Valerie Fox is an expert in building thriving entrepreneurial communities, both locally and globally, by fostering partnerships and embracing intentional diversity.

Based in Toronto, Canada, she’s perhaps best known as the co-founder and former Executive Director of the DMZ, a leading innovation hub.

More recently, she founded The Pivotal Point, where she’s helping grow community-based incubators worldwide through coaching, mentoring, and co-creation.

With over 30 years of experience in the digital world, Val started by launching a graphic design business.

Her work caught the attention of IBM, where she joined their senior innovation network and led enterprise software design teams.

One of her standout projects was serving as the creative director for large online experiences like the Sydney Olympics.

Along the way, she earned five patents, including one for the Universal Shopping Cart for the Web—a key innovation that helped shape the e-commerce landscape.

She sits on 8 advisory boards, impacting business of all kinds through support of impact investing, women’s empowerment and community building.

She is a creative at heart, and has recently re-ignited her passion for art, carving out time to create, and collaborate with artists in her local Toronto neighbourhood.

Conversation Highlights:

1. Community Builder: Val Fox's journey is marked by her exceptional ability to build and connect communities, especially through the DMZ incubator in Toronto.
2. Career Evolution: From graphic design to IBM's creative director, Val's career showcases the power of lifelong learning and adaptability.
3. Resilience: Val's personal stories of overcoming setbacks, like post-Olympics challenges and injury recovery, highlight her resilience.
4. Artistic Revival: Recently, Val has embraced her artistic side, exploring painting and collaging, emphasizing personal growth and creativity.
5. Purposeful Living: Val focuses on health to continue serving others, with a strong commitment to social entrepreneurship and supporting women.
6. User-Centered Design: Val's work at IBM and beyond underscores the importance of designing with the user's perspective in mind.
7. Leadership and Mentorship: Val's leadership style encourages risk-taking and learning, fostering growth in her teams and community.

Amritpal Ghatora is a British-born Indian distance runner, coach, and inclusive community builder based in London. Amrit is the UK community and marketing manager for TrackSmith, shaping vibrant grassroots runs like speed workouts on the track and the famous TrackSmith Sunday Church of the Long Run.

He has completed an astounding 29 marathons to date and is a proud six star finisher of the Abbott World Marathon majors.

Amrit ran his first marathon in London back in 2008 with a time of four hours and 42 minutes and has since improved to a sub three hour marathon personal best of two hours and 51 minutes.

He is an impressive athlete with an ethos that is rooted in the message of empowerment.

He encourages representation in the running world and often reflects on being one of the few Asian faces in races and leading running communities.

Amrit’s community at TrackSmith will be a must-have in my training calendar leading into the Autumn.

Running has been a thread throughout Amrit's journey. And even if you are not a runner or an athlete, you will take away fabulous tools from today's conversation that can be applied to your life.

Conversation Highlights:

Career Shift from Engineering to Running Industry – Amritpal transitioned from a decade-long engineering career in aerospace and automotive to becoming Head of Marketing & Community at Tracksmith, merging his professional skills with his lifelong passion for running after redundancy during the pandemic.

Running Journey & Achievements – Starting in 2008 with the London Marathon, Amrit progressed from a 4:42 debut to a 2:59 PB, completing 29 marathons (28 as World Marathon Majors), qualifying for and running Boston, and setting new goals like breaking 2:50 and eventually 2:45.

Building Tracksmith’s London Community – Since 2022, he has grown Tracksmith’s UK presence, leading events, coaching, and creating a space that attracts local and global runners, focusing on connection, inclusivity, and the “amateur spirit” ethos.

Resilience & Reinvention – Facing two difficult years without a stable income post-redundancy, he pivoted into brand partnerships, coaching, and running content creation, leveraging persistence, adaptability, and a strong personal network to open new opportunities.

Purpose & Legacy – Amrit defines purpose as showing up with integrity, intention, and adaptability—aiming to leave a lasting community legacy in London’s running scene while pushing personal limits and inspiring others through consistency and connection.

Social Media:

Coaching Website: https://www.amritpalghatora.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amritpalghatora/reels/

Strava: https://www.strava.com/athletes/37625515?oq=amri

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/amritpalghatora

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@amritpalghatora

Rosemary is an entrepreneur with more than a decade of experience in wealth & tax advisory where she has been recognised with multiple awards and repeatedly in industry media for her business standards and quality of service.

Just a decade into her advisory career, Rosemary managed $220M in assets under management for her clients.

She is a published author of Practicing Hospitality: The Art and Science of Hosting in Your Home. She is an advocate of women, and lives by the philosophy – there are no stupid questions.

Rosemary is deeply passionate about agriculture and dedicates much of her time to Livingstone Farm 1860, a multifaceted agricultural property she owns and operates just an hour outside of the Greater Toronto Area.

The farm is home to a thriving luxury bed & breakfast, offering guests a peaceful escape in a rural setting. It is a hub for sustainable farming practices, lifestyle & corporate retreats.

Rosemary is deeply devoted to philanthropy and volunteerism, focused on faith-based causes close to home. She has served on the board of three non-profit organizations.

She and I know each other from volunteering in Toronto together and I really loved re-engaging her energy, and her passion for hospitality in this thought-provoking interview.

The interview highlights:

1. Inspiring Career Journey: Rosemary shares her path from university to managing $220 million in investments, highlighting her strategic focus and dedication.
2. Personal Transformation: She opens up about a mental health crisis that led to a significant lifestyle change, emphasizing the importance of self-care and balance.
3. Vision for the Future: Rosemary discusses her ambitious goal of owning 10,000 acres of farmland, driven by her passion for business and hospitality.
4. Mentorship and Influence: She reflects on the impact of her mentor, Jim Hunter, and the lessons she carries forward in her career.
5. Purpose and Legacy: Rosemary speaks about living with purpose, encouraging others to focus on making a significant impact in the world.

Social Links:

LinkedIn: Rosemary Horwood

https://www.linkedin.com/in/rosemaryhorwood/

Instagram: @rosemary.on.fire