2022 Let's Get to Work Conference Keynote Speakers
Opening Keynote Sponsor
Opening Keynote: Natalie Bell
Natalie Bell is in the business of people.
As a senior People and Culture Consultant, Instructor, Facilitator and Coach, Natalie is an energetic leader who prides herself in fostering meaningful relationships with organizations and individuals to help them achieve their best.
With over 20 years of progressive HR experience and an entrepreneurial passion, Natalie demonstrates confidence in identifying a variety of people-related situations and providing innovative solutions to the businesses and communities she supports.
Natalie focuses on holistic approaches, meeting people where they are, and creating spaces where people feel comfort in finding their voice to speak their truth. She is well known for challenging the status quo – and inspires her audience, both online and offline, to reach their full potential in clear, actionable ways.
Natalie remains active in the community and is currently serving as President-Elect for the Congress of Black Women of Manitoba, and as a Board Member for North Forge Technology. Natalie is a ‘love local’ enthusiast with engaging digital content, and unapologetically “real talk” approach – these are among the many reasons she’s a sought-after moderator, panelist, and speaker.
Through her lived experiences and community consultations, Natalie will share captivating stories, creative tools, and ideas on how to support the BIPOC community at large, and empower people towards independence and hope post-pandemic.
As a senior People and Culture Consultant, Instructor, Facilitator and Coach, Natalie is an energetic leader who prides herself in fostering meaningful relationships with organizations and individuals to help them achieve their best.
With over 20 years of progressive HR experience and an entrepreneurial passion, Natalie demonstrates confidence in identifying a variety of people-related situations and providing innovative solutions to the businesses and communities she supports.
Natalie focuses on holistic approaches, meeting people where they are, and creating spaces where people feel comfort in finding their voice to speak their truth. She is well known for challenging the status quo – and inspires her audience, both online and offline, to reach their full potential in clear, actionable ways.
Natalie remains active in the community and is currently serving as President-Elect for the Congress of Black Women of Manitoba, and as a Board Member for North Forge Technology. Natalie is a ‘love local’ enthusiast with engaging digital content, and unapologetically “real talk” approach – these are among the many reasons she’s a sought-after moderator, panelist, and speaker.
Through her lived experiences and community consultations, Natalie will share captivating stories, creative tools, and ideas on how to support the BIPOC community at large, and empower people towards independence and hope post-pandemic.
Afternoon Keynote Sponsor
Afternoon Keynote: Sonya Ballantyne
Title: No Such Thing as a Safe Job.
"Growing up, Sonya was always told by her Mum that she should get a government job because 'no matter what, you can never be fired'. As Sonya grew her name as a writer and filmmaker, she worked for almost a decade in the civil service as an admin despite wanting to focus on her creative career exclusively. However growing up in poverty made her unwilling to face such a risky endeavor when she had such a safe option.
Cue March 2020 and the COVID-19 pandemic. At Sonya's office, word came down from the Premier that admin positions were going to be let go in order to save money. This included her own position. Sonya's safe, unfireable job was suddenly not so safe and she began to realize that she had spent a long time hanging onto a job that she didn't like in pursuit of safety that felt more like a cage. Though the mass firing didn't happen due to massive push back, Sonya had seen the writing on the wall and got out, pursuing every opportunity that would lead her to where she wanted to be.
Throughout her keynote, Sonya will discuss how the COVID-19 pandemic led to resetting her life and realizing that no one was going to change her life, she would have to do it herself."
"Sonya Ballantyne speaks about her unconventional path to full-time screenwriting and how COVID convinced her to follow her dream."
"Growing up, Sonya was always told by her Mum that she should get a government job because 'no matter what, you can never be fired'. As Sonya grew her name as a writer and filmmaker, she worked for almost a decade in the civil service as an admin despite wanting to focus on her creative career exclusively. However growing up in poverty made her unwilling to face such a risky endeavor when she had such a safe option.
Cue March 2020 and the COVID-19 pandemic. At Sonya's office, word came down from the Premier that admin positions were going to be let go in order to save money. This included her own position. Sonya's safe, unfireable job was suddenly not so safe and she began to realize that she had spent a long time hanging onto a job that she didn't like in pursuit of safety that felt more like a cage. Though the mass firing didn't happen due to massive push back, Sonya had seen the writing on the wall and got out, pursuing every opportunity that would lead her to where she wanted to be.
