Latha Sukumar was working as a lawyer when a personal experience led her down a new career path. She’s now the Executive Director of MCIS Language Services, a non-profit social enterprise offering translation, interpretation, and consulting to over 800 organizations across Canada — but it wasn’t always such a success. Latha shares how she came […]
Jana Girdauskas Entrepreneur A teacher by day, Jana Girdauskas started The Period Purse with one idea: one purse filled with menstrual supplies and other hygiene items to give to someone experiencing homelessness. In the spring of 2018, Girdauskas and a teenage volunteer created Menstruation Nation, a high school program to help highlight menstrual […]
Kehkashan Basu Environmental & Children’s Rights Activist Empowering young people like herself is Kehkashan Basu’s passion. In 2012, at just 12 years old, she started Green Hope Foundation, a youth organisation working on Education for Sustainable Development, children’s rights and environmental protection, with the goal of empowering young people to utilize their power […]
Anna Mackenzie & Ella Gorevalov Co-authors of The Expecting Playbook When they realized that the majority of tech start-ups were not only vague and noncommittal about their parental leave policies, but actually didn’t have policies in place at all, Anna Mackenzie and Ella Gorevalov decided to help usher in a change. So, they […]
Dr. Alaa Murabit Physician & International Peace Advocate Born and raised in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Dr. Alaa Murabit has eclipsed her wildest dreams and achieved worldwide recognition for her roles as a physician and leading international advocate for inclusive peace processes. At 28 years old, she is a UN High-Level Commissioner on Health Employment […]
Eileen Jurczak Founder & Chair, Bay Street Deconstructed Eileen Jurczak is the Founder and Chair of Bay Street Deconstructed, a non-profit organization that is defining the future by opening the exclusive doors to financial services for girls from different cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds. The program structure, boasting a curriculum informed by a team […]
Roberta Jamieson President & CEO, Indspire “Groundbreaking” is the most apt description of Roberta Jamieson’s long career. A Mohawk woman from the Six Nations of the Grand River Territory, in 1976 she became the first Indigenous woman ever to earn a law degree in Canada. She was the first non-Parliamentarian to be appointed […]
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 […]
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 […]
Tanya van Biesen left her 21-year career in the corporate world of executive search to take on a leading role with a global non-profit supporting one of her passions: advancing inclusive workplaces. By Kristen Sears For Tanya van Biesen, it was kinda, sorta déjà vu. Two summers ago, she left […]
Not having a sponsor is a key reason many talented women never reach their potential. That’s why up and comer Alana Riley was paired with Alex Besharat, Senior Vice President & Head, Canadian Wealth Management through Scotiabank’s Canadian Banking Sponsorship Program. With a senior leader advocating on her behalf, there’s no telling how […]
As Vice President of Design, Digital Banking, at Scotiabank, Pamela Hilborn is tasked with developing unique technology solutions that can meet the needs of the Bank’s diverse customer base — including those with disabilities. By Shelley White Pamela Hilborn has always been fascinated by what makes people tick. It’s a […]
Lisa Milburn is the chief operating officer at BMO Insurance, a role she took on after pivoting out of a career in communications. She’s also the executive sponsor of the BMO for Women program, an initiative that’s changing the way the financial institution interacts with their female clients. By Hailey Eisen […]
To mark the United Nations’ 2017 International Day of the Girl, 600 young women were selected to take over top jobs at various organizations around the world. Sindy Mosquera was one of them. As part of Plan International’s #GirlsBelongHere campaign, Sindy sat in on committee meetings, met clients and connected with some of the bank’s […]
Launched this week, Project Her is a crowdfunding platform for female-led businesses. But it’s not just the gender focus that sets it apart. Founders Donna West and Shelly Lynn Nellis have a vision to build a community of support, enabling women entrepreneurs to face their unique challenges, and create success on their own […]
As the director of endocrinology at Women’s College Hospital and a physician-scientist at Women’s College Research Institute, Dr. Lorraine Lipscombe dedicates her time to studying diabetes in women — from identifying risk factors to improving access to care. By Sarah Treleaven Dr. Lorraine Lipscombe has long been part of a tradition […]
Kennedy McRae and James Dale are the co-owners of Earth Inc., a successful landscape design firm. They are also the husbands of Rajini and Sandra — two accomplished women who played an integral part in that success, offering emotional and financial support as well as hands-on help, especially in the early days of the […]
When Rania Llewellyn first immigrated to Canada, she found herself in the same predicament as many newcomers: educated and talented, but unable to find work. Now Senior Vice President, Products and Services, Global Transaction Banking at Scotiabank, Rania tells her incredible story of how she got her start, and how she’s helping other immigrants […]
In 2016, Ginella Massa made headlines as the first hijab-wearing woman to anchor a major Canadian newscast. The long-overdue representation of a Muslim woman thriving in her profession was not just a career milestone for Ginella, but also the culmination of a childhood dream — and an inspiration to those that hope to follow […]
Ginella Massa had dreams of becoming a news reporter since she was a young girl, despite fears that her appearance didn’t fit the typical mold. Decades later, she realized that life long dream when she became Canada’s first hijab-wearing reporter, and then the first anchor of a major Canadian news channel to wear a hijab […]
In Canada, less than a quarter of senior management positions are held by women, and that figure drops significantly looking up to the board level. The MBA has long been seen as a key enabler to improve these numbers, both for early- and mid-career women, but “age and stage” issues often drive decisions for women considering […]
The North American Indigenous Games is the largest continental sporting and cultural gathering of Indigenous people. This year from July 16 – 23rd, Toronto will host more than 5,000 athletes, 2,000 volunteers and a countless number of spectators and dignitaries from across North America. In celebration of the thousands of Indigenous women representing Canada on the […]
Even with over 18 years’ experience providing technology advisory and implementation services, Erick Vandeweghe was surprised when he learned during an Unconscious Bias training that many male executives unknowingly favour men over women for analytical tasks. As the leader of Deloitte’s Canadian Technology Consulting practice, Erick has become more attuned to biases within the organization […]
Amanda Shuchat was given the keys to Vision7 International’s newest PR agency, The Colony Project, at an age when many doubted her capabilities. Yet in just over a year as Managing Director, she has made a name for the shop as one that offers something the big guys simply can’t compete with. Which to those who […]
Yana Barankin is the female lead of TAMGA Designs, a clothing line with integrity at its center. Before embarking on this journey, Yana and her business partner asked themselves two simple questions — is it too expensive to produce a socially and environmentally responsible piece of clothing? Does style have to be sacrificed for accountability? The obvious answer […]
The Honourable Jody Wilson-Raybould became Canada’s Minister of Justice in 2015, joining 14 other women to form Canada’s first gender-equal Cabinet. But did you also know she’s also a lawyer, advocate, and leader among British Columbia’s First Nations? Here are 5 things you should know about the Honourable Jody Wilson-Raybould. 1. She’s […]
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