People leaders at The People People Summit, MaRS Waterfront Toronto

2026 recapThe People People Summit

The conversations your feed doesn’t have.

On October 20 we filled MaRS Waterfront with People leaders from across North America. One day, 22 practitioners, and a room where people said what actually happened rather than what should have.

  • 175seats, sold out
  • 22speakers
  • 8lightning talks
Join the 2027 waitlist

2027 applications open to this list first. Dates to be announced.

  • Kate Railton
  • Zak Hemraj
  • Nora Beatty
  • Harry Uffindell
  • Vanesa Cotlar
  • Marianne Bulger
  • Chantaie Allick
  • Ruiting Li
  • Tina Sarkar Thompson

Who was in the room. Chief People Officers from Mejuri and Manifest OS, the founder of Loopio, SVP People at Cohere, and 18 more practitioners across main stage, breakouts and lightning talks.

Our 2026 Attendees

Felix Health

•

Gorgias

•

Jane App

•

Shinydocs

•

ZayZoon

•

7shifts

•

Iversoft

•

Felix Health • Gorgias • Jane App • Shinydocs • ZayZoon • 7shifts • Iversoft • 

This room is for you if

YOU’RE PAST THE THEORY STAGE

The Summit is built for senior People professionals who own outcomes, not job titles on a badge. Every attendee is reviewed, so the room stays small, senior and worth your day.

Chief People Officers & founders

Setting people strategy at the top, and looking for peers who operate at the same altitude.

Heads of People & HR leaders

Running the function day to day, and ready for tactics you can use the moment you're back at your desk.

Talent Acquisition leaders

Owning how great teams get built, in a market that keeps rewriting the rules.

People Ops & Culture leaders

Designing the systems and the culture, and shaping what work feels like for everyone else.

Apply to Attend 
The 2026 Lineup

WHO YOU’LL BE IN THE ROOM WITH

What they built, what broke, and what they'd do differently

  • Martin Hauck
    01The People People Group

    Martin Hauck

    Founder & Head of Community

  • Vanesa Cotlar
    02PolicyMe

    Vanesa Cotlar

    VP People

  • Kate Railton
    03Mejuri

    Kate Railton

    Chief People Officer

  • Zak Hemraj
    04Loopio

    Zak Hemraj

    Founder & CEO

  • Harry Uffindell
    05Manifest OS

    Harry Uffindell

    Chief People Officer

  • Marianne Bulger
    06TrueSearch

    Marianne Bulger

    Partner

  • Nora Beatty
    07Cohere

    Nora Beatty

    SVP People

  • Alison Kaizer
    08Golden Ventures

    Alison Kaizer

    Partner, Talent

  • Litsa Dantzer
    09Float

    Litsa Dantzer

    Head of Talent

  • Joe Rhew
    10The Workflow Company

    Joe Rhew

    Founder & CEO

  • Ruiting Li
    11Zero Hash

    Ruiting Li

    SVP

  • Ella Minshall
    12ex-Medcan

    Ella Minshall

    Director, Talent Acquisition

  • Chantaie Allick
    13Ramsay & Co Consulting

    Chantaie Allick

    Chief Storyteller

  • Emily Paik
    14Kit

    Emily Paik

    Senior People Operations Manager

  • Tina Sarkar Thompson
    15Royal Ontario Museum

    Tina Sarkar Thompson

    AVP, Human Resources

  • Jared Tessis
    16Klass Capital

    Jared Tessis

    Talent Partner

  • Michaud Garneau
    17Technically Speaking

    Michaud Garneau

    Founder

  • Joshua Goodfield
    18VC Platform

    Joshua Goodfield

    Executive Director

  • Mary Papagiannis
    19ZayZoon

    Mary Papagiannis

    Senior Talent Acquisition Manager

  • Idil Osman
    20Relay

    Idil Osman

    Director, People

  • Anuj Rastogi
    21BackStretch

    Anuj Rastogi

    Managing Director

  • Karam Tawfiq
    22D2L

    Karam Tawfiq

    Head of Total Rewards & Operations

Apply to Attend 
what the day looks like

A DAY BUILT TO BE IMPACTFUL

No keynote theatre or surface-level conversations. Just a tightly curated program of candid talks, thoughtful discussions and conversations that move beyond the expected.

