2021
Women of Inspiration™ Finalists
2021 Women of Inspiration™ Finalists
Congratulations on being nominated as a Women of Inspiration™ who leads, inspires and motivates others to greatness!
JOIN THE CELEBRATION
2021 VIRTUAL AWARDS – Saturday, November 13, 2021
A Woman of Inspiration™ is an extraordinary woman who leads by example, lives on purpose and inspires others to be more and do more. She is a modern-day hero, game-changer, mover and shaker, and role model who leads by example. With courage, confidence, commitment, and integrity, she inspires others to go further, making a ripple impact across her community and around the globe. We are moving the needle to recognize the achievements of women making an impact locally, nationally and globally. Recognize the leaders within your organization and champion to advance women in business.
Since our inaugural awards on September 26, 2015, we have recognized over 1,000 women and awarded 200 Awards. We look forward to celebrating and recognizing the achievements of women from diverse backgrounds and all walks of life.
NOMINATE A WOMAN OF INSPIRATION 365 DAYS! NOMINATE A WOMAN TODAY!
By nominating her, you are honoring her accomplishments, contributing to her legacy, validating her hard work, and her contribution to the workplace. You are helping her see her worth and unknowing impact. You are taking action to SupportHER™, elevating role models to be recognized on a local, national and global level.
When you nominate, the ripple effect is far-reaching!
Benefits of your nomination:
- Validate her worth, build confidence, elevate leadership.
- Local, national, and global exposure.
- Additional media and PR coverage.
- Connection with other like-minded, influential leaders from diverse industries across Canada.
- Opportunities to create change on a larger stage.
- Elevating her business, credibility personally and professionally.
- Contribute to her legacy.
- Recognition as a leader in her industry.
- Recognize her achievements.
- Increasing her circle of influence, inspiring the next generation of leaders.
Ramin Fazel
Royal Bank of Canada - Regional Vice President
Ramin is the Vice-Chair of the Board of Directors at Future Possibilities for Kids, where I am the Executive Director, and I’ve known her for 5 years.
Sapna Nayar
NITYANGANA Bharatanatyam Dance School - Founder
Classical dance teachers are no Treat of nuances of cultural richness in Kerala. But Mrs. Sapna Nayar has built her own world of happy children and parents winot just teaching Bharatanatyam Dance to students but also enriching the future generations knowledge of the true essence of Indian ancient traditions. No disparity between the stratas of society, if children can't pay for the classes, Mrs. Nayar openly takes the child under her guidance based on her interest for the dance. Commendable love and dedication towards Bharatanatyam.
Carol Anne Hilton
Indigenomics Institute and The Global Centre of Indigenomics - CEO and Founder
Carol Anne Hilton is one of the most inspiring people I have ever met. Carol Anne has led the establishment of a line of thought called #indigenomics- growing from a single hashtag to an entire movement that focuses on the rebuilding and strengthening of Indigenous economies. As the CEO and founder of the Indigenomics Institute and most recently the Global Center of Indigenomics, Carol Anne’s work in Canada is driving the narrative of the 100 billion dollar Indigenous economic target. Carol Anne Hilton is convening the tools, leadership, resources, partnerships, institutions, investment to build meaningful innovations in designing and growing Indigenous economies to build national and global impact across time. Carol Anne is an adjunct professor at the Royal Roads University’s School of Business, Carol Anne serves as a director on the BC Digital Supercluster, the McGill University Institute for the Study of Canada, the Canadian Economic Growth Council, and the BC Emerging Economy Taskforce.
Jenna Rachiele
Life Coach/CEO
Jenna has established herself and rebranded herself to helping others. Having a successful career in sales for 15 years Jenna decided to challenge herself and do more for others. Jenna has become an entrepreneur branching out to life coaching, sistership circles, travel and selling natural products. Having suffered with anxiety and depression her entire life Jenna has channelled her experience to helping others how to cope and look for the positives. As a life coach Jenna specializes in helping women’s and teens setting goals and achieving success. Jenna is an avid reader, wife and mom who always has time for her 3 rescue dogs!
Chantal Brine
EnPoint - CEO
Chantal has spent most of her career working with, supporting and volunteering at community, mentorship and role model initiatives to advance women’s careers and entrepreneurship in STEM. Chantel is the CEO and Founder of EnPoint which exists to help people connect their passion to their career- on a mission to support 1 million people to do just that. She believes people should love what they do and focus on living a career that is “on point”.
The work Chantal and her team has done at EnPoint have also resulted in awards for their clients, such as EduNova. EduNova was recognized for the 2017 Outstanding Achievement and Major Contribution to the Field of Career Planning from Canadian Association of Career Educators and Employers (CACEE) and the 2017 PIEoneer Award for Association of the Year, while the Atlantic Canada Study and Stay™ was one of three programs short-listed out of hundreds of entries for the Global PIEoneer Awards.
Zeynep Cildir
Refugee Support Association - President & Student
Zeynep Cildir is a 3rd-year university student as well as the founder and acting president of the Refugee Support Association. Her goal is to ease the transition into a new country as there are many barriers to overcome, which can be very hard without help. As a landed immigrant, she knows learning a new language has a huge impact on every aspect of life. RSA's goal is to fundraise for refugee settlement organizations located in Ottawa as well as raising awareness. Last year alone, they have raised more than $1000 and won 2 awards from the University of Ottawa for their hard work. Through their many events, they also invited refugee speakers and many others to speak on these hardships. Additionally, she is an excelling student studying Translational & Molecular Medicine and an undergraduate researcher. Just so other students do not go through the hardships she encountered as an immigrant, she co-founded Passionate Minds which is a non-profit helping students transitioning into university. Along with helping immigrants and students who might be struggling, she continues to volunteer at other organizations such as Shepherds of Good Hope where she received “the Youth Award” for her commitment, 5-star WizePrep academic tutor, Let’s Talk Science volunteer to encourage youth in science, and an English Second Language tutor. Further, she is working part-time as a Medical Office Assistant at CareMedics while maintaining her academic excellence.
Oluwakemi Bolatito-Bello
Oluwakemi Bolatito-Bello - CEO/Director
Kemi is the most hardworking person I have ever known, she is creative, ambitious and goal getter no matter the obstacle. Kemi has shown so much resilience and inspire lots of women in her local community as an immigrant barely 5 years in Canada building her small business from her garage to generating over 1.2 million dollars revenue in her first two years of operating her specialty discount grocery store in Edmonton Alberta saved over 400,000 pounds of food from going to waste.
Kemi is a doting mother and wife who combine working full time and her schooling with managing her business. She has impacted lives of people in her community and I admire her love of volunteering and working with individuals with disabilities. Part of her achievement is sitting on the board of Edmonton Community Adult Learning Association and nominated for RBC Women of Influence Award 2021, her business also won Alberta Business of Distinction award in 2021.
Tiana Davis-Gaisie
Aunty T’s Kitchen - Founder
Tiana is a truly inspiring woman, mother, sister, cousin and friend.
Growing up, she was a true “Daddy’s Girl” often spending hours in the kitchen with her father cooking and inventing phenomenally delicious dishes.
Shortly after the birth of her son Silas, her father died suddenly while traveling in Jamaica.
As a new mom and wife, she poured herself into her kitchen - partly to feed her family, partly to stay close to her dad.
As Silas got older, he began filming and documenting his cooking process for school projects - much to the pleasure of his little sister Eva!
During the pandemic, Tiana and Silas had a genius idea - Let’s use the power of Video Conferencing to help other parents and kids bond through cooking.
Aunty T’s Kitchen was founded soon after. Today, kids across the GTA are learning to cook dishes like Baked Macaroni & Cheese (with from scratch sauce!), Spaghetti and homemade meatballs, and more through Tiana’s Aunty T’s Kitchen platform.
She deserves the recognition that will help her expand this awesome platform!
Eileen Warren
Highlight Motor Group - Operations Supervisor
Eileen is an amazing, gorgeous and strong woman that I have an opportunity to work with.
She's bringing so much joy to our fast pace environment. She's a very professional and educated woman.
Working with her daily is a blast!
We need more women like her in Tacking Industry.
She's my nominee - 100%
Highlight Motor Group is very fortunate to have her.
Dolores Hirschmann
Masters in Clarity - Chief Clarity Officer
Born and raised in Buenos Aires, she saw first hand the troubles women faced, both personally and professionally. After graduating from business school, she started 2 businesses in an attempt to help those who were struggling: a women’s clothing company that supported a coop of low income women in Argentina and later, a language school where they taught Spanish, French, and Chinese as an after school program. She is very passionate about using her unique brilliance to make a difference in the world and encouraging others to do the same. Currently, as the founder of Masters in Clarity, she helps professionals position themselves as thought leaders in their field so they can share their magic with others. She is very passionate about IDEAS and using them to create a better world.
Hitu Sood
Winning Inclusive Solutions: WINS - Executive Director and Founder WINS
Hitu is an immigrant woman who moved to Canada in 2018, and within a few months of arriving started a community organization to help other immigrant women. This community organization is now a registered not-for-profit organizational called Winning Inclusive Solution: WINS. WINS promotes inclusive policies and programs in Canada’s workforce. She actively advocates and takes steps towards ensuring the creation of more equitable workplaces in which diverse members can flourish. She started a newsletter called 'the diversity forum' the purpose is to animate discussion on issues of diversity that need to be addressed to create a more equitable Canada.
Katherine Harbin
Spartanburg Regional Hospice - Hospice chaplain team lead
My wife is everything I believe a woman should be. Fearless, dedicated, poised, elegant, compassionate, driven, educated, well cultured, talented, caring, beautiful inside and out and selfless are just a few of the qualities Katie possesses. A wonderful presence to be around and a smile that brings joy and light. My wife is a chaplain for Spartanburg Regional Hospice.
Olivia Dey
Just Like A Girl - Founder/ CEO
As a victim of racial bully and diagnosed with depression, Olivia first realized her strength when she started playing water polo at the age of 12. She was bullied for being the only female player in a team of boys. She realized that there is a huge gap between the male and female sports world. Eventually, Olivia started a nonprofit organization at the age of 15 to empower racialized and marginalized girls through sports. She became an advocate of female sports. Ever since the organization launched in 2018, Olivia made a huge difference in numerous young lives. Olivia wants to share her life-changing experience in sports with more girls like her and create a generation of stronger girls through sports. Apart from that Olivia has played leadership roles in numerous other organizations like RCMP, University of Waterloo Project- Youth Advisory Council, Youth Councilor- Scarborough Rouge Park, Student Government- Advocacy committee representative, Orientation Leader
Dr. Yolanda A. Coleman
Hospital * - Vice President of Patient Care Services/Chief Nursing Officer
Dr. Yolanda A. Coleman is an exemplary leader in healthcare. She inspires her employees, students, peers, community, church network, family,. and many others. Dr. Yolanda A. Coleman is an influential leader in the healthcare industry. Currently, she is the Vice President of Patient Care Services and Chief Nursing Officer at Cancer Treatment Centers of America. Previously, she served as the System Executive Director of Care Transformation and Assistant Chief Nursing Officer at Sinai Health Chicago, and Assistant Vice President of Nursing at Saint Anthony Hospital, as well as an Assistant Professor of Nursing for Oak Point (Resurrection) University. She also previously served as the Director of Walter Payton Liver Center and Transplant/Surgical Services at UI Health and Administrative Director for Loyola Health.
Dr. Coleman graduated from Marquette University in 1996 with a bachelor’s degree in Medical Technology and a minor in Chemistry. She earned her Master’s in Nursing from DePaul University where she serves as an Executive Board member for the Black Alumni Association, Ezekiel Taylor Scholarship Foundation, All Nations COGIC, and the Illinois Nurse Leader Association. She also serves as the Vice President of the University of Illinois Chicago College of Nursing Alumni Association. In 2012, Dr. Coleman received her Doctorate in Nursing from the University of Illinois at Chicago. Dr. Coleman focused on breast cancer research. Dr. Coleman has served as a volunteer for Susan G. Komen and a guest speaker. She is also a certified Nurse Executive and a fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives. Dr. Coleman received a Nurse Leader Award in 2015 from the Chicago Chapter of the National Black Nurses Association and in 2018, she received the Illinois Nurses’ Association Community Nurse Leader Award. Dr. Coleman also serves her community by supporting male scholars who have been affected by gun violence. She is the founder a healthcare scholarship for scholars interested in healthcare in order to facilitate elimination health disparities by those representing a diverse background.
