NSB Logo Jennifer Turliuk Jennifer Turliuk

Jennifer Turliuk

Speaker

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Innovator & Founding CEO of MakerKids

Jennifer Turliuk is the Founder of Koru Labs and the Founder and Former CEO of MakerKids, which started the first and largest makerspace for kids in the world and now runs award-winning virtual programs, camps and parties on Coding, Robotics and Minecraft that help kids build confidence, resilience, social skills and a positive relationship with technology. Her work has been featured in the New York Times, Huffington Post, Fast Company, Wired, and more. Today, Koru Labs has her focused on the world of AI; developing software, chatbots, sentiment analysis and more, to enhance user experience with artificial intelligence applications. She continues to invest in and advise startups in the digital transformation space. 

Keynote Speeches

Virtual Keynotes & Webinars
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The AI Effect: The Future of Work in an AI-Driven World

In the age of accelerating AI advancements, the concept of work is experiencing a seismic shift. Jennifer Turliuk, an entrepreneur, angel investor, AI software developer & prompt engineer, navigates this transformation in her compelling talk, “The AI Effect: The Future of Work in an AI-Driven World”. Leveraging her extensive expertise in AI and technology, Jennifer dissects the complex dynamics of the evolving job market, elucidating the roles humans will continue to play, how our time may be distributed in an AI-centric environment, and the groundbreaking changes we can anticipate. With a deep dive into the trends shaping the future of work, she offers valuable insights to help organizations and individuals strategically adapt to this revolution. Her thought-provoking narrative delivers essential guidance for those willing to understand and embrace the AI-impacted future.

Redefining Careers: The Changing Landscape of the Future of Work

Jennifer Turliuk, an industry leader in education and author of “How to Figure Out What to Do With Your Life (Next)”, pioneers a discussion on the fluidity of the career landscape in a future that is yet to be defined. Through her firsthand experience with leading MakerKids (the first makerspace for kids globally) and her work with AI, she offers unique insights into the rapidly transforming world of work and the skillsets that will be paramount in navigating it successfully. Jennifer posits that the jobs of the future don’t exist today and emphasizes the need for continual evolution and adaptability in one’s career. Her talk explores how to prototype and reimagine careers in order to meet the dynamically changing needs of our society, sharing the risks, challenges, and opportunities she encountered on her own career journey. This thought-provoking presentation is not just about coping with change but thriving in it, offering a fresh perspective on how to create a better life and world through a fulfilling career at any age and stage.

"Redefining Learning Landscapes: The Future of Education and Learning

In “Redefining Learning Landscapes: The Future of Education and Learning,” Jennifer Turliuk delves into the evolving nature of educational frameworks and the disruptive impact of technological advancements. Drawing from her groundbreaking work as the CEO of MakerKids and her work in AI, she shares insights into emerging trends and technologies that are reshaping learning environments. From AI’s role in personalizing learning to the importance of fostering creativity and technical skills in children, Jennifer’s talk provides a visionary perspective on preparing educators, parents, and policymakers for an exciting and challenging future in education.

Career Planning by Design: How to Prototype Your Way to Success

This talk explores the revolutionary approach of career prototyping, a concept Jennifer Turliuk embraced when she found herself dissatisfied with her corporate job. Instead of returning to traditional education, Jennifer embarked on a selfeducation journey, interviewing and shadowing leading figures from Silicon Valley companies like Airbnb, Square, and Kiva. This talk synthesizes the invaluable insights and strategies she utilized, including quantified self, design thinking, and lean methodology, offering them as practical tools for anyone seeking to pivot their career or discover their true professional calling. Whether you’re a recent graduate or mid-career professional yearning for change, Jennifer’s transformative journey and the lessons from her book, “How to Figure Out What to Do with Your Life (Next)” will inspire you to prototype your way to a fulfilling, passion-driven career.

Empowering Tomorrow's Innovators: Cultivating Creativity and Technical Skills in Children

In “Empowering Tomorrow’s Innovators: Cultivating Creativity and Technical Skills in Children”, Jennifer Turliuk shares her experiences and insights as the CEO of MakerKids, a groundbreaking platform in promoting technological education for children. She discusses the crucial importance of fostering creativity, innovation, and technical skills in young minds, emphasizing the role of such skills in preparing children for a technology-driven future. Jennifer’s talk addresses how we can inspire the next generation of makers, equipping them with the tools to become tomorrow’s leaders and innovators.

The Art of Making it Happen: Principles for Next Generation Business Success

Drawing from her extensive entrepreneurial journey, including her role as CEO of MakerKids and founder of Koru Labs Inc., Jennifer shares her unique ‘Make it happen’ business approach to inspire and empower the next generation of business leaders. Her insights span from leveraging the power of technology and education, as shaped by her time at Singularity University, to sharing her experiences in raising venture capital, scaling a business, and managing product development. Join Jennifer as she unveils the secrets behind her 52X increase in revenue, her success in securing prestigious clients, and her pioneering role in establishing the world’s first makerspace for kids. This is not just a presentation; it’s an opportunity to learn, grow, and ignite your entrepreneurial spirit from a leader who made it happen.

Creativity as the New Currency: Unlocking Innovation in Business

In her engaging talk, “Creativity as the New Currency: Unlocking Innovation in Business,” Jennifer Turliuk explores the crucial role of creativity in driving innovation and ensuring business success in the digital age. Drawing from her extensive entrepreneurial experience, Jennifer reveals how fostering a culture of creativity can spark disruptive innovation, lead market transformations, and provide a competitive edge. This talk offers both inspiration and practical strategies, equipping organizations with the mindset and tools needed to harness the transformative power of creativity in a rapidly evolving business landscape.

