Emily Durham: One of Toronto's top 10 influencers of 2025
Top 10 Influencers
The Influencers 2025 project shines a spotlight on local content creators who are shaping how Toronto thinks, eats, dresses, speaks out and shows up. Together, they have nearly 13 million followers, almost double the population of the GTA. Here we celebrate Emily Durham, a career coach whose tips and tricks make things like salary negotiation and networking a breeze.
TikTok: @Emily.The.Recruiter (691K followers)
Instagram: @Emily.The.Recruiter (474K followers)
Feeling truly empowered at work can change your life, says Emily Durham.
'For most of us, our job isn't just a job — it's where we spend the majority of our time, where our identity is shaped, and where so much of our confidence either grows or shrinks,' says Durham. 'Helping someone land a new role, ask for a raise, or even just feel less alone navigating workplace politics? That's the best feeling in the world.'
Emily Durham on TikTok: @Emily.The.Recruiter
Durham worked as a recruiter for years, where she witnessed firsthand how access to career education and mentorship directly impacted interview results, promotion rates and salary — and how a lack of support disproportionately affected women and under-represented groups. She wanted to talk about it.
In 2020, Durham launched 'The Straight Shooter Recruiter' podcast, then started making career guidance videos, which quickly went viral. 'When I think about my purpose online, it's really to empower people in their careers and democratize access to the kind of information that's so often gatekept,' she says. 'My goal is to help people feel confident, satisfied, and — above all — get paid.'
Pull Quote
When I think about my purpose online, it's really to empower people in their careers and democratize access to the kind of information that's so often gatekept,'
Achieving success in the crowded social world also allowed Durham to make one of her cherished childhood dreams come true: her first book, a career guide for Gen Z women entitled 'Worked Up: No-BS Advice on Getting Ahead in Your Career (Without Losing Your Mind),' comes out next year.
We asked Emily about her favourite spots and hidden gems in the city
What's your favourite Toronto restaurant?
Hands down, Favorite's Thai BBQ (141 Ossington Ave.). You have to do the chef's tasting menu or you're living wrong. It is my favourite spot in the entire city.
What's your favourite café and what do you order?
Daily Dose (125 John St.). I get an iced Americano, splash of almond milk. The trick: two pumps of their marshmallow syrup.
What's your favourite store?
Without a doubt, my favourite spot in the city is On Third Thought (6 Markham St.). They're a locally owned gelato bar, but not only is their gelato dairy-free, they also do wine and gelato pairings.
Favourite hidden gem
Accent and Co. (8 Spadina Ave.) in the Well – am I on the Well's payroll? – it's a shop that (curates products) from locally owned businesses. It's a perfect spot to pick up a little something for yourself or a loved one.
Where do you find inspiration?
Walking the streets of West Queen West – you're surrounded by people with incredible and unique fashion sense.
Watch the video: We asked all the influencers, what's the comment that lives rent-free in your head?
Our Top 10 influencers of 2025 share the most memorable comment from followers.
Michelle Mengsu Chang, Angelyn Francis and Kelsey Wilson/ Toronto Star
The List
These are Toronto's Top 10 influencers of 2025. They shape how millions of us shop, eat and live. Who are you following?
Together these social media stars have nearly 13 million fans on TikTok and Instagram. Peek
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Winnipeg Free Press
2 days ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
The Latest: Trump weighing moves against Iran and widens use of military in US
An appeals court on Thursday allowed President Donald Trump to keep control of National Guard troops he deployed to Los Angeles following protests over immigration raids while California's legal challenge continues. The court case could have wider implications as the president vows to expand deployments within the United States while prioritizing deportations from other Democratic-run cities. 'The court rightly rejected Trump's claim that he can do whatever he wants with the National Guard and not have to explain himself to a court,' California Gov. Gavin Newsom said. 'The President is not a king and is not above the law. We will press forward with our challenge to President Trump's authoritarian use of U.S. military soldiers against citizens.' Meanwhile, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told senators the Pentagon is providing options as Trump gave himself a two-week deadline to decide whether to order direct U.S. involvement against Iran, which could risk dragging America into a wider war in the Middle East. The president's press secretary offered the deadline Thursday, saying there is a 'substantial chance' for renewed negotiations over Tehran's nuclear program. Here is the Latest: Trump's schedule, according to the White House 11 a.m. — Trump will attend a national security meeting 2 p.m. — He'll travel to Bedminster, NJ 7:30 p.m. — Trump will attend a dinner for the super PAC MAGA Inc. at his golf course Trump extended TikTok ban deadline for a third time, without clear legal basis Trump on Thursday signed an executive order to keep TikTok running in the U.S. for an additional 90 days, giving his administration more time to broker a deal that would bring the social media platform under American ownership. Trump disclosed the executive order on the Truth Social platform Thursday morning. The first extension was through an executive order on Jan. 20, his first day in office, after the platform went dark briefly when a national ban — approved by Congress and upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court — took effect. The second was in April when White House officials believed they were nearing a deal to spin off TikTok into a new company with U.S. ownership that fell apart after China backed out following Trump's tariff announcement. It is not clear how many times Trump can — or will — keep extending the ban as the government continues to try to negotiate a deal for TikTok, which is owned by China's ByteDance. While there is no clear legal basis for the extensions, so far there have been no legal challenges to fight them. Top Senate Democrats 'deeply concerned' over escalating tensions with Iran Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer and the top Democrats on several key committees said in a joint statement Wednesday evening that they are 'deeply concerned about a lack of preparation, strategy, and clearly defined objectives' amid uncertainty about whether President Trump will decide to strike Iran. The Democrats say Trump should seek authorization from Congress if he is 'considering taking the country to war.' They urged Trump to 'prioritize diplomacy and pursue a binding agreement that can prevent a nuclear-armed Iran and reduce the risk to our diplomats, our service members, and the hundreds of thousands of Americans living in the Middle East.' Senior European diplomats are set to hold nuclear talks with Iran in Geneva on Friday Senior European diplomats are set to hold nuclear talks with Iran in Geneva on Friday, according to a European official familiar with the matter. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to comment publicly, said the high-ranking diplomats from Germany, France and the United Kingdom as well as the European Union's top diplomat will gather for the meeting in Switzerland. The planned meeting comes as President Donald Trump is weighing approval for the U.S. military to join Israel in carrying out strikes on Iran's nuclear program.
