a Senior Vice President in the investment banking group of Merrill Lynch.
He is a Partner of BC Social Venture Partners, a group of business executives tackling BC’s largest social challenges through a venture philanthropy model.
Yellow Point Equity Partners
Dirk is passionate about helping organizations evolve into happier, healthier and more meaningful places to work. He is an advocate, through research and experience, in reinventing the way we work where every member can grow, develop and share their gifts and talents with the world.
Dirk continuously innovates with self-management, wholeness and evolutionary purpose practices and frameworks in order for organizations and teams to harmoniously work better together. A globally recognized leader, Dirk has worked and lived in Mexico, Germany, USA, Sweden and now Canada.
ET Group provides unique and innovative new business structures, practices and processes to clients such as Cisco, CB Richard Ellis, Bell, London Life, the Province of Ontario plus many others.
ET Group
Dr. Joti Samra, is an award-winning clinical psychologist and innovator in the area of psychological health and wellness. Dr. Samra is the Founder & Principal of “My Workplace Health”, as well as Founder and Principal of “Dr. Joti Samra & Associates”.
In her role as principal developer for both My Workplace Health and her clinic, Dr. Samra has created a number of evidence-based resources for leaders and organizations in the areas of depression, suiciduality, chronic health conditions and workplace psychological health and safety.
A talented and dynamic expert in presenting innovative psychological research in an entertaining and accessible way has Dr. Samra appearing on various critically acclaimed docu-reality series such as “Confessions: Animal Hoarding”, A&E’s “Intervention”, on OWN (Oprah Winfrey Network Canada), and is the Clinical Expert Spokesperson for Bell’s “Lets Talk” Day.
She is past recipient of the Canadian Psychological Association’s New Researcher Award and the BC Psychological Associations’ Advancement of the Profession of Psychology Award. In addition, Dr. Samra is past President of the British Columbia Psychological Association and past Chair of the BC Psychologically Healthy Workplace Awards Committee.
Dr. Joti Samra
Dr. Elisabeth Sherman
Director of Brain Health and Psychology
Dr. Sherman is the director of brain health and psychological health and a clinical neuropsychologist with expertise in brain health and neuropsychological assessment. Dr. Sherman also heads a private practice in neuropsychology where she conducts medico-legal assessments. Dr. Sherman has served as neuropsychologist, researcher, and consultant for hospital Neurology and Neurosurgery departments, and is the author of three books, including a well-known reference text for neuropsychological assessment and the first reference book on pediatric forensic neuropsychology. She has authored over 20 book chapters and 65 scientific articles and has delivered over 85 presentations at national and international scientific conferences in addition to serving as speaker for corporate and community events. Dr. Sherman has served as editorial board member for scientific journals such as the Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society, Child Neuropsychology, and Epilepsia and has served as invited journal reviewer for numerous scientific journals in the area of neuropsychology. She founded two pediatric neuropsychology fellowship training programs, serving as Fellowship Director at both BC Children’s Hospital and Alberta Children’s Hospital and helping to train the next generation of neuropsychologists. Dr. Sherman is also the author of three commercial tests of memory and of performance validity.
Dr. Sherman holds a doctorate in Clinical Psychology with Neuropsychology Specialization from the University of Victoria, completed her internship at London Health Sciences Center in Ontario, and completed postdoctoral training at UCLA. She has held prior positions as Adjunct Associate Professor at the University of Calgary in the Department of Clinical Neurosciences and in the Department of Paediatrics, and as Adjunct Professor at the University of British Columbia.
Dr. Sherman’s goal is to make the science of brain health accessible and understandable, and to help people improve their brain health and wellbeing at work and at home. She has helped individuals and groups learn how to optimize their brain health, maximize their performance at work, and better understand healthy aging. She is an accomplished clinician who assesses and treats patients with brain conditions and psychological conditions, including traumatic brain injury/concussion, ADHD, PTSD, memory loss, and dementia.
Copeman Healthcare
As General Manager of Edelman Vancouver, Bridgitte leads a team of highly experienced experts in helping clients earn trust through communications strategies.
Before coming to Edelman, Bridgitte was Press Secretary to a former BC Premier and a local and national news anchor.
In recent years at Edelman, Bridgitte led the Corporate Communications Practice in the Vancouver office and provided counsel to brands such as Vancouver Airport Authority, Pacific Blue Cross, and the Industry Training Authority.
An avid community leader, Bridgitte is a big believer in giving back. Outside of the office, she is a Director on the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade and Co-Chair of the Jack Webster Foundation.
Edelman
As the CEO of Luvo, Christine brings over 20 years of leadership experience as the former CEO of Lululemon and various executive positions at Starbucks.
Christine’s passion, experience and dedication to wellbeing inspires the team at Luvo to continue innovating for growth to achieve the next level in making a positive difference in the lives of others thru the love of food.
In 2016 Christine was honored during the 2016 Excellence Performance Summit and is a recipient of a Canada Award for Excellence in recognition of her outstanding accomplishgments as a successful executive and entrepreneur.
Luvo
In his teenage years, Bill Bishop was dead set against a career in marketing. His parents operated a small marketing company and to save money, they often used Bill as free labor in advertising and PR programs. At the age of six, he was cast as "The OFF Boy" in a series of commercials for the famous insect repellant. At age 14, they dressed him up in a frog outfit to promote a local retail mall, followed by a humiliating stint in a pink bunny suit.
These indignities, along with many others, made Bill swear he would never pursue marketing as a career. Yet, in his early 20s, Bill was thrust back into the marketing world when he won a waiter contest by selling 1,400 lobsters. This seminal event was so inspiring and lucrative that Bill concluded he actually loved marketing and decided to start his own marketing company. Since that time, Bill and his team of coaches have helped more than 10,000 entrepreneurs in dozens of industries around the world develop and market innovative BIG Ideas.
Today, Bill is the CEO of The BIG Idea Company and the creator of The BIG Idea Adventure™, an advanced coaching program that helps entrepreneurs grow their business by creating, packaging, and promoting BIG Ideas. He is also the founder of The New Economy Network, and the inventor of the popular board game Quibberish®: The Paraphrase Puzzle Game.
In addition, Bill is the author of nine books including How To Sell A Lobster (now sold in 25 countries in 12 languages), The Problem With Penguins, Beyond Basketballs, Return of The Lobster, and Global Marketing For The Digital Age. He was also the author of Strategic Marketing For The Digital Age (1996), the first book published about e-commerce and Internet marketing. He recently published his new book The New Factory Thinker: Re-Wire Your Mind For Success In A Disrupted Marketplace. He also published Going To The Net, a book about using psychology and mindfulness to excel at tennis and life.
Bill has delivered speeches to hundreds of organizations including The MIT Entrepreneur Program, TEC, Entrepreneur's Organization (EO), Advocis, The Knowledge Bureau, MDRT, NAIFA, NAPFA, Independent Financial Brokers, Workcomp Advisors, Pro-Seminars, BNI, The Ivey School of Business, The Schulich School of Business, and Queen's University Executive MBA Program.
Bill Bishop
Dr. Atul Malhotra, is a board-certified pulmonologist, intensivist and chief of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine at UC San Diego School of Medicine.
Dr. Malhotra is active clinically in pulmonary, critical care and sleep medicine care and research related to sleep disorders, including sleep apnea, insomnia, restless leg syndrome, narcolepsy and sleep disorders associated with medical or psychiatric conditions.
Dr. Malhotra is the president of the American Thoracic Society. He has taught and presented his research on sleep-related disorders locally, regionally, nationally and internationally.
He has published more than 200 original manuscripts in leading journals including the New England Journal of Medicine, Mayo Clinic Proceedings, Sleep and the Journal of American Medical Association.
Before joining UC San Diego Health, Dr. Malhotra practiced pulmonary, critical care and sleep medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Brigham and Women’s Hospital. He also served as attending physician in intensive care at King Faisal Hospital in Rwanda. He was associate professor at Harvard Medical School and medical director of the Brigham and Women’s Hospital Sleep Disorders Research Program.
Dr. Atul Malhotra
As President of FocalPoint Canada, Marc oversees the operations of the Business Coaching and Training Team Canada wide. For 15 years Marc has served in the business coaching & training community including the past 12 years with FocalPoint International and FocalPoint Canada. Marc enjoys helping the FocalPoint Team to positively impact Canada`s businesses, professionals, executives and teams to reach their goals by learning and doing to become leaders in their industries.
At FocalPoint, we believe any company can dramatically improve the quality of their business results faster than they ever imagined possible - that it's simply a matter of choice and commitment.
The core of our belief and system is the best way to achieve sustained high performance is through cultural and attitudinal change coupled with skill & knowledge training.
We get results for companies (executives, teams, individuals) by delivering high-level training & coaching in the areas of Leadership Development - the Coach Approach, Effective Behavioral Communication, Hi-Performance Attitude and Employee Engagement development.
Focal Point
I’m here today with Kevin Brady, Chairman and Founder of Advica Health, Advica Health is one of Canada’s leaders in preventative and supportive healthcare for busy CEOs, Executives and their organizations. Advica Health is also a very valuable Innovator Partner with MacKay CEO Forums.
Kevin’s vast experience includes holding senior management positions within one of Canada’s largest insurance companies as well as starting his own employee benefits company, while leading these organizations, he saw a need to help companies and employees with health solutions and therefore founded Advica Health.
Kevin shares his expertise in the area of health and wellness through volunteering and giving back to his community. He has served on many boards including Board Chair for both the YMCA and his local hospital, where he is currently leading a Capital Campaign to raise $60 million for the hospital. He is also a sought after speaker on the topic of how companies can improve their profits through employee health and wellness.
Kevin has been recognized as Citizen of the Year in 2007 and Philanthropist of the Year in 2010 for his philanthropic work in his city. He has also received the esteemed Queen’s Jubilee Medal that is awarded by the Queen of England in recognition for being an outstanding community member.
