by Laura Bickle SPEAKING UP In his roles as content manager for events and organizations, Adrien Tombari saw a need for an agency that specialized in multilingual, diverse content. So three years ago, he created it. adn is an international agency offering experts on a wide range of topics, including leadership, performance, neurodiversity, productivity, executive team functioning, EDI, mental health and technology. “Our goal is to change the world one connection at the time,” says Tombari, founder and CEO, “by offering a unique blend of expertise in content and exceptional talent, coupled with a responsible, bilingual approach and seamless experiences for event planners.” adn—which is based in Canada and France—has worked with more than 250 organizations in Canada and Europe, including Aviva, Bell Media, CIBC, Danone, Desjardins and Fidelity. Speakers include Karolina Wisniewska, eight-time Paralympic medallist in alpine skiing and the Chef de Mission for Canada at the 2024 Paralympic Games, and trans author Chris Bergeron, vice-president of inclusive creativity at Cossette. In addition to providing talent for single appearanc- es, adn also offers a more comprehensive event content strategy package that can include speakers, moderators, teambuilding, workshop facilitations and training. en.adn-conferenciers.com BLOOMIN’ FUN An on-site activity that encourages engagement, is Instagrammable and provides a take-home memento is pretty much the trifecta of interactive activations. Enter the bouquet bars by Canadian floral company Callia. Here’s how it works: Available across the country, Callia delivers flowers and greenery, along with buckets, twine, gloves and special cutters, to your location. Participants can choose their stems and make their own bouquets—all ready to be posted on social media and then wrapped up for the trip home, where they will be a fragrant reminder of your event. callia.com TALENT SCOUT SPEAKER: Kevin Rempel, who, after a motocross accident at the age of 23, was told by doctors he would never walk again. He did—and went on to become one of Canada’s best Paralympic athletes, earning a bronze medal in sledge hockey at the 2014 Paralympics in Sochi, Russia. VIBE: Inspirational, motivational and energetic. Rempel uses his personal journey to illustrate how to build resilience and overcome obstacles. He’s willing to take risks and try new things on stage—like when he rapped in front of an audience for the first time at the PCMA CIC last November to reflect his commitment to overcoming fear of failure. HIS SPEAKING JOURNEY: Rempel initially resisted being called a “hero” but eventually embraced it, leading to the development of his Hero Mindset keynote, which focuses on helping people shift their mindset to drive results, embrace change, and “become a hero in their own story,” says Rempel. WORKING WITH HIM: Rempel uses prep calls to customize his presentations based on the specific needs and challenges of each group, which can include focussing on mental health, safety and well-being. Expect him to show up early: “When you hang out with attendees before you go on stage, it definitely helps to understand your audience more, and also brings a level of connection. The audience feels like they know you because you’ve already been chatting with them.” kevinrempel.com Get inspired 24 | Ignitemag.ca | Spring 2024
