Adapting to a world of opportunity

Speakers

• 
  JAMES CLEAR

  #1 New York Times Bestselling Author of Atomic Habits, Behavioural Expert

  James Clear is one of the world’s leading experts on habit formation, decision making, and continuous improvement. He is best known for his #1 New York Times bestselling book, Atomic Habits, that draws on proven ideas from biology, psychology, and neuroscience to provide readers with a clear and actionable guide to making good habits inevitable and bad habits impossible.

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  James Clear is a writer and keynote speaker focused on habits, decision making, and continuous improvement. He is the author of the #1 New York Times bestseller, Atomic Habits. The book has sold over 10 million copies worldwide, has been translated into more than 50 languages and is the #1 best-selling book of 2021 on Amazon and #1 audiobook on Audible. Clear is a regular speaker at Fortune 500 companies and his work has been featured in publications such as Time magazine, the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal and on CBS This Morning. His popular “3-2-1” email newsletter is sent out each week to more than one million subscribers.

  James doesn’t merely report the research of others. He tries out the concepts for himself as he experiments with building better habits as an entrepreneur, writer, and weightlifter. In the end, his talks end up being one-part storytelling, one-part academic research, and one-part personal experiment, forming a colorful blend of inspirational stories, academic science, and hard-earned wisdom.

  More About James Clear

  Some of James’ engagements include Fortune 1000 and strategic clients such as KPMG, Microsoft, A&T, Bristol-Myers Squibb, DellTechnologies, Facebook, Google, Liberty Mutual, Pfizer, JP Morgan Chase & Co., Procter & Gamble, Adobe, Cisco, Lockheed Martin, and Wells Fargo.

  James Clear, one of the world’s leading experts on habit formation, is known for his ability to distill complex topics into simple behaviors that can be easily applied to daily life and work. In his book Atomic Habits, which spent over a year on the New York Times bestseller list, he draws on the most proven ideas from biology, psychology, and neuroscience to create an easy-to-understand guide for making good habits inevitable and bad habits impossible.

  Audiences come away from his talks learning how to:

  • Build a system for getting 1% better every day.
  • Break bad habits and stick to good ones.
  • Avoid the common mistakes most people make when changing habits.
  • Overcome a lack of motivation and willpower.
  • Develop a stronger identity and believe in yourself.
  • Make time for new habits (even when life gets crazy).
  • Design an environment to make success easier.
  • Make tiny, easy changes that deliver big results.
  • Get back on track when you get off course.
  • Put these ideas into practice in real life.

  James is a supporter of the Against Malaria Foundation, donating five percent of his income to support AMF in distributing nets to protect children, pregnant mothers, and families from mosquitos carrying malaria. It is one of the most cost-effective ways to extend life and fulfills his bigger mission to spread healthy habits and help others realize their full potential.

• 
  JASON FEIFER

  Editor-in-Chief of Entrepreneur Magazine | Author of Build for Tomorrow

  With access to the smartest minds in business, Jason Feifer has developed actionable strategies to help individuals and entire companies adapt faster and thrive in the new. He's the author of Build For Tomorrow; he hosts multiple podcasts and advises startups. Adaptation is not something people are born with, it's a skill people can learn, and he uses that knowledge to help individuals and entire companies grow into the future.

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  The world is changing quickly—and to stay ahead, we must be able see the opportunity in disruption. Jason Feifer, editor in chief of Entrepreneur magazine, learned how to do this from the smartest entrepreneurs in the world, and has developed actionable strategies to help anyone adapt faster and thrive in the new. Jason argues that every change can lead to a Wouldn’t Go Back moment, which is when we find something that is so valuable that we wouldn’t want to go back to a time before we had it, and he guides audiences towards their own moments with relentless optimism. “Jason has access to the smartest minds in business,” says best-selling author and renowned entrepreneur Gary Vaynerchuk, “and he extracts their best wisdom so you can act on it now.”

  “Jason will change the way you think so you can overcome any obstacle and reach your full potential.”

  — Jim Kwik, New York Times bestselling author of Limitless

  Jason Feifer spends his days speaking to the world’s greatest change-makers. He has helmed the world’s leading magazine about entrepreneurship since 2016, is the author of the forthcoming book Build For Tomorrow, and also hosts multiple podcasts and advises startups. Through it all, he has learned that adaptation is not something people are born with. It is a skill people can learn, and he uses that knowledge to help individuals and entire companies grow into the future.

