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Inspirational. Impactful. Leaders. Beyond Pink 2010 is bringing you an impressive line-up of speakers whose stories echo our theme of “Make your brand, leave your mark”. We are truly privileged to be hosting the following speakers. Stay tuned for more!
- Michelle Rupp, Principal and Founder, Lighthouse Leadership
Bob Elton | Retired CEO | BC Hydro | Bob Elton was CEO of BC Hydro from 2003 to 2009, until he retired from that role. At BC Hydro Bob focussed on achieving a sustainable future for electricity supply in British Columbia, for generations. Bob led the implementation of values based leadership at BC Hydro, which also led to a great deal of gender diversity within the company.
Bob’s previous career includes 5 years as a Chief Financial Officer in the mining industry, and more than 20 years with Price Waterhouse Coopers where he was a partner. He is currently involved as an Adjunct Professor at UBC in the Sauder School of Business; Chairs Powertech Labs, an R&D company; and consults on a number of topics including leadership development, and the development of sustainable energy solutions. Bob’s community interests include: Vice Chair of the Board of Governors for Simon Fraser University; Chair of the Immigrant Employment Council of BC; Director of the Minerva Foundation for BC Women; and member of the Advisory board for YWIB. In addition, Bob has 25 years of experience coaching girls and womens soccer in BC.
Devon Brooks | Innovation Director, FWE | Co-Founder, Blo Blow Dry Bar | As Innovation Director for Forum for Women Entrepreneurs, Devon leads the FWE team in brand strategy and execution, community and culture integration and business development — ensuring that the FWE experience is collaborative, vertically integrated and always at the front line of innovation. Devon studied at the London College of Fashion in the United Kingdom, where she penned the Blo Blow Dry Bar business plan at the age of 20. She and her mom, Judy Brooks, developed the first to market concept and brought on their partner Val Litwin — together they grew Blo to 10 location across Canada, and in the US, in under 3 years. The trio have garnered over 230 provincial, national and international media requests, and 400 franchise requests from around the world to date. At 23, the communications-whiz travels to speak to youth groups, High School and University students about the blo brand, having the guts to take any idea to market, and her inspiring entrepreneurial story.
Heather White | 2020 Communications & Ghost CEO | Heather White is a Speaker, Trainer and Business Coach based out of Vancouver BC. She is one of 3 CEO’s in the world approved to provide the highly successful and popular Ghost CEOTM coaching program. As an expert in sales and business development, and as a former World Champion Silver medalist in Sport Jujitsu, Heather has based her success both in sport and business on a foundation of vision, goals, and action. Today, Heather travels throughout North America speaking to women’s groups, working with Fortune 500 companies, and coaching small business owners on how to grow their businesses sustainably and successfully. Heather sits on the Advisory Board for YWIB and has since it’s inception.
Janet Wood | Executive VP | SAP | Janet Wood is Executive Vice President of SAP’s Global Maintenance Go-To-Market organization. The team’s mission is to enable SAP’s customers to run better by maximizing the value and innovation they derive from the support portfolio, while protecting and enhancing SAP’s maintenance business. Wood joined SAP as part of the Business Objects acquisition in 2008 where she led the global SAP integration Project Management Office. She had worked at Business Objects since 2001 and had served as senior vice president of Global Partners and Sales Enablement, senior vice president of Global Partners and Integration, and group vice president
of OEM and Alliances. Prior to joining Business Objects, she was vice president of business development at Crystal Decisions, where she helped drive sales through partnership initiatives. Wood has also held
various management positions at IBM. Wood holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Alberta, Canada.
Jillian Walker | HR Professional | As an award-winning HR professional and driven Generation Y, Jillian is a passionate leader. In 2009, she was awarded the Most Outstanding First Timer at a business leaders’ conference in Africa, while in 2010 named the HR Rising Star for both Calgary and Alberta. She was also selected by McMaster University as a National Top 10 Finalist in predicting the future of work. Now just 26, Jillian understands the impact and importance of being well rounded. She is heavily involved in the HR profession, continual education, the non-profit community, and social networking. Jillian focuses her efforts on inspiring and engaging young leaders.
Judy Brooks | Partner, Bravo Lima Oscar | Co-Founder, Blo Blow Dry Bar | Over the last 20 years, Judy Brooks has founded, built and successfully sold 3 companies. In the role of CEO, Judy has led these companies through start-up, survival, turnaround and growth modes. She has a reputation for strategically building international businesses, fiscally responsible companies, dynamic teams, systems, bottom lines and relationships. A strong contributor in the community, Judy mentors small business owners and sits on several non-profit committees. In addition to being a on the Board for FWE Board and Small Business BC, Judy sits on the Business Advisory Board for the Smart Cookies, and Young Women in Business and is a member of the Women’s President Organization.
