October 21st, 2025 ● MaRS Waterfront, Toronto, Canada
The People People Summit 2025
Hands-on workshops, practical playbooks, and unfiltered conversations with 120+ People leaders shaping the future of work — plus unforgettable networking and a taste of Toronto at its best.
*Tickets are limited and available by application only.
Join Your Peers
Zensurance
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Broadsign
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Borrowell
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PointsBet
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Loop
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7shifts
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Voiceflow
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Zensurance • Broadsign • Borrowell • PointsBet • Loop • 7shifts • Voiceflow •
Speakers & Panelists
Learn from the operators, builders, and trailblazers shaping the future of work. Our sessions are led by real practitioners, not just talking heads.
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Jenny is the Chief People Officer at TouchBistro with nearly 25 years of experience leading people teams across startups, scale-ups, and venture. She’s helped build teams from 0 to 1,500+, supported 90+ portfolio companies as Partner, Talent at OMERS Ventures, and played a key role in fundraising, M&A, and exits. Jenny also serves as Program Director for Venture Talent at Schulich’s Venture Academy, where she teaches a masterclass on scaling teams in venture-backed companies. She’s passionate about building high-impact cultures where people thrive and solve meaningful problems.
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Daniel Eberhard has built his career as an entrepreneur by finding ways to create scalable
mission-driven companies. Daniel is the CEO and Founder of KOHO, which has raised over
$400M building Canada’s leading challenger bank in Canada. In 2010, he co-founded Kineticor
Renewables, a wind energy company which developed $50M dollars in wind projects. The
company was acquired by Algonquin Power (AQN:TSX) in 2011.
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Commissioner Kadie Philp is a seasoned executive whose career has been characterized by successful collaboration across public, private, and not-for-profit organizations to design and deliver inclusive economic growth strategies. Before joining the Ontario Pay Equity Commission in 2020, Commissioner Philp worked globally to increased women’s participation in international trade, the labour market, and the equitable participation of men and women in their local economy. Her expertise has taken her around the world working with legislators to establish programs and legislation that support women-led micro and small enterprises. She is a member of the Globe and Mail’s Women’s Collective, is a regular contributor to the OECD Forum, an active member of UN Women delegations and has been invited to World Economic Forum Davos two consecutive years to present on community-led economic growth. Commissioner Philp firmly believes that equity and inclusion are the foundation for sustainable economic prosperity and works daily to improve the labour market for people working in Ontario.
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Marie-Eve is Senior Vice President of Human Resources at Nesto Group, Canada’s leading provider of mortgage technology and financing solutions. Her core mission is to build a scalable, high-performance culture that will power Nesto Group's ambition to build the mortgage ecosystem of the future.
An expert in building and scaling venture-backed tech companies, Marie-Eve has spent over 10 years as a foundational employee, architecting elite teams from their earliest stages. Before joining Nesto, she was the Head of HR at Diagram, where she was instrumental in building and scaling the teams across its portfolio, including several companies that went on to achieve significant success and public offerings.
Leveraging her background in Computer Science and Operations Management, Marie-Eve is a strong proponent of using HR technology and AI to build smarter, more efficient People Operations. She is an expert in supporting M&A activities, leading large-scale organizational change, and evolving HR from a traditional support function into a strategic business partner that drives performance.
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Jared Tessis is Head of Talent at Klass Capital, where he leads a team focused on helping portfolio companies scale through strategic recruitment and talent advisory. Since joining Klass in 2013, Jared has been a trusted partner to founders and executives, guiding them through hiring, compensation, and talent pipeline development.
With over 15 years of experience spanning agency, in-house, and professional services, Jared brings a unique blend of operational insight and deep industry network. He and his team actively source and engage top software talent, connecting high-performing individuals to high-growth opportunities across the Klass portfolio.
Jared holds an HBA from the Ivey Business School and is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA, CA).
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Krista Skalde is the Chief Talent Officer at Inovia Capital, where she works closely with founders and executive teams to scale world-class leadership and culture across the firm’s portfolio. A seasoned operator, Krista brings over 20 years of experience in global talent, executive recruitment, and organizational strategy, with a background spanning early-stage startups to high-growth scaleups and multinationals.
At Inovia, she leads talent advisory across hiring, succession, and performance, helping companies navigate the evolving demands of modern leadership. Prior to joining Inovia, Krista held senior talent roles at fast-growing technology companies and led global teams focused on executive search and leadership development.
Known for her thoughtful approach to talent and her deep understanding of founder dynamics, Krista is a go-to partner for CEOs looking to build high-performing, values-aligned teams.
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Marianne is a people-first builder with over a decade of experience across the tech ecosystem—as a founder, operator, board member, VC, angel investor, and now executive search partner at True. She's spent her career in the corners where talent, community, and innovation intersect, with a mission to connect smart people and create meaningful change.
She’s co-founded Canada’s largest tech meetup, launched a startup job board acquired by Communitech, built the world’s largest COVID-era layoff list, and helped expand a Tier 1 venture firm’s talent presence in Canada. Whether scaling communities or advising founders, Marianne brings curiosity, creativity, and a deeply human approach to everything she does.
