Odgers Berndtson Canada is pleased to announce that the CEOx1Day program will return in 2022 with a twist!
On February 25th, 2022, our partners at CEOx1Day by Odgers Berndtson will host a Future Leaders Summit to provide leadership development and career insights for Canada’s most promising future leaders. The summit will take place virtually, which will enable more students from across Canada to take part, while ensuring program participants are safe.
Although the event will not include a one-on-one, in-person experience this year, it will provide many opportunities to learn from and network with some of Canada’s most impressive CEOs and CHROs.
What's in it for students?
Take part in the most innovative leadership training opportunity in Canada! The CEOx1Day Future Leaders Summit gives students an opportunity to apply in-class learning to a real world situation, equipping them with the tools and skills to start building their careers.
Make this a first step towards your future leadership success
Program Benefits:
- Real-world experience: The rigorous selection process provides valuable skills and experiences for future job search.
- Deep insights into personal leadership skills: Many applicants will have the opportunity to receive a personalized leadership assessment by Hogan Assessments. The report will provide feedback on leadership skills, including relationship-building, goal-setting, and strategic thinking, in addition to areas of development.
- Professional networking exposure: Finalists will have the opportunity to network with the participating CEOs and CHROs as well as Odgers Berndtson executive search and leadership development experts.
- Practical career management advice: Finalists will hear from current CEOs about how they managed their careers, what challenges they overcame, and what they are looking for in young talent.
The program was founded over 10 years ago in Germany and now runs in more than 10 countries worldwide including the UK, Spain, Brazil, Belgium, Australia, and South Africa and Singapore.
To date more than 120 Canadian organizations have participated in Canada including: PayPal, Lululemon, Cineplex, Manulife, IKEA, MEC, De Beers, VanCity, Plan Canada, and Amnesty International. Click here to see more past participants.
The CEOx1Day Future Leaders Summit is looking for students with a strong academic placement, who have demonstrated leadership on campus and in the community, and who want to change the world! If this sounds like you, we invite you to click here to apply and be recognized as a future leader!
All third- and fourth-year university and college students enrolled in a Canadian School are eligible to apply for the CEOx1Day Future Leaders Summit. The two phases of the selection process include: Phase 1 Applying for CEOx1Day and Phase 2 Online Leadership Assessment & Interviews (Semi-Finalists Only).
Eligible students must complete, and submit, an online application, which will be reviewed carefully by Odgers Berndtson’s team of leadership experts. Applications must include:
- Contact information
- The name of the university or college the student attends as well as the name of the program they are enrolled
- A resumé summarizing the student’s paid and unpaid work experience, extracurricular activities, community involvement, charity work, and any awards received
- Academic transcripts
- A written response to the essay questions provided, highlighting the student’s thoughts on leadership
Evaluation Criteria for Phase 1: Applications will be evaluated based on each student’s GPA, the breadth of their work, volunteer experience, extracurricular activities, and the quality of their responses to the essays/questions provided on leadership.
Approximate Time Commitment: 2 hours
A group of semi finalists will be selected to proceed to Phase 2, which will involve the completion of an online Hogan CEOx1Day Assessment that profiles their skills, competencies, leadership styles, and opportunities for development.
Hogan has developed a custom leadership assessment for CEOx1Day applicants that identifies the strengths and competencies of confident and ambitious individuals who handle stress effectively, are politically astute, dependable, and who value learning and developing new skills.
In addition, students will also be invited to participate in a virtual interview process with Odgers Berndtson Consultants via video conference. These interviews will mirror a real-life job search and interviewing session.
Evaluation Criteria for Phase 2: Semi-finalists will be assessed on how well they present themselves, communicate, and think on their feet, as well as the quality of their answers to the interview questions, and their overall fit with participating CEOs.
The final evaluation will consider each semi-finalist’s performance in the Hogan CEOx1Day Assessment coupled with the interviews.
Canada's most promising future leaders/finalists will be invited to attend the CEOx1Day Future Leaders Summit on February 25, 2022.
