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Embrace 2021

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Embrace 2021 Virtual Summit

June 22 – 24

1:00 p.m. –  3:30 p.m., ET

An exclusive event for direct sellers operating in Canada

This event will be an opportunity for learning, inspiration, fun and insight on the current issues facing the direct selling industry in Canada.

Who Should Attend?

All employees of DSA Canada Active and Supplier Member companies can attend Embrace 2021.

Check out our Member Directory and our Supplier Directory to see if your company is an active member.

Not a Member? Find Out How You Can Attend

Contact us to find out how you can attend our virtual summit. There are also other benefits you could be enjoying as a member. Learn more.

Hosts

Web Embrace Speaker Peter 2

Peter Maddox

DSA Canada President

Web Embrace Speaker gina w logo

Gina Bresciani

Director – Operations and Customer Service
USANA Health Sciences

DSA Canada Chair

Web Embrace Speaker Jackie w logo

Jackie McClements

Vice President and General Manager
Monat Global Canada

DSA Canada Director and DSEF Chair

Web Embrace Speaker Lynda w logo

Lynda Rose

General Manager
Mary Kay Cosmetics Ltd.

DSA Canada Director

Agenda

June 22 – 1:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m., ET

Hosts

1:00 p.m. – Opening and Introductions

Peter Maddox & Gina Bresciani

Speakers

1:10 p.m.

Web Embrace Speaker

A Year of Extraordinary Change

Hatem Jahshan, CEO of Steeped Tea, will talk about the challenges and opportunities that his company has faced during the current COVID-19 pandemic, and how Steeped Tea continues to adapt for success.

1:40 p.m.

web fun fundraising

Fun & Fundraising

1:50 p.m.

Web Embrace Speaker Cathy

Direct Sellers Day 2021

Cathy Sampaio-Lepiane, Manager of Communications and Research at DSA Canada will provide an overview of Direct Sellers Day and how direct selling companies can join in the celebration, sharing positive awareness of the empowering direct selling opportunity across Canada this upcoming September 15, 2021.

2:00 p.m.

Keynote Speaker

Web Embrace Speaker Hamza

Where To Now? A Leader’s Guide To Emerging From Chaos And Navigating The Future Of Work

As a result of the sudden and drastic changes brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, direct selling businesses were forced to contend with increased volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity. More than a year later, emerging from chaos, these companies face another challenge: navigating a fast-approaching future of work, a “new abnormal.”

According to Boston Consulting Group, in order to survive, thrive, and compete successfully, businesses now have only two years (or less) to get to where they might otherwise have hoped to be in five. To meet this challenge requires a new kind of leadership ethos and significant leap beyond the old paradigms. Enter “modern leadership”—a system of action that is human-centric, change-friendly, self-disrupting, and values-driven.

Drawing on contemporary examples of modern leaders, Hamza Khan makes the case that by operationalizing the intertwined values of servitude, innovation, diversity, and empathy, leaders can guarantee that the rate of change inside of their businesses exceeds the rate of change on the outside. Whether you’re a recently promoted leader, a leader on the track to promotion, or a leader keen on shifting your perspective, this talk will help you change before you’re forced to change. And in doing so, prepare your business for a future in which change is the only constant.

2:40 p.m.

Web Embrace Speaker Tracie

Growth Strategies During COVID-19

Tracie Graham, General Manager, at USANA Health Sciences in Canada will share how DSA member companies are maintaining their current sales growth and modifying incentive programs for success.

3:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.

DSA Canada Annual General Meeting

3:30 p.m.

Event Ends

June 23 – 1:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m., ET

Hosts

1:00 p.m. – Opening and Introductions

Peter Maddox & Jackie McClements

Speakers

1:05 p.m.

Web Embrace Speaker Joe 2

Challenges and Opportunities for Direct Selling in a Social Media World

Joseph Mariano, President and Chief Executive Officer, US Direct Selling Association, will be providing an update on how popular social media networks, such as Tik Tok, are changing their community policies to restrict, and in some cases, even ban MLM content on their platforms.

1:30 p.m.

