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TORONTO 2017 - WHAT’S NEW THIS YEAR!

 

The support of many people has helped establish the Toronto ELO event as the premier gathering for Christian marketplace and entrepreneurial leaders each year.  In the spirit of innovation and entrepreneurship, we wish to continually improve our ELO events.  As a result of extensive consultation with ELO advisors and supporters, we have instituted the changes below for 2017.

  1. Referred to as a “Forum” rather than “Conference”.  This actually goes back to the original name used in 2005.  The purpose is to highlight the interaction of attendees with speakers and the fact that all speakers are “live and in person.”  In addition, a moderator will do a Q & A with each speaker and there will be questions from the audience.  This is important to highlight ELO as quite different than a videocast or mass market event.
  2. Annual Theme – “Called To Lead!”  We will have a specific theme for each year’s event.  The theme for this year’s Forum is, “Called to Lead.” We will learn about leadership. We will learn about the process of innovative and entrepreneurial thinking, how to think of the process of creating change.  Who will drive the process?  All of us. We are all called to lead if we have a biblical worldview. To lead is to have influence. That interest in leading is enhanced because it is part of our calling.  This theme will be interwoven throughout the event
  3. “ELO Student Scholarships.”  ELO will provide a limited number of scholarships for university students (aged 25 and below) to attend the event.  We have been doing this “informally” for a number of years as various ELO advisors provide tickets that are made available to students.  We will now be more deliberate about getting the word out publicly regarding “ELO Student Scholarships” (NOTE:  anyone interested in a scholarship can email ELO at info@entrepreneurialleaders.com).  The ELO Student Scholarships will be offered at the discretion of ELO and according to availability. 
  4. “ELO Young Leaders Scholarships.”  In order to encourage younger leaders to attend the ELO events, ELO will provide a 50% discount for afternoon tickets for people aged 35 and under.  So, the price is reduced from $299 down to $149.  (NOTE:  anyone interested in a scholarship can email ELO at info@entrepreneurialleaders.com). 
  5. End A Bit Earlier.  We have tweaked the format so that the event ends at 9:30 p.m. rather than 9:45 / 10:00 p.m.  We will cut 30 minutes as follows: start at 6:45 p.m. rather than 7:00 p.m. and we will shorten the dessert break by 15 minutes.  Some people travel quite a distance to locally attend the events and this time saving will be meaningful.
  6. “Entrepreneur Pitch.”  This will be a 5-minute slot during the afternoon session in which we invite an entrepreneur to “pitch” their product or service.  In essence, we want to give early stage/ start-up entrepreneurs an opportunity to introduce themselves to our ELO community.  The intent is not for them to raise money (or to present a specific financial opportunity), but rather look to make connections which might be helpful with respect to mentoring, resources and connections.  Ideally, these will be young entrepreneurs ELO can help get a leg up through exposure to an experienced and supportive community.  Maybe it’s a new app or bit of software or what may appear to be some crazy idea!   We could likely fit in up to 3 of these pitches.  This will depend upon the quality of submissions and time availability.  (NOTE:  Interested parties can request further details from ELO at info@entrepreneurialleaders.com).
  7. Forum Booklet.  The Entrepreneurial Leaders Review (the magazine distributed at each event) (9” x 12”) will be combined with the note-taking booklet (given out separately at the event) (also, 9” x 12”) into a new 5” x 8” format.  This booklet will be approximately 100 pages, with a hard spine, with more content, will provide ample room for note taking.  This booklet will be provided at no cost to all attendees.