Advica Health
Dr. Izzo has spoken to over one million people, advised over 500 companies, authored six bestselling books and helped some of the world’s most admired companies in the world including MacDonald’s, Coca Cola, Telus, Fairmont Hotels and Resorts, IBM amongst many others.
Dr. Izzo has been a pioneer on creating successful businesses and emerging work trends for over twenty-five years. He was a pioneer on employee engagement and social responsibility in 1994 with his book “Awakening Corporate Soul”, then in 2000, the shifting generational values when he wrote “Values Shift-The New Work Ethic”, and most recently, showed how individuals shape the future with the book “Stepping Up” in 2014.
Currently, he is blazing a new trail showing businesses why a rising class of people worldwide will shape the economy of the future with his book “The Purpose Revolution”. This rising class is not one of nationality, income, race or gender but one that aspires to have a good life while doing good.
Known for his compelling combination of leading-edge research, riveting storytelling, practical ideas to make a difference starting now and a keen sense of where the future is, organizations who have the privilege of working alongside Dr. Izzo are inspired to act with purpose and inspiration.
Dr. John Izzo
The Men's Initiative
Rocky is a successful entrepreneur, business leader and one of Canada’s most passionate evangelists on the Future of Work and Culture Transformationalism. Rocky is also a highly rated speaker for MacKay CEO Forums.
Rocky preaches that technology, a sharing economy and the connected generation have dramatically changed the way companies attract, engage and retain their people. Companies that fail to embrace this reality will find themselves disrupted or made redundant by an increasingly innovative and agile economy.
Rocky couples 10-years of executive HR and operations leadership in large enterprise organizations, with 5-years of startup tech experience. He is the co-founder of the NoW of Work Inc. and the NoW-Academy.
Rocky Ozaki
Liz Rose is the youngest Canadian to conquer the Seven Summits. she accomplished this fear in under three years and is one of the few women in history to have done so. After receiving a communications degree from the University of Denver, Liz studied broadcast journalism at the New York Film Academy. Liz was raised in Vancouver, British Columbia, with older twin brothers. Liz attributes her adventurous spirit to the ocean and mountains at her doorstep. To learn more about her adventures, visit LizRoseSummits.com
Kerry's very diverse business background gives her the personal experience from which she speaks. She grew up with a father who was an insurance broker and then both parents went on to open their own very successful Jewellery store. She saw first hand what it took to be successful!
After gradutating from University, Kerry spent 12 years as a top producing real estate agent, she owned her own real estate office managing a staff as well as 30 realtors, and has been a top producer in the direct sales industry. When it comes to business experience Kerry has personally seen and experienced it all!
Her expertise and passion has been in inspiring individuals by delivering practical, business coaching and training which combines both personal effectiveness and business effectiveness strategies. It was this passion that led Kerry and Richard to start their company, Success Biz Coach and the programs they offer to small business owners and their teams.
In her 18 years as a Business Coach Kerry realized success in business was more than passion and enthusiasm, being "good at something" and the breaking down of our own barriers to success, it also required learned skills and competencies.
It was the application of this education her own Coaching Business that resulted in revenues in the six figures in a short period of time.
Kerry is also active in her community as an active member of the local Chamber of Commerce, past president of the Capital City Executives Association, a chapter of Business Network International (BNI), the founding Executive Managing Director for eWomenNetworkan organization for women in business, and the Canadian College of Performing Arts.
Kerry Brown
Curt Steinhorst
Curt, a millennial himself, has received standing ovations for his powerful delivery that combines The Center’s latest research and how-to with his unique experience working with clients around the world. His entertaining speaking style has engaged and inspired audiences across North America and Europe.
Curt’s personal experiences leading Millennials and serving as a speaking coach for top performers, from executives and TV personalities to helping the Heisman Trophy Winner prepare for his speech, make him a powerful and entertaining speaker on how to solve generational challenges with employees and customers.
About The Center for Generational Kinetics: The Center for Generational Kinetics is the #1 Millennials, Gen Z and generations research, speaking, and consulting firm. The Center’s team have repositioned global brands to win every generation, advised companies on multi-billion-dollar acquisitions, and taken clients from last to first in employee retention.
Read The Center’s latest discoveries at GenHQ.com
Curt Steinhorst
Dr. Lois Nahirney is passionate about creating a healthier world by helping people take power over their health. She has identical twins adopted from Vietnam (one transgender) which led to a fascination in DNA. She solved years of personal health problems by learning about a simple weakness in her genetic make up, and acquired the company. She has a doctorate and a master in business and has held a number of international senior executive roles. She has been honoured with several women in business awards and volunteers extensively in the community and overseas. Her vision is to help people make better health decisions and live healthier lives based on their unique DNA.
dnaPower
John is a facilitator and coach who works with business leaders to develop high performance teams, create differentiated and compelling strategies, and then enrolls their organization to realize the vision. He is committed to helping executives become self-aware and understand the impact of their actions.
A disciple of motivation theory, John enables connections that engage people to achieve higher performance. He believes that when leaders encourage the right conditions, ordinary people can achieve extraordinary results. One of his strengths is seeing the possibilities and potential in everyone.
HIs early career focused on developing Information Systems, which included the creation of a Cash Forecasting System for BC Hydro. This became the prototype that launched Selkirk Financial Technologies which went on to become a four-time FAST 50 technology firm and was twice recognized as a finalist for “Best Managed Private Company”. John led VP roles for Client Services, Marketing, Product Management and Business Development. He discovered his true calling as VP, Organizational Performance when Selkirk grew from 35 to 85 people in one year.
After Selkirk was acquired by Thomson Reuters, he used the experience of founding a technology company to start the West Coast Practice of Potentials Unlimited, a Leadership Development firm. John has supported a wide range of organizations including BDC, BMO, Enerplus, Conoco Phillips and Matrix Asset Management. He chaired Take a Hike, Youth at Risk Foundation during his 10 year tenure as a director.
John has an MBA from SFU and is a certified practitioner with Insights Discovery, Black Isle’s ‘Speak with Impact’ and a graduate of Destination Coach. He is a proponent for “The Five Dysfunctions of a Team” and “The Four Disciplines of Execution”. He is an advocate for “Firms of Endearment”, organizations that live the principles of Conscious Capitalism to generate profit at its best. His mantra is to ‘amplify the impact’ before, during and after an engagement.
When John is not cooking or gardening at his home in Lions Bay, he can be found skiing or mountain biking on the slopes of Whistler with his wife Carol and dog, Mack.
John Phillips
Andrew has a history of improving financial results through optimizing the collaboration of teams and developing more effective senior leaders; focusing on the culture and behaviors required to be successful. He has been a consultant and a leader in turnaround situations and led companies that were recognized as being one of Canada’s 50 Best Managed Privately Owned Companies.
Andrew is aprofessional speaker and performs training engagements for small and large groups, covering the topic of “Performance and Cultural Alignment: Aligning your team to increase the predictability and profitability of your business.” Some of the groups that he has been asked to speak to include CEO Connections, TEC, MacKay CEO Forum, Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters, Innovators Alliance, ScaleUp Academy and Presidents of Enterprising Organizations.
His current role also involves him meeting with CEO’s and members of the Executive Leadership Team to determine how well aligned their organizations are. Through a series of interviews and surveys conducted over a 1 day period he is able to conduct a Performance and Cultural Assessment (PCA). This tool provides feedback and action plans as to where companies have opportunities to gain a greater degree of alignment.
Carpedia
As Co-founder and CEO, Joanne provides direction and oversight with specific emphasis on ground breaking educational environments, healthcare, research and multi-unit, high-rise, mixed-use developments. Her work is informed by vigorous research and careful client consultation, working from first principles in a way that thoughtfully translates her clients’ needs into physical reality.
Joanne founded the firm on the principles of sustainable design, quickly establishing it as a leader in the field. This passion continues to inform all that she does, including our work with business leaders, entrepreneurs, developers and our colleagues in the engineering and consulting industry. Under Joanne’s leadership, the firm remains focused on design excellence in a way that balances the social, economic and environmental sustainability of each building we create.
Joanne sits as Vice Chair on the Board of Directors for the CaGBC and she is a regular speaker, sought out nationally as a thought leader in this design specialty.
McCallum Sather
As Regional President, British Columbia, RBC Royal Bank, Martin Thibodeau leads a team of 4,000 employees in BC, dedicated to providing financial advice and services to over 1.5 million personal, small business and commercial clients.
Martin joined RBC 28 years ago, and has held a number of senior management positions that led him to travel across the country, notably as Regional President, Quebec; Regional Vice-President, Eastern New Brunswick and P.E.I.; Vice-President and Chief Operating Officer, Quebec Headquarters; Regional Vice-President, Commercial Financial Services, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and North Ontario; and Vice-President, Canadian Banking, Toronto.
An energetic, inspiring and authentic leader, Martin is very committed to his community and has dedicated his time and skills in service of a number of organizations. Martin is a Governor of the BC Business Council and is Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Cancer Research Society. He heads the Centraide/United Way campaign for financial institutions, and is outgoing Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts Foundation.
Martin has received several distinctions and recognition from his peers, including the Alter-Ego Award presented by the Association des femmes en finance du Québec.
RBC
For over 25 years, Aqua-Guard Spill Response is the global leader in oil spill controls, protecting the worlds’ most precious resource, water. The Company’s patented oil skimming technology has been used to clean up spills from Alaska to the Gulf of Mexico and from Egypt to China, winning innovation, business excellence and entrepreneurialism awards and recognition.
Nigel has devoted his life to environmental and social responsibility and boldly advocates for “risking it all for what really matters” among the entrepreneurial tribes to which he belongs. For 15 years, he has been an active member of the Entrepreneurs’ Organization and of MIT’s Gathering of Titans.
Nigel speaks and consults with entrepreneurs and young people worldwide about bringing their talents to solve some of our planet’s most pressing challenges. Whether he’s talking with business leaders, not-for-profit groups or a student audience, Nigel is committed to positive change.
Nigel and his wife, Rieko, have travelled the world with their two sons and their daughter to help develop them as global citizens. The entire Bennett family has created Kokoro Gifting Fund to raise monies in support of various charities that promote a “socially just and sustainable world”.