  Jason argues that change happens in four phases. It starts with panic, when we have no idea what we’ll gain or lose. Then we move into adaptation, begin to build a new normal, and finally start to see our Wouldn’t Go Back moment. Jason’s strategies can help people move through those phases faster, and he gives audiences tangible ways to approach them — along with entertaining, memorable, and often funny stories of entrepreneurs who navigated similar problems, as well as surprising lessons drawn from the history of innovation.

  Jason is a non-stop optimism machine, and pairs his insights with boundless energy and infectious charisma. In addition to delivering keynotes or sitting for fireside chats, he is also a talented emcee and experienced celebrity interviewer who has profiled everyone from Dwayne “the Rock” Johnson to Michelle Pfeiffer. He is host of two podcasts; the first, Build For Tomorrow, is a funny, fast-paced show exploring the smartest solutions to our most misunderstood challenges. The second, Problem Solvers, highlights entrepreneurs, business owners, and CEOs who are solving unexpected challenges in their lives, businesses, and careers.

  Prior to his leadership at Entrepreneur, Jason held editorial roles at Men’s Health, Maxim, and Boston magazine, and has written about business and technology for the Washington Post, Slate, New York, and many more major publications.

• 
  Dr. Hayley Wickenheiser

  Four-time Olympic Gold Medalist | Member of the Hockey Hall of Fame

  Dr. Wickenheiser is considered one of the best female hockey players in the world with 7 world championships, 6 Olympic appearances, 5 Olympic medals. Today, Wickenheiser is the assistant GM of player development for the Toronto Maple Leafs as well as a community leader, medical doctor, and businesswoman.

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  Dr. Hayley Wickenheiser is considered one of the best female hockey players in the world. Seven world championships, six Olympic appearances, five Olympic medals — she is a titan of sport and a leader both on and off the ice. Today, Wickenheiser is the assistant general manager of player development for the Toronto Maple Leafs as well as a community leader, medical doctor, and businesswoman who inspires audiences to give their best in everything they do.

  A first-ballot Hockey Hall of Fame inductee, Wickenheiser’s hockey IQ is highly respected in both the male and female game. She made hockey history as the first female player to notch a point in a men’s professional game. She was also the first woman in history to have played in/coached at four NHL development camps with the Philadelphia Flyers, the Edmonton Oilers, and the Toronto Maple Leafs. Wickenheiser joined the Leafs as assistant director of player development in 2018 before being promoted to assistant general manager in 2022.

  Wickenheiser’s ascent to the top of her sport started in Shaunavon, Saskatchewan where at age 15 she became the youngest member chosen for the Canadian Women’s National Team. Her Olympic career spanned 23 years, five Olympic medals, and two sports as she also competed in softball at the 2000 Games. In 2014, Wickenheiser was Canada’s official flag bearer at the Sochi Olympics and served on the International Olympic Committee’s Athletes Commission.

  In 2017, Wickenheiser announced her retirement from the National Women’s Team. In addition to her work with the Leafs, she is now a resident medical doctor in family medicine — a pursuit she has dreamt of her whole life. She is also a bestselling author having released her first book Over the Board: Lessons from the Ice in 2021.

  Wickenheiser has earned many accolades throughout her career, including being named on Sports Illustrated’s “Top 25 Toughest Athletes in the World” and twice named to their “Power 50 in Sports” list. She is also one of QMI Agency’s “Top 10 Greatest Female Athletes in the History of Sports”, a member of the Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame, one of Canada’s “Top 40 Under 40”, and an inductee in both Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame and Canada’s Walk of Fame. In 2014, Wickenheiser was awarded Canada’s highest honour when she was appointed to the Order of Canada in recognition of her athletic achievements and contributions to the growth of women’s hockey.

  Wickenheiser’s passion for sport is paralleled by her desire to give back to the community through her work with dozens of philanthropic organizations, including Lace ‘Em Up, Jumpstart, KidSport, Project North, and Right to Play — organizations dedicated to ensuring kids of all financial and cultural backgrounds can play sports. She is also the founder of the worldrenowned personal and athletic development weekend, The Canadian Tire Wickenheiser World Female Hockey Festival, which provides mentoring and growth opportunities for young athletes around the world.

