Agenda
Hosted by:
SOLD OUT
Summit Highlights
This full-day summit – developed in partnership with Cortical Consulting & Coaching and the Hotchkiss Brain Institute, and our extraordinary speakers – brings together astronauts, scientists, and executives to look at leadership through the lens of stress, performance, and neuroscience.
We’ve designed the agenda to reflect what leadership feels like today — fast-paced, high-stakes, and mentally demanding. You’ll gain fresh perspectives, connect with decision-makers across Alberta’s business community, and walk away with practical insights to lead under pressure.
- Keynote: Col. Chris Hadfield – A rare opportunity to hear Canada’s most celebrated astronaut share lessons on leadership under extreme pressure.
- Leadership Unscripted – A live talk-show format hosted by Jay Ingram with Chris Hadfield, Kenneth Irving & Dr. Matthew Hill – real conversations, no scripts. You won’t want to miss this experience.
- Interactive Workshops – Choose from sessions on elite performance, leading through complexity, and stress & mental health.
- Networking Opportunities – Connect with executives, entrepreneurs, and innovators shaping Alberta’s economic future.
- Closing Reflections with Jay Ingram – A light and memorable finale.
Summit Agenda
October 1, 2025
7:30 a.m.
Registration, Breakfast, Networking
Start your day with a delicious breakfast while connecting with leaders and innovators from across Calgary’s business community.
8:30 a.m.
Welcome and Opening Remarks
Tammy Arseneau, CEO Cortical Consulting & Coaching
Land Acknowledgement & Drum Songs
Sings Many Songs Women will share songs to honour National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, observed the day prior.
Summit Vision & Introductions
Tammy Arseneau and Dr. Matthew Hill, Chair, Mental Health Initiative for Stress and Trauma (MIST) and the Hotchkiss Brain Institute share the vision behind the summit and the MIST program, and why stress and performance are now business-critical issues.
9:30 a.m.
Keynote: Colonel Chris Hadfield
A rare opportunity to hear from Canada’s most celebrated astronaut. Colonel Hadfield shares stories of leadership, resilience, and decision-making under extreme pressure — and how these lessons can apply to business leaders today.
11:00 a.m.
Leadership Unscripted
Hosted by acclaimed science communicator Jay Ingram, Leadership Unscripted is a live, talk-show-style format designed to spark unexpected insight and honest dialogue.
No slides. No scripts. Just real conversation – with a live band.
Featured guests:
- Kenneth Irving – leadership and resilience at the highest levels of business
- Dr. Matthew Hill – the science of stress and the brain
- Chris Hadfield – performance under pressure
Together they’ll reveal how science, space, and lived leadership intersect — and why it matters for the future of business leadership.
12:15 p.m.
Networking Lunch
Recharge and network. This is your chance to build meaningful connections with Calgary’s business community — leaders tackling the same challenges you face.
1:00 p.m.
Speaker Spotlight
A dynamic, TED Talk–style session featuring quick insights from business leaders. Max Shramm will share his leadership journey establishing Lufthansa Technik Canada in Calgary and the personal challenges that came with it, while Deborah Yedlin explores macro trends and why mental health has become a critical business issue. These talks set the stage for reflection and transition into the afternoon’s interactive workshops and breakout sessions.
1:45 p.m.
Concurrent Exploratory Workshops
Deeper dive into smaller, interactive sessions exploring the three pillars of the summit — Leadership, Performance, and Mental Health. Drawing from elite athletes, neuroscience, and lived leadership experience, participants will explore how to manage stress, build resilience, and sharpen focus under pressure. Select one workshop to attend, then hear the debrief from all three afterwards.
Workshop Options
The Edge of Performance: Stress, Focus, and Mental Conditioning
Hosts: Dr. Araba Chintoh, Duff Gibson, Crystal Phillips
With Sandra Stillwell, Cortical Consulting & Coaching
This dynamic workshop immerses participants in the experience of performing under pressure. Elite athletes share stories of managing high-stakes moments, revealing how they sharpen focus and build mental conditioning. A guided reflection connects these insights to the realities of leadership in business.
Key takeaways:
- Practical approach for managing stress and anxiety under pressure
- Insights into how mindset and preparation affect peak performance
- Actions you can apply immediately to strengthen your own leadership
Beneath the Surface: Leading through Change and Uncertainty
Hosts: Dr. Sarah Hewitt, Craig Latimer, Jason Rakochy
With Nancy Penner, Cortical Consulting & Coaching
Explore how leaders respond to risk and complexity through interactive activities, real-world stories, and group conversations. Participants connect science, strategy, and experience to build practical approaches for leading with resilience in uncertain times.
Key takeaways:
- A deeper understanding of the stress response in times of change — and why it’s a normal part of leadership
- Insights and strategies to help you and your teams stay focused, adaptable, and effective under pressure
- A simple but powerful reframe: uncertainty isn’t a problem to be solved, but a practice to be built
The Science of Mental Health: A CEO’s Journey to Restore Creativity
Hosts: Dr. Matthew Hill, Dr. Leah Mayo, and Greg Hemmings
With Tammy Arseneau, CEO, Cortical Consulting & Coaching
Explore a CEO’s personal story of recovery and resilience, paired with a science-based look at motivation, stress, and emerging practices — from meditation and neurofeedback to psychedelics and supplements. Participate in an interactive discussion to separate fact from fiction in the fast-growing world of performance and wellness tools.
Key takeaways:
- A fresh perspective on how leaders regain momentum when creativity or motivation falters
- A practical discussion on new mental health approaches and claims with evidence and curiosity
- Personal insights into resilience and performance that can be applied in leadership and life
Please note – this workshop will be filmed as part of a documentary series called Rewiring the Muse. By participating you are giving permission to potentially be included in the film process and the resulting broadcast.
3:30 p.m.
Workshop Insights and Takeaways
Hear from the three workshop hosts who will share their key insights and themes from each workshop.
Closing remarks
Tammy Arseneau and Dr. Matthew Hill summarize the day leaving you inspired, connected, and ready to bring new insights and strategies back into your own leadership practice, or into your organization. The day ends with Jay Ingram’s perspective and reflection — tying insights together in a final wrap up.
4:30 p.m.
