Sheridan College
Sheridan College
Business Administration, Marketing
Business Administration, Marketing
2008 – 2013
2008 – 2013
Certificate
Mississauga
Mahfuz Chowdhury is a National Award-Winning Brand Manager of one of the fastest-growing companies in the country (ranked on Growth 500 for the last three years in a row).
Over the last 12 years, he has been heavily involved with speaking at conferences and events to help brands, organizations, and changemakers engage their audience, generate leads, and convert them into raving fans through the art and science of creative storytelling. He has spoken to audiences from Microsoft, IBM, KPMG, PwC, EY, along with other notable organizations, and continues to focus on helping individuals amplify their brand voice and build long-lasting relationships with their customers, one story at a time.
Each talk is customized to provide the audience members with the right combination of energy and actionable takeaways. Past conference attendees tend to return for multiple talks because they learn something valuable every single time (their words, not ours)!
Mahfuz continued to demonstrate his storytelling capabilities by publishing his latest book, called “Project Reinvention: The Social Timeline of a Millennial”. This book shares Mahfuz’s personal story of resilience and reinvention, from a coffee-server to a national award-winning Brand Manager.
These personal stories and takeaways have also been shared through Mahfuz’s new podcast, called “Ride With Me”. This is a unique podcast show where you can eavesdrop on Mahfuz’s thoughts, stories, and ramblings in between his long drives (don’t worry, mic is safely attached)! Each week, Mahfuz uses this platform to actively share insights around personal branding, self development and day-to-day thoughts of a motivated millennial.
Schulich School of Engineering, University of Calgary
Schulich School of Engineering, University of Calgary
Bachelor of Science – BS, Civil Engineering
Bachelor of Science – BS, Civil Engineering
1995 – 2001
1995 – 2001
Erin is a dynamic, relatable, and engaging speaker inspiring leaders to navigate difficult conversations, build powerful teams, and make an impact using empathy.
Early in her career, people told her, “You’re too emotional! You gotta be tough and get a game face.” After years of unsuccessful attempts to ‘fix’ and ‘get rid of’ her emotions, Erin decided to get curious about what these emotions might be trying to tell her. She found that her leadership superpower was her emotions. In fact, it was her empathy that served as a powerful and effective tool to lead high-performing teams. Emotional intelligence and technical excellence aren’t mutually exclusive — both skills are imperative to becoming a confident, compassionate leader a team will eagerly follow.
Erin has a Civil Engineering Degree from the University of Calgary and is an Associate Certified Coach through Integral Coaching Canada. Her first book, Inside Out Empathy, was published in 2017. Erin is a mother to three teenagers and an active community member. Erin chaired the Suncor Women’s Diversity Initiative in 2016, has served a term on the Advisory Board to WomenIN, an inclusive community supporting today’s women and working to build the women of tomorrow, held various positions on a number of school parent councils and actively participates in the management of her children’s sports teams.
Always up for a challenge, Erin is disrupting the long held belief that there’s no room for emotions in leadership. Erin’s eyes light up when she shares her experience and knowledge on teaching, mentoring, and coaching others to embrace their emotions, connect with empathy, and deeply engage the people they lead. She believes we can only build inclusive and diverse teams when we recognize, celebrate, and leverage our differences.
Winnipeg
Certified Speaking Professional
Certified Speaking Professional
National Speakers Association / Canadian Association of Professional Speakers
National Speakers Association / Canadian Association of Professional Speakers
Issued Jul 2014 · No Expiration Date
Issued Jul 2014 · No Expiration Date
Anders Boulanger
Jennifer Spear is a recovering corporate executive who works with leaders, teams and organizations to help them solve problems, plan strategically and make innovation and creativity a reality in their workplace. Her UnScripted philosophy and approach, which includes being able to challenge assumptions and the status quo, being able to let go of the scripts of the past in order to take advantage of change, allows her to work successfully in organizations currently experiencing change to, not only learn to adapt to change, but to drive change in order to innovate and grow.
