the agenda
OCTOBER 16-17
2026
panels - PILSNER HALL
Keynote
10:30 - 11:15
been that girl:
the art of becoming who you are
A panel on how the right loan can scale your business, build your credibility, and set your portfolio up for what's next.
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Funding isn't something to shy away from; it's leverage. This panel will unpack why having loans and grants in your business history strengthens your credibility as an entrepreneur, what to look for in funding, and how to know what's actually worth pursuing. Attendees will leave with a clearer picture of how to use loans and grants as real tools for growth, not something to fear.
speakers
Melyssa Ford • TBD
Panel 2
14:00 - 14:45
scaling with loans
A panel on how the right loan can scale your business, build your credibility, and set your portfolio up for what's next.
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Funding isn't something to shy away from; it's leverage. This panel will unpack why having loans and grants in your business history strengthens your credibility as an entrepreneur, what to look for in funding, and how to know what's actually worth pursuing. Attendees will leave with a clearer picture of how to use loans and grants as real tools for growth, not something to fear.
speakers
FACE • TBD
Panel 3
15:45 - 16:30
the culture investment
why art matters for your wealth and identity
A conversation on art as currency; how investing in culture builds identity, creates long-term value, and becomes one of the most powerful assets you can pass down.
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Art has always been currency — it's time we started treating it like one. Fresh from a powerful conversation at BLAXPO Montréal, this session comes to Toronto to unpack what it really means to invest in art, not just as something to admire, but as a tangible asset that builds wealth, preserves culture, and creates a legacy that compounds over time. From how art shapes identity and holds the stories of our community, to how it can be woven into everyday life as an accessible and appreciating investment, this conversation reframes the way we think about what we own, what we value, and what we leave behind. Attendees will walk away seeing art differently; not as a luxury, but as one of the smartest moves they can make for their wealth and their legacy.
speakers
Ashley • TBD
Monique • TBD
Diane • TBD
Yolanda • TBD
Panel 4
17:00 - 17:45
The Collab That Changed Everything:
How Women in Business Are Building Empires Through Partnership
An all-women panel on the strategic partnerships (in the boardroom and in the community) that are helping women build different, move smarter, and take things further than they ever could alone.
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The right partnership isn't just a business decision, it's the move that changes everything. This panel brings together women leading partnership and marketing strategy at major organizations alongside founders whose community-driven companies are built on the power of collaboration, for a real conversation that speaks to both sides of the table. Attendees will hear firsthand what it takes to identify the right partnerships, how to structure them for mutual value, and how collaboration becomes the strategy that levels everything up, whether you're working within a company or building your own. Practical, unfiltered, and led entirely by women who are doing it; this is the partnership conversation that belongs in every ambitious professional's toolkit.
moderator
Anastasia Gordon • TBD
speakers
Gena Sherwood • Lead Client Partner, Pinterest Canada Community Impact Ambassador, Pinterest Canada ERG Lead - Blackboard, Pinterest Global
Rachel Hale • TBD
Keesa • TBD
Nandy • TBD
workshops - mezzanine
Workshop 1
14:15 - 14:45
OPEN DOORS BEFORE YOU KNOCK:
MASTERING LINKEDIN
A hands-on workshop on the LinkedIn strategies that build visibility, attract opportunity, and get you in the room before you even ask.
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The right LinkedIn profile doesn't just represent you, it works for you around the clock. This workshop goes beyond the basics and into the hidden strategies that actually move the needle, from cracking the algorithm to building a presence that attracts the right people, rooms, and opportunities. Attendees will walk away with insider tactics and a clear, actionable plan they can implement immediately, so their profile is opening doors long before they ever have to knock.
speakers
Nicole Antoine • TBD
Workshop 2
14:15 - 14:45
Your AI executive team:
build the brain that runs with you
A hands-on workshop on using AI to build the executive team every founder and professional needs: practical, implementable, and built for right now.
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The right LinkedIn profile doesn't just represent you, it works for you around the clock. This workshop goes beyond the basics and into the hidden strategies that actually move the needle, from cracking the algorithm to building a presence that attracts the right people, rooms, and opportunities. Attendees will walk away with insider tactics and a clear, actionable plan they can implement immediately, so their profile is opening doors long before they ever have to knock.
speakers
Edwina • TBD
Tefari • TBD
founder cohort
Session 1
11:00 - 11:30
THE AI playbook:
tools worth your time and money
What You’ll Walk Away With:
How to identify AI tools worth investing in
How to choose tools based on your business stage
Ways to use AI for real growth and efficiency
SPEAKER
Agapi Gessesse • CEO | CILAR
Session 2
11:30 - 12:00
Finance 101 for
the Entrepreneur:
Cash flow, funding, and financial decisions that keep you in business
What You’ll Walk Away With:
The fundamentals of managing cash flow and business finances
How to make informed financial decisions as you grow
Clarity on budgeting, funding, and financial planning
SPEAKER
Steve Ehounou • Partner in Audit and Business Advisor | MNP
Session 3
12:15 - 12:45
lock it down:
legal protection for the entrepreneur
What You’ll Walk Away With:
How to structure and protect your business legally
Understanding key legal documents and when to use them
Confidence in managing legal risk as you scale
SPEAKER
Edmond Nankam Dzokou • Business Lawyer & Managing Partner | Endlex Legal
pit stop sessions
10:20 - 11:00
Black Healing Centre Grounding Session
The Black Healing Centre invites you to reconnect and recharge in this 30-minute immersive session designed to bring you back into your body and into the present moment.
