Veronica Richards is a businesswoman with more than two decades of experience in supporting companies to connect with their potential clients and to grow globally. She is the founding partner and Vice President at CALLS Contact Center in Mexico, a company with 23 years of experience and founding partner and Vice President at WW Calls […]
Andrea Grobocopatel is an Argentine agronomist, president of Fundación por Liderazgos y Organizaciones Responsables (F.L.O.R), and president and shareholder of Los Grobo S.G.R., a leading agro-industrial group in South America. She co-founded her family business, together with her father and his brother, when she was only 21 years old. Andrea is a mentor of Vital Voices […]
Roni Postan-Koren is the founder of Shavot, a leadership and mentoring program for 12-year-old girls aimed at promoting female leadership. A Medical Student at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Roni was inspired to start the program after a negative personal experience as Chairperson of the Student Union, where she first realized people could and would […]
Lexi Miles is the Founder and CEO of WAXON Laser + Waxbar, launched in 2012 for both women and men on the go. Now with 13 locations nationwide and the launch of its innovative new-to-market laser, Lexi oversees all aspects of the WAXON business – from franchise building and day-to-day operations of existing locations, marketing, […]
In 1989, Dr. Cody became the first woman to earn a PhD in the Concordia Building Engineering program. She has achieved more than 30 years of professional practice in the private sector as a professional engineer, corporate executive and principal of an engineering firm. Her accolades include receiving an Award of Merit from the Canadian […]
Ayleen Farnood is extremely passionate about the fields of brain-computer interfaces and virtual reality. She’s built a program which allows users to spell out words by blinking, coded a chatbot while interning at Microsoft that was deployed to thousands of the company’s employees, spoken at the Connect IT conference, and put together her own personal […]
Jessica Phoenix is one of Canada’s top professional equestrian athletes, competing in Eventing. A two-time Olympian and four-time Pan American Games medalist — including a gold in 2011 — she was first named to the Canadian Equestrian Team in 2007. While her record is impressive, one of her greatest feats is recovering from a near-fatal fall in […]
Dr. Nekessa Remy is a chiropractor, a registered and medical acupuncturist and one of Canada’s fastest rising and sought after health and wellness expert in the industry today. She is the current owner of Mississauga’s The Chiropractic Office, a comprehensive injury management clinic focused on sports related injuries and woman’s health issues. She also runs […]
Nadège Nourian is the chef and owner of Nadège Patisserie in Toronto, Canada. Since the opening of her eponymous shops in 2009, Nadège has delighted Torontonians with modern dessert creations, and has been showered with numerous accolades from critics, the press, and the blogosphere. Born in Lyon, France, Nadège is a fourth generation pastry chef. […]
As Canada’s first female Master Sommelier, Jennifer Huether plays a dynamic role within the Canadian hospitality and wine industry. From her humble beginnings as a server at the Rosedale Diner, to her celebrated career as the head sommelier for Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment and Prestige Account Manager for Jackson Family Wines. Jennifer worked tirelessly […]
Vanessa Vakharia is the founder and director of The Math Guru, a boutique math and science tutoring studio in Toronto. She is also the author of Math Hacks, a book that makes math fun, stress-free and relatable for young kids and parents. She appears regularly on national television and news outlets as an expert in […]
Shirin Behzadi is Chief Executive Officer of Home Franchise Concepts (HFC), which recently celebrated its 26th year as the top-selling family of direct-to-consumer brands in the home-related goods and services space. Under Behzadi’s direction, HFC has grown into one of the largest and most respected franchisors in the U.S., on track to reach $700 million […]
Victoria Sopik and Jennifer Nashmi Co-founders, Kids and Company Finalists, Award for Excellence in Entrepreneurship, CENTRAL When Victoria Sopik and Jennifer Nashmi cofounded Kids & Company in 2002, their aim was to disrupt the traditional way child care had been offered by launching as an emergency back-up centre. Their success came after a […]
Melanie Normandin Vice President, Arctic Consultants Inc. Finalist, Award for Excellence in Entrepreneurship, EAST Arctic Consultants has been meeting the procurement needs of remote communities in Nunavik and Nunavut since 1984. Melanie Normandin took over the family business with her husband in 2009, and now works not only to ensure the day-to-day runs […]
