Sunday, November 15th 2026
Grosvenor Theatre, Kay Meek Arts Centre
Speakers
Dr. Andrew Woods
Andrew has trained and developed people and organizations in 22 countries on four continents. His most recent 
book, Soft Skills in the Age of AI: Enhancing Human Potential in a 
Tech-Driven World, explores how soft skills are the key differentiator for guaranteeing success in a world dominated by automation.
Dr. Grace Lee
Dr. Lee is a neuroscientist, executive mentor, international speaker, and founder and CEO of Mastery Insights. She holds a PhD in Neuroscience from the University of British Columbia and has spent more than a decade helping executives and professionals expand their capacity to think, communicate, and lead at higher levels.
David Long
David Long is the CEO of the Greater Vancouver Food Bank and a leader committed to rethinking food distribution across the province. He has been recognized among Vancouver’s Power 50 for his leadership and impact. As a six-time recipient of Business in Vancouver’s BC500 recognition, David’s leadership has led the GVFB to earn an A rating from Charity Intelligence.
Wilson Lee
Wilson Lee has founded and operated the carnival games at the Richmond Night Market for over a decade and built a YouTube following of +211,000. Today he leads AI content campaigns for enterprise brands and helps founders become the face of their own companies.
Hedieh Safiyari
Hedieh is an entrepreneur and educator with a background in health sciences. She is the founder of PromptHealth, a platform connecting patients with health practitioners. As a digital creator, she has built a global community of more than 1.7 million people through content centred on relationships, personal growth, and human connections.
Anson Hardjojo
Anson Hardjojo is an entrepreneur operating both a financial services practice and Springfield Pens, an artisan studio creating handcrafted fountain pens. Drawing from his background in engineering, he applies analytical problem-solving and precision to help individuals and business owners navigate complex financial decisions.
Michelle Taschereau
Michelle is the founder of Atlas Brain Health, a brain health education, coaching, and speaking practice based in the Tri-Cities region of British Columbia. A Certified Brain Injury Specialist Trainer with nearly two decades of experience in brain injury support and rehabilitation, Michelle helps individuals, organizations, and care communities understand the brain, navigate change, and build resilience.
Mehran Jamshidi
Mehran is a Full-Time Lecturer at UBC's Sauder School of Business and a doctoral researcher studying how workplaces decide whose talent counts. He arrived in Canada as a skilled immigrant and spent years rebuilding a career his credentials had already earned. He is a former President of PMI Canadian West Coast and department head at Vancouver Community College.
seans
To the bank and on his driver’s license, he is Sean Marshall. But internally, they simply call themselves "the seans". They have been married for 41 years and have three grown children and six grandchildren. Diagnosed with Dissociative Identity Disorder late in life, their goal is to educate and advocate for people with D.I.D.
George Verdolaga
George is an interior designer and design-build expert with more than 30 years of experience in the industry. He is the founder and CEO of Flowform Design Group Ltd., a Vancouver-based design-build company specializing in residential renovations. He is also the author of Design Therapy: Exploring How the Spaces We Live In Shape Human Performance.
John Beck
John brings over 30 years of experience designing and building residential homes, developing small land parcels, and creating landscape projects. Today, John is passionate about tiny homes—an emerging movement—helping others see the value in choosing wisely in today's housing market. Guided by ‘Less is More’, he believes creativity is the steam engine to our souls.
Featuring
Ivan Waris Ruiz
Ivan is the founder of Public Speaking Lab and creator of the L.A.B. He is a guest instructor at several top universities around the world from UBC to The London School of Economics, to The University of Sydney. He is also an emcee and held the stage at FIFA, The Olympics, Invictus and PanAm Games.
Victoria Pippo
Victoria is a leadership mentor and speaker who works with high-performing women navigating burnout, pressure, and emotional overload. She brings a practitioner's understanding in building sustainable rhythms without sacrificing ambition or responsibility.
Alex Ma
Alex is the founder of Solar Soul Circle, a sound healing and wellness experience company. Blending crystal singing bowls, handpan, guided relaxation, breathwork, and other therapeutic instruments, Alex creates calming experiences designed to help guests slow down, and reconnect.
Anna Verbytska
Anna Verbytska, known on stage as Anya Calypso, is a Ukrainian Tribal Fusion belly dancer and teacher who has been performing for more than six years. She is a member of Samsara Dreams, a dance group that blends dance, theatre and costume to create immersive performances that transport audiences into a world of fantasy.
Meet the Organizer,
George Harjani
As the lead organizer of TEDx West Vancouver, George brings a depth of experience and a long-standing commitment to the TEDx community.
Throughout the last decade, he has supported and advised numerous TEDx events, and over the past 6 years, he has organized and produced 10 events under the TEDxGrandview Heights license and 3 events under the TEDx West Vancouver license in a wide range of TEDx formats, including youth-focused events, women’s events, standard events, and climate-centred TEDx Countdown events.
Sponsors & Partners
