Theme: Ensemble

November 2nd, 2024 at Cours Bayview Yards
Welcome to TEDxMechanicsville! We're committed to amplifying diverse voices that drive innovation, foster dialogue, forge connections, and spark meaningful change.

Operated by dedicated volunteers, our organization is passionate about showcasing the extraordinary individuals and ideas shaping our world. Our mission is to provide a platform for visionaries, thought leaders, and doers to share their insights and inspire action.

Join us as we celebrate the beauty of our community, embrace diversity, and explore the power of collaboration. Together, let's ignite collective curiosity and drive positive change.

This is the start of something truly special, as we come together to explore three transformative streams: Just, Joyful, and Productive. With 170 seats available—144 at the standard price and 26 at an accessible rate—we are committed to making TEDxMechanicsville inclusive for all, reflecting our values of collaboration and opportunity.

Bayview Yards
7 Bayview Station Road
RBC Foundry
Ottawa, Ontario, K1Y 2 C5
Canada

Anne-Marie Parent

Health System Leader and Certified Coach

Anne-Marie Parent is a manager with the Canadian Institute for Health Information and a part-time professor at the Telfer School of Management, teaching health informatics and organizational behavior & change in healthcare. Twelve years ago, she chose to focus her career in the health system, seeing an opportunity to apply her expertise in change management, systems thinking, and large-scale collaboration. She is passionate about empowering groups to embrace collective leadership to navigate the uncertainties inherent in addressing complex issues. She has served as a board member with a Community Health Centre and volunteers as a facilitator with the Systems Innovation Health Hub. A lifelong learner, she holds certifications as a Certified Health Executive, Prosci Change Management, Black Belt in Lean Healthcare, and Flow Certified Coach. She recently completed training in Organizational and Relationship Systems Coaching, furthering her commitment to supporting transformational change.

Devon Havenaar

Carpenter

Devon has been immersed in the construction industry since he was 18, quickly rising through the ranks with a strong work ethic and passion for craftsmanship. By the age of 22, he earned his carpentry license, and by 25, he stepped into a leadership role, overseeing projects and guiding teams to success. Together with his wife Taylor, Devon flipped two homes early in their twenties and built their dream home from the ground up. Career highlights include representing Local 93 at the prestigious apprenticeship competition in 2018, working on landmark projects in Canada’s capital, and completing leadership training in Las Vegas. Despite these accomplishments, Devon’s greatest pride is in his family—his wife and three children, with a fourth on the way. An avid reader and hardcore music enthusiast, Devon is passionate about helping fellow construction workers unlock their potential through self-development, aiming to transform not only the workforce but the lives of those in it.

Jane Porter

Professional Facilitator

Jane Porter is a professional facilitator, speaker, entrepreneur, and co-founder of Bridge Building Group. She’s on a mission to transform the world one conversation at a time through a community of bridge builders. Jane has spent the last fifteen years helping leaders who often wouldn’t be in the same room together, to have hard (but good!) conversations and find a way forward. Facilitating these groups has led to breakthroughs on some of the most challenging issues of our time: from how we extract natural resources thoughtfully, to how we reduce plastics, to how Indigenous people can lead on climate action. Only through facing and having difficult conversations will we heal divides and accelerate action on issues that matter. Jane lives in Hintonburg with her husband Mike and their two young kids and German Shepherd dog. Learn more about her and her work at www.bridgebuilding.ca.

Jennifer David

Senior Consultant and Lead, Truth and Reconciliation, NVision Insight Group

Jennifer is infinitely curious (her small-town relatives might say nosy!), and a born storyteller. She is of mixed ancestry and belongs to Chapleau Cree First Nation, She moved to Ottawa in 1990 to study journalism at Carleton University, and has lived on Anishinaabe Algonquin territory ever since. She was the Director of Communications for the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network, then started a communications consulting company as a youth entrepreneur, then joined a company called NVision Insight Group, where she is currently a Senior Consultant and Lead of the Truth and Reconciliation service basket. Jennifer continues to amplify Indigenous voices and tell stories. In her professional life, she creates, facilitates, educates and presents on topics related to Truth & Reconciliation. In her personal life, she wrote a book about APTN, she co-hosted a podcast on Indigenous literature with Anishinaabe writer Waubgeshig Rice, and she is currently working on a book about her First Nation.