An active philanthropist, Nigel Bennett is author of Take That Leap: Risking It All for What Really Matters. All profit from his book sales and speaking engagements are donated 100% to organizations that support poverty alleviation, human rights, social services and the environment.
Aqua-Guard
For the past 20 years, Kevin has been a key strategic advisor and coach to high-performing CEOs and business leaders around the world. He is relentless in helping them to build and maintain tremendous success in business, and a full, rich personal life.
CEOs in North America, the Middle East, India and Australia, also count on Kevin to facilitate their strategic planning sessions, to align their leadership teams, and to stay focused.
Kevin has a Coach Emeritus distinction by Gazelles International in recognition of his mastery. Using his deep knowledge of how to take a good company and how to make it great, Kevin combines his own methods with the Rockefeller Habits to help leaders, in a wide variety of sectors – from consumer-packaged goods, manufacturing, luxury retail, media, automotive and professional services – to build high-performance leadership teams, expand into new markets, attract profitable customers, and increase productivity and profits.
Lawrence & Co.
Ernie Philip joined the Canadian leadership team of Medline in May 2017. Prior to his current success at Medline, Ernie held various leadership roles at Xerox including Director of Marketing and Director of Large Enterprise.
As Vice President of New Business Development at Xerox, Ernie was responsible for new logo sales acquisition and managed sales teams across Canada.
And most recently as Senior Vice President of Xerox, Ernie managed the services cost base to drive growth and was responsible for GTM, M&A, marketing strategies, P&L and talent for the services business.
Medline is a global manufacturer and distributor of medical products and acquired Medical Mart in March 2016.
Medline
Dr. John Izzo has been a pioneer on creating successful businesses and emerging work trends for over twenty-five years. Izzo was a pioneer on employee engagement and social responsibility with his book Awakening Corporate Soul (1994), a trail blazer on shifting generational values when he wrote Values Shift-The New Work Ethic (2000), showed how individuals shape the future with Stepping Up (2014) and now is blazing a new trail showing business why a rising class of people worldwide will shape the economy of the future with his forthcoming book The Purpose Revolution. This rising class is not one of nationality, income, race or gender but one that aspires to have a good life while doing good.
He has spoken to over one million people, advised over 500 companies, authored six bestselling books and helped some of the world’s most admired companies. Known for his compelling combination of leading edge research, riveting storytelling, practical ideas to make a difference starting now and a keen sense of where the future is going your organization will leave inspired and ready to act. His clients have included IBM, Qantas, the Mayo Clinic, Verizon, RBC, TELUS, Westjet, DuPont, Humana, Microsoft and McDonalds.
Dr. John Izzo
Dr. Lance Secretan is a pioneering philosopher and corporate advisor whose bestselling books, inspirational talks, and life-changing retreats have touched the hearts and minds of hundreds of thousands of people worldwide. He is the author of 21 books about leadership, inspiration, corporate culture and entrepreneurship as well as an award-winning memoir, A Love Story. His latest book is The Bellwether Effect. Lance is a riveting speaker and is acknowledged globally as one of our most insightful and original leadership teachers. He is the former CEO of a Fortune 100 company, university professor, award-winning columnist, poet, author and outdoor athlete. He coaches and advises leaders globally (he is ranked among both The Top 30 Most Influential Executive Coaches and The Top 30 Most Influential Leadership Experts globally), and guides leadership teams who wish to transform their culture into the most inspirational in their industries.
Individuals, entire organizations, cities and states have experienced remarkable transformations through his unique mentoring, coaching, wisdom and approach. He has helped 6 companies to be named to Fortune’s Best Companies to Work for in America list, and 8 others are also his clients, and 30 Secretan Center clients are on Fortune’s Most Admired Companies list. Speakers in America ranks him among the Top Five Leadership speakers and his firm, The Secretan Center, Inc., is ranked #1 in the world as an international Leadership Consulting firm by Leadership Excellence.
Dr. Secretan is the recipient of many other awards, including the International Caring Award, whose previous winners include, Pope Francis, the Dalai Lama, President Jimmy Carter and Dr. Desmond Tutu. He is a forum Chair at MacKay CEO Forums, current Chair of the Pay it Forward Foundation, and former Chair of the Advisory Board of the Special Olympics World Winter Games. He is an expert skier, kayaker and mountain biker, and he divides his time between Ontario, Canada and the Colorado Rockies.
Dr. Lance Secretan is a pioneering philosopher and corporate advisor whose bestselling books, inspirational talks, and life-changing retreats have touched the hearts and minds of hundreds of thousands of people worldwide. He is the author of 21 books about leadership, inspiration, corporate culture and entrepreneurship as well as an award-winning memoir, A Love Story. His latest book is The Bellwether Effect. Lance is a riveting speaker and is acknowledged globally as one of our most insightful and original leadership teachers. He is the former CEO of a Fortune 100 company, university professor, award-winning columnist, poet, author and outdoor athlete. He coaches and advises leaders globally (he is ranked among both The Top 30 Most Influential Executive Coaches and The Top 30 Most Influential Leadership Experts globally), and guides leadership teams who wish to transform their culture into the most inspirational in their industries.
Individuals, entire organizations, cities and states have experienced remarkable transformations through his unique mentoring, coaching, wisdom and approach. He has helped 6 companies to be named to Fortune’s Best Companies to Work for in America list, and 8 others are also his clients, and 30 Secretan Center clients are on Fortune’s Most Admired Companies list. Speakers in America ranks him among the Top Five Leadership speakers and his firm, The Secretan Center, Inc., is ranked #1 in the world as an international Leadership Consulting firm by Leadership Excellence.
Dr. Secretan is the recipient of many other awards, including the International Caring Award, whose previous winners include, Pope Francis, the Dalai Lama, President Jimmy Carter and Dr. Desmond Tutu. He is a forum Chair at MacKay CEO Forums, current Chair of the Pay it Forward Foundation, and former Chair of the Advisory Board of the Special Olympics World Winter Games. He is an expert skier, kayaker and mountain biker, and he divides his time between Ontario, Canada and the Colorado Rockies.
The Secretan Center
Dr. Bal Pawa’s unique combination of knowledge, experience, and passion position her as a sought-after speaker and author on integrative medicine and the Mind-Body Connection. She has long been a pioneer, leader and role model in the medical and integrative health communities and is passionate about empowering people. Dr. Pawa is committed to offering credible, holistic and evidence-based knowledge of integrative medicine and hormonal health. She provides seminars and speaks to countless communities, corporate and women’s groups and she gives much of her time to mentor future leaders in health and wellness.
Dr. Pawa’s unique combination of scientific training in Pharmacy and Medicine, combined with her additional certification in Mind/Body Medicine, hormone health and GUT/Brain health makes her a valuable source of information for holistic health. Many have sought her advice on guidance on stress hormones and their role in illness, the importance of nutrition and women’s health. More recently, she has been educating the public about groundbreaking research on neuroplasticity and the GUT/Brain connection as the role of the healthy microbiome and brain health becomes more mainstream.
She is grateful to have been recognized in the community for her dedication to education for the community at large, her countless volunteer teaching hours in mind-body medicine and for her pioneering work in integrative medicine. In her spare time, she loves to hike, travel, play golf and write. She also enjoys gourmet cooking and creating healthy recipes. She lives in Vancouver, BC with her husband and has two grown children who are her proudest accomplishments.
Dr. Bal Pawa
Throughout his 20 year career in the technology industry, Adrian has had the opportunity to drive innovation and digital disruption in the payments and retail ecosystem. Adrian worked with companies such as Starbucks, Nike, Microsoft, Michelin, Central 1 and Interac, delivering great software products and engaging user experiences across multiple platforms and channels.
Adrian is the Founder and CEO of Aequilibrium—a Vancouver-based digital product development and design studio dedicated to creating winning web, mobile and IoT applications. Aequilibrium focuses primarily on FinTech and retail, and is committed to helping clients get their product out to market quickly, efficiently and with zero waste. The team strives to set the bar for engaging customer experiences by combining an intuitive interface design with carefully crafted code—leading to an unforgettable customer experience.
Prior to founding Aequilibrium, Adrian was a Technical Architect at McKesson Medical Imaging (Canada), Lead Game Developer at Ubisoft (Europe) and Program Manager at Microsoft (US). Adrian holds a Postdoc from the University of British Columbia, and a Ph.D. in Computer Science from Simon Fraser University
Aequilibrium
Robin was one of the first three employees at Long View and he’s been instrumental in growing that small start-up into the success-story it is today. As CTO, Robin defines Long View’s technology strategy. Robin’s responsibilities also involve overseeing our Research and Development program ensuring new offerings are thoroughly mastered before offering them to our clients. He is also the major player in Long View’s relationship with Gartner. He holds an Executive Program seat, and sits on Gartner’s Symposium and IT Expo advisory board.
Outside of the office, Robin and his wife are kept busy with their four kids, enjoying life on their acreage, and at their condo in BC, where they spend time biking and skiing.
Long View Systems
Taylor is an associate in Dentons Vancouver office and is a member of the firm’s Pensions, Benefits & Executive Compensation and Labour and Employment practice groups. He assists clients in managing all of their human resources needs, including pension and benefits administration, employee savings and incentive programs, employment standards, hiring and terminating employees, workers’ compensation, human rights, privacy and occupational health and safety.
Taylor also works closely with sponsors, administrators, trustees and employers who administer and participate in pensions and benefits plans.
Before joining Dentons as an associate, Taylor worked for the firm as both a summer and articling student.
Experience
- Rokstad Power Corporation & Affiliates: Advising the corporation and affiliates in re-acquiring from the Carillion Group full ownership of the businesses and undertakings of the Rokstad Power Group of Companies, enabling the business to continue as a recognized leader in the industry who provides full suite of power line construction and maintenance services, using a pre-packaged CCAA proceeding to effect a complex transaction.
