Odessa is a multidisciplinary artist: singer, poet, dancer. She is also a Doctor of Natural Medicine, Acupuncturist, Soul Therapist, Women's Wellness Coach and Birth + Postpartum Companion.

She has taught and traveled internationally as a singer with Cirque du Soleil, as an African contemporary dancer with Company Danse Nyata Nyata and as a multifaceted Healer. Odessa continues to pioneer her work as an ambassador of wellness and multidisciplinary art by guiding clients, students and audiences through inspirational mind-body experiences.

Participants gain insight into their own wellness, self awareness, and ways to cultivate their own physical, mental and emotional wellbeing by engaging in various healing modalities grounded through Odessa's rhythmic vocals and melodies, therapeutic approach and thought provoking concepts entwined with neo soulful instrumentations.

In her private practice she facilitates wellness classes, meditation retreats and trainings to organizations and companies and offers individual consultations, VIP wellness strategy days, seasonal accountability programs and performances to men and women who are actively striving to get their health on track.

You can find Odessa performing at The Vibe Lab—every first Sunday of the month at Kensington Sound Studio in Toronto.

Monica Wright Rogers, a two-time WNBA Champion, is entering her first season as the inaugural General Manager of the Toronto Tempo.

Wright Rogers joined the Tempo from the Phoenix Mercury where she most recently served as their Vice President and Assistant General Manager, responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations, basketball strategy and scouting/talent identification. Before her time in Phoenix, she worked in the NBA League office as the Elite Basketball Women's Operations Lead, overseeing global grassroots women's initiatives, including building the elite international women's roster for the Basketball Without Borders camps. Her grassroots work has been essential in the trajectory of women's youth basketball to the WNBA, EuroLeague and other professional leagues across the world.

Prior to joining the executive ranks, she served as an assistant coach at her alma mater, the University of Virginia (2019–2021), Liberty University (2018–19) and served as the women's basketball director of student-athlete development at University of the Incarnate Word (2017–18).

Selected second overall in the 2010 WNBA Draft by the Minnesota Lynx, Wright Rogers was named to the 2010 WNBA All-Rookie Team, averaging 11.1 points per game in her first season and won two WNBA titles with the Lynx in 2011 and 2013. She also spent time with the Seattle Storm (2015–16) during her five-season career and served as a secretary and treasurer for the WNBPA during the 2015 season.

Wright Rogers finished her four-year collegiate career at Virginia as the Cavaliers' all-time leader in points (2,540), scoring average (19.1 ppg), and field goals made (962). A three-time All-American, she was named the 2010 ACC Player of the Year, ACC Defensive Player of the Year, and WBCA National Defensive Player of the Year. In 2012, UVA retired her jersey number (22), and in April 2024, she was inducted into the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame.

Lola Kassim is a seasoned leader with over 18 years of international experience working across the private and public sectors in Canada and Africa across operations, strategy, and policy. She has been with Uber since 2017, where she is currently the General Manager of Uber Eats Canada, responsible for the company's growth in the country and management of its operations, strategy, and commercial teams. Previously, she held the role of General Manager for Uber in West Africa.

Prior to joining Uber, Lola was an Engagement Manager with McKinsey and Company, where she led teams in the energy, public, and financial services sectors in West and Southern Africa. She began working in West Africa as a Governance Advisor to the Liberian Presidency through the Africa Governance Initiative.

Lola began her career with the Canadian government where she managed policy units and acted as Policy Advisor to senior officials in the areas of Indigenous Services and Foreign Affairs.

She holds a Bachelor's degree from Harvard University and an MSc from the London School of Economics where she was a Chevening Scholar.

Jonelle Ricketts is a passionate marketing leader with over 23 years of experience in global marketing and communications strategy, campaign development, and media planning across high-tech, retail, and beauty. She has held senior roles in Canada and the Netherlands at BlackBerry, IKEA, and Sephora. She is currently Head of Marketing at IKEA Canada, where she leads an award-winning team responsible for marketing communications, online content, customer engagement & loyalty, integrated media, and marketing performance.

Jonelle has been recognized as a 2025 Marketer of the Year by Strategy and named to Campaign Canada's 2025 "More Power" list, celebrating leaders driving meaningful change in the marketing industry. A dedicated advocate for equity, diversity, and inclusion, she also serves as Co-chair for the Effie Canada Steering Committee (2026–2027), volunteers with the Wilfrid Laurier University Alumni Association Board of Directors, and mentors young women pursuing marketing careers.

