Speaking Topics

Innovation & Storytelling

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It is said that storytelling is what makes us human: stories are how we make sense of the world around us. And while the core of these remains the same the way we share our stories is always changing. What is next for narrative? Can we change ourselves, our communities and our organizations through the stories we create?

Avatar Secrets: love and life lessons from videogames

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It is said that storytelling is what makes us human: stories are how we make sense of the world around us. And while the core of these remains the same the way we share our stories is always changing. What is next for narrative? Can we change ourselves, our communities and our organizations through the stories we create?

We’re Not Addicted to Technology, We’re Addicted to Each Other

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It is said that storytelling is what makes us human: stories are how we make sense of the world around us. And while the core of these remains the same the way we share our stories is always changing. What is next for narrative? Can we change ourselves, our communities and our organizations through the stories we create?

The Story of Analytics: Finding Truths in Big Data

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Data mining is an analytic process designed to explore data in search of patterns. In an era of big data, there is a story for everyone, and by understanding the nature of how narrative works, businesses and analysts can identify the stories within large data sets that will help them succeed, plan and innovate.

Of Course I Googled You: Getting Ahead in the Information Age

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Whether you’re walking into a job interview, a sales pitch, or a first date, chances are you’ve Googled the person you’re about to meet… and they have Googled you, too. Do you know what digital first impression you’re giving off? How can you make your online identity work for you? From Facebook to Twitter, Linked in to Instagram, knowing the tips, tricks and techniques for when and how to use each platform is an essential skill for professionals in the digital age.

Emotional Intelligence

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What happens when we spend more time gazing into glowing screens, than looking into the eyes of another human being? Innovators are abuzz about artificial intelligence, but what about emotional intelligence, that which makes us uniquely human? This talk examines our relationship with technology, going beyond just gadgets and apps and instead focusing on the human relationships that make our tools matter and keep us coming back for more. With timely anecdotes and case studies, audiences will gain the tools and techniques to make the best choices about how they use technology to benefit their lives, relationships, and careers.

 

Select Talks: Keynotes, Speaking Engagements and Panels

 

Surviving and Thriving in an Era of Disruption (2018)

FCC Ignite 

 

Escaping the Dystopia (2018)

Social Media Week

 

The Ryerson Innovation Studio Presents: Post Disruption (2018)

Social Media Week 

 

360: Online/Offline (2018)

6 Degrees

 

TIFF Tech, Top of the News Feed (2018)

Toronto International Film Festival

 

The Great Debate: Technology, Promise or Peril (2018)

Idea City

 

The Selfie Manual: Design Thinking for Storytellers (2018)

Glacier Media Annual Publisher’s Retreat

 

Power to the People: Social Media for Good (2017)

Social Media Camp

 

 Surviving and Thriving in an Era of Disruption: Preparing the Next Generation  (2017)

Ontario Public School Board Association

 

Playing Nice: Redesigning Online Commenting (2017)

SXSW

 

Zone Learning: Training Innovators and Entrepreneurs (2017)

SXSW Edu

 

Love War + Robots: (Wo)man and Machine, in Conversation (2016)

Sheffield Doc Fest, Summit, Sheffield, UK

 

The AToMiC Awards 2016 (2016)

Co-Host, Playback and Strategy Magazine AToMiC Awards 2016, Toronto, Canada

 

The Selfie Manual: Design Thinking for Media Makers (2016)

Industry Day Keynote, TO Webfest, Toronto, Canada

 

Making Media Matter

Panelist and Moderator, CITE 2016, Toronto, Canada

 

Design for Good

Keynote, Wearhacks 2016, Toronto, Canada

 

The Selfie Manual: Design Thinking for Media Makers

i-docs, Bristol, UK

 

Nothing to Hide, Nothing to Fear?

Oxford Style Debate, GTEC, Ottawa

 

In Conversation with Jane McGonigal

Host & Moderator, Ramsay Talks, Hot Docs, Toronto

 

Story, Possibility, Connections: Engaging in the Digital World

NSB Engage, Toronto Public Library, Toronto

 

New Platforms, New Content, New Strategies

Panel Speaker, FITC, Toronto, Canada

 

The industry we love but leave: How we can foster gender equality in tech

Panel Speaker, Geek Girls, Toronto, Canada

 

Innovation in Storytelling

Featured Speaker, CMPA PrimeTime, Ottawa, Canada

 

Form and Format: The Craft of Interactive Narrative

Speaker, RTA Research Lunch, Ryerson University, Toronto, Canada

 

Artscape Salon

Featured Guest, Toronto, May 2014

 

Presentation: Avatar Secrets

Keynote Speaker, TVO Lunch and Learn, Toronto, Canada

 

Gender in Tech, STEM and Starup Culture,

Panel Speaker, What Makes a Man Conference, Toronto, Canada

 

Keynote Presentation: Avatar Secrets

Keynote Speaker, TVO All Staff Meeting, Toronto, Canada

 

Convergent Media Masterclass: Avatar Secrets

Keynote Speaker, WIFT/OMDC, Toronto, Canada

 

Avatar Secrets Sneak Preview

Speaker, TFI Interactive Day, Tribeca Film Festival, New York, USA

 

Avatar Secrets Case Study,

Speaker, i-docs, Bristol, UK

 

Tablet Strategies: New Directions of Interactive Documentary

Panel Speaker, Hot Docs Industry, Toronto, Canada

 

The Future of the Graphic Novel

Panel Speaker, Pages Book Festival, Toronto, Canada

 

Avatar Secrets Preview

Canadian Delegation, Power to the Pixel, London, UK

 

Shifting Perspectives within Experience Designs

Speaker, diy days, Toronto, Canada

 

Avatar Secrets, trailer premiere

Keynote Speaker, Social Media Week, Toronto, Canada

 

Privacy in the Digital Age with Rdigitalife and The Walrus

Panel Speaker, Social Media Week, Toronto, Canada

 

Idea City

Live Webcast, Toronto, Canada

 

Rdigitalife Salon

Speaker, The Academy of the Impossible, Toronto, Canada

 

The Connection Paradox: Creating a Social Blueprint

Speaker, The Academy of the Impossible, Toronto, Canada

 

Funhouse Mirrors: Digital Distortions and the Optimized Self

Speaker, NXNE, Toronto, Canada

 

Life in 2040 and Beyond

Panel Speaker, JFL 42 by Just for Laughs, Toronto, Canada

 

Avatar Secrets to Real Life and Love

SXSW, Austin, TX

 

Avatar Secrets to Real Life and Love

Ignite! Toronto, Canada