Equity, Diversity and Inclusion in Entrepreneurship and Innovation

About this Event

This session will focus on helping those in attendance better understand how issues of equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) fit into the landscape of entrepreneurship and innovation. Specifically, considerations and discussions will be broken into 3 timelines: now, soon, and later. The session will encourage critical thinking and hands-on engagement, as participants will work together to generate their own EDI considerations on designated topics through the lens of what matters now, soon, and later. Through a slideshow presentation, guided discussion activities, and an opportunity to ask questions, this session will help business leaders at every stage of their organization’s life-cycle build kinder, more inclusive businesses, account for challenges before they arise, and implement actionable strategies to improve their organizations both immediately and in the future.

Please note: The presentation will be delivered via Zoom. Connection details will be sent to registrants within 24 hours of the start of the presentaton.

About the presenter:

As Executive Director & Founder of The Empathy Institute, Mike Young is an educational consultant and speaker who seeks to facilitate impactful conversations about mental health, human rights, gender & sexual diversity, sexual violence, personal/organizational growth, and leadership through engaging talks, panels, workshops, and writing. He’s been brought in as a guest lecturer, keynote speaker, educator, and consultant by various private and public sector clients since the organization’s inception in 2017, working with thousands of young people and seasoned professionals alike. Mike is lauded for his energetic, dynamic, intellectually sophisticated, yet entirely comfortable presentations, along with his adaptability and wide-ranging equity, diversity, and inclusion expertise.

Mike is a graduate of Queen’s University’s Gender Studies program, and served as the 34th Rector of the University. Throughout his two-year term as Rector and various additional leadership roles while a student at Queen’s, he spoke at 50+ functions as a keynote or panelist as Rector. Additionally, he has had the chance to facilitate countless important discussions while administering the Positive Space and the Sexual Violence Bystander Intervention Training programs, respectively, at Queen's.

He believes in the power of productive dialogue, sharing, laughter, and honesty, and his work as a speaker strives to be human and accessible above all else.

About Queen's Partnerships and Innovation:

Queen's University’s Partnerships and Innovation (QPI) supports the Research Portfolio’s mission to be an essential catalyst for advancing research and knowledge mobilization, strengthening Queen’s local, national and global impact. With support from external funding, the QPI team offers numerous services, resources and programs to support entrepreneurs, including those from Queen’s, and to accelerate the growth of startups and small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) within Kingston and Eastern Ontario. Programs include the Queen’s Startup Runway incubation program, acceleration programs for startups and post-revenue companies, workshops and events. We offer access to facilities in the Seaway Coworking building in downtown Kingston.