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Rachel Jacobson is the Chief People Officer at AI, where she thrives at the intersection of human potential and startup innovation. With a background in senior leadership roles at fast-paced tech startups, Rachel specializes in building high-performance teams and shaping cultures that drive global impact. Known for her relentless curiosity and commitment to continuous learning, she helps teams not only adapt but thrive in today’s ever-evolving tech landscape.
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Ali Nawab is the CEO and Co-Founder of Agentnoon, an org design and workforce planning platform helping leaders build leaner, outcome-aligned organizations. Backed by Y Combinator and over 35 Silicon Valley investors, Agentnoon serves high-growth and unicorn companies globally.
A repeat founder, Ali previously built Kiwi.ai, an on-device machine learning startup acquired by Sentiance in 2018. He began his career in consulting at Booz & Company, Deloitte, and EY, leading large global teams across tech and strategy projects.
Ali holds a Computer Science degree from the University at Buffalo and an MBA from Ivey. He also hosts Ali’s Boardroom, a podcast featuring conversations with CEOs and finance leaders on scaling smart, efficient companies.
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Vanesa is a seasoned People & Culture leader with a global lens, bringing a rare blend of strategic thinking, operational depth, and human-first leadership. She thrives at the intersection of business transformation and people strategy, helping organizations simplify complexity and turn ambiguity into opportunity.
With experience spanning 15+ countries across four continents, Vanesa has held roles ranging from Deloitte Management Consultant to tech start-up CEO — a journey that earned her a shortlist nod for Business Leader of the Year at the Women in IT Awards. She’s known for partnering closely with senior leadership teams and boards to design and execute adaptive, people-first strategies that drive lasting impact.
Fluent in Spanish and English, Vanesa is also a dynamic speaker and community builder — serving as CMO and executive team member at TechWPG, a speaker and ambassador for Manitoba Women in Tech, and a trusted coach for start-up founders. Whether she’s leading transformation, enabling talent strategies, or lighting up a room with a great insight, Vanesa is passionate about building genuine, lasting connections that unlock organizational potential.
Why It’s Worth Your Time
👥 Real Connections, Not Just Contacts
Rub shoulders with senior People leaders, rising CPOs, and operators who are solving the same challenges you are. Whether it’s during our interactive sessions or over a shared bottle of (insert what you like!) at dinner, you’ll build relationships that last well beyond the Summit.
📚 Steal-Worthy Tools You’ll Actually Use
Get exclusive access to practical playbooks, proven templates, and live benchmarking data from 100+ companies. No fluff. Just ready-to-use tools to level up your people strategy the moment you're back at work.
🍷 Curated Private Dining Experience
Cap off your day with a seat at one of our private dining room dinners — small, thoughtful groups designed to spark real conversation, shared insight, and a little Toronto magic. Because sometimes the best ideas don’t come in a breakout room — they come over dessert.
This is more than a summit — it’s your strategy session for what’s next in People. While we’re still shaping the final agenda, this preview gives you a sense of the flow: sharp insights, actionable tools, real conversations, and curated moments designed to push your thinking and grow your network.
Morning
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Arrive, caffeinate, and connect with fellow People and Talent leaders.
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Kickoff from the TPPG team and Summit Co-Chairs. We'll set the tone for the day and share how to get the most value from your time.
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Moderator:
Jenny do Forno - Chief People Officer, TouchBistro
Speakers:
Rachel Jacobson - Chief People Officer, Integrate.ai
Krista Skalde-Roy - Chief Talent Officer, Inovia
Daniel Eberhard - Founder & CEO, KOHOThe old playbook is gone. Culture decks and engagement surveys aren’t enough when you’re being asked to lead transformation, rebuild trust, and drive performance—all while your own team is under-resourced. In this opening panel, we ask: what is the People function now? What are CEOs really expecting? And what does success look like when the job keeps changing?
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Expert-led talks and interactive roundtables on the community’s most-requested topics.
Choose your track:How to Train your AI HR Business Partner
Ahmed Osman - Chief of Staff, People & Culture, ZensuranceFrom Hype to Hiring: Making AI Work in Recruitment
Mike Bettley - Senior Director, Talent, StackAdaptSmarter Workforce Planning with AI: Practical Tools and Tactics
Ali Nawab - Founder & CEO, Agentnoon -
Step away from the screens, recharge, and grab a coffee. This is your chance to reset, stretch, and have some unstructured conversation before we dive back into the sessions.
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Moderator:
Shavonne Hasfal-McIntosh - Founder, SHM Consulting
Speakers:
Kadie Philp - Commissioner & Chief Administrative Officer, Pay Equity Commission
Vanesa Cotlar - VP People & Culture, PolicyMe
Marie-Eve Bernard - SVP, Human Resources, Nesto GroupEvery People leader knows the parts of the job that don’t make it into LinkedIn posts: restructures that shake trust, executives who aren’t aligned, limited budgets, and the weight of holding a culture together when things get tough.
This candid conversation pulls back the curtain on the realities of leading People functions in 2025 - and how top leaders are navigating the challenges no one usually talks about.
