Speakers' Spotlight
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As the impacts of climate change continue to develop across the planet, it is increasingly important to listen to the people who are being most affected by its negative fallout. In an essay for Granta magazine, and an interview with The Globe and Mail, environmental and human rights advocate Sheila Watt-Cloutier makes a clear and powerful argument for the Arctic as one of the frontlines in the struggle against climate change. The future of the Arctic and the people who have lived there for generations, she writes, is closely tied with the future of life on our planet as we know it. Read excerpts from these discussions with Watt-Cloutier on the blog: http://speak.rs/3jw9l0O

In a new essay for Sportsnet, Dr. Hadiya Roderique examines and explains her relationship with competitive sports particularly her experience as an elite level Ultimate Frisbee player. The multi-faceted and emotionally open piece outlines Hadiya’s desire to be free of preconceptions of race and gender, seeking a space where merit and accomplishments could stand on their own without bias, after encountering prejudice and frustration in so many other aspects of her life. Read her powerful piece on the blog: http://speak.rs/3trqIEH

Joining us for a special joint #VirtualSpeakerSeries session on grappling with mental health issues, Olympian Clara Hughes and mental health advocate Mark Henick shared their experiences and offered advice to the audience on how to start on a path to healing. With passion, honesty, and emotional openness, the two took turns explaining their personal struggles and offering advice on coping, healing, and offering support to others. Our blog has clips, a summary and some great ...questions from the event: https://speak.rs/2Mh9Mjn #MentalHealth #BellLetsTalk #HealthAndWellness

Adaptability and innovation continue to be some of the most important qualities a successful organization can have. On the blog today, we're sharing insights from innovation strategist Lital Marom's recent Forbes article, "Four Future-Thinking Ways to Foster Innovation", and an interview with her, which highlights the importance of digital transformation: http://speak.rs/3rcuOPh

Many people who have been fortunate to switch to working from home have faced challenges along the way. As offices remain closed, entrepreneur Swish Goswami outlines how his company Trufan has adapted to working from home and highlights some of the unexpected benefits they've noticed along the way: https://speak.rs/2YerQgD What are some of the successes you've had in a WFH world?

When people think about voting it's often in the context of a big election -- but bestselling author and business expert Dr. John Izzo argues that we have opportunities each day to vote for the things we care about. Drawing parallels to his book, Stepping Up, Izzo demonstrates how people can engage in impactful ways in their business and personal decisions to "step up" for the things that matter most. Read more on our blog: https://www.speakers.ca//dr-john-izzo-on-the-power-of-eve/

See our full letter here: https://www.speakers.ca//2020/11/Statement-November-10-202

New YouTube Series Alert! Chris Hadfield meets with leaders and guests to discuss how we can all contribute to making life on our planet a little better. Special guests for the limited series include: Dr. Jane Goodall, actor Forest Whitaker, director James Cameron, CEO Boyan Slat, and musician (and fellow speaker) Serena Ryder! Check out Elevate Endeavour on YouTube, or see a preview on our blog: http://speak.rs/38oHZWT

It may be hard to believe, but the holiday season is right around the corner! We know this year has been more stressful than most, so we've put together a selection of great talent to make planning your holiday or year-end event a breeze. From hosts that will dazzle, to virtual cooking demos, entertainment and more, we'd love to help you create a memorable event for your team. Check out some of our ideas on the blog: https://speak.rs/3eq41JK

Since we'll all be spending plenty of time indoors this winter, why not take your sweet-treats to the next level with Canada's baking sweetheart, Anna Olson! Speaking with The Globe and Mail, Anna discussed her latest cookbook, Baking Day with Anna Olson, her YouTube channel, Oh Yum, and the increased interest in at-home baking since the onset of the pandemic. Check it out on the blog: https://speak.rs/3jNSqFt

It's been more than six months (!) since the start of the pandemic and a lot has changed in the world of speakers and events, so we thought it would be a good time to share a bit of what we learned along the way. Read our top tips and let us know what's been working (or not working) for you: https://speak.rs/2S6xHkX

At our most recent #VirtualSpeakerSeries, Disruption Strategist Shawn Kanungo dove into some of the challenges, changes, and opportunities many of us have faced with over the last few months. Watch as he discusses innovation, efficiency, and how we can shift our mindsets in a unique hybrid virtual-in-person event: https://speak.rs/2RTJuTJ

There seems to be no shortage of bad news in the world right now, including examples of inequality, social injustice, climate catastrophes, and of course, the COVID-19 pandemic. But bestselling author Thomas Homer-Dixon wants to help. In his latest book, Commanding Hope: The Power We Have To Renew A World In Peril, Homer-Dixon offers historical, scientific, and research based insights to combat the negativity of it all. Read a short excerpt from the book on our blog: https://speak.rs/3kxly4O

Innovation and tech expert Amber Mac is at it again with a brand new podcast! The AmberMac Show takes a deep dive on timely technology topics (and beyond!) with discussion between Amber and a diverse range of guests. For this week's premier episode, Amber and her guests discussed "Education in the Age of COVID-19." -- check it out: https://speak.rs/33AHBRm

Legendary Two-Time Pulitzer Prize-Winning Journalist Bob Woodward just released another Bestseller! Drawing from hundreds of hours of interviews, Woodward's latest book, Rage, details key decision-making moments in the Trump presidency, including his response to the COVID-19 pandemic and ensuing global economic downfall. Read more about the book on our blog: https://speak.rs/3mqrnmh

