Thursday, March 5, 2026 | 6:00–8:00 PM ET
Speaker: Jennifer Quinn

Overview:

This session explores how 2SLGBTQIA+ leaders can strengthen resilience amid systemic challenges, balancing authenticity and leadership demands. Participants reflect on adaptive leadership, community care, and sustainable growth.

Outcomes & Learnings:

• Identify personal and professional resilience strategies for 2SLGBTQIA+ leaders.
• Understand the connection between authenticity, vulnerability, and leadership strength.
• Build tools for emotional regulation and boundary-setting in challenging environments.
• Develop a personal resilience action plan for continued growth.

We’re thrilled to welcome Jennifer Quinn, CEO of Nieuport Aviation, as our special guest speaker. Since 2021, Jennifer has led Nieuport’s operations, strategy, stakeholder relations, and public affairs with vision and expertise. Her impressive career spans public and private sectors, including leadership roles at Deloitte and Infrastructure Ontario.

In 2024, Jennifer was awarded the Report on Business magazine Best Executive Award from the Globe and Mail for her impactful leadership—guiding Nieuport’s operations through pandemic recovery and collaborating with PortsToronto to bring a U.S. Preclearance facility to the airport (expected late 2025). She was also recognized as one of Canada’s 100 Most Powerful Women of 2024 by the Women’s Executive Network.

A champion of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Jennifer was honoured in 2017 with Start Proud’s Leaders to be Proud of – Professional Leadership Award for her contributions to the LGBTQ community.

Jennifer holds an Honours Bachelor of Accounting from Brock University, a Master’s Certificate in Public Management from York University, and is a Chartered Professional Accountant.

Tuesday, March 17, 2026 | 6:00–8:00 PM ET
Speaker: Cicely Blain

Overview:

Explores how lived experience, intersectionality, and queer perspectives strengthen inclusive leadership practices.

Outcomes:

• Reflect on how identity informs leadership style.
• Discover strategies for visibility and influence.
• Learn frameworks for mentoring and empowering diverse teams.

Cicely Belle Blain is a Black, mixed, queer non-binary femme from London, United Kingdom now living on the lands of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh people. Their ancestry is a mix of Gambian (Wolof), Jamaican and English.

Cicely Belle spent their formative years between London, the Netherlands, and a small Catholic village in France – each home presenting a pivotal opportunity for awakening and growth. Cicely Belle is descended from a long line of feminist educators and developed a passion for justice from a young age.

Cicely Belle is noted for founding Black Lives Matter Vancouver and subsequently being listed as one of Vancouver’s 50 most powerful people by Vancouver Magazine twice, BC Business’s 30 under 30, and one of Refinery29’s Powerhouses of 2020.

Cicely Belle founded Bakau Consulting Inc. in 2018 and has grown the company to serve 1000’s of clients worldwide – their public speaking, equity consulting and literary prowess has impacted people in Canada, the USA, the UK, South Korea, Netherlands, Poland, Germany, Ecuador, Senegal, South Africa, Eswatini and many more.

Some of their most notable professional achievements include speaking at the United Nations Summit in Quito, Ecuador, developing an Intersectionality Toolkit for the City of Vancouver and presenting the keynote address for the 2020 graduating ceremony at the University of British Columbia, their alma mater.

Cicely Belle is also an instructor in Executive Leadership at Simon Fraser University, the Editorial Director of Ripple of Change Magazine and the author of Burning Sugar (Arsenal Pulp Press and VS Books, 2020). They are also a board member with the Tegan and Sara Foundation.

Burning Sugar was shortlisted for the 2021 Pat Lowther Memorial Award, and longlisted for the Gerald Lampert Memorial Award. Their debut book also garnered them spots at some of Canada’s top literary festivals including Vancouver Writer’s Festival, Word of the Street Toronto, FOLD and features in CBC Books, Autostraddle, Indigo and Essence Mag.

Tuesday, March 24, 2026 | 6:00–7:00 PM ET
Facilitator: Zack Sandor Kerr

A 1-hour strategy space for leaders to pause, reflect, and realign their energy and leadership practices through self-care and restorative connection.

Focus:

Understanding rest as an act of leadership and empowerment.

Outcomes:

• Explore rest as a leadership value, not a reward.
• Learn short restorative techniques for managing burnout.
• Commit to embedding rest into leadership routines.

Zack Sandor-Kerr is a bisexual, Toronto-based artist, facilitator and creativity coach with a background in marketing, communications, and content strategy. For over a decade, Zack worked in leading public relations and content marketing agencies, supporting major brands across sectors through integrated campaigns, public relations strategy, and storytelling that connected audiences with purpose-driven messages.

Today, Zack brings that same strategic thinking into the world of creative facilitation. His art-led practice centers on the belief that everyone is inherently creative—and that creativity is a tool for tangible business impact, connection, well-being, and change. Through workshops, coaching, and artistic experiences, Zack helps individuals and teams unlock their own creative potential, offering playful and accessible ways to explore wellness, identity, expression, and collaboration.

Zack is proud to contribute to Pride at Work’s THRIVE curriculum, creating spaces where people can explore ideas, challenge assumptions, and tap into small acts of art-making as a source of learning and growth.

Tuesday, March 31, 2026 | 6:00–8:00 PM ET
Speaker: Dan Egol, Executive Director, IDEAS Generation

Overview:

Focuses on leveraging leadership roles to challenge inequities and embed equity within workplace systems.

Outcomes:

• Develop advocacy strategies within organizational structures.
• Learn how to align DEI values with business outcomes.
• Build confidence in navigating institutional barriers while sustaining wellbeing.