- Finning International Inc.: Advising in relation to the wind-up of the equipment rental business and affairs of Raydon Rentals Ltd. d.b.a. The Cat Rental Store into its parent, Finning International Inc.
Insights
- Co-author, "Five key considerations for cannabis in the workplace," Dentons Client Alert, July 16, 2018
- Presenter, “Gender Identity in the Workforce”, Canadian Pensions & Benefits Institute, 2018 Saskatchewan Regional Conference.
- Author, "CPP Expansion", Employment & Labour Law, June 21, 2016
- Author, "Limiting Liability: Incentives and Benefits on Termination of Employment", Employment & Labour Law, June 20, 2016
- Co-author, “What are the legal risks of CAPSA’s projected account balance guideline?”, Benefits Canada, June 2016
Activities and Affiliations
- Executive Member, Pensions & Benefits Law Sections, B.C. Branch-Canadian Bar Association
- Law Society of British Columbia
dentons
Dalibor leads Deloitte's Technology Advisory practice in Western Canada. The practice is focused on helping CxOs maximize value of technology investments, and leveraging latest trends in digital, innovation and exponential technologies to accelerate business performance.
He specializes in complex business and technology transformation, with deep focus on actionable strategy, applied innovation, service excellence, shared services and complex sourcing. Dalibor holds a MBA Degree, and is a Certified Management Consultant (CMC), Certified in Governance of Enterprise IT (CGEIT), ITIL V3 Expert, ISO 20000 consultant, Project Management Professional (PMP) and certified in CobiT and Lean Six Sigma.
Dalibor has been advising Canadian and international government and private sector leaders of organizations of varying sizes and complexities. Dalibor has experience working with clients in public sector, energy and resources, financial, consumer goods and technology sectors.
Deloitte.ca
Michael Denham is President and CEO of BDC, Canada’s only bank devoted exclusively to entrepreneurs.
He leads a team of 2,200 people across Canada who work every day to help entrepreneurs succeed by providing the guidance and financial support they need to build resilient, growing businesses.
A strong advocate for entrepreneurship and innovation, Mr. Denham drives BDC’s positioning as the number one ally of Canadian entrepreneurs. Having more impact on more business owners and being as easy as possible to do business with are among his main priorities at the helm of BDC.
A seasoned business leader with more than 30 years of senior management experience, Mr. Denham held senior roles at McKinsey, Bombardier, Accenture and AquaTerra before joining BDC.
Based in Montreal since 2001, Mr. Denham is bilingual and holds a Bachelor of Arts from the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs at Princeton University and a Master of Science in Economics with distinction from the London School of Economics.
bdc.ca
Mike Fenton is President & CEO of ACG TORONTO – also known as The Association for Corporate Growth. ACG is the largest global association for the Private Equity and Mergers and Acquisitions industry; and comprises 57 chapters in North America and Europe; with more than 14,000 members. ACG Toronto is the largest international chapter and has been operating since 1971. Mike has previously held executive roles in the private-sector and Not-for-profit industries working in the Healthcare, Education, Sports Marketing and Communication sectors.
Darin Brock, Darin is Managing Director, Head of Business Development at TorQuest. He leads the business development, investment sourcing activities for the firm and partners with CEOs and other senior leaders in understanding and developing strategies to facilitate both top line revenue and bottom line profitability growth. TorQuest partners with middle market business owners, founders and their management teams by applying capital to take their business to the next level, faster. Darin also serves as Chairman for ACG Toronto.
As CEO of Spyder Works, Ken helps companies with both business and innovation strategy. Spyder Works' engagements touch all points of the corporate business and transformation compass: an ambitious growth plan with a leading retailer to increase revenue by 50% in less than five years; the launch of a consumer brand into more than 20,000 retail stores across multiple countries in less than three years; working with a financial services industry association to address the sector’s markedly aging workforce by intriguing new entrants and helping them to chart their career course; facilitated strategies in a wellness-driven organization to uncover and implement product, service and process innovations; coupled journey mapping with customer insights to improve an national retailer’s overall customer experience.
Ken is the co-author of two books on innovation, The 90% Rule and the bestseller Cause a Disturbance, both avidly read by business leaders in the U.S., Canada and Europe. Leading journalists with publications and networks including The Globe & Mail, The Financial Times, CNBC, Forbes and Bloomberg have recognized the timeliness of these important works. His insights on entrepreneurship and innovation appear in his column for Canada’s National Newspaper, the Globe & Mail. He is also an in-demand keynote speaker, workshop leader and event Chair.
Ken Tencer
Dr. Lance Secretan is a pioneering philosopher and corporate advisor whose bestselling books, inspirational talks, and life-changing retreats have touched the hearts and minds of hundreds of thousands of people worldwide. He is the author of 21 books about leadership, inspiration, corporate culture and entrepreneurship as well as an award-winning memoir, A Love Story. His latest book is The Bellwether Effect. Lance is a riveting speaker and is acknowledged globally as one of our most insightful and original leadership teachers. He is the former CEO of a Fortune 100 company, university professor, award-winning columnist, poet, author and outdoor athlete. He coaches and advises leaders globally (he is ranked among both The Top 30 Most Influential Executive Coaches and The Top 30 Most Influential Leadership Experts globally), and guides leadership teams who wish to transform their culture into the most inspirational in their industries.
Individuals, entire organizations, cities and states have experienced remarkable transformations through his unique mentoring, coaching, wisdom and approach. He has helped 6 companies to be named to Fortune’s Best Companies to Work For in America list, and 8 others are also his clients, and 30 Secretan Center clients are on Fortune’s Most Admired Companies list. Speakers in America ranks him among the Top Five Leadership speakers and his firm, The Secretan Center, Inc., is ranked #1 in the world as an international Leadership Consulting firm by Leadership Excellence.
Dr. Secretan is the recipient of many other awards, including the International Caring Award, whose previous winners include, Pope Francis, the Dalai Lama, President Jimmy Carter and Dr. Desmond Tutu. He is a forum Chair at MacKay CEO Forums, current Chair of the Pay it Forward Foundation, and former Chair of the Advisory Board of the Special Olympics World Winter Games. He is an expert skier, kayaker and mountain biker, and he divides his time between Ontario, Canada and the Colorado Rockies.
Lance Secretan
Tim Kist, Principal, TK3 Consulting & MacKay CEO Forums Chair
Tim Kist is a Certified Management Consultant (CMC) who blends over 10 years of management consulting with over 20 years of business leadership experience. This experience enables Tim to deliver actionable recommendations because he has walked in the shoes of management on a daily basis.
Tim is recognized as a highly effective, collaborative and inspiring leader who engages employees and colleagues to achieve business results.
Tim has delivered keynote presentations to industry associations and companies, is the Past President of the Institute of Certified Management Consultants of Manitoba and will be joining the national board of CMC Canada this fall.
Joy Playford, Vice-President, Playford Performance Group & MacKay CEO Forums Chair
Joy has over 30 years’ corporate leadership experience including senior leadership roles as VP and GM with interprovincial responsibilities. In these leadership roles, Joy built bench strength, turned around and grew business results, cultivated strategic partnerships and effectively led operations and performance execution across multiple business lines and locations.
Joy is a Certified Management Consultant supporting leaders and their success by providing Performance Consulting, Executive Coaching, Leadership Development and Team Facilitation support across a range of industries in entrepreneurial, regional, and national corporations.
Her leadership development includes York Universities’ Executive Development Program, International Coach Federation (ICF) accredited Executive Coach training and Covey Leadership's in-residence programs. Her community service includes founding membership in the Kelowna Women Leaders Network and service on the Board of Directors of the Women’s Enterprise Centre of BC.
Keith Sinclair, President & CEO, Harris Leadership Strategies & MacKay CEO Forums Chair
Keith is a highly sought after executive coach in Winnipeg, Manitoba. He has been coaching senior level HR executives and their teams for over 15 years, supporting them in leadership strategy to achieve business and personal success. His expertise in executive search, coaching, strategy facilitation and organizational development is the foundation of his work.
Keith is a Certified Management Consultant, holds the designation of Certified Human Resource Professional, and is trained in Executive Coaching, Leadership Development, Strategic Thinking, Balanced Scorecard and Process Improvement.
Keith is an often-requested speaker on leadership, strategy and HR, he has presented to international, national and regional industry associations and conferences, and has been a guest lecturer to universities and colleges.
Chris Taylor, President & CEO, Actionable.co
As President & CEO of Actionable.co, Chris Taylor helps business consultants bring learning sustainment and measurable behaviour change to their client engagements.
As the host of iTunes #2 ranked business podcast The 21st Century Workplace, Chris regularly hosts conversations with the worlds' leading thinkers on leadership, change management and employee engagement, bringing his trademark curiosity and humour to the complex topics of business strategy and professional management.
Chris has penned over 150 articles on aspects of our new world of work, and is a regular speaker on stages domestic and abroad.
Kevin Barwin, Forum Chair, MacKay CEO Forums, Founding Partner, Clarti Group Inc.
Kevin Barwin was the recipient of the “Top Forty under 40” awarded by the Ottawa Business Journal for his commitment to professional excellence and contributions to the community.
Kevin has over 20 years of business experience as a leader and entrepreneur. He is currently the Founding Partner of Clarti Group Inc. and has previously held executive leadership roles in the technology and Human Resources space with companies such as Overlay TV, Lumenera Corporation, Zequra Technologies and Corel Corporation.
Kevin is an avid Board and Committee member, he is Past President of the Ottawa Chapter of the Human Resources Professional Association (HRPA), a Board Member of the Jewish Federation of Ottawa and Vice Chair of the Grants & Evaluation Committee and also sits on the Board for Habitat for Humanity Greater Ottawa.
Dr. Jennifer Pearlman is a medical doctor with a focused practice in the area of women’s health and wellness. She is a NAMS Certified Menopause Practitioner (NCMP) certified by the North American Menopause Society (NAMS) and spent a decade in practice at the Menopause Clinic at Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto. Dr. Pearlman has been awarded a focus practice designation by the Ontario Medical Association to enable her to work as an expert consultant to other physicians in the area of women’s health.
