DEB CALVERT
Deb Calvert is the president of People First Productivity Solutions and a former HR executive with
a Fortune 500 media company. She is the co-author of Stop Selling & Start Leading and author of
DISCOVER Questions® Get You Connected, which was named one of The Top 20 Most Highly-Rated
Sales Books of All Time by Hubspot. Calvert is the founder of The Sales Experts Channel, a Certified
Master of The Leadership Challenge® and a certified coach, sales and leadership speaker, facilitator and
instructional designer. She works with HR and sales teams to build organizational strength by put-ting
people first. Her article on the links between employee engagement, leadership and increased sales
begins on page 37.
OZLEM YUCEL
Ozlem Yucel is an associate lawyer at Turnpenney Milne LLP, where she represents employers and
employees in all areas of employment law and acts as an independent workplace investigator. Prior to
joining Turnpenney Milne LLP, Yucel practiced at a pre-eminent employment law firm and articled at
the Ministry of Labour and the Ontario Labour Relations Board. Yucel obtained her law degree from
Osgoode Hall Law School and Honours Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Toronto, where
she graduated with distinction. Yucel sits on the Executive of the Ontario Bar Association’s Labour
and Employment Law and Alternative Dispute Resolution Sections. Her article explores the difference
between a bad boss and a bully; find it on page 40.
LAURA WILLIAMS
Laura Williams is the founder and principal of Williams HR Law and Williams HR Consulting Inc.
Williams boasts more than two decades of experience providing strategic advice and legal represen-tation
to employers on a full range of labour, human resources and employment law matters. She is
passionate about providing clients with proactive advice designed to minimize workplace law chal-lenges,
maximize employee engagement and boost their bottom line performance. In 2018, Williams
HR Law was honoured with the Labour and Employment Boutique Law Firm of the Year award at the
national Canadian HR Awards. Find her article on page 42 that explores restoring the workplace after
an investigation.
MICHAEL HORVAT
Michael Horvat is a member of Aird & Berlis’ Workplace Law Group. His practice focuses on all aspects
of labour and employment law in both the federal and provincial jurisdictions. He advises employers
in a number of industries, including manufacturing, transportation, retail, electrical distribution, con-struction
and financial services on various matters, including employment standards, human rights,
discipline, discharge, union certification, grievances, wrongful dismissal, executive employment matters,
transactions, as well as general labour and employment law issues. Read his article on how companies
have adjusted to the world of legalized recreational cannabis on page 46. n
contributors
CRAIG DOWDEN
Craig Dowden,PhD, is an executive coach and award-winning keynote speaker who is passionate
about supporting his clients in achieving leadership and organizational excellence by leveraging the
science of peak performance. His first book Do Good to Lead Well – The Science and Practice of Positive
Leadership was published by Forbes in January 2019. Dowden will also be a regular contributor to
Forbes.com. He is also the chief leadership officer of Keynote Search, an award-winning firm that
allows organizations to Find, Fit and Retain business-critical talent. His article on the power of
humility within leadership begins on page 35.
6 ❚ CONFERENCE ISSUE 2019 ❚ HR PROFESSIONAL
/Forbes.com