Change Management, Municipal Sector, Public Sector

Dr. Gedeon is considered one of North America’s leading experts in the psychology of leadership, corporate transformation, leadership transformation, culture-change, transformative strategy, leadership function, and workforce mobilization. Dr. Gedeon bases all his work in scientifically-validated psychological principles of human interaction in combination with proven and advanced business strategy and operations principles that have evidenced astonishing results in raising workplace output in multiple sectors. Dr. Gedeon delivers award-winning and highly sought-after, multi-level leadership training and workshops in the principles, practices, and designs of innovative business function, strategy, implementation, transformation and culture. He is a sought-after keynote speaker and internationally published author. Dr. Gedeon has been named in the National Top-Ten Organizational Development Providers by HR Canada magazine for 5 years running, has received 2 national Dora nominations, and was a recent recipient (2024) of the prestigious Prism 2.0 International Award in Thought Leadership for Leadership Practice.

Big Data and Analytics, Technology

Karthik Kuber has fifteen years of academic research as well as industrial experience in Machine Learning and Data Science. He is currently an Engineering Manager at Yelp, leading a team of Applied Scientists and ML Engineers. He received his PhD in Computer Science from Syracuse University focusing on Evolutionary Computation and Network Science. He is a university ambassador for NVIDIA's Deep Learning Institute, a senior member of the IEEE and the ACM, has co-organized three editions of the International Workshop on Evolutionary Rule-based ML, and is an advocate for DEI in STEM.

Kashan Awais is the founder of Naburva Business Solutions Inc., an Alberta-based consulting and professional training firm specializing in operational excellence, leadership development, and organizational capability building. With a strong focus on Lean Six Sigma training and process improvement, Kashan has established partnerships with respected regional and global institutions, including the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT), the Schulich School of Business at York University, the American Society for Quality (ASQ), the Council for Six Sigma Certification (CSSC), and the Asian Productivity Organization (Japan). Through these collaborations, he has designed and delivered high-impact training programs to professionals across a wide spectrum of industries, serving both private- and public-sector organizations. Beyond Lean Six Sigma, Kashan has developed and facilitated a portfolio of programs in leadership development, change management, and human resources, addressing practical challenges faced by modern organizations. His programs emphasize applied learning, measurable outcomes, and alignment with recognized professional standards. Kashan’s work has been recognized across Canada and internationally by multiple professional and standards-based organizations, reflecting his commitment to quality, relevance, and continuous improvement in adult and executive education.

Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Strategic Leadership

Kevin Tasa is an Associate Professor of Organizational Behaviour, Program Director of the Master of Management, and Area Coordinator of Organization Studies. He holds an MSc in Health Administration and a PhD in Organizational Behaviour, each from the University of Toronto. He also has received the MBA Teaching Excellence award at both McMaster and Schulich, and is a co-author of two widely used textbooks, Essentials of Negotiation and Canadian Organizational Behaviour. He currently serves on the editorial board of the Journal of Organizational Behavior. Kevin has published his research in journals such as Academy of Management Journal, Journal of Applied Psychology, Journal of Organizational Behavior and Journal of Experimental Social Psychology. Currently, his research focuses on negotiation and team dynamics; in particular, the assessment of negotiation-specific knowledge, the manner in which negotiation knowledge is acquired, and the within-group dynamics of negotiation teams.

General Management

Klaudia Watts is a sustainability and corporate responsibility practitioner and has been recognized as one of Canada's Top-30 Sustainability Leaders by Corporate Knights. Her previous roles in the field include PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), Rogers Communications and Foundation for Environmental Stewardship. She has completed her MBA at the Schulich School of Business and lectures at the school in the area of sustainability, CSR and ethics and in 2016 was awarded the Teaching Excellence Award.

Kristen Peterson is a master facilitator, trainer, and organizational development consultant specializing in the people skills that fuel innovation and drive organizational growth. Known for her passion, energy, and infectious can-do spirit, she brings 20+ years of hands-on experience working with clients around the globe in her role as an Innovation Catalyst.

Kristen serves as Adjunct Faculty in the Master of Science program in Creativity and Change Leadership at the State University of New York College at Buffalo, where she also earned her MSc. She is a former Director of the Creative Problem Solving Institute and a founder of Mindcamp Canada.

Always curious and eager to stretch her mind, Kristen even completed the Improvisation Program at The Second City in Toronto—proving that creativity, play, and professional growth go hand in hand.

Kristina has over 20 years working in business transformation. She is known for being able to take any strategic idea and turn it into operational reality through a mix of careful design and planning. An expert in navigating the tricky human dynamics that get in the way of delivering results. Working with senior leadership teams at the intersection of strategic value-creation, transformation delivery, and culture. Experienced in demanding environments that are experiencing the complexities of scaling, integration, and growth.