Mandy Farmer President and CEO, Accent Inns Inc. Finalist, Award for Excellence in Entrepreneurship, WEST When Mandy Farmer’s father started Accent Inns Inc. in 1987, he didn’t plan on having any of his children go into the business. But Mandy took over as president and CEO in 2008, bringing with her an innovative, […]
Debbie McGrath is an award-winning business strategy and marketing and communications expert with deep experience in professional services, financial services, real estate services and consumer retail industries. Best described as a visionary and architect of winning marketing campaigns and developer of client-first business initiatives this University of Western Ontario graduate and three-time RBC Canadian Women […]
Elen Steinberg President and CEO, SPP Marketing Services Inc. Finalist, TELUS Trailblazer Award, CENTRAL SPP Marketing Services Inc. (SPP) had already been in operation as a promotions and experiential marketing agency for ten years when founder Elen Steinberg saw her winning opportunity: creating an innovative program using Canadian airports for marketing credit cards […]
Caroline Roberts President and CEO, Thoth Technology Inc. Finalist, TELUS Trailblazer Award, CENTRAL When Caroline Roberts co-founded Thoth Technology in 2001, she saw a market opportunity in Canada’s vibrant space sector, providing services to validate equipment for spaceflight. The space and defense company now has three divisions — Space Tracking and Navigation, Space […]
Toni Desrosiers Founder and CEO, Abeego Finalist, TELUS Trailblazer Award, CENTRAL In 2008, Toni Desrosiers was looking for a natural way to store her food — and ended up discovering a way to disrupt the fully mature, billion-dollar industry of plastic wrap. Through extensive experimentation (and looking to lemon peels, cheese rinds and […]
Heather Modlin Provincial Director, Key Assets Newfoundland and Labrador Finalist, Social Change Award, EAST Heather Modlin established Key Assets Newfoundland and Labrador (KANL) in 2009 to provide therapeutic family-based care (foster care). Their mandate has since expanded; in partnership with government, KANL offers residential care and support services to young people and families […]
Latha Sukumar Executive Director, MCIS Language Solutions Finalist, Social Change Award, CENTRAL When MCIS Language Solutions was incorporated as a non-profit in 1995, its mandate was to provide interpretation services for victims of domestic violence in Scarborough. Latha Sukumar was hired as Executive Director in 1996, expanding the mission to improving access to […]
Ching Tien Founder and President, Educating Rural Girls in China Finalist, Social Change Award, WEST As the founder of Educating Girls of Rural China (EGRC), Ching Tien’s deepest belief is that educated women have educated children — so providing education opportunities to women has a long lasting ripple effect and is a fundamental […]
Joanie Metivier’s career started with a passion for wine, one that soon became rather irrational. Now a sommelier, wine writer and the first women to acquire her Whisky Ambassador title in Quebec, Joanie accumulated the accreditations including Certified CMS, WSET level 3 with distinction and ISG all while managing her personal blog dedicated to wine […]
Jennifer Hamilton CEO, Oxygen Yoga & Fitness Finalist, RBC Momentum Award, CENTRAL When Jen Hamilton opened her first Oxygen Yoga and Fitness location, her goal was to create an environment where any person could come, regardless of age, gender or level of fitness, to channel their energy and focus back on themselves. Their […]
Francine Brûlé Founder, Les enfants terribles brasserie Finalist, RBC Momentum Award, EAST Brasserie Les Enfants Terribles is a family-run restaurant group guided by a “just like home’’ concept, with a welcoming atmosphere and a menu featuring local products and unique spins on more traditional dishes. Francine Brûlé opened her first location at 53 […]
Marjorie Dixon Founder, Anova Fertility Finalist, RBC Momentum Award, CENTRAL Founded in 2016, Anova Fertility and Reproductive Health is committed to making the right to family accessible to everyone. As a doctor in reproductive medicine who had been through the system for assisted fertility personally, Marjorie Dixon saw inequality for different segments of […]
Allison Dore started her career in the entertainment industry as an actor. It wasn’t until her older brother, renowned comedian Jon Dore, encouraged her to try stand-up that she got introduced to the world of comedy. Eventually she started a podcast, and in six months, after completing 100 episodes, was offered a spot on SiriusXM’s […]
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