  1. 8:00AM
    Networking90 min

    Doors open, coffee and breakfast

    Welcome to the summit! Check in, grab your badge, and settle in with breakfast and coffee from the barista station. Pick up your badge stickers and signal what you are open to: hiring, mentoring, or new to the room. Take a moment to grab a coffee, introduce yourself, and start building your connections for the day.

  2. 9:30AM
    Main stage30 min

    Welcome and opening remarks

    The TPPG team sets the tone for the day with an update on our progress this year and a look at what is coming next. We will also cover the housekeeping: an orientation on session tracks, the sticker system, and dinner logistics.

    • MH Martin Hauck Martin Hauck Founder & Head of Community The People People Group
  3. 10:00AM
    Main stageModerated firesideNo slides45 min

    Beyond Headcount: The Evolving CEO and People Leader Partnership

    Get behind closed doors with a CEO and CPO for a raw, no-holds-barred look at the modern executive dynamic. We’re cutting through the noise to discuss the brutal reality of what truly earns a seat at the table, what gets ignored, and the evolving metrics that define, and demand, the best in People leadership.

    • VC Vanesa Cotlar Moderator Vanesa Cotlar VP People PolicyMe
    • KR Kate Railton Featured Guest Kate Railton Chief People Officer Mejuri
    • ZH Zak Hemraj Featured Guest Zak Hemraj Founder & CEO Loopio
    • HU Harry Uffindell Featured Guest Harry Uffindell Chief People Officer Manifest OS
  4. 10:45 AMCoffee, 15 minutes
  5. 11:00AM
    Breakouts3 rooms45 min

    AI breakouts

    Three rooms running at once. Pick by where you actually are, not where you think you should be.

    Main Stage Basic Foundations Explore AI for your work You will leave with A starting point you can act on: where AI actually fits in your function, and the first practices to put in place. Facilitator Alison Kaizer Partner, Talent Golden Ventures
    Pebble Lounge Intermediate Builders Connect AI to a task You will leave with How to scale what you have already started, plus a live Ashby MCP demo you can take back to your own stack. Facilitator Litsa Dantzer Head of Talent Float
    Purple Heart Advanced Architects Build a multi-step workflow You will leave with A systems view of redesigning the function around AI, and the trade-offs that come with going first. Facilitator Joe Rhew Founder & CEO The Workflow Company
  6. 11:45 AMSession transition, 15 minutes
  7. 12:00PM
    Lightning talksRound 130 min

    Tactics worth stealing

    Five talks, 5 minutes each, no Q&A. Submitted by members and voted up by the community. The single highest rated thing we ran in 2025.

    1. 1 The HR playbooks I stopped using to build 2 unicorns Ruiting LiSVP of Peoplezerohash
    2. 2 Hiring for proof: why it is so hard to hire for potential Ella MinshallDirector, Talent Acquisitionex-Medcan
    3. 3 Re-imagining leadership: the future of leading effective teams Chantaie AllickCo-FounderRe-Work
    4. 4 How I used data and AI to be solo recruiter and People Ops at 100 people Emily PaikSenior People Operations ManagerKit
    5. 5 Performance management: when mental health or accommodation needs are present Tina Sarkar ThompsonAVP, Human ResourcesRoyal Ontario Museum
  8. 12:30PM
    Networking60 min

    Lunch

    Enjoy an unstructured lunch to recharge and connect with your peers. It is open table and networking, so you’ll have the chance to spark new conversations. We’ve ensured the menu honours all dietary preferences collected during registration.

  9. 1:30PM
    Main stageModerated conversation45 min

    AI at Work: Hype vs. Reality

    A candid fireside chat as we move beyond the hype to explore how hiring, performance management, and compensation must evolve in an AI-enabled workforce. The talk will dissect the tactical shifts they’ve implemented, sharing honest insights on what has worked, what they’ve rebuilt, and the hard-won lessons from their initial attempts.

