In 2020, brands rushed to stand for something. Today, they’re pulling back, caught in the crossfire of culture wars and consumer fatigue. So where does inclusive marketing go from here?
Fenton Jagdeo Jr., futurist and strategist, offers a bold prediction: The future of brand growth will be won by those who treat inclusion not as ideology, but as innovation. In this provocative keynote, Fenton introduces Practical Allyship—a future-facing framework that helps marketers move beyond buzzwords and into measurable, market-shifting impact.
With real-world examples and sharp insights, he’ll explore why inclusive teams drive better creative, how underrepresented voices unlock untapped markets, and why allyship—when done right—isn’t a liability, but a competitive advantage. This isn’t about being “woke.” It’s about being ready.
If you're a marketer looking to create campaigns that resonate, build loyalty, and shape culture in an age of skepticism, this is the conversation you need to hear.
Because in the future of marketing, sameness is a risk. And diversity? That’s where brilliance blooms.
Fenton Jagdeo Jr
Fenton Jagdeo is a futurist, consumer entrepreneur, consultant, and strategy professor dedicated to helping businesses anticipate and capitalize on emerging trends. As the co-founder and CEO of FACULTY, a disruptive beauty brand that redefined masculinity in cosmetics, he built one of the most innovative Consumer startups in North America—garnering industry acclaim from The Wall Street Journal, Business of Fashion, and GQ. FACULTY raised nearly $4 million from investors like Estée Lauder and HBO’s Maisie Williams before being acquired by Estée Lauder in 2023.
At the intersection of strategy and foresight, Fenton is a professor of Strategy Development at OCAD University teaching in their Strategic Foresight and Innovation Graduate Program, where he teaches business leaders how to identify market opportunities, build innovation capabilities, and future-proof their organizations. His work in scenario planning and consumer insight has made him a sought-after advisor for F500 companies like Vertex Pharmaceuticals, financial institutions like OMERS, public sector entities like Telefilm Canada, and grocery giants like Loblaw Companies.
His expertise spans governance, venture capital, and business transformation, with investments in high-growth startups addressing the future of retail, mobility, and healthcare. Fenton serves on the Board of the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC), shaping policy and planning for North America’s third-largest transit agency. He previously sat on the board of the Toronto Public Library (TPL) guiding their 5-Year Strategic Plan. Fenton runs a venture capital fund managing a global portfolio of pre-seed to Series A startups addressing humanity’s most pressing challenges. He is an advisor to technology companies at MaRS discovery district, and is a serial entrepreneur most recently venturing into dentistry, with a modern dental studio in Toronto re-inventing the typical ‘dental clinic’ experience.
Recognized as one of Bay Street Bull’s Top 30×30 and featured on The Peak’s Emerging Leaders list, Fenton is a dynamic speaker on innovation, consumer behavior, and the future of business. His ethos—rooted in radical curiosity—positions him at the forefront of shaping tomorrow’s market landscape