Prior to starting her coaching and consulting practice, Jennifer Spear was Vice President of both Human Resources and Marketing for a national retailer and understands the importance of both employee and customer engagement. As a graduate of both Ivey’s Executive MBA program and Second City, Jennifer operates where the business and creative worlds collide. Jennifer is a certified Facilitator and Trainer in Creative Problem Solving and is certified in the Basadur Creative Problem Solving Profile and is a Certified Professional Innovation Advisor. Jennifer Spear has worked with diverse groups including the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre, BMO and NASA.
Jennifer Spear is a guest lecturer at the Ted Rogers School of Management and is a member of the International Association of Facilitators, the Global Speakers Federation, the Canadian Society for Association Executives, the Human Resources Professional Association, and the Applied Improvisation Network. Jennifer sits on the Board of Directors for Meetings Mean Business Canada and on the National Board of the Canadian Association of Professional Speakers. Jennifer is a contributor to Forbes and is the Author of the upcoming book “UnScripted”.
Whether you are looking for a Keynote or conference entertainment, Étienne Steven Langlois is guaranteed to “rock” your conference, district meeting, graduation, or commencement ceremony with an unforgettable delivery. He’s a pop culture icon that has been name-dropped on SNL, had his songs sung live by Justin Bieber, and is the subject of the TV documentary “The Accidental Rockstar” covering the first 25 years of his career.
Steven “Étienne” Langlois is a multiple award-winning and world-renowned keynote speaker, educator, international recording artist, and author of the #1 best-selling book ROCK YOUR CLASS. When he’s not performing for millions of fans in packed theaters and arenas worldwide or serving as a curriculum and literacy consultant in packed classrooms back home, he’s busy helping school leaders and K-12 teachers across the globe rock their classes with expert engagement, classroom management, and teacher toolbox strategies.
Étienne Steven Langlois has spent the better part of three decades teaching K-12 in many subject areas and taking on various leadership roles as District Literacy Coach, District Program Coordinator, Department Head, and New Teacher Mentor. Winner of educational “lifetime achievement” awards from multiple countries, he has also twice won “Canada’s Artist of the Year” honours as a musician. As an author and consultant, he develops effective curriculum content for international publishing companies including Pearson Ed, Nelson, Oxford University Press, Prentice Hall, Addison-Wesley, Gage, McGraw-Hill, Xpress Lab, and more.
High-energy, engaging, and motivating, Étienne Steven Langlois leaves participants with more than just words, with tools to carry on their teacher-rockstar goals. Étienne leads participants from his patented “Inspection and Reflection” stage to the “Creation and Innovation” stage of being the best leaders and educators one can be. Book Étienne Steven Langlois for keynote speaking engagement or for your conference entertainment. Étienne hosts unforgettable Conference Kahoots (with prizes) and can create a conference rap anthem for your conference theme.
As an ambassador of Kids Help Phone (KHP), Étienne Steven Langlois works closely with KHP on student mental health projects and donates a portion of proceeds from every speaking engagement back to KHP. Proud of his Métis heritage, Étienne is active in projects with the local indigenous community.
Award winning mentalist, certified hypnotist and master of persuasion, Spidey, was named US Mentalist of the Year and has appeared on NBC’s TODAY Show, TMZ and Rachael Ray! As a Hollywood consultant, he has consulted for celebrities like Jennifer Lopez, Steve Harvey, Mark Cuban, Neil Patrick Harris and more. He joined the cast of NETFLIX Original Series: Brainchild to discuss the inner workings of motivation, thinking and memories.
The show is being watched in 170 countries! On Discovery Channel, he was invited to display how influence and persuasion can manifest physically. Spidey’s countless national/international TV appearances also include FOX’s Showtime at the Apollo with Steve Harvey, CW’s Masters of Illusion and Entertainment Tonight. Spidey has captivated the minds of people around the world with his international TV shows, 50+ million online viewers and tours across North America. Spidey has worked with Fortune 500 companies including Google (15+ times), Amazon (3+ times), T-Mobile, Mercedes-Benz, Royal Bank of Canada, Birks and more.
While employed as a police officer, Kelly Donovan did what she thought was her obligation and made a disclosure to the board that there were unethical practices within the police force’s internal affairs division. As a result, she faced retaliation. Kelly resigned from policing and published her first book titled The Systemic Misfeasance in Ontario Policing and the Coordinated Suppression of Whistleblowers to expose the problems facing modern day policing.