Globe and Mail
2 days ago
- Globe and Mail
Demand for Purpose-Driven Branding Increases as Gen Z Enters Decision-Making Roles
Miami, Florida--(Newsfile Corp. - June 20, 2025) - Digital Silk, an award-winning agency focused on creating brand strategies, custom websites, and digital marketing campaigns, announces an increase in demand for purpose-driven branding as Gen Z professionals transition into key decision-making roles across U.S. organizations. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: According to McKinsey & Company, nearly 70% of Gen Z respondents say that a brand's social and ethical values influence their purchasing decisions. As this generation increasingly fills roles in procurement, marketing, and leadership, purpose-driven branding is gaining traction not only in B2C sectors, but also within B2B partnerships. "We're seeing a measurable shift in branding priorities from aesthetics and features to values and accountability," said Courtney Bozigian, Brand Strategist at Digital Silk. "Gen Z is steering organizations toward brands that align with social impact, transparency, and long-term value." Values Now Shape Visibility and Trust Gen Z's digital fluency and social consciousness are reshaping how brands present themselves. Companies that once highlighted technical advantages are now building brand equity through community support, sustainability initiatives, and clear purpose statements. This evolution is influencing how organizations are evaluated for partnerships, contracts, and consumer loyalty. 75% of Gen Z individuals will research a brand's stance on social issues before supporting it (Deloitte) U.S. Gen Z workforce participation is projected to surpass 30% by 2030 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics) Purpose-driven brands may command greater loyalty, with nearly 60% of Gen Z preferring to pay more for brands that align with their values (IBM Institute for Business Value) How Brands Are Responding Digital Silk supports organizations across sectors in adapting brand messaging, visual identity, and web presence to reflect mission-driven positioning. Digital Silk has seen increased interest from industries including tech, wellness, and finance aiming to increase the company's branding to resonate with the evolving professional landscape. Digital Silk offers: Purpose-aligned brand strategy and messaging frameworks Mission-centric visual identity and design systems Custom web platforms highlighting sustainability, DEI, and impact reporting "We're working with brands to realign their voice and visuals—not as a marketing trend, but as a strategic foundation for long-term relevance," said Courtney Bozigian, Brand Strategist at Digital Silk About Digital Silk Digital Silk is an award-winning Miami branding agency focused on growing brands online. With a team of seasoned experts, Digital Silk delivers industry-leading digital experiences through strategic branding and cutting-edge web design to support engagement and visibility through digital marketing services.
National Post
2 days ago
- National Post
What is a Labubu? And where can you buy one in Canada?
Article content These days, they're all about viral online trends spanning toys and fan merchandise to novelty foods like Dubai chocolate, specifically targeting the Gen Z consumer. Article content 'We are a data business at our core. We happen to manifest as a retailer, but we are a technology and data company, and so we are tracking data, billions of data points on any given day to try to understand the demand in the marketplace so that we can catch the next big thing,' Kulkarni explains. 'So, over the last 30 years, we've been the first retailer to launch everything from memory foam bedding 20 years ago, before memory foam bedding was a thing, to remote control helicopters, to weighted blankets, to the latest toy sensation or beauty sensation.' Article content Using artificial intelligence to comb social media platforms for up-and-coming trends, Kulkarni says they're now able to 'catch trends' faster than ever. Article content That approach is what allowed Showcase to jump on the Labubu trend early through its ongoing toy partnership with Pop Mart. 'We are the main retailer of Pop Mart products, which include Labubu in Canada,' he says. Article content The Labubu toys at Showcase are priced higher than on the Pop Mart website (in stock for $129.99 on Showcase for the new Big Into Energy Labubu versus sold out and $37.99 on the Pop Mart website). Article content The price increase, according to Kulkarni, is due to the demand and shipping costs. 'We're doing everything we can to try to keep costs reasonable. But it is a difficult environment.' Article content The Showcase executive says new launches appear on their site about two weeks after they launch — and invariably sell out in minutes — on the Pop Mart site. Article content 'But the easiest way that we would recommend to our customers is to go to the local store and see what's available there, because the store receives new stock almost every day,' Kulkarni says. Article content Facebook Marketplace is another hub for Labubu resale. A search of the term yields dozens of resale posts ranging in price from $20 for a 'Lafufu' — the name bestowed on the fake versions of the trending toy — to $300 for a full set of six Labubu Big Into Energy toys. Article content As the hype around Labubus continues to grow — Kulkarni refers to the toys as a 'global sensation' — the demand for the products seems to show no sign of slowing down. Article content 'It rivals the biggest trends in toys over the past 30 years that we've seen,' he says. 'Whether it's Cabbage Patch Kids or Webkinz or Beanie Babies or Shopkins back in the day, or even Disney Frozen was a giant trend for us. Article content Article content
