Terry O'Reilly on "Against the Grain: Defiant Giants Who Changed The World"

Following the conversation, we invite you to join us for a meet-and-greet with the author, book signing and light refreshments.

Against the Grain: Defiant Giants Who Changed the World (October 14, 2025, Collins)

Terry O'Reilly, Host, CBC's Under the Influence

Brett Hendrie, Director, Strategic Events, Rotman School of Management

In Terry’s bestselling book, My Best Mistake, he uncovers the surprising power of screwing up. Now, he turns his incredible eye to the mavericks who go “against the grain” in their work to see what makes them tick and to explore what lessons we can learn from them. People who chose to ignore conventional wisdom, found or invented a better way, questioned the status quo at great sacrifice and pushed for change against all odds. Some were drummed out of their careers for it but in the end were proven right (Dr. Ignaz Semmelweis). Some were celebrated but had to fight every inch of the way (Norman Lear). Some re-invented their industry but preferred to stay an outsider (Tom Laughlin—aka Billy Jack). Some confounded their competitors with ingenious strategies (NHL coach Roger Neilson). One even saved millions of people around the world, but was humiliated, demoted, and dismissed for her entire career (Dr. Katalin Karikó—co-creator of the COVID vaccine). All persistent visionaries, each covered in battle scars.

Terry O'Reilly, the winner of hundreds of international advertising awards, is an in-demand speaker and the bestselling author of The Age of Persuasion, This I Know, and My Best Mistake, finalist for the National Business Book Award. His highly awarded radio programs O’Reilly on Advertising, The Age of Persuasion, and Under the Influence have been broadcast on CBC Radio since 2005, and his podcast has been downloaded over 40 million times. Terry O’Reilly lives outside of Huntsville, Ontario.

Brett Hendrie is Director, Strategic Events at the Rotman School of Management, where he leads the school’s thought-leadership events portfolio. His work focuses on bringing the latest management thinking and business insights to wide audiences through digital and live-event programs. Prior to joining Rotman, Brett spent 20 years at Hot Docs, the largest documentary festival and market conference in North America, where he served as Executive Director. At Hot Docs, Brett developed major content and event partnerships with Netflix, Scotiabank, Rogers and CBC. Previously, Brett worked at the Toronto International Film Festival.

This event is available to attend in-person or virtually via livestream.

Rotman Events is committed to accessibility for all people. If you have any access needs or if there are any ways we can support your full participation in this session, please email [email protected] no later than 2 weeks in advance of the event and we will be glad to work with you to make the appropriate arrangements.

• The event will be hosted in Desautels Hall at the Rotman School of Management (105 Saint George Street, Toronto, ON M5S 3E6). Your registration fee includes a copy of the book, meet-and-greet with book signing by the author, as well as access to a video replay of the session for 30 days.

• Rotman Events will email registrants a link to the livestream. Your registration fee includes access to the livestream, video replay for 30 days, a copy of the book and shipping fees. The book will be shipped to registrants after the event. Please allow 3 - 4 weeks for delivery.

• Unable to attend the event due to scheduling conflicts? Not to worry. All registrants (in-person or livestream) can access the full recording on-demand for one month after the live event.

• Refunds will only be issued for cancellations received in writing NO LATER than 24 hours prior to the event. Please email [email protected] for processing.

• In-person registrants who do not pick up their book at the event will have 5 business days to request postal delivery by emailing us at [email protected]. All unclaimed books will be returned to the publisher after that time.

Questions: [email protected]

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