Theme: SPARK (Stimulate, Provoke, Amaze, Resonate, Kindle)

Our theme is all about igniting ideas that stimulate your curiosity, provoke thought-provoking discussions, amaze with extraordinary stories and innovations, resonate on a personal level, and kindle the flames of inspiration. Join us for a year of electrifying talks that will set your mind on fire and inspire you to make a positive change in the world.

UTSC
1265 Military Trail
Toronto, ON, Ontario, M1C 1A4
Canada

Ahmed Inshal Abbas

Student at the U of T Scarborough and founder of Investoporium

Ahmed Inshal Abbas is a distinguished student at the University of Toronto Scarborough, where he demonstrates an exceptional blend of versatility, leadership, and ambition. As the visionary founder of AB Capitals, he has effectively spearheaded fundraising efforts exceeding $600,000, showcasing his adeptness in finance and entrepreneurship. Moreover, Inshal is renowned as the founder of Investoporium, the youngest stock market training institution in India, lauded internationally for its excellence. His journey underscores an unwavering commitment to success and innovation in the realms of business and finance. Notably, he takes pride in his role as the founder of the Aastha Project, a community service initiative he leads, dedicated to advancing Sustainable Development Goal 2 by combating hunger.

Anahadhbir Singh

Student at U of T Scarborough

Anahadhbir Singh, a first-year international student from Punjab, India, is pursuing a Specialist degree in Journalism at the University of Toronto at Scarborough. Anahadhbir's passion for journalism is rooted in past experiences. As Editor-in-Chief of "Grapevine," Pinegrove School's official magazine, for the past two decades, his work in travel and journalism inspired many students to pursue educational trips and content writing. In 2022, Anahadhbir's articles about the Trevi Fountain in Rome earned him the "Winner" title at the Meraki National Literary Festival, a testament to the power of experiential learning.

Andy Smith

President and CEO of Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre

Since 2017, Dr. Andy Smith has been the President and CEO of Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre where he leads over 12,000 staff, physicians, researchers and learners and an annual budget of more than $1.4 billion. Prior to his current role, Dr. Smith served as Sunnybrook’s Executive Vice President and Chief Medical Executive. With a long-established career as a surgeon and a recognized leader in the management of colorectal cancer, Dr. Smith is intensely passionate about improving healthcare. He has been involved for many years in quality improvement initiatives in Ontario and is passionately interested in healthcare leadership, innovation and the evolution of the healthcare system in Canada. Dr. Smith is currently the Chair for the Toronto Academic Health Sciences Network (TAHSN), and is on the Board of Directors for ORNGE, Public Health Ontario (PHO), and HealthCareCAN.

Brian Leung

Founder of SwiftAds.io

Brian, a graduate of the University of Toronto at Scarborough (2010), has carved a dynamic career path within the advertising industry. Following his early agency experience, Brian's entrepreneurial spirit emerged in 2015 as he began consulting alongside his agency work. Brian's dedication extends beyond his agency. He has fostered valuable partnerships with over 200 small businesses, a direct influence that led to the founding of SwiftAds. This groundbreaking AI-powered advertising company automates the creation, monitoring, and optimization of advertising campaigns, empowering businesses of all sizes.

Joe Gagliese

Co-Founder of Viral Nation

Since 2014, Gagliese has taken the agency world by storm and executed some of the most impactful marketing campaigns in recent memory. He was only 24 when he started to build Viral Nation, which has become one of the most powerful full-service marketing agencies globally and was ranked as Canada’s 4th fastest growing company in 2020. In less than half a decade, Gagliese has managed to scale his business by a remarkable 300–400% year over year, with zero outside investment. Leveraging innovative marketing tactics and ideals, an unmatched eye for detail, and the ability to predict future trends, Gagliese and his team work tirelessly to bridge the gap between brands and culture, partnering with companies such as Disney, Aston Martin, Lowes, Energizer, Twitch, Ubisoft, Tencent, Scotiabank, Viewsonic, and Match.com, to name a few. A contributing factor to Viral Nation’s success with big-name brands has been the development of its own proprietary software,

Maria Shibaeva-Escarraga

UofT Faculty and Independent Strategic Consultant

Maria Shibaeva-Escarraga is an award-winning business leader with over 13 years of experience. A Master Storyteller, she leverages her communication expertise to develop winning strategies. Currently faculty at the University of Toronto, Maria has over 13 years of combined teaching and public speaking experience across various institutions and industries. Her achievements include winning two Cannes International Film Festival Lions for the Canada-led Global Gillette #MyBestSelf campaign. Beyond her corporate and academic roles, Maria boasts over 11 years as an independent strategic consultant, investor, and board officer. Her focus on organizational effectiveness, brand building, and business development strategies has demonstrably helped CEOs achieve market success. Maria's dedication extends to philanthropy. As a multilingual leader (fluent in English and Russian, with intermediate French and Spanish), she actively contributes to Rotary International's global humanitarian efforts.

Mithuran Manogaran

Founder & CEO of Hillside Realty

Mithuran Manogaran is the Founder & CEO of Hillside Realty and the Vice-President of Business Development at Bay Street Group Inc. Within four years, he was able to achieve over $100 million in sales in real estate. As an alumnus of the MIB program, Mithuran has recently founded the first-ever admission scholarship for the program. Apart from his career, Mithuran is a professional Carnatic violinist and has performed all across the world as a violinist for the past twenty years.

Robert Baines

President and CEO of the NATO Association of Canada

Robert Baines is President and CEO of the NATO Association of Canada which is a charitable NGO focused on communicating the importance of security and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) to Canadians. Previous to his current role, Robert was Executive Director of the Canada-Albania Business Council where he supported the largest Foreign Direct Investment in Albania. He now serves in a voluntary capacity as a director of the Canada-Turkiye Business Council. Robert is a member of the Canadian Armed Forces Reserve and has received the Canadian Forces Decoration over his time serving in the Canadian Army with the Toronto Scottish Regiment and the Royal Canadian Navy aboard HMCS York.

Sanah Malik

U of T Scarborough Student and founder of Trio Canada

Sanah Malik is a fourth-year student undertaking a double major in International Development Studies and Media Journalism and Digital Cultures. Upon emerging as the state topper in 12th-grade, she felt her dreams surpassing the boundaries of her city. Fueled by passion, she sought a scholarship to study in Canada, symbolizing her transition from wooden chairs to cushioned ones with just two and a half suitcases. She founded The Refugees and Immigrants Organisation (TRIO), a non-profit aimed at providing opportunities beyond minimum-wage jobs. TRIO acts as a bridge, connecting newcomers with corporate mentors, and recognizing the significance of Canadian experience and professional networks.

Tanya Kaur Talwar

Student at U of T scarborough and Psychologist researcher

Tanya is a student at the University of Toronto Scarborough and a Psychologist researcher. Her research focuses on understanding inherent human tendencies, particularly the discomfort that often arises and the inclination to seek comfort, even if it means avoiding challenging truths. Tanya’s passion lies in educational reform and reducing global learning disparities. With experience in international research projects on educational leadership and a current role as a research assistant at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE), she is actively involved in efforts to improve access to education and instructional quality around the world.