Nik is the CEO of Sharma Brands, a strategic initiatives firm working with a wide range of brands to help grow and scale revenue across digital platforms. Nik is one of AdWeek’s Young & Influential, Forbes 30 under 30, Business Insider's up and coming Investors to Watch, and an investor and advisor to some of the fastest-growing brands in commerce.

Laura Thompson is the co-founder of next-level natural skincare brand Three Ships. Her journey into entrepreneurship began at the age of 9 when she sold handmade crafts and jewelry at her elementary school, which kicked off her love for creating something from nothing. Laura is in the Forbes 30 Under 30 (Class of 2022), EY Entrepreneur of the Year® in Ontario, and RBC Canadian Women Entrepreneur of the Year. Three Ships is also one of The Globe & Mail's Top Growing Companies for the past two years, and most recently one of Canada’s Top Growing Women-Led Companies.

Les Mandelbaum was born in Toronto, Canada in 1951. He attended Antioch College in Ohio, majoring in music and sociology. Eventually he moved to Boston to pursue a career in music, a hobby he continues to enjoy today. In 1976 Mr. Mandelbaum returned to Toronto and started Trans-Canada Hardware (TCH), a company that supplied parts for the construction of heavy-duty custom “road” cases and speaker cabinet protection used by rock musicians. TCH has since expanded into other specialized industrial hardware and created new entities and markets with Les remaining as a major shareholder and CEO. While on tour in 1978, Les connected with Paul Rowan, a boyhood friend working as a graphic artist. Unable to find an acceptable alternative to the mundane selection of window shades then available, Mr. Rowan created his own on printed paper and approached Mr. Mandelbaum. They turned the solution into an innovative and imaginative product. In 1980, the two discovered that there was enough positive response from the design community and from Canadian retailers, to create a new company “Umbra”, derived from the Latin word for shade or shadow. They expanded from Canada at the National Housewares Association Show (now the International Housewares Association Show) in Chicago back in 1981, and unexpectedly created one of the most successful original and contemporary home accessories and housewares design and manufacturers in the world today. Umbra factories, warehouses and offices are in USA, Holland, China, and Brazil. Les remains sole shareholder, President and CEO of all global entities and visits all regularly. His community work involves two local hospitals and advisory boards of two local colleges. Les is an active tennis player, bicyclist, skier, and hockey player. He still resides in Toronto with his wife Wendy, a textile designer, and two sons.

Amy Welsman is a Toronto based entrepreneur with a track record of building successful businesses. In 2013, Amy joined Knix as its first employee. After nearly five successful years, Amy left Knix full-time, but remained a shareholder in the business until 2022. She also was a contributing lecturer for the Build a Better Business program at Shopify. Amy has spent the last three years building and launching PAUME, a brand making award winning, specially formulated skincare for hands. Amy holds a BA from Queens University (with honors).