our team.

mike young

he/him | founder + principal

Mike is a graduate of Queen’s University’s Gender Studies program, and served as the 34th Rector of the University. Elected by the student body to work alongside the Principal and Chancellor to represent student interests, Mike served on a dozen University Committees and was a voting member of the Board of Trustees. In his roles at Queen’s, his love of public speaking was born, as he spoke at 50+ functions as a keynote or panelist as Rector. Additionally, he has had the chance to facilitate countless important discussions while administering the Positive Space and the Sexual Violence Bystander Intervention Training programs, respectively, at Queen's.

He’s been brought in as a guest lecturer, keynote speaker, educator, and consultant by various private and public sector clients since the organization’s inception in 2017, working with thousands of young people and seasoned professionals alike. Mike is lauded for his energetic, dynamic, intellectually sophisticated, yet entirely comfortable presentations, along with his adaptability and wide-ranging expertise as a consultant.

He believes in the power of productive dialogue, sharing, laughter, and honesty, and his work as a speaker strives to be human and accessible above all else. He lives with his partner (Lea) and his dog (Chickpea) in Toronto, ON. He loves wafting freshly ground coffee, singing in the car, and the NBA.

Mike holds a BAH and an MA from Queen’s University in Gender Studies. Mike is a Senior Associate with Boyden Executive Search & Leadership Advisory services, facilitating executive search processes and strategic management consulting initiatives in higher education, healthcare, and non-profit organizations in Ontario.