Jennifer Shulman

Partner, National Lead of Equity

Jennifer is a Partner and National Lead for Equity at Deloitte LLP. She has been working at the intersection of economics, finance, and social impact for over 20 years and has led multiple studies for corporate, government, and not-for-profit clients across a wide range of industries. She has deep experience in the specific are of social equity, human rights, social-based data, and the complexities of social measurement and reporting. Jennifer has an extensive skill set in helping clients with multiple, often competing, stakeholders with developing and implementing ESG strategy and business transformation, ESG measurement and impact analysis, as well as cost/benefit impact methodologies and strategies. This work brings together elements of economics, statistical modelling, cost accounting, and game theory/incentive alignment. Jennifer holds a BA in International Relations from McGill University and MA and PhD degrees in International Political Economy from the University of Michigan.

Jennifer Williams

Founder

For over 25 years, Jennifer has focussed on exploring how businesses can create a kind, just, and sustainable world. Her journey began in Northern Ghana working in micro-credit, then supporting women entrepreneurs in Ottawa. For over a decade, Jennifer has been a leading advocate and expert in employee ownership, working across a wide range of industries to expand its reach in Canada. A recognized authority in this field, she founded Firefly Insights in 2017 to foster a more equitable model of business, helping companies nationwide design and implement customized employee ownership solutions. Jennifer is a business mentor, speaker and trusted advisor to many businesses. Since 2013, Jennifer has co-owned Goodfood2u, an Ottawa-based organic and locally focussed home delivery business in Ottawa. Jennifer’s commitment to creating a more sustainable future is inspired by her 4 children and a deep reverence for our connection to nature and each other.

Kunal Parikh

Aging and Health Advocate

Kunal Parikh is a passionate advocate for social justice pertinent to aging, caregiving and disabilities, a digital health strategist, and a dedicated educator. Originally a practicing physician in India, he pivoted to health-tech to pursue the potential of technology to improve patient safety. He holds a postgraduate degree in Digital Health from Algonquin College; and a Master’s in Aging and Health from Queen’s University, where he earned the Award of Excellence. Kunal has worked at the intersection of healthcare, technology, and education, with a focus on addressing care inequities for older adults. Known for his people-first approach, Kunal excels at building collaborative relationships and leading with empathy, curiosity, and analytical insight. He’s a lifelong learner who inspires bold risks and innovation to disrupt the status quo. As a rising leader in gerontology, he collaborates with senior-serving organizations and age-tech businesses to sustainably enhance health outcomes.

Mariana Savka

Researcher, Youth Leadership Advocate

Mariana serves as the Director of Programming for the Canadian International Council - National Capital Branch. She holds a Master’s degree in Public and International Affairs from the University of Ottawa, where her research focused on strategic communication, specifically how social media and artificial intelligence impact its practical applications in conflict settings. Mariana loves to dive into the depths of various issues to uncover hidden gems of insight along the way. She is an emerging scholar of the Network for Strategic Analysis – an incubator of Canadian and global expertise on geostrategic events. In 2023, Mariana represented civil society at the inaugural NATO Youth Summit in Washington, D.C., engaging in critical dialogues on democracy, security, and technology. Mariana has been recognized as a 2024 Emerging Leader by the Peak magazine in the Social Impact Category for her work to educate and empower young Canadians to actively engage in their communities nationwide.

