Mentors

Bobby Umar

With a background in brand marketing, engineering and the performing arts, Bobby draws on his diverse 20-year career to lead Raeallan, a transformational training and speaking company. Thousands of people across Canada have experienced Bobby’s teambuilding activities, keynote presentations and coaching. Bobby is a passionate entrepreneur and speaker on Connection, Personal Branding, Career Development and Leadership. He has spoken at TEDx and is an Executive Education instructor at DeGroote School of Business. Bobby is also a new dad and is dedicated to causes embracing youth and diversity including Shad Valley, Impact Entrepreneurship Group and, most recently, NetIP.

Twitter: @raehanbobby
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/bobbyumar

Amber MacArthur

Amber MacArthur is a technology host, journalist, and strategist, with experience both online and offline. She writes a regular column for The Globe & Mail, Yahoo! Tech, American Express Open Forum, among other outlets. She has worked as a technology TV host with tech guru Leo Laporte on G4TechTV, hosting/producing more than 500 episodes of a popular how- to call in show. She has hosted a live TV show called Webnation on Toronto’s number one news station (watch the show here) and is now firmly entrenched in the mobile world hosting App Central on BNN.

Website: http://www.ambermac.com
Twitter: @ambermac

David Ossip

David Ossip is President of Ceridian Dayforce and is focused on leading the organization to deliver innovative HCM solutions to clients around the world. David previously founded Workbrain, where he served as the company’s CEO and President and was responsible for the company’s vision, product and market direction. He is the recipient of many awards for his leadership, including the Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award as well as a nationally awarded Special Citation for Technology Innovation. In 2004, he was named to Canada’s Top 40 under 40. Ossip holds an MBA from Harvard Business School.

Twitter: @dossip
LinkedIn: http://ca.linkedin.com/in/dossip

Cher Jones

Cher has the love of technology hard wired into her personality. She’s always connecting on Twitter Facebook and Linked In, testing new mobile apps, or reading the latest tech news sites and blogs. By day she’s a PR and Communications professional for the government but spends the rest of her time as an entrepreneur providing social media training, communications and consulting services through her company Socially Active and making regular appearances on CBC and RogersTV.

Website:  www.sociallyactive.ca
Twitter: @itscherjones

Tiffany Strobel

Tiffany Strobel has specialized in social media, mobile marketing and digital technologies since graduating from Wilfrid Laurier University with a Communications degree in 2007. Currently the Social Media Manager for Fairmont Raffles Hotels International, Tiffany has worked on both the client and agency side in industries including luxury goods, travel, fast food, automotive, technology & gaming, and retail.

Website: http://www.tiffanystrobel.com/about-tiffany-strobel/
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/tiffanystrobel

Maggie Fox

Maggie Fox is the Founder, CEO and Chief Marketing Officer at Social Media Group. In 2009 she was named one of the Top 100 Marketers in Marketing Magazine’s 100th Anniversary Edition, and in 2011 The National Post named her one of Canada’s Top Innovators. She sits on the Boards of the Empire Club of Canada and ConnectedN.com

Twitter: @maggiefox
LinkedIn: http://ca.linkedin.com/in/maggiekfox

Monica Goyal

Monica Goyal is a Toronto-based lawyer and softwarenology entrepreneur. After completing her studies at the University of Waterloo in Electrical Engineering, she worked in Silicon Valley for several years. She then went on to get her masters degree at Stanford University and then law degree at the University of Toronto. Currently, she works as a lawyer in affiliation with Fleet Street Law Chambers and First Capital Legal Services. She is also founder of My Legal Briefcase, a document management web-based software.

Website: https://www.simplysmallclaims.com
About.me: http://about.me/monicagoyal

April Dunford

April Dunford is a marketing executive specializing in bringing new solutions to market. April is currently VP of Marketing at Huawei a Global 500 company with 30B in revenue where she is helping launch their new Enterprise Communications business. She has held executive positions at startups including Janna Systems, Infobright, DataMirror and Watcom. She has also led marketing teams at large global companies including IBM and Siebel Systems. April is a frequent speaker on marketing and writes a popular startup marketing blog called RocketWatcher.