Dr. Pearlman has cultivated an expertise in the art and science of cosmetic medicine, taking a holistic approach to rejuvenation of the face and body based on the belief that beauty comes from within. Dr. Pearlman has helped train other physicians in cosmetic injection technique and regularly attends cosmetic medical meetings to stay current with the latest techniques and technologies. She has had the opportunity to work and train with leading experts in this field across North America.
Striving to create a medical skin care line that was both highly effective but also clean, Dr. Pearlman created The PearlMD Skin CareRx line to provide pharmaceutical grade skin-active ingredients, but without potentially harmful chemicals, to lighten, brighten, and revitalize the skin.
Dr. Jennifer Pearlman
Anne Miner is a consummate entrepreneur in constant motion. In addition to her unique ability to see possibilities, Anne has a knack for identifying the necessary talent and expertise to assess, plan and implement change.
A skilled facilitator, trusted CEO advisor and sought-after coach, Anne is often called upon to lead executive teams through the rapids of change, bringing clarity and vision as well as a strategic framework for implementation.
Through her company, The Dunvegan Group, Anne helps organizations to strengthen and build stakeholder relationships (between customers, employees, members, patients, students, vendors). Seeing organizations grow through collaborative and continuous improvement, and reduced customer and employee churn, as they deliver enjoyable customer experiences fuels Anne’s drive to help people and companies realize their full potential.
Anne also serves on a number of industry and association boards, is the 2013 recipient of the University of Guelph’s Alumni Medal of Achievement, and author of several books on the topic of Customer Relationships.
Anne Miner
Jeff King is responsible for strategy, licensing, distribution, international, information technology and corporate planning. He is accountable for SOCAN’s revenue and expense management for key operations. Since joining SOCAN in 2001, Jeff has held a number of senior positions throughout the organization and lead initiatives that significantly heightened member and licensee satisfaction. As Vice President of Licensing, Jeff developed a robust strategic plan to expand SOCAN’s customer base and increase efficiency. As Vice President of Membership, Jeff led the development of a number of industry-leading e-commerce tools and the creation of SOCAN’s Information Centre. Prior to joining SOCAN, Jeff was Vice President of Underwriting at Old Republic Insurance Company and helped to lead that organization from industry laggard to industry leader within 3 years. Jeff holds an BA Honours from Wilfrid Laurier University and has been keynote speaker at several international conferences on innovation and free-trade. Jeff King
As President of Cox Consulting Services, Colin is an expert in helping leaders create and execute strategies that drive profitable growth. Just one element of this is individual productivity.
Colin's career has spanned 25 years in the online services and video game industries, including experience working internationally in the UK and Ireland. Colin is passionate about family time, winter sports, camping and off-roading.
Colin Cox
John has been recognized as one of Canada’s Most Admired CEOs, and is the recipient of the 2015 Business in Vancouver CEO of the Year Award (small-medium private company).
As the Chairman and CEO at Nicola Wealth Management, John leads the team in managing over $4 billion in assets for affluent families, entrepreneurs, business owners, and institutions across Canada.
A veteran of the financial services industry since 1974, John provides strategic leadership to Nicola Wealth Management, exercising his passion for providing innovative solutions to clients’ complex problems.
His areas of expertise include investment management, estate and financial planning, as well as business planning with a focus on best practices for wealth building, exit strategies, and shareholder agreements.
John also sits on the Canuck Place Hospice Society Board of Directors. Using his business acumen to help develop and grow this and several other not-for-profit organizations over a number of years. These include The Pivot Law Society, a volunteer legal society defending the underrepresented issues facing Vancouver, British Columbia’s Downtown Eastside, and Bulembu International, a foundation dedicated to helping an abandoned African mining village become self-sufficient.
John Nicola
A pioneer in the new field of NeuroCommunication, Gregor Jeffrey’s innovative, neuroscience-based approach has completely changed our understanding of how we can achieve influence through effective communication.
Gregor’s research into the link between brain science and communication has helped thousands of executives, leaders and professionals at leading organizations across Canada to transform the way they communicate.
Henryk has a 15 year track record as an advisor to CEOs in public, private, and crown corporations. Henryk helps his clients take on their toughest challenges in the areas of leadership, strategy, decision making, culture, and risk.
A sought after expert, Henryk frequently shares his thought leadership and provocative views on conference podiums and at leading universities. His thoughts have appeared in variety of news and media outlets including Profit Magazine, the Financial Post, The Globe and Mail, The National Post, HR Reporter, and HR.com.
As President of The Anderson Leadership Group with offices in Toronto and London, England, Henryk helps clients think about personal purpose and business profit through provoking their thinking, and helping them challenge the status quo. Henryk holds a PhD in Industrial/Organizational Psychology from Western University, and is an organizing member of Mensa™ International.
Henryk Krajewski, PhD
Mr. Ciprick has more than 25 years of global experience across a wide array of industries in multi-functional organizations ranging from Fortune 500 corporations to small and medium-sized Canadian businesses. Throughout his career, he has developed a broad set of skills with a focus on sales, marketing, organizational development, mergers and acquisitions, turnarounds and growth strategy.
Before joining BDC, Mr. Ciprick was President and Executive Consultant with ATG Consulting, focusing on conducting organizational assessments and redesigns, and on developing and supporting the implementation of strategic plans. In one mandate, he stepped in as Acting Executive Vice President of Operations for a mid-sized firm specializing in roofing and building envelope products, driving a significant increase in profitability and overseeing the disposal of assets to help recapitalize the company.
Prior to ATG, Mr. Ciprick was Vice President of Strategy and Business Development for SMART Technologies, where he developed and deployed the first strategic planning process and delivered the largest acquisition in the company’s history. He also spent more than 15 years at Procter & Gamble, holding management positions including Senior Vice President, Sales for the P&G North America Beauty division.
BDC
Lorrie King is the Greater Toronto Area Marketplace Leader for Deloitte Private at Deloitte Canada. She is also the co-leader of the Best Managed Companies Awards Program, the leading program recognizing the accomplishments of private companies in Canada. With over 27 years of experience in industry and privately-owned businesses in Canada and abroad such as Deloitte Canada, MyTravel Group and Arthur Andersen, Lorrie brings a wealth of knowledge and experience as a trusted advisor to her clients. Lorrie started her career with Arthur Andersen in 1986 in Toronto and was part of the team that launched the original Canada’s 50 Best Managed Companies program in 1993.
Lorrie is a member of the United Way Women’s Leadership Council and is a co-chair for Gold Medal Plates Toronto – a non-profit organization supporting Canadian Olympic athletes.
Lorrie King
Brent is responsible for overall corporate strategy and business direction at Encore Business Solutions. His visionary thinking and leadership style encourages creativity and innovation throughout the organization. Encore’s success is driven by Brent’s strong understanding and passion for technology.
One of Brent’s key strengths is in his ability to communicate the value of information technology solutions to business decision makers. This skill allows clients to evaluate options and completely understand the full potential of their IT investment.
Brent has held leadership roles in a wide range of industries including technology, manufacturing, agriculture and distribution, which have varied from small to international organizations. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science from the University of Regina. Brent is an active leader in the Microsoft community and participates in the Microsoft Partner Advisory Council, which is an invitation-only program developed by Microsoft to gather information on forthcoming solutions and go-to-market strategies.
Brent Twist
Sevaun Palvetzian, CEO, CivicAction
One of Canada’s leading experts on civic engagement, Sevaun Palvetzian has been CEO of CivicAction since January 2014.
Under her leadership, CivicAction has focused on building inclusive cities with the launch of the CivicAction Leadership Foundation to change the face of leadership in our region and initiatives focused on youth unemployment and mental health in the workplace which level the playing field of opportunity and access.
An authority on urban issues, Sevaun frequently speaks to media and is a member of groups like the Premier’s Community Hubs Advisory and Waterfront Toronto.
Sevaun Palvetzian
Kim Bellissimo, VP – Human Resources & Organizational Development, Centre for Addiction & Mental Health
Kim is responsible for all aspects of the Human Resources function, encompassing talent development and succession, organization effectiveness and development, health and safety, labour relations and volunteer resources.
Kim brings a wealth of experience in leadership development, change management and the creation of innovative Human Resources programs and services. She has successfully led transformational projects with broad organizational impact. Her major accomplishments include developing the OPS Talent Management Program, creating a Tobacco Free campus at CAMH and leading the implementation of the National Standard of Canada for Psychological Health and Safety in the Workplace. Kim believes in a proactive and strategic approach to Human Resources and has a great track record of building high performing teams.
Kim Bellissimo
Steve is a grateful CEO.
Gratitude at Work, a behaviour and culture changing institution, was founded by Steve in 2006. What started as GiveRaising has grown into work with leaders across Canada and into the United States - shifting culture and helping teams bring more gratitude to work each day.
Steve Foran has been on the leading edge of gratitude-based research, writing, and teaching for more than fifteen years. His science-based program, Gratitude At Work, is a simple, yet innovative approach to business growth.
With programs like counting blessings, asking before assuming, thanking and not expecting, gratitude transforms business cultures into proud, positive, satisfying environments, where people are grateful, productive and ultimately at their best.
An electrical engineer, Steve brings a detail oriented and thoughtful approach to his working relationships and client engagements. Thriving off of people who want to be their best, Steve works with leaders who want to instill an engaging, cooperative culture with their employees.
Steve began exploring the relationship between gratitude and philanthropic giving while completing his Masters at Saint Mary’s University in Halifax.
Steve is a son, brother, husband, father and now, grandfather. He teaches Business Ethics and has written extensively on the subject of gratitude. He is the founder of STATUSGRO and creator of the viral video 100 Halifax Doors. Steve is actively engaged in making his community a better place and is proud to be a lifelong resident of Halifax, Nova Scotia.
