Andy Chiu is an engineering leader with 25 years of experience spanning multiple companies in Canada, California, and Asia, including a 16-year run at Google where he took various leadership roles in Ads, Search Quality, and Education.  Andy joined Instacart in 2023 as VP of Engineering for Ads, overseeing the company's blooming ads business with a focus on technical innovations to transform how ads are bought, sold, measured, and experienced in retail media.  As a team leader Andy is a relentless champion for Diversity, Equity, and Belonging, and is a strong believer that people are the most important asset of any organization.

Outside of work, Andy has a long list of pursuits and passions, although these days they mostly come down to everything related to food, drinks, and travel.  As a long-time Torontonian, Andy is also a die-hard fan of the Toronto Raptors, and firmly believes 2019 is without any doubt THE most glorious year in human history.

With decades of first-hand experience, Stéphane Grenier is a pioneer in addressing mental health in the workplace. After a remarkable 30-year military career, with service in Lebanon, Haiti, Kuwait, Rwanda, Cambodia, and Kandahar, Afghanistan, he founded Mental Health Innovations (MHI), a consultancy dedicated to provoking game-changing action to address mental health at work. He has since worked with organizations across all sectors to transform their corporate culture to ensure a healthier and more productive workplace.

Grenier doesn’t just talk the talk; he walks the walk. As the CEO of MHI, he exclusively employs individuals who have grappled with mental health issues. This, combined with his own mental health struggles that brought him perilously close to the brink of suicide, has imbued him with a profound understanding of this prevalent issue in our society. His insights are deeply personal and profoundly transformative.

Throughout his extensive career, Grenier has worked closely with a variety of organizations across industries to equip them with innovative, "outside-the-box" solutions that challenge the status quo. He is also the architect of national guidelines for peer support, which have set new standards for compassionate care and support. As testaments to his extraordinary contributions to the mental health landscape, Grenier has been honoured with the Order of Canada and bestowed with two honorary Doctor of Laws degrees.

Grenier’s work transcends the clinical realm. He advocates for a culture of compassion and support, enriching the lives of individuals from all walks of life. His memoir, After the War: Surviving PTSD and Changing Mental Health Culture, narrates his riveting journey from the Rwandan genocide to reshaping workplace culture to prioritize mental health, with a special emphasis on rehumanizing the recovery process. 

With a career spanning over a decade in Toronto, Dean Hayward stands at the forefront of retail media as the Sr. Manager for Instacart’s Brand Partnerships team in Canada. Since beginning his professional journey in 2009, Dean has built a reputation for creating strong, collaborative partnerships and driving innovation within the Canadian market.

Dean played a pivotal role in founding the Brand Partnerships team in November 2021. Before this, he made significant contributions at Amazon Advertising, spending 5 years building the grocery advertising vertical in Canada.

A graduate of Toronto Metropolitan University, Dean's approach to leadership is defined by his curiosity, passion for team-building, and dedication to developing businesses. Outside of work, Dean is an avid outdoorsman who enjoys exploring Georgian Bay's wilderness with Tierney, his wife of 10 years.

Jake Karls is a different type of business leader – unapologetically authentic, refreshingly relatable, and completely free of bullshit.

He is the Co-founder and Chief Rainmaker of Mid-Day Squares, the good-for-you chocolate brand that turned a kitchen-table dream into a global household name. Mid-Day Squares is leading the disruption of an extremely competitive vertical with a winning team, innovative marketing strategy, and fearless spirit.

The secret ingredient fuelling the brand’s stratospheric growth? Genuine human connection. Jake’s role is to build the brand’s network and visibility. To hear him speak is to understand how he does it. By prioritizing relationships, harnessing the power of storytelling, and being himself, Jake has cultivated the loyalties of investors, buyers, journalists, influencers, his own team, and of course, the chocolate-loving community. Even Kim Kardashian is a fan.

He and his business partners, who happen to be his sister and brother-in-law, are strong proponents of a healthy corporate culture and emotional well-being, and even get together for regular business therapy sessions. Empathy and open communication are engrained in the culture at Mid-Day Squares, promoting long-term success and sustainability.

Jake is recognized as a rising star in the business world. He was a finalist in EY’s Entrepreneur of the Year awards, was named to Forbes’ 30 Under 30 list for 2023 (Food and Beverage category), and is featured as a regular contributor to media outlets across North America.

Keynotes by Jake Karls offer valuable, practical insights and his unique and unfiltered takes on some universally relevant themes. Your audience will come away hyped, energized, and ready to take on the world. 

Sean is a proven business executive with 15+ years of experience building partnerships that drive mutual growth across the CPG, Retail and Technology industries. As General Manager, Canada at Numerator, Sean leads the development of Numerator’s consumer panel and technology in Canada. Under his leadership, Numerator has built the largest and most representative shopper data source in Canada, becoming trusted partners with more than 40 leading consumer goods and retail companies in just 2 years.

Before Numerator, Sean was the Chief Business Officer for Flipp, a North American retail technology company that connects retailers and brands to millions of active shoppers through the next generation mobile marketplace. Sean has also held Senior Executive and Management positions in several multinational manufacturing companies including; MARS Canada, GlaxoSmithKline (now Hayleon), and Procter & Gamble. Outside of the business, Sean spends his time either traveling, kayaking or, more and more often it seems, supporting his two daughters in their schooling or sports. 

Leslie Preston has over fifteen years’ experience as an economist, and has been with TD Economics since 2011. In her current role as a Managing Director and Senior Economist, she leads a team of economists to provide economic analysis and forecasts to TD clients and stakeholders. The team delivers on a wide scope of research, covering the U.S., Canadian, and global economies. She regularly speaks about the economic outlook to various internal and external audiences, and provides economic commentary to the media.

Leslie holds a Masters of Arts degree in economics from the University of Toronto and a bachelor’s degree in economics from Queen’s University. 

Penny Zenker is a sought-after fun, interactive and engaging motivational speaker, strategic business coach, and best-selling author. As a master NLP practitioner and Neuro-strategist, she integrated elements of thought, communication, and behavior to provide strategies for boosting productivity and maximizing results for business leaders and entrepreneurs.

Penny’s Expertise is derived from building and later selling a multi-million dollar technology business, managing strategic projects at one of the world’s largest Market Research firms, and later working to double business growth for companies around the world as a Tony Robbins business coach.

Penny’s proven and practical tools and techniques help people to get results quickly.