FEATURED SPEAKER OF THE DAY

Dr Jelani Clarke, Ph D, Executive Director, DeSciWorld

FUTUREBIZNOW WOMEN OF INFLUENCE

Mishka Nizar

Founder, Mirihana Legal

Mishka Nizar, author of “The Art of Artificial Intelligence,” is a dynamic leader pioneering the A.I. revolution. Her Law degree and boundless curiosity ignited a journey into A.I.’s transformative power. Orchestrating a global focus group, she captured 100 perspectives in 2020. Mishka’s profound A.I. research, specializing in machine learning, natural language processing, and data analysis, establishes her as an influential voice in the A.I. community.

Her mission to explA.I.n A.I. in palatable, simple terms on her YouTube channel and through her guide empowers others to shape an inclusive A.I. landscape. Mishka illuminates pathways to comprehend and contribute to A.I.’s narrative, driving a brighter future.

Taurea “Vision” Avant

Founder & CEO, Book Profits Club™ & Author Allstars™
Author

Taurea Avant founded Book Profits Club after seeing a number of authors who were struggling to achieve the success they deserved. They spent all of this time creating their book but made little money. She has been blessed to assist over 5000 individuals in writing books, which is wonderful, but I want to be accountable for assisting 100,000 people per year in genuinely building companies from their books!

Taurea Vision Avant is a remarkable individual whose journey from adversity to accomplishment is an inspiration. Graduating from Hampton University with a degree in Computer Science, she embarked on a path of resilience and determination.

Overcoming the loss of her parents to cirrhosis of the liver and stage 4 lung cancer, Taurea found a profound purpose.
In 2007, she relocated to Atlanta after a decade of entrepreneurial setbacks. Fueled by an unwavering spirit, Taurea began shaping her success story. A two-time TEDx speaker, she captured audiences with her powerful presence, sharing her narrative of triumph through life’s trials.

In 2014, Taurea discovered her mission: guiding speakers, coaches, and network marketers to become published authors. Her belief in the transformative power of words led to over 6,000 individuals realizing their authorial dreams. In 2019, she founded the Book Profits Club™, aiding authors not just in creating impactful books, but also in navigating marketing intricacies, thereby unleashing their book’s full potential.

In 2021, Taurea introduced Author Allstars™ Magazine, creating an optimal platform for authors to gain exposure, amplifying book sales, and expanding product and service reach. The magazine annually spotlights 50 authors, a testament to her commitment to fostering success.

Wayne Hinds

Founding Director | 2020 Insight Consulting | Author

Wayne is a specialist in technology with over twenty years of experience in the field of data and analytics. Recently published, his book “Reclaim Your Digital Gold” discusses data, artificial intelligence (AI), privacy, and the influence of social media. It is over 200 pages lengthy and packed with exciting and informative information about the value of your data, how it is being used to transform our world, and how you can reclaim your data power! He is enthusiastic about technological advancements, particularly those driven by data, analytics, and AI, and their influence on the future of business.

Errol Gibbs

Author, Speaker, Entrepreneur

Errol worked in multiple aspects of power generation, from Nuclear Engineering Power Construction, Thermal Power Maintenance, Production Planning, Engineering Planning, and Power Grid Transmission, to Project Planning and Scheduling on Special Projects at OPGs Corporate Head Office, 700 University Avenue, Toronto, ON, Canada. A high point in Errol’s career with OPG was facilitating the development of the Cost and Scheduling Management System to manage the Used Fuel Storage Engineering and Construction Project with a $100 multi-million Capital Cost.

Errol is also a self-inspired researcher, philosopher, writer, mentor, moderator, and speaker. In November 2023, Errol hopes to bring nine books on happiness to the marketplace, including a “White Paper” that proffers that every nation should institute a Ministry of Happiness (MOH1) and a Minister of Happiness (MOH2) as the “highest value proposition” to facilitate the management of countries.