Dr. Yolanda Coleman uses her talents and skills to create life changing moments in people’s lives. While maintaining a balance as a mom, professional nurse leader, and educator, Dr. Coleman continues to carry out her services to the community as she teaches students and serves as mentor for young girls and women. She can measure her success not only by the impact she has on others but by creating and generating something that gives not only her life meaning, purpose, and direction but others she encounters. “Each day, I am thankful for my family, peers, and employees who keep me motivated to continue to pursue service and excellence,” says Dr. Coleman. “Advanced education is something so worthwhile that I’ve invested my life within it.
Shannon Aguiar
Creative MC - Marketing Coordinator / Freelance Creative Director
Shannon Aguiar is an up and coming creative force in the Publication and Marketing Industries. With experience way beyond her age she specializes in creative production, custom artwork, design, digital photography, b2b marketing and content management for editorial, and commercial clients. She has worked closely with major publications, high-profile brands, renowned musicians, and Pulitzer Prize-winning journalists. Her experiential background covers everything from commercial advertising, b2b marketing, and graphic design to high fashion trends analysis, event planning, and investigative reporting. She takes great pride in everything she produces and always exceeds projected expectations. At one point a college dropout, stuck in the modeling industry, alongside her amazing portfolio, she now garners a degree, a number of awards, and certifications
UKACHI ANONYUO
The Estee Lauder Companies - Vice President, Global Packaging Innovation Strategy & Portfolio Management
Ukachi's ability to execute with excellence, build collaborative relationships and strategic thought leadership has enabled her to work with teams across the ELC enterprise to execute, launch and scale programs including:
- The creation of the 1st Women's led Sponsorship ready and Mentorship training programs at ELC for women at various levels within their career
- An internal "Spotlight On" initiative that highlights and promotes women in uncommon and underrepresented positions within ELC throughout the year.
-A "HERstory" series where various women both internally and externally share their inspiring career path at all levels of the business.
- Bi-annual Spring and Fall Capstone events centered on educating and empowering women at ELC to grow personally and professionally.
She has supported women within the ERG to take on more leadership roles including driving succession planning and establishing a WLN playbook for future leaders. She also personally mentors and supports each team member which has in turn led to their personal growth & development not only within the ERG but within their daily roles and responsibilities for the company.
She does all this while recently being promoted to Vice President of Global Packaging & Innovation strategy for the company
Sangeeta Sharma
NIWE Academy Inc. - Founder/CEO
I am nominating Sangeeta Sharma because I admire her greatly. She came to Canada as a new bride, not knowing the country or it's culture. She battled depression in her first few years, she and her husband made very little income and had 2 children. Sangeeta wanted more and worked evenings and weekends cleaning hotel rooms and washing dishes to pay for school and later, the development of a spa in her basement. When her children were small, she drove school bus so she could keep them with her and took clients in between bus trips.
Her spa eventually grew into 2 commercial locations and she sold them because she wanted to teach and help immigrants and empower women. She founded NIWE Academy in 2012.
Now NIWE had hundreds of graduates a year and Sangeeta has kept true to her desire to empower and educate women and immigrants. With all of this, she continues to push herself to greater and greater things. always bringing other along, coaching and supporting them, as she has me.
I am nominating Sangeeta because I see how she tirelessly works to support her dreams, her family and the women around her. Sangeeta is a true inspiration.
Jessica D’Emilio
Verde Collection - Founder and CEO
Jessica is the soul, the mother, and the inspirational magic behind the Verde Collection. Through her difficult and debilitating journey with Lupus she has found the inspiration to create clean and small-batch lines to support and nourish the body. Her unwavering goal is to bring her community, hear and far, the highest quality full spectrum hemp products to the market, with transparency for your peace of mind. From seed to shelf, Jessica, weaves the art of healing with plant remedies through every product and ensures that each product in your hands is crafted and designed with the whole body and whole plant concept in mind. Jessica also vowed, as part of her credo, to provide education to support the needs of consumers through the innovation of the Hemp + Heart Journal. As a woman and mother, Jessica understand how women feel stepping into the cannabis industry, an industry designed by men, and has full intentions to help make the language, education, and use of this plant accessible and comfortable for all women alike.
Above all, Jes loves to spend every moment she can with her two littles, Pax & Olivia. Jes says, “The greatest gift was the day I became a mother.”
MELISSA KING
Lowes Foods/Lowes Foods To Go - Director of eCommerce Operations
Melissa King is a retail executive with 20+ years of experience building high performing teams and driving revenue for multi-unit stores within the retail, grocery, and specialty food industries. Her areas of expertise include: Field Operations, eCommerce Operations, Human Resources, Sales, Marketing, Finance and Management. She is currently responsible for leading the eCommerce and omnichannel practices and operational execution for 76+ stores across 3 states.
Lisajoy Marinello
Microsoft Corporation - Director, Microsoft Global Partner Solutions
LJ Marinello is a business leader and people manager. She has a strong sense of identity and takes pride in the success of her team and her people. She demonstrates empathy and support, along with kindness and innovation. LJ Marinello is a powerful leader, mother and friend.
Kassie Stevens
Pixie Dust Furniture & Refinishing - Owner
I am so excited, blessed, and honored to have the opportunity to nominate Kassie Stevens for this award. Kassie is quite special to many people and has left a lasting impact on others with her kindness! Kassie runs a small business called Pixie Dust Furniture & Refinishing. She spends her time away from her normal 9-5 refinishing beautiful pieces for sale. However, she’s also proven she isn’t afraid to help the community at large! When the facility “Dress for Success” burned down in OKC a facility that assists women getting back into the workforce with everything from clothes, shoes, and training on how to interview for a job. They lost everything, and she was quick to offer custom furniture pieces to go into the rebuilt facility to house the new clothing donations.
She also has worked along side her stepson Riley Pryor, working in the community to raise donations quarterly for positive tomorrows. Oklahoma’s only school that servers only homeless children. She has helped him procure donations of new, and nearly new clothing, musical instruments, and other items to ensure no one goes without! Her leadership has helped him become the first Oklahoma to ever win the “Children have the power to Empower” Humanitarian award. On top of that, her Pixie program, which allows her to teach people in the community how to refurbish furniture as well. Passing on the unique art, and empowering others, especially women, to start new careers, do wood working projects in the home, and feel the empowerment of being able to do things on their own!
Kassie has been a pillar in the Edmond community, and while she loves to stay quiet… she deserves to be recognized for her hard work helping others be better than they even thought they could be!
She doesn't have anything but a Facebook page for the business, but it`s under the name listed below. I dont know how to get the proper URL to post here.
Sherry Lee Kilpatrick
GTK PR Talent Agency LLC - Owner of GTK
Sherry Lee is my publicist she is also engineer during the day for Spaceforce. PR in Los Angeles is so expensive so she works a day job to help people like me to afford PR for my daughter.
Brandi Kolosky
Plensy™ - Chief Growth Officer
Brandi Kolosky is known as a polymathic business & marketing leader under titles as Intl’ Business Development Director, Capital Fund Raiser, & Chief Growth Officer.
She has worked with innovative social impacting companies such as FIA Formula 1 Electric Racing, Digital Stream Energy, World Affairs Council, & more.
January 2020, her title was Managing Director of DealBox, the World’s first Venture Capital firm utilizing Blockchain technology, overseeing $400m in client marketing & investment raises.
In later 2020 she became Chief Growth Officer to revolutionize the financial & credit scoring ecosystem with a patent pending DeFi lending points system known as Plensy™.
Additionally, LogosCapital.io hired her to pursue her lifelong mission creating bonds capital fundraising to help heal the oceans, waters, forests, indigenous, & smart cities.
In addition, she has completed her certifications in Innovations of Financial Technology at the University of Michigan, Healing with Nutrition and Food as Medicine from both Health Science Academy and Monash University.
Funke Olokude
Multicultural Family Resource Society - Racialized Women's Leadership Project Lead
Funke is a selfless and energetic human who constantly puts the needs of others first both in her professional and personal life. In 2020, Funke was named Top 40 under 40 for her for her continued work in influencing policy and practice across various sectors in Alberta. Funke is currently working on a Leadership Program for BIMPOC women that calls for an intersectional lens to ideas of leadership for social change. She also shares her wealth of experience by being a Casual instructor at Norquest College.
She currently serves on the boards of Bredin Centre for Career Advancement, Black Business Ventures Association (BBVA) and is the convener of an ethnocultural Community Leadership Circle.
Funke is also the Mom of two children, 10 and 5
Andrijana Djokic
Na-Cho Nyak Dun Development Corporation - Chief Executive Officer
Andrijana works tirelessly with the First Nation of Na-Cho Nyak Dun to advance self-determination and community economic well-being. She is a dedicated and passionate leader who actively seeks out opportunities to mentor and give back to her professional and personal communities. As a leader she actively listens to the needs of others, consistently and intentionally makes space for her team members to shine, and empowers those around her by encouraging creative thinking. She will never stop trying to make the world around her a better place.
Gohar Abelian
Abelian Law Firm - Attorney
Gohar Abelian, is a mom of three, attorney and law professor that brings a valuable experience to her firm, Abelian Law Firm, primarily focusing on personal injury. She has been able to expand her work on social justice, following one of her considerable passions; helping others in her community. Gohar is also a professor at a law school, teaching tort law and helping her students pass the bar exam. In her free time, Gohar teaches legal basics to non-lawyers at the LA Law Library, helping them navigate through the legal system. She proceeds to pass on her knowledge to prospective law students as well as future law students in hopes to empower and promote more diversity within the legal field.
Glain Roberts-McCabe
The Roundtable - Founder & President
Glain is an inspiration to everyone she works with. I am nominating Glain for the "Inspire Award", as she does just that. Not only does she inspire our team (all women), to live our company values: Dream Big and Make an Impact, but she touches and inspires everyone she works with. Developing the "Roundtable for Leaders Program", she has changed many lives of line leaders and executives over the last 13 years. Glain is a leader, business owner and entrepreneur. She’s also passionate, dynamic and resilient. She is always investing in her own learning and in keeping current with the latest trends in the leadership space. There is no question that she could be a consultant on her own and make far more money than she does, but her focus isn’t on money – it’s on continuing to build her amazing community of like-minded leaders, the Roundtable community.
Doris Rodgers
Takoma Park Police Department - Crossing Guard
Our crossing guard, Miss Doris Rodgers, has been a crossing guard for our police department for 50 years! She even crossed our current Chief when he was in elementary school! She never took sick leave and is the longest serving employee in the City. She is the kindest and sweetest woman - always smiling. She started her career on September 1, 1971 and she’s still on the job. Dedicating her life to the safety of children! She is humble and beautiful. She deserves recognition.
Our Chief, Antonio DeVaul, said of Miss Doris, "Miss Doris was my neighborhood crossing guard growing up in Takoma Park. I passed her post every day as I went to and from school. She always greeted me with a warm smile and created a sense of comfort for my friends and I. Fifty years later and she continues to have that same smile and impact on our children. Miss Doris is a true Takoma Park treasure.”
We recently celebrated with her at her crossing post with Fox 5 DC for their morning show. Our Mayor, Kate Stewart, proclaimed September 9 at Doris Rodgers Day in the City!
Tina sheridan
CREEQUEST - CEO
I want to nominate my sister because she has come from a hard life growing up, her story begins as she built a company and as a 60's scoop survivor and our mother went to residential school. She has built a company and faced diversirty and struggles and now is successful today.