  Wickenheiser holds several honourary degrees from institutions across Canada, as well as a Masters in Kinesiology from the University of Calgary, where she also studied medicine.

• 
  SCOTT D. ANTHONY

  Named world's 7th most influential management thinkers by Thinkers50 (2021)

  Scott D. Anthony helps leaders design new growth strategies, build innovation capabilities, navigate disruptive innovation, and manage strategic transformation. In 2021 Thinkers50 named him the world’s seventh most influential management thinkers, and in 2017 he won the Thinkers50 Innovation Award.

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  Scott D. Anthony is passionate about helping individuals and organizations thrive in today’s world of never-ending change. He is a Professor at the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College, where he teaches a course called “Leading Disruptive Change,” and a Managing Director and Managing Partner Emeritus at Innosight, where he helps leaders design new growth strategies, build innovation capabilities, navigate disruptive innovation, and manage strategic transformation.

   

  Scott has written eight books, including most recently Eat, Sleep, Innovate (2020) and Dual Transformation (2017), which describe how forward-thinking organizations can navigate disruptive change and own the future. His most recent Harvard Business Review article is “Persuade Your Company to Change Before It’s Too Late.” Scott lived in Singapore from 2010-2022, where he served as a member of the Committee on the Future Economy and as Board member of subsidiaries of Temasek (MediaCorp) and NTUC (LearningHub).He has given keynote addresses on six continents and is Harvard Business Corporate Learning’s most in-demand external subject matter expert.

   

  In 2021 Scott was named the world’s seventh most influential management thinker by Thinkers50. He has been nominated for the Thinkers50 Innovation Award three times, winning the award in 2017. Scott received a BA in economics summa cum laude from Dartmouth College, an MBA with high distinction from Harvard Business School, where he was a Baker Scholar, and an Executive Master in Change from INSEAD, where he graduated with distinction.

• 
  JANICE STEIN

  Geopolitical & Global Economics Expert

  Whether it’s economics, geopolitics, or international security and terrorism, few people have a better understanding of global issues than Professor Janice Gross Stein.

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  Whether it’s economics, geopolitics, or international security and terrorism, few people have a better understanding of global issues than Professor Janice Gross Stein. Her dynamic presentations provide a unique perspective into what’s really happening around the world—from China to Russia to the Middle East and Europe—and what it means to her audiences. Professor Stein’s presentations not only connect the dots regarding key events, but provide a look at where things are headed, and where the potential dangers and opportunities may lie. Both realistic and hopeful, she leaves her audiences with a better understanding of current global issues, and a clear, compelling vision of the future.

  Stein is the Belzberg Professor of Conflict Management in the Department of Political Science and the Founding Director of the Munk School of Global Affairs at the University of Toronto. She is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada and an Honorary Foreign Member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.

  Professor Stein was the Massey Lecturer in 2001, and a Trudeau Fellow. She was awarded the Molson Prize by the Canada Council for an outstanding contribution by a social scientist to public debate, and has received an Honorary Doctorate of Laws from the University of Alberta, the University of Cape Breton, McMaster University, and the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. She is a member of the Order of Canada and the Order of Ontario.

• 
  STEFANE MARION

  Chief Economist & Strategist, National Bank of Canada

  Stéfane Marion has been the Chief Economist and Strategist for the National Bank of Canada and National Bank Financial since November 2008. Mr. Marion is a sought-after speaker on economic trends and their impact on financial markets, and Brendan Wood International has named him one of Canada's top economists.

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  Stéfane Marion has been the Chief Economist and Strategist for the National Bank of Canada and National Bank Financial since November 2008. Mr. Marion is a sought-after speaker on economic trends and their impact on financial markets, and Brendan Wood International has named him one of Canada’s top economists.

  The Economics and Strategy group at National Bank Financial is consistently ranked among Canada’s top forecasters and is known for the accuracy of its projections. Mr. Marion was appointed to the Monetary Policy Council and the newly formed Business Cycle Council by the C.D.

  Howe Institute in 2012. Additionally, he is a member of the National Bank Retirement Committee. Mr. Marion joined National Bank Financial’s economics team in 1999. Prior to that, he worked for several years at the Departments of Finance and Industry in Ottawa, where he analyzed the impact of macroeconomic policies and conducted economic forecasts as part of his responsibilities. He has worked on the development of several economic forecasting models as well as the analysis of US-Mexico free trade agreements (FTA, NAFTA).

