At every stage of your Startup journey, communications play a crucial role: no matter if you attract investors or just sell your product.

Get ready to improve your business communications skills with the industry professionals. This workshop will be divided into three parts: verbal, written, and presentation (PowerPoint) skills. You will also have a chance to ask questions during the Q&A which will be held in the breakout rooms. 

Our Speakers:

Geoffrey X Lane.

Geoffrey X Lane is a provocative, candid, “tell it like it is” leadership coach for major Canadian businesses and their leaders, and one of Canada’s leading coaches for communication, presentation, and media training. Geoffrey has a strong, authentic, engaging presence, and brings a high level of integrity to the material he presents. His dry British humor is inviting, insightful and charming; he is candid, funny, irreverent, and yet totally professional.

Geoffrey works with political and business leaders and has helped to design presentations, conferences, and keynote speeches around the world. Geoffrey’s consulting experience includes serving as the official Presentation Skills Coach to the successful Vancouver 2010 Olympic Bid Committee in Prague.

Geoffrey is a passionate advocate for the power of authentic self-expression and communication. He expresses ideas and concepts with clarity and power. His keynotes and training are built around the benefits of clearer communication with your customers, suppliers, employees, and shareholders. His audiences walk away with enhanced self-awareness, as well as valuable tools to present information and sell ideas effectively. Geoffrey’s clients have a powerful edge over competitors.

Professional Membership with the:

Canadian Association of Professional Speakers, International Coaching Federation and Geoffrey was the Director of Professional Development 2002 – 2004 for Canadian Association Professional Speakers.

James Dean Waryk

James Dean Waryk is a businessman, entrepreneur, professional speaker and mentor. He is and has been a Founder or Director of Officer of over 21 corporations. James, along with his Client’s Teams, also raised private equity for projects and companies. As an Angel Investor himself, investing in over 30 projects in the last 3 years. James knows what it is like to raise money and invest money.

James continues to support over 20 Clients in strategic business consulting, business growth and fund-raising. He seeks like-minded people to help build a safer, healthier, more progressive world.

Roger Killen

In 2011, after 30 years as a serial entrepreneur, Roger Killen cast about for a give-back project that would allow him to change the world and create a legacy.  This led him to become the co-founder and producer of TEDxStanleyPark.  This event grew to become one of the largest TEDx events in the world.  In 2018 Roger morphed TEDxStanleyPark into a new brand called Get Inspired Talks Inc.  The focus of this brand was to inspire and activate change-makers to tackle humanity’s pressing problems.  Since 2013 Roger has supported 103 TEDx and Get Inspired Talks speakers to achieve 52 standing ovations and over 60 million video views.  25 of them are now international bestselling authors.

Then COVID 19 forced the closure of theatres.  Roger pivoted into helping experts with TED-worthy ideas become the Simon Sinek of their space. 

Roger also runs the Entrepreneurs International Network – the largest, free, small business training organization in the world.

Roger’s top core value is reliability, his favourite colour is purple and he loves Japanese food. 

About Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Month

This month Startup Grind is celebrating DEI month, presented with SVB and supported by Comcast NBCUniversal LIFT Labs. DEI stands for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion; 31 days to emphasize the importance of diversity across our global startup ecosystem, and what it means to all of us. We are so excited to take this time to recognize and amplify the voices of leaders in our globally diverse communities, providing a platform for those that may not have been heard previously.

In addition to this event, you can also view Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Month events taking place across our global startup community here or register for our Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Summit here.