2 October, 2025 – JA British Columbia was proud to host the JA Leadership Breakfast at the University Club, University of Victoria, bringing together more than 100 business leaders, educators, and students for an inspiring morning of conversation and connection. Presented by Nicola Wealth, this year’s event explored the theme, Purpose-Driven Leadership Amid Disruption, inviting attendees to reflect on how leaders can foster care, curiosity, and equity in a world increasingly shaped by technology, rapid change, and uncertainty. 

The morning opened with Max Lane (Nicola Wealth), who shared about his fulfilling experience as a longtime volunteer mentor and how JA has been a consistent “green flag” in his life.  For him, volunteering for JA was not only an opportunity to give back by supporting the next generation of business leaders, but also to practice skills that lead to success in his own leadership career. His message encouraged guests to discover their own “green flags” within the JA British Columbia community and to reflect on how mentorship can spark lifelong impact. 

Setting a powerful tone for the morning, Dan Pontefract, award-winning author and leadership strategist, delivered a keynote filled with humour, real-world insights, and reflection. Through stories grounded in purpose and data, he reminded attendees that leadership is not simply about outcomes, but about defining and acting on one’s purpose. Dan’s call to action was clear: define your purpose, then live it daily. 

Dan led an engaging discussion with an accomplished panel of leaders: 

  • Selena Woo, Vice President, Private Wealth Associates, Nicola Wealth 
  • Ramy Rayes, Executive Vice President, Investment Strategy & Risk, BCI 
  • Neil Henderson, CEO, Shift Technologies Inc. 
  • Jill Van Gyn, Founder, Fatso Peanut Butter; Director of Business Development, Rifflandia Festival 

Together, they explored how purposeful leadership and inclusive business practices can support future-ready education. Highlights from their discussion included: 

  • Jill Van Gyn on leadership evolution: We need to shift away from control and into care. 
  • Selena Woo on empathy and reflection: Stress can cloud our capacity for empathy. As leaders, we must carve out space for reflection to listen, understand, and respond with compassion. 
  • Ramy Rayes on creativity and innovation: If you want creativity, you have to allow for failure. If you only reward fast and safe, you’ll always get the same outcome. 
  • Selena Woo on technology: AI is a co-pilot, not an autopilot, reminding leaders to guide its use thoughtfully while cultivating the human skills technology can’t replace. 
  • Neil Henderson on the importance of programs like JABC TechWorks: Kids don’t show up to school dressed as developers for Halloween. JA helps change that by showing them what’s possible. 

Tom Grainger, an educator from Belmont Secondary and long-time JA program host since 2013, shared a touching story about a student in JA’s Investment Strategies program who had been disengaged in school until JA gave him a reason to connect and ultimately, to graduate. Stories like these remind us why purpose-driven education is so vital. 

Adding to the morning’s powerful stories, JA Alum and event co-host Alaa Ibrahim reflected on how her JA experience during the pandemic sparked her interest in the intersection of business and technology. Through a JABC program that challenged students to design real solutions for everyday problems, she and her team developed a personal schedule bot using human-centred design thinking, an experience that inspired her to pursue business studies and explore opportunities in innovation and entrepreneurship. 

Longtime JA volunteer Paull Murray, who has dedicated more than 20 years to mentoring youth, was also in attendance – a testament to the enduring commitment of JA’s volunteer community. 

The morning concluded with heartfelt remarks from Kenneth Chiu (Scotiabank), who candidly admitted he hadn’t realized just how deeply Scotiabank was connected to JA’s mission. Inspired by what he learned, he shared that he’d already reached out to his children’s school to ask how they could get involved with JA. 

As the event came to a close, attendees left with a renewed sense of purpose and a challenge to continue shaping the next generation of innovators and leaders. 

Thank you to our sponsors, our keynote and panellists, and every supporter who helped make this inspiring morning possible. We look forward to seeing you at our next JA Leadership Breakfast as we continue building a brighter, more purposeful future for B.C. youth. 

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