Meet Marie-Astrid Dubant, RBC Canadian Women Entrepreneur Awards Social Change — Regional Impact Finalist

Marie-Astrid Dubant, Executive Director of CyberCap, is a 2025 RBC Canadian Women Entrepreneur Awards finalist and a leader at the intersection of technology, education, and social impact.

With over 20 years of experience spanning entrepreneurship, philanthropy, and innovation, Marie-Astrid has built a career on leveraging technology as a force for good. Before joining CyberCap, she led large teams in hospitality, launched her own ventures in events and retail, and cultivated a deep understanding of how to mobilize people and resources for lasting change.

At CyberCap—the first digital incubator in Québec dedicated to school perseverance, social inclusion, and digital citizenship—she is advancing a mission that has already impacted more than 80,000 young people. By providing professional exploration, digital training, and socio-professional support, Marie-Astrid and her team are tackling school dropout rates and youth mental health challenges with creativity and purpose.

Meet Marie-Astrid and discover how she is shaping a future where technology empowers the next generation to thrive.

I knew I wanted to be an entrepreneur when… 

I was about 10 years old. School was difficult for me, but I was already resourceful and curious. Coming from a family of entrepreneurs, I felt inspired by my father and grandparents, and I knew early on that I wanted to create something of my own. 

Entrepreneurship is made for me because…

I thrive in uncertainty and challenges. Whether in business or in social impact, I see opportunities where others see obstacles, and I love building things from the ground up.

The impact I hope to make through my work is… 

To show young people—especially those who doubt themselves—that they have a place in society, no matter their background. Success in school does not equal success in life; finding your passion changes everything. 

One of the most important lessons I’ve learned on my entrepreneurial journey is… 

Never quit. Entrepreneurship is 30% wins and 70% setbacks, but resilience and kindness toward others always pays off. 

My proudest accomplishment is… 

If you told my 15-year-old self—who didn’t think she’d make it through high school—that one day she would lead a social impact organization, I would never have believed it. Becoming Executive Director of CyberCap feels like a personal victory and a way to give back. 

The biggest risk I took that paid off was… 

Positioning CyberCap in the fields of AI and cybersecurity. After attending the UN Future Summit in New York, I realized the inequalities that AI would create in education. I came back determined to launch our Initiative Avenir program—and it worked. 

My biggest setback has been… 

Shutting down my company, Mariage et Turbulettes. I had invested time and money in it, but walked away too quickly. 

I overcame it by… 

Learning that failure is not the opposite of success—it’s part of the journey. That experience gave me the resilience I rely on today. 

The best advice I’ve received as an entrepreneur was… 

Don’t quit. Even when things look impossible, keep going. Every “no” is not a dead end—it’s a step that brings you closer to a “yes.” A “no” teaches you to refine your idea, sharpen your approach, or simply build the resilience to keep moving. Each rejection carries an insight, and if you listen closely, it becomes part of the path forward.

I surprise people when I tell them… 

That I struggled in school, left home at 15, and never thought I would make it. People are often surprised when they hear the unconventional path that led me here. 

If I had an extra hour in the day, I would use it to… 

Write a practical guide for nonprofit leaders on how to use AI to save time and amplify impact, especially for organizations without big resources. 

If you Googled me, you still wouldn’t know…

That I once managed massive cafeteria operations in Vancouver—serving 2,000 meals a day! That experience taught me grit, leadership, and efficiency. 

The future excites me because…

I believe every challenge hides an opportunity to create something meaningful. I focus on what works and what can move us forward. I’m not afraid to ask for help—even from the most senior leaders—because I know that when you ask the right question with respect and authenticity, people want to contribute. The future inspires me because it is a canvas we can all co-create: one where courage, kindness, and vision turn “what if” into reality.

Connect with Marie-Astrid on LinkedIn.