Kelly Donovan advocated for better protections for police whistleblowers in Ontario and effectively influenced law changes so that officers can now anonymously report internal misconduct. Throughout Kelly’s journey she has been recovering from post-traumatic stress disorder and she educates audiences about moral injury and sanctuary trauma. Kelly has become an expert on all issues relating to whistleblowing and suppressive workplace cultures. Even after resigning from the profession, Kelly continued to face reprisal for crossing the “thin blue line.”
Kelly Donovan was the 2019 Ontario Civil Liberties Award recipient and succeeded before the Ontario Court of Appeal as a self-represented litigant. Kelly published her second book in 2020, Police Line: Do Not Cross, Silencing a Canadian Police Whistleblower. Kelly Donovan now conducts workplace investigations to improve the ethical standard of workplaces across Canada. She holds a degree in statistics from the University of Western Ontario where she was also a varsity rugby player. Kelly’s story of staying true to one’s internal set of ethics and morals has inspired front-line workers to senior management on topics such as workplace courage, and the effects of trauma in the workplace.
Teddy Syrette (Ozhawa Anung Kwe/Yellow Star Woman) is a 2-Spirit Anishnabe from Rankin Reserve of Batchewana First Nation of the Anishnabek. Teddy has a background in social justice for First Nation and 2Spirit and LGBTQ+ people and communities. Their background also includes community theatre and bingo. Teddy has a diploma in Social Service Work – Indigenous Specialization from Sault College. Teddy Syrette uses they/them as their pronouns. As a brown, First Nation queer person, there were many barriers and challenges that Teddy faced growin up on Rankin Reserve and Sault Ste. Marie. These acts of discrimination and bullying, led Teddy Syrette to a path of self destruction and isolation. However, they did manage to find support in a high school guidance counsellor, an LGBT+ youth group of Algoma and affirming family and friends.
This didn’t stop Teddy from experiencing different forms of addiction, mental illness and ultimately dropping out of high school several times. At a young age, Teddy showed a creative imagination, brought on by their love of reading, writing and television and film. Not knowing what being First Nation entirely meant, Teddy did understand they were different after developing a crush on Zach Morris, from the television show Saved by the Bell. Teddy would become involved in theatre in elementary school, musical theatre in their later teen years, then Indigenous and community theatre in their 20’s.
While studying Indigenous theatre and storytelling at Debajehmujig Storytellers in Manitowaning ON, on Manitoulin Island, Teddy Syrette discovered that his grandmother was a residential school survivor from St. Joseph Residential School in Spanish, Ontario. Teddy also discovered that his uncle and aunt also attended residential school, but unfortunately, Teddy’s aunty would die of Tuberculous at residential school. This would set Teddy on a healing journey for their mental health and addiction. Teddy is now 4 years sober from alcohol. Their fondness for news and media, shifted their journey in their mid twenties, from being a performing artist to social justice and social advocacy.
At 24, they dropped out of theatre school in Manitoulin Island, and returned to Sault Ste. Marie enrolled and graduated from the Sault College Social Service Worker – Indigenous Specialization program. Teddy Syrette would then get involved with an LGBTQ+ youth committee with the former Provincial Advocates Office of Ontario, and assist with revamping the Sault Pride movement in Sault Ste. Marie, ON. Teddy has received the following awards for their work in advocacy, which include the Mark S. Bonham Award for Sexuality, Planned Parenthood Toronto LGBTQ+ Person of the year, the Sault Ste. Marie YMCA Peace Medal, the Community Driven Award for Leadership and the Grade 8 Graduate Award for Geography and History. Teddy currently lives back in Sault Ste. Marie, their home territory of Baawaating with their pug Hortus.
Sonia Funk is an Employee Wellness Analyst & Strategist, Corporate Keynote Speaker and Nutritional Therapist, with over 15 years of international experience in the wellness industry. She understands that employees are overwhelmed with their own day-to-day lives as it is, and that it can become a challenge to keep up with personal and professional lives, while maintaining health.