Steve Foran
Som Seif is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Purpose Investments Inc. which he formed following the sale of Claymore Investments to BlackRock Inc. in March 2012. Mr. Seif started Claymore Investments in Canada in January 2005 and was the former President and Chief Executive Officer leading the implementation of the company’s business development and corporate strategies. Over the seven years of its operation, Claymore Investments organically grew to $8 billion in assets and established itself as a Canadian leader in bringing intelligent, low cost exchange-traded funds to investors through its family of thirty-four exchange-traded funds across broad asset classes.
Prior to Claymore Investments, Mr. Seif was an investment banker with RBC Capital Markets, where he played a key role in developing the structured products group at RBC Capital Markets in both Canada and the U.S., where he structured and raised capital for both Canadian and U.S. asset managers.
Som has a strong commitment to community and is currently a member of the Sunnybrook Hospital Foundation Board, Chair of the Art Gallery of Ontario Corporate Development Committee, a member of the Art Gallery of Ontario’s Foundation Board and University of Toronto Mechanical & Industrial Engineering Advisory Board, and a board member of The Next 36.
In 2011, Som was recognized for his vision and leadership by Caldwell Partners International with the Top 40 Under 40 award.
Som Seif
Som Seif is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Purpose Investments Inc. which he formed following the sale of Claymore Investments to BlackRock Inc. in March 2012. Mr. Seif started Claymore Investments in Canada in January 2005 and was the former President and Chief Executive Officer leading the implementation of the company’s business development and corporate strategies. Over the seven years of its operation, Claymore Investments organically grew to $8 billion in assets and established itself as a Canadian leader in bringing intelligent, low cost exchange-traded funds to investors through its family of thirty-four exchange-traded funds across broad asset classes.
Prior to Claymore Investments, Mr. Seif was an investment banker with RBC Capital Markets, where he played a key role in developing the structured products group at RBC Capital Markets in both Canada and the U.S., where he structured and raised capital for both Canadian and U.S. asset managers.
Som has a strong commitment to community and is currently a member of the Sunnybrook Hospital Foundation Board, Chair of the Art Gallery of Ontario Corporate Development Committee, a member of the Art Gallery of Ontario’s Foundation Board and University of Toronto Mechanical & Industrial Engineering Advisory Board, and a board member of The Next 36.
In 2011, Som was recognized for his vision and leadership by Caldwell Partners International with the Top 40 Under 40 award.
Som Seif
Peter founded Custom House Ltd, one of the world’s largest nonbank foreign exchange companies, and guided it through more than 17 years of growth until its sale to Western Union in September 2009 for $370 Million USD. At that time, it operated over 75 branches in seven countries, counted in excess of 40,000 corporate customers worldwide and employed approximately 650 people. Under Peter’s leadership, Custom House was named by Deloitte as one of the “50 Best-Managed Companies in Canada” for 7 years in a row, receiving Platinum Club status in 2008 and 2009.
In addition to Peter’s personal philanthropic involvement in organizations within his community, Peter’s past and current Board Membership and Service includes: Chair of the Peter B. Gustavson School of Business “Distinguished Entrepreneur of the Year” Awards Committee; Board of Governors for University of Victoria, Member of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, President of the Canadian Foreign Exchange Dealers’ Association, and Consultant to the Federal Government on the creation of anti-money laundering and proceeds of crime legislation.
EncoreFX
As Dentons' Canada Chief Executive Officer and a member of the global leadership team, serving on the Global Board and Global Management Committee, Beth is leading the Firm in Canada through an aggressive and targeted focus on exceeding our clients' expectations of value and results, and commitment to an inclusive culture that empowers diverse teams and supports an entrepreneurial spirit and performance based culture. A respected senior strategic business leader, Beth is focused on ensuring that Dentons continues to be a workplace of choice for leading talent in Canada and around the world.
Prior to assuming her role as the Firm’s Canada CEO, Beth served as Managing Partner at KPMG in the Greater Toronto Area, where she led the largest business unit in Canada. Beth served as a member of KPMG's Management Committee in various leadership positions, including Canadian Managing Partner Community Leadership, Canadian Managing Partner Regions and Enterprise with responsibility for 24 regional offices across Canada, and Chief Human Resources Officer. She also held various global leadership roles.
Beth is widely known and respected in the Canadian business community and is an accomplished and dedicated community leader. She exemplifies this through her board and community involvement, and her advancement of women in business, and has been recognized by leading organizations such as YWCA Toronto, Canadian Women of Influence and WXN.
The auditing and consulting professions, similar to the legal profession, are undergoing significant disruption and transformation. Beth's extensive experience and leadership is playing an important role in shaping how Dentons responds to this disruption.
Dentons Canada LLP
Dr. Peter H. Diamandis is an international pioneer in the fields of innovation, incentive competitions and commercial space. In 2014 he was named one of "The World’s 50 Greatest Leaders" – by Fortune Magazine.
In the field of Innovation, Diamandis is Founder and Executive Chairman of the XPRIZE Foundation, best known for its $10 million Ansari XPRIZE for private spaceflight.
Diamandis is also the Co-Founder and Vice-Chairman of Human Longevity Inc. (HLI), a genomics and cell therapy-based diagnostic and therapeutic company focused on extending the healthy human lifespan. He is also the Co-Founder and Executive Chairman of Singularity University.
Diamandis is the New York Times Bestselling author of Abundance– The Future Is Better Than You Think andBOLD– How to go Big, Create Wealth & Impact the World.
Peter Diamandis
Abundance.digital
Hear Peter speak at the EDGE Summit!
Nico Human loves to help make leaders unstoppable, fire up teams and help them create a better tomorrow. With more than 30 years of business experience, since founding his company in Canada in 1999, he has served individuals and companies in mostly agriculture, food and transportation with business development, strategic planning, business and life coaching, communication, marketing and public relations advice, and by implementing solution-finding projects.
He has served as CEO in both the non-profit and for-profit arenas. Today he works for a wide variety of clients in all industries, focusing on leaders and teams, and helping them to find meaning in what they do. His motto is “Results through Meaning ”. He has won several awards on two continents, and received the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee medal in 2013.
Nico enjoys triathlons, long distance cycling, singing and church activities. He loves a varied life and enriching the lives of those he gets to work with! He has a passion for inspiring and guiding the success of leaders at all levels.
Nico Human
Cheryl Otto is a seasoned and pro-active human resources lawyer, mediator, and investigator whose commitment has always been on effecting positive change, the resolution of issues, and making a difference. With her focus on the prevention of workplace harassment, discrimination, bullying and interpersonal conflict, Cheryl has consulted with and provided invaluable and cost-effective services to hundreds of businesses and organizations across Canada and the US in order to avoid unnecessary litigation. She offers extensive experience in the development and execution of policies, strategic planning, educational/training initiatives, investigations and effective and successful resolution of workplace conflicts.
OOPS Inc.® is a one-stop shop for all things related to a respectful workplace and has an expert team of educators, facilitators, mediators, investigators, violence experts, HR and communications specialists, and professional coaches working together to deliver an integrated solution to conflict in the workplace.
OOPS Inc.
As President & Chief Executive Officer of Vancity, Canada's largest community credit union, Tamara Vrooman believes that banking has a vital role in building healthy communities. Under Tamara's leadership, Vancity has gained international recognition for its values-based banking model.
This was achieved while growing the assets plus assets under administration of the credit union 61 per cent to $25.6 billion and achieving the highest profits in the organization's 70-year history. Under Tamara's direction, more than one-fifth, or $5.4 billion, of Vancity's assets plus assets under administration are invested in impact.
Tamara has been recognized as BC’s CEO of the Year, 2016 and is a Women's Executive Network: Top 100 Most Powerful Women Hall of Famer. Vancity has also been recognized as Canada’s Top Corporate Citizen by Corporate Knights, 2016 and 2017.
Tamara Vrooman
Peter George has been president and CEO of McKim Communications Group since 2008. A 25-year industry veteran, Peter has played a leadership role in developing brands for many regional and national organizations, including the University of Manitoba, Travel Manitoba, the City of Regina and many others. He co-founded his first agency in 1995 and grew it over 11 years into an industry leader in Manitoba.
After merging his company with a long-standing Manitoba competitor (McKim) in 2006, Peter has led the agency through a long period of growth and regeneration. Peter has an executive MBA in technology marketing from Lansbridge University, a Masters in Management from the American Graduate School of Management, and a Diploma in Design from Red River College.
Peter George
Nancy is the Founder & CEO of MacKay CEO Forums, with a vision to populate the world with better leaders. Contributing to the success of others is what gets Nancy out of bed in the morning and fuels the passion behind MacKay CEO Forums – the highest impact and least time intensive peer group for hundreds of results-oriented CEOs across Canada.
Passionate about accelerating CEO performance through peer learning, Nancy is a CEO coach, dynamic keynote speaker, and published author. Nancy focuses on strategy and culture, is the driving force behind the firm’s strategic partnerships and is a strong
advocate of recognizing the incredible CEO talent we have in Canada through the BC CEO Awards and the Most Admired CEO Awards. Nancy is a National judge for the Deloitte Canada’s Best Managed Companies Program and she is a Vice-Chair on the Board of Governors of the Waterstone Canada’s 10 Most Admired Corporate Cultures Program.
Nancy founded MacKay CEO Forums in 2005, after seeing first hand the tremendous value of having CEOs come together to learn from each other, and to help each other deal with their toughest issues and challenges.
Nancy got her start as a University professor teaching in the business faculty of several universities, including Simon Fraser University, University of Waterloo and Lincoln University in New Zealand. She holds a B.Math and Masters degree in Management
Sciences from the University of Waterloo and a Ph.D. in Business from Canterbury University in New Zealand. Nancy co-authored “The Talent Advantage” by Wiley Publishing and she is the host of The CEO EDGE podcast series theceoedge.ca – 10min-20min interviews with CEOs and CEO Advisors on the topic of Exponential Change.
Nancy is a former member of the Business Laureates of BC Hall of Fame Gala Cabinet, and has held board positions on the SFU Board of Governors, Partnerships for a Drug Free Canada, and the YWCA.
Nancy resides in North Vancouver, BC with her husband and business partner, Robert, and their two teenage kids.
