About the Event
At the moment, it’s difficult to ignore that there are really serious problems in the world that need to be solved. According to a recent Notable Life article, more and more people in the tech industry are leaving their jobs in search of purpose driven companies. Not to mention, many tech companies are actively working on issues that affect all of us, from climate change, energy tech, ocean clean-up, and micro-financing. Startups and scaled companies alike are investing in mission-driven products and services. With public sector tech jobs being cut south of the border, it is more important than ever to understand the role of technology in addressing public problems, and how we, as product people, can build great experiences for EVERYONE.
Key Takeaways:
This program will feature a panel of speakers who have built careers working on public problems, we will dive into:
- How They Started: Insights into their career paths and what led them to mission-driven work
- Public vs. Private: Key differences between building tech in public and private organizations
- Unique Challenges: How they approach scale, performance, and usability when their customer is everyone
If you’re a product leader, or have experience working at a mission driven company or public organization, we will be having a Q+A with our community and would love to hear from you about your experiences!
Speakers:
- Rebecca Nava, Lead of Product Management @ Public Services and Procurement Canada
- Fenton Jagdeo, Founder & Entrepreneur
- Brendan Herjavec, Vice President, Product Operations Strategy @ PlaySpace
Event Tickets:
This event is open to everyone, but a free TPMA membership is required to attend.
Tickets cost $15 for regular TPMA Members and $12.50 for Community-Builder level members. Update your membership here.
Your ticket includes a drink and a selection of light snacks.
Event Agenda:
- 5:30 - 6:00 PM – Networking (in-person only)
- 6:00 - 7:00 PM – Panel Discussion + Audience Q&A
- 7:00 - 8:30 PM – Networking (in-person only)
Location:
Hybrid: TBA or join online via Zoom
Accessibility: For any accessibility concerns, please reach out to us at info@tpma.ca.
Read Speaker Bio
Rebecca Nava is the Lead Product Manager at Public Services and Procurement Canada, where she helps cross-functional teams to modernize government services. Rebecca is the founder of the first federal Product Management Community of Practice, which helped normalize product thinking at the federal level. She has successfully led high-impact projects, including the redesign of the Foodland Ontario website, defining the product vision for the My Service Canada Account and launching an open-source COVID-19 solutions platform. When she's not noodling on problems, you'll find her scaling the walls of the nearest climbing gym.
Read Speaker Bio
Brendan Herjavec is a seasoned business strategist, currently serving as the Vice President of Product Operations Strategy at PlaySpace, an innovative therapy engagement platform revolutionizing digital mental health. With an MBA from The University of British Columbia, he brings deep expertise in mental health technology and early-stage startups, contributing to multiple successful exits in the digital health space. His passion lies in bridging technology and healthcare to drive scalable, impactful solutions.
Read Speaker Bio
Fenton Jagdeo is a futurist, consumer entrepreneur, consultant, and strategy professor dedicated to helping businesses anticipate and capitalize on emerging trends. As the co-founder and CEO of FACULTY, a disruptive beauty brand that redefined masculinity in cosmetics, he built one of the most innovative Consumer startups in North America—garnering industry acclaim from The Wall Street Journal, Business of Fashion, and GQ. FACULTY raised nearly $4 million from investors like Estée Lauder and HBO’s Maisie Williams before being acquired by Estée Lauder Companies in 2023.
At the intersection of strategy and foresight, Fenton is a professor of Strategy Development at OCAD University teaching in their Strategic Foresight and Innovation Graduate Program, where he teaches business leaders how to identify market opportunities, build innovation capabilities, and future-proof their organizations. His work in scenario planning and consumer insight has made him a sought-after advisor for F500 companies like Vertex Pharmaceuticals, financial institutions like TD, public sector entities like Telefilm Canada, and grocery giants like Loblaw Companies.
His expertise spans governance, venture capital, and business transformation, with investments in high-growth startups addressing the future of retail, mobility, and healthcare. Fenton serves on the Board of the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC), shaping policy and planning for North America’s third-largest transit agency. He previously sat on the board of the Toronto Public Library (TPL) guiding their 5-Year Strategic Plan. Fenton runs a venture capital fund managing a global portfolio of pre-seed to Series A startups addressing humanity’s most pressing challenges. He is an advisor to technology companies at MaRS discovery district, and is a serial entrepreneur most recently venturing into dentistry, with a modern dental studio in Toronto re-inventing the typical ‘dental clinic’ experience.
Recognized as one of Bay Street Bull’s Top 30×30 and featured on The Peak’s Emerging Leaders list, Fenton is a dynamic speaker on innovation, consumer behavior, and the future of business. His ethos—rooted in radical curiosity—positions him at the forefront of shaping tomorrow’s market landscape.