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An Evening of Reconnection and Reinvention with the Women of Influence Community - Live in Toronto


Over the last two and a half years, organizations of all sizes have felt the impact of a global disruption to the talent economy: traditional models of operation have been dismantled, workforces dispersed remotely, and a mass exodus from the corporate world has been trending across the country. Established approaches to hiring and retention have quickly become outdated, and as we exit out of the COVID era, business owners and hiring executives alike are facing a workforce that has drastically evolved its needs and expectations.

So how do we work through the disruption and establish better models that not only attract a new generation of high potential leaders but also support the evolving needs of businesses? What does it take to re-engage current employees and increase retention of top talent? On Wednesday, September 21st we'll tackle these tough questions one-on-one with our notable panel, who will break down everything we need to know about "The Future of Talent".

Whether you’re a business owner or hiring executive, this is an invaluable opportunity to tap into trending insights and get an insider edge on evolving workplace practices. And if you’re a recent grad or keen to advance into your next position, this is the room to make career-defining connections and gain an understanding of what organizations are looking for.


What To Expect & Who’s In The Room

On Wednesday, September 21, 2022, Women of Influence and Smith School of Business, Queen’s University, are coming together to host an intimate edition of the Spotlight Series, live in Toronto, on the exclusive 40th floor of the Royal Bank Plaza. We couldn't be more excited to welcome you back into the room for our first in-person event since 2020!

During the private Cocktail Reception, you’ll have the opportunity to reintroduce yourself to peer executives, top entrepreneurs, notable recruiters, and industry leaders, as well as connect with recent graduates and high potential talent. Followed by that, guests will have access to our award-winning panel of industry thought leaders who will pull back the curtain and provide a 360° view into what the future of talent looks like from all angles and actionable insights to leverage moving forward.


Meet the Award-Winning Panel of Industry Experts

CTV News Anchor Marcia MacMillan returns to the Women of Influence Spotlight Stage for an insider discussion around the future of the talent economy. Joining her on the panel will be three industry experts from varying backgrounds who will each lend a fresh perspective to the challenging topic at hand.

  • Meet Dr. Wanda Costen
    As Dean of Smith School of Business, Dr. Wanda Costen brings a unique combination of experience in academia as well as private and public sector management. Dr. Costen’s passionate belief that businesses can drive positive social impact has made her a catalyst for partnerships between academia, business and public organizations on diversity initiatives and training programs throughout her career. With research interest in strategic human resources, women in leadership, and racial and gender inequality in organizations, Dr. Costen is working to ensure that business research and teaching at Smith are training emerging leaders to thrive within the changing aspects of society.

  • Meet Michelle Dobranowski
    As a Senior HR Business Partner at RBC Capital Markets, Michelle is at the forefront of leading one of Canada’s most prominent financial institutions through the disruption of the last two years. Her frontline perspective offers a rare glimpse into how a corporate enterprise is navigating the landscape of remote work and shaping plans to reinvent future practices.

  • Meet Jamie Savage
    Jamie Savage is the Founder of The Leadership Agency, the recruitment partner of choice for North America and the UK’s fastest-growing startups. Coming from the corporate world, Jamie launched her firm in 2017 and has continued to grow it ever since; expanding into several markets and earning multiple awards. A disruptor in the HR and recruitment space, Jamie contributes her expertise to The Globe and Mail, CBC, Inc., and HRD Magazine, and is part of the Forbes HR Council. Jamie is also an angel investor and board member with: Startup Canada, The Big Push, and Sleeping Giant Brewery.

Ticketing Details

The first block of In-Person Event Tickets is now available to the Women of Influence Community and your guests (with reserved seating) until August 31, 2022. Due to high demand for the return of our live event series, we encourage you to reserve your tickets in the next two weeks.

Tickets

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Details

Date:
September 21, 2022
Time:
6:30 pm - 8:30 pm
Cost:
$74.99

Venue

Royal Bank Plaza, 40th Floor
200 Bay Street, Toronto, ON M5J 2J5 Canada
Phone:
(416) 974-3940

Agenda

6:30 – 7:00 pm - Cocktail Reception

7:00 – 8:00 pm - Panel Discussion + Live Audience Q&A

8:00 – 8:30 pm - WOI Community Connecting

Our Panelists
Meet Dr. Wanda Costen
Meet Dr. Wanda Costen

Dr. Wanda Costen began her term as Dean of Smith School of Business in July 2021. An academic leader who champions inclusive excellence, she brings a unique combination of experience in academia — as a Dean, senior administrator, researcher, and professor — as well as a private and public sector management career. Dr. Costen’s research interests include managing diversity, racial and gender inequality in organizations, women and leadership, and strategic human resources. Known for being a champion of inclusiveness in business, she is focused on creating an environment where everyone feels welcome and can be their authentic selves.

Meet Michelle Dobranowski
Meet Michelle Dobranowski

Michelle Dobranowski is a Senior Human Resources Business Partner with RBC Capital Markets Canada and is a trusted advisor to four Capital Markets Operating Committee members and their respective senior leadership teams. Michelle provides direct guidance on all aspects of Human Resources including talent and leadership development, performance enablement, change management, employee engagement and diversity and inclusion. Michelle joined RBC in 2015 as a Senior Employee Relations Advisor and throughout her time at RBC has worked with senior leaders and executives to develop strategic and collaborative solutions to complex matters. Michelle holds an LL.B. and has 15+ years of experience providing strategic legal, HR and employment-related advice to executives and leaders.

Meet Jamie Savage
Meet Jamie Savage

Jamie Savage is the Founder of The Leadership Agency, the recruitment partner of choice for North America and the UK's fastest-growing startups. The Leadership Agency gets to help build the most impressive companies of our generation. Some clients include: SkipTheDishes, Endy, StackAdapt, TouchBistro, PagerDuty, Ritual, Justworks. Coming from the corporate world, Jamie launched her firm in 2017 and has continued to grow it ever since; expanding into the US in just 18 months, and the UK in 2021. She has earned multiple awards, such as Best Service Provider for HRD Canada in 2019, Best Professional Services in 2019 and Small Business of the Year in 2020 at the CanadianSME Business Awards, became Great Place to Work Certified and made it on the list of Best Workplaces for Giving Back and Professional Services in 2022. A disruptor in the HR and recruitment space, Jamie contributes her expertise to The Globe and Mail, CBC, Inc., and HRD Magazine, and is part of the Forbes HR Council. She was the Emcee and spokesperson for North America’s largest HR Tech Conference 2019, with over 3000 attendees. Jamie is also an angel investor and board member with: Startup Canada, The Big Push, and Sleeping Giant Brewery.

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IN PARTNERSHIP WITH
Our Presenting Sponsor

Business happens beyond boardrooms, markets, and borders. Cultural shifts, geopolitical changes, technology innovations — it all impacts business. At Smith, we anticipate the rapidly changing business landscape and prepare you for it. For more information, please visit Smith School of Business or follow Smith School of Business on social on LinkedInTwitterInstagram or Facebook.

get to know SPOTLIGHT

About the Series

Our Women of Influence Spotlight Series is designed to motivate and inspire the next generation of emerging leaders and provide a platform for them to meet their peers and role models who have had early success and high-profile careers. Keynote speakers share tactical advice on negotiation, leadership, entrepreneurship, communication and personal branding and a structured “Connecting Activity” enables our guests to make career-defining connections. 

WOI CONNECT

You never know where your next connection might take you! Our WOI Connect membership offers event discounts and plenty of additional perks.