Work has been anything but predictable over the last few months, which is why we were thrilled to host Future of Work Expert Eric Termuende at our latest #VirtualSpeakerSeries. Among many examples, Eric focused on what he calls One-Degree Shift Framework, which can help teams and organizations to be more agile and tackle change more effectively. Read a full summary, watch a clip of Eric's presentation, and share with someone who might be interested: https://speak.rs/2Fsr49K

We may not be traveling as much as we did prior to the COVID pandemic, but we can still get lost in a good adventure with the help of Bruce Kirkby's latest book, Blue Sky Kingdom. He recounts the incredible adventure with his family as they made their way (by boat, train, and foot) to the Himalayas in search of ways to slow down, observe, listen, and connect more with each other. We chatted with Bruce about his book and how he's managing to adapt in the new normal: https://speak.rs/35ln8Ch

With a recent piece for Forbes, transformation and future of work expert Lital Marom outlined a concise set of steps organizations can take to be ready for transformationparticularly the move to digital that so many have had to hurriedly make since March. https://speak.rs/32Qcu3I

The world has been especially turbulent these last few months, and many of us could use some help dealing with stress, anxiety and being more adaptable. At our latest #VirtualSpeakerSeries, Harvard-Trained Physician and Bestselling Author Dr. Shimi Kang shared some practical techniques to improve our mental health and become more resilient. Read a full summary, watch a clip of Dr. Kang's presentation, and share with someone who might benefit: https://speak.rs/2Erb084

We get to work with SO many amazing women who are enacting real change in the world, and Barb Stegemann, CEO and Founder of The 7 Virtues, is no exception! Recently, the business and leadership magazine Real Leaders included Barb on their list of Top 40 Women Keynote Speakers of 2020, among the ranks of other impressive leaders in their fields: https://speak.rs/3gzRKSy

In a new documentary short called Into the Planet, legendary award-winning diver Jill Heinerth shares talks about what drew her to diving in the first place, what drives her to keep doing it, and what new projects she’s working on alongside her colleagues. https://speak.rs/34tmYIT #diving #exploration #environment #aitechnology #eventprofs

While remote work may be starting to feel surprisingly normal, many small elements of in-person work are still missing, and it's important to keep that in mind. We need to make conscious efforts to foster personal connections and develop trust among a remote team. Future of work expert Eric Termuende offers tips to help with the challenges many are facing while we try to develop personal bonds over virtual communication: https://speak.rs/323lEJN

In order to change, it's important to first understand. At our latest #VirtualSpeakerSeries event, we spoke with the Founder and CEO of Black Professionals in Tech Network Lekan Olawoye, who discussed the importance of understanding the Black experience, the positive business impacts of hiring and championing Black talent, and how organizations can work toward allyship with the Black community. Read a summary of the event, watch a clip of Lekan's presentation, and share with your network: https://speak.rs/3gVPHtc

Looking at the numbers, it's evident that the US is struggling in the battle against COVID-19 and subsequent crises. Anthropologist and author Wade Davis outlines America's influential shifts and long-term implications in his far-reaching essay for Rolling Stone: https://speak.rs/2DSJTSH

As organizations work to implement more inclusive hiring strategies, it's important to ensure that new employees are set up for success. Drawing on his own experience as a "designated hire" at Dalhousie University, Dr. Ivan Joseph outlines steps that organizations can take to ensure new employees can thrive: https://speak.rs/3a6kPn2

They're back! Watch as Chris Hadfield discusses the re-entry of SpaceX capsule Dragon, and what he believes is next in space exploration. "We are looking to take advantage of all the things we've invented to now not just visit the Moon, but to actually make it part of the Earth-Moon system." Check it out on the blog: https://speak.rs/3a6ysmq

Good news alert! Lekan Olawoye, Founder and CEO of Black Professionals in Tech Network, is partnering with several well-known Canadian companies to help work toward substantial change in the workplace. "We are very wary of companies who just come and say, 'We just want to do an event with you'...These are the companies who are doing the work with the Black tech ecosystem." Read more: https://speak.rs/3kfrUXa

As many people are slowly returning to in-person work as some pandemic restrictions are relaxed, many more are going to be working from home for the foreseeable future. As we all navigate this radical shift in workplace culture, it’s important to ensure that our virtual presence in presentations, meetings, and client calls is the best it can be. Joining us for our latest Virtual Speaker Series session, body language expert and bestselling author Mark Bowden spoke on a wide range of tips, strategies, and ideas that will make remote work feel more comfortable while also helping us to communicate effectively. https://speak.rs/39HEARG

With so much going on in the present, it can be difficult to think about the future. Leadership and change expert Jill Birch shares five behaviours good leaders should focus on to transition from being an emergency leader to an emergence leader: https://speak.rs/2P9eIVA

With discussions about fostering equality and combatting racism happening in practically every industry, this is a good moment to reflect on our news and media culture. Canadian news media icon Marci Ien recently spoke to Ryerson University about how the landscape has changed over the years, and where it can improve: https://speak.rs/2CKfF3Y "It is one thing to have diversity in your talent pool and another to have it in the halls of power."

The world has changed. So have we. In-person events have come to a halt for now, but the need to connect, learn and grow has never been greater. That's why we've continued to adapt and move forward using new tools to create high-calibre experiences, virtually. Contact us to see what's possible for your next event.

It's no surprise that some people are experiencing heightened anxiety with cities across the country entering new phases of "opening up". To help navigate how to handle these situations, Global News host Jennifer Valentyne spoke with psychotherapist Kelly Bos about some tips for adjusting: https://speak.rs/39eryLo