With the summit taking place virtually, we are able to inspire and be inspired by more students across Canada and allow for the furthest reach possible.
Finalists will learn from, and network with, some of Canada's most impressive CEOs and CHROs. These CEOs and CHROs will provide leadership development and career insights, and touch on topics like the future of work and what organizations are looking for when they recruit young talent.
Participating CEOs will share personal insights about their backgrounds, career paths and how they create value in their organization in a panel discussion and breakout sessions. Sessions will be tailored to the CEO and organization to ensure an experience that is both meaningful for the CEOs and our student finalists.
In these breakout sessions the CEO and the students will tackle the question of what the future of the workplace or leadership is, or what future leaders could offer to organizations. CEOs may provide a virtual tour or invite students to help them address a real-life business scenario. Each session will be unique, meaningful and a memorable experience for both the students and CEO.
If you have any other questions about your eligibility or the selection process, check out these Frequently Asked Questions
50 third and fourth year students from across Canada will be selected and gather virtually to take part in the CEOx1Day Future Leaders Summit on February 25th, 2022. The formal agenda will run from 10 am - 3:00 pm and will feature:
- An Interactive panel with 5 top CEOs
- CEOx1Day Breakout Sessions where you will have a a chance to engage, stand out and receive mentoring from a CEO in a smaller group with 10 fellow summit participants
- Expert feedback sessions and a debrief of all assessments completed throughout the CEOx1Day application process
- A CHRO panel chalked full of insights and tips on recruitment, the future of work, and cultivating your leadership expertise
- Networking with fellow summit participants who represent the best of the best in student leaders from across the country
Who better to share insight into what you can expect as a part of the CEOx1Day program than past participants! We recently connected with 16 CEOx1Day alumni - 11 students and 5 CEOs - to tell us about their experiences, valuable insights they gleaned into their own leadership and career, and how their CEOx1Day experience continues to resonate with them today!
Students
CEOS
Each week, we will be adding to the testimonial gallery so check back often for even more testimonials.
2022 CEOs & Presidents
*Scroll through horizontally to see all of participating CEOs/CHROs
Judy Goldring
President & Head of Global Distribution, AGFJudy G. Goldring is a renowned leader in the asset management industry and one of Canada’s most influential business women. As President and Head of Global Distribution at AGF Management Limited, she oversees the execution of strategic plans in support of business priorities, counsels the CEO on business planning and provides direction for corporate initiatives.
Reporting to the CEO, Judy also brings unified accountability to and fosters greater synergies across AGF’s respective sales distribution channels globally. In addition, she oversees the firm’s Human Resources function and is responsible for AGF’s Private Client businesses: Highstreet Asset Management Inc., Cypress Capital Management Ltd. and Doherty & Associates Ltd.
Judy is also a member of the Executive Management Team where she assists in the development and execution of AGF’s strategy. In addition, as a member of the Board of Directors for AGF Management Limited and AGF Mutual Funds, she provides strategic leadership and vision that promotes AGF’s long-term growth. ...
Since joining AGF in 1998, Judy has held several roles with increasing responsibility. Prior to being named President, she served as Executive Vice-President and Chief Operating Officer. In this role, she demonstrated leadership in promoting and supporting the firm’s operational effectiveness.
Before joining AGF, Judy specialized in regulatory and administrative law. She received a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the University of Toronto and earned her Bachelor of Laws (LL.B) from Queen’s University. She is a member of the Law Society of Upper Canada and has been a member of the Canadian Bar Association since 1993. In 2019, she received an Honorary Doctorate of Laws (LL.D) from the University of Toronto.
