Kelsey Ramsden, Keynote
President Belvedere Place Development
Founder Spark Play
Kelsey Ramsden is Canada’s Top Female Entrepreneur, ranked #1 by Profit and Chatelaine Magazines in 2012 & 2013. She has founded and run businesses as diverse as construction and children’s toys. As President of Belvedere Place Development, a land development and construction ¬project, she wasn’t afraid to roll up her sleeves and strap on some work boots and get down in the dirt. As founder of Spark Play, a monthly play subscription service – as much for parents as for their kids – she ¬lands herself back on the ground. Formerly a wayward student, born of generations of true grit and determination, Kelsey triumphed when she graduated with her MBA from the highly regarded Ivey School of Business. She credits that same grit and determination for helping her overcome a devastating cancer prognosis last year – a cancer she has since overcome. In her work she balances venom and virtue, book and street smarts, with her belief that imagination and play are powers greater than knowledge. Connect with Kelsey on Twitter: @kelseyramsden #WIBN
Session: The Tug of War…
Are you running your life and business or is it running you?
Win a 1 on 1 Session with Kelsey!
Victoria Sopik
CEO and Co-Founder of Kids & Company
Victoria Sopik, CEO and Co-founder of Kids & Company, (and mother of 8), understands this delicate balancing act. Victoria’s experiences as a working mother and devoted parent have had a profound impact upon her, and they have made her determined to make a difference by helping working parents and concerned employers with work-life challenges. As CEO, Victoria oversees the company’s strategic direction and provides leadership to the company’s management team to deliver industry leading child care services. Victoria has a long and distinguished career in the child care industry. Kids & Company is the culmination of over 30 years of experience as an entrepreneur and child care and parenting expert. Kids & Company has served over 30,000 children and created thousands of jobs across Canada. Victoria lends her time, skill and leadership to benefit the child care industry and community by presenting at a variety of events, workshops and conferences across Canada. Victoria’s professional accomplishments have been recognized with several honours and rewards, some of these include; 2013 RBC Women Entrepreneur Of The Year Award – Momentum Category, 2012 Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year in the Business-to-Business Category, WXN Top100 Most Powerful Women, Passion Capitalist Award for Work Culture and Philosophy – 2012, 2008 Profit Magazine’s – One of Canada’s fastest growing companies, Canadian Top 100 Women Entrepreneurs for the past 7 years, Member of the Young Presidents Organization, and the International Women’s Forum.
Connect with Victoria on Twitter @kidcochildcare
Session: Thriving on Chaos – Managing and Building a High Growth Business
Teresa Kruze
Teresa Kruze is the creator of “The In-Credibility Factor”, a multimedia venture designed to motivate and inspire entrepreneurs. Kruze recently launched a country-wide speaking tour to coincide with her new book that soared to the top of the best seller list on Amazon.com. Along with her speaking and writing, Kruze is a veteran broadcaster and producer in Canada (TSN, CTV, City-TV) and currently hosts a weekly television talk show. Her goal is to share what she has learned from some of the most successful entrepreneurs in the world with other business owners and help them supercharge their way to success.
Connect with Teresa on Twitter @TeresaKruze
Session: Keynote Finale Breaking through the Barriers in Life and Business to find YOUR In-Credibility Factor
Nancy Harris
Senior Vice President and General Manager, Canada, Sage North America
Nancy Harris is vice president and general manager, Canada at Sage North America. Ms. Harris is responsible for driving the strategic and product direction for Sage 50 Accounting–Canadian Edition and Sage One–Canadian Edition and oversees key functional areas including sales and marketing and research and development. A primary focus of her role is strengthening relationships with and cultivating an exceptional customer experience for Sage small business customers, partner channels, accountants, and bookkeepers.
Prior to joining Sage, Ms. Harris was chief operating officer at ESO Solutions – a private, SaaS-based software solutions company servicing the emergency management services market – where she was responsible for the company’s day-to-day operations, specifically in the areas of client services, marketing, product management and product development.
Previously, Ms. Harris spent nearly a decade with Asure Software in progressively senior marketing, strategic planning and general management roles, culminating in her appointment as COO. Ms. Harris also spent eight years at BMC Software in a number of leadership roles overseeing product marketing, product management, research and development, quality assurance and technical support.
Ms. Harris holds master and bachelor of science degrees from Northwestern University.