  Mr. Marion graduated from the Université de Montréal with a bachelor’s and master’s degree in economics.

• 
  JAMES CUNNINGHAM

  Corporate Comedian | TV Personality

  From the smash success of his award-winning Funny Money lectures to his nightly stints on comedy stages across North America, Cunningham is simply one of the best.

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  The name James Cunningham is synonymous with excellence and professionalism in the entertainment industry. He has made quite a name for himself as one of Canada’s funniest and most versatile performers. His remarkable and diverse career knows no boundaries.

  From the smash success of his award-winning Funny Money lectures to his nightly stints on comedy stages across North America, Cunningham is simply one of the best. If it’s a master of ceremonies, keynote speaker, or just a fabulous evening of entertainment you’re looking for — look no further!  He has proven, time and again, that he is one of the most skilled professionals on- and offstage and has a long list of repeat clientele to prove it. He has been asked to host shareholder and annual business conferences across the country and around the world, repeatedly. Pepsi, Frito-Lay, Starbucks, KRAFT, Canadian Tire, McDonald’s, STAPLES, Nestle Purina, Walmart, GoodLife Fitness, BMO, Scotiabank, Proctor & Gamble, Medtronic, Ingram Micro, and Grant Thornton International are just a few of his past corporate clients.

  On television, James has been featured multiple times, including two of his own hour-long Comedy Now standup comedy specials for CTV and The Comedy Network, two Just For Laughs “Galas” for CBC TV, five seasons as a writer and actor on the award-winning television series Comedy Inc., and on NBC’s Last Comic Standing. He is also known internationally for hosting five seasons of Eat St., which gave audiences a curbside view of North America’s tastiest, messiest, and most irresistible street food. The food truck-themed show aired on Food Network Canada, Cooking Channel in the US, and in dozens of countries around the world. Cunningham’s Eat St. cookbook (Penguin/Pintail) was a North American bestseller.

  Cunningham has performed at and hosted events for the nation’s top corporations and distinguished crowds of all ages. His clean and audience-appropriate performances have earned him countless recommendations. Combining his knowledge of the stage and his experience as a standup comedian, he has entertained at over 1,500 shows in the corporate arena. His personalized presentations guarantee laughter and delight at every type of event and function imaginable. Whatever the theme or purpose of your next corporate gathering, Cunningham will provide the humour necessary to make it an especially successful and memorable one.

  Additionally, James continues to host sold-out events across Canada for THE POWER OF SUCCESS, where he has had the pleasure of sharing the stage with former US President Bill Clinton, Tony Robbins, Sir Richard Branson, Martha Stewart, Barbara Walters, Andre Agassi, Suze Orman, and Hilary Swank, to name a few. He can also be seen regularly on The Marilyn Denis Show on CTV.

• 
  TONY GAFFNEY

  President and CEO, Vector Institute | AI Expert

  Tony is a transformational leader. He serves on the Govt of Canada Advisory Council on AI, is a member of the OECD.AI network of experts (ONE.AI) task force for AI Governance, Compute and Climate Change, and is a Corporate Director with Altus Group (AIF.TO), an AI enabled intelligence as a service company.

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  Tony brings over 20 years of experience as a CEO and Board Director with exceptional transformational leadership, fostering growth in businesses across multiple industry sectors at various stages in the organizational life cycle. He joins Vector at a transformative time and will play a key role in enabling the organization to expand its global visibility for AI research, talent, and commercialization.

  He served as CEO, Aon Hewitt Canada and as a member of the Global Executive Committee of Aon Hewitt. Prior to joining Aon Hewitt, Tony was a Managing Partner at Accenture, President and CEO of BellNexxia, and CEO of BCE Emergis.

  He has also worked internationally in leadership roles with MCI Telecommunications, SHL Systemhouse Inc., and Andersen Consulting. He is also the Founder & CEO of the Lambay Group, a board and business advisory company.

  Tony is currently a Corporate Director with Altus Group (AIF.TO). He served on the boards of President’s Choice Bank and the Altus Group. He previously served on the boards of the Bishop Strachan School, the Toronto Region Board of Trade, the Toronto United Way Cabinet, Canada’s Walk of Fame and Crescent School.

  Tony holds a Bachelor of Engineering (B.A.I.) degree and M.A. from Trinity College Dublin and is a graduate of the Rotman Corporate Directors program (ICD.D).