    • MB Marianne Bulger Moderator Marianne Bulger Partner TrueSearch
    • NB Nora Beatty Featured Guest Nora Beatty SVP People Cohere
    • AK Alison Kaizer Featured Guest Alison Kaizer Partner, Talent Golden Ventures
  10. 2:15 PMTransition, 15 minutes
  11. 2:30PM
    Breakouts3 rooms45 min

    Breakouts, round 2

    These are tactical, practitioner-led working sessions. No fluff, just real-world case studies and hands-on problem-solving. Choose the session that aligns with your current focus.

    Main Stage What investors want People leaders to know You will leave with How investors read a People function, and the language that gets your work taken seriously in the room. Facilitators Joshua Goodfield Executive Director VC Platform Jared Tessis Talent Partner Klass Capital
    Pebble Lounge Red flags and paper trails You will leave with A working method for spotting fake candidates, and verification steps you can add on Wednesday. Facilitator Mary Papagiannis Senior Talent Acquisition Manager ZayZoon
    Purple Heart Good ideas still have to be sold You will leave with The TECH model for winning buy-in up, down and across, plus the rubric to coach the same skills in your team. Facilitator Michaud Garneau Founder Technically Speaking
  12. 3:15 PMFinal coffee, 15 minutes
  13. 3:30PM
    Lightning talksRound 230 min

    Tactics worth stealing, part 2

    Three talks, same format, fresh set. Practitioners only, no Q&A, straight off the stage into your notes.

    1. 1 What HR could learn from product teams, and what it cost us Idil OsmanDirector, PeopleRelay
    2. 2 Being human in the AI era Anuj RastogiManaging DirectorBackStretch
    3. 3 AI and the death of compensation Karam TawfiqHead of Total Rewards and OperationsD2L
  14. 4:00PM
    Main stage15 min

    Closing remarks and send off

    Before you leave, decide two things: the tactic you are stealing, and the week you will try it. Then we thank the people who made the day happen, the lightning talk speakers, the sponsors and the volunteers.

    • MH Martin Hauck Closing Martin Hauck Founder & Head of Community The People People Group
  15. 4:15PM
    Networking60 min

    Cocktail hour

    A final chance to connect with peers and speakers before heading out to dinner. Non-alcoholic options and light hors d’oeuvres will be served.

  16. 5:15PM
    Event close

    Event wrap

    Thank you for spending the day with us. We’re grateful you gave us your time, and we’ll be in touch over the coming weeks with the best of what came out of the day. If you bought a Dinner Pass, your evening carries on at your assigned restaurant, so check your dinner card on the way out.

  17. 6:00PM
    EveningTicketed

    Curated dinners

    Bought a Dinner Pass? Make your way to your assigned restaurant and keep the night going. Small tables across a handful of Toronto spots, seated to mix you in with people you have not met yet. Reception starts at 6:00 PM sharp, so give yourself time to get there.

Agenda and speakers are subject to change.

WHAT YOU TAKE HOME

USEFUL BY MONDAY

You're giving up a day out of office. You should leave with more than inspiration.

Something you actually built

In the AI builder breakouts you make a working tool or workflow yourself, not watch a demo. You leave with the thing, ready to use.

Tactics worth stealing

Lightning talks are member submitted and community voted. Two rounds across the day, each a five minute idea you can put to work the week you're back.

A sharper read on the AI shift

Two main stage panels: what CEOs now expect from their CPO, and how hiring, performance and compensation get rebuilt for an AI-enabled workforce. Leave seeing what's coming sooner.

Peers worth keeping

Deep dive breakouts, small group time and curated dinners, built so you leave with a handful of senior relationships, not a stack of cards.

"Practical tactics we can actually use, and inspiring ideas that will stick with me long after today."
Caitlyn Beattie, CTDP · Founder, Origami HR

What 2025 attendees said.