Judy sits on the Board of Directors of the Investment Funds Institute of Canada (IFIC) and Toronto French School (TFS), Canada’s International School, which is the largest bilingual school in Canada. She also supports fundraising for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation National $100 million Campaign to Accelerate
In 2015, Judy was named a Top 100 Hall of Fame Inductee by the Women’s Executive Network™ (WXN). This distinct honour is given to women who are nominated as one of Canada’s Most Powerful Women: Top 100 for a fourth time. Before being nominated in 2015, Judy was recognized by the WXN in 2012, 2013 and 2014. Judy was also honoured as one of the Women’s Post Top 20 Women of 2010. Show More
Nizar Ladak
CEO, Digital Research Alliance of CanadaNizar Ladak is a senior executive with nearly 30 years of experience in federal and provincial government agencies and hospitals. He is the CEO of the New Digital Research Infrastructure Organization (NDRIO), a federally funded, not-for-profit organization that advances the integration and improvement of digital tools and services for Canadian researchers.
Prior to this role, Mr. Ladak was the President and CEO of Compute Ontario; Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Health Quality Ontario; Vice President and Chief Information Officer at North York General Hospital; Senior Director at the Central East Local Health Integration Network (LHIN); and Director of the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI).
His passion is finding innovative solutions to operational problems, mentoring teams and volunteering his time in non-profit, social service organizations. ...
Mr. Ladak has a Master of Education degree from the University of Toronto and has completed executive leadership programs at Harvard Business School, Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business and the Rotman Graduate School of Business. In 2021, Mr. Ladak was awarded the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE) Leaders and Legends Distinguished Service Award which honours exceptional individuals for longstanding and distinguished service in an area of public importance. In 2019, Mr. Ladak was selected as one of Canada’s Top 25 Immigrants by the Royal Bank of Canada and Canadian Immigrant magazine. He gives back to the community through numerous Board roles, including serving on the Board of Directors of the Touchstone Institute, and mentorship of young professionals. Show More
Mike DeGagné
President & CEO, Indspire
An Ojibway from the Animakee Wa Zhing 37 First Nation, Mike DeGagné comes to Indspire with a lifetime of work in Indigenous health and education. He was appointed Nipissing University President and Vice Chancellor in 2013, becoming one of the first Indigenous presidents of a Canadian public university. While President of Nipissing, Dr. DeGagné dedicated much of his work to Indigenous issues and ensuring that Nipissing University took a leading role in the Indigenization of the post-secondary education sector. During his tenure, the University experienced growth in both its graduate and undergraduate programs as well as an increase in research funding. Nipissing also strengthened its position as one of the top universities in the country for student experience, mental health services, residence experience and overall student satisfaction.
He later served as the first President of Yukon University, a new hybrid post-secondary institution in Whitehorse, Yukon. During this time, he managed the transition to a university. ... His career includes working with the federal government in management of Indigenous programs and as a negotiator of comprehensive land claims. In 1998, Dr. DeGagné became the founding Executive Director of the Aboriginal Healing Foundation, a national Indigenous organization dedicated to addressing the legacy of Canada’s Indian Residential School System. He is the Chair of The Federation for the Humanities and Social Sciences.
Dr. DeGagné holds a PhD from Michigan State University, focussing on Indigenous post-secondary success, and Masters degrees in Administration, Law, and Public Ethics. Since 2001, Dr. DeGagné has given numerous presentations across Canada on issues of Indigenous health, residential schools, law, reconciliation, and governance. Internationally, he has brought the same message to the United States, Australia and New Zealand. He has co-edited and co-authored a number of publications in Canada and Australia on reconciliation and healing.
He has served on numerous boards of directors in the health and university sectors including as Chairman of Ottawa’s Queensway Carleton Hospital and Chairman of the Child Welfare League of Canada. Dr. DeGagné is a recipient of the Order of Canada and the Order of Ontario as well as the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal. Most recently, he received an Indspire Award for Public Service, was inducted into the Nipissing District Human Rights Hall of Fame, and received an Honorary Doctorate of Law from Dalhousie University. Show More
Andrew Waitman
CEO, Assent Compliance
Andrew’s history of helping businesses succeed continues at Assent Compliance. Since becoming CEO, he has been integral to the company’s growth, and helped it earn a spot on the Narwhal List for high-potential companies.
