Keynote Speaker

Bianca

Brand & Innovation Strategist
Articles
4,963
Views
82,201,000
Location
Toronto, Canada
Member Since
Mar 2007
Growing up in a family of entrepreneurs, Bianca fell in love with business at a young age and formed a strong interest in entrepreneurship. She joined the startup world in 2007 when she became the first employee at Trend Hunter, where she published almost 5,000 articles, and edited over 30,000 articles. Outside of Trend Hunter, Bianca has had her writing featured in the Financial Times, Fast Company, and Girlfriend Magazine.

She officially leapt into entrepreneurship in 2010 when she launched a content consultancy, and later co-founded a boutique creative agency in Vancouver. In 2014, she joined HIGHLINE, a global VC-backed tech accelerator where she applies her marketing and events background to help top-tier startups scale to succeed at a global level.

When not in front of her Macbook, Bianca can be found on her yoga mat, walking the Vancouver Seawall with friends, or organizing brunches in different cities. She is passionate about empowering women and loves having discussions centred on the intersection of success and soul.
What is unique that's not in your bio?
I was born in Hamburg, Germany and moved to Canada before elementary school so I'm fluent in both English and German.
What's your favorite accomplishment?
Becoming the Senior Editor of Trend Hunter and moving to Toronto to pursue my dream to write for a publication that inspires me every single day. There isn't a day that goes by that I'm not in awe while going through our submissions, or that my correspondence with our uplifting community doesn't put a smile on my face.
How do you define cool?
Cool is anything that evokes excitement that you want to share with as many people as possible. It could be something beautiful, bizarre, interesting or amusing. If something hyper-stimulates any of the five senses, then that's cool. The stronger the stimulation, the cooler it is… and if it evokes emotion, even better!
What is your secret to uncovering trends?
My secret to discovering trends comes from examining things from new angles and consciously seeking out the positive. Often when the media is abuzz about something (take Iran, for example) I hunt specifically for a unique angle that offers a new take or positive twist, such as the underground music scene in Tehran or the efforts of eco-bloggers in that part of the world.
What do you enjoy most about Trend Hunter?
Trend Hunter is the doorway to the unlimited, wonderful possibilities of this world. It fuel creativity, sparks innovation and helps draw our focus on what makes this world exciting and life worth living.
What is your favorite trend?
It's too hard to name just one! I think the most important trends are the ones that will make this world a better place. This could be anything from changing the way you think, improving health or simply making life more enjoyable.
What are your tips for writing a juicy post?
Get people to feel it! If you can get your readers to hear your enthusiasm and experience the content, they'll want to pass it on. Also, when writing for a global audience on the web, it's best to scrap technical jargon and use relevant examples they can relate to… and of course, infuse it with “cool” (see above.)
How do you reset to be creative?
I don't have to set time aside, because no matter what I do, my senses are always open for the unusual. I'm detail oriented; I look at the small stuff. I'm a passionate photographer, and it's a hobby that lets me see the beauty that is constantly around me. I reset myself by remaining curious. I'm always wondering, always questioning, it's at the core of who I am. I don't perceive things the way they are or always have been, but for what they could be.
What inspires or excites you?
I am inspired when I see people enjoying life and drinking in all the goodness that living on this planet offers. One thing that can always get me inspired is seeing the spark in other people's eyes when they are clearly enthused about something!
Predict something awesome for 2020?
Just one thing?! In 2020 I predict people will be extracting value from more meaningful aspects of life and that relationships will become the most valuable currency on the planet.
Ethical Aromatherapy Collections
Ethical Aromatherapy Collections
The Vitruvi Fragrances are Inspired by Global Daily Rituals
Vitruvi is a luxury aromatherapy company that uses inspiration from ancient botanical practices to create products that support health centers in developing countries.  Vitruvi was founded by... MORE
Makeup-Free Photography Studios
Makeup-Free Photography Studios
RAW Beauty Talks Photographs Real Women Without Makeup or Editing
In recent years, we’ve witnessed a growing emphasis on the beauty industry’s psychological effects on us, particularly how it can be detrimental to our self-esteem. RAW Beauty Talks is among the... MORE
Adventure Philanthropy Platforms
Adventure Philanthropy Platforms
'Climb For Change' Lets You Crowdfund Your Excursion
Climb for Change is an online fundraising platform for charity climbs, treks, hikes and adventures that was recently launched by Mike and Chantal Schauch in Vancouver, Canada. Imagine taking on the... MORE
Crowdfunding Apps
Crowdfunding Apps
SellanApp Lets Anyone Gain Funding and Connect with Developers
