Flashpoint Facilitators & Speakers

Vanessa Thompson

Entrepreneur & SHSM Facilitator

Vanessa brings over 20 years of experience working across international markets and diverse industries, leading teams and developing people in high-performance environments. She has worked with individuals from a wide range of cultural and professional backgrounds, giving her a global perspective on leadership, communication, and growth. Throughout her career, she has built and scaled teams, strengthened operations, and mentored emerging talent. At Flashpoint Training, she is passionate about helping students recognize their value, build confidence, and develop practical skills for the real world. Vanessa believes that exposure, guidance, and honest conversations can change the trajectory of a young person’s future.

Thabi Francis

Entrepreneur & SHSM Facilitator

Thabisile Francis is an award-winning entrepreneur and the founder of Gloriosa, a wooden accessories brand specializing in sustainably crafted handbags, watches, and sunglasses that celebrate African craftsmanship and conscious luxury. She possesses several recognitions, including Zim Achievers Female Entrepreneur of the Year, Canada International Black Women Excellence (CIBWE) Top 100 Women to Watch, and the Canadian Choice Award.

Beyond business, Thabisile is deeply committed to community impact and health equity. She serves on multiple boards with Hamilton Health Sciences (HHS), including the Family Advisory Council (FAC), and holds leadership roles as Co-Chair of the Black Health Plan and Co-Chair of the Black Student Mentorship Program. She is also an active member of two non-profit organizations supporting the Zimbabwean community.

Steven White

Change Management Leader

Steven is an experienced leader in mentoring and coaching students, interns, team members and colleagues to achieve career and organization goals.

Nicole Chuchmach

Hospitality Expert

A self described “restaurant brat,” Nicole developed a deep understanding of both frontline operations and the daily challenges business owners face. As U of Guelph grad with an MBA in Hospitality and Tourism Management, she is currently a full-time professor at Humber College in the Longo Faculty of Business, and the founder of Sophie’s Run, a cancer fundraiser created in her mother’s memory.

Keda Edwards Pierre

Film Producer & Entrepreneur

Keda Edwards Pierre is a Film & TV producer, entrepreneur, and innovation strategist who bridges creativity, business, and wellness to help audiences turn ideas into measurable impact. With decades of experience spanning policing, arts and entertainment, thought leadership, and community activism, she brings real-world insight from classroom to boardroom – guiding participants to develop viable, purpose-driven, and sustainable projects, programs, and ventures across multiple sectors and jurisdictions. Her award-winning work, recognised nationally and featured internationally, focuses on creating socially impactful multimedia and wellness ventures that blend storytelling, emerging technologies, and conscious leadership, helping learners and organisations develop the creative capacity, adaptive leadership, and business frameworks needed to succeed in a rapidly evolving world.”

Bisola Tijani

Finance Educator & Content Creator

Bisola is a Finance Educator & Digital Entrepreneur who helps people simplify money, business, and digital opportunities. With a professional background in technology and years of experience as a content creator, she shares practical strategies on finance, travel, and business to her social media audience and community. Bisola has partnered with leading Canadian brands, built an engaged online community, and inspires others to grow their financial confidence and leverage digital tools to create new opportunities.

Dejon Brissett

2x Grey Cup Champion

Dejon Brissett is a two-time Grey Cup champion in the CFL and a proud Mississauga native who has built his career through discipline, resilience, and leadership. Drawing on his journey from football, he shares powerful lessons about perseverance, teamwork, and overcoming adversity. Through engaging storytelling, Dejon connects with students in an authentic way, inspiring them to believe in themselves and pursue their goals both on and off the field.

Kristy Adams

Tourism & Hospitality Expert

Kristy is a passionate and dedicated educator with over 20 years of experience in the tourism and hospitality industry, committed to preparing students for successful, dynamic careers. She is adept at bridging the gap between post-secondary education and industry needs by ensuring curriculum relevance and cultivating strong industry partnerships.

Stephen Mighton

Associate Director, Recruitment Operations
Rotman’s Graduate Programs

Experienced professional with a strong background in higher education admissions, recruitment, CRM, and event management, complemented by expertise in sales and customer service across diverse industries including higher education, professional sports, and retail banking. Skilled in writing, team leadership, data analysis, and building key client and stakeholder relationships, while holding a Master of Arts in Applied Health Sciences. Stephen is passionate about helping people find the right opportunities—whether that’s a student choosing their future or a team reaching its goals.

Kristen Soogrim

Quality Assurance Specialist

Kristen currently works at Health Canada as a Quality Assurance Specialist. She has extensive experience in forensic science, working in various government laboratories over the past 13 years. Kristen’s passion lies in hands-on work and outreach, through which she hopes to empower others to pursue fulfilling careers. 

Charlene Carroll

Entrepreneur & SHSM Facilitator

Charlene is the founder of Dexterity Fitness, a wellness community in Toronto that for over a decade has offered in-person and online personal training, corporate wellness presentations, nutrition counselling, and fitness industry consulting. She has an Honours B.A. in Theatre and has had the pleasure of speaking at numerous events including the CanFitPro World Fitness Expo.

Michael McNeely

Human Rights Lawyer & Film Critic

Michael McNeely is a human rights lawyer and film critic. He is passionate about making sure events and society are as accessible as possible. He is also deaf-blind and uses his personal experiences to inform his work.

Aric Zung Gwen Chan

Lead Immersive Developer

Aric is a Lead Immersive Developer specializing in VR Unity development, with 7 years of experience creating custom immersive software in VR and AR. His job responsibilities include developing immersive experiences, managing freelance talent, and staying up to date with the latest tech.

In his spare time, Aric enjoys playing the piano, leatherworking, wood carving, learning about new technologies and working on computers, as well as playing video games.