For almost five decades, Jeanne Beker has been at the forefront of arts and culture. She earned her position as one of Canada’s most recognizable celebrities as a founding member of MuchMusic and the iconic host of Fashion Television. A media trailblazer and successful entrepreneur, Beker is also the daughter of Holocaust survivors and a breast cancer survivor. In her inspirational talks, she shares how she cultivated the drive, resiliency, and tenacity needed to fuel her incredible career, as well as the courage to face life’s challenges while empowering audiences to do the same.

Beker’s incredible broadcasting career began with CBC Radio when she became an arts reporter in St. John’s, Newfoundland. After three years, she returned to Toronto to work at CHUM radio and was soon co-hosting Citytv’s ground-breaking music magazine series, The New Music. In 1983, she helped launch “the nation’s music station”, MuchMusic, before becoming the host of the legendary Fashion Television, which ran for 27 years and aired in 130 countries, establishing her as Canada’s face of fashion.

A seasoned newspaper and magazine columnist and features writer, Beker was editor-in-chief of FQ and SIR magazine from 2003 to 2008. She has also been a frequent guest on myriad lifestyle shows and at the creative helm of numerous fashion lines under her own eponymous label. Since 2015, Beker’s been the style editor at The Shopping Channel (TSC) where she hosts the popular series, Style Matters, and the podcast Beyond Style Matters. She is also the co-producer of Kingdom of Dreams, a four-part documentary series examining fashion’s golden age, and the bestselling author of six books, including her recent memoir, Heart on My Sleeve: Stories from a Life Well Worn.

A breast cancer survivor, Beker’s journey has provided her with a rich, eye-opening experience. Her candour in discussing the peaks and valley of her journey has inspired people around the world. She’s now on a mission to help normalize the conversation surrounding cancer and help eradicate the fear associated with the disease.

Active with several charitable organizations, Beker has received honourary doctorates from St. Mary’s University and OCAD University. She’s also the recipient of numerous awards, including a Special Achievement Award from the Canadian Academy of Cinema and Television and a Crystal Award from Toronto Women in Film and Television. She’s also been named to the Order of Canada, inducted into the American Marketing Association’s Hall of Legends, and honoured with a star on Canada’s Walk of Fame.