Patty Callwood
True Serenity Tea - Owner
atty Callwood, is the founder of True Serenity Tea (a black-woman owned business), a decadent tea subscription box that had the honor of being a featured brand in The Oprah Magazine’s, “30 Best Gift Ideas for Tea Lovers”. True Serenity Tea has also been featured in Latinista magazines “Fall Must Haves” and “The Market” at Macy’s, included in the wedding party gift bags for the Cheryl Burke (Dancing With The Stars) and Matthew Lawrence wedding, featured sponsor at the Suzanne DeLaurentiis Pre Oscar Party, Black Enterprise FWD, Essence Fest, recurring featured sponsor on the Bold Life show hosted by Zayna Allen on Bold TV, recurring guest on the Sharvette Mitchell Radio Show and E-commerce Mastermind Podcast, just to name a few...
Who is Patty Callwood? She loves drinking tea of course (Earl Gray is her favorite), loves helping others, is a christian, a wife and a mother. Patty suffers from anxiety and in order to avoid taking prescription drugs she chooses to drink teas to help calm her along with meditation. She created True Serenity Tea to start a journey of drinking healthy and beneficial beverages and to share with the world that drinking tea is not just for the elite but for everyone. Patty believes that if you are truly experiencing tea, it should be fun, serene and rewarding at the same time. Hence the name “True Serenity Tea”. Serenity is the tranquil balance of heart and mind.
What is True Serenity Tea?
True Serenity Tea is a loose leaf tea subscription box that contains premium award winning loose leaf teas from around the world, tea blends and tea accessories shipped directly to your door every month. Everyone at TST takes pride in customer service and treats all of their subscribers as part of their family. They feel blessed and honored to be considered as one of the best tea subscription boxes since 2017.
https://trueserenitytea.com/
Vivian Rajic
REAL Biz Moms - Founder
Vivian is active in her community as a master connector and extremely passionate about making a difference in the lives of others, especially mothers. She is passionate about celebrating and advocating for mothers to prosper personally and professionally and committed to equality, fostering a network where diversity, innovation, recognition, mentorship is valued.
Vivian's mission is to build a community that supports moms in business in all seasons of their development.
Jennifer Tremain Dudgeon
CityGRL Haircare - Owner
I feel as if my wife has the largest heart and the most ambition of anyone I know. She fights through her pain of multiple sclerosis and does it daily with a smile. When you meet her you can’t help but fall in love with her passion of hair. It’s more amazing that she helps with your self confidence. Each person she touches has a better day because of her presence.
Jessica Janzen
The Love for Lewiston - Executive Director
Jessica is a force of pure joy. After the loss of her son to SMA, Jessica used her pain to propel her forward into the SMA community. She's the founder of the Love for Lewiston (raised$ 1.2m in 4years), the founder of the Lewiston Label, public speaker and life coach. Her infectious personality and positive spirit inspire her 43k Instagram followers daily. She brought newborn SMA screening with the Alberta children's hospital to Alberta. She is a true gem!
Sarah Mitchell
CVS Health - Director of Strategic Marketing
I first met Sarah nearly seven years ago when she was a rising leader at MassMutual. As I came to know her, I realized what a trailblazer she was in the financial services industry. She earned the distinction of being the youngest-ever chief of staff at Prudential Retirement and provided written testimony to Congress advocating for equal access to retirement plans in the workplace. During her tenure at MassMutual, Sarah has been a tireless advocate for women. She leads a team of mainly females and has consistently empowered us to bring our best selves to work. When the COVID-19 pandemic wreaked havoc on the way we live and do business, Sarah was on the front lines checking in with everyone to make sure we had what we needed to do our jobs but also take care of ourselves mentally and physically. Sarah is also the mother of a 7 year old girl and took on the responsibility of homeschooling for over a year. In spite of being an "always on" business leader, she is also a phenomenal mother and encourages all of her team to put family first. She never misses a school event or extracurricular activity, and has shown us all that it's possible - and even encouraged - to be a supermom while also excelling professionally. She is showing her young daughter as well as her female direct reports what a rock star female leader looks like. I feel beyond fortunate to have been able to learn from her and my own career has progressed as a result of her leadership and mentorship. Five months ago, Sarah transitioned to the healthcare industry and is already having her mark there. Despite moving on, she still regularly checks in with her former team and provides guidance and coaching. Her manta is "once a team, always a team" and she proves that every day. The world is a better place with leaders like Sarah in it!
KellieJoe Darnley
Barrie Manor - General Manager
KellieJoe has worked tirelessly to create a warm, caring and affordable senior care home in Barrie, Ontario. She has transformed the once tired and lifeless home into a thriving community for seniors and provides an educational environment for students in Georgian college taking psw, RPN, hospitality and recreation programs. By providing this unique home, she has ensured that seniors have a safe place to live until they are called to long term care.
Dr.Brendell Thomas Francis
Tamar Community Outreach - Dr.Brendell Thomas Francis
1.)Author of Snippet’s
2.)CEO and Founder of Tamar Community Outreach /and Daughters of Tamar (enhancing the lives of women and bridging the gaps between them.
3.) Awarded 2021 Rockville Centre Community Service Award NY(there’s a press release)
4.) Achi Magazine:nominee
5.)Women Who Rock:nominee
6.) Board Member :Living Water for Women (disenfranchised and newly released women from prison)
Linda-Ann Elobuike
Fearless Strides - Founder
Linda is a wife, mom and all-around superstar. She inspires women around her to be the best version of themselves. This passion has led to her creating an online community at http://www.fearlessstides.com, where she empowers immigrant women like herself to change career paths. Pivoting careers and excelling at them is something Linda knows all too well, having immigrated to Canada just three years ago and currently on a new career path. Linda also serves as a mentor to women in her community. She also mentors her peers on the Mount Royal University(MRU) campus through the MAPS mentorship program at MRU. Linda demonstrates resilience in all she does and strives to be a role model not just for her daughter, for women all around to achieve the best version of themselves. Linda exemplifies extraordinary dedication to her goals, and she has her achievements to show for it. Excelling at school, work, and in her community, she is always looking for new ways to empower women.
Katarina Grabic
Glowbeautysips - Owner
She spends all her time trying to help other women and is an inspiration
Lorenza Saavedra
Shamuon Generation of Martial Arts - Instructor / Co-owner
Lorenza is a strong female Martial Artist who has been an inspiration to 100s of students since her beginnings in Martial Arts. When she started Martial Arts at the age of 4 she took the competition world by STORM. She was and continues to break barriers in the Martial Arts world, being one of the first female competitors in a line up of men. She inspires many, daily. Her heart and consideration of the next generation of Martial Artists is seen every day and not one day goes by where she doesn’t put her heart into her community. I’m honored to know her and be trained by her, I, along with the remainder of her students has the privilege of learning from her experiences.
Karine Pilotte
Karine Pilotte - Vice-Principal
Passionate about learning, Karine is a vice-principal in a Francophone school division in Winnipeg. For her, leadership is action, not position! She co-founded CLE- a Community of education leaders-. Karine also co-created a podcast about School Leadership in February 2020 during the pandemic which has now followers from around the world! Lastly she also cowrote a book in August 2021 on developing competencies as school leader called « Leaders d’aujourd’hui pour l’école de demain ». She cherishes the occasions to step out of her comfort zone and face bold challenges to enable student growth and continued success.
Karen Mowad
Town of Wolcott, CT - Town Clerk
Karen perfectly balances work, community and family. She is a mom of 5 (1 birth, 3 adopted, 1 foster). She was Connecticuts Mother of the year in 2019.
She is a Town Clerk and Justice of the Peace. She is a town volunteer and involved in many local and national organizations. She has been recognized for her community service efforts and involvement with the school system. She is a 10 year cancer survivor and her spirit is contagious.
Chau Lui
Paris Jewellers - Co-owner
When Chau (and her sister Trang) immigrated from Vietnam they couldn’t speak English and now together they run a very successful jewelry business with 23 stores across 4 Canadian provinces.
In Chau's current role as Director of Operations, she led the company’s growth and expansion from 10 to 23 stores and employees from 80 to over 200. She has implemented new branding and extensive training nationwide in the areas of Management/Leadership training, Sales training, Product Knowledge training, Financing training, and other specific branded product categories.
Chau is passionate about the latest trends in the jewelry industry with an emphasis on supporting women and shares the message of equality no matter what the position or role. Chau is an innovative leader, entrepreneur and mother championing for women
Nitin Gaur
IBM - Director, IBM Financial Sciences and Digital Assets
Nitin is a born leader as well as an expert driving next generation changes through NFTs. In between his immensely impactful work at IBM, Nitin makes sure to engage with the community. Nitin has been a strong mentor and supporter for me, personally, and continues to provide the much-needed direction whenever I face roadblock hills. Thank you Nitin! Looking forward to celebrating you as a SupportHER winner.
Madalyn Nguyen
Poway High School Society of Women Engineers Club - Founder
Madalyn Nguyen, a senior at Poway High School (PHS) Engineering Academy, is an aspiring engineer/computer scientist that is driven by the impact equity in STEM education can have from the standpoint of race/ethnicity and gender. As a change-maker and trailblazer for STEM diversity, she found her passion at 10 years old and has been on a journey since then to make a difference. She founded and led the Society of Women Engineers and National Center for Women and Information Technology clubs at her school in 2018 to create a community that encourages and supports girls, especially minorities, to pursue STEM careers. In 2019, she traveled to Paraguay to advance STEM/Robotics education and women in engineering by organizing a robotics competition and meeting with the Chancellor and Dean of Engineering at the Nacional Universidad de Asunción. Additionally, she advocated for STEM education in all California schools at the state’s capitol in Sacramento, California to Senator Brian Jones and Assemblymember Brian Maienschein.
Madalyn has earned numerous accolades and honors over the years for her perseverance, dedication, compassion, and tireless efforts to promote STEM locally and globally. She is a FIRST Dean’s List Award winner (2020), the most prestigious FIRST Robotics individual award for excellence in academics, leadership and advancement of STEM, and the 2021 SWE Global Innovator Award for exemplifying intellectual curiosity and leadership in the STEM Community from the Society of Women Engineers. A four-time President’s Volunteer Service Gold Award recipient, she has devoted over 200+ hours of volunteer work to promote STEM to the underrepresented and underserved since 2016. She is also a Girl Scout Gold Award recipient where her project entitled “Championing for STEM Diversity to Bridge the STEM Gender Gap” focused on gender parity.
Madalyn is truly an exceptional young leader who clearly has a passion to be a change agent for diversity and inclusion in STEM careers.
Kristen Hutton
Kreative Kustoms - Owner
Kristen has been through a lot and shown incredible strength and determination to be successful not only for herself, but her family. She is selfless, caring and deserving of all the recognition of her hard work.
Avery Raquel
Avery Raquel - Singer /. Musician
From recording artist to radio co-host, 20-year-old Canadian singer/songwriter, and Billboard charting artist Avery Raquel has been entertaining audiences professionally for over 10 years. From television - working with Spielberg and DreamWorks, to an animation series for Disney, voice-over work, commercials, and radio, as well as several professional stage productions across Canada. Her passion for performance and the stage grew along the way as did her talent as a vocalist, which has led to an impressive list of career accolades on her musical resume. Whether singing, playing piano, guitar or even her Ukulele, Avery is having the time of her life, doing what she always hoped to do, putting smiles on people’s faces through the language of music.
Jacqueline Best
Predominant Studios Inc - CEO & Founder
Jacqueline Best continues to be an insirpiration to many women in BC, Canada, in across North America. Single mother of 5 who is building a successful record label and film studio that is gaining international attention, attracting some award winning artists and producers. She is professional and hardworking and is maintaining her brand image, and excells at everything she goes for. . Her past hardships throughout life have definitley given her abilities to shine in such a competitive industry, along with her beauty and grace that she carries.
