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UnLeadership: Making Building Relationships Your Business

A Blend Book Club Live
Event Location
Oretta
Event Date
February 10, 2026
Event Time
6:00 pm - 9:00 pm
About this event

What if leadership today isn’t about having all the answers, but about letting go? In this special Blend Book Club Live, bestselling authors and globally recognised thinkers Scott and Alison Stratten challenge conventional leadership thinking and make a compelling case for putting relationships, trust, and humanity back at the centre of how we lead.

Join a curated group of senior leaders in Toronto for an engaging, candid conversation that cuts through buzzwords and offers a refreshingly real perspective on what effective leadership looks like now.

A group of C-suite professionals talk at a Blend community networking event, while holding glasses of wine.
Our speakers
Alison Stratten
Partner, Writer

Before joining Scott at UnMarketing, Alison founded and ran a brand of maternity lingerie called Nummies where she handled every step from visiting manufacturing facilities, design, logistics, marketing, ecommmerce, retail placement and customer service. She has two degrees from McMaster University (Social Work and Kinesiology) and is currently working on her Masters of Education at the University of Toronto.

She does most of the writing at UnMarketing (with over a quarter of a million words between their six books), so when you find spelling or grammar mistakes, she’s the one you need to give your feedback to…

Scott Stratten
Founder, Partner, Speaker

Scott is an award-winning keynote speaker known for his energy, passion, knowledge, humor, and man-bun. His live and virtual presentations bring UnMarketing to life, energizing attendees, and creating experiences audiences will remember and learn from. Bridging the business gap between the virtual and real-world, Scott’s presentations not only gets people laughing and thinking, but also doing.

Before founding UnMarketing, Scott managed bands in Toronto and went to school for Human Resources, was an HR Generalist at Goodwill Toronto then a National Sales Training Manager for Polyair/Cantar before returning to Sheridan College to become a Business Professor.

He’s been fascinated by digital disruption since 1995 when he first got online at school when they installed Netscape Navigator and hasn’t logged off since (although he’s changed browser programs a few times.)

Key themes & discussion topics

Why traditional leadership models are breaking down in an age of constant change

How “unleading” creates stronger trust, deeper relationships, and better performance

The hidden cost of performative leadership, buzzwords, and rigid frameworks

What human-centred leadership looks like in practice and how to lead without hierarchy

Event agenda
01
Registration & networking

6:00-6:30 PM

02
Masterclass & discussion

6:30-7:30 PM

03
Dinner

7:45 – 8:45 PM

04
Event wrap-up, reflection & networking

8:45 – 9:00 PM

Why should you attend?

You’ll gain a refreshingly honest perspective on leadership that cuts through noise, jargon, and performative trends

You’ll explore how prioritising relationships over authority builds loyalty, resilience, and real results

You’re exposed to diverse senior leaders from different industries, expanding your thinking beyond familiar frameworks

You’ll leave with practical, human-first insights you can apply immediately – no rigid models required

Event Organizer
Emily Osgood
Venue
Event Location Light
Oretta
633 King St W.
Toronto
ON M5V 1M7
Canada
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