Jonas Nwuke is a seasoned strategist and transformative leader with more than 15 years in enterprise software and digital media. Known for his visionary approach and adept leadership, he has served as a trusted advisor to iconic brands, including the NBA and Starbucks. His dynamic career spans high-growth start-ups to industry giants like Google, bringing more than a decade of expertise in partnership development and business strategy.

In his current role as Vice President of Strategy and Planning at Bell Media, Jonas oversees the Business Intelligence and Strategic Insights teams, along with leading the transformative efforts across the company's expansive portfolio. From shaping Crave's growth trajectory to pioneering innovative sports rights approaches, he plays a pivotal role in Bell Media's digital evolution. His mandate focuses on positioning Bell Media as a leader in the digital age while advancing the media landscape both nationally and globally.

Previously, Jonas held senior roles at Nielsen Media, SYPartners, and IBM, where he led diverse initiatives including global partnerships, AI strategy, and advising CEOs on purpose-driven transformation. His career is characterized by a commitment to innovation and impactful, results-driven strategy.

Jonas holds an MBA from the University of Chicago and, with a career marked by high-impact partnerships and strategic foresight, continues to shape Bell Media's future in a rapidly evolving media landscape.

Jemi Onyejiaka—whose full name, Oritsejemiyotan, means "God has made my joy complete"—is a proud mother, devoted wife, and accomplished strategy leader. She spent most of her life in Nigeria, where she started her career in Capital Markets, accumulating over 15 years of experience across a range of roles.

In July 2018, Jemi and her family made the bold decision to begin a new chapter in Canada. Like many immigrants, she had to re-introduce herself, re-learn the system, and re-establish her professional footing. In 2019, she relaunched her career on Bay Street as an award recipient of the VersaFi Return to Bay Street Program—a moment that marked both a comeback and a new beginning.

Today, Jemi is a Director, Strategy & Performance Management at BMO, where she supports the delivery of enterprise strategy and leads initiatives that help move the business forward. She is also a graduate of the Ivey Business School Executive MBA, Class of 2023.

Her purpose is shaped around three pillars: amplifying voices—advocating for underrepresented groups and creating space where diverse voices are heard and valued; coaching and mentorship—supporting others as they navigate their careers and step confidently into their potential; and being a pillar of support—nurturing relationships and reminding people of their worth.

Jemi has volunteered with organizations including the Financial Women's Association (New York), Dress for Success Toronto, ACCESS Employment, the Loran Scholars Foundation, VersaFi, the BMO Black Professional Network, and the BMO Alliance for Women. She also sits on the Board of Pitch Better.

Ryan has built multiple businesses over the last 10 years and spends a great deal of his time leading and mentoring young entrepreneurs in the community. After starting a social enterprise Detailing Knights, a mobile waterless car cleaning company, Ryan was able to launch his first youth entrepreneurship program called Knighthood Academy.

Knighthood Academy was designed to help under-estimated youth in the community develop their leadership skills through an entrepreneurship bootcamp. Various youth with multiple barriers have accessed the program ranging from high school dropouts, past gang members, and those recently released from detention.

Key accomplishments include over 16 years as a business leader and entrepreneur, being featured on Dragons' Den (the Canadian edition of Shark Tank), founding a Youth Entrepreneurship Program that has empowered more than 1,000 students, establishing the Afro Caribbean Business Network supporting over 6,000 Black businesses, franchise ownership of Just Like Family Home Care, and leading the development of a 45-unit senior progressive living apartment community in Woodstock, Ontario. He is also co-author with daughter Jasmine of the children's book Jaz and Dad Start a Lemonade Stand.

Ryan is an active board member with the Peel Learning Foundation and the Mississauga Board of Trade. He has been named one of Brampton's top 40 under 40, twice nominated for a Business Excellence Award by the Brampton Board of Trade (winning in 2019), and won the Emerging Entrepreneur of the Year award from the Toronto Region Board of Trade in 2013. Ryan now leads Ontario's first Black Led Microloan Fund.