Maureen Cunningham

Facilitator and Coach

Maureen Cunningham adores her work as a facilitator and coach helping teams solve problems together. Her study of humans began at Queen’s University with her degree in Psychology and never stopped as she acquired certification after certification in the field of human systems, leadership and culture (and gotten an MBA along the way). Maureen thrives in the diversity of her projects. Her work has included major business transformations, organization-wide culture change, mergers, new organizational visions and strengthening teams from the leadership level to the front line in industries ranging from healthcare to nuclear physics to construction. She has worked with many government departments, amazing Ottawa not-for-profits and extraordinary small businesses. Maureen is a regular contributor to Forbes.com as a member of their Forbes Coaches Council for the past 8 years. Her greatest joys come from her husband and son who continue to teach her deep, beautiful lessons about life and love.

Myke Wilder

President, Les Consultations Linguistiques Myke Wilder

Myke Wilder has lived his life between two languages, French and English. During a 28-year career in corporate communications he distinguished himself in Employee Relations, SAP Change Management, and R&D Reporting. In 2013 he changed gears becames an ESL Teacher, specialized in Business English. He often coaches English mixed with Management, using his clients’ daily work as lesson material. His corporate experience, his years working with a hearing disability, and his lifetime of working in his second language himself, have given him insight into the challenges his ESL clients face in their day-to-day work. That insight has been the genesis for his TEDx Talk. These days, he is turning his attention to the future of English; how the language is evolving, how the mass of English Second Language Speakers is forcing it to change, and where the future will take it. When not working, Myke is an avid cyclist and storyteller.

Precious Kolawole

Dev Degree Intern at Shopify. Data Scientist. Computer Science Undergraduate at Carleton University.

Precious Kolawole is a Dev Degree Intern at Shopify, an Undergraduate Researcher, and a scholar with Generation Google, Palantir Women In Tech, and Cadence Diversity in Tech. She is skilled in Data Science, Machine Learning, Deep Learning, and Software Engineering. Her interest lies at the intersection of Artificial Intelligence and Healthcare, which initially led her to study Medical Rehabilitation at Obafemi Awolowo University, Nigeria. She later moved to Ottawa, Canada, to pursue a Bachelor of Computer Science Honors at Carleton University. Precious aims to impact communities. She actively speaks and volunteers for organizations like She Code Africa, Zindi Africa, Open Source Community Africa, Technovation, and Women Tech Network. She's earned accolades as the first runner-up for Mentor of the Year and Global Ambassador of the Year Awards. On her YouTube Channel, One Stop For Tech Newbies, she produces content aimed at helping young aspiring tech beginners from Africa and globally.

Sharon Nyangweso

CEO & Founder, QuakeLab

Sharon (She/Her) is the Founder and CEO of QuakeLab, a full-stack equity agency, Sharon Nyangweso specializes in a radical new approach to problem solving with an equity lens that is measurable, strategic, and based on a strong foundation of design thinking. An immigrant from Kenya who has lived and worked in Canada for more than ten years, she has worked across sectors with organizations in 11 countries. Sharon has been recognized as a Globe & Mail Report on Business Magazine 2022 Changemakers Award Recipient, 2022 Black Entrepreneur of the Year nominee and Ottawa Consulting Agency of the Year 2023.

Tania Carriere

Epiphany Designer

Founder of Advivum Inc., an executive coaching company, and Advivum Journeys, a global retreat company. She has been featured in Elle, Conde Nast Traveller, the Telegraph, and the Guardian for designing transformational travel experiences that renew vitality and direction for clients focused on change, life-long learning, and personal renewal. Her successful international career with forward-thinking organizations stems from her ability to engage individuals in highly creative learning scenarios that ignite their potential and spark meaningful dialogue. A seasoned traveller (77 countries and counting), she is continuously inspired by the world’s diversity, fueling the design of her immersive retreats that foster life-affirming curiosity about human potential, happiness, and fulfilment. Known as an Epiphany Designer for creating transformative moments, she captivates audiences with stories of self-discovery, helping them embrace life’s transitions with courage and creativity.