First Next Step is back!

Mark your calendars! We're back on October 8th in the Moonlight Lounge of TacoTaco in Kensington Market. Networking, elevator pitches. The hosts with the most.

Join Hugh Elliott and Marlene Saunders as they MC the evening.

Elevator Pitches

Add your name to the list, grab the mic and pitch the crowd on what you have to offer. Have a role to share? Get up!

Indie Agency Panel

The panelists are being finalized but they'll share the stage and their insights on what it takes to run your own shop.

Robin Whalen, President and CEO, Church + State

Every ad, every social media post and every single video or piece of content should deliver a response. That’s the role of advertising. Enter Robin Whalen.
Digital and direct response marketing have been her professional passion for over 20 years. Starting out in the world of CRM & direct marketing forever impacted the way she looks at communication. Robin holds a firm belief that all advertising needs to elicit an emotional and behavioural response of some kind. It’s never advertising for the sake of advertising, it must have a higher purpose.
Robin has held a variety of senior management leadership roles at some of the world’s largest advertising networks including McCann, Publicis, and MDC. She has also worked closely with the Canadian Marketing Association for the past 25 years. Currently teaching their Digital Marketing Strategy, Influencer Marketing and Content Marketing courses, she is on the leading edge of marketing theory and application.
In her spare time she carves out space for travel (almost an empty-nester!), TV and her brand obsession with Peloton. What more could you ask for from life!

Steve Miller, Partner/ECD, Fuse Create

Lorri MacDonald, Managing Director, Diamond

Alistair Leyland, Founder, Array of Stars

Moderated by Marlene Saunders

Networking

The evening will round out with another set of pitches and networking.

All of this in the spacious TacoTaco's Moonlight Lounge. Have a beverage, shake hands, meet new people.

Your hosts

Hugh Elliott

Hugh started First Next Step in 2017 as an answer to networking events that felt forced and contrived. With an off-the-cuff nature, Hugh MC's a fun, engaging event. He is a Toronto-based Creative Technologist (freelance inventor). Hire him today!

Marlene Saunders

Marlene joined First Next Step in 2024 when she felt the need for this special brand of networking be returned. Without her, FNS wouldn't have continued. Marlene is a Creative Director in Toronto with 20+ years of experience.

First Next Step Indie Edition

First Next Step Indie Edition

Event Info

Hosted By:

Hugh Elliott

Hugh Elliott

Join the Conversation

Join the Conversation

Other Attendees

Other Attendees

Other Attendees

Other Attendees