Ignite a Culture of Curiosity

Norfolk County Economic Development and Lighthouse Festival proudly present globally recognized keynote speaker on marketing, leadership, and building unstoppable confidence, Keka DasGupta (sounds like “cake” but with an “a” at the end) for our 2025 Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion event. Keka has worked for over 25 years in the marketing and PR industry with world-renowned clients such as: Disney, Nike, IKEA, Mercedes-Benz, American Express, Johnson & Johnson, etc. During this time, she has received more than 50 national and international awards, including the “Oscars of the PR industry.” She has received the Agency of the Year designation at the global Gold Quill Awards from the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC), in both 2016 and 2023.

What if belonging wasn’t another box to check, but your organization’s next competitive edge? Research shows us that cultures that lead with curiosity become a magnet for innovation. Curiosity is the unsung hero of today’s inclusive workplaces, inviting every voice to rise. It sparks new ideas, builds bridges over fear of the unknown, fear of saying the wrong thing, and fear of being different. It transforms “us versus them” into “we.” Curiosity isn’t just a soft skill; it’s a strategic advantage.

In this energizing, deeply human keynote address, backed by data, Keka reframes curiosity as a leadership superpower. Drawing from her years of experience and award-winning work, Keka shows leaders how branding principles, rooted in authentic storytelling and self-belief, can draw out valuable input from everyone, be it the loudest voice in the room or the most often overlooked.

Unlock unique perspectives that could otherwise go unheard and otherwise untapped.

This keynote is for all leaders and organizations that are ready to shift from caution to courage, from performative to powerful, and from sameness to synergistic – because, in a curious culture, everyone feels included, everyone belongs, and they own it.

Introductory Speaker:

Dr. Oliver Masakure completed his PhD in Agricultural Economics at Reading University, UK and his MA and BA from University of Zimbabwe. He currently serves as Program Director and Area Coordinator for the Business Technology Management (BTM) and Director of Tshepo Institute for the Study of Contemporary Africa at Wilfrid Laurier University. Before joining Laurier, Masakure was a Postdoctoral Researcher in the Department of Agricultural, Food and Resource Economics at the University of Guelph.

His research interests cover a broad range of topics in development economics, health economics and labour economics.