Jacqueline Dupuis is the executive director of the Vancouver International Film Festival, also known as VIFF. Since joining the organization over six years ago, she has played a major role in transforming the event into an internationally recognized celebration of screen-based and immersive storytelling that acts as a catalyst for creators’ development. Prior to leading […]
Gemma Sheehan became the #1 ranked Ontario female MMA fighter at the age of 21, after ten years in the sport, attaining a record of 5 -1 and a Pan Am gold medal in Brazilian jiu jitsu. After a change of values and concerns about brain trauma, Gemma changed gears and quit professional fighting to […]
Taryn Herritt and Angela Osborne’s vision for The Atelier, an inaugural conference that celebrates the best women in business, arose from an unofficial and unintentional brainstorming session in early summer 2017. Friends for years, they’d always admired one another’s business successes, in the corporate world and as entrepreneurs. While catching up over lunch that day, […]
Backed with a PhD in maternal-fetal toxicology, Dionne and her husband, a surgeon, researched the extensive advantages of herbal blends, experimented with fresh fruit combinations and in late 2013, launched DeeBee’s Organics delicious line of frozen treats. Their little homemade venture has grown and evolved and now DeeBee’s line of Organic FruitPops and SuperFruit Freezies […]
Paige Viggiani is the Co-Founder, and lead Lash Extension Artist at Studio Eighty Seven. Before entering the beauty industry, Paige received an honours degree from York University in Communication Studies and a Diploma from Humber College in Fashion Business, and served Women of Influence as our Events and Marketing Manager. With a passion for beauty, […]
Born in St. Kitts, Dauna Jones-Simmonds migrated to Canada almost forty years ago and has first-hand experience navigating the roadblocks and challenges encountered by new Canadians — particularly those of colour. Today, as the President of DEJS (Diversity) Consulting, she shares her accumulated knowledge through consulting and diversity training activities, and providing mentorship and assistance […]
A creative producer with over 15 years of global experience in broadcast, events, content and Games, Laura Denham is a creator who brings big ideas to life. She has cultivated a deep passion for content production and amplification on both the broadcast and agency side. Laura is an integrated marketer who connects brands with culture. […]
Sage Franch is the Co-Founder and CTO of Crescendo Inclusive Workplaces, and the creator of TrendyTechie.ca. She specializes in emerging technologies including blockchain, augmented reality, and cognitive computing, and is passionate about leveraging new tech to build a better future. Previously, Sage worked as a Technical Evangelist at Microsoft, where she focused on global developer […]
An advocate of inclusive prosperity through investing in people and ensuring everyone is able to realize their potential, Zabeen Hirji is a strategic advisor on the Future of Work, Leadership, Talent Management, and Diversity & Inclusion. With a ten year tenure as RBC’s Chief Human Resources Officer, Zabeen covered 80,000 employees in 40 countries. Today, […]
Lalli Marrato began her career in journalism at Publicis Blueprint in London, UK and later worked at a boutique PR firm in Toronto. She then transferred her experience into investor relations and merchant banking, and is now a senior partner & COO at Frontier Flex Marketing in Toronto, helping businesses increase their exposure. Expressing her […]
In efforts to bring a sustainable, eco-friendly, premium denim clothing brand for kids, Aaina Jain-Malik founded Blu & Blue New York in 2015. A marketing executive-turned-entrepreneur, Jain combines her corporate branding experience from Estée Lauder, Jo Malone, La Mer, GAP and Banana Republic with her family’s 35-year heritage in manufacturing premium denim clothing for private […]
Elaine started LadyBossBlogger.com during a particularly trying time in her life to connect with women online. She took her future into her own hands and created this platform to help female entrepreneurs learn how to start, grow and scale their own online businesses and blogs. Since it’s conception, LadyBossBlogger has garnered a massive audience of […]
Adrienne Clarke has more than 15 years of commitment to the nonprofit sector. As the Director of Content at United Way Greater Toronto, she leads a team that is responsible for brand management, content marketing, and creative and editorial direction. There, she also led the creative development of the “It Looks Like Me” campaign, which […]
