Pontefract, Dan: - Dan Pontefract is the founder and CEO of The Pontefract Group, a firm that improves the state of leadership and organizational culture. His goal is to go out of business from a lack of clients who no longer require any assistance. He is the best-selling author of three books: OPEN TO THINK, THE PURPOSE EFFECT and FLAT ARMY. Dan is a renowned speaker and has been asked to present at four different TED events. He also writes for Forbes and Harvard Business Review. Dan is an adjunct professor at the University of Victoria, Gustavson School of Business and has garnered more than 20 industry awards over his career. His favourite was "Dad of the Year" in 2013, although nepotism was in play. His third book, OPEN TO THINK, was the 2019 getAbstract International Book of the Year winner, and it also received a 2019 Axiom Business Book Award in the Leadership category. Previously as Chief Envisioner and Chief Learning Officer at TELUS--a Canadian telecommunications company with revenues of over $14 billion and 50,000 global employees--he launched the Transformation Office, the TELUS MBA, and the TELUS Leadership Philosophy, all award-winning initiatives that dramatically helped to increase the company's employee engagement to record levels of nearly 90%. Prior to TELUS, he held senior roles at SAP, Business Objects and the British Columbia Institute of Technology. Dan's personal declaration of purpose guides much of his thinking: We're not here to see through each other; we're here to see each other through. Dan and his wife, Denise, have three children and live in Victoria, Canada. If you ever find yourself in Victoria, you'll likely find Dan cycling in search of a locally brewed IPA beer. He may even buy you one. You can reach Dan on Twitter @dpontefract, Instagram @dan.pontefract, Facebook @danpontefractauthor, LinkedIn @dan.pontefract or on his website at www.danpontefract.com