Have you ever had an amazing idea for an app, but lack the skills to bring it into reality? Or perhaps you lacked the funding to pay someone to do it for you? SellanApp is a crowdfunding platform... MORE
Zehra Abbas, Founder of YTGA (INTERVIEW)
Zehra Abbas, Founder of YTGA (INTERVIEW)
Youth Troopers for Global Awareness and Studio89
Zehra Abbas is the founder of Youth Troopers for Global Awareness. When we profiled the Mississauga, Ontario-based organization a few months ago, we mentioned Studio89, a youth-led social enterprise... MORE
For-Purpose Creative Services
For-Purpose Creative Services
'Brands for the People' Offers Design Work For Those Doing Good
Brands for the People is a Vancouver-based creative agency that has carved out a niche in the social good space, offering high end design work for startups that are focused on creating positive... MORE
Dana Raviv, Service Officer at Catchafire (INTERVIEW)
Dana Raviv, Service Officer at Catchafire (INTERVIEW)
Connecting Nonprofits with Professionals
Dana Raviv is a Service Officer with Catchafire, which helps connect nonprofits and social enterprises with volunteers who want to apply their professional skills to further good causes. Dana is... MORE
Peter Cousins, Founder of Brighter Future Workshop
Peter Cousins, Founder of Brighter Future Workshop
Teaching Tech Skills to Disabled Youth
Peter Cousins is the founder of Brighter Future Workshop, a social enterprise that empowers and employs disabled youth by teaching them tech skills, which they apply to recycle mobility equipment... MORE
Alicia Lai, Founder of Bourgeois Boheme (INTERVIEW)
Alicia Lai, Founder of Bourgeois Boheme (INTERVIEW)
Ethical Vegan Shoes
Alicia Lai is the founder of Bourgeois Boheme, a line of fashionable men’s and women’s vegan shoes. Based in London, the “fashion with compassion” brand is conscious of its... MORE
Amanda Fisher, Designer at Bachhara (INTERVIEW)
Amanda Fisher, Designer at Bachhara (INTERVIEW)
Beautiful, Ethical Fashion from Indian Slums
Amanda Fisher is the designer behind Bachhara, an ethical fashion line created by women working at the sewing center at the Jaago Foundation in the Dhaka slums in Bangladesh. In the following... MORE
Ethical Virtual Goods
Ethical Virtual Goods
The PlayMob 'GiverBoard' Lets Gamers Fundraise for Real Causes
PlayMob is a gaming platform that facilities fundraising for real causes around the world by connecting games developers with charities and players. The PlayMob ‘GiverBoard’ was... MORE
Eco Chic Lifestyle Magazines
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'Positive Luxury' Helps Customers Make Ethical Fashion Choices
Positive Luxury (PositiveLuxury.com) is an online lifestyle magazine that is updated daily and allows visitors to make fashionable, modern and ethical purchases directly from the website. The e-... MORE
Social Good Realtors
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GIVE Group Gives 25% of Commissions to Charities of Their Clients' Choice
Similar to Brokers For Charity, which we covered recently, GIVE Group is a realty group that has giving at the heart of its business model, offering 25% of their commissions to charity. Based in... MORE
Jennifer Gootman, Executive Director of Global Goods Partners (INTERVIEW)
Jennifer Gootman, Executive Director of Global Goods Partners (INTERVIEW)
Fair Trade Online Store
What’s it like working with a group of motivated social entrepreneurs in New York? We had the opportunity to interview Jennifer Gootman, Executive Director of Global Goods Partners, to find out.... MORE
Eco-Conscious Sundresses
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Worldstock Sells Fair Trade Goods, Giving 60-70% of Profits to Artisans
Worldstock is an eco-conscious online marketplace and Overstock.com’s fair trade arm (they give 60-70% of profits back to their artisans). The green and social business is targeting... MORE
Founders of All of Us Revolution (INTERVIEW)
Founders of All of Us Revolution (INTERVIEW)
Shannon Whitehead and Kristin Glenn
Ready to meet the brains behind the most-funded fashion project in Kickstarter.com’s history? (796 backers pledged over $64,000, which was more than three times their goal!) It wasn’t... MORE
Ann Skydell Harmon, Founder of Ann-Made, LLC (INTERVIEW)
Ann Skydell Harmon, Founder of Ann-Made, LLC (INTERVIEW)
Upcycled Social Cause Jewelry
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Amanda Judge, Founder of The Andean Collection (INTERVIEW)
Amanda Judge, Founder of The Andean Collection (INTERVIEW)
Colorful Beads That Empower Women
The Andean Collection is a social enterprise fashion line that sells bright, colourful jewelry made by artisans in Ecuador who are able to earn a sustainable income from their creations. The... MORE
Sam Bruce, Co-founder of Much Better Adventures (INTERVIEW)
Sam Bruce, Co-founder of Much Better Adventures (INTERVIEW)
Planet-Friendly Travel Company
Sam Bruce is one of the energetic co-founders of Much Better Adventures, a travel company geared at those seeking thrilling excursions around the world—and who want to do so with a conscience.... MORE
Dave Llorens, CEO of 1BOG (INTERVIEW)
Dave Llorens, CEO of 1BOG (INTERVIEW)
Making Home Solar Affordable