General Management, Innovation and Entrepreneurship

Lee-Anne McAlear is an award-winning facilitator, speaker, writer and consultant. She is a program director and sought-after lecturer at the Schulich ExecEd, Schulich School of Business at York University, and a featured speaker with the National Speakers Bureau, speaking at conferences in the area of innovation, leadership, employee engagement and team effectiveness. Lee-Anne has worked extensively in the leadership and innovation pace in more than 31 countries in both the public (federal, provincial and municipal levels) and private sectors. She has piloted several global innovation initiatives that have, for example, delivered new approaches to brand revitalization, new methods for delivering patient care and new ways to address customer growth and retention. For more than 25 years, Lee-Anne has worked across industries and sectors including, but not limited to, pharmaceutical, health care, telecommunication, transportation, professional services and consumer packaged goods. She is a highly sought after speaker having delivered around the world with speakers as varied as best-selling author and creativity guru, Edward de Bono, Prime Minister Kim Campbell and activist and actor Alan Alda. Lee-Anne has many certifications including Emotional Intelligence, Team Management Systems and Situational Leadership and is a Certified Innovation Professional. She sits on the board of the Canadian Chapter of IAOIP (International Association of Innovation Professionals) – the only association offering globally recognized innovation certifications.

Leen is the ex-CFO at Wealthsimple and ex-CEO at Wealthsimple Foundation, a grassroots charitable organization focused on breaking down the barriers to post-secondary education across Canada. She has over 20 years of experience in the technology and financial services industry, where she held a number of senior positions, including Chief Financial Officer at Wealthsimple and Vice President of Finance and Operations at Influitive. Leen transitioned to her current role in the not-for-profit sector due to a deep personal drive and dedication to the goal of improving financial futures for folks from underrepresented communities. She brings a positive can-do attitude to everything she does and contributes a significant portion of her time, energy, and dollars to improve the lives of others. Leen is actively involved in the community and lends her time and energy to a number of technology and education initiatives while simultaneously acting as an advocate for women and people of colour. She sits on the board of CanadaHelps and George Brown College Foundation. Leen was voted one of the Top 25 Canadian Immigrant Awards in 2022, one of DMZ's Women of the Year in 2021, and one of Canada’s 50 Best Executives by the Globe and Mail in 2020. Born and raised in China, Leen is the youngest of five girls. She came to Canada as an international student over 20 years ago, where she earned her Master of Business Administration from Saint Mary’s University in Halifax.

General Management

Coaching and Collaboration

Linda Irvine has more than 30 years of leadership and education experience having occupied strategic management, education and executive health portfolios while working with a variety of organizations, governments, hospitals and universities.

Lisa Hsia is a media executive and board member who has been at the forefront of television, film, and digital media for the past 40 years. In her most recent role as Executive Vice President of Audience Acquisition and Growth at NBCUniversal Entertainment, Lisa oversaw the monetization and growth of audiences on digital platforms for NBCU’s broadcast and cable networks, including NBC, USA, Bravo, E!, Oxygen, SYFY, and Universal Kids. Previously, Lisa served as Vice President of NBC News, where she had executive oversight of the "Today" show, "Dateline," and the long-form programming unit, Peacock Productions. During her early career in broadcast news, she worked as a producer and senior producer for Diane Sawyer and Katie Couric. Lisa has also produced documentaries, including Made in China and The Emperor’s Eye: Art and Power in Imperial China, as well as two independent feature films for Orion Classics. She holds a BA from Harvard University and an MBA from Columbia Business School. Currently, Lisa serves on the Board of Directors for Blue Ant Media and the Producer’s Guild East.

Leadership

Livia Grujich, founder of Prescribing Happiness, specializes in helping corporations and health centers create and maintain a happy, engaged workforce. With over 20 years of experience in marketing and education—and drawing on her own journey of balancing career and family—Livia is passionate about guiding individuals through life transitions. She shares her insights in her upcoming book, Stop Searching for Next. A Toastmasters International Speech Contest winner, Livia also gives back to the next generation through Confident Young Voices, a program she developed to empower youth with public speaking and leadership skills.

Majid Majzoubi is an Assistant Professor of Strategic Management at Schulich School of Business, where he brings a unique blend of computer science expertise and strategic insight to his award-winning teaching and cutting-edge research. His pioneering research leverages advanced machine learning and natural language processing techniques to unlock strategic insights from big data, focusing on how companies can optimize their market positioning and stakeholder communications. Majid’s works, published in leading journals like Strategic Management Journal and Organization Science, helps executives understand how their strategic choices influence market evaluations and analyst perceptions.

Marie-Hélène Budworth researches and teaches in the areas of individual development and learning. She holds a PhD is in Organizational Behaviour and Human Resource Management, a Master’s in Counselling Psychology, and a Bachelor of Science in Biology and Psychology. Her early work in psychology and natural science guides her work and her approach to research. Her current research program is focussed on development and interpersonal interactions within the context of work. She is interested in how people learn, acquire knowledge, make choices, and negotiate with one another in order to succeed. She believes that learning and development are socially constructed and, therefore, looks at the individuals and networks that surround people as a way of understanding conditions for success. She also examines the value of psychologically based interventions for enhancing and promoting development within systematically disadvantaged populations. She is particularly interested in how people succeed when faced with systemic barriers such as discrimination and bias. She is currently serving an Associate Editor at the Canadian Journal of Administrative Sciences and sits on the editorial boards of Organizational Dynamics, Human Resources Management Review, Human Resource Development Quarterly.