Shannon Mann
Shannon Mann is a realtor, entrepreneur, keynote speaker, passionate women’s rights advocate, and award winning stylist. She has an extensive background in business and marketing and created a cosmetics brand & academy which has garnered global recognition & awards for excellence for the last 15 years. In the last decade and a half she has used her marketing acumen to also brand herself as a globally recognized entrepreneur & blogger. Shannon is now a partner at Team McKnight Realty which is the top real estate team in Canada at McDonald Realty. Shannon has a strong relationship with much of the Punjabi /South Asian community across Canada and is actively recruited by global brands as an ambassador. At the heart of Shannon’s success is her strong work ethic & commitment to professionalism & excellence in delivering exceptional customer service to each and every client. As a result she has been nominated for the RBC Canadian Women Entrepreneur of the Year Awards in 2019, 2020, & 2021 and was also named as one of the Top 20 Most Influential South Asians in BC in 2021 for her professional work & personal work advocating for women’s & LGBTQ rights.
2021 Top 20 Most Influential South Asians in Vancouver – Urban Asian Magazine
2021 & 2022 RBC Canadian Women Entrepreneur Awards – Women of Influence Award Nominee
Nira Arora
As the outgoing host of Virgin Radio’s morning show for over 18 years, Nira is best known for her quirky sense of humour and no fear based opinions. Nira has a deep commitment to women, children and families in her community. She is also a huge vocal advocate her fellow visible minorities. Prior to joining radio, Nira was a host, reporter, writer and producer for many different television programs and local magazines. She carries with her over two decades of media experience and has become one of the Lower Mainland’s most sought-after and recognizable female voices and faces. Nira also has a column that she has been writing for over a decade, called Nira’s Hot List. Nira can also be found sharing her skills as a freelance television talent, guest speaking at numerous events and moderating at many engagements. She is a huge supporter of women-driven success.
Nira loves to spend time with her husband Garry and her 3 incredible children- Shae, Aavi and Jaya, her boys and a girl. And of course her adopted rescue Sushi.
She also enjoys sports, spiritual books, chocolate, wine, obsessing about vampires and scary movies.
Nira’s personal mantra is “work hard, play hard- give back” which means she is often seen travelling, taking on new adventures with her family or expanding her many career roles and volunteering in the community.
Blush worthy accomplishments for Nira include: writing for ‘Vogue India’ and being credited as one of BC’s 10 Most Beautiful People by TV Week, brand ambassador for Nordstrom, integral hosting role with LiveCity for the Vancouver Olympics.
Nira’s personal brand goals: Authenticity, independently empowered and Karma – making sure each step she takes is mindful, consistent and supportive.
Dr. Ann Kaplan
Dr Ann Kaplan is the founder of a national FinTech Company that recognized >$2B in loan applications since inception. In her current position, she owns and manages a large commercial and residential real estate and works as an influencer for recognized brands. Dr Kaplan continues to stay involved in finance as a regular News Commentator throughout North America and as a motivation speaker on the public speaking circuit. Ann has hosted three national television shows and starred on the Real Housewives of Toronto.
An award-winning businesswoman, Dr. Kaplan is twice the recipient of the EY Canadian Woman Entrepreneur Award, the EY Ontario Entrepreneur of the Year/Finance; a multiple Stevie Award winner, the Peak Award of Excellence in Finance, as well as 14X on the Canada’s Profit 100 list for growth and 14X placement on the Canadian W100 list; she was also recognized as one of Canada’s top three Female Business Leaders and was inducted into the WXN Hall of Fame as one of the country’s Most Powerful Women.
Dr. Kaplan has a DBA, a Doctor of Business Administration, MBA, Masters of Business Administration, MSc, Masters of Science, and ICD.D, a Corporate Governance Designation. Ann was recognized with the highest honor, a WIMA Award, as one of the top ten female graduates of the Rotman School of Management, she is a seven-times published author, she sits on three academic boards and committees and is a twelve-year delegate with the Ontario Economic Summit and twice co-chair in finance at the G20Y Summit in Geneva.
Oyéta Kokoroko
Meet Oyéta Kokoroko, Founder of the award-winning brand Okoko Cosmétiques, certified cosmetic formulator with over 10 years of experience and consultant for indie beauty entrepreneurs. Her high-performance formulations and creative vision have won the brand over 25 awards creating more interest in skincare designed for modern lifestyles. Oyéta’s wellness products are pioneering the next generation of skincare combining sustainable ingredients with upcycled botanicals and proven clinical ingredients.
Formulated with prime concentration and sophisticated actives, her signature creations are decadent and engage the senses with luxurious aromas that relax the mind and uplift the mood, revealing visibly radiant and happy skin for all skin types. As an entrepreneur, she is driven by innovation, experience and impact.
Oyéta continues to do organic and natural product development for other brands in the luxury and spa market. She also aims to empower fellow entrepreneurs through her business masterclass and mentorship to help starting beauty entrepreneurs succeed in the natural beauty industry.
