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Keynote SpeakerIdalin McKenzie

Award-winning Executive in Finance and Business Transformation, Strategic Architect, CFO, Board Director, Entrepreneur, Professor, and Speaker

Idalin McKenzie is an accomplished finance and transformation executive renowned for her strategic insight, innovation prowess, and risk management and governance skills. She boasts over two decades of leadership experience across diverse sectors, from professional services to energy, crown corporations to utilities, retail to real estate, and beyond. Idalin has left an indelible mark on organizations in the public, private and social sectors. A seasoned entrepreneur, Idalin’s journey encompasses founding, transforming, and exiting several businesses. Currently, she is the managing... Read More

Biography

Idalin McKenzie is an accomplished finance and transformation executive renowned for her strategic insight, innovation prowess, and risk management and governance skills. She boasts over two decades of leadership experience across diverse sectors, from professional services to energy, crown corporations to utilities, retail to real estate, and beyond. Idalin has left an indelible mark on organizations in the public, private and social sectors.

A seasoned entrepreneur, Idalin’s journey encompasses founding, transforming, and exiting several businesses. Currently, she is the managing director and principal at KLAM Consulting, a boutique firm focused on finance, strategy, and transformation that offers specialized expertise. In her role, Idalin acts as a CFO, trusted advisor, and strategic partner for a diverse portfolio of clients ranging from growing startups to established industry leaders. She is dedicated to steering these companies toward sustainable growth and operational excellence.

Throughout her career, Idalin has garnered a reputation for her unparalleled ability to discern individual and organizational potentials and pain points, crafting and implementing strategies that drive business success. She also imparts her knowledge as a professor at the esteemed Pilon School of Business—Sheridan College, where she educates postgraduate students on subjects spanning accounting, finance, technology, and audit.
Leveraging her diverse expertise, Idalin serves as a board director to further the missions within the social services sector. Idalin also takes great pride in empowering the next generation of professionals as a mentor with CPA Ontario and a women’s ambassador for the Executive MBA program at the Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto.

Idalin’s academic credentials underscore her commitment to continuous learning and professional development. She holds an Executive MBA from the University of Toronto, a Chartered Professional Accounting (CPA) Designation, a Master of Science in Computer-Based Management Information Systems, and a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and Accounting. Furthermore, she has earned an array of professional certifications in Corporate Board Governance (CDI.D), Audit (CISA), Risk Management (CRMA, CRISC), Business Analysis (BAP), and IT (ITIL).

Recognized for her exceptional leadership and influence, Idalin was honoured as one of Canada’s WXN Top 100 Most Powerful Women in 2023 under the theme “Like a Legend.” Additionally, in 2022, Poet & Quants distinguished her as one of the World’s Top 100 “best and brightest” executive MBAs following her nomination by the Rotman School of Management. Driven by a passion for excellence and a commitment to empowering individuals and organizations, Idalin inspires and shapes the landscape of business, finance, and leadership.

“Idalin is a leader who sparks engagement. She possesses a natural ability to skillfully decode the complexities of topical inclusive leadership practices within organizations. The audience felt empowered with actionable strategies to foster trust and transparency among leaders, colleagues and employees that would achieve mutually beneficial outcomes. Idalin's leadership, gravitas and credibility resonate, spark engagement and motivate her audience to action." S. Chisholm., President, EWIIN
“It was a pleasure having Idalin attend our entrepreneurship community event to speak on business planning. Her tailored presentation, expertise, and dynamic delivery style captivated our audience of business owners. She imparted insightful and actionable strategies for planning at different stages of business, from start-up to scaling to sustaining. Our audience was left inspired to explore and implement the strategies discussed. I look forward to having her at future events.” T.V. Walker, RBC Dominion Securities
“Idalin's talk on enterprise resilience was practical, relatable, and impactful. She skillfully decoded the complexities of strategic risk management, equipping our organization to navigate uncertainties proactively. Her framework of transforming challenges into opportunities inspired our teams, fueling a drive to cultivate a risk-conscious culture. Idalin is the perfect speaker for any organization looking to enhance its approach to managing risk.” Z. Yuan., Finance Executive, Global Automotive Solutions Company
“It was a thrill welcoming Idalin to our school and to enjoy an inspiring and relatable talk from her about the pursuit of excellence.” St. Mildred’s-Lightbourn
“Thank you, Idalin, for not only joining our community today but for encouraging us to remember that excellence is a journey, not a destination. You inspired our entire community.” D. Powers, - Dean of Students, St-Mildred’s-Lightbourn
“Idalin, thank you so much for joining our Empower Conference and participating in our Women in Leadership panel discussion. Your insights as a woman in leadership were profoundly impactful and offered invaluable perspectives to our audience.” DWIB, DeGroote – McMaster University