Knight was a contributor on CFRB NewsTalk1010 appearing each Monday morning with host Jerry Agar to address current affairs from an African and Caribbean heritage business owner perspective. Currently Ryan is a co-host with Dr. Vibe on the twice weekly show The Morning Vibe. Ryan is an avid community advocate and devoted family man married to Cherriton, and they have two wonderful children Jasmine and Christian.

Nicole Salmon brings extensive experience working in the nonprofit/charitable sector as a curious leader and fund development strategist. In 2014, she founded Boundless Philanthropy, a values-led consultancy committed to building and sustaining healthy, equitable, mission and community-focused nonprofit and charitable organizations. She is also an editor, writer, and poet.

She is the co-editor and author of Collecting Courage: Joy, Pain, Freedom, Love, and a former book review panelist and contributing editor with the online publication The Charity Report. As a published poet and writer, she taps the power of words and language to stir emotions, liberate, connect, and bridge divides.

As a community leader, Nicole's service extends beyond her professional roles. She has experience serving on boards, including serving as board chair for a community health services organization and board co-chair of an organization working to improve the lives of people living with HIV and other episodic conditions. She is also an active and founding member of the Black Canadian Fundraisers' Collective.

Shaped by her Jamaican roots and deeply influenced by spending a significant portion of her life in Canada, Nicole's interests are eclectic, her curiosity boundless, her pursuit of learning expansive, and her desire for growth continuous. Anchored by a large family, committed to service, building connections, and deepening personal relationships.

Nakissa Koomalsingh, also known as Keesa K, is the founder and CEO of HOOPQUEENS, an organization that started Canada's first professional women's basketball league. As a former varsity athlete, Keesa's exposure to inequity in women's sports fuelled her passion for improving the reality of women athletes in Canada. She saw a growing need for safe spaces that celebrate and elevate women's basketball to new heights and allow women to train and compete at a high level.

Under her leadership, HOOPQUEENS has evolved into a leading advocate for gender equality in basketball, offering a range of initiatives such as skills development programs and off-the-court opportunities providing tools, resources and mentorship to help players at any point along their athletic journey.

Recently named a Top 25 Woman of Influence and to the 2024 Forbes 30 Under 30 list, Keesa is on a mission to change the narrative of women in sport and inspire women everywhere to confidently create their own lane.

Joëlle Kabisoso is a community leader, advocate, and social impact entrepreneur dedicated to advancing equity, civic participation, and healing-centred support for women, girls, and families. She is the Founder and Executive Director of Sisters in Sync, a grassroots organization that has grown into a multi-program platform supporting leadership development, youth wellness, survivor advocacy, and community connection across Hamilton and beyond.

Over the course of her work, Joëlle has raised more than $4 million in funding in support of her non-profit and partner community initiatives, helping expand access to programming, resources, and opportunities for equity-deserving communities. Her work bridges programming, research, and policy-informed advocacy, and she is deeply committed to civic participation—engaging in public dialogue, advisory spaces, and cross-sector partnerships that amplify the voices of Black women and girls and influence the systems that shape their lives.

In addition to her community work, Joëlle is the co-founder of Yekola, a language-learning platform designed to teach, learn, and preserve African and Indigenous languages, reflecting her broader commitment to cultural preservation, digital inclusion, and global community building.

Her leadership and impact have been recognized nationally, including honours such as the Governor General's Award for the Commemoration of the Persons Case, the Order of Hamilton, the King Charles III Coronation Medal, the YWCA Woman of Worth Award, and multiple leadership distinctions acknowledging her contributions to advocacy and community development. Joëlle has spoken on national and global stages, including Forbes Africa and One Young World, and currently serves as a committee member with Hamilton Child and Family Supports and as Co-Chair of the Hate Crime Case Review Team.

Her leadership continues to centre collaboration, empowerment, and the guiding principle she lives by: "We got you, sis."

For more than 25 years, Jennifer Bernard has held leadership roles in provincial and national organizations leading and supporting teams, raising more than a billion dollars in her career.

Jennifer joined SickKids Foundation as President and CEO in April 2023, from Women's College Hospital Foundation, where she also served as President and CEO between 2018 to 2023. Jennifer has also held executive roles and led successful teams at The Ontario Science Centre, Royal Conservatory of Music, Trillium Health Partners Foundation, and McMaster Children's Hospital Foundation.