The Future Belongs to the Curious: The Power of Self-Education, Upskilling & Lifelong Learning in a Fast-Changing World

Drawing from her self-education experiences in Silicon Valley and her participation in Singularity University’s Graduate Studies Program, Jennifer inspires audiences to take control of their learning journey, stay adaptable, and remain relevant in a fast-paced, ever-changing world. As an entrepreneur, software developer, and investor, Jennifer has harnessed the power of selfeducation to drive her own career and foster innovation. In this talk, she shares her insights and strategies for cultivating a culture of continuous learning and adaptation. She demonstrates how self-education can propel individuals to new heights and keep them at the forefront of their fields. This session promises to inspire and empower attendees to take ownership of their learning journeys, stay agile in the face of rapid change, and seize the opportunities of tomorrow.

Teaching Tomorrow: AI and the Future of Education

As an experienced leader in the EdTech industry, an AI software developer and prompt engineer, and a renowned public speaker, Jennifer Turliuk provides insightful and engaging discussions on the intersection of artificial intelligence and education. In her captivating talk, Jennifer explores the current applications of AI in learning environments, its potential for personalized education, and the transformative implications it brings for the future of learning. She dives into the emerging trends in educational technology, elucidating how AI can revolutionize teaching methods, curriculum development, student assessments, and more. Drawing from her extensive experience in the sector, Jennifer offers a clear vision of how educators, students, and policy makers can adapt to and harness this technological evolution to create an enriched, inclusive, and effective educational landscape for the future.

Audience reviews:

  • Jennifer was fabulous and she was the perfect fit for our topic discussion. She used current and tangible examples which I know our parents really appreciated. It would be fitting to have Jennifer present again in the future as we expand our building to incorporate a Maker Space of our very own. - Fundraising Coordinator, Calgary Academy
  • Thank you for your inspirational talk yesterday. You were highly engaging and showed a deep passion for entrepreneurship. We’ve had several guests come through our doors in the last few months but your “approval rating” was by far the highest amongst all speakers.

    - Caldwell Partners
  • Vast new frontiers for learning are possible by embracing the Maker Movement, but most schools don’t have enough in-house expertise needed to go there. With MakerKids, you’ll have the expertise you need. You’ll be amazed by the potential in your students. MakerKids will help you release it. - Assistant Head, Academics, Kingsway College School
  • I think that MakerKids is doing some outstanding things for kids. Let’s get more kids into making. - Director of Education at Intel

Speaker Biography

As a pioneering force in the tech landscape, Jennifer Turliuk’s passion for technology has shaped her entrepreneurial journey, leading her to become an acclaimed CEO, angel investor, author, and keynote speaker whose work has been featured in the New York Times, Huffington Post, Fast Company, Wired, and more.

At just 12 years old, she coded her very first website for a school book report on Harry Potter. The website went viral, garnering hundreds of thousands of page views, and was even featured in a major children’s magazine. Experiencing that level of success at an early age was empowering, says Jennifer.

Jennifer took that passion and continued to create. She attended business school at Queen’s University and the prestigious Singularity University (based at NASA) – ‘tech’s most coveted community’- where she learned about exponential technologies like robotics and 3D printing, and how to apply those technologies to make a positive impact on global grand challenges such as education.

After this experience, Jennifer decided to pioneer MakerKids to empower other young people to reach their potential through technology. Through her leadership, Jennifer led its growth trajectory, securing venture capital, major media coverage, and ultimately, acquisition. She spearheaded product development and marketing, and formed strategic partnerships with companies like Twitter and Intel. At Procter & Gamble, she led a multi-functional team and a $10M budget to deliver the biggest launch in 25+ years.

With her background as an AI software developer and prompt engineer, Jennifer has built various AI applications using OpenAI’s GPT-3 model, prompt engineering, and natural language processing techniques.

In addition to leading MakerKids and her work in AI, Jennifer has achieved notable success as an angel investor into AI companies. She has invested alongside top VC firms such as Founders Fund, 8VC, Softbank, SV Angel, and others through SPVs and her portfolio includes three unicorns, one of which is Loom. Her acumen in identifying promising startups led to a successful exit after just two years of angel investing.

Now, she leads and co-instructs Climate Angels, an educational program on climate tech angel investing, one of the most active funders of climate tech startups involved in sourcing, evaluating, and leading investments into climate tech startups. Additionally, she is a Principal with Climate Capital Syndicate, one of the original and most active climate tech funders globally. In this role, she sources, conducts due diligence, and leads investments into climate tech companies. Climate Capital has invested in breakouts like Mosaic, Span and Remora; has had exits including Amply and Blueprint Power; co-invests with YCombinator, Lowercarbon Capital, Khosla and others; and has a large network of climate funders, founders, etc.

She has also made significant contributions in the field of marketing in her work at Procter & Gamble, where she led commercial efforts for P&G’s largest brand and reversed a 10-year decline in household penetration, and through doing marketing & PR consulting for tech startups.

Jennifer’s contributions to society have been recognized with an honorary degree from Humber College. She also serves on the Professional Advisory Committee for the Ontario Institute of Studies in Education at the University of Toronto and was on the Board of Directors of the Geneva Centre for Autism.

As an accomplished author, Jennifer’s book, “How to Figure Out What to Do With Your Life (Next)”, has received accolades from notable personalities like Deepak Chopra, who called it “a brilliant instruction manual”. Currently, she is in the midst of authoring a new book, “Prompt Engineering for All: A Comprehensive Guide to Harnessing the Power of Generative AI” with BPB, India’s largest publisher.

Jennifer’s dynamic career has not only been focused on the creative development of innovative technologies and education but also on the art of storytelling. Her articles have been published in Forbes, Business Insider, Strategy, and numerous newspapers. 

Beyond work, she has a penchant for musicals, dancing, and wind sports, and even spun tracks as a DJ for Red Bull.