January 27, 2024 | Startwell Event Studio, Toronto
#GrowWithTheGrowth
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#GrowWithTheGrowth ➶
Explore SONDER Conference in 1 Minute
3 Subthemes
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Wealth Growth
This section primarily focuses on the financial industry and its collaborative relationships with other sectors. Key discussion points within this sub-theme will include the industry's macroeconomic landscape as well as future trends, innovations within the sector, and the impact of human factors on the financial industry through one keynote and two workshops.
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Strategy Growth
The "Strategy Growth" segment will kick off with a keynote presentation that focuses on the development of e-commerce. This sub-theme primarily explores how businesses, in the context of prevailing trade protectionism, formulate their global expansion strategies and frameworks through franchises. As well as appropriate market strategies to approach diverse and distinct consumer demographics.
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Technology Growth
With the release of ChatGPT, artificial intelligence has become a focal point in the current technology industry. Our third sub-theme revolves primarily around AI and comprises another keynote along with two workshops. The keynote will focus on the barriers, risks, advantages, and conveniences brought to startup companies by the development of AI. The workshops will delve into the data cloud industry and provide insights into AICG companies and products.
The workshop provided an insightful overview of Capital Markets, Treasury, and Wealth and Asset Management, focusing on the impact of high inflation, interest rates, and technological advancements like AI and fintech. It also explored the growing importance of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) considerations in finance. A special highlight was the exploration of AI-enabled solutions in capital markets, showcasing their potential to transform the sector.
Keynote:
Finance 101: An overview of contemporary financial markets, macroeconomic, and career opportunity
Workshop I:
Grow the Pie of Industry: Integration and innovation of financial products and different industries
This workshop aims to help students understand the innovation arising from the convergence of financial products with various industries. It will explore how cross-industry collaboration operates and shed light on the employment opportunities for finance students in non-financial sectors.
Workshop II:
Financial Frontier: Strategizing for Resilience in a Rapidly Changing Market Landscape
This workshop covers the impact of the current economic outlook on investment strategies, the integration of technology and innovation in finance, and the growing importance of ESG factors in investment decisions. It also delves into market trends influencing investments at BMO InvestorLine and BMO Capital Markets, the dynamics of the bond market with an emphasis on ESG bonds, and the effects of geopolitical events on these markets. Additionally, the session explores BMO's initiatives in innovating financial products and services, and the key performance indicators used to measure the success of online trading platforms and investment strategies in capital markets. The workshop aims to provide comprehensive insights into adapting investment strategies in a rapidly evolving financial landscape.
Subtheme 1 Speakers
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Julio Dejesus
Director
Head of Captial Markets at EY -
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Merlina Wang
Manager
Counterparty Credit Risk at RBC Capital Markets -
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Abishan Thevaraj
Chief Financial Officer
BMO InvestorLine
Starting from a real marketing campaign case, the workshop will delve into KOL selection strategies and co-branding strategies in the Gen Z era.
Keynote:
Unpacking Gen Z: A Deep Dive into Influencers and Co-Branding
Workshop I:
From a Click to Your Home: E-commerce
This workshop delves into key aspects of e-commerce, focusing on Shopify's strategies for protecting merchant and consumer rights, evaluating merchants, and responding to new demands arising from COVID-19. It also explores Shopify's competitive tactics against new e-commerce firms and its approach to international expansion, including learning from past failures. The discussion then shifts to broader e-commerce strategies, covering alternative funding options for startups, customer retention techniques, the impact of digital transformation, balancing profitability with sustainable growth, and maintaining a balance between personalization and privacy. Finally, the workshop addresses general challenges in entering new markets, including necessary preparations and research, and observes current trends that could influence future e-commerce strategies.
Workshop II:
Strategy for a Sustainable Future: the Power of Strategic Thinking in ESG and the latest Technology
This workshop explores the critical need for corporations to integrate ESG into their core strategies for value creation. It highlighted the rise of global sustainable funds, reflecting increased investor interest in ESG. The discussions pointed out the importance of balancing environmental, social, and governance aspects to avoid pitfalls like greenwashing.
Subtheme 2 Speakers
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Bruce B. Simpson
Senior Advisor,
McKinsey & Company -
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Todd Scheidt
Advisor at Velt
Ex-Shopify Director of Revenue Operations -
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Kathryn Lang
Ecommerce & Customer Marketing Consultant at Flywheel
ex-Shopify Marketing Program Lead -
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Shannon Egar
Senior Lead,
Growth Monetization at Shopify -
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Martin Gratton
Internet Celebrity
Around 2 Million Followers Across Platforms
This workshop delves into NVIDIA's challenges in pioneering AI technology, offering examples from past experiences. It examines the effects of AI's evolution on startup entrepreneurs, highlighting the strengths and barriers of AI technology. The discussion also addresses societal impacts, such as job displacement due to AI advancements and the need for cost-effective solutions, providing insights on how society should approach AI. The session concludes with a broad exploration of the future direction of AI applications, discussing potential advancements and implications across various sectors. The workshop offers a holistic view of AI's current state and its potential future developments.
Keynote:
AI Horizons: Charting the Course for Emerging Trends in AI
Workshop:
AI Pioneer Showcase: Launching the Next Wave of Startup Innovations
This workshop explores the integration of AI and technology in Toronto's healthcare, education, and finance sectors. Salubrum discusses using advanced technology in medical tourism and AI's role in healthcare startups. SnapWrite AI highlights AI's application in e-commerce reselling, while Gigl focuses on AI in influencer marketing and digital marketing trends. The session also covers the challenges and opportunities faced by startups, the role of AI as a platform or product feature, ethical considerations in AI, and future AI research and development prospects. The discussions provide insights into the evolving role of AI and technology in various industries in Toronto's tech landscape.
Subtheme 3 Speakers
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Nick Triantos
Chief Architect, Automotive System Software
at NVIDIA -
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Alcaeus Wong
Head of Business Development
at ByteDance -
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Osama Usmani
Chief Executive Officer
Salubrum -
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Aryaman Rastogi
Co-Founder at SnapWrite AI
Developer 30 Under 30 -
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Disha Nayak
CEO & Founder at Gigl
X-Google
Conference Timeline
January 27, 2024 | 10:00 - 18:30
Conference Venue
Startwell Event Studio
230 Niagara Street, Toronto, ON
Ticket Information
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Standard Ticket
Access to All Workshops and Keynotes
Beverage Included
Lunch Included -
VIP Ticket
Access to All Workshops and Keynotes
Beverage Included
Lunch and Dinner Included
Front-seat Reserved for VIP
Access to Exclusive Networking Session with Speakers -
Networking Entry
No Access to Workshops and Keynotes
Dinner Included
Access to Exclusive Networking Session with Speakers