Andrea Ramolo
Andrea Ramolo - Recording artist/songwriter/educator
This person is an inspiring role model and social advocate who uses her music and songwriting and career in the arts to empower others, connect with people, ensure that others do not feel alone, and pushes to create a more equitable and heart-centred world. Her recent album released this month which is her 7th record showcases her strength in collaborating with other women like Canadian artists Madison Violet and Indigenous hip hop artist Kinnie Starr. She even co-directed the powerful and truthful official music video for Free (featuring Kinnie Starr) and starring 9 year old hoop dancer Emilee Ann Pitawanakwat. Andrea asked Emilee to co-direct the video alongside her and Kinnie. She wanted to ensure that young Emilee felt empowered and that her voice as a young and talented Indigenous woman has the space and opportunity to be heard and to create an outlet for other young people to be able to see themselves represented in the arts here in Canada. Andrea also wrote a song during the pandemic in her second language of Italian and at the early onset of COVID, used the sales of the song entitled Una Letter to raise money for the Italian Covid Relief Fund via the Canadian Red Cross. Andrea is also a part time educator and celebrates and encourages young people in the arts on a daily basis.
Carmela Zita KAPELERIS
KAPELERIS Real Estate Group, Remax - R.E. Broker, Author, Founder CEO Ultimate Networking Group, TV Media Producer/Host
Carmela has a refreshing empowering approach to Professional Investment and Financial Strategy. A Media Producer/Host, International Speaker, Author of "The Literacy Connection and Empowering Women to Succeed, Workshop Facilitator, Creator of an Innovative Format for Business Development and Networking Consulting Events. Carmela focuses on integrating professional, personal and spiritual growth and successfully assists entrepreneurs, business owners with her programs. Her areas of expertise include Perspective Business Transformation from High skilled Communication Techniques in combination with her Entrepreneurial Spirit. This has 3 dimensions-psychological (changes in understanding of the self), convictional (revision of belief systems), and behavioral (changes in lifestyle). Recipient of many Awards including the Hall of Fame, Life Time Achievement, Corporate Social Responsibility Award, BMW Business Award MREB Ronald E. Sanderson Award. Featured in Success Profile and Distinctive Women Magazine, Avid Philanthropist for WV Sponsor a Child, Mental HealthAwareness, Literacy Association, Adopt a Senior & more
Nicole Sanderson
Friend
After knowing Nicole for about 2 weeks she recognized I had no teeth and she said you need to have teeth and just like that gave me her American Express Credit Card and told me to go get teeth, after a couple days of seeing several dentists found the best priced one for having permanent dentures for a total of $28,000.00. I told her about it 1st because still felt uncomfortable doing this and she said do it. I had the Surgery to start the implants in July of 2021 and have my new teeth by thanksgiving 2021.
In addition I have seen Nicole give homeless people on the street $20 here and $20 there to random people that looked like they needed it.
Which she has inspired me to give money when I see people that may be in need of random act of kindness and I will give whatever money I have on me at that time and give.
Another Random Act of kindness she has performed was she was staying at a hotel in Santa Barbara, CA. and noticed about 50 to 100 homeless people in the area so she gave several hundred dollars to someone working at the hotel and asked him to go buy enough breakfast sandwiches for all those people.
Katie Farritor
Rural Media Group - Executive News Director
At just 32 years old, Katie Farritor serves as Executive News Director of the national rural cable outlet RFD-TV. She is one of the most respected leaders in the company, spanning two cable channels and a satellite radio network with offices in Texas, Nebraska, and Tennessee. She is the multi-award-winning writer/producer of "FarmHer", an agricultural television series highlighting the success stories of women in the farming industry, an active leader of the "WICT" (Women in Cable Television) organization, and a weekly mentor for young ladies on the rise in the media industry. For years, I have witnessed other women within our company be celebrated for achieving far less, as she selflessly continues to excel above and beyond all expectation. She is the most revered employee in the company and has become an outstanding manager and leader. I feel she is long overdue for recognition for her hard work and talent.
Serena Chan
IBM Canada - Partner, IBM Consulting
Serena Chan is a Partner in IBM Consulting in Canada, focused on helping clients to accelerate digital reinvention, strategy and technology.
Serena has led portfolios of work who have designed new and differentiated legendary customer experiences, implemented award-winning solutions, and adopted AI technologies for customer experience and operational efficiency.
Serena holds 20 professional certifications. She is a 4 time IBM Redbook author.
She is also passionate about helping under privileged teenagers and performed pro bono consulting services in Mexico City. She is also the guild leader for Technical Women’s Guild at IBM.
Serena received 30 personal awards including IBM Delivery Excellence award 7 times and Best of IBM. She is the first Chinese woman become Partner in FSS in GBS IBM Canada. She received Professional Achievement Award from CPAC. She is named one of Canada’s Top 50 women in FinTech in 2019 and Top 25 RBC Immigrant Award.
Michelle Faber
LIttle Yogis - CEO
Michelle has built the most incredible, inspiring business which is geared towards building a positive upbringing for children. Michelle quickly built a community which offers yoga and mindfulness for children and has succeeded in creating a business that brings this value to schools and daycares across Canada and other countries. Michelle also now has 33k loyal Instagram followers who are engaged in her content after only launching the business at the beginning of Covid. Even with Covid, Michelle has managed to persevere through being shut out of schools and losing everything...only to come back stronger. Michelle is an inspiration to her community, followers, and customers. She is highly deserving of any award for a hardworking woman who makes a difference in society.
Ishita Singla
Madhuban Performing Arts - Founder & Artistic Director
I nominate Ishita because she is a woman of inspiration who is creating profound and lasting impact in her community and around the world. Founding and growing a non-profit that lets artists leverage their talents to support social causes and empower marginalized voices, leading her own competitive business while balancing her promising career where she’s outperforming herself at Canada’s leading broadcaster, and pouring herself into countless community causes, even if it costs her her health and expense, all while making sure her family and friends are taken care of, are just some of the things that come to mind when I think about this incredible woman. Ishita is a trailblazer, leading the way for others to not just find hope, but be inspired to take action. Already doing so much without recognition, just imagine how much more amplified Ishita’s impacts will be with the platform and reach of this award.
Julia Falci
Julia Falci Consulting - Founder
Julia Falci is a Business Coach and Marketing Consultant working primarily with women solopreneurs. Originally from Brazil and based in Vancouver since 2008, Julia has supported dozens of immigrant women to successfully launch and grow a business during the global pandemic. Julia has also supported single mothers to build a strong foundation for their business so that they can become financially independent.
Lakisha young
The Oakland Reach - CO Founder and CEO
Lakisha is a phenomenal woman with an extraordinary ability to devise a plan of action, identify the need clarify what resources are required to change a system that has failed so many children from the most underserved community in Oakland, California, standing up for quality education for all children even though a Pandemic she saw a need for financial relief, she was able to pivot and raise monies to give families in Oakland some financial support while waiting on the president's stimulus check. She truly is an inspiration to all she comes in contact with. Her humble spirit and witty humor allow her to impact families in the community of Oakland positively. Lakisha created an organization that is built on family values. A parent ran group gives parents a platform to speak their truths through their Innovative ideas. Her leadership is working to change the educational system that by design has failed so many children from the most underserved communities. She launched the Virtual Hub amid the COVID-19 pandemic, ensuring that kids from the most underserved communities' educational needs were met, securing computers, wifi, families were fed, and bill payment assistance was provided.
Nominee Meghan Marsh – Universal Womens Network™ – Women of Inspiration™ recognizes the achievements of women. Nominate a woman 365 days!
compass datacenters - Chief Innovation Officer
Nancy Novak, Compass’ Chief Innovation Officer is a tireless advocate for opening the doors of opportunity within the worlds’ of construction and high technology by creating awareness and promoting opportunities for highly talented young women who may not have even previously considered a career in a STEM related field as well as women already working in these industries.
In 2021 Nancy spoke over 35 times to a broad spectrum of organizations devoted to advancing both diversity and women in STEM including: STEM Connectors, the National Institute of Building Sciences (where she was this year’s keynote speaker), Million Mentor Women and Fortune Magazine’s Most Powerful Women mentorship program. She is also the host of the Breaking Glass podcast where she interviews successful women in the technology industry to provide real-life examples how to deal with workplace issues for young women beginning their careers.
Abbie McAdams
Red Equity - Executive Director
Abbie is an influential changemaker; when she sees an issue facing her community she doesn't stop until she has made an impact combatting it. From her mental health and international education advocacy and leadership in high school that awarded a full-ride BA&MA Boettcher Scholarship, to representing 1000+ university students 2 consecutive years in the University of Denver Student Government, to developing mental health and SexEd curriculum, to working as an intern in US Senate, to utilizing her 3 language proficiencies to engage a wider audience, to work in period poverty; she is constantly improving the world around her. After co-founding Red Equity, within a year she has helped advocate for the passage of AB224 state law in NV, developed 5 branches of a national nonprofit, created a colorado menstrual equity coalition to streamline advocacy and combat the nonprofit industrial complex, and tirelessly committed herself to end period poverty nationwide.
Anita Kumari
HappinessFactors - Founder & Chief Strategist
Anita is an inspiration to so many of us for not just being an abuse survivor but also starting life again from ground zero. She used to be with someone who tried to kill her and manipulated her enough to keep the money. She had no confidence and was depressed. She not just picked herself up and recreated her new confident self, she also won several awards including Community Hero, Woman of Influence 2020, Outstanding Coach, Author and Poet. She is passionate about mental wellness and is the founder and Chief Strategist of HappinessFactors, the bridge between mental wellness and the holistic best of the East and West. In spite of her busy schedule, she makes time to help people and is highly regarded in the community. She is a hard worker, super smart and humble, a beacon of light for so many.
callie crowe
Drews 27 Chains - mom
In June 2020 Callie lost her son to fentynal where an under trained officer was too afraid to touch or administer narcan that may have saved his life. She has now dedicated her time to provide this needed training to any person or organization wanting to learn proper use and administration. In just over a year, added to the training, has compiled a stock of narcan to GIVE to any person or organization in need. She, along with her son's story, has saved countless lives.
Kayla Browne
BOLD Workshop Architecture & Sturgess Architecture - Principal Architect & Senior Associate
Kayla is a registered architect with over ten years of experience. She currently works as a Senior Associate for Sturgess Architecture and started her own company BOLD Workshop Architecture in 2018 where she holds the title of Principal Architect. Kayla is truly an inspiration to other women in her field of work. Having worked on numerous projects varying in scale and type, she has first-hand experience implementing and ensuring the conceptual goals of the project are maintained and woven throughout a project. Her team admires her way of effectively communicating design intent and how she can coordinate ideas with engineers and consultants while delivering high-quality solutions in a collaborative environment. In addition, she successfully works with clients at all levels and ensures the goals and brand values are accurately communicated. Kayla has been celebrated for her work across various publications such as Avenue Magazine, Western Living and Contemporary Office Interiors.
Lavanya Hariharan
Enbridge Gas inc - Supervisor /team lead
For over 15 years Lavanya has been involved in highly technical industries including automotive, rail signaling, security and currently Enbridge Gas Inc. More recently Lavanya has become an equally recognized and respected leader in field operations, driving collaboration across this complex area to best support those from the leadership level. Lavanya’s leadership, achievements and contributions to the community certainly placed her in the “Top 100” of Canada’s most powerful women and a leader who deserves recognition and was awarded as top 100 powerful women .
Lavanya combines leadership experience with volunteering and mentoring and is an icon for women in STEM & leadership across Canada – in particular her mentorship of 25 women graduate students, residents and fellows, and her ability to demonstrate versatility in various industries like automotive, railways, security and oil & gas sectors. Lavanya has been volunteering and teaching kids in person and virtually on various communities across the continents, making more than 100 mask lanyards for kids during COVID-19, leading the way in multiple contexts for many years with her collaboration, leadership, community commitment and mentorship.She is also part of various volunteering activities with Enbridge and external organization like united way .she is also big supporter of various students who knight are to Canada but coaching and mentoring to help achieve their dreams.