Nancy MacKay
Award-winning business journalist Amanda Lang has been covering business in North America for 20 years. Based in Toronto, Canada, Lang is an anchor and reporter for Bell Media, including as an anchor on its business network Business News Network, and as a reporter for CTV News. She is also host of a podcast to air on iHeart Radio in 2018. Lang has been an anchor for Bloomberg Television, as the host of Bloomberg North with Amanda Lang. Previously, Lang was CBC’s senior business correspondent, reporting for its flagship nightly news program, The National, and host of The Exchange with Amanda Lang, a daily business program airing on CBC News Network. For five years before that Lang hosted The Lang and O’Leary Exchange, with television personality Kevin O’Leary. Prior to that the pair co-hosted SqueezePlay, on BNN, for 6 years.
Lang is also a best-selling author. “The Power of Why,” (HarperCollins, October 2012) explores the connection between curiosity and success. “The Beauty of Discomfort” (HarperCollins, April 2017) examines how difficult change can be, and set out strategies for how to achieve it.
Lang studied Architecture at the University of Manitoba, before becoming a journalist. Her first job in journalism was for Canada’s Globe and Mail, and subsequently Lang joined the Financial Post newspaper, where she became the paper’s New York correspondent. In New York she made the leap to television, where she first was part of the team that launched BNN and before long wound up at CNN as a reporter and anchor.
Amanda Lang
Sean is a Canadian Armed Forces Veteran with 12 years of experience and training in Mental Toughness, Leadership, Psychological Resiliency and Body Language. He has trained Soldiers and Law Enforcement to perform at elite levels of success and to thrive under adverse conditions – he will create a shift in you and your organization that is both powerful and positive. Sean provides a different approach – a dynamic shift – to performing in daily business operations, in conflict and in critical goal-oriented endeavours; not only to succeed but to achieve excellence.
Sean’s clients include leadership teams and executive coaching from First West Credit Union, Mountain Equipment Co-op, Kal Tire, Island Savings, Mission Group and the Vancouver Whitecaps FC.
Sean Bacon
As president and chief executive officer of Vancity, Canada's largest community credit union, Tamara Vrooman believes that banking has a vital role in developing a healthy society—building the well-being of people and, at the same time, ensuring the long-term sustainability of the communities in which they live and work. This summarizes Vancity's vision of redefining wealth.
Tamara views the economy as much more than what is written on a balance sheet; it includes the social and natural economies in which we all live. Understanding the interdependence of these three means that Vancity takes a very different approach to banking, ensuring its products, services and advice deliver financial, social and environmental results for the more than 523,000 members it serves.
As a member-owned financial co-operative, Vancity is ideally suited to operate in an economy that is ever changing because it is through its close connection with members that Vancity sees what is required to meet their changing needs. This 'member-led innovation' guides Vancity in its business strategies to use the $25.6 billion in members' assets and assets under administration it holds to create community impact.
Under Tamara's leadership, Vancity has gained international recognition for its values-based banking model. Vancity was the first Canadian financial institution invited to join the Global Alliance for Banking on Values, an independent network of the world's leading sustainable banks and banking co-operatives. Tamara's voice is also sought internationally—she has been invited by Pope Francis, the Dalai Lama, as well as other government and business leaders to share Vancity's business model at various summits and conferences.
Tamara's achievements include leading Vancity to become the first carbon-neutral financial institution in North America, to become the largest private-sector living wage employer in Canada, and to tackle the shadow financial system by launching an alternative to predatory payday loans for its members—the Vancity Fair & Fast Loan™. Vancity was named Canada's Best Corporate Citizen in both 2016 and 2017 by Corporate Knights, and has also received many national and international awards for its business leadership.
All of this was achieved while growing the assets plus assets under administration of the credit union 61 per cent to $25.6 billion and achieving the highest profits in the organization's 70-year history. Under Tamara's direction, more than one-fifth, or $5.4 billion, of Vancity's assets plus assets under administration are invested in impact.
Prior to joining Vancity, Tamara served as Deputy Minister of Finance for the Province of British Columbia and as Secretary to the Treasury Board and CEO of the Public Sector Employers' Council where she oversaw the government's annual $100 billion borrowing and cash requirements and developed its $36 billion fiscal plan. Her prior portfolio was as Deputy Minister and Executive Financial Officer for the Ministry of Health.
Tamara pursued post-secondary education at the University of Victoria, earning a Master of Arts in History in 1994 and a Bachelor of Arts with honours in 1991. She also received an Honorary Doctorate (Laws) from Simon Fraser University in 2016 and an Honorary Doctorate (Technology) from the British Columbia Institute of Technology in 2013.
On a personal level, Tamara lends her voice and leadership experience to issues related to women, families and children with a particular focus on issues related to equality, inclusion and empowerment.
Vancity
Duncan is a Vice Chair of Deloitte Canada and Chile whose professional activities focus on major institutional investor clients, global private family businesses and regional governments. Duncan also leads Deloitte’s Future of Canada Centre, which is responsible for the thought leadership and public policy positions of the firm. As the inaugural Dean of Deloitte University North Duncan is responsible for leadership development at Deloitte Canada and Chile.
Duncan has been with Deloitte for 30 years and throughout that time has been passionate about not only serving clients, but growing and developing those around him. One area of particular pride has been the number of people Duncan has mentored to grow into incredible partners and leaders in the firm. His deepest belief is that leadership is about rolling up your sleeves and getting to work on shared challenges. He brings this approach to Deloitte’s ambitious Canada 175 eminence program, where he has driven perspectives on what it will take for Canada to be the best country to live and work in 25 years from now.
In addition to his client responsibilities, Duncan has been Director of Audit, Managing Partner of Edmonton and the Regional Managing Partner of British Columbia, and a member of Deloitte Canada’s board. In addition to his Deloitte responsibilities, he is an active member of several community organizations including chair of the innovation committee of the BC Business Council, and the boards of the Stanford Global Projects Center, the Lazaridis Institute and the United Way.
deloitte.ca
Lorraine’s expertise and talents create unprecedented outcomes for organizations and individuals. Her seminal work in inspired leadership delivers game changing outcomes. A thought leader in strategic speed, innovation and executive performance, Lorraine is sought out to contribute to the transformation of companies and individuals. Author of Feet to the Fire, How to Exemplify and Create the Accountability That Creates Great Companies, and forthcoming book, The 360 Degree CEO, Generating Profits While Leading and Living with Passion and Principles, Lorraine’s clients benefit from her experience as a corporate executive and strategic advisor. At TD Bank, 19th largest bank in the world, Lorraine was a member of the executive team who led the largest financial services merger in North American history. While at TransCanada, she was an integral contributor on the small team who led the successful first phase of Keystone pipeline.
Her global client base includes organizations such as Enbridge, BHP, Telus, KPMG, Brion, TransCanada, Deloitte, Engie and others. Lorraine chairs CEO Forums with participants from a variety of national organizations. Lorraine was named a Woman of Distinction in 2017, and in 2016 was inducted into the global Million Dollar Consulting Hall of Fame© and CV Magazine named Lorraine Best Leadership and Executive Consultant Western Canada.
Some of her published articles have appeared in American Business, Advantage, Oil and Gas Monitor and Pharmaceutical Compliance Monitor, The TJE American Business and others. Lorraine’s expertise is regularly sought by NY firms such as Coleman Research Group, Stern and Associates and Mosaic where she shares her expertise through webinars, debates and/or directly to global clients.
An active board director for over 25 years, Lorraine holds an ICD.D and contributes broadly to her community.
Lorraine holds a BA from Western University and a MBA from Athabasca University. She is married to the man she fell for at age 18 and loves spending time with her children, stepchildren and grandchildren. She and her husband are avid and adventurous travelers. Together they hiked Kilimanjaro and Machu Picchu, toured Kenya, Turkey, China, India, Thailand, Singapore, Bali, Malaysia and more. Frequent attendance at Burning Man is just one of the ways Lorraine satisfies her love of art, music, theatre and diverse cultural experiences.
Lorraine Moore
Natalie Michael has worked in private practice developing executives for the last fifteen years. Whether as an executive coach, CEO forum chair or succession management consultant, her main goal is to help companies identify and develop executive potential. She has coached hundreds of executives, from Canada to Africa to New Zealand, with clients ranging from Fortune 100 companies to entrepreneurial start-ups. Before turning to coaching and consulting, Natalie led organizations that won accolades such as best-managed company, fastest-growing company and top employer. In her personal time, she loves quiet mornings on her mat and hitting the trails with her family.
Brian Conlin is an executive coach, mentor, board member and business advisor who worked in employee-owned organizations for over thirty years. He personally went through a successful transition as the former CEO of Golder Associates, a professional services firm that grew during his leadership from a modest regional business to a global powerhouse with over nine thousand employees and $1.5 billion in annual revenue. During his career, Brian has coached and supported the development of dozens of leaders. Today he coaches executives from small start-ups through to large, complex firms. He enjoys engaging with executives who dream big, want to succeed and care for others. A family man with two grown boys and a granddaughter, he enjoys volunteering for worthy causes, cycling and playing golf.
Dr. Karen MacNeill is a registered psychologist at Copeman Healthcare Centre in Calgary. She has over 15 years of experience in the helping profession. Dr. MacNeill holds a doctorate in counseling psychology from the University of British Columbia, and is a member of the College of Alberta Psychologists and the Canadian Sport Psychology Association.
Dr. MacNeill has firsthand knowledge of the attributes required to achieve and sustain peak performance. She competed at the international level in sport, and has worked with high performance athletes and Olympians since 1998 and attended the Winter Olympics in 2002 and 2010 in capacity of Mental Performance Consultant. At the 2010 Olympics, she was manager of sport psychology services for Vanoc’s medical team. Dr. MacNeill also worked with athletes who won Olympic gold and silver medals while competing at the 2014 Olympic Games in Sochi, Russia.