Maya Chivi is an author, a two-time TEDx speaker, and an advocate for mental health, gender equality and children’s rights. Her 2017 book “What Nobody Knows” is an illustrated story on leadership, mindfulness and the power of believing in yourself. In 2014, Maya was invited to deliver a keynote speech to the Council of Europe’s […]
Sonia is a self-proclaimed media junkie, a champion of improved metrics, an award-winning mentor to the next generation of PR pros, and a results generator who has 20+ years in the PR industry. She founded spPR, an award winning full-service public relations agency, in 2013. Since then, Sonia’s media relations expertise has continued to be […]
Beverly Shwarzer is the President of SureTraxx Cash Management Systems Inc., a fast-growing company of cash management experts. She is the driving force behind operations, strategy, business development, and customer relations. She is a major advocate of applying technology to all aspects of today’s ever-growing business environment – specifically how it can make operations simpler […]
Zem founded the Near Future Summit, a visionary event that seeks to scale solutions to the world’s most pressing problems. It is driven by leading tech founders, investors, inventors, and influencers. Prior to Near Future, she founded ecofabulous.com which became part of Huffington Post in 2015 and remains the reigning authority on stylish sustainability. Zem […]
In 2007, Leigh started working at Staples as a Management Trainee and has worked her way up. Today, she is responsible for the facility maintenance, repair, and service related programs for all Canadian properties (305+ locations) as well as setting the sustainability agenda and identifying key focus areas for the company. For her efforts, Leigh […]
Dr. Catherine Chandler-Crichlow is the President & Chief Human Capital Officer of 3C Workforce Solutions. With close to 30 years of experience in human capital research and development, she has worked on a range of initiatives that span private, public and voluntary institutions in Canada, Central Europe, Latin America, South-East Asia and the Caribbean. An […]
NJ Goldston is an LA based venture capitalist in emerging fashion and technology brands. She is also the Founder and Editor in Chief of the Webby award-winning fashion blog The Blonde and The Brunette and the Managing Partner of leading activewear line, Athletic Propulsion Labs (APL). She has been named a “Style Icon” by Louis […]
After beginning her career in the financial industry in the UK, Mary Aitken moved to Canada — and became a serial entrepreneur. Over two decades she launched several successful start-ups and investment companies. In 2004, she opened the doors on her sixth start-up and current venture: a private women’s club named Verity. Her goal? To […]
Chen Lizra specializes in transforming people by changing behavioural patterns for the better, through bodywork. She offers Somatic Intelligence workshops, one on one sessions, training programs and keynote speeches, using the unique one-of-a-kind method she developed. She works with individuals, organizations and events in order to cause transformation through the body, through experiencing. After giving one […]
Samantha Brookes is the CEO and Founder of Mortgages of Canada and has more than 16 years of experience with home purchases, refinancing customer mortgages, consolidating homeowner debt and providing home equity loans. She was recently named in the “Top 100” by Real Estate Professional Magazine and can be seen hosting her own YouTube show […]
Tanya serves as one of three judges on CBS Television Distribution’s syndicated court show HOT BENCH, created by Judge Judy Sheindlin. She is an experienced civil litigator as well as a television commentator, having been a featured guest on “Good Morning America,” “Entertainment Tonight,” and “Larry King Live” to name a few. Throughout her career, […]
Dr. Nguyen-Vi Mohamed is one of those people who seems to be interested in everything. A rugby player who flies planes, she also owns two bakeries in Montreal. And then there’s her day job. Dr. Mohamed, who is a neuroscience researcher, loves her work in the fascinating world of mini brains – miniature balls of […]
Julie is the Founder & Chief Executive of Harlen. She is a graduate of Stanford University (BA, MA), Berkeley Law (JD), and the Yale University School of Medicine (MD). She practiced law with two elite firms before turning her attention to Harlen. And it was during her tenure at those firms that she realized the […]
Britt founded Flawless by Friday at the age of 27 to help make everyone feel like the most flawless version of themselves — for life’s big moments and even just for every day. Growing up as one of five girls on a farm north of Toronto, Britt was the resident makeup artist, hairdresser and skincare consultant. […]
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