Throughout her keynote, Sonya will discuss how the COVID-19 pandemic led to resetting her life and realizing that no one was going to change her life, she would have to do it herself."
"Sonya Ballantyne speaks about her unconventional path to full-time screenwriting and how COVID convinced her to follow her dream."
Founding Sponsor
2021 Key Note Speakers
Opening Keynote Speaker: Brian Hutchison
|
Brian Hutchison, Ph.D., LPC is Core Faculty of Clinical Mental Health in the School of Counseling at Walden University, USA. Dr. Hutchison received his doctorate degree in Counselor Education & Supervision from Pennsylvania State University and has worked as a career, school, and mental health counselor and clinical supervisor. Known as Global Career Guy he works as an academic, author, counselor, trainer, clinical supervisor, and speaker who focuses on how work and career development impact mental health, well-being, school engagement and social justice.
Brian is a recognized scholar of counseling, mental health, and career development. He has published in 17 different peer reviewed academic journals representing the fields of psychology, counseling, career development, college access, and education. His work is represented in 18 different textbooks by publishers such as Oxford Press, Routledge, Wiley, Jossey-Bass, and Information Age Publishing. His first book was titled International Practices of Career Services, Credentials, and Training and he is currently under contract and finishing a high school textbook called School to Career. Brian’s consultation and education work is designed to impact mental health and career development around the globe. He has spoken, trained, and consulted with people in more than 50 countries. He has led projects in the Philippines, Canada, South Korea, Thailand, Singapore, India, and the United States. Most recently he has developed a school career development program in India, provided consultation/developed trainings on depression and suicide prevention in the Philippines, spoken to and interviewed students in Azerbaijan, and been interviewed for a web channel in Pakistan. To learn more about Brian’s scholarship and global engagement, follow him at https://www.globalcareerguy.com/. |
Second Keynote Speaker: Trina Maher – President, Bridging Concepts
Trina Maher is a member of Mattagami First Nation and President of Bridging Concepts, a boutique style Indigenous company that specializes in helping organizations accelerate their workplace inclusion strategies, connect with Indigenous communities to create meaningful partnerships, and provides strategic advice to improve career programs to better engage Indigenous youth and adults. Since1999, Trina has helped ‘people and ideas connect’ to open meaningful dialogues to help Indigenous People enjoy meaningful careers in Canadian companies and support the professional development among Indigenous agencies. Trina is an adult educator, an internationally recognized trainer by CompTIA, Master Level Trainer of the Active & Hope-Filled Engagement/Guiding Circles approach, graduate of the Canadian Great Traits Corporate Leadership Program. Trina is Chair of the Canadian Aboriginal Human Resource Management Association, Certified Aboriginal Business Member of the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business, and a member of the National Native American Human Resource Association. Trina is also a Human Environment Specialist for Wood Canada, a global engineering and infrastructure solutions provider.
Keynote Title: “Show Me, Don’t Just Tell Me”
What does meaningful Indigenous community and client engagement look like? In this keynote Trina will share with you some of the insights she has gleamed from working with Indigenous communities and organizations across Canada in her role as a cross cultural communicator, trainer, and bridge builder. Creating the space for new conversations to break down colonial barriers that affect talent development needs all of us to look at things in a new way and make a safe place to ask those important questions so we can learn from one another. We all have a role to play to contribute to the next chapter of Canada’s story. How you decide show up to the conversation is what makes the difference. Therefore, ‘show me don’t just tell me’ is what Trina has learned is key to making meaningful contributions in this work. She will share some stories, and personal ‘aha’ moments from her journey to help provide you with some practical advice to help you in your work.
Keynote Title: “Show Me, Don’t Just Tell Me”
What does meaningful Indigenous community and client engagement look like? In this keynote Trina will share with you some of the insights she has gleamed from working with Indigenous communities and organizations across Canada in her role as a cross cultural communicator, trainer, and bridge builder. Creating the space for new conversations to break down colonial barriers that affect talent development needs all of us to look at things in a new way and make a safe place to ask those important questions so we can learn from one another. We all have a role to play to contribute to the next chapter of Canada’s story. How you decide show up to the conversation is what makes the difference. Therefore, ‘show me don’t just tell me’ is what Trina has learned is key to making meaningful contributions in this work. She will share some stories, and personal ‘aha’ moments from her journey to help provide you with some practical advice to help you in your work.