Meet the Team

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Speakers

Operations

Jen
Hunter

Ella
Wiggins

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Experience

Marketing

Joanne Gardner

Kate
Guilbault

Volunteers

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Sadiyah
Manidhar

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Sponsorship

Liza Gospodarenko

A heartfelt thank you to Naina Raheja and Sharon Low for their incredible support and hard work for TEDxMechanicsville. Your efforts embody 'Ensemble,' showcasing the power of collaboration and unity.

Coaches

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Liora Raitblat

Liora Raitblat is an innovation strategist and TEDx speaker who empowers impact-driven individuals and organizations to embrace change and foster a culture of innovation. Through her consultancy (www.HeyLiora.com), she provides coaching, facilitation, and keynotes that help leaders effectively navigate change. 

In addition, Liora is the Senior Initiative Lead for Export Development Canada’s Mid-Market Growth Business, where she plays a key role in scaling the team that has deployed over $100M in capital to Canadian businesses. She also teaches business and entrepreneurship classes at Algonquin College. Previously, Liora led strategic change management teams at Deloitte, guiding organizations through major digital transformations.

Her work has earned her recognition as one of  The Peak’s Emerging Leaders 2024, celebrating young leaders shaping Canada's economy, culture, and society.

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Gillian White

Gillian White, for over two decades, has focused her energy on how to get across meaningful ideas that ignite change. An expert in learning & development who has worked in schools, startups, non-profits, government agencies, and Fortune 500 companies, she has real-world expertise in the common threads that bring together impactful communication.

She’s delivered talks, presentations and workshops to thousands of people across a diverse set of industries, and has 20+ years of experience in program leadership, strategy, and development. Gillian has worked in Germany, Ecuador, and Canada, where she has built new organizational units from the ground up, managed high-growth teams, and turned underperforming teams into top performers. She has a sharp eye for identifying hidden patterns and offering unique insights to clients.

Gillian offers both professional development and leadership coaching services to teams and individuals who are seeking fresh perspectives and effective strategies for leading change. She is driven to help people embrace authenticity, so they can show up as their best selves, deliver their best work and make powerful impact.

You can learn more about Gillian’s work by visiting her website: www.underlinepotential.com

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world: indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.”

Margaret Mead —

At TEDxMechanicsville, we embody this spirit of change. Join our dedicated team of volunteers and be part of a movement that dares to make a difference. Together, let's prove that even the smallest actions can create ripples of impact. Sign up now and be the catalyst for transformation.

Volunteer