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Calgary

A stellar track record in business that began on Wall Street

Patricia Phillips is CEO and Chair of The PBA Group of Companies, a diversified real estate company headquartered in Calgary, Alberta celebrating its 60th anniversary in 2025. Since her appointment in 2005 – at a time when fewer than 1 in 50 Canadian CEOs were women – Patricia has led PBA’s transformation from one of the city’s leading landowners and property managers into one of the most innovative developers in Western Canada. Drawing on her international experience in finance and energy, Patricia has spearheaded PBA’s creation of a distinctive ‘managed development’ model attracting global hospitality and capital partners while transforming Calgary’s hospitality market.

As CEO she has presided over a period of robust growth in the face of a challenging market, a transformative expansion of the team, and the adoption of a new strategic direction that promises to take the company well beyond its roots. During her tenure with PBA Group, the team has been awarded several prestigious awards such as Fodor’s – Best Hotel Travel Award, Autograph Collection Opening of the Year and a Michelin Key – one of the first awarded in Canada for The Dorian Hotel development, while leading over $2 Billion accretive transactions. In addition to chairing PBA, PBA Hotels and The Phillips Foundation (which she co-founded), Patricia currently sits on several private and non-profit boards, including Jostle, Headversity (which she chairs), WITHORG (Women In Tourism And Hospitality) and The Glenbow Museum.

Before PBA, Patricia established a stellar 28-year track record in business that began on Wall Street. After competing at a national level in alpine racing and achieving an economics degree, Magnum Cum Laude, from Mount Holyoke College (one of the Ivy League’s ‘Seven Sisters’), and an MBA from the McCombs School of Business at the University of Texas, Austin. She began her career as a trade policy advisor for the Tokyo Round of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) in Geneva. This led to a coveted offer from Credit Suisse First Boston, where she became one of the first female Financial Analysts on Wall Street.


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Helping executives move from reactionary to strategic thinking

Shawn Gibson is Partner at Incito Executive and Leadership Development, and leads the Executive Strategy practice. As a former senior executive, startup founder and Professional Certified Coach, he possesses a deep understanding of the challenges and dynamics that leaders face in today’s competitive landscape. Known for his strategic mindset, deep business acumen and results-focused approach, Shawn guides leaders and organizations through strategy development, systems thinking, conflict management, change management and effective communication, ultimately unifying leadership teams to fulfill their entire vision.

In 2022, Shawn received the prestigious SupportHER Award from The Universal Women’s Network™️ in recognition of his dedication and support towards advancing women’s empowerment and equality. Since Shawn became Partner in 2021, Incito has also achieved notable recognition, including the Best Leadership Coaching Firm awarded by Acquisition International – Global Excellence Awards in April 2023.

Shawn is passionate about helping executives and founders lead with intention to strengthen their organizations and scale-up. He leads Incito’s strategic partnership with Mount Royal University’s Growth Catalyst Program to support over 105 businesses and empower more than 300 entrepreneurs and leaders. Shawn also serves as a volunteer mentor for Venture Mentoring Service of Alberta to support high-growth businesses in the community.


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Belting out the tunes the Frank Sinatra way

Paul Michael Stoia (https://www.paulmichaelstoia.com/home) made his US debuts in the fall of 2024 at the legendary Catalina Jazz Club in Hollywood, with the orchestra led by Grammy Award Winner Quinn Johnson. He then sold out his very first “A Frank Sinatra Christmas” show live in Las Vegas at the Maxan Jazz Club. In 2023, he made his international debut in Martigues, France with Lyrique en Provence under the direction of Paris Opera “Chef de chant” Phil Richardson.

Paul got his start singing jazz in high school, then studied opera in Canada, Italy, the USA, Germany, and France. He has performed in musical theatre and opera productions in Canada. In May 2024 he debuted a Frank Sinatra tribute concert at the Polaris Theatre. He currently performs regularly at private events and lounges in Calgary, including, a sold out first show at the Ironwood Stage and back by popular demand, the historical King Eddy. In 2022 Paul performed Canada’s national anthem before an international audience live on ESPN for the inaugural Women’s MMA Fight (Pallais Athena) at the Grey Eagle Casino.


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On a mission to make the world a healthier place, one sip at a time

Mitch Jacobsen is a former engineer turned beverage entrepreneur. He is the receptionist, the janitor, and sometimes the CEO at Rviita [pronounced Ree – Vai – Tuh and short for ‘revitalize’] Energy Tea, which is a natural energy drink now carried in over 1200 stores across Canada and is a top selling energy drink on Amazon and recently listed in select Costco locations. When he’s not obsessing over how to cram more goodness into a sleek, eco-friendly beverage pouch, Mitch is probably brainstorming ways to make energy drinks that don’t make you feel like you’ve licked a battery. Armed with a passion for sustainability and fueled by his own product (literally), Mitch is on a mission to keep you awake and make the world a healthier place, one sip at a time.