Dr. Abdoulaye Mbengue

CEO, Business Management Coaching LLC
Vice President for Africa of the World Conference of Mayors, Inc.

Dr. Mbengue has a doctorate in Education in Organizational Leadership, a master’s degree in Applied Economics, and a master’s degree in Business Management. He is the author of the recently release book “Servant Leadership”. He is also a certified Executive and Business Coach with over 20 years of international business management experience in the United States, Africa, and the Middle East.

He is currently the Mayor John Smith Executive Leadership Institute’s Executive Director, the creator and CEO of Business Management Coaching LLC, and the President of Xelkom Group, LLC. He works with SMEs to develop and implement strategic plans. Dr. Mbengue also gives executive and business coaching to executives in the public and commercial sectors. He also mentors young professionals in order to assist them enhance their leadership and management skills.

Elias Puurunen

Founder, Tractus Events
Author

Elias Puurunen is the founder of Tractus Events and author of Memorable, Profitable, Virtual: How to Run Virtual Conferences, Conventions, and Trade Shows That Create Meaning, Value, and Lasting Connections. An early pioneer of digital event experiences, Puurunen has charted the essential musthaves and must-nots for a successful virtual event. Tractus Events has produced conferences, keynotes, workshops, and trade shows for organizations that need it done right the first time. Clients include Dolby, PharmaChoice, Passive House Canada, and 4point0. Learn more about Tractus Events at www.tractusevents.com.

Quentin VerCetty

Founder & Director of AstroSankofa Arts Initiatives

Quentin VerCetty is a multi-award winning interdisciplinary storyteller renowned for being one of the world’s leading Afrofuturist a-r-tographers. Since developing traditional analog sculpting skills during his 2010 BFA OCADU Florence exchange program, he began honing a hybrid of 3D digital approaches with rapid prototyping during his 2020 MA at Concordia University. In 2021 -Toronto’s first monument of a person of African descent of freedom seeker, Joshua Glover, titled “Stepping Forward into History”.

Quentin VerCetty is the founder and steward of the Black Speculative Arts Movement Canada ®©™, and the founder and director of AstroSankofa A.I.® non-profit organization and collective focused on public intervention, and activation through art in community spaces both physically and virtually via web3 ventures. Through his work, he hopes to engage minds, inspire hearts, and help to make the world a better place not only for today but for many tomorrows to come.

Quentin VerCetty is a 2010 Governor’s General Bronze Medal recipient and interdisciplinary storyteller renowned for being one of the world’s leading Afrofuturist a-r-tographers. Since developing traditional analog sculpting skills during his 2010 BFA OCADU Florence exchange program, he began honing a hybrid of 3D digital approaches with rapid prototyping during his 2020 MA at Concordia University. As one of the world’s leading Afrofuturist a-r-tographers, Quentin VerCetty Through his scholarly work, he has coined the terms “Sankofanology” and “Rastafuturism” both referring to reclaiming our African connections as a way forward.
In 2021 he created the Joshua Glover memorial monumtn -Toronto’s first and only monument of a person of African descent. Titled “Stepping Forward into History,” the work won the 2021-22 Fine Art Award from the Investment Casting Institute. Quentin VerCetty also became the first artist to be commissioned by Carnegie Hall to create art for their 2022- 2023 season based on the theme of Afrofuturism. He is currently scheduled to install the bust of the Honourable Lincoln M. Alexander at Queens Park – Ontario Legislative Assembly House by winter of Community-wise, Quentin VerCetty is the founder and steward of the Black Speculative Arts Movement Canada ®©™, as well as the founder and director of AstroSankofa A.I.® non-profit organization and artist collective. He first started the collective in 2021 and formally launched the organization in 2022. The AstroSankofa Arts Initiative (AAI)® focuses on social engagement and intervention through public art, metaverse and web3 ventures, and activating spaces, using the framework and lens of Afrofuturism as a means of community building, empowerment, healing, growth, and encouragement for social change.
Quentin VerCetty has been specializing with keen interest in 3d digital and hybridization of sculpting which he as been injecting into the public and Web3 spaces. His efforts come from the actualization of the underrepresentation and exclusion of Black Canadian as being contributors in the new media realm such as screen industries and rapid-prototype and has been seeking to close that gap through his own artistic practice and communal efforts.
VerCetty is the co-editor of Canada’s first Afrofuturism art anthology, Cosmic Underground Northside: An Incantation of Black Canadian Speculative Discourse and Innerstandings (2020), which features works from over 100 Black Canadians.
Through his work, he hopes to engage minds, inspire hearts, and help to make the world a better place not only for today but for many tomorrows to come.