Maria-Kassandra Coronel
Coronel-Endaya Foundation - Founding CEO
Dr. Coronel is a resident of San Diego county, USA. She demonstrates leadership through her active participation in the following San Diego organizations: The San Diego Foundation, as a volunteer scholarship reader; the Filipino-American Lawyers of San Diego, as a community partner; the Council of Young Filipino Americans in Medicine's San Diego Branch; the World Economic Forumn's Global Shapers - San Diego branch, as a Global Shaper; the Galleria Medical Center, as a precepting physician; and USA Boxing San Diego, as a volunteer Ringside Physician.
Dr. Coronel is also the founding CEO of the Coronel-Endaya Foundation, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. Founded in the midst of a global pandemic, the Coronel-Endaya Foundation is dedicated to funding and delivering charitable services. It assists in the furthering of education, and lend a helping hand in promoting and providing financial support for indigent, under-served individuals. The foundation received its 501(c)3 status in October 2020, during National Filipino-American History Month. To date, the Foundation has bestowed scholarships to young students, provided printers and papers to schools, extended aid to indigenous people, helped feed more than 500 children, and have donated more than 2,500lbs of clothes, shoes, blankets, toys, and school supplies to those in need. Additionally it has helped pay for medical bills for individuals who are financially hard pressed and for those severely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. She is currently coordinating aid for the Philippines for those who have been impacted by the recent super typhoon rai (also known as Odette).
Dr. Coronel has also mentored young female physicians in their scholarly pursuits particularly in the field of clinical research, mobilized funds for the Filipino-American Lawyers of San Diego's scholarship program (the scholarship recipient was a female), and increased female representation in USA Boxing - San Diego's ringside physicians.
She has been bestowed with the President's Volunteer Service Award (2021) from US President Joseph R. Biden, Jr.; Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition from US Congressman Scott Peters (San Diego); Letter of Senatorial Commendation from US Senator Diane Feinstein; San Diego Metro's 2021 40 under 40; San Diego Magazine's Non-Profit Visionary Award Finalist Award; and the 2021 Pinays Rising Scholar-Activist Award.
Marlee Liss
Marlee Liss - Coach, Speaker & Restorative Justice Advocate
Marlee is a queer, Jewish feminist passionate about restorative justice and ending sexual violence. She has dedicated so much of her life to this initiative. In 2019, her personal sexual assault case became the 1st in North America to conclude with restorative justice through the courts. This means she fought for her assailant to go to therapy and eventually they met in an 8-hour circle, rather than proceeding to criminal trial. She has shared her story with Forbes, Huff Post, Mel Robbins Show, CTV News and more. As a trained somatic educator, she has supported women all over the world in healing trauma and shame through her coaching programs. She sat on an elite panel for the National Action Plan to End Gender Based Violence and has presented for US Military SAPRO, Fordham School of Law, and University of Toronto. She continues to dedicate her life to this cause in the hopes that sexual assault survivors have access to justice pathways that prioritize and centre healing.
Nikki Jill Mesamore
Mother / Nurse
This woman deserves the world. She dedicated her life and put her dreams on the back burner for her children and their futures. She spent countless days and nights taking her son Jaden to sporting events ... Baseball, Football and Basketball and encouraged him and played a huge part in molding a now Pro Baseball Player Mr. Jaden Hill who signed with the Colorado Rockies last year. Nikki Jill Mesamore is a single mother to not only one but two successful athletes ...Her son Jaden and her daughter Aleya Hill who plays softball for Louisiana Tech.
Katie Bushie
Life Spark Holistic Coaching & Wellness - Trauma Informed Yoga Instructor/ PsychoPractitioner
A previous nominee from 2021, Katie continues to inspire our first responder communities of Ontario and now internationally around holistic wellness (yoga, mindfulness) and through her private practice as a PsychoPractitioner.
She will be joining a teaching facility teaching Trauma Informed Yoga to educators & recently accepted a front line position with the Canadian Red Cross bringing trauma informed lens to the Response & Recovery Team
Angela Rafuse
My Grandfather's Cat - Founder
In May 2020, Angela Rafuse created a nonprofit organization called My Grandfather's Cat, which helps seniors and terminally ill people arrange homes for their pets before they pass away. In the first six months, they completed 25 adoptions across Canada. She works tirelessly to run this national nonprofit in her spare time, while working a full-time job, and does not take a salary.
Omenesa Akomolafe
Pearls & Pauls International - SINGER/CNA/AUTHOR/ENTREPRENR/PASTOR/REIGNING QUEEN/SPEAKER/PHD STUDENT
Omenesa is a woman who has faced so many advertises(From Miscarriages, failed IVFs, Abuse, etc), and has used them to travel the world to speak and sing and build her business and her Emotional Healing University. She also has a mentoring program and owns a company with over 10 departments. She IA the founder of P2 International. An organization that hosts emotional healing support groups world wide. Her vulnerability on social media and on the pulpit is uncanny. She has released 4 music albums and has written over 7 books. OMENESA is a Survivor of a Spinal Disease (Scoliosis), miscarriage, Depression, Physical, Mental and Spiritual Abuse. In November 2017, Omenesa nursed her mother for 6 weeks, before Rev Mrs Joy Oruma went to be with the Lord. 2018 became a year to process Omenesa's healing. She is a Pageant Queen, Author, Model & owns a TV show that reaches miillions worldwide.
Lori Nikkel
Second Harvest - CEO
Lori Nikkel is a visionary champion of social and environmental justice issues related to food.
She is an international thought leader on Perishable Food Recovery with a strategic focus on increasing awareness of the negative impacts food loss and waste has on our climate.
Lori’s guidance has changed the way Canada understands food loss and waste and food security. As the co-author of The Avoidable Crisis of Food Waste, she worked on world first evidence-based research that identified where, why, and how much food is lost and wasted across the supply chain. She is also the co-author of Canada’s Invisible Food Network a report that identifies the often overlooked 61,000 charities and non-profits that are serving food to their communities.
As CEO of Second Harvest Lori scaled a local charity into a national food recovery network that redistributed over 41 million of lbs. (over $120 m9illion dollars) of healthy surplus food last year to thousands of communities supporting 4.2 million of Canadians struggling with food access. She has transformed the movement of food through a complex national logistics framework and through innovation and technology, creating the Food Rescue platform and app to connect local businesses with surplus food directly to local non-profits.
A favored media contributor, Lori is sought after for her commentary and recommendations. She was globally recognized by the United Nations as Canada’s Food Hero in 2020. Is a Clean 50 recipient, one of Canada’s 2021 Women of Influence and one of Canada's most admired CEO's in 2021. Lori is also a is a member of Canada’s Food Policy Advisory Council and the Standards Council of Canada and International Standards Organization.
Sunandini Verma
Amrev Media - CEO
Creating an impact in technology, blockchain and development. Sunandini is a leader with complete limitless thinking. She is driven to impact people and technology through her innovative thinking and implementation.
Pirakasini Chandrasegar
Tamil Women in Academia (TWA) - President, Founder and CEO
Pirakasini Chandrasegar, also known as Kashi, is an advocate, published author, and the Founder, President and CEO of Tamil Women in Academia (TWA), an international non-profit organization that was designed to provide Tamil women with resources and opportunities to excel within the academic realm. An organization that is rooted on her grandmother's legacy, Kashi discusses her family's experience with war and genocide, touching on her grandfather' murder, intergenerational trauma, father's experiences and displacement. Kashi is also the Vice President External at the Scarborough Campus Students' Union (SCSU U of T), a student ambassador and mentor at U of T, the Executive Marketing Director at Prelaw Shadowers, and a full-time university student in her 3rd year at the University of Toronto doing a double major in Political Science and English with a minor in Public Law. Kashi has received a number of recognitions for her advocacy, including being named a 30 under 30 recipient and women of the month. Kashi is quite involved as she takes on a variety of leadership roles within Canada and her local community.
crystal mccullough
The Spearhead Group - Chief Financial Officer
Crystal McCullough is a trailblazer- as a role model for young professionals. Her passion for
leadership, commitment to the professional development of others and focus on providing high-quality client service
make her a Woman to Watch. She has years of experience in the law and as a business executive. She has razor sharp mind when it comes to analyzing contracts and making the best decision for the company overall. She is particularly skilled in business contracts, mergers and acquisitions, bankruptcy regulations, and international contracts. She has been able to dramatically increase company revenue by focusing contribution to short-term financial performance and promoting company behaviors that lead to sustained top- and bottom-line growth. By focusing on optimizing fiscal health and transforming business decision-making through data insights and automated reporting, Crystal has achieved great success in her current role at The Spearhead Group. Crystal has a proven track record of raising profitability, uncovering high impact issues, and rolling out new technologies. She has been able to save millions with her process to cut subrogation vendor costs, enable accurate forecasting, and anticipate claims likely to result in litigation, leading to faster settlement, lower reserves, and reduced costs. An internationally savvy traveler and businesswoman, Crystal has spent extensive time working overseas on real estate and merger and acquisition contracts between different countries such as Italy and France. In addition, Crystal also co-owns a technology firm AfeworkMcCullough the specializes in modernizing the employment based-immigration process for people in need of visa services.
Marigold Mioc Ahonen
Marigold's Heart Garden - Social Enterprise owner and operator
Marigold is 12 years old and is a Youth Ambassador for United Way Calgary, Gems for Gems, Apar Initiative and 1Girl. She is a 2019 Diana Award recipient and 2021 Alberta Council for Global Cooperation 30 under 30 award winner. She has had a social enterprise called "Marigold's Heart Garden" since 2015 and has donated around $10,000 to help others. She regularly volunteers with Love with Humanity Association, helping with their outdoor food banks and the delivery of food hampers. In 2020, she created a video about the United Nations Convention on the rights of the Child to bring awareness to children's rights through her fellowship with HundrED, an international group which focuses on innovations in education. She is an international speaker, having spoken in Africa, Europe and North America. She is a pageant titleholder, an actor and a model, having walked in fashion weeks around the globe.
Ampai Thammachack
Step Above Stigma; The Glass Slipper Organization - Founder ; and Co-Founder and Co-President
Ampai is the Founder of Step Above Stigma (SAS): a nation-wide team breaking the stigma around mental health. She is also the Co-Founder and Co-President of the Glass Slipper Organization (GSO) that has donated over 1,000 prom dresses to students in financial need to ensure every student is celebrated despite socioeconomic status.
With SAS Ampai has hosted 204 events and 310 campaigns, forged partnerships with over 50 organizations, raised over $100,000 through her trademarked brand, led over 724 volunteers, will have built 5 chapters by the end of 2022, and has directly impacted over 120,645 individuals.
Ampai is not only a powerful changemaker – she is a voice of change who is working to systemically improve the Canadian mental health care system to ensure every student can access the help they need regardless of socioeconomic status or demographic.
Celeste Escalera
XperyenceZ LLC - Owner
Celeste has been through a lot in her life, more than most, but she still strives to help other women to achieve their goals of what she calls “leveling up”… She has repeatedly trained other women to learn accounting so they can get into doing number and increase their earning power. She is creating a TV show right now that she wants an ALL FEMALE camera crew since that is a hard industry for women to break into. This TV show will be showcasing regular Womens achievements in Leveling Up and acknowledge their successes. She says women don’t get enough recognition for what some think are simple achievements when in essence this isn’t a one size fits all society
Tanya Mushynski
Enbridge Inc - Vice President Customer Care
Tanya runs our customer care department at Enbridge ,she makes sure every customer need is met dedicating all her time and resource with out any hesitation .Her various strategies to make the billing,payment information more accessible to customers easily during pandemic made big changes .She is women who is a strong believer of diversity and takes it to various levels and lives the value .She recently even received top100 powerful women but deserves more everyday with her as her leadership supports many women in organization and leads by example with mentoring and promoting diverse work culture .
