What to Expect From CB’s Inaugural How I Made It Talk Series

Learn how some of Canada’s best and brightest found entrepreneurial success

Powered by the pages of Canadian Business’s fall 2022 issue, the How I Made It talk series on October 12 will feature a lineup of exceptional speakers sharing their journey to success and thoughts on the future of entrepreneurship in Canada. Together with our Signature Partner Amazon Canada, as well as Microsoft Canada, Elle Cuisine, Oliver & Bonacini and the Business Development Bank of Canada, CB’s How I Made It talk series will position Canada’s entrepreneurial landscape front and centre—addressing hot topics such as the future of e-commerce, brand development, product innovation, sustainability and culture in a dynamic environment.

Guests can look forward to a full-day of programming at Microsoft Canada’s downtown Toronto headquarters. Think live Q&As, engaging breakout sessions, a networking mixer and lunch overlooking one of the best views in the city. 

Here’s a closer look at our talented cohort:

Karen Danudjaja, co-founder & CEO, Blume
Danudjaja is a prized entrepreneur who saw a gap in the market and filled it with Blume—a superfood-latte brand providing versatile, organically-formulated beverages to people at every stage of their wellness journey. Her fireside chat will set the tone for the event and break down how to build the right team for your business. 

Sinead Bovell, model, futurist & AI and future of work expert
Sharing her evolution from model to futurist, Bovell’s keynote fireside chat will cover her steps to success and what she sees for the future of fashion in Canada. She’ll share touchstones from her experience founding WAYE—an organization that helps prepare the next generation of business leaders for a world radically transformed by technology. 

Chris Barry, president, Microsoft Canada
As the president of Microsoft Canada, Barry is responsible for leading a world-class team. He’ll be taking the stage to break down the five business trends to watch, and will speak to his passion for driving meaningful and lasting relationships, building diverse and inclusive teams and driving positive organizational outcomes.

Jenn Harper, founder, Cheekbone Beauty
Harper understands innovation. She’s been making a name for herself in the beauty industry for several years but gained popularity quickly after being on the hit CBC show, Dragons’ Den. The founder of Cheekbone Beauty will be discussing how to leverage values as product innovation during her talk and Q&A. 

Saad Siddiqui, founder & CEO, Bonsai 
While he was a student at the University of Toronto, Siddiqui founded Toronto-based commerce enablement platform Bonsai in 2016 and has since led the company to raised more than $21M. He’ll be speaking about product development and the rules of iteration with an emphasis on how to ensure resilience for your startup during challenging times.

Derrick Fung, founder & CEO, Drop
Fung learned a lot about starting a business when we launched Drop—the rewards app that currently boasts over five million members and is ranked top three in the app store in both Canada and the U.S. This Forbes Top 30 Under 30 recipient will bring his best five tips to get your business off the ground. 

Robin Goodfellow, owner of VELA, founder of Little Bones Beverage Company
Goodfellow has designed bars in Toronto in addition to his own venues including Paradise Theatre, Osteria Rialto, the Biltmore and Sara. He’ll be sharing his experience and expertise in the rebuilding process.

Photography courtesy of Matt Watkins

Michael Katchen, founder & CEO, Wealthsimple
As the prized founder of fintech firm Wealthsimple, Katchen has been called an “industry mover” by the Financial Post, a “change agent” by CB, and one of Toronto’s 50 most influential people by Toronto Life. Katchen will be our guest speaker at the event’s closing night dinner with a discussion about how to scale your business in Canada. 

Tamir Bar Haim, managing director & head of global expansion, Amazon Ads 

Haim is responsible for leading Amazon Ads across 25 countries—focusing on adding value to customer experiences and helping brands build meaningful connections with customers across Amazon and the broader web. He’ll be sharing his thoughts on how to build a business within a business and drive innovation throughout your organization. 

Elke Rubach LLB LLM CFP CLU FEA, president, Rubach Wealth

Before launching Rubach Wealth, Rubach spent her career advising clients on wealth management and investing in ways that align with their values—building on her vision that all clients, especially women, need to be financially independent. She’ll be addressing the intersections of life and business on the How I Made It stage, and share how some of life’s milestones drive entrepreneurial innovation.

Tickets for the How I Made It talk series are available now.
Get yours today!

CB Staff
CB Staff