Dr. David Rice is Associate Professor of Marketing at the Schulich School of Business at York University in Toronto, Canada. He has published extensively in scholarly journals and has presented his research at conferences in over 20 countries. Over the past 35 years, Dr. Rice has provided market research services and consulting to both Fortune 100 and 500 companies. His consulting experience includes successful market research projects for Microsoft, Intel, Dell, Procter & Gamble, General Mills, Ford Motor Company, Eli Lilly, Canon and the World Bank.

Dr. Rice was the Founder and President of SurveySite Market Research in Toronto. SurveySite was one of the early companies conducting online market research. SurveySite was sold to ComScore in 2003. Today, Dr. Rice continues to teach and offer market research consulting services to companies in Canada and Worldwide.

Martin Waxman, MCM, APR, writes a popular AI and Digital Marketing Trends newsletter, conducts AI research and leads digital and AI training workshops. He’s a LinkedIn Learning instructor, adjunct professor at the York Schulich School of Business and associate director of the Future of Marketing Institute.

Martin also co-founded two agencies, is president of a consultancy and a member of the Institute for Public Relations Digital Media Research Center. He regularly speaks at events across North America. Martin received the Institute for Public Relations Best Master’s Thesis Award in 2019 and the Canadian Public Relations Society’s Outstanding Achievement in PR Award in 2020. He has a Master of Communications Management from McMaster-Syracuse Universities.

Leore Barkai is a fourth-year BBA student at the Schulich School of Business, specializing in Marketing and Strategic Management. With experience as a Marketing AI Transformation Intern at EY and as Conference Co-Chair for the York Marketing Association, she has developed a strong foundation in strategy, communication, and digital innovation. Passionate about the evolving marketing landscape, she is continuously expanding her knowledge of how emerging technologies are shaping the future of the industry.

Asvika Sriharan is a BBA candidate at the Schulich School of Business focusing on marketing and supply chain and operations management. She has a keen interest in how technology can be leveraged to enhance business strategy and drive efficiency. Asvika values data-driven insights as a catalyst for solving complex business problems and fueling innovation and growth. With a purpose-driven mindset, she is committed to creating meaningful, scalable impact across both business and community spaces.

Klara Nemaric is a BBA candidate at the Schulich School of Business, with a deep-seated interest in corporate strategy and analytics. With a specialization in strategic management and economics, as well as prior experience in data-driven roles, Klara is interested in exploring how technologies like agentic AI, can be used to optimize business processes and drive consumer growth in measurable ways.

Rawan is a BBA candidate at the Schulich School of Business, specializing in Marketing and Entrepreneurial & Family Business Studies. She has worked as an Inside Sales Intern at Hilti Canada and as a Sales and Marketing Executive at FAM Ti, gaining experience in brand strategy, client engagement, and digital content creation. Rawan is interested in how new technologies and creative approaches are reshaping the way businesses connect with consumers and shaping the future of marketing.

Ali El-Komy is a BBA candidate at the Schulich School of Business, specializing in Marketing and Business Analytics. With experience as an Advisory Consulting Intern at PwC Middle East, he contributed to large-scale cybersecurity and digital transformation initiatives for government clients. Ali also has a background in digital marketing, where he created campaigns and strategies across platforms. Passionate about consulting and emerging technologies, he is eager to explore how innovation can shape the future of marketing.

Afif Fiyadh is a fourth-year BBA candidate at the Schulich School of Business, specializing in Marketing and Strategic Management. With prior experience in strategy-building and problem-solving roles, he is passionate about discovering emerging technologies that can transform marketing and create meaningful business impact.

Nashia Hussain is a BBA student at the Schulich School of Business, specializing in Marketing and Business Analytics. She gained experience as a Communications Intern at myLaminin, where she created content strategies and digital campaigns. As Senior Advisor to the Schulich Entrepreneurship Club, she supports programs that encourage student innovation and leadership. Her interests include digital marketing, consumer insights, and how data-driven strategies shape the future.

Simone is a fourth-year BBA candidate at the Schulich School of Business specializing in Marketing and Strategic Management. Following her Marketing and Corporate Relations internship experiences at Nest Seekers Ontario and the Let’s Enterprise India Fellowship, she is eager to continue building her foundation in brand development and strategic planning. She is also currently President of the Undergraduate Business Society, where she leads initiatives to strengthen student engagement.