Gloria Roheim-Mcrae

Gloria’s is a social media strategist and trainer. Her business is focused on empowering and propelling businesses, online. Before starting her social media agency, Gloria was a policy advisor, international project manager, and market research consultant. She’s a Gen Y native and is passionate about digital communication.

Twitter: @gloriaroheim
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/gloriaroheim

Mike Beltzner

Mike Beltzner has spent the last 10 years bridging between product strategy and product execution, working for IBM Canada, DownUnder GeoSolutions, and Mozilla where he was Director of Product for the popular Firefox web browser. He is a problem solver, a product manager, a software designer, an erstwhile teacher, an occasional dreamer, a full time pragmatist, and a stalwart Canadian.

Twitter: @beltzner
LinkedIn: http://ca.linkedin.com/in/mbeltzner

Ben Leoni

Ben Leoni is the Founder and CEO of Design Pilot.  He has continued to expand Design Pilot through an economic decline. A prodigy of business, he will strategize with you to open your company up to the world.

Website: www.design-pilot.com
Twitter: @BenLeoni

Yaeko Tong

Yaeko Tong, is the Co-Founder, Chief Operations Officer of Sweet Caesar. Though creating business-sound, eye-catching apps is not rocket science, it helps to have an actual rocket scientist behind it. After obtaining an undergraduate degree in aerospace engineering and an MBA, Yaeko first plunged into several different positions at other companies where she became a whiz at helping new tech ventures take off. In 2008, she joined Bogdan Chmielewski at Sweet Caesar. Along with managing Sweet Caesar’s business functions, Yaeko leads the client services team, overseeing the delivery of mobile apps for an impressive list of clients. Yaeko couldn’t be more tickled pink about where she finds herself each morning. It may not be rocket science, but Yaeko is prepared in case it ever has to be.

Website: http://www.sweetcaesar.com
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/yaekotong

Lauren Friese

Lauren Friese is the founder of TalentEgg.ca, Canada’s leading online career resource for students and recent graduates. Lauren started TalentEgg in 2008, after receiving her master’s degree at the London School of Economics, because she wanted to create a better way for students to transition from school to work in Canada. She also attended Queen’s University and has worked in consulting and financial services in the UK. Lauren was recently recognized by PROFIT Magazine as one of the Top 30 Entrepreneurs Under 30 in Canada.

LinkedIn: http://ca.linkedin.com/in/laurenfriese

Amrita Chandra

Amrita is a marketing executive with 20 years experience developing strategy and programs for companies to acquire customers, launch products & cultivate strong customer relationships. Amrita is currently the General Manager of Sequentia Environics, an agency specializing in social communities, content and analytics. Amrita has served in marketing roles with startups including Meridio (acquired by Autonomy), Eprise (acquired by Divine), and Preserve Products. She holds an MBA from Babson College in Wellesley, MA and currently sits on the Board of Open Studio, Canada’s leading printmaking centre.

Website:  www.sequentiaenvironics.com
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/amritachandra

Evelyn So

A 20 years’ digital veteran, Evelyn is regarded as a trailblazer, business advisor and mentor. Since early 90s, she has been working on innovative solutions including Internet banking, interactive websites, video on demand, broadband service, interactive TV, and social media.  She is also a frequent speaker. In 2002, Evelyn founded Noesium, a digital strategy boutique powered by veteran professionals using the Integrative Digital Thinking™ system, covering 5 core disciplines – brand, user experience, technology, content and operation.

