What's your story? On Thursday, September 15, join the first ever Captivate series and learn the art of digital storytelling.

This event is part of Captivate: UTSC's Digital Storytelling Competition where you can compete for a chance to win incredible prizes including a day-in-the-life experience as a social media influencer at Viral Nation, gifts, and more! 

If you are currently a student in Management or Journalism—or any undergraduate program at UTSC—then participate in Captivate and learn key skills every industry professional needs, including how to:

• Engage audiences with innovative, compelling content.
• Work with digital tools and creative teams.
• Unlock your creativity and build a portfolio of outstanding digital content.

Join the kick-off event and learn from industry experts and creative professionals on how to tell YOUR authentic story!

Event Date and Time: Thursday, September 15 from 2–4pm (ET)
Location: AA160, Governing Council Chamber, University of Toronto Scarborough

Meet the Speakers (In Alphabetical Order)

Heather Beamish, Spoken Word Artist

Heather is a tea-drinking, female-loving, ex-evangelical pastor turned spoken word artist and facilitator. In her work, she prioritizes resourcing communities with tools for rebuilding, reimagining, and reconciling differences through art and storytelling.  

Heather is committed to creating content birthed out of her queer, black and indigenous identities. She envisions a world where systemic change is fueled by our individual and collective liberation - a world where all people have equitable access to holistic healing through art, education and authentic connections.  

You can catch her speaking to a wide range of audiences, notably churches, conferences, universities and art shows. To follow her journey and view her work, connect on Instagram at @heatsbeam or her website: heatherbeamish.com
 

Professor Sandford Borins, UTSC Department of Management

Sandford Borins is a Professor of Public Management Emeritus, Department of Management at the University of Toronto Scarborough, where he served as its founding Chair from 1991 to 2003. He has graduate appointments at the Strategic Management area at Rotman, the School of Public Policy and Governance, and the Political Science Department. He is also a Research Fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School. His research focuses on narrative and innovation. His books include, The Persistence of Innovation in Government (2014), Governing Fables: Learning from Public Sector Narratives (2011) and Innovating with Integrity (1998). He is currently working on a sequel to Governing Fables dealing with management narratives about the private sector. 
 

Ray Ligaya, Head of Talent Relations, Viral Nation

Canadian-born in Mississauga, Ontario on March 23, 1993. Raised in Windsor, Ontario. Toronto living, Ray 'Mansuki' Ligaya is an artist, songwriter, producer, agent, and entrepreneur. He grew popularity on the social media app 'Vine' with over 1.5 million followers. To date, Ligaya has generated over 1 billion views across social media. As Head of Talent Relations at Viral Nation, he connects top-tier influencers with the biggest brands in the industry generating millions in revenue throughout the years. Ligaya has been featured on major publications such as The Wall Street Journal, Vanity Fair, ET Canada, The Globe and Mail, CTV, Business Insider and Funny or Die. His talent, networks, and following are used as leverage to launch his professional career as the musical artist Mansuki.

Ligaya aims to captivate his audience both musically and visually through his craft. Being of Filipino descent, Ray is determined make an impact in the music industry. Ligaya is also the Chief Executive Officer at Mansuki Recordings. The business was established by Ray Ligaya and Marco Cian, both avid music enthusiasts. Mansuki Recordings is an independent record label that supplies artists, producers, and engineers a platform for music career development. We connect talent with the biggest movie/TV publishers in the world and create an overall professional plan for independent artists looking to break into the music industry. From music promotions to mixing and mastering, Mansuki Recordings is willing to go above and beyond what is expected for the love of the music.
 

Daniel Shim, Social Media Strategist, Viral Nation

As a first-generation YouTube content creator and digital pioneer, Shimmy has built authentic and engaging communities across multiple social platforms. With nearly 16 years of first-hand experience, Shimmy has transformed the online presence for Fortune 500 companies by educating and adopting digital growth-hack strategies. When he’s not behind the screen, he’s on-stage MCing and engaging audiences alongside well-known performers in various industries.