SUMMIT PROGRAM – BFUTR 2025 Innovation Leadership Big Ideas

Partner Lounges

Future-Proofing Your Tech Career: Insights from Founders & Ecosystem Builders

In a world where technology evolves faster than ever, how can you build a career  that stands the test of time? Join us for a dynamic panel discussion featuring visionary tech founders and ecosystem developers who are shaping the future of work, innovation, and talent. Whether you’re a student exploring your path or a professional looking to stay ahead, this session will offer actionable insights on the skills, mindsets, and opportunities that will define the next generation of tech careers.

What to Expect:

  • Emerging tech trends and the skills they demand
  • Real-world advice from startup leaders and innovation ecosystem builders
  • Strategies for adaptability, resilience, and continuous learning
  • Inclusive pathways into tech for diverse talent

Ideal for: Students, early-career professionals, aspiring entrepreneurs, and anyone passionate about building a future-ready career in tech.

Brought to you by IDEA Mississauga powered by invest Mississauga, Black Entrepreneurship Alliance (BEA) and Visit Mississauga

Speakers

Jonathon Bloomfiel

Edventive / Upskailed

Founder of Edventive and Upskailed

IG Ajagunna

CompCrafter

Founder of CompCrafter

Yvonne Osagie

Med Melanin

Founder and CEO of Med Melanin

Kareem Abdur-Rashid

Kare Chemical Technologies Inc

Co-Founder of Kare Chemical Technologies Inc

Alieu Jallow

Idea Mississauga

Entrepreneurship & Innovation Specialist, City of Mississauga (IDEA Mississauga)

Obsidi® Events: Where the Future of Tech Comes to Connect

Thriving Through Change: How to energize and empower yourself, your team and your organization through scales of transformation

Manulife

Breaking Barriers: Innovators Shaping the Future of Fintech & Financial Equity

Join CIBC’s leading tech innovators and industry disruptors as they reveal how fintech is breaking down systemic barriers and driving financial inclusion, wealth creation, and leadership opportunities for all communities. Through candid stories and actionable strategies, our panelists will share their journeys on how the enterprise aims to tackle challenges in building an equitable financial future. Whether you’re a student, executive, or entrepreneur, you’ll leave inspired and empowered to become a catalyst for change in the evolving world of fintech.

Speaker

Brian Neckles

CIBC

Director, Digital Product

Chris Patterson

CIBC

Head of Enterprise AI Platforms & Solutions

Emma Johnston

CIBC

Senior Manager, Digital Strategy

Shakila Alvarez-Benjamin

CIBC

Senior Product Manager, Digital Product Delivery

Tosin Akinwekomi (Moderator)

CIBC

Director, Optimization & Process Engineering

Obsidi® Academy: Your Launchpad to What’s Next in Tech

Your next big opportunity isn’t luck—it’s learning. Obsidi® Academy is where driven professionals come to elevate their careers, sharpen their technical and leadership skills, and connect with the companies shaping the future of tech.

In this session, the Obsidi® team shares how Academy participants have turned ambition into advancement—breaking into new roles, mastering in-demand skills, and finding their voice as tech leaders.

Obsidi® Recruit: The New Way Top Tech Talent Gets Hired

There’s no talent shortage—just a visibility problem. Obsidi® Recruit is rewriting the rules of hiring by connecting the world’s top employers with the largest network of Black tech professionals and allies. Led by the Obsidi® team, this session gives you an insider’s look at how organizations are building smarter, faster, and more diverse teams that deliver results.
If you’re ready to hire differently—or be seen by the companies shaping the future of tech—this is the session you don’t want to miss.