FIRESIDE CHAT
MANDY BUJOLD, OLY - 2x OLYMPIC BOXER
JUNE 4TH @ 7PM
THE UNDERWING (Tapestry Hall)
The Sport of Selling: Lessons from the Ring and Beyond
Join us for a dynamic fireside chat that flips the script on traditional sales conversations. Drawing from her journey as an Olympic boxer, community leader, and industry advocate, Mandy Bujold brings a fresh perspective to the art of selling—one rooted in resilience, authenticity, and strategy.
In sport, every moment is a pitch—whether you’re selling your potential to a coach, your brand to a sponsor, or your vision to the community. In this conversation, you’ll gain insights into how high-performance athletes navigate the world of personal branding, understand their stakeholders, and build meaningful relationships that drive results—on and off the field of play.
This session will inspire educators, business professionals, and sales leaders alike to rethink what it really means to sell—and to lead—with purpose.
About Mandy Bujold, OLY - 2X Olympic Boxer
After a successful Olympic boxing career, Mandy Bujold, one of Canada’s most decorated female boxers, has transitioned her passion for leadership and community into the construction industry. As Manager of Industry and Community Partnerships at the Grand Valley Construction Association, Mandy now dedicates her time to fostering a strong, inclusive community within the industry, championing health and safety, and advancing opportunities for women in construction and skilled trades. She is also a proud Mark’s Commercial Ambassador and the founder of Champions for Charity, a unique event that brings business professionals into the boxing ring to raise funds for children’s causes.
OPENING KEYNOTE
ROGER KIRKNESS
CEO & CO-FOUNDER, CONVICTIONAL INC.
Trust Architects: Finding Signals in a World of Sales Noise
Biography
Roger Kirkness is CEO and co-founder of Convictional, Inc., on a mission to reinvent business operations with pro human AI. He led the founder sales stage, working with early customers and now leading a 12-person team with $28M USD in funding. Roger is also currently writing/co-authoring a book with Wharton AI Director, Stefano Puntoni, and two others about the decision context problem in business: misalignments between organizational goals, knowledge and decision-making processes. Prior to this role, Roger founded Modern Dropship and grew it to a company of 70+, raised $49 million USD and secured over 3000 paying customers. The business was acquired by Carro in early 2025 and he was recognized in Forbes 30 under 30 in 2023 for the impact of Modern Dropship and Convictional in Toronto tech. Roger has been married to his wife Jessica for 8 years, is father to 2 boys and resides in Waterloo.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/roger-kirkness/,
IN CONVERSATION WITH...
KAREN PEESKER, PHD, MBA
Associate Professor @ Toronto Metropolitan University
Founding Director Ted Rogers Sales Leadership Program
WXN Canada Top 100 / Sales Coach
Join this engaging “In Conversation” session as Dr. Karen Peesker, Director of the Ted Rogers Sales Leadership Program at Toronto Metropolitan University, shares insights from her journey building one of Canada’s premier university sales programs. Interviewed by Rose Mastnak and Patrick Charlton, Dr. Peesker will reflect on the strategies, challenges, and key partnerships that contributed to the program’s growth and industry impact. This session offers valuable lessons for educators looking to launch, expand, or elevate their own sales programs.
About Dr. Karen Peesker
Dr. Karen Peesker is a global sales professional, Associate Professor, and the Founding Director of the Ted Rogers Sales Leadership Program at Toronto Metropolitan University. Before entering academia, she built an international career across 15 countries, consistently exceeding revenue targets and client expectations. Dr. Peesker brings a powerful combination of corporate expertise and academic excellence to the classroom, earning both the Provost’s and Dean’s Teaching Awards. A published researcher and former award-winning sales director, she has played a pivotal role in positioning TMU as a national leader in sales education. In 2022, she was named one of Canada’s Most Powerful Women: Top 100 by WXN.
