Exclusive Event

Leaders in Design: Shaping the Future of Design

We hosted a forward-looking conversation in Toronto with senior design and innovation leaders.

BrainStation Toronto
Event Recap
Aug 13, 2025

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Renee Racine-Kinnear

Head of Design
Will Maclvor

Head of Design
Tania Makroo

Partner & Platform Design Leader

In Toronto, design leaders from RBC, Kijiji, and Salesforce shared insights on the evolving role of design, the impact of AI on creativity and decision-making, and strategies for building cohesive experiences across platforms. Renée Racine-Kinnear, William MacIvor, and Tania Makroo offered candid perspectives on how technology is reshaping the future of design leadership and customer experience.

Renee Racine-Kinnear

Head of Design

Renée Racine‑Kinnear is Head of Design at RBC, leading experience strategy and UX design initiatives that shape seamless customer journeys. With over 15 years in UX and CX, Renée is known for user‑centered design methods, from journey mapping to persona‑driven strategy.
Will Maclvor

Head of Design

William MacIvor brings a rare interdisciplinary background to Kijiji, with degrees in architecture and physics, and over a decade of leadership in product and design. At Kijiji, he leads experience strategy, applying systems thinking and research-driven processes.
Tania Makroo

Partner & Platform Design Leader

Tania Makroo leads Partner & Platform Design at Salesforce, where she shapes user-centric design strategies that elevate the partner ecosystem and platform experiences. With a deep focus on collaboration, systems thinking, and scalable design solutions, she’s committed to building intuitive experiences that drive impact at scale.

More Upcoming Events

Dec 09

Leaders in Fintech

Designing the Bank of the Future

Join us for an inside look at how design leaders are building the bank of the future.

6:00 PM - 8:00 PM EST
482 Front St W, 2nd Floor, Toronto, ON
$35

Discussion Topics:

Reinventing the Banking Experience
Trust, Compliance and Confidence
Personalization and AI in FinTech

Dec 09

Leaders in Fintech Designing the Bank of the Future

Join us for an inside look at how design leaders are building the bank of the future.

6:00 PM - 8:00 PM EST
482 Front St W, 2nd Floor, Toronto, ON
$35

Discussion Topics:

Reinventing the Banking Experience
Trust, Compliance and Confidence
Personalization and AI in FinTech

View Event

Dec 17

Product Evenings TO

Building Products That Win the Rider

Join Lyft product leaders Béatrice Bunieski and Kristen Shi for an inside look at how Lyft designs, prioritizes, and measures products that create lasting value for riders.

6:00 PM - 7:30 PM EST
482 Front St W, 2nd Floor, Toronto, ON
$25

Discussion Topics:

Lyft’s Approach to Product
Building to Win the Rider, Not Just the Ride
The Insight Engine Behind the Product

Dec 17

Product Evenings TO Building Products That Win the Rider

Join Lyft product leaders Béatrice Bunieski and Kristen Shi for an inside look at how Lyft designs, prioritizes, and measures products that create lasting value for riders.

6:00 PM - 7:30 PM EST
482 Front St W, 2nd Floor, Toronto, ON
$25

Discussion Topics:

Lyft’s Approach to Product
Building to Win the Rider, Not Just the Ride
The Insight Engine Behind the Product

View Event

Jan 14

Design Evenings TO

Building Design Teams That Scale

Join Lenny Laurier, Director of Product Design at Intuit, for an inside look at building design teams that thrive across startups and enterprise organizations.

6:00 PM - 7:30 PM EST
482 Front St W, 2nd Floor, Toronto, ON
$25

Lenny Laurier

Director of Design

Discussion Topics:

Scaling Design Teams for Impact
Balancing User Experience, Platform and AI
Cross‑Functional Collaboration and Strategic Leadership

Jan 14

Design Evenings TO Building Design Teams That Scale

Join Lenny Laurier, Director of Product Design at Intuit, for an inside look at building design teams that thrive across startups and enterprise organizations.