During her tenure at Women's College Hospital Foundation, Jennifer doubled revenue, monthly donors, co-founded the Women's Health Collective Canada, a national fundraising organization supporting women's health research, established the Trailblazer Award, founded the Emily Stowe Society to drive equity in research, and launched the Black Women's Healthcare Summit.

At SickKids Foundation, Jennifer leads one of the largest and most successful charities in North America overseeing over $1.6 Billion in assets and supporting over 1.3 million donors. Her award-winning team is responsible for generating billions in support for paediatric healthcare and research in support of the #1 Children's Hospital in the world.

Jennifer is a graduate of the University of Toronto, and a Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE). Throughout her career, Jennifer has been an active community volunteer and advocate. She currently serves on the Board of the BlackNorth Initiative, Telus Friendly Future Foundation Board for the Greater Toronto Region, and Shift Canada Advisory Council.

Jennifer is widely acknowledged and recognized for her progressive leadership and inclusive vision. In 2018, she was recognized as one of the 25 most influential women in Canada by Women of Influence. In 2020, she was honoured as one of the 100 most Powerful Women in Canada and presented with the Inclusion Vanguard award by the Women's Executive Network. In 2022, Toastmasters International presented Jennifer with the Communications and Leadership Award. In 2023, she was recognized by the Black Business and Professionals Association with a Harry Jerome Award. In 2025, Jennifer was recognized by Toronto Life Magazine as one of the 50 most influential Canadians.

With over two decades of transformative leadership in education, Eleanor McIntosh currently serves as a Superintendent of Education with the Halton District School Board. Throughout her distinguished career, Eleanor has navigated the complexities of school and system leadership through roles as Vice-Principal, Principal, and Education Officer. Her strategic approach is underpinned by a Master's degree in Educational Leadership and Administration, complemented by foundational undergraduate degrees in Education, Biochemistry and Kinesiology.

A visionary advocate for systemic equity, Eleanor has been instrumental in building institutional capacity for Black educators and students across Ontario. She was a founding member and former Chair of the Durham Black Educators' Network (DBEN), established in 2005, and a founding member of the Ontario Alliance of Black School Educators (ONABSE). Her commitment to community health and economic empowerment is further evidenced by her service on the Board of Directors for the Durham Community Health Centre and the Black Opportunity Fund Inc., a prominent national organization dedicated to dismantling systemic barriers.

Clarence Ford is a Toronto-based creative visionary, director, choreographer, producer, and community builder whose work spans live entertainment, film, television, sport, and large-scale cultural experiences around the world.

Over a decades-long international career, Clarence has collaborated with Cirque du Soleil, choreographing the acclaimed production KOOZA, and has created work across stage, screen, ice, and water. His creative leadership has been trusted by Fortune 500 companies and global institutions including Samsung, the Canadian Olympic Committee, Adidas, Pepsi, Ford Motor Company, UNICEF, and The Clinton Foundation. His artistic credits include collaborations with legendary artists such as James Brown, Stevie Wonder, Lenny Kravitz, Robbie Williams, and many others, as well as major cultural platforms like So You Think You Can Dance, Stars on Ice, the JUNO Awards, the Grey Cup, and the NBA Toronto Raptors.

Beyond the global stage, Clarence is the Founder and Executive Director of Square Circle, a pioneering Social Circus program empowering youth in underserved communities—now expanding internationally through a partnership with Prime Minister Mia Mottley of Barbados and the University of the West Indies.

Charles Achampong is a keynote speaker who helps leaders pause, reset, and lead effectively when pressure is high.

An award-winning storyteller, author of Around the World in Family Days, and Executive in Residence, Charles equips leaders with failure immunity — the ability to recover quickly, think clearly, and move forward when things do not go as planned. His work is grounded in The Power of Pausing and shaped by a global family sabbatical that transformed how he understands leadership, presence, and resilience. He shows how well-timed pauses after setbacks prevent panic, blame, and reactive decision-making from taking over.

Charles has delivered his work to corporate executives, government leaders, educators, entrepreneurs, and community builders, including audiences at the Conference Board of Canada, McKay CEO Forums, and the Government of Canada's Black Executive Network.

His keynotes help audiences recover faster, lead with clarity, and perform at their best in complex, high pressure environments.