Web Embrace Speaker Andrea

Incorporating Sustainability into Business and Lifestyle

Andrea Chase, Director, Corporate Responsibility and Social Impact, Arbonne, will be speaking about how Arbonne works to incorporate sustainability throughout their business and also into consumer’s lifestyles.

1:50 p.m.

web fun fundraising

Fun & Fundraising

2:05 p.m.

Web Embrace Speaker Peter 1

Launch: The Canadian Academic Entrepreneur Challenge

DSA Canada President, Peter Maddox and Robert Burko, President and Founder of Elite Digital, will be providing an update on the launch of a new DSEF initiative, the Canadian Academic Entrepreneur Challenge.

2:20 p.m.

Web Embrace Speaker Huw

Government Relations and Advocacy Update

Huw Williams, of Impact Public Affairs, will provide an update on recent government actions and opportunities for advocacy by the direct selling industry.

3:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.

DSEF Annual General Meeting

3:30 p.m.

Event Ends

June 24 – 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m., ET

Hosts

1:00 p.m. – Opening & Introductions

Peter Maddox & Lynda Rose

Speakers

1:05 p.m.

Web Embrace Speaker Lindsay

How to Use Social Market to Attract Gen Z

In this session, learn from Millennial Social Media Speaker and Direct Sales Trainer, Lindsay Tompkins, on the top strategies you need to attract the next generation.

1:30 p.m.

web fun fundraising

Fun & Fundraising

1:40 p.m.

Web Embrace Speaker Peter 1

Canadian Industry Statistics – Newly Released

DSA Canada President, Peter Maddox, will be presenting newly released Canadian Industry Statistics for 2020.

2:00 p.m.

Web Embrace Speaker Louise

Transforming Mental Health at Work

With people spending more waking hours at work than anywhere else, the workplace plays a significant role in our quality of life and greatly influences overall health and wellness. Having a mentally healthy workforce is good for business — it can enhance performance and lower costs associated with disability, absenteeism and presenteeism.

Louise Stacey, Senior National Account Manager, Workplace Mental Health of the Canadian Mental Health Association, will discuss what you can do in your organization to promote mental health and well-being.

2:20 p.m.

Web Embrace Speaker brad

An Ongoing Journey to Growth and Success

Brant Wallace, President and CFO, Immunotec, will be discussing the successes and challenges his company has faced over this past year.

3:00 p.m.

Event Ends

Speakers

Web Embrace Speaker

Hatem Jahshan

Web Embrace Speaker Cathy

Cathy Sampaio-Lepiane

Web Embrace Speaker Hamza

Hamza Khan

Web Embrace Speaker Tracie

Tracie Graham

Web Embrace Speaker Joe 2

Joseph Mariano

Web Embrace Speaker Andrea

Andrea Chase

Web Embrace Speaker Huw

Huw Williams

Web Embrace Speaker Lindsay

Lindsay Tompkins

Web Embrace Speaker Louise

Louise Stacey

Web Embrace Speaker brad

Brant Wallace

Web Embrace Speaker

Hatem Jahshan, CEO of Sipology by Steeped Tea

 

Hatem is CEO of the direct-selling success, Sipology by Steeped Tea, alongside his wife Tonia.  If Tonia is the dreamer, Hatem refines the details and brings Steeped Tea’s vision to life.  With a background in chemistry and chemical engineering, he is a loose-leaf tea aficionado who ensures every department at Steeped Tea runs smoothly and efficiently.

The company was ranked 4 years in a row as one of the fastest growing in Canada with over 60 employees at the head office.  In 2012, Steeped Tea was featured on the TV show CBC’s Dragons’ Den with Jim Treliving and David Chilton joining as partners. Staying ahead of the phenomenal growth curve in the last few years has been the biggest challenge.  While touching thousands of people’s lives by giving them an opportunity to earn an extra income has been the most rewarding.

Steeped Tea is a direct selling company that specializes in providing home tea parties, selling loose leaf tea and accessories across Canada and the US.