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/evelynso
Twitter: @evelynso

RICARDO MCRAE

Ricardo is the Founder of The Ricardo McRae Agency, a branding, design and social media firm,
and the Executive Director of the Who’s Who in Black Canada.com, the largest online network of Black professionals in the country. In his company’s eight-year history, Ricardo has led over 175 client projects across virtually all sectors: entertainment, financial services, legal services, b2b, clean technology, consumer services, creative services, health and beauty, as well as media and publishing.

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/ricardomcrae
Twitter: @ricardomcrae

LALLY REMENTILLA

Lally Rementilla is an experienced technology, media and telecommunications executive with strengths in finance, strategy and operations. She currently serves as Vice-President Finance and Administration at Nulogy Corporation, the first company to create an enterprise SaaS solution to address the complex needs of contract manufacturers and packagers globally, and is the co-founder of The Gal’s Got Game, an online resource which makes it easy for women to keep up with sports. She sits on the board of the Information Technology Association of Canada (ITAC) and is a frequent speaker on the topic of women in technology.

Website: www.nulogy.com
Website: www.thegalsgotgame.com

LEILA BOUJNANE

Leila Boujnane is CEO of TinEye.
Leila Boujnane = large scale image search using image recognition. She leads the team who brought the world reverse image search in the form of TinEye. She is a startup founder with a decade of software development and technology experience. When not working you can find her organizing hacking events across Canada and working with young entrepreneurs.She was also named one of Canada’s 50 most influential people in graphic communication and has received the Canadian Advanced Technology Alliance award for innovation and leadership. Leila is a novice ultra runner and a terrible photographer.

Website: www.hyperbio.net
Twitter: @leilaboujnane

KEVIN KELLY

Kevin Kelly is an experienced web craftsman specializing in Interface Development, producing in spaces such as ad agencies, e-commerce places, and government bodies. He has worked with brands such as Canadian Tire, Rogers, Toronto Star, and Mazooma. Also, a co-founder of the coder-focused meetup, #devTO, and Multimedia Design and Production Technician Program Advisory Committeee member at Humber Institute of Design and Advanced Learning, Kevin is passionate about the industry as well as his community.

Website: www.kevinvs.net
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/kevinkelly

MICHELE ROMANOW

Michele is the founder of Buytopia.ca, a leading Canadian daily deal website partnered with major brands and thousands of local businesses across Canada. Previously, Michele was the Director of Corporate Strategy for Sears Canada. After completing her Queen’s MBA in 2008, she founded Evandale Caviar, a vertically integrated commercial fishery and as a result was recognized by the Cartier Women’s Initiative Awards in Paris showcasing outstanding global entrepreneurs.Michele is also a director of Shad Valley, a transformational program to develop the entrepreneurial potential of exceptional Canadian youth.

Website: www.buytopia.ca

ANIL BHOLE

Anil Bhole is the owner of Bhole IP Law. He is a Lawyer, Patent Agent, Trademark Agent and Computer Engineer specializing in intellectual property, particularly high-tech patents and technology commercialization. Anil works primarily with early stage companies in the mobile app and social media space. He also speaks frequently as a guest lecturer at the University of Waterloo and at several Toronto and Waterloo-based incubators and accelerators.

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/anilbhole
Website: www.bholeiplaw.com

BRUCE DORLAND

Website: www.grossmandorland.com

ANNA STARASTS

Anna Starasts is drawn to the unexpected, the disruptive and the original – something that working in tech and digital media offers in endless supply. As the Community & Marketing Manager at gdR (Grossman Dorland Recruiting), she is gdR’s tech industry liaison, online community manager and resident trend-spotter. Anna joined gdR from Toronto-based cleantech software company Zerofootprint, where she led Marketing Communications and became well acquainted with the fast-paced environment of a tech startup. A social media aficionado and natural relationship builder, she is also a BlogTO contributor, profiling local tech and mobile startups, and co-organizes a Community Manager Meetup group. Anna earned her M.Sc Public Policy and Administration from the London School of Economics and her Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Political Science from the University of Toronto.

Website: www.grossmandorland.com