Popular Talks by Idalin McKenzie

  • Unleashing Business Transformation: Beyond Technology
    In today’s rapidly evolving business landscape, terms like digitization, digitalization, and digital transformation have become synonymous with transformation. We often hear about digital disruption, digital transformation initiatives, and the onset of the digital age. Technology undoubtedly plays a pivotal role in driving innovation, streamlining operations, and improving outcomes, including enriching...
  • Fortifying Organizations: Building Enterprise Resilience through Risk Management
    In today’s dynamic business environment, organizational resilience is paramount for navigating uncertainties and ensuring sustained success. This presentation focuses on bolstering organizational resilience through effective risk management practices. It delves into Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) ‘s proactive strategies, which encompass risk governance and oversight, risk appetite and tolerance, identification, assessment,...
  • Organizational Excellence: The Power of learning, reflecting, and redirecting
    Achieving organizational excellence hinges upon the perpetual process of learning, reflection, and redirection. This underscores the importance of continually adapting strategies, drawing from successes and setbacks to fuel innovation and empower employees to acquire and apply new skills. Learning is the bedrock for expansion, flexibility, and sustained growth amid ever-evolving...
  • Frontline Leadership: Igniting Organizational Performance
    Frontline leaders play a pivotal role in igniting organizational performance by actively engaging with their teams to achieve collective goals and fostering trust and collaboration. Emphasizing hands-on involvement in day-to-day operations, this presentation explores how frontline leaders’ approach can cultivate a culture of accountability and excellence. While frontline leadership takes...
  • Future-Ready Finance: Advancing Inclusive Hiring through Skills-Based Recruitment
    As technology reshapes traditional roles and skill demands shift, finance departments must evolve their hiring approaches. This presentation delves into how skills-based recruitment is transforming hiring norms and fostering inclusivity within finance. By integrating skills-based assessment alongside traditional qualifications, organizations can cultivate diverse, high-performing teams, elevating decision-making and fueling innovation....
  • Business Planning: Charting the Course to Business Success
    A finely tuned business plan acts as a navigational guide for your enterprise to reach its objectives and a compelling instrument for garnering support from investors and stakeholders. This presentation offers an exploration of business planning, encompassing vital elements such as defining core products or services, determining different legal and...
  • Revolutionizing Financial Planning: Harnessing AI and Gen-AI
    In a data-driven era where business velocity is unprecedented, leveraging these technologies is no longer merely advantageous; it’s increasingly essential for achieving successful business outcomes. This presentation will explore the transformative potential of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and its advanced counterpart, Gen-AI, within Financial Planning and Analysis (FP&A). It will spotlight...
  • Board Governance: Leveraging AI and Gen-AI - Benefits and Challenges
    In contemporary board governance, the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and Generative AI (Gen-AI) presents both opportunities and challenges. AI can equip boards with data-driven insights, enhancing decision-making and operational efficiency. Gen-AI can contribute to invaluable digital fluency and fresh perspectives, fostering enhanced stakeholder engagement. To effectively implement AI and...
  • Motivational
  • Black History Month
  • International Women’s Day