Raised in a multicultural home with strong ties to both Cuba and Israel and as a member of the LBGTQ+ community, Dan grew up passionate about social justice, community building, and global affairs. In pursuit of those passions, Dan, alongside two former colleagues from Cook Ross (now BeEquitable) – a DEI Consulting firm – co-founded IDEAS Generation, a nonprofit whose mission is to “connect, support and elevate the next generation of leaders & communities advancing IDEAS: Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Access, and Social justice.”

Since May of 2020, Dan has served as the organization’s inaugural Executive Director and helped launch leadership and professional development programs to catalyze the next generation of IDEAS leaders. Dan was a 2023 Roddenberry Foundation Fellow and completed Leadership Greater Washington Signature Program as the youngest member of the 2022 cohort. He was also recently named a 2025 Aspen Ideas Festival Fellow.

When not working on building cultures and systems that work for everyone, Dan can be found struggling through a New York Times Crossword Puzzle, getting critiqued by DuoLingo avatars while attempting to learn French, or exploring a new place as a digital nomad.

Tuesday, April 14, 2026 | 6:00–8:00 PM ET
Speaker: Alejandro Mayoral Baños

Overview:

Centers on collective leadership and the power of relational care among 2SLGBTQIA+ people managers.

Outcomes:

• Recognize the importance of community care in leadership sustainability.
• Explore peer mentorship and allyship strategies.
• Commit to building networks that nurture authenticity and shared success.

As Executive Director of Access Now, Dr. Alejandro Mayoral Baños leads the mission of extending and defending the digital rights of people and communities at risk. He is a dedicated activist and academic passionate about bridging Indigenous Peoples and digital technologies. As a Mixtec/mestizo (Indigenous to Mexico) immigrant in Canada and a proud member of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, Alejandro is driven by a commitment to inclusivity and equity through technology. He founded the Indigenous Friends Association (IFA) in Canada and Magtayaní in Mexico, giving him extensive experience driving organizational growth across various socio-economic contexts and fostering environments where Indigenous perspectives and digital innovation converge. With a background in volunteering and social action, Alejandro’s work has spanned Canada, Mexico, Peru, Guatemala, Chile, Bolivia, and the UN, and he was made an Ashoka Fellow in 2023, in recognition of his work. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, a Master’s in Interdisciplinary Studies, and a Ph.D. in Communication and Culture, emphasizing decolonial computing and Indigenous media.

Tuesday, April 21, 2026 | 6:00–7:00 PM ET
Facilitator: Zack Sandor Kerr

Focus:

Using mindfulness and reflection to enhance decision-making and emotional intelligence.

Outcomes:

• Strengthen awareness and presence in leadership.
• Practice grounding and focus techniques.
• Identify stress triggers and create personal grounding rituals.

Zack Sandor-Kerr is a bisexual, Toronto-based artist, facilitator and creativity coach with a background in marketing, communications, and content strategy. For over a decade, Zack worked in leading public relations and content marketing agencies, supporting major brands across sectors through integrated campaigns, public relations strategy, and storytelling that connected audiences with purpose-driven messages.

Today, Zack brings that same strategic thinking into the world of creative facilitation. His art-led practice centers on the belief that everyone is inherently creative—and that creativity is a tool for tangible business impact, connection, well-being, and change. Through workshops, coaching, and artistic experiences, Zack helps individuals and teams unlock their own creative potential, offering playful and accessible ways to explore wellness, identity, expression, and collaboration.

Zack is proud to contribute to Pride at Work’s THRIVE curriculum, creating spaces where people can explore ideas, challenge assumptions, and tap into small acts of art-making as a source of learning and growth.

Tuesday, April 28, 2026 | 6:00–8:00 PM ET
Speaker: Paul Taylor

Overview:

This session invites 2Spirit, queer, and trans leaders to explore the transformative power of storytelling as a tool for equity and inclusion. Paul will share personal insights on how authentic storytelling can shift organizational culture, influence policy, and deepen empathy within teams. Participants will also learn practical ways to translate equity values into measurable, sustainable action within their leadership practices.

Outcomes & Learnings:

• Understand how personal and community narratives can drive systemic change.
• Identify meaningful ways to embed equity measures into everyday leadership.
• Learn to connect data-driven equity goals with lived experiences and stories.
• Gain tools to communicate impact and inspire accountability within organizations.
• Leave empowered to use storytelling as a leadership strategy for transformation.

Paul Taylor is a long-time activist, non-profit leader, educator and media commentator. He is also the Co-Managing Director of Evenings & Weekends Consulting. For the last several years, he has also taught in the areas of organizational leadership, people resources and fundraising at Simon Fraser University.

From 2017 to 2023, Paul served as the Executive Director of FoodShare Toronto, Canada’s largest food justice organization. At FoodShare his leadership was consistently recognized for inspiring adoption of equity-focused people policies and practices in organizations well beyond FoodShare.

Paul’s experience includes Executive Director roles at Gordon Neighbourhood House and the Downtown Eastside Neighbourhood House. He has also chaired the British Columbia Poverty Reduction Coalition, served on the Board of Directors of the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives and as Vice-Chair of Food Secure Canada.

He has written several op-eds on leadership, the non-profit sector and various social issues. In 2020, Paul was named one of Canada’s Top 40 under 40, one of Toronto Life’s 50 Most Influential Torontonians and voted as Best Activist by Now Magazine readers.

When not at work, Paul is almost always found in the kitchen, on his bike, in a good book or at a local protest.

Tuesday, May 12, 2026 | 6:00–8:00 PM ET
Facilitated Reflection Session

Overview:

A quiet, guided reflection session that encourages leaders to slow down, process learning, and reconnect with purpose.

Outcomes & Learnings:

• Integrate key insights from THRIVE sessions into personal practice.
• Reflect on leadership challenges and moments of growth.
• Develop clarity around next steps for inclusive leadership action.
• Leave with a renewed sense of alignment and grounded confidence.