Speakers

Kanina Blanchard has extensive experience working in international business, the public service, non-profit, and consulting. Having lived and worked on four continents, she is recognized for her ability to adapt, lead teams and projects, and navigate complexities across various sectors, geographies, and cultures. With expertise in the areas of organizational and communication challenges as well as issues, crisis and change management, her greatest passion is in the area of leadership development, education, and coaching.

From CEOs and C-Suite executives to emerging leaders, and from the next generation of professionals to those seeking to leave a leadership legacy, Kanina focuses on supporting those seeking to grow and develop their character, competencies, and commitment. Kanina brings more than 30 years of practical, dynamic, and real-world experience to the table along with a deepening array of research and academic credentials that grounds her consulting practices in the creation of transformational and sustainable change. As a consultant she is committed to provide clients with targeted and customized strategic solutions to challenges that impact organizational and leadership brand, reputation, and bottom line. As an academic, her focus and research is on responsible leadership, women in leadership and on supporting diversity, equity, and inclusion

Sophie Warwick is Co-Founder of the Thoughtful Co, a consultancy that supports women in negotiating their compensation, and advises employers on improving gender equity in the workplace. She specializes in developing in-house gender equity policies and chairing Employee Resource Groups, helping employers become more sustainable, profitable, and innovative.

Sophie has a Masters of Structural and Earthquake Engineering from the University of British Columbia. She practiced structural engineering consulting in the residential sector for over 7 years where she saw firsthand the challenges employers face recruiting and retaining women in male dominated environments. She is passionate about approaching gender equity in an intentional and strategic manner by providing a clear and concise list of actionable items to empower employers to start making positive change today. At The Thoughtful Co, she has supported clients in the public sector, engineering firms, construction companies, technology companies, and more.

Sophie has a long history of dedication to building more inclusive and equitable environments for women. In 2018, she co-founded Women in Consulting Engineering (WCE) Vancouver, a non-profit community devoted to supporting and empowering women in engineering and increasing gender diversity and inclusion in the consulting industry.

Jillian Climie is Co-Founder of The Thoughtful Co, a consultancy that supports women in negotiating their compensation, and advises employers on improving gender equity in the workplace. She specializes in supporting women in getting paid what they deserve, with her clients on average achieving a +25% increase in their compensation package.

Jillian attended Ivey Business School and has spent her career advising and leading teams in executive compensation and corporate governance, both as a consultant, and in-house at two global retailers. Most recently at Lululemon, she led the global equity compensation and executive compensation programs. After taking a pause, she realized she wanted more of three things in her professional life: thoroughness, passion and freedom. She co-founded The Thoughtful Co so she can leverage her niche and technical experience, coupled with her passion for gender equity, to empower women to get paid what they deserve.

Jillian was named a 2022 Emerging Leader by The Peak, and was a 2023 Women of Influence Nominee and 2023 Inspirational Leader of the Year Nominee.

Kristy Carrod is an executive coach with 20+ years of experience working with finance professionals at CIBC, TD Securities, and Scotiabank. Formerly a trusted internal advisor to investment banking and trading teams, she now coaches leaders in investment banking, private markets, and asset management across Canada and the U.S., helping them gain clarity, confidence, and practical strategies to excel.

Maja Djikic, PhD is a personality psychologist specializing in adult development. She is an Associate Professor of Organizational Behavior and HR Management, the Executive Director of the Self-Development Laboratory, and the Academic Director of the Rotman Executive Coaching Certificate program at the Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto. Her research has been featured in over 50 media outlets (including The New York Times, Salon, Slate, Scientific American Mind), in 15 countries. Thinkers50 has selected Maja as one of 30 thinkers around  the world whose ideas have the potential to shape the future of organizations. Her first book, The Possible Self: A Leader’s Guide to Personal Development, was published in March 2024 by Berrett-Koehler Publishers.