She has travelled the world as both student and teacher. Her super-powers include outrageous common sense and a willingness to ask the hard questions, which allow for easier answers. Sonia’s questions cut through all the misinformation, fads and clichés around wellness and mental health. She gives her audience courage to find a better question that can help them understand the real reasons why they are struggling. With this awareness and the tools she provides, real change for wellbeing becomes possible.
Sonia is a regular consultant, facilitator and regular guest on radio talk-shows and podcasts. Her unique collaborative healthcare events in her community, and her partnership with the local Co-op Grocery stores, have seen her in the media regularly. Over the years she naturally evolved into a corporate speaker, keynoting the City of Morden’s Mental Health Week in 2019 and speaking on brain health and nutritional psychiatry at Manitoba Safety Service’s conference in early 2020.
Her genius lies in her insightful and strategic telling of the human story behind the issue at hand. Funk understands that your employees are overwhelmed with their own day- to-day lives as it is. They are not interested in feel-good challenges for their nutrition, walking, or drinking more water, which have only about a 10% participation rate. She also knows that a one-time “lunch-and-learn,” which doesn’t offer employees a perception shift nor immediately usable tools, doesn’t even get in the first ear anymore.
Sonia Funk is a heart centered and funny professional that always brings the big picture to the table. Effortlessly flooding the room with the feeling of empathy and non-judgement, she invites a perception shift in the participants. To her, this is the fundamental first step to lift the apathy and fear that keeps people stuck. Sonia’s presentations are psychologically crafted in a way that allow her to effectively communicate life changing information and awareness. Her experience as an effective coach and therapist translates into her ability to relay useful tools and tips, that are relevant to everyone.
Sonia Funk provides employees powerful insights into the ‘Why’ and the ‘How’ of improving all aspects of their nutrition and wellbeing. Combining keen observational skills with an unusual and uplifting common sense, Sonia Funk has an extraordinary talent for identifying and explaining the root causes of productivity-draining ailments such as fatigue, digestive issues, chronic illness, stress, anxiety and depression. What’s more? Her approach is heart-centred and her calls to action are full of empathy and realism.
Gayathri Shukla is a dynamic, thought-provoking speaker who inspires individuals to rise to their personal and collective potential. She is the Founder of a social enterprise, where she masterfully harnesses the power of storytelling to help diverse teams discover their unique strengths, while building skills in empathy. She is known for her keen ability to see issues from different perspectives, and unearth creative solutions for business leaders and professionals.
A Professional Engineer with over 17 years experience in the energy sector, Gayathri Shulka started her career in Fort McMurray, Alberta. As one of the few Indo-Canadian women working in an industrial environment, she honed the practice of navigating diversity early-on. She stood-out not only for her exceptional technical contributions, but also for re-inventing her skills multiple times throughout her career. After building hands-on experience in her technology discipline, she pivoted into project management and led the schedule integration efforts for Fort Hills, a $17B greenfield oil sands facility. The safe and timely start-up of this facility was seen as an industry first.
Gayathri Shulka also obtained an Executive MBA program at Queen’s University, while simultaneously balancing her duties as a full-time employee and a parent of young kids. In her MBA project, she focused on how to unleash innovation by tapping into the wisdom of stakeholders’ lived experiences and stories. This work was recognized at Suncor’s executive levels and informed the creation of a new transformation department. Gayathri most recently spearheaded digital strategy and innovation programs within this department, which has resulted in game-changing operational improvements for the Mining workforce.
In her personal life, Gayathri is a proud mom to two school-aged kids and an active volunteer in the community. She serves on the Board of Calgary Immigrant Women’s Association. An accomplished Toastmaster, she presents regularly at community and campus events. She has also led Suncor’s Diversity and Inclusion Initiative as Co-Chair, curating networking and educational opportunities for over 150 members. Gayathri is passionate about championing women in STEAM professions and building cross-cultural connections. Having lived in 3 countries by the age of 15, and traveling extensively to many others, she has developed a deeply personal sense of global citizenship and interconnectedness.
In essence, Gayathri Shulka doesn’t just speak about resilience – she is its genuine embodiment. Her unique blend of skills and story is sure to delight anyone seeking to make bold, positive change.