Veena Ramaswamy
Beyoutifully Empower - Founder
Veena is an excellent example of a woman of true inspiration as she has gotten tremendous recognition from her peers as a woman of influence, courage, authenticity, determination, and strength. She is very talented and is an award-winning tech leader, global keynote speaker, author, entrepreneur, and much more. She has received recognition as "great" or "superstar" by influential women leaders globally for her ability to break the glass ceiling and become a trailblazer for the next generation of girls. She has exhibited amazing leadership skills for women in tech professionally as well as in personal life for serving as a great role model and mentor. Through her consulting business, she aspires to women and men to overcome limiting beliefs, embrace their inner power, and reach their full potential so that they can achieve their dreams.
AnnMarie Louie
Louie Cosmetics & fashion ur style - Owner
Works corporately at Auctane as an ecommerce senior field sales executive. Own two ecommerce websites http://www.fashionurstyle.com & lipstick brand http://www.louiecosmetics.com
Spokeswoman & volunteer for the Northwest Kidney Center. Work & volunteer for the Make a Wish foundation, Seattle Children’s hospital and many other non-profit organizations in the Medical sector.
Seeing her mother go through Abuse and also experiencing it herself made her choose either up or down. She chose UP and only up. Surviving this part of her childhood Made her want to work with women in uplifting their confidence and not only that, understand their past.
She Has a daughter from China adopted at the age of 1 and is now 20 years old, whom is legally and partially deaf.
She suffered with multiple miscarriages but was blessed to have one biological son whom unfortunately was born with kidney failure.
NaytaliaXimena Dezbaa Clah
District Sales Leader, PepsiCo
Naytalia deserves to win the Black Woman of the Year award due to her constant and never-ending dedication to the advancement of women everywhere no matter their race or color. Naytalia has led the way in her own workplace for women’s rights and fair treatment. She truly knows what it means to be Seen, Heard, and Valued.
Erin Huitema
Alucia - Co-Founder and CEO
I am nominating Erin because she is pioneering innovative ways to help women feel empowered no matter their size, shape, skin-tone or physical ability. Her company is federally incorporated and her innovation is currently patent-pending.
Hailey Rodgers
The See Me Show - Author and Founder
Hailey wrote an incredible published book to inspire youth to become advocates and has founded the See Me Show which discusses challenging and under-discussed topics to educate and make everyone feel seen and heard.
Prisha Hedau
Student - Student
Prisha is a fun loving 11 yrs, 6th grader girl from Louisville, KY-USA. She is an AWARD winning, WORLD RECORD holder one of the YOUNGEST known AUTHORS in the WORLD, released her 1st book 'PANDEMIC 2020 – A 9 Year Old’s Perspective’ in Oct 2020. Prisha says, “In 100 years from now, people can read my book and remember what 2020 was like.” Prisha makes it very clear that she didn’t write the book to make money. She decided that the money from book sales will go back to help people in need.
Prisha has been recognized by Govt of USA – Mayor Proclamation & letter from White House to recognize her efforts. She is National Cover Girl 2021-22 for NAM (National American Miss) & awarded as 2021 USA young achiever by ILN. A recipient of Kids world record, Asia book of records, India world record, & several other awards and trophies for her work at this young age.
Aina Alive (Aliieva)
Bee Agile Tutoring - CEO
2022 Nominee
April Cook-Hawkins
April Cook-Hawkins - Life Coach/Confidence Coach
April Cook-Hawkins has been an inspiration to so many. She is the whistle blower for the Flint Water Crisis and sacrificed her job to stand with her community. She also is a community activist/advocate for the residents of Flint, Mi. She has such a big heart and will give the clothes off her back to help another person. Not only is she the first lady at Prince of Peace Church, she is a sister to many women in our community. She is so deserving and I don't know of another way to say thank you for your service Lady Cook-Hawkins. You Rock!
Maryyam Imran
Student of FFCA School Calgary - Student
At the age of 12 years, she is the member of 136 Badge Girl guide & earn a number of Badges in the different Community & academic activity. She loves to help other & have good helping hand. She is supportive, well-behaved & cultured member of her aged member community & draws a positive impact in & on her age follow community. Furthermore, she does the number of voluntary hours in FFCA Academy SE Calgary as helper / supporter for the distribution of Hot Lunch boxes to different ages follows. She does the number of Voluntary Hours in Alex Community (Kitchen for the poor/ needy society members) as helper in dining hall with her mother while serving the food for them.
She loves Cooking/ Baking & lunched her channel on YouTube as Maryyam & Amna Creation. Furthermore, she is always trying the best both in Academic & community services.
Marie Charbonneau
CMTA - Executive Director
Renee Charbonneau is passionate about our military history, our province and our region, tourism and how the two connect people to our land in specials ways. She is a self proclaimed rescue ranger, always at the ready to jump in and help out if needed. She is the founder of the Canadian Motorcycle Tourism Association and the visionary behind Veterans Memorial Gardens & Interpretive Centre Grande Prairie along with co producer of Rumble Alberta, an economic rebound event meant to help rural Aalberta.
Kiran Rai
Realtor - Real Estate Sales Representative
Kiran Rai is a Real Estate Sales Representative. She will help you buy, sell, and invest in property just like she has helped thousands of people in her career. Kiran likes to describe herself as having Indian roots and Canadian wings as she has truly developed and taken advantage of all the opportunities in the beautiful land of Canada which she is elated to call home! She has participated in a show called "Canada De Super Chef" with Vikram Vij, who is a previous Dragon Den Judge. By being an active member of Toast Masters, Kiran has learned the art of public speaking which helped her immensely. Kiran loves to encourage people to grow and become entrepreneurs. She will help you invest your hard-earned money for passive income, the best kind. Kiran has always had a passion for becoming an author and is actively in pursuit of publishing a book.
Ger Carriere
Wild Woman Personal & Professional Development - Founder and CEO
She is the creator and founder of Wild Woman. An Author, Speaker, Coach, Performer, Stylist, Photographer and on camera Movement Coach, her vision is to empower and inspire the world by sharing her passion, style and gifts through business. She was born with an entrepreneurial spirit that has provided her with any opportunities, although her wild roots are grounded in Cumberland House, Saskatchewan. Her life has been dedicated to helping women and others establish a creative process to find their authentic self and belonging through healing and self-discovery. Wild Woman believes strongly that each of us is here to have a human experience and learn our lessons. And that essentially, we are nothing and everything all at once. To truly feel and to get a glimpse of the concept and birth of Wild Woman see her global short story recently published in the First Lady Nation: Stories told by Aboriginal Women, Volume IV. Professional Women’s Network. She will be taking Wild Woman to the next level when she releases her full book Wild Woman: Master the Art of Pride, Presence and Productivity in the fall of 2018. In addition, she is founder & CEO of Wild Woman Personal and Professional Development. Wild Woman’s vision is to empower and creating showcasing opportunities for Aboriginal Artists.
Brenda Okorogba
Momentswithbren Consulting - Founder & Strategy Execution Consultant
Brenda is a Learning Experience (LX) Designer, Soft Skills Trainer, Grant Writer and a Laser Coach. She is the Founder of Momentswithbren Consulting, a fast-growing global consulting, career intelligence and business advisory company that offers numerous resources, corporate training, personal development and purposeful well-being coaching services. Brenda prides herself on maximizing outcomes and taking initiatives from good to great. As a leader, she believes in mentoring and empowering others to take initiative in creating their own success. Brenda is passionate about improving quality of life by promoting access to inclusive education and job opportunities which can equip people with the tools required to develop innovative solutions to the world’s greatest problems. Brenda has prepared and helped students around the world secure $80.4 million dollars scholarship & tuition fee waivers.
Tamara Rebick
Coriphery Holistic Consulting Solutions - Founder and Chief Experience Officer
I first worked with Tamara in 2016, and learned so much from the way she builds relationships, and respectfully disrupts the status quo to change the field for the better. As a young woman in the workplace, I felt Tamara really made an effort to mentor and support me. She elevated my voice and always treated me like an equal while she modelled professional excellence and led by example. She has built a respected reputation for herself as a collaborative and imaginative thinker, role model, mentor, and business owner and is admired by her superiors, peers and community. Tamara is known as someone who values others input and will take their perspectives to innovate and iterate empowering solutions. Always full of bold ideas, and with the spirit of an entrepreneur, Tamara started her own consultancy firm where she is collaborating with
Sarah Sajedi
ERA Environmental Management Solutions - CEO / R&D Director
Sarah Sajedi is an award-winning environmental expert and co-founder of ERA Environmental Management Solutions, a leading provider of EHSQ Management Software for the manufacturing industry, including automotive, aerospace, chemicals, paints & coatings, general manufacturing, and more. Sarah's expertise has made her an indispensable value in the male-dominated field. Sarah is an amazing force for empowering women in the environmental industry. She is a driving force for change, and inspiration to both family, friends, peers and acquaintances. Her hard work and determination is matched only by her passion and ingenuity.
Shannon Tymosko
Lady.Voltz - KickAss Careers - IBEW Electrical Apprentice and Skilled trades Advocate
Shannon is highly motivated, authentic, and sets a great example for women interested in being a part of the skilled trades, and she is an Ambassador for KickAss Careers an organization aimed at educating youth about the skilled trades. As an ambassador, she promotes and educates people about the benefits of the trades as an option for a career path. Utilizing social media, video, podcasts and written articles she speaks about the benefits and sometimes the challenges women face in a predominantly male industry. Shannon has created and facilitated several workshops to high school students to help educated, and encourage them, and has been guest speaker at several trades advocate events. As a young woman, actively working in a male dominated industry she provides an inspiring example for what is possible for young people especially young women.
Kayla Bruce
Green Okanagan - Founding Assistant Director
Kayla Bruce is a role model for both young professionals and women in the STEM and sustainability industries. She is a young woman that makes an impact daily in all of her endeavors. She is the cofounder of Green Okanagan, and volunteers on various committees for the betterment of our community. She is a global shaper with the Edmonton Hub and a project coordinator at Stamped Engineering Corporation. Her organizational skills and attention to detail make her phenomenal in each of her roles. She is a young woman of influence, and inspiration in her community and has the potential to expand her reach across Canada if not beyond Canada’s borders in the areas of sustainability and engineering.
Kayla breaks traditional barriers by being self motivated, dedicated and has a proven initiative in all of her endeavors.
Gioia Rau
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center - Dr.
In the course of her works, Dr. Rau has distinguished herself as a source of endless original ideas, energy, and innovation, by publishing in the most prestigious astrophysical journals worldwide, and leading several groups for mission concepts development. Moreover, she is serving the next generation of astronomers mentoring two interns, two PhD students, and one postdoc, leading by example with her discoveries and her research interests that are broad and always open to new ways to collaborate and innovate.
She has come a long way from the outskirts of Rome, where she graduated Magna cum Laude from La Sapienza University, to her award-winning PhD with Honors in Astrophysics from the University of Vienna (Austria), visiting position at ESO/Garching (Germany), and finally to NASA Goddard Space Flight Center where she is currently working as Astrophysicist, building from nothing only with her hard work, study, perseverance, and huge passion for science!
Jennifer Charron
Logic Executive Search and Workplace Solutions Inc. - President/Owner
Jennifer launched her business, Logic Executive Search and Workplace Solutions in September 2020, in the midst of the pandemic. There was a need in the local community for a firm that focused on professional/executive recruitment and she didn't want her community to have to handle the complexities of recruitment during this time alone. Since launching her business, Jennifer has been able to successfully place candidates throughout Canada and the US - some of which had lost their jobs due to the pandemic. Jennifer has also grown her team to 4 employees in just 9 months. She has also grown her services beyond recruitment to include HR services based on the need she saw in the community. Jennifer is a Rotarian, President of JNF Windsor, Young Professional Award Recipient from the Chamber of Commerce, and mother of two young boys.
Nupur Khandelwal
LCBO - Manager, Learning & Talent Development
Nupur Khandelwal is a dynamic speaker, thought leader and an experienced Human Resources professional that consistently exceeds expectations. Nupur demonstrates exemplary leadership at the LCBO where she is the Manager of Learning and Talent Development and leads enterprise-wide learning as well as diversity and inclusion initiatives to enhance the employee experience.
