Brescia welcomes “Dragon” as the Keynote at Just Own It! Conference

February 17, 2016
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

London, ON – On February 19th, Nicole Verkindt, the newest “dragon” on CBC’s Next Gen Den and Founder and President of OMX (Offset Market Exchange), will present the keynote address at Brescia’s second annual Just Own It! Conference. This free, one-day conference will welcome 220 high school girls from five different school boards across Southwestern Ontario, and provide them with the opportunity to be exposed to, explore and experience entrepreneurship first-hand.

At 27 years old, Nicole Verkindt founded and became the President of OMX – the only online platform in the world to manage obligations government contractors have to invest in local economies. As a passionate believer in women’s roles in business, Ms. Verkindt will speak about the importance of women as entrepreneurs. “I am thrilled to be a part of the Just Own It! Conference,” says Ms.Verkindt. “I remember like it was just yesterday getting ready to go to university. I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life and was overwhelmed at all of the opportunities. It was a critical time for me, and the mentors and relationships that I formed ended up creating a powerful foundation for the rest of my career and life.”

The Just Own It! Conference is designed to promote entrepreneurship as a career option for girls by raising awareness of and engaging high school aged girls in entrepreneurship, and increasing girls’ confidence in their entrepreneurial abilities. The one-day conference will provide students with opportunity to be coached by over 30 women entrepreneurs, participate in active learning workshops, and hear from keynote speaker, Nicole Verkindt. Their teachers will also have the opportunity to attend a workshop provided by Toronto’s MaRs Discovery District (one of the world’s largest urban innovation hubs) and learn new methods for teaching entrepreneurship to young people.

“Brescia is very pleased to organize this important conference for the second year,” says Brescia’s Interim Principal, Dr. Donna M. Rogers. “Brescia has a responsibility to actively encourage and promote women leading the way in all fields – including entrepreneurship. We look forward to welcoming these bright young women, their teachers, the women entrepreneurs and especially Nicole Verkindt for what I am sure will be a truly inspiring day.”

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Photo Opportunity

Date: Friday, February 19th

Time:

9:45 am – 10:50 am Breakout Session #1: Product Ideation and Development

11:00 am – 12:10 am Breakout Session #2: Creating Prototypes

12:00 pm – 1:00 pm Trade Show

1:05 pm – 1:45 pm Breakout Session #3: Entrepreneur Mentor Panel

1:50 pm – 2:30 pm Closing Keynote – Nicole Verkindt

Location: Brescia University College, St. James Building Auditorium


 For more information please contact:

Cathy Fox, Manager Communication and Marketing at 519-432-8353, ext 28293 or at cfox54@uwo.ca, or Caitlin Core, Communications, Marketing & External Relations Officer at 519.432.8353, ext. 28280 or at ccore@uwo.ca.

Brescia University College, is affiliated with Western University. The 1,550 women registered as either full- or part-time students at Brescia study a wide variety of subjects in the schools of Behavioural & Social Sciences, Food & Nutritional Sciences, Humanities, and Leadership & Social Change in an empowering, compassionate, student-centred, and invigorating environment. Degrees are granted by Western. The Catholic University College welcomes students from all backgrounds and values diversity.