Theme: Blueprints

Blueprints encompass the grand concepts of engagement, introspection and planning. To us, blueprints are a map that directs us to be a better version of ourselves. They act as an item that lets us reflect on the creative process of our endeavours. There’s a blueprint to success, obstacles, and everything in between. They allow us to critically review our work from an aerial perspective and gain insight into where we can spend time making improvements. As you are thinking about your “ideas worth spreading” think about what blueprints mean to you.

If you are interested in applying to be a speaker at our conference please follow our LinkTree to access the application. https://linktr.ee/tedxryersonu

Ted Rogers School of Management
55 Dundas Street West
Toronto, Ontario, M5G 2C3
Canada

Ahmad Jabbir

Marketing Specialist at Seek Discomfort

Ahmad Jabbir is a Marketing Specialist for Seek Discomfort by Yes Theory. He’s been exploring outside his comfort zone for the past 8 years ‼️ Today, Ahmad Jabbir is on a mission to inspire others to pursue social discomfort. He realized his mission after a self development project he launched at the beginning of the pandemic, where he virtually met 100 strangers one on one from 45 countries.

Brien Convery

Belonging Champion, Talent Advocate and Thought Leader

A people-centric executive professional with over 3 decades of diversified and progressive global experience. Brien has been featured in ‘Stronger through Adversity’ by Joseph Michelli, the Toronto Star, American Banker, Dell Technologies, The Financial Pipeline, CERIC Careering Magazine and a number work podcasts around the globe. He is a multi-award winning student experience maker and have been most recently recognized by LinkedIn as the 2021 LinkedIn Best Talent Voices/Talent Leader Award Finalist.

Chris Hoquis

Entrepreneur, Product Manager, Professor, Mental Health Advocacy Leader

MBA (Candidate), BBA, PMP, PMI-ACP, CSP-SM, CSP-PO Chris Hoquis is an Entrepreneur, lead Instructor at the University of Manitoba, Keynote Speaker, information technology professional for over 15 years, and a youth basketball coach. Chris’ mind tends to wander in ideation, creativity and social innovation, which has led to several business ventures. Most recently, he launched “Rally the Locals”, a platform dedicated to driving growth for local businesses through lead generation, content curation, innovative marketing, and partnerships. His unique style of story-telling, poetry, and hard hitting dialogue has culminated into intuitive blueprints that help others believe they’re worth more than they think they are and serve as catalysts for destigmatizing mental health.

Dr. Karyn Gordon

Leadership, Career & Relationship Expert

Dr. Karyn is the #2 WALL STREET JOURNAL & USA TODAY Bestselling author of the new book “The Three Chairs: How Great Leaders Drive Communication, Performance & Engagement.” She is also the CEO and co-founder of DK Leadership, a global leadership coaching company whose purpose is developing GREAT leaders at work and home. Nominated for the 2021 RBC Canadian Women Entrepreneur Award, she has spoken to more than 500,000 people across 17 countries—including Fortune 500 companies, family businesses, entrepreneurs, professional associations, and others. A sought-after media personality and contributor, she has worked with Good Morning America, Forbes, Entrepreneur, Inc. Magazine, The New York Times, and Cityline.

Julia Allworth

Equity-Centered Design Thinker

Julia is a leader, innovator and author who specializes in equity-centered design thinking. She strives to design with, rather than for people. Julia leads the Innovation Hub at the University of Toronto, an on-campus consultancy that supports building better student experiences using design thinking. Julia is also the author of a book entitled Design Thinking in Student Affairs: A Primer. Julia holds an MBA in Global Leadership and a BA in Psychology. She has presented her work at various higher education conferences across North America and has trained and coached hundreds of students, faculty and staff through an equity-centered design thinking process in support of projects that create wide-scale change.

Kashif Khan

CEO and Founder at The DNA Company

Kashif Khan is Chief Executive Officer and Founder of The DNA Company, where personalized medicine is being pioneered through unique insights into the human genome. With the largest study of its kind globally, The DNA Company has developed a functional approach to genomic interpretation overlaying environment, nutrition, and lifestyle on the genetic blueprint to create personalized and deterministic health outcomes. Growing up in Vancouver, Canada in an immigrant household, Kashif developed an industrious entrepreneurial spirit from a young age. Prior to his tenure at the DNA Company, Kashif advised a number of high-growth start-ups in a variety of industries including luxury retail, technology, finance, fine arts, healthcare, tourism and real estate. He participated in over $300 million in revenue in his own retail business prior to launching consulting services to help others thrive.

Norman Bacal

Experienced Leader, Best Selling Author, Business Consultant, Speaker

Norman Bacal built and led an iconic Canadian law firm, was among the pioneers of the financing of the Canadian film and television industry, and had the privilege of working with major Hollywood studios during his thirty-five year legal career. In 2016 he stepped away from practice to begin a second career as a motivational speaker, and consultant. He is a Globe and Mail and Amazon bestselling author of four books on leadership, career development and murder-mysteries. An eclectic combination. His proudest ongoing achievement, however, is mentoring students, developing professionals, and aspiring leaders across the country in an effort to pay forward the lessons that so enriched his own life.

Pamela Barnum

Former Undercover Police Officer & Federal Prosecuting Attorney, Trust Strategist & Nonverbal Communication Expert

Pamela started her career as an Undercover Police Officer with the Drug Enforcement Division. When she graduated from law school, she left policing and accepted a position as a federal prosecuting attorney. She spent countless hours in the courtroom, perfecting her proficiency as a trust strategist and body language expert. Following a successful 20-year career in the criminal justice system, Pamela studied corporate negotiations in graduate school. Now, as a body language expert and trust strategist, she shares her expertise with others. Teaching them how to improve their communication skills to increase trust inside corporations, associations, and law enforcement agencies.

Sandy Yong

Award-Winning Author, Keynote Speaker, Stock Market & Real Estate Investor, Freelance Writer, Content Product Manager

Sandy Yong is a self-directed investor who successfully generated a 6-figure investment portfolio and owns several rental properties. As a Keynote Speaker, she teaches female millennials how to invest in the stock market and real estate. With her award-winning book, The Money Master, Sandy has been featured in hundreds of media outlets including Forbes, The Globe and Mail, Toronto Star and NBC News. Most recently, she's been named Top 10 From The Past 10 from the Ted Rogers School of Management.

Vinayak Mahajan

Author, Founder and CEO, GiftAFeeling Inc

Vinayak Mahajan is a #1 Global Bestselling Author, Founder & CEO of GiftAFeeling Inc., and a highly recognized thought leader in the gifting industry. He leads a team of psychologists doing research in gifting psychology and has reinvented the word, Giftophobia, in the modern era.