"Just WOW for The People People Group. Yesterday's Summit was one of the best I've been to. The right mix of content-filled sessions and networking breaks where we could dive deep with each other on key topics."
Vanesa Cotlar
Vanesa Cotlar, MBA
VP People & Culture, PolicyMe
"The past two days reminded me why I love this work. Real, unfiltered conversations, surrounded by peers who care deeply about building better workplaces."
Cerys Cook
Cerys Cook
Chief People & Transformation
"There's something powerful about gathering a room full of folks who care deeply about people and culture, and then giving them a place and a platform to connect, debate, and spark new ideas."
Jenny do Forno
Jenny do Forno
Chief People Officer
"Everything I love about this HR community. Progressive, curious, and not afraid of a little healthy debate. The conversations were honest and forward-looking, focused on what it really means to lead People and Culture in a changing world."
Caitlyn Beattie
Caitlyn Beattie, CTDP
Founder, Origami HR
"I feel full and energized from the Summit. A day full of HR practitioners coming together to share best practices, mistakes made, lessons learned, and practical resources."
Noah Warder
Noah Warder
People & Culture Leader
"Inspired and re-energized. It felt great to attend the Summit at the MaRS Waterfront Innovation Centre in Toronto. It was energizing to be surrounded by so many passionate people and culture professionals."
Margaret Baker
Margaret Baker, CHRL
HR Leader, People Operations

From the 2025 Summit

Three people sitting at a table, smiling, with large windows and green plants in the background.
People participating in a meeting inside a modern conference room with large floor-to-ceiling windows showing a cityscape, some are using laptops and papers, and a speaker is presenting in front of a screen that says 'Welcome to the Certn Lounge'.
A group of diverse people attending a conference or seminar in a modern building with large glass windows and city view, sitting at a long white table with papers, laptops, and water bottles.
Two smiling conference attendees, a man with curly hair and a woman with long black hair, posing together at a conference called 'People People,' both wearing conference badges around their necks. The man is dressed in a black shirt and the woman in
A woman with black, wavy hair speaking into a microphone on stage in front of black curtains, wearing a black jacket, white shirt, and black pants, with a purple lanyard and a smartwatch.
A woman is speaking on stage at a conference in front of a large screen showing a presentation slide titled "Why Great HR Leaders Think Like Operators". The audience is seated facing the stage in a modern, glass-walled conference room with a high cei
People attending a conference or event, sitting in chairs, clapping, and smiling. Some wear conference badges around their necks. The background shows a digital clock. The atmosphere is lively and engaged.
People attending a panel discussion in a conference room. There are two speakers seated at the front, with a large screen behind them displaying the event details. Attendees are seated in rows, some taking notes or looking at their phones.
Audience attending a conference, sitting and clapping in a room with large windows and greenery outside, with a digital timer showing 2:11 in the background.
Women sitting on chairs participating in a panel discussion or interview, with one woman at the center holding a microphone, wearing a rust-colored sweater and brown boots, dark curtains in the background.
Four women standing indoors near large windows with green plants and trees outside, smiling and posing for a photo.
A man with black hair, black glasses, wearing a black t-shirt and a conference badge, speaking into a microphone at a crowded indoor event with green plants and trees visible in the background.

2026 Summit Sponsors

Orchard Benefits logo — TPPG partner and sponsor
Ashby logo — TPPG partner and sponsor

FAQs

  • The Summit is curated for senior People leaders, including CPOs, Heads of People, Talent, and Ops who are driving real change inside modern organizations.

  • Get in touch with us by clicking here.

  • All tickets are final sale and non-refundable.

  • Yes, pending approval. We aim to maintain the integrity of the attendee mix.

  • Not this time. The value of the Summit is in the in-person connections and off-the-record conversations.

  • Yes, coffee, lunch, snacks, and refreshments are provided.

  • We’ve got you. If you’re excited to attend but need company approval or support to cover your ticket, we’ve created a ready-to-use email template and a short business case guide to help you make the ask.

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