We recently profiled a solar company in California called One Block Off the Grid, which allows residents to gain affordable access to solar technology for their homes. Initially they did this... MORE
Eve Friedman, Founder of Eve Echo (INTERVIEW)
Eve Friedman, Founder of Eve Echo (INTERVIEW)
Beauty Products That Provide Microloans
Eve Friedman is the social entrepreneur behind Eve Echo, a skincare company with a social mission; for every sale the company makes, Eve Echo gives a portion of the profits to female entrepreneurs... MORE
Edouard de Broglie, Founder of Dans Le Noir (INTERVIEW)
Edouard de Broglie, Founder of Dans Le Noir (INTERVIEW)
A Restaurant Where You Dine in the Dark
When we featured Dans Le Noir, a dining in the dark restaurant chain that employs blind servers, we were curious to learn more about the business model, and the people behind it. In the interview... MORE
Torkin Wakefield, Co-Founder of BeadforLife (INTERVIEW)
Torkin Wakefield, Co-Founder of BeadforLife (INTERVIEW)
A Fair Trade Non Profit in Uganda
Torkin Wakefield is the Co-Founder & Global Ambassador of BeadforLife, a social business we profiled recently that empowers women in Uganda who create fair trade jewelry out of recycled paper.... MORE
Mike Radparvar, Co-Founder of Holstee (INTERVIEW)
Mike Radparvar, Co-Founder of Holstee (INTERVIEW)
On Using a Manifesto, Not a Business Plan
The Holstee manifesto—you’d probably recognize it if you saw it—has become one of the most well known word-based inspirational products on the Internet. As the founders—... MORE
Upcycling to Fight Poverty
Upcycling to Fight Poverty
The 'Recycle Not a Waste Initiative' Empowers Ghanian Street Youth
Like many urban centres in the majority world, Ghana’s streets are filled with litter. Instead of just hiring people to clean the streets, however, a social enterprise called Recycle Not a... MORE
Kristin Johnson, Co-Founder of Global Mamas
Kristin Johnson, Co-Founder of Global Mamas
Empowering Women Through Employment
Global Mamas is a female-owned social enterprise focused on empowering women through employment. It was founded in 2002 by Renae Adam and Kristin Johnson who were inspired after working together... MORE
Stacy McCoy, Co-Founder of Give to Get Jobs
Stacy McCoy, Co-Founder of Give to Get Jobs
Social Enterprise and Nonprofit Job Board
Stacy McCoy is the Co-Founder and CEO at Give to Get Jobs, a company that connects job seekers wanting to make a living doing good with the jobs that will fulfill those dreams. After studying... MORE
Pinot Noir with Purpose
Pinot Noir with Purpose
'ONEHOPE Wines' Donate Half Their Profits to Charity
ONEHOPE Wines was started by eight friends seeking a way to raise funds to help a friend fight cancer. Their intention to help their friend blossomed into the unexpected growth of a successful... MORE
Good Karma Web Dev
Good Karma Web Dev
PICnet Offers Tech Services for Non-Profits and Social Businesses
PICnet is B Corp that offers affordable website management services to non-profits and social enterprises that might otherwise struggle to fund a strong online presence, which is essential to... MORE
Conscious Online Marketplaces
Conscious Online Marketplaces
'Ethical Community' Connects Businesses With Customers Who Care
If you’ve ever wondered where, how and by whom your products are made, then Ethical Community is an online marketplace that will let you discover just that. The sustainability-focused online... MORE
Rehab Restaurants
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'Cafe Therapy' in Prague Helps People Overcome Drug Addictions
Cafe Therapy is a restaurant, cafe, shop and social enterprise in the Czech Republic’s bustling capital, Prague. Their mission is to help people overcome drug addictions through art therapy, and... MORE
Social Good Cuisine
Social Good Cuisine
La Tablée des Chefs Teaches Kids About Nutrition While Feeding the Homele
La Tablée des Chefs is a social enterprise based in Quebec, Canada that educates youth on healthy eating while at the same time redistributing leftover food to local underserved communities. The... MORE
Social Entrepreneurship Retreats
Social Entrepreneurship Retreats
Hollyhock SVI Supports Mission-Based Businesses and Founders
The Social Venture Institute (SVI) at Hollyhock is a learning centre and wellness retreat for “people who are making the world better.” This September marks the 17th annual retreat,... MORE
Incubating Himalayan Innovation
Incubating Himalayan Innovation
'One Earth Designs' Promotes Eco and Social Entrepreneurship
When asked to picture the Himalayas, it’s likely visions of snowy peaks that come to mind rather than images of the culture and people living in the chilly mountain range above India. Today we&#... MORE
Trees to End Poverty
Trees to End Poverty
Carbon Offsetting With COTAP.org Tackles Social and Environmental Issues
Carbon Offsets to Alleviate Poverty—the name of this social business really says it all. While the website, COTAP.org, is still in beta, it offers plenty of information on the nonprofit’s goal... MORE
Social Enterprise Gift Baskets
Social Enterprise Gift Baskets
'Saul Good' Sells Eco and Socially Responsible Presents
How often have you found yourself looking for a gift without any real intention beyond buying something because it was the appropriate thing to do given the occasion? When those moments arise—... MORE

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