Web Embrace Speaker Cathy

Cathy Sampaio-Lepiane, Manager, Communications & Research, DSA Canada

Cathy has spent the last 18 years developing and implementing communications and marketing strategies, and working with the government, media and other key stakeholders to advocate for and increase awareness for a variety of Canadian associations, Ontario government agencies and local charities. Prior to her work in communications she held various project management and marketing positions at private companies and holds an Honours B.A. in English and Economics from York University.

Passionate about writing and storytelling, she loves to create and share positive and enriching stories that make a difference in the lives of others.

Keynote Speaker

Web Embrace Speaker Hamza

Hamza Khan, Multi-Award-Winning Marketer and Entrepreneur

Hamza Khan is a multi-award-winning marketer, bestselling author, and global keynote speaker whose TEDx talk “Stop Managing, Start Leading” has been viewed over a million times. He shares actionable insights on resilience, productivity, and leadership to help people and organizations thrive in the future of work. Through his consulting, writing, teaching and speaking, Khan empowers people and businesses to transform ideas into action.

From New York to Singapore, from Los Angeles to Sydney, Khan is a global thought leader who has spoken to hundreds of audiences across many industries, in numerous countries. His clients have included some of the world’s most dynamic companies and organizations, including PepsiCo, LinkedIn, Deloitte, PwC, Trivago, and over 100 colleges, and his insights have been featured by notable media outlets such as VICE, Business Insider, and The Globe and Mail. He is also the author of Amazon bestseller The Burnout Gamble: Achieve More by Beating Burnout and Building Resilience.

Khan works alongside young people and new talent as Managing Director of Student Life Network, Canada’s largest and most comprehensive education resource platform, which reaches over 2.7 million students. He is also the co-founder of Splash Effect, a boutique marketing & creative agency, as well as SkillsCamp, a soft skills training company. As an educator, he is currently an instructor at Seneca College and Ryerson University, teaching courses on digital marketing and social media.

Web Embrace Speaker Tracie

Tracie Graham, General Manager, USANA Health Sciences

Tracie’s love of direct sales began by selling Avon door to door to help put herself through university.  Since, Tracie has been sharing her passion for leading and inspiring high-functioning external and internal teams of all sizes within the direct selling industry for the past 25 years. Tracie has found the perfect fit at USANA where their values reinforce her own of excellence, community, health and integrity.

Outside of her career, Tracie has played an active role within the DSA, serving on numerous Committees including the DSA Board and as past DSA Chair. Tracie lives in Markham, Ontario with her fiancé Rob and three kids Owen, Gavin and Trent.

Web Embrace Speaker Joe 2

Joseph Mariano, President and Chief Executive Officer, US Direct Selling Association

Joseph Mariano joined the Direct Selling Association in 1985 and assumed the role of President in 2011. Previously, he was Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. As DSA Chief Executive Officer who has ultimate responsibility for all association programs and activities, Mariano is charged with providing progressive leadership, development and implementation of Association policies in the fields of government, consumer and international affairs. Mariano represents the Association’s interests in all fifty state capitals and on Capitol Hill. He serves as a personal resource to direct selling companies who need overall guidance on general legal and business trends that affect direct sellers both in the United States and worldwide.

Web Embrace Speaker Andrea

Andrea Chase, Director, Corporate Responsibility and Social Impact, Arbonne

Andrea Chase is the Director of Corporate Responsibility and Social Impact at Arbonne, a certified B Corporation. Previous to this role, Ms. Chase specialized in working with companies to analyze and benchmark current businesses practices to create unique environmental and mission driven social impact strategies that optimize profits while considering all company stakeholders.

Andrea has a demonstrated history of leadership in environmental industries and is an expert in project management; brand and identity execution; international product development, launch and compliance; sustainable business benchmarking and auditing; and several process specific, product specific and company-wide sustainability certifications.

Andrea’s passion lies in environmental stewardship and education. For the last five years, she has served the sustainability community as the Executive Director of B Local Los Angeles, a community of Los Angeles B Corporations dedicated to sharing knowledge to better each other’s business practices.

