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An evening of BLEND brings the creative people, meaningful connections, and insightful ideas of the BLEND Design Conference in a shorter, more intimate format for those who can’t wait until March to (re)connect in Stratford at BLEND.

This exclusive evening will feature three dynamic speakers and the opportunity to connect with other UWaterloo alumni and like-minded professionals.

You’ll leave this evening with inspiration, new perspectives, and community.

Speakers:

"The Art of Problem Solving: Creativity in Action"
Dashawn Stephens (BA ’20, Speech Communications) is a sports media entrepreneur and industry professional. After a 5-year varsity football career at UW, Stephens founded PRSVRE Media Group in 2020. The company reimagines the Canadian college sports fan experience through extensive sports coverage and storytelling, sitting at the intersection of sports, culture, and innovation. Reaching 2 million sports fans monthly, PRSVRE Media Group is Canada's largest college sports media company and one of the fastest-growing sports production media entities. Stephens also appears as a colour commentator for CBC Sports during college football broadcasts.

"Diversity: Making Differences a Superpower"
Dr. Amara Pope (BA ’15, English) is a TEDx speaker, Ph.D. graduate in Media Studies, seasoned marketer, and fine artist. With over a decade of experience, she excels as a Marketing Communications Manager in construction tech, freelance consultant in marketing and brand management, and professional artist. Her Ph.D. research, featured in Billboard, VICE, NBC, CBC, CTV and more, examines the rise and diversity of Canadian R&B music. And as a second-generation Canadian Trinidadian, Dr. Pope explores how Caribbean culture influences the genre's evolution through digital marketing and branding of artists like Drake and Justin Bieber. Dr. Pope’s diverse roles highlight how blending varied interests can become career superpowers.

"Idea to MVP: How to Validate and Launch Without Perfection"
Ashna Mankotia (BGBDA '17) is the founder of Saffron, a content creator, and a senior product manager. She has over 101k followers on TikTok, where she shares content on a range of topics including personal finance, her career, fashion, and beauty, and her life in Toronto.  her career in ed-tech, she has launched learning experiences in design, marketing, and leadership for thousands of professionals. Launched in 2023, Saffron, a global membership community for women now has over 230 members from more than 45 cities.

If you require assistance getting connected to the event, email Phoebe Wong .