Creativity is centre stage at C2 Montréal 2025

There’s no such thing as “business as usual” at C2 Montréal. Instead, each year C2 turns conference conventions on their head at an event that — with its inspiring speakers, compelling performers, immersive installations, playful brainstorming experiences, custom-designed site and world-class cuisine — brings all of Montréal’s creativity to bear.

Connecting for success

C2 Montréal — C2 stands for “commerce and creativity” — is, above all, a collaborative networking event designed to help business leaders, entrepreneurs, innovators and social change-makers tap into their own creativity. It’s specifically designed to help participants connect with other professionals they might not otherwise have an opportunity to meet. The 14th edition of C2 Montréal takes place from May 20 to 22, 2025, at the city’s famed Grand Quay of the Port Montréal.

Fresh theme

The theme for this 14th edition of C2 Montréal is Motion: The Art of Taking Action. In addition to talks by electrifying guests from all walks of life, the event will feature interactive exhibits, collaborative workshops, and a collective experience that puts people’s stories at the centre of the conversation in view of finding innovative solutions to contemporary challenges.

The theme aims at working out the secret of mobilization: since things are moving faster than ever, staying ahead isn’t just about keeping up — it’s about taking bold, intentional action. The conference aims at pushing boundaries, reimagining possibilities and turning ideas into tangible results.

Networking opportunities

Among the highlights of C2 Montréal every year are the signature immersive and interactive sessions called Labs. Often playful and experiential, Labs — workshops designed to give participants an opportunity to explore a range of themes in small groups in creative settings — and coaching sessions are one of the highlights of each edition, and this year is no exception. Their titles alone give an idea of what’s to come. For example: “Conscious Self-inquiry”, “Awaken in Motion” and “Nourish.”

Of special note, C2 Montréal will once again be offering the Braindate experience. Always one of the most popular features of the event, Braindates are connection opportunities arranged using the Braindate platform; peer-to-peer knowledge-sharing meetups that take place either one-on-one or in small groups at the Braindate Lounge during the event. They provide a chance to share one’s own expertise or ask a fellow attendee about theirs, as well as meet inspiring individuals or potentially a new business partner.

Stellar speakers

C2 Montréal speakers are always an engaging mix of business innovators, ground-breaking creatives, and field-leading experts — as well as the next generation of bold, change-making voices. This year is no exception. Here are just a few of the 2025 highlights:

Daphné Cousineau. President EMEAI at Jimmy Choo. After starting her career as a lawyer in Montréal and Paris, Cousineau joined McKinsey & Company as a management consultant, joined the Media and Luxury Retail Practice expertise groups and began a career in fashion, taking on senior international leadership roles at Celine, Valentino, Lanvin, Balenciaga and now Jimmy Choo.

Thierry Reboul. Executive Director of the Paris Olympic Games Ceremonies. A political science graduate and former Advertising Director at Air France, Reboul founded event agency Ubi Bene. He is behind several spectacular brand activations and played a key role in Paris 2024’s Olympic bid, orchestrating the floating track on the Seine and other groundbreaking initiatives.

Kimberly Davis. Senior Executive Vice President at National Hockey League (NHL). In her capacity as a senior executive, Kim reports directly to NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman and focuses on attracting, developing and retaining fans – with a specific focus on multicultural audiences – through culture, youth participation, and social impact initiatives. Davis has been recognized as #1 on Sportsnet’s list of the 25 Most Powerful Women in Sports.

Bobby Sahni. Partner & Co-founder at Ethnicity Matters. Sahni was the Head of Multicultural Marketing at Rogers Communications and has been a pioneer in diversity and multicultural marketing initiatives for a number of best-in-class organizations. He is Co-Founder and Partner at Ethnicity Matters — a multicultural marketing and advertising agency dedicated to helping companies drive new growth by engaging ethnic and new immigrant communities.

Willonius Hatcher. Artist, AI Architect, StandUp Comedian. Named one of TIME’s 100 Most Influential People in AI, Hatcher is redefining the boundaries of comedy, music and technology. He is the creator of the viral AI hit “BBL DRIZZY” and the critically acclaimed comedy album UNSerious, and blends sharp wit with cutting-edge innovation, crafting unforgettable narratives through stand-up, audio dramas and AI-driven artistry.

Xanthe Wells. Vice President of Global Creative for Pinterest. Since arriving at Pinterest in late 2022, Wells has been driving the brand's creative transformation, delivering a major step change in creative quality and ROI, beating all previous benchmarks for campaigns and events while executing almost all work in-house. She’s been recognized as an Ad Age “Woman to Watch”.

See the full list of speakers here.

Bring your team

If you’re interested in maximizing your organization’s development, why not register your whole team for C2 Montréal? Highly immersive, collaborative and inspiring activities might just be what your company needs to reach the next level.

Explore ticket options here.