Calgary | Adventures in unexpected career paths, hosted by Dean Dahl

Darren Dahl is the Dean of the UBC Sauder School of Business and the RBC Financial Group Professor of Entrepreneurship. He is internationally recognized for his research in strategic marketing, entrepreneurship, creativity, and social influence. An award-winning academic, he has received the Killam Research Prize and the 3M Teaching Fellowship. In 2015, the American Marketing Association ranked him as the top professor worldwide for marketing research. He also serves widely as a consultant for multinational corporations.

As a business leader, Andrew Kim has a proven track record in establishing and scaling successful ventures in the global food and beverage, hospitality, and technology sectors. As co-founder and CEO of WOW Holdings Ltd., he has overseen the growth of WOW brands to 16 locations. He has successfully expanded businesses in international markets, including Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, USA, and the UAE. His career began in law at leading firms in Canada and South Korea. He has a Master of Business Administration from the China Europe International Business School (Shanghai), a Juris Doctor from the University of Alberta, and a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations from UBC.

After completing her Bachelor of Commerce at UBC and working at Club Med Punta Cana, Tiana Leonty followed her dream of acting. She earned a Musical Theatre Diploma from MacEwan University and an MFA in Acting from York University. After working in education, the arts, and business, she prioritized acting—performing on stage and screen, producing independent theatre, and teaching at York University. Alongside her artistic career, she cultivated her dedication to fitness, becoming a certified personal trainer and building her business, Train with Tiana. Whether coaching in the gym or teaching in the studio, she is driven by her love of movement and helping others build confidence.

Keenan Pascal is the CEO and founder of Edmonton-based Token Holdings, parent company of cannabis manufacturer Token Naturals and beverage producer Token Bitters. He previously spent more than eight years at major banks, alongside entrepreneurial endeavours, angel investing, and an industrial and residential real estate portfolio. He has a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Alberta and an MBA from the UBC Sauder School of Business. He is the past board chair of the Edmonton Downtown Business Association, and serves on the Edmonton Unlimited Innovate Advisory Council, the University of Alberta’s Business Advisory Council, and the board of the National Black Coalition of Canada.