Web Embrace Speaker Peter 1

Peter Maddox, DSA Canada President

Peter has extensive experience in the association world and the marketing industry, having previously held positions with the Canadian Propane Association and Canadian Tire Corporation. As President of the Direct Sellers Association of Canada, Peter is excited by the opportunities for both the Association and the industry to make a growing positive impact on Canadian individuals and communities.

Over his career, Peter has managed files as diverse as government relations, regulatory affairs, marketing analysis, member engagement, communications, business development and sales. His role at DSA calls on all of these skills and experiences, to help achieve the organizations strategic goals. Originally from Australia, Peter has worked for both the Australian Professional Engineers Association (now Professionals Australia) and the Australian Pharmacy Guild. He has an MBA from Chifley Business School and a Marketing Degree from the University of Tasmania.

Web Embrace Speaker Huw

Huw Williams, President, Impact Public Affairs

Huw specializes in government and media relations and has extensive experience in print and broadcast media. He frequently appears as a corporate spokesperson on CBC and CTV National News. Huw’s government experience is diverse, having served as Acting Chief of Staff to the Deputy Prime Minister of Canada; as a Senior Assistant to the Minister of Constitutional Affairs; and as a Legislative Assistant to the Speaker of the Alberta Legislative Assembly.

He has been named Worldwide Public Affairs Professional of the Year finalist by PRNews Magazine, won the CSAE Griner Award for outstanding “Business Excellence,” is one of The Hill Times’ Top 100 lobbyists in Canada, and the Ottawa Business Journal’s “Top 40 under 40 Award” for professional success and community involvment.

For more information or to contact Huw, visit: Impact Public Affairs

Web Embrace Speaker Lindsay

Lindsay Tompkins, Social Media Educator

As a content and social media specialist, Lindsay helps businesses and entrepreneurs harness the power of social media to generate sales, leads, and overall brand awareness.

Her creative and engaging content strategies will increase your reach online as well as help generate loyal ambassadors. The key to content marketing is to say the right thing at the right time and Lindsay will help you establish meaningful (and profitable) relationships with your customers.

Lindsay has also been actively working in the direct sales industry since 2012 and has worked with independent consultants, industry trainers and corporate head offices to increase their sales and recruiting efforts online.

Web Embrace Speaker Louise

Louise Stacey, Senior National Account Manager, Workplace Mental Health

Louise has a diverse background, including operations management, account management, organizational behavior and sport governance. As a Senior Account Manager, Workplace Mental Health, Canadian Mental Health Association, Louise has spent the last 6 years helping employers transform mental health at work through the Not Myself Today campaign.

Working with organizations all across North America to help align them with the National Standard for Psychological Health & Safety and provide them with a pro-active approach to mental health in their workplaces. The Not Myself Today campaign offers an amazing array of evidence-informed tools and methodologies designed to transform workplace cultures and create psychologically safe and supportive work environments for those with mental health challenges.

It is her mission to make a positive difference in the lives of people.

Web Embrace Speaker brad

Brant Wallace, President & CFO, Immunotec

Brant Wallace is the President & CFO of Immunotec, a global firm in the Direct Selling Channel. In his role he is responsible for Immunotec’s financial operations, strategic positioning, regulatory matters, compliance, technology, project management, and overall resource allocations. Brant has spent the majority of his career in Leadership, Finance, Operations, and M&A. He is the former SVP of Resources & Strategy of Zurvita, Inc. (ZRVT); Chairman & CEO of Nationwide Utilities Corporation (NWUC.OTC); President of Eagle International; Head of Investment Banking of Mercantil Servicios Financeros; and, Vice Chairman of Wallace & Co, AG. Brant possesses superior finance, operations and corporate development expertise in driving multi-million-dollar growth. To this end, Brant has been involved in, or directly responsible for, numerous global initiatives that have seen growth in excess of $100 Million and completed middle transactions in the $50 Million to $750 Million range. Brant also holds a MBA, a Doctorate of Philosophy in International Trade (DPhil), and a Masters of Divinity (MDiv).

Sponsors

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Avalara
Exigo
Thatcher Technology Group
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Canada Cartage
Millar Kreklewetz
Nexio
PayQuicker
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Production Sponsors
Diversified
Stagevision
media sponsor
The World of Direct Selling