Led by Tanja Nachtigall, this guided experience uses gentle movement and breathwork to release tension, regulate your nervous system, and ground your energy. It’s a space to quiet the noise, find your breath, and return to yourself, so you can move through the rest of the conference feeling more present, clear, and aligned.
Pit Stop 1.1
11:00 - 11:45
BUYING BUSINESSES:
From Opportunity to Ownership
WHAT IT TAKES TO BUILD LONG-TERM WEALTH
What You’ll Walk Away With:
How acquisitions can build long-term wealth
What to look for when evaluating a business
Insight into buying, running, and sustaining a business
moderator
Mona-Lisa Prosper• Senior Director, Community Engagement | Futurpreneur
speakers
Alexander Sinora • Co-Founder, Atwater Partners | Chairman, Black Wealth Club
Fred-Elie Rocher • Co-Founder | Acquisition CRS
Pit Stop 1.2
12:30 - 13:00
the introvert advantage:
how quiet leaders change the game
What You’ll Walk Away With:
How to leverage introverted strengths in professional and leadership spaces
Strategies to build visibility and influence on your own terms
Tools for leading effectively without needing to be the loudest in the room
SPEAKER
Amy Sylla • Inclusion Leader & Coach | CBC & Amy Sylla Inc.
Pit Stop 1.3
14:00 - 14:30
beyond the checkup:
An Unfiltered Talk on Women’s Health
What You’ll Walk Away With:
A clearer understanding of systemic gaps in women’s healthcare
Insight into pelvic health, chronic care, and self-advocacy
Ideas for more accessible, community-centered approaches to care
speakers
Jennifer Nwankwo • Founder & CEO, Nuvo Physio | Pelvic Health Physiotherapist
Djamilla Toure • Fondatrice, Directrice Générale | Sayaspora Media
Pit Stop 1.4
15:15 - 15:45
The executive edge:
why an emba could be your next power play
What You’ll Walk Away With:
How an EMBA can accelerate career growth and transitions
A clearer understanding of the ROI of executive education
speakers
David Gangbazo • Vice President, Corporate Services and Organizational Effectiveness | Beluga Construction
Stéphanie Milsé • Directrice, communications, marketing et relations avec les diplômé(e)s | EMBA McGill–HEC Montréal
Pit Stop 2.1
12:30 - 13:00
the culture investment:
why art matters for your wealth and identity
What You’ll Walk Away With:
A new understanding of how art can be accessible and part of daily culture
Insight into how art preserves stories and shapes collective identity
A clearer view of how culture and legacy are deeply connected
speakers
Diane Gistal • Curatrice, Fondatrice et Directrice Générale | Nigra Luventa
Ella Cooper • Award-winning Cultural Leader, Director/Producer, Founder | Black Women Film & Media, Brown Rabbit Studios & Ella Cooper Productions
Daly Anne Zogbo • Director of Annual Giving | Montreal Museum of Fine Arts
Marcus Troy • Founder | Marcus Troy Studios Inc.
Pit Stop 2.2
14:00 - 14:30
ai or left behind:
what you need to know before you’re lapped
What You’ll Walk Away With:
Where AI is heading and why early adoption matters
Practical ways to integrate AI into your work
How to stay competitive as the landscape shifts
speaker
Claudette Hutchinson • CEO | Owning My (Domain) Ltd
Pit Stop 2.3
15:15 - 15:45
scaling smart:
stop doing it all, start building what pays you back
What You’ll Walk Away With:
When and how to delegate or build systems in your business
How to prioritize high-impact work that drives growth
Strategies to scale sustainably without burning out
speaker
Phil G. Joseph • Founder, Rep Matters | Senior Associate, Real Ventures
OFFICE HOURS
Amy Sylla
14:30 - 15:00
professional and personal coaching:
Career transitions, goal setting & gaining confidence
Claudette Hutchinson
14:30 - 15:00
AI Implementation and Adoption
Jennifer Nwankwo
14:30 - 15:00
women’s pelvic health
Stéphanie Milsé
15:45 - 16:15
Executive MBA
Nathalie Sanon
15:45 - 16:15
Responsible AI integration in the workplace
David Gangbazo
15:45 - 16:15
Career progression, entrepreneurship and leadership
Malik Shaheed
13:00 - 13:30
Networking is the key to success:
Learn how to build meaningful and important connections at a young age
Kipola Wakilongo
13:00 - 13:30
acting, production & real estate
Rashida Geedes
13:00 - 13:30
career development, mentorship, networking or personal branding
INFO SESSION
11:00 - 11:30
NOT JUST ONE LANE:
How Air Canada Supports Career and Entrepreneurial Growth
What You’ll Walk Away With:
Different career paths beyond aviation roles
How Air Canada supports professional growth
Ways founders can connect to larger opportunities
SPEAKERS
Christianna Scott • Director, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Employee Accessibility | Air Canada
Andrew Free • Senior Manager Operations Control | Air Canada
cv clinics
resume review
Need a second set of eyes on your résumé? Stop by the CV Clinic at BLAXPO for real-time feedback and practical advice on how to strengthen your CV, better position your experience, and stand out in today’s job market.
Sponsored by UIBE² – CDNBCA and facilitated by Rashida Geddes.
Session 2
Session 1
14:15 - 15:15
12:00 - 13:00
facilitator
Rashida Geddes • Leadership & Career Coach, Talent Leader | RGI / Bell
FOUNDER COHORT
For Founders, Entrepreneurs, and Business Owners ready to level up!
GET IN THE ROOM!
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