Previously, Andrew was CEO of Pythian, overseeing its rise from a small business to one of Canada’s largest and fastest-growing global professional services companies. He also served as Managing Partner at Celtic House Venture Partners during its highest-performing years to date, when one fund produced one of the world’s top ten best venture fund returns ever. ... Andrew has served on the boards of more than 30 technology companies. He is currently a board member at Assent and Fidus Systems, and sits on Genesys Capital’s advisory board.
He provides guidance to companies on:
Show More
- Attracting new investors.
- Generating sustainable revenue growth.
- Building an ESG program.
- Mitigating global business risk.
Carolyn Spriet
President, Hallmark Canada
Carolyn Spriet is a consumer-packaged goods executive with 25+ years’ experience leading Private, Private Equity and Tier One Multinational organizations and championing the growth of many of Canada’s most recognized household and retailer brands. She is currently the President of Hallmark Canada, responsible for local strategy and operations, and driving sales in the Drug/Mass/Club/Grocery channels and the Hallmark Gold Crown independent retail stores.
Prior to joining Hallmark, Carolyn was General Manager of Sun Products Canada, a division of the $2B North American private equity-backed consumer products company that was formed with the acquisition of Unilever’s laundry business. Carolyn was responsible for the 2008 start-up of the Canadian company and built that organization for eight years until its successful sale to Henkel AG, a global CPG Multinational. As General Manager, Carolyn was responsible for the stand-alone $200 MM Canadian operation, including all functional strategy development, financial results, and leadership of the 70-person team. ...
Prior to Sun Products, Carolyn had a successful 16-year career at Unilever Canada. During this time, she held progressive marketing and sales leadership roles in all three company business units: Food (Becel, Ben & Jerry’s, Lipton), Personal Care (Dove, Degree, Axe) and Homecare (Sunlight, Vim, Snuggle). As a lead of the Unilever Laundry Divestiture team, Carolyn and her colleagues led the sale process with prospective buyers and ultimately executed the transfer of the business to private equity.
Carolyn holds an Honours Business Administration degree from Wilfrid Laurier University. She lives in Toronto with her husband, Jeff, and three children. Outside of work, Carolyn enjoys anything that gets her outdoors and active - skiing, snowboarding, hiking and travel. Show More
2022 CHROs & Heads of People and Culture/Talent
Nicki Sabapathy
Director, Global Talent, Shopify
As the Global Human Resources Director at Shopify, Nicki Sabapathy leads a global team in reinforcing the company’s culture, creating and leading large-scale employee engagement and development programs, and implementing talent management strategies that support the achievement of business goals and objectives. In her role, Nicki partners with senior executives in Shopify’s Merchant Support, Finance, Legal and HR organizations globally, where she drives innovative leadership.
Nicki is a champion for inclusion and diversity which contributed to her recently being named as one of Canada’s top 10 Executives in HR for 2020 by the Globe and Mail and on the Global HR 100 list for 2021.
Prior to joining Shopify, she served as the Human Resources country head for Cisco Canada for 7 years, where she was responsible for all aspects of Human Resources including alignment of the HR function and broader employee base with corporate strategy.
Gordana Terkalas
Senior Vice President, Aecon
Gordana Terkalas is Senior Vice President, Human Resources, leading people initiatives at Aecon, including the corporation’s Diversity & Inclusion Council, is a member of the Ethics & Compliance Committee, and leads the Organizational Change Management Community of Practice.
Ms. Terkalas is a versatile HR leader, who has grown her career in fast-paced, entrepreneurial organizations calling for significant agility and progressive thinking.
Prior to joining Aecon, Ms. Terkalas practiced HR in various industries including consulting engineering, technology, and healthcare. Throughout her career, she has garnered extensive experience in both Operations and Corporate Services across all facets of the HR function – from organization design, talent acquisition, and total rewards to employee development, talent and succession management. She holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from Ryerson University, as well as a CHRL Designation and is a member of the Association of Change Management Professionals.
Niki daSilva
Global Chief People Officer, Right to Play International
Niki oversees human resources. Previously, she was the Managing Director for the MBA Program at the Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto. Niki holds an undergraduate degree from the Ivey Business School and an MBA from the University of Toronto.
Current Companies
Past Participants
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