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Demystifying complex economic factors

Todd Hirsch (toddhirsch.com) is a renowned economist, keynote speaker and author, building on 15 years as VP & Chief Economist at ATB Financial. A leading expert and visionary in his field, he inspires audiences around the world to re-imagine how to survive and thrive in an ever-changing economy.

His clear-eyed insights decipher the economic forces shaping today’s rapidly shifting global, geopolitical and societal trends—this economic barometer is critical to informing forward business, operational and talent management planning.

His passion: to demystify current complex, colliding economic factors and interpret their impact, illustrated by relevant and memorable examples valued by industry leaders. His expert assessments map global trends to deliver a fresh, insights-powered outlook that enables my audiences to adapt to the emerging economic forces affecting their world, industries and careers.

With three TED Talks under his belt, over 2,000 presentations, close to a half million viewers and three books—you can expect a well-researched presentation with compelling examples, metaphors and images replacing the traditional deluge of charts and graphs, and a modern approach to current economic trends that take into account the past, present, and most importantly the future.


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Fascination for Ammolite turns into entrepreneurial journey

With a deep-seated passion for Ammolite, Amarjeet Grewal currently leads KORITE Ammolite and Iniskim Ammolite, where her focus is on expanding the market reach and elevating the brand globally. The journey began with a fascination for Canada’s gemstone, which has evolved into spearheading initiatives that showcase Ammolite’s natural beauty and iridescence to a worldwide audience. Her team’s dedication to innovation in jewelry design and marketing strategies has been pivotal in introducing this unique gemstone to diverse markets. She is President of KORITE Ammolite and Founder and President at Iniskim

Her expertise in operations management and new business development, honed over years of industry leadership, informs the execution of business plans that have consistently driven growth.


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Entrepreneurs are the driving force behind Canada’s economy, and we’re here to support them every step of the way. For exclusive insights, tips, and success stories from Canada’s top business leaders, subscribe to our YouTube channel and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter.

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Passionate about commercial real estate

Michael Kehoe is the Broker of Record at Fairfield Commercial Real Estate Inc. in Calgary, Alberta. Kehoe has a proven track record of success in the commercial real estate field and has 45 years of experience in working as a commercial real estate broker, shopping centre manager, retail real estate leasing representative, and shopping centre marketing director. He has specialized expertise in retail real estate leasing for shopping centres, destination resorts and main street / urban business districts and is the creator of “The Retail Real Estate Leasing Program.” Kehoe has an international reputation as an authority on retail, restaurant and mixed-use commercial real estate development and is frequently quoted in the media such as the Globe and Mail, New York Times, the Retail Insider and the Calgary Herald. Keynote and panel speaker engagements have included the Economic Developers of Alberta and the International Council of Shopping Centres. As a contributing writer to the BOMA Calgary book Building on the Bow, Kehoe has extensive knowledge of the history of the built environment in Calgary. He delivers expertise and decision-making assistance to business, government, and investment leaders around the world.


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Making the rum that’s worth sipping

Tomas Romero is the co-founder of Romero Distilling Co. The largest rum producer in Canada making rum from scratch. Their product portfolio is comprised of international award-winning rums and pre-mixed cocktails. The rum is crafted in Calgary, AB with glacier fed water from the Canadian Rockies and Crosbys molasses.

Tomas along with his Dad, Diego Romero, started Romero Distilling Co. in 2018. Prior to starting the distillery, Tomas worked in both Construction and Oil and Gas. He has a B.Sc. from the University of Calgary and an MBA from Athabasca University. With products currently sold in Canada, the US and Europe, he looks forward to expanding their product portfolio with unique cask expressions and growing the company’s presence both domestically and abroad.


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Bridging a gap by connecting clients with independent, highly skilled cleaners

Nick Ross, Co-Founder and Acting CEO of Home Spritz, is a dynamic leader with more than a decade of software development experience. A self-professed tech enthusiast, Nick has honed his expertise in team leadership and contributed to reputable FinTech companies. His entrepreneurial drive is evident in his track record of product development across startups and established enterprises.


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Entrepreneurs are the driving force behind Canada’s economy, and we’re here to support them every step of the way. For exclusive insights, tips, and success stories from Canada’s top business leaders, subscribe to our YouTube channel and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter.

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Living every fashionista’s dream

Megan Szanik is the owner, visionary, creator and proprietor of espy. With a career spanning more than 20 years in all realms of the fashion industry she has truly lived every fashionista’s dream. Megan’s vivacious and bold energy is hard to miss and she definitely knows how to make an entrance. Her ultimate desire alongside her team of professional stylists is to show you how amazing you look, and to make you truly feel your best, one styled outfit at a time. Standing at the helm of a multi-million dollar independently owned business, Megan and the stylish espy team have to date raised more than $500,000 for charitable causes close to their hearts, racked up thousands of followers on their social platforms, and proudly sold more than 60,000 pairs of jeans to their adoring retail fans.


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Entrepreneurs are the driving force behind Canada’s economy, and we’re here to support them every step of the way. For exclusive insights, tips, and success stories from Canada’s top business leaders, subscribe to our YouTube channel and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter.

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