Morning (10:30-11:20)
Michael Flood – Humility and Emotion: People-First Leadership
SESSION FULL
SUITABLE FOR:ALL LEADERS
The aim of the presentation is an exploration of Humility and Emotions as key concepts in a search for ‘authentic leadership’. I will explore both concepts, their meaning, and provide stories of leaders who have and have not used these important paradigms to inspire and work with others. Humility is incredibly important and often underestimated as a key to becoming a great leader. It promotes an empathetic approach to leading others. Emotions are at the core of human interaction and should be understood (to the degree possible) by leaders who hope to relate with and inspire others.
Amal & Davis – Touching Beyond the Sky
SESSION FULL
SUITABLE FOR: EXPERIENCED LEADERS
Touching beyond the sky, all the way to the milky way, being curious about what’s out there. Growing curious of your own breakthrough goal, the possibilities outside your comfort zone, outside the society norms and the world. In this workshop, explore a map that you could follow and learn from in order to achieve your one Big Hairy Audacious Goal. Redirecting your massive actions into more constructive habits that serve towards that breakthrough goal. Acknowledging the obstacles that may arise along the way and growing curious about how to overcome them. Growing curious about the “What ifs” that lies after conquering your life breakthrough goal.
Shaheed, Zina, Emma & Elysa – Curiosity Killed the Cat, but Satisfaction Brought it Back
SUITABLE FOR:ALL LEADERS
This workshop is very activity and group-discussion based. This encourages interaction. This workshop is to get participants to question what exactly makes good leadership and figure out what works for them while identifying leadership qualities that resonate with them personally. This begins with an intro into the workshop that asks questions that will be implicitly explored during the activities and discussions. The workshop ends by asking participants to engage in another short interactive activity that makes them ask how they can then apply their leadership styles into situations of equity and justice.
Sarah Maryschuk – The Major Key to Motivation
SESSION FULL
SUITABLE FOR: ALL LEADERS
We’ve all been there: lying in bed, having pressed snooze five times already, limbs like concrete and unable to get out of bed because NO MOTIVATION. As humans, our minds feed us stories that convince us to not pursue our goals, and we tell ourselves it’s because we’re “not motivated”. This seminar will get you clear on the REAL reason(s) why your goals are important to you, and will have you tackle what you need to to be really 100% fulfilled in your goals and your life. This seminar will DELIVER on the MAJOR KEY that is: Motivation.
Shira Sneg – Every Body Does It
SESSION FULL
SUITABLE FOR: ALL LEADERS
James Humes, author and presidential speech-writer once said that, “The art of communication is the language of leadership.” This is true. Nonverbal behaviour, in particular, can make a significant difference in how we send and receive messages with who we interact. In this workshop, participants will learn about the value of nonverbal behaviour, how to read it, and how to use it to build and maximize their relationships.
Dela Hini – I’m a Boss, Not Bossy
SUITABLE FOR: ALL LEADERS
The aim of my presentation is to explore the “curiosity of cultural and gender dynamics in our surroundings and workplace”. As a female engineering student I am faced with the question of my competency in my work, based on my gender and not my intellect. This is a challenge that my male counterparts will never be met with in the education or careers. As a women of colour there are systems set in place which invalidate my ideas and efforts, regardless of my innovation and resilience. All around me I see brilliant people who’s brilliance is undermined because of stigma’s and institutions that deny them their place. My presentation aims to make our UBCO leaders aware of the agencies at play that misrepresent gender and culture in the workplace and the world around us.
Carly LaBerge – Why Being Uncomfortable is Actually a Good Thing
SESSION FULL
Your comfort zone is called exactly that for a reason – you feel comfortable and happy when you do things you have done before and are good at. However, this can be detrimental to helping you grow as a person, and a leader. Learn the science behind this psychological barrier, as well as tips and tricks to overcome it. So many opportunities open up to you – but only when you take a step outside of your comfort zone.
Prashanka Mawalagedara – Curiosity: The Education No School Can Teach You
SUITABLE FOR:EMERGING LEADERS
As the old saying goes, “curiosity kills the cat”. However, we fail to realize that our whole life was guided by curiosity! Our passions and dislikes were discovered through our initial curiosity about them. You learned about your friends’ weird interests because you were curious about them. In fact, many life lessons and ideologies were learnt through the results of your curiosity. Curiosity will shape your future, like it shaped your past and present. Curiosity should not be feared, but should be embraced. It will be an education no school will ever teach you. Curiosity will teach you about yourself, others, the world, and life. It will also teach you how to think outside your abilities and capabilities. That knowledge of creativity, empathy, sociability, and open-mindedness is what defines a good leader. Curiosity may have killed the cat, but, as the rest of the saying goes: “…its satisfaction brought it back”.