Joel A. Freeman, Ph.D.

BH365 | A Solution to the Education Gap

For 20 NBA seasons, Dr. Freeman served as player development mentor and character coach for the Washington Bullets/Wizards – surviving six coaching and three GM changes (1978-1998). With travels to over 55 countries, Joel has worked with the Association of International Schools for Africa (AISA), traveling extensively throughout the continent of Africa and conducting a number of training events for educators, government, and business leaders. With over four decades of research (since 1980), Dr. Freeman has become a respected authority on Black History, creating the Freeman Institute® Black History Collection, which consists of over 3,000 authentic documents and artifacts (oldest piece dated 1553). Genuine items from his collection were showcased at the United Nations, NY headquarters in unprecedented back-to-back exhibitions on the Transatlantic Slave Trade, for three months in 2011 and also for three months in 2012 — with well over one million visitors.

Having grown up in Canada, it was during this time – working with NBA players – that his rather unique interest in Black History first emerged. Freeman also has served behind the scenes as a Secret Service chaplain since 2020.

In 1995 he co-authored the book, Return To Glory: The Powerful Stirring of the Black Race, with the foreword written by Julius “Dr. J” Erving. Eight years later he co-wrote the film version of that book, currently with Spanish, Portuguese, French, and English subtitles. Audiences around the world have experienced his intriguing presentation, “A White Man’s Journey into Black History”. It’s an eye-opening experience that transcends race.

With travels to over 55 countries, Joel has worked with the Association of International Schools for Africa (AISA), traveling extensively throughout the continent of Africa and conducting a number of training events for educators, government, and business leaders. He has also assisted in addressing issues surrounding conflict resolution, and tribal warfare in meetings with over 100 African kings and queens throughout Benin, Togo, and Nigeria.

Since 2005 Freeman has led annual experiential/educational tours to the land of Israel and also Greece, helping hundreds of people understand the significance of the ancient topographical, historical, geographical, political, educational and spiritual elements of both regions of the world.

Dr. Freeman’s 1:1, 3D replicas of the iconic Rosetta Stone are in museums (Houston Museum of Natural Science), libraries and private collections around the world. One of his ancient Egyptian replicas was part of the Vancouver, BC movie set during the 20th Century Fox filming of “Night at the Museum 3’’. Dr. Freeman officially launched the Rosetta Stone replica project at the Library of Congress (DC) in 2009, with his presentation, “The Mysterious Rosetta Stone: A Code-Crackin’ International Treasure” – launching other similar presentations at the National Security Agency (NSA), National Museum of Language, and other entities. He also has developed a short film, “Rosetta Stone: Replicating a Mystery.”

With over four decades of research (since 1980), Dr. Freeman has become a respected authority on Black History, creating the Freeman Institute® Black History Collection, which consists of over 3,000 authentic documents and artifacts (oldest piece dated 1553). Genuine items from his collection were showcased at the United Nations, NY headquarters in unprecedented back-to-back exhibitions on the Transatlantic Slave Trade, for three months in 2011 and also for three months in 2012 — with well over one million visitors. He has also conducted exhibitions at the White House Communications Agency, Clinton Presidential Library, Secret Service, NIH and many other venues. Hundreds of images from his collection are included in the BH365 curriculum.