Ken Sim | Co-Founder | Nurse Next Door | Ken Sim is the co-founder of Vancouver-based Nurse Next Door Home Healthcare Services, a private in-home senior care franchise system with 37 locations across Canada. His hyper growth organization has been recognized as a model company in terms of growth strategy, customer service and employee relations. Prior to starting the company Ken was a financial analyst at KPMG in Vancouver, an investment banker at CIBC World Markets, a merchant banker at CIBC Capital Partners and a contracted CEO/COO/CFO at numerous technology companies. Ken’s leadership and business savvy has landed him the 2006 Ernst & Young Emerging Entrepreneur of the Year Award, a spot on Business in Vancouver’s Top 40 Under 40 list, acceptance into EO/MIT’s ‘Birthing of Giants’ program and profiles in media across the country including The National Post, The Globe and Mail, and CBC.
Lara Kozan | Co- Founder | Yyoga | Lara has a unique background that balances an inspired yoga practice and a successful business career. While growing up studying dance, gymnastics, and fitness training, she became drawn to yoga. She has studied with leading teachers such as Bikram Choudhry, Baron Baptiste, Moksha, John Friend as well as many others. Also a teacher, Lara draws from her experience on the mat, her revered teachers and also her experience as a life and business coach to inspire others to personal transformation.
Lisa Vogt | Partner | McCarthy Tétrault LLP | Lisa Vogt McCarthy Tetrault’s Real Property National Practice Group Leader and the Chair of its Diversity Task Force. As a National Practice Group Leader, she supports the engagement and strategic focus of the firm’s real estate lawyers. As Chair of the Diversity Task Force, sheoversees programs within the firm that focus on creating equal careeropportunities, mentoring, and flexible parental leave and work arrangement policies. Prior to assuming her national roles, Ms. Vogt served as McCarthy Tétrault’sRegional Managing Partner for British Columbia. She is a past Board member of the Vancouver Children’s Festival and the Vancouver YWCA, and currently works with the Minerva Foundation. In 2008, Ms Vogt was appointed to the B.C. Law Society’s Retention of Women in Law Task Force. This past April, she was recognized by the Women’s Legal Education and Action Fund for her efforts in advancing women in the legal profession. At the end of this month she will also receive the prestigious 2010 Canada’s Most Powerful Women: Top 100 Awards, by the the Women’s Executive Network. Integral to who she is, Ms. Vogt is also an active parent to five children.
Maryanne Mathias | Owner | Osei-Duro Clothing | Maryanne Mathias has a Bachelor’s degree in Fashion Design and Technology from Kwantlen Polytechnic University and is attending the Sauder School of Business for an MBA in sustainability and strategic management. She is the president of the humanitarian club. Mathias is co-founder of Osei-Duro clothing, a social enterprise that produces fashion forward clothing in Ghana, West Africa using women’s sewing co-operatives. Osei-Duro employs over 10 women, giving them fair wage and the necessary training and skills.
Maya Kolaczynski | Consultant | SECOR Group | The most important things to know about Maya is that she is passionate about learning and sharing ideas, and is very excited to be involved with Beyond Pink 2010! Maya graduated from the Queen’s School of Business in 2007, and has been working as a Consultant at SECOR Group since. Maya has taken two breaks from SECOR to pursue her passion of contributing to the community. The first, which she is most proud of, is taking the role as Co-Chair of Beyond Pink 2009. Maya also worked with VANOC in Transportation Management and Logistics for Vancouver 2010.
Val Litwin | Co-Founder & Partner, Bravo Lima Oscar | Journalist & Feature Writer at Freelance Writer | Co-Founder, Blo Blow Dry Bar | Entrepreneur and social-enterpriser, Val Litwin recently sold the acclaimed first-to-market concept, Blo Blow Dry Bar, then formed a new business strategy consultancy. Known for creating and “owning” its business category, Val and his partners founded and grew the Blo brand from zero to 12 locations in just three years. But business isn’t his only passion. Val also runs the for-profit Extreme Kindness and non-profit Kindness Crew Society — both born to educate, inspire and mobilize people to commit good deeds. Val also co-authored best-selling book, Call To Arms: Embrace A Kindness Revolution, which challenges corporations to engage in CSR and bring new meaning the phrase “global warming”.