Afternoon (2:15-3:05)
Jordy Decker – Vulnerability is Strength
SESSION FULL
SUITABLE FOR: EMERGING LEADERS
The portrayed image of a leader is not one with cracks on the surface. However, I would like to argue that every leader has cracks. These cracks can either be hidden in the framework, or they can be visible to the external viewers. The cracks in the framework are difficult to recognize and can be trickier to fix, but cracks displayed for the world to see are simple to fill and strengthen. Those cracks represent our insecurities and perceived weaknesses. Displaying those cracks visibly represents vulnerability, and admitting vulnerability is a tool to promote growth, support, and the collaboration of a strong team.
Nick & Luke – What’s Next?
SESSION FULL
SUITABLE FOR: ALL LEADERS
This presentation will discuss both technologies of the past and how they have and will change the dynamics of our planet. Technological evolution has built a foundation for innovation that will propel technological disruption to change the way that humans live their lives. The content in this presentation will be gathered from both industry professionals and academic research in fields of transportation, energy, and productivity. The specific technologies discussed will be relevant to the majority of people, as the technological evolution will have an impact on the simplest of day-to-day activities and tasks. Along with the a general understanding of these specific technologies, this presentation will detail the real life implications of these futuristic advancements.
Alexander Gilmour – The Importance of Self-Directed Learning
SUITABLE FOR: ALL LEADERS
Leadership involves the application of what you’ve learned, and what you’ve learned is the product of pursuing your curiosity. Curiosity and the acquisition of knowledge, I argue, are most effectively fostered in Self-Directed Learning (SDL). We generally view school as the primary—and only—method of learning, but SDL is an invaluable method that many people don’t really consider. At school, the diversity of knowledge attained exclusively through one specific degree program can be expressed in the following quotation that I’ll paraphrase from John Cage: “Why have 200 students read one book when you can have 200 students read 200 different books?” School has many merits, but learning should not be exclusive to an institution. The more you learn, the more you can give. Leadership success depends on your capacity to give back. This is a presentation on pursuing your curiosity outside of the conventional structure of school.
Daniel Kandie – The Spirit of Ubuntu
SESSION FULL
SUITABLE FOR: ALL LEADERS
This will be a talk/facilitated discussion about how to create a spirit of Ubuntu within the teams you lead and the life you live. Ubuntu means “I am because we are” and embodies the idea that for any of us to fully succeed we all need to succeed. This is a key aspect for leaders to understand to be able to manage their team dynamics, working people to their strengths whilst accommodating their weaknesses. I hope to format this presentation by first talking about the concept of Ubuntu then drawing upon personal experiences of how I have applied this concept as a leader and lastly a discussion on how these leaders can apply it personally. I hope to keep the presentation engaging by drawing upon other leaders experiences not only mine.
Ana & Marisa –The Curious Leader: The Path to Your Own Leadership Development
SESSION FULL
SUITABLE FOR: ALL LEADERS
Thriving in the rapid-changing world we live in requires leaders who approach every day, every problem, and every opportunity with an inquisitive spirit. By highlighting the importance of curiosity and linking it as a quality for leadership, this presentation will help you discover your inner leader. University students commonly go through situations that require them to practice balance and resiliency to be successful. We will share our personal experiences that will illustrate how curiosity was our starting point. Our approach will encourage you to use curiosity as a tool to develop and practice balance and resiliency skills in order to become your own leader.
Erika Verigin – Promoting Active Thought and Redefining Difference
SUITABLE FOR: ALL LEADERS
My talk and presentation is about disrupting the way we think and interact with people who are different then us. While we live in a progressive world that strives for inclusiveness and equality, I believe there is more we can do on the individual level. On an unconscious level many of us barricade ourselves against those who are not like us. I want to address that and promote a need for connectedness and growth, both on an individual and societal level. From my point of view, true diversity is not just living in an environment with various different people. It is about sharing, learning and interacting with those people from all walks of life. Strange is good. Being different is good. Whether it’s race, sexual orientation, religion etc. we need to look at people who are different as an opportunity to learn rather than a reason to run away, fear or judge.
Patience Okuku – Taking Courage to Flip that Coin!
SESSION FULL
SUITABLE FOR:ALL LEADERS
How many times do we limit our thought to just one angle? and therefore lose the awesome opportunity to open our mind to new ways of viewing life and appreciating everything. My hope is that this presentation opens the minds of my audience to see the brighter side of their daily lives, to appreciate others more and to generally appreciate each and every day. My presentation is about flipping that coin and having that courage to see what is on the other side of the coin. It is about making people aware of how they can actually flip this coin in their everyday life. This is in their mind, social life, economic life, school life, family life, and everything.