Nupur is the co-founder of SheRocks!, a social enterprise committed to empowering women from different walks of life such as newcomers to Canada, youth and women from vulnerable communities. She actively volunteers as a mentor with the Toronto Region Immigrant Employment Council and as a Diversity Council representative with the Women’s Executive Network. As an elected parent council executive with the Toronto District School Board, Nupur has spearheaded numerous educational initiatives for parents and teachers.
Nupur holds the Certified Human Resources Leader designation and has completed her Master’s of Education degree with focus on Adult Education and Community Development.
Olivia Day
Ski Racer
Olivia is one incredible 14-year-old female. She is a member of the Banff Alpine Racers and was ranked 3rd in Slalom and 7th in Super-G for all females born 2007 across Canada in 2020. She was also awarded Most Improved U14 Club Athlete in 2020 and won The Ski Canada Magazine Award and Scholarship in 2021. Though skiing is her first passion, Olivia is also a competitive Martial Artist who is training & testing seriously in Karate, Muay Thai, and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu with 5 Elements Martial Arts and is rising up the ranks. She takes training seriously for all disciplines and still finds time to mentor younger students as a Senpai (assistant Karate coach).
In the winter Oliva is up at 5:30 am to train and when there is no snow, you will find her at the dojo 5 days a week. Her sports demand strength and resilience, 2 key qualities for whichever profession she decides on. Never losing sight of the need to keep studying hard, she applied for and was accepted into the National Sport School starting September 2021. With this support, Olivia believes she can achieve goals to be the best she can be in sport and her chosen profession. Though undecided she is considering pursuing either law, kinesiology, or engineering.
Eartha West
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation - Senior Manager
Eartha is an amazing leader who genuinely cares about her team members’ success, inspiring and empowering them to be their best.
Her exceptional leadership skills are well recognized at CMHC, where she quickly rose up the ranks and recently won the prestigious excellence award for being an extraordinary people leader (one of two handed out corporate-wide).
Eartha is leading change and is a driving force behind CMHC's aspiration to improve housing affordability for all Canadians.
Sophia Wajdie
Loblaw Companies Limited - Senior Analyst, Technology Adoption
Sophia Wajdie has magnetic energy to continuously raise the bar and drive with accountability, upmost humility while inspiring peers and future leaders. She stretches herself to achieve beyond expectations, influences and executes new ideas - taking empowerment to a new level! Sophia extends infectious energy by expanding reach into DEI initiatives, such as Women in Technology, and offers the gift of time to help others. She is passionate in engaging and developing future talent. Sophia has been featured as an emerging leader talent showcase, received numerous accolades and testaments displaying her excellence. Sophia has become a role model, seizes opportunities by building relationships and engagement while amplifying her own brand and one of the organization. Sophia not only shines in her professional self but is also equally committed to community service. If you know Sophia, you will want to stay connected and she will push you to new heights!
Nora Cassidy
SheRocks Media Director & Student
Nora Cassidy is a role model to youth and girls. Nora is an active volunteer with SheRocks!, a social enterprise dedicated to empowering women from different walks of life. Demonstrating her passion to support girls in her community, Nora took the initiative to coordinate a research-based focus group session to uncover learning needs of girls and challenges that inhibit their confidence levels. The session was attended by 14 students and provided valuable input in program development on building confidence. Furthermore, Nora spearheaded web design and development of SheRocks.ca which contributed to the successful launch of the organization in June 2021. Nora is also deeply involved in her high school. She has held leadership roles promoting healthy living, guiding sports activities and planning events and programs to help her larger community.
Bhanvi Sachdeva
Articulate Initiative - Founder/President
Bhanvi Sachdeva is a university student who has a deep interest in working with marginalized populations to contribute to building healthier, resilient, and more equitable communities worldwide. She is the founder of Articulate Initiative, which is a youth-led organization premised on providing a platform to youth from marginalized communities to raise awareness on issues that impact us, including gender inequality, climate change, homelessness & poverty, mental health issues, and more recently related to the Black Lives Matter Movement. She was successful in hosting a global conference that invited artists and youth advocates to speak up on their experiences as well as engage other youth in participating in global change. She is also a member of the Plan International Youth Council and has met with global leaders including G7 representatives to discuss policy recommendations relating to the priorities of health, economy, digital & technology, and climate change.
Monica Malta
Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH); University of Toronto; 500 Women Scientists - Scientist (CAMH); Professor (University of Toronto); Leadership Team (500 Women Scientists)
Born in Brazil, she overcame poverty and domestic violence to become a well known global health researcher. Trained at Johns Hopkins University, her interventions to decrease gender based violence were implemented in several low and middle income countries, reaching more than 10,000 persons so far, mostly female-identified persons.
In Brazil, her studies contributed to the Supreme Court decision to make homophobia and transphobia federal crimes similar to racism. Her findings about LGBTQ2S human rights violations in Latin America were presented in UN meetings and reports. During COVID-19 pandemic she developed interventions for women experiencing domestic violence. Since 2018 she relocated to Canada, where she already received the following awards: ‘Stars in Sexual and Reproductive Health’, by Grand Challenges Canada (2018); ‘Donald Wasylenki Award for Social Responsibility’ by the University of Toronto (2019) and ‘Gender Equality Award’ by the Canadian Partnership for Women and Children’s Health (2020).
Jaime Leverton
Hut 8 Mining Corp - Chief Executive Officer
Jaime Leverton has spent her career leading strategic transformations at some of Canada’s top technology companies. For two decades, she has championed a similar transformation for our national tech industry as an advocate for elevating both the position of women in STEM industries and of Canadian innovation globally.
Over the last 20 years, Jaime has demonstrated her ability to effectively lead and transform organizations at pivotal moments through roles at IBM, Bell, BlackBerry, National Bank of Canada, and Cogeco Peer 1, all culminating in her current role at Hut 8 Mining.
Today, as CEO of Hut 8 Mining, one of North America’s oldest and largest digital asset miners, Jaime is one of the youngest women leading a publicly-traded company in Canada within a tech segment marked by an acute lack of gender diversity and has kept her commitment to supporting other women at the forefront of her leadership approach.
Christine Dagenais
Bright Wire Leadership - Founder & CEO
Christine Dagenais is an authentic and powerful leader who is the definition of inspiration. The most inspiring and influential people challenge us to aim higher, to seek different perspectives and demand the best of ourselves. This is Christine. As the Founder and CEO of Bright Wire Leadership, Christine leads and inspires through example with integrity, courage, and an unwavering passion to develop others. Her tireless work ethic and commitment to excellence has attracted a team of dynamic experts equally committed to her vision and creating a new model for consultancy firms built on the strength of team, rather than individuals. Christine’s empowering leadership style has made her a frequent expert panelist and keynote speaker. Christine has been recognized as a Top 100 Most Powerful Women in Canada by the Women’s Executive Network in 2020 and was recently inducted into the University of Lethbridge’s Alumni Honor Society for her exemplary leadership and impact in the industry of Leadership Development. Her organization, Bright Wire Leadership, was recently recognized as a finalist by the Alberta Chamber of Commerce as a Business of Distinction. Christine is the author of The Intentional MBA, A Guide to Maximizing Your Decision, Experience, and Investment
Fatima Israel
EY - Head of Brand, Marketing & Communications, EY Canada
Fatima is a strategic, inspiring and visionary leader who is unapologetically herself. Her fearless personality translates into everything she does, from leading teams with authenticity and empathy to making the impossible, possible and delivering concrete business results. As Head of EY Canada’s Brand, Marketing and Communications team of 70+, a judge for the Canadian Marketing Association, mentor and entrepreneur, Fatima uniquely thrives in complex, grey environments, earning her a reputation of “builder, fixer and problem solver.” Leading by example with a people-focused approach, Fatima recognizes that none of us can succeed alone - and she’s built her teams and career around that principle. And yet, what sets Fatima apart is her true ability to build for what’s next, while elevating those around her through inclusivity, championing women and sending the elevator back down to create meaningful opportunities for others to grow and thrive.
Payal Puri
Loblaw Companies Limited - Senior Director, Technology Adoption
When you live and work together, you know how to conquer and divide to run a business as a team, despite the naysayers – ‘that you can't work with your spouse’. Although Brian and Chantal bring differing skills to their company, their belief in equality, humanity, integrity, and putting people first has proven successful. As Levvel landed on the 2020 Startup list as one of Canada’s top new growth companies.
Brian is a fierce SupportHer who’s strong conviction for equality in business and personally, stems from his love and respect for his single parent mother who tenaciously worked and went to university while raising 2 boys. Chantal was a trailblazer for women in tech owning a web development company 20 years ago. But after her business partner left the country with funds, Chantal found herself as a single parent in bankruptcy. Her resilience and perseverance served to propel her forward, and she continues inspire others through her compassionate leadership.
They strive to bring education, empowerment, and equality to Levvel’s Canadian teams by pursuing diversity in the leadership team, sourcing talent for clients, and equaling the playing field in tech with an all-women software QA testing business partnered in Rwanda Africa. With a mantra of “Business in Balance’ they truly are an inspirational team!
Cassy Weber
MindFuel - CEO
When Cassy Weber puts her mind to something, there’s no limit to what she can accomplish. Armed with over 20 years of experience working extensively in the tech start up space, developing key relationships with Fortune 500 companies and leading teams in the for-profit sector, she took the helm as MindFuel’s CEO in 2012 to help the nonprofit continue engaging youth in the world of STEM (science, tech, engineering and math). Under her charge, the organization is establishing a platform to connect Canadian youth with resources and support in pursuing their STEM interests while developing innovative and entrepreneurial mindsets. Cassy’s ability to effectively manage and inspire her team, collaborate with partners and stakeholders, and continuously exceed expectations are a testament to her driven nature. A wife and mother of two, Cassy has mastered the work life balance and brings her enthusiasm for education and innovation to everything she does.
Ariyike Akinbobola
Fragomen - Senior Business Immigration Analyst
Ariyike Akinbobola is an authentic and inspiring woman. She is a Published author and foreign trained Lawyer currently working as a Senior Business Immigration analyst at Fragomen. With over a decade of experience in the Media and Entertainment Industry abroad winning several awards as a Television host and Producer, Ariyike is the founder of Ariland Entertainment where she showcases the African culture, fashion, lifestyle and Immigrant experiences through storytelling and film.
Ariyike has a Certificate in Child Protection: Children’s Rights in Theory and Practice from Harvard X and she also coaches Immigrant families relocating abroad on expectations and how to navigate their new reality.
Through her Ariyike Arise Initiative she helps to fund the education of Children in disadvantaged communities in Nigeria. In 2020, they donated 1000 facemasks to People in disadvantaged communities. As an advocate for Female genital Mutilation abandonment in Nigeria, she was recognized as the UNFPA/UNICEF Frown Award - Female Genital Mutilation Abandonment Advocate of the year amongst other recognitions. Ariyike also volunteers as a Content Creator Partner for the United Nations Refugee Agency in Canada (UNHCR). She is married with Children. Her book – The Cost of our Lives is available on Amazon.
Sarah Jordan
Mastermind Toys - CEO
Sarah Jordan became CEO of Mastermind Toys, the country’s largest specialty kid’s toy and book retailer with 68 stores coast-to-coast, in January 2020. Within her first 100 days, she faced leading the organization on a transformation amidst a pandemic. She led with empathy and strength while executing a bold change agenda. In the last two years, she has delivered on a digital reinvention—launching a new digital ecosystem and a market-leading curbside promise—and has amplified Mastermind Toys as Canada’s Authority on Play.
Sarah is unapologetically authentic, breaking the mold for what it means to be a CEO. She creates space for others to be fully themselves, empowers employees at every level to perform at their best, and uses her position to be a champion for the industry. She is transforming Mastermind Toys, in terms of how she is growing the business and how she is inspiring a world-class employee experience and customer-obsessed culture.
