The future of retail isn’t online or offline, it’s both and omnichannel retailing is the future. Today, consumers dictate to the retailer how they want to purchase goods. Join us on November 9, when Harley Finkelstein and Adrienne Batra discuss the Shopify model: developing a variety of products and partners with different platforms to provide entrepreneurs with the easiest way to sell their products and reach more customers.
Harley Finkelstein
Chief Operating Officer, Shopify
Harley Finkelstein is an entrepreneur, lawyer, and the Chief Operating Officer (COO) at Shopify. He founded his first company at age 17 while a student at McGill. Harley completed his law degree as well as his MBA at the University of Ottawa, where he co-founded the JD/MBA Student Society and the Canadian MBA Oath. Harley is on the Board of the C100, is an Advisor to Felicis Ventures & Omers Ventures, and is one of the “Dragons” on CBC’s Next Gen Den. Harley was inducted into the Order of Ottawa in 2016, received the Canadian Angel Investor of the Year Award in 2017, and most recently was awarded Canada’s Top 40 Under 40 Award.
Adrienne Batra
Editor in Chief, Toronto Sun & 24 Hours Toronto
Adrienne Batra was born and raised in Saskatchewan. She has undergraduate degree in Political Science and Masters in Public Administration.
Ms. Batra worked at the Saskatchewan Legislature as a researcher with the opposition caucus office. She then moved on to the be the Manitoba Director of Canadian Taxpayers Federation, Canada’s largest taxpayer advocacy group.
In 2010, Ms. Batra was the Director of Communications for the Rob Ford for Mayor campaign, and then moved on to serve in the Office of the Mayor as Ford’s Press Secretary.
Upon leaving City Hall, she became the Comment Editor and columnist for the Toronto Sun and political commentator for Newstalk 1010. Ms. Batra also hosted her own TV show on Sun News Network, focused on political, social and economic issues.
In June 2015, Ms. Batra was appointed Editor in Chief of the Toronto Sun and 24 Hours Toronto. She has appeared on Fox Business News, CNN, BBC and is a frequent contributor on CBC National, AM 640, CP24, Global News and CTV News Channel.
Ms. Batra also served in the Canadian Armed Forces obtaining the rank of Lieutenant, and was nominated for a YWCA Woman of Distinction Award.
In 2013, she was awarded with a Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal and currently serves on the Board of Governors for the National Newspaper Awards and the Canadian Journalism Foundation.