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Take a break, grab a seat, and enjoy lunch with fellow attendees. No formal programming—just great food and time to continue the conversations that matter most to you.
Afternoon
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Moderator:
Martin Hauck - Founder, The People People Group
Speaker:
Lorena Scott - Chief People Officer, RelayWhat does it take for a Chief People Officer to build real partnership with the CEO and executive team through high growth, tough calls, and everything in between?
In this candid conversation, Relay’s Chief People Officer shares the inside story of forging alignment at the executive table—navigating restructures, balancing culture with business priorities, and influencing decisions in a shifting market. This session goes beyond strategy decks to explore trust, tension, trade-offs, and what it takes to establish the People function as a true strategic partner at the highest level.
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Expert-led talks and interactive roundtables on the community’s most-requested topics.
Choose your track:From Grey to Clarity: The HR Guide to Legal Pitfalls
Brett Liu - COO, Inspiration Commerce GroupLead with Love, a Lesson from the Frontline
Noah Warder - VP, People & Culture, Accent Inns
Investor Relations for People Leaders: Building a New Strategic Muscle
Joshua Goodfield - Executive Director, VC Platform
Jared Tessis - Talent Partner, Klass Capital -
Step away from the screens, recharge, and grab a coffee. This is your chance to reset, stretch, and have some unstructured conversation before we dive back into the sessions.
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Rapid-fire, field-tested tactics from People leaders at high-growth companies. Fast, unfiltered insights you can apply right away—crowdsourced from our community, with the top ideas invited to take the stage.
Why Great HR Leaders Think Like Operators
Shawna Stewart - Director of Product, FIS GlobalVibe Coding with Google App Script to Automate the Boring Stuff
Jordann Celik - Senior People Operations, CaskFrom Death Doula to Desk Doula: Supporting Workplace Transitions with Heart
Sandra Ugrin - VP People & Culture, DigitalEdNot Just a Cost Center: How HR Can Save Your Company Money and Uplift Employees
Katy Hoszka - Senior Manager Total Rewards, CertnGotcha! - Catching Recruitment Fraud
Mary Papagiannis - Senior Talent Manager, ZayZoon -
A final toast and open networking before dinner.
Evening
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An intimate, curated dinner at a nearby venue to continue the conversation and build deeper connections.
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Still here? Close out the day with a more relaxed vibe - whether it’s grabbing a nightcap at the bar or jumping in for karaoke, this is a chance to unwind, have fun, and connect with fellow attendees in a casual setting.
Our Guiding Principles
The People People Summit isn’t your average People summit. It’s built by People leaders, for People leaders—so every session, speaker, and experience is designed to be immediately useful, not just interesting.
🔧 Curated
This isn’t a crowd — it’s a carefully selected group of senior People operators, rising CPOs, and thinkers who are actively shaping the future of work. Every voice in the room adds value. Expect fewer buzzwords, more “why didn’t I think of that?” moments, and actionable tools and playbooks you won’t find anywhere else.
📊 Community Vibes
You’ll feel it right away. This is a room full of People leaders who actually want to be here—open, thoughtful, generous with their ideas and energy. It’s the kind of environment where hallway chats turn into long-term collaborations, and where showing up as yourself isn’t just welcome, it’s expected.
🤝 Real Talk + Action
Unfiltered conversations with senior People leaders who get it. Leave with new perspectives, fresh ideas, and a network that sticks with you long after the summit ends.
Who Should Attend?
“Hands down the most useful People event I’ve attended. Every conversation felt relevant and real.”
“It’s rare to be in a room where everyone actually gets the challenges you’re facing. I left with ideas I could implement the next day.”
This is a curated experience for People leaders who are building what’s next. If you're navigating real complexity—from scaling teams to fixing comp to rolling out global tech—this room is for you.
We review every application to ensure attendees bring both insight and intention to the conversations.
💼 C-Suite Executives
CHROs, CPOs, COOs, and Founders shaping culture and leading org-wide change.
🧠 Heads of People / HR / DEI
Running the show for employee experience, HR operations, and inclusive workplace design—typically for teams of 100+.
📈 Talent & Recruiting Leaders
Driving growth through modern employer branding, recruiting infrastructure, and future-ready talent pipelines.
⚙️ VP & Director-Level Innovators
Owning HR tech stacks, global compliance, performance programs, and comp strategy.
📊 Senior People Ops Leaders
Chiefs of Staff, Directors of Workplace Experience, Strategy, or Enablement—translating business needs into scalable systems.
Summit Sponsors
FAQs
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The Summit is curated for senior People leaders, including CPOs, Heads of People, Talent, and Ops who are driving real change inside modern organizations.
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Get in touch with us by clicking here.
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All tickets are final sale and non-refundable.
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Yes, pending approval. We aim to maintain the integrity of the attendee mix.
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Not this time. The value of the Summit is in the in-person connections and off-the-record conversations.
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Yes, coffee, lunch, snacks, and refreshments are provided. All attendees will also be invited to private dinners.
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We’ve got you. If you’re excited to attend but need company approval or support to cover your ticket, we’ve created a ready-to-use email template and a short business case guide to help you make the ask.