Bailey Parnell Keynote Speaker

Founder & CEO, SkillsCamp Soft Skills Training
Founder & President, Center for Digital Wellbeing (Formerly #SafeSocial)
Canada's Top 100 Most Powerful Women

Bailey Parnell's Biography

Dr Bailey Parnell is a world-renowned speaker, entrepreneur, and pioneer at the intersection of AI, leadership, digital wellbeing, and human skills development. At just 22 years old, she was named one of Canada’s Top 100 Most Powerful Women, a recognition that set the stage for her global impact.

Since then, she has partnered with prestigious organizations like the United Nations, Deloitte, the NFL, and various governments and universities around the world to share her insights on our digital lives, generative AI, human skills development, and leadership in the future of work. As a thought leader, Bailey has shared stages with heads of state, consulted on popular TV shows such as Survivor and Love Island, and collaborated on research and initiatives aimed at helping people learn the skills they need to thrive personally and professionally in the future.

As a result of her groundbreaking work, Bailey has been featured in Forbes, Good Morning America, Inc. Magazine, Fast Company, CBC, and won numerous accolades. Chief among them, Bailey’s TED talk about social media and mental health has been seen by 5 million people and counting.

Currently, Bailey is advancing her research through a Doctorate of Education in Learning and Organizational Change at Baylor University, where she is studying how leaders can and should use AI in practice for more human-centric leadership and skills development. Before this, she earned a Master of Arts in Communications and Culture at Toronto Metropolitan University, researching social media’s impact on mental health—findings that have been presented in multiple global forums. She also holds an Honours Bachelor of Arts in Media Production, with a double minor in News Studies and English.

When Bailey is not learning, she has made a career and a business out of teaching. Bailey is the Founder & CEO of SkillsCamp, a leadership and soft skills development company that partners with the world’s leading organizations to help them build skills like emotional intelligence, communication, and leadership in their people. She also hosts a bi-weekly podcast called “Let’s Think This Through with Bailey Parnell” where she and her guests explore useful ideas that help people live better lives in a fun and relatable way.

An active humanitarian, Bailey is deeply committed to social justice and causes such as access to education, children’s wellbeing, and of course, digital wellbeing. Being at the forefront of the digital wellbeing movement, Bailey started a non-profit called the Center for Digital Wellbeing (formerly #SafeSocial) where they are dedicated to enhancing the holistic wellbeing of people in the digital age. As first generation students, Bailey and her husband Hamza Khan, have also established the Parnell-Khan Bursaries for Equity-Deserving Students at 3 universities, with more to come.

In what seems like another life, Bailey started her career in film and television as a local news Reporter at Rogers TV. She later worked in social marketing at CBC News and on brands such as MTV, E!, and MuchMusic.

Though her whole family are “East-Coasters” from Nova Scotia, Bailey was born and raised in Brampton, Ontario, seasoned by her time in Toronto, and now continues her story in New York City, where she continues to shape the global conversation around digital wellbeing and the development of essential life skills.

Skills of the Future: What Leaders and Employees Need to Thrive in a Changing World

The world of work is evolving rapidly—and so are the skills required to stay relevant, competitive, and effective. While technical expertise and digital literacy are valuable, it is human skills—like adaptability, critical thinking, communication, and emotional intelligence—that are the true differentiators in the workplace of the future.

For over a decade, Bailey Parnell has owned and led a soft skills training company, working with some of the world’s leading organizations to develop their workforce for long-term success. Her TEDx talk on soft skills further underscores how these competencies are becoming more critical than ever—not just for career advancement, but for building organizations that thrive in change. In this engaging and hands-on keynote, Bailey not only shares what the future of work demands but actively helps attendees start building these essential skills during the session itself.

Bailey Parnell’s unique keynote style incorporates a combination of short, interactive exercises to engage audiences and help ensure attendees retain what they learn—imagine a keynote speaker with a bit of what you love about workshops all in one.

A roadmap of the most critical future-ready skills for career and leadership success.
An understanding of why soft skills—such as adaptability, critical thinking, and emotional intelligence—are becoming more valuable than ever.
Insights into the intersection of soft skills and technology and how leaders can balance both.
Practical, actionable steps to start building these skills today to stay competitive in an AI-driven world.

#SafeSocial: Social Media’s Impact on Mental Health

Studies show the average person spends hours a day on social media—and even more the younger you go. While social media enables connections and collaboration at an unprecedented scale, there’s also a dark side to this networked world that’s laced with addiction, depression, harassment, and more. By every measure, social media is a risky behavior like alcohol or even driving. Since it's not going anywhere, abstinence might not be an option—but you can still practice #SafeSocial.

How is this activity we spend so much time doing actually affecting how we think and feel? What is happening out there in the social media world and how does it influence the mental health of us and our youth? Adapted from her original TED Talk with over 5 million views, Bailey Parnell draws from research and firsthand experience to illustrate the current social media landscape as it relates to mental wellbeing, explain the effects it has on us every day, and provide five steps toward #SafeSocial.

A clear connection between social media and risky behaviors like addiction, distraction, and mental health challenges.
An understanding of four environmental factors that contribute to risks on social media.
Insights into up to six negative effects of social media on emotional and psychological well-being.
Five actionable steps toward practicing #SafeSocial and improving their online experience.
Tools for creating a healthier digital environment that fosters well-being for themselves and their communities.

Servant Leadership in the Digital Age: Balancing Technology and Humanity in Leadership

Servant leadership has never been more critical. One might assume technology could get in the way of this very human-centric style of leadership, but they would be wrong. As technology transforms workplaces, employees seek more purpose-driven, people-centered leadership. The irony is that technology can also improve this kind of leadership. This keynote explores how leaders can balance digital transformation with human connection. Bailey shares her groundbreaking doctoral research on how leaders can use AI in practice to support more human-centric leadership.

A modern servant leadership framework for the digital age.
Strategies to build trust, empathy, and ethical leadership in hybrid and remote environments.
Practical ways to lead with service, purpose, and impact.