NSB Logo Ramona Pringle Ramona Pringle

Ramona Pringle

Speaker

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

CBC Technology Expert & Director of the Transmedia Zone Media Incubator

Ramona Pringle is an Associate Professor in the RTA School of Media at Ryerson University and Director of the Transmedia Zone, an incubator for innovation in media and storytelling. She is also a technology analyst and columnist for CBC. Ramona provides organizations the knowledge and tools to understand the new media age while showing them how best to create and maintain meaningful engagement online.

Keynote Speeches

Beyond Bitcoin – Understanding the Basics of Blockchain (Without All the Hype and Jargon)

Blockchain, Bitcoin, Cryptocurrency. The buzzwords are everywhere, but what is all of it, how does it work, and how is it changing businesses? Bitcoin, the hotly-hyped digital currency, is just the beginning: From shared contracts to tamper-proof land registries, to the new generation of social networks, the decentralized nature of the blockchain has the potential to be the next great technology. With her signature approach of breaking down complex topics, and slashing confusing jargon, Ramona will educate the room on what it might mean for your business.

Key Takeaways 
• A foundational understanding of what the blockchain is. 
• A customized approach to how it can simplify complex processes in your sector.

 

AI is Everywhere

The robot revolution is happening, and artificial intelligence is everywhere, from manufacturing and transportation, to finance, customer service… and even creative industries. With the launch of fully automated Amazon convenience stores and the proliferation of social media chatbots that engage with customers, smart machines are changing the face of business in the 21st century. But what does this rapid rise of AI mean for the workforce, and for your business? In this presentation, Ramona will provide your audience with an insider’s view on the spread of AI is across all sectors. With a look ahead at what’s coming, this talk will give you the tools to plan for the future and set your organization up for success.

 

Surviving and Thriving in an Era of Disruption: Preparing the Next Generation for a Changing World

The world is changing quickly. As much as 40% of the human workforce is predicted to be displaced by robotics and artificial intelligence over the coming decades, with automation reaching into sectors once thought to be safe from disruption, including medicine, the financial sector and journalism. In light of this massive shift, the World Economic Forum estimates that the majority of children entering primary schools today will ultimately work in new job types and functions that currently don’t yet exist. So how do we prepare students?

Key Takeaways:
• The skillsets required for the jobs of tomorrow.
• The strategies needed to successfully manage the transition into the age of automation.

 

Understanding the Allure of Digital Technology and Predicting Future Trends

With over 2 billion Facebook users worldwide and more cellphones than people around the globe, social media has become a powerful aspect of our daily lives. Digital tools and social platforms influence everything from the way we connect with each other, to the way we search for recommendations and services, to the way we buy things. In this presentation, Ramona provides professionals with the knowledge and tools to understand the new media age. With her extensive background in content creation and digital culture expertise, Ramona will share her knowledge and educated predictions on the technological trends of tomorrow.

Key Takeaways:
• How best to create and maintain meaningful relationships that start online
• Strategies for developing your digital brand, reaching new audiences, and enriching loyal customer relationships, online.

Ramona also offers customized presentations on Emotional Intelligence, Analytics and more. View a full list of her presentations here.

Ramona also offers customized presentations on Emotional Intelligence, Analytics and more. View a full list of her presentations here.

Platform Plus Presentations

Unique formats and ways to connect with audiences.
Host/MC Ramona has a wealth of experience hosting events throughout North America, including OMDC Digital Dialogue Conference, Buffer Festival, NXNE and more. She's also hosted events made for digital consumption including CBC’s pop culture show The X, and the webcast of Idea City.

Audience reviews:

  • You were fantastic! Thank you very much for a very informative, thought-provoking presentation. The audience was extremely engaged and I heard many people having discussions regarding the information you provided, after the session. You gave people something to think about!

    - Professional Development Coordinator, Ontario Public School Boards’ Association
  • Ramona extends an invitation to engage the wired world, with a signature difference. With connection at our fingertips, she encourages us to choose to focus on the person, not the technology, as the true reality, offering enlightened guidance along the path.

    - Sheldon Levy, President, Ryerson University
  • With her screen-friendly persona and intellectual prowess – she holds a Masters in Interactive Telecommunications from New York University, a BFA in Film and Video from York University and is an assistant professor at Ryerson – Pringle is custom-tailored for today’s multi-faceted media environment.

    - Playback Magazine
  • Ramona did a great job adapting her usual case study to a more practical format for the audience and they were very appreciative. Thank you.

    - Canadian Media Production Association
 

Speaker Biography

As a writer, producer and digital journalist, Ramona’s work examines the evolving relationship between humans and technology. She is the writer and director of the interactive documentary “Avatar Secrets.” Previously, she was the interactive producer of PBS Frontline’s “Digital Nation” and editor in chief of “Rdigitalife”.

Ramona’s projects have been featured at festivals and conferences around the world, including i-docs, Power to the Pixel, TFI Interactive, Sheffield Doc/Fest, Hot Docs, SXSW, NXNE, Social Media Week, TEDx, and in publications including the New York Times, Mashable, Cult of Mac and the Huffington Post.

As a go-to expert on technology, digital culture, and creative innovation, Ramona breaks down complex technological concepts into easy-digestible, actionable insights. Her customized presentations are timely, frequently incorporating the latest news cycle developments.

Ramona has a Master’s Degree from NYU’s Interactive Telecommunications Program.