Dr. MacNeill is an established facilitator and speaker, delivering workshops to the Haskayne School of Business Executive Education program, and providing the keynote speech to aspiring leaders at the Young Women of Influence event in Calgary. Her career achievements and volunteer efforts have been publically recognized as she was a recipient of the 2010 Avenue Top 40 under 40 Award.
Dr. MacNeill’s academic background and applied experience blend well, providing her with a strong for training others to achieve high levels of personal and performance excellence.
Karen MacNeill
Salim travels extensively sharing a global perspective on the impact of breakthrough technologies and how organizations can leverage these disruptions to grow 10x faster than their peers. His book, Exponential Organizations, quickly reached No. 1 on Amazon's "Best-Sellers in Business Management" and was named Frost & Sullivan's "Growth, Innovation, and Leadership Book of the Year." His captivating, educational, and downright jaw-dropping presentations have been called "mind-blowing" and "the best talk I think I've ever heard."
Salim has spent the last seven years building Singularity University as its founding executive director and current global ambassador. SU is based at NASA Ames, and its goal is to "educate, inspire, and empower a new generation of leaders to apply exponential technologies to address humanity's grand challenges." SU has empowered people from more than 85 countries to apply disruptive technologies - biotechnology, artificial intelligence, and neuroscience - to more than 100 startups and countless patents and ideas.
Prior to Singularity, Salim was a vice president at Yahoo, where he build and ran Brickhouse, the company's internal incubator. His last company, Ångströ, a news aggregation startup, was sold to Google in 2010. He has founded or operated seven early-stage companies including PubSub Concepts, which laid some of the foundation for the real-time web, and the New York Grant Company, a direct response to 9/11. In its first year, the organization attracted over 400 clients and delivered over $12 million of federal grants to the local economy.
Salim Ismail
Jared Smith is the co-founder of Incite, a strategic growth marketing firm, and Turning Point, a business development training platform, with clients across Canada. Jared has dedicated most of his career advising senior leaders in highgrowth organizations. Jared was named one of Avenue Magazine's Top 40 Under 40, has won Entrepreneur of the Year Awards with BDC Canada and the Chamber of Commerce, and in 2016 he was recognized as one of Business in Edmonton Magazine's top 20 Business Leaders.
Jared's passion for community-building keeps him busy. He is the Past-President of the Entrepreneurs' Organization, the Honorary Chair of the Glenrose Foundation, the Chair of the Edmonton Mayor's Business Roundtable and sits on the board for the University of Alberta Property Trust.
Jared is a sought-after public speaker, moderator and facilitator and appears as a key-note speaker at numerous Canada-wide business events.
Incite
Cheryl is an award winning international consultant, best-selling author and highly sought after keynote speaker, and she has worked in multiple industries, with hundreds of clients and thousands of leaders worldwide.
For over 20 years Cheryl Cran has wholeheartedly devoted herself to the study and application of leadership mastery. Her greatest joy received from her work is in partnering with her clients to create extraordinary results and to be a part of their successes.
Cran’s research and thought leadership on the Future of Work and Change Leadership have been featured in CNBC, Huffington Post, Metro New York, Readers Digest, Financial Post, Fox, Entrepreneur magazine and more. In addition, Cheryl’s reputation as a Future of Work and Leadership Expert has landed her on numerous Top Influencers lists on social media.
Her client partners include globally known brands such as AT&T, Ceridian, BDO, Gartner, Johnson & Johnson, E3 Wealth, Manulife and more. Cheryl also works and partners with mid-sized as well as boutique sized companies.
In 1989 Valerie began her coaching career as a partner in the Amsterdam based company, Executive Performance Training. She formed her coaching practice, Stand & Deliver, in 2005. As a result, executives from companies including Starbucks * Bell * Microsoft * Luvo * Lululemon * Stitch Fix * First West Credit Union and Sovereign Insurance have transformed their leadership and communication capabilities.
The foundation of Valerie’s approach is the premise that accessing your power as a leader starts with having access to all your internal resources. Developing leadership presence is less about refining the words you choose and more about being comfortable in your own skin. It is built on finding physical ease and awareness, which results in increased mental, emotional and social awareness. It begins with the choice to be aware of, and allow, your own breath. This simple shift of attention gives access to calm, clear thought, creativity, physical and vocal expressiveness, personal power and authentic connection.
Valerie is a practitioner and partner in Breathexperience Canada and a certified teacher of The Light Work, a meditation practice uniting mindfulness, psychological awareness and personal responsibility. She taught this practice for 15 years in Vancouver, Toronto and Seattle, Washington.
She attended the Mannes College of Music in New York City and has performed with such companies as the Dance Theater of Harlem, the Canadian Opera Company, Vancouver Opera, Calgary Opera, Alberta Theatre Projects, the Shaw Festival and Canadian Stage.
Stand & Deliver
Mr. Bhardwaj began his career as a corporate lawyer at Meighen, Demers, Barristers & Solicitors, now part of Norton Rose Fulbright and subsequently served as a Vice- President for Toronto’s 2008 Olympic Bid and President & CEO of the Toronto Foundation. He currently serves as a Director of Metrolinx, Rideau Hall Foundation and Community Foundations of Canada (Past Chair).
He has also previously served as Chair of the 2012 Ontario Games, Co-Chair of TO2015 IGNITE (Toronto 2015 Pan Am/ Parapan Am Games), a Director of George Brown College (Vice Chair), and Chair of the Toronto Downtown Jazz Festival, among others.
Mr. Bhardwaj holds a B.A. (Honours) from the University of Toronto, and a law degree from the University of Windsor. He has completed the Ivey Executive Program of the Richard Ivey School of Business at Western University and the Directors Education Program, jointly developed by the ICD and the Joseph L. Rotman School of Management.
Institute of Corporate Directors
Dov Baron is an international headline speaker for global conferences on leadership, influence, business and embracing purpose driven authentic leadership. He’s been speaking internationally for over 30 years, he’s the man with a finger on the pulse of the evolving world of Next-Gen leadership. One of Inc. Magazine’s Top 100 Leadership Speakers to hire, Dov Baron is a master storyteller! Considered by many as the leading authority on Authentic, Purpose Driven Leadership, and the founder of Full Monty Leadership and The Authentic Speaker Academy for Leadership. Outside of his speaking and training Dov works with a diverse leaders and executive teams to build the bonds that create organizational cultures that become Fiercely Loyal.
Dov is a bestselling author of several books. His latest book is Fiercely Loyal; How High Performing Companies Develop and Retain Top Talent. (In-Phase Publishing, 2015 ©) He also writes for and has been featured in many industry magazines including being featured on CNN, CBS Small Business Pulse, SHRM, Yahoo Finance, Boston Globe, Business in Vancouver, USA today, CEO, Entrepreneur and many more http://FullMontyLeadership.com Dov's interactive presentation style captivates and energizes audiences with his revolutionary thinking and communication. He has been an independent leadership advisor to the United Nations (UN). Dov Baron and his team work with leading organizations in providing them with SOUL Purpose Driven, Leadership and Cultural Strategies. He is the leading authority on Authentic Leadership, and Leadership Succession or, as he prefers to call it, “Full Monty Leadership and Developing Leadership Archetypes” Dov’s international Leadership & Loyalty Video podcast is globally ranked the number one video podcast for Fortune 500 Executives. Inc.com also names his podcast as: The #1 podcast To Make You a Better Leader, G&A also cited his show in the Top 10 Podcasts For HR Pros and Managers.
Full Monty Leadership
Louise helps organizations achieve the future they want by providing hands-on support to create, measure and execute strategy. Louise has led Adura Strategy since 2007 and is Canada’s Official Partner for the PuMP® Performance Measure Blueprint: an engaging 8-step process, that helps diverse organizations overcome their KPI struggles so they can achieve their strategy and prove their impact. Prior to her consulting practice, she was Vice President of Western Canada’s two largest newspapers and worked with 2010 Legacies Now and VANOC during the 2010 Winter Games. She is a graduate of the University of BC, and is the Vancouver Chair of the international Women Presidents’ Organization. When not delivering workshops and facilitating strategic conversations, Louise is most likely hiking in the North Shore Mountains.
Adura Strategy Incorporated
Anne Bermingham has been a confidante and advisor to CEOs and other senior Executives for 18 years. She is relied upon for her ability to provide strategic and tactical people-oriented advice. She is an engaging facilitator who offers insightful feedback one-on-one and in group situations.
Anne graduated from the University of Saskatchewan with a Masters in Applied Social Psychology, with the intention on helping organizations thrive, by improving the performance of their people. She worked for a national outplacement firm before starting her own successful consultancy – 2WA Consulting. She has been an entrepreneur and business owner since 1996.
Her work is primarily in the fields of leadership and performance, with an emphasis on how to ensure people actually change their behaviour and attitudes in order to be more effective. Sometimes she works with teams and other times the work is to help change the culture within an organization. She has worked in the private, public and not for profit sectors, spread across the telecommunications, manufacturing, social services, municipal, provincial and federal government sectors.
Her strengths are her ability to read a room which makes her a highly sought after facilitator. As well, she brings tremendous warmth to a room and has the ability to create an atmosphere that leads to open and meaningful dialogue.
She is an active, long-time Rotarian and spends her social time on the golf course and around the dining room table with friends and family.
2WA Consulting
Michael W. Sonnenfeldt is the Founder of TIGER 21. He also is Chairman ofCarmanah Technologies Corp., a public Canadian company that designs, manufactures and distributes solar powered products and systems for industrial pplications globally. Mr. Sonnenfeldt is experienced in development management having founded and led Emmes & Company from 1991 to 1998; a real estate investment boutique that was a major buyer of distressed portfolios in the early 1990's and grew to over a billion dollars in assets by the time he sold his interest in 1998.
Mr. Sonnenfeldt received his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Management from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology where he was inducted to Phi Beta Kappa. Mr. Sonnenfeldt has been actively involved over the last twenty-five years at senior levels in numerous nonprofit organizations focused on the environment, national security, Middle East peace, international peacekeeping, the US/UN relationship, the removal of land mines and communal development.
TIGER 21