Heather Lochnan
University of Ottawa - Physician and scientist
Dr. Heather Lochnan is a remarkable and inspiring physician, a clinical researcher and medical educator. She is the Head of the Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism at the Ottawa Hospital, a Professor of Medicine and the Assistant Dean of Continuing Professional Development in the Faculty of Medicine at University of Ottawa. Dr. Lochnan is the current President of the Canadian Society of Endocrinology and Metabolism (CSEM). Dr. Lochnan leads a research team focused primarily on the treatment and prevention of diabetes. Her clinical practice also includes management of diabetes, thyroid nodules and thyroid cancer and complex endocrine diseases. Her extraordinary dedication to innovation in medical education has been recognized by impressive grant support, publications and numerous international presentations. Dr. Lochnan is a past recipient of the CSEM Educator of Year Award, the Canadian Association of Medical Education Merit Award and the Faculty Educator Award for Leadership. She is passionate about mentoring and networking to help her colleagues and trainees, and especially creating opportunities for women in medicine. She is an outstanding leader and role model who makes a difference inside and outside of her workplace.
Michelle Anawati
Faculty of Medicine of the University of Ottawa - Clerkship Director francophone stream for the Undergraduate Medical Education program
Michelle Anawati started her mandate in May 2019. She immediately began to study and rethink the processes in place. When the pandemic occurred, Dr. Anawati had to react fast. The students were removed from clinical placements and we had to find a way to make sure they were able to reintegrate and graduate. She kept her positivism and professionalism, along the way, while trying to figure out what needed to be done. Dr. Anawati has a way to engage and motivate people. She is a great leader figure because she is directing her team but giving the leeway necessary in order for them to act. Dr. Anawati is a woman of inspiration because she reacted to the pandemic, she jumped on the occasion, she made changes, but made sure to do them well the first time and adjust along the way.
Paridhi Latawa
SparkED - Founder and Executive Director
Witnessing the resilience and unfed intellectual curiosity of underserved students during mentoring sessions at Title 1 schools, Paridhi founded SparkED to provide students with resources beyond basic in-school classroom learning. Paridhi’s unique efforts fill in for lack of information access by offering free omnidirectional support with the help of experienced professionals. Equitable resources help teens explore interdisciplinary career fields, sparking a passion for pursuing higher education.
As a high school junior, Paridhi has diligently fueled a passion for increasing educational equity amongst her peers. The SparkED staff looks up to her as a diligent, ambitious, and compassionate leader who serves as a great role model. Through SparkED, she has ensured that teens feel capable and welcome to express their opinions.
Ayra Modalo
Modalink Immigration Services - Immigration Consultant
Ayra Modalo is an independent entrepreneur with a humble beginning. She came to Canada with her family (husband and 1-year-old son) with no idea what their future may bring. Started as a sales representative in a retail store at West Edmonton Mall, works day and night to support the family. It has been a struggle at the beginning for them. Ayra Modalo worked 2 to 3 jobs tirelessly to reach their Canadian dream. whose only motivation is to become an inspiration to many, that someday somehow will be able to prove to everybody that nothing is far too impossible in living your dream as long as you are willing to adapt and are determined to succeed.
In 2016, Modalink Immigration Services Inc. was established.
Karen Ramchuk
Women in Need Society - CEO & President
Karen Ramchuk leads by example in her role as CEO & President of the Women in Need Society (WINS), working to uplift women in Calgary and guide them on their path to self-sufficiency. After a successful tenure in the for-profit industry leading the marketing strategy for a renowned Canadian retailer, Karen joined WINS in 2017 and helped lead the organization out of financial ruin in just two short years. Now, under her guidance, the organization has been able to expand its operations, delivering its essential services to the people who need it most. Her knowledge of successful business practices, driven demeanor and passion for making an impact make her an effective and inspiring leader. Thanks to her leadership, the organization was able to launch two new social enterprises during the pandemic, while simultaneously collaborating with partner organizations to step up and answer the additional calls for service.
Jennifer Green
Skills Ontario - Director of Competitions & Young Women's Initiatives
Jennifer is the Director of Competitions and Young Women’s Initiatives at Skills Ontario, an organization focusing on encouraging youth to explore and pursue careers in the skilled trades and technologies. Recently Jennifer also completed an Appointment with the Government of Ontario's Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development, as an Apprenticeship Youth Advisor. She has promoted the advancement of the skilled trades across the province for almost 20 years in various roles through volunteerism, speaking engagements, and programming.
Among her accolades, she has been presented with the WXN Top 100 Canada's Most Powerful Women Award and the Conestoga College Alumni of Distinction Award. Jennifer has also founded several initiatives, including the Skills Ontario Alumni Association as President, and the National Alumni Committee as Chair and the Ontario Lead.
Jennifer holds a Certificate of Qualification, a Certificate of Apprenticeship, and an Ontario College Certificate for Industrial Mechanic Millwright.
Green has been labelled as a fearless trailblazer and glass ceiling breaker for women in non-traditional careers, and continues to advocate and be a leader in the skilled trades community.
Chantal D’Aoust-Bernard
Montfort Hospital - President of Medical staff
Dr. D’Aoust-Bernard set up one of the first COVID clinics in the Ottawa region. The goal for this clinic, under the Montfort Hospital, was to make sure francophone had a place to go for testing. She organized the clinic during one of the peaks of the pandemic. Even if it was a stressful moment, she managed to set it up quickly, but also made sure that it was easily accessible, efficient and welcoming. She developed the clinic in order to include a great customer service up to the patient’s needs. The health professionals working on site are dynamic and demonstrate professionalism. The ambiance is definitely reflected in the care giving to the patients. Dr. D’Aoust-Bernard is a woman of inspiration because she took responsibility to establish a comforting place for patients to have answers to their numerous questions about the new virus that was affecting us, in their mother tongue.
Jeenu Riat
Stamped Engineering Corporation - CEO
Jeenu, from Edmonton, is a courageous leader and a risk-taker taking Stamped Engineering leaps and bounds as she was just named 2021's ten most empowering women in business. By Insights success online magazine and she is titled: Jeenu Riat: Leading by Becoming a Woman of Value. See: https://www.insightssuccess.com/jeenu-riat-leading-by-becoming-a-woman-of-value/
Jeenu founded Stamped Engineering Corporation in 2017 and is the CEO there. Soon after Jeenu incorporated Stamped Engineering, she was diagnosed with Stage 3 Breast Cancer. With an uncertain future ahead, she decided to streamline her efforts on staying positive and completing radiation, chemotherapy, and surgery all while getting Stamped Engineering off the ground. She is thankful to say both endeavors have been successful. Very inspiring!
Julie Shipley-Strickland
Julie Shipley-Strickland Wealth & Risk Management + Wellington-Altus Private Wealth Inc. + Bergh Tatomir & Associates - Senior Investment & Insurance Advisor
Often described as passionate, forthright and dynamic in her work, Julie builds strong relationships with her valued clients by understanding their goals, supporting their concerns and providing thoughtful and strategic solutions. As a Senior Investment Advisor and a Senior Insurance Advisor, she provides independent investment advice, financial planning, insurance solutions and clear guidance to entrepreneurs, executives and their families. As one of the few female investments and insurance advisors in Canada, Julie is paving the way for future females in finance with her strong leadership and dedication to women-led businesses in the community. Julie never let her femininity hold her back from being a trailblazer in a male-dominated industry. Very self-aware, she knew where she wanted her career to go. As a business owner that also operates a personal brand, Julie is a model for the women she works with and other women in similar industries.
Katie McKinnon
Welo - President
Imagine someone who is energetic and passionate; A great listener; Puts other people first; Goes above and beyond to be kind and ensure people feel loved and happy; Pushes the needle and strives for better and more everyday; Inspires others; Works from the crack of dawn until she falls asleep… that’s Katie McKinnon, President of Welo.
Katie is one of three founders who started Welo out of McMaster University. Their purpose is to offer Canadian families a delicious and healthy low sugar snack. Being in the natural foods industry comes with a high degree of competition - businesses need to constantly innovate and iterate in order to succeed. At the end of the day, the people with big hearts are the ones that keep our world turning. I am proud to recommend Katie McKinnon for the Women of Inspiration award.
Smita Pakhale
University of Ottawa - Physician and scientist
Dr. Pakhale is an outstanding clinician-scientist and a passionate advocate for health equity. Her altruistic contributions to research and extraordinary dedication to the medical care of Canadians, especially those in vulnerable situations, are inspiring. A respirologist by training, she founded and leads The Bridge Engagement Center (The Bridge), a community-based research centre working in partnership with vulnerable populations: individuals who self-identify as homeless or precariously housed, Indigenous and low-income racialized. Dedicated to co-creating innovative evidence-based sustainable solutions addressing the root causes of poor health through a humanitarian and compassionate approach, she is raising awareness of health disparities and supporting disadvantaged communities, leaving no one behind. She holds a Chair in Equity & Patient Engagement in Vulnerable Populations and developed a graduate course on health inequities. The Bridge models, co-created for, by and with the most vulnerable populations to improve their Quality of Life, are acclaimed globally.
Nima Lhamu McElhinney
Barrie Manor Enhanced Care Community and Emerald Retirement Residence - President and Owner
Nima's mission in life is to create equanimity and space for all people to have joy in their lives especially seniors and those who are less fortunate. Her spirit is boundless and filled with incredible compassion and a willingness to go the extra mile. she is a blessing to all who know her. Nima has a past filled with hardship and extraordinary beginnings from Nepal. She is a true warrior for women and a shining example of how to drive it forward. Nima has created businesses which are changing systems and she is the motivator!
Brian Milloy
Levvel Inc. - Co-founder, President & CEO
Brian is a SupportHER, who consciously strives to make a difference for women in business every day. His strong conviction for equality in business and personally stems from his lifelong love and respect for his single mother who tenaciously worked and went to university while raising her kids. As a co-founder of Levvel with his wife and partner Chantal Milloy, they strive to bring education, empowerment, and equality to Levvel’s Canadian teams by pursuing diversity in the leadership team, and sourcing talent for clients. With personal investment, and years of preparation, Levvel’s Software QA Testing line of business was developed and is co-sourced in Rwanda Africa. To date, nearly 100 women have been educated as certified QA testers at sister company Muraho Technology. Offering pay in the 90% for Rwandans, support for families, education, and employment the all-women teams will continue to level the playing field in tech.
Liane Fernandes
Ontario Health - Vice President
This woman is a powerhouse. She has paved the way for so many women before her in health systems work and she lives the values of diversity, equity and inclusion. She is innovative, she's always looking to put people first and is willing to put in the hours, not just to get the job done, but to get the job done right. She is truly a woman of inspiration.
Carmen Pelletier
Vulcan TV / Soda Channel - CEO
Carmen is a passionate, vibrant and adventurous woman. With a background in film and journalism, she has taken her extensive experience in media to both large and small communities across Canada. She has built an amazing career and currently is delivering unique and diverse programming through projects with Vulcan TV, Seeds to Grow Media, Alberta History Qiz Show, Bow Valley Productions, Soda Channel, PPN Network and the Government of Canada. What is so inspiring is that she always looks for a community or social connection to her projects. This is where the Soda Channel was created. Its a production company that focuses on hiring staff with special needs. Through this project they find meaningful work, learn new skills, find a supportive community and create new content that they are proud to share.
Jessica Van Der Hoek
Prairie Sky Equine Therapy - Founder & President
Jessica is one of the most inspiring women I know. She has been a paramedic with over 20 years experience, and has been not only an advocate for her patients, but for her coworkers always, and with more intention through this extremely challenging pandemic. She has been a strong voice for mental health issues, ptsd, trauma and individuals with special needs. To truly help our community, and showcase her talents, she started a phenomenal charity, Prairie Sky Equine Therapy over 10 years ago. Jessica and her charity have helped a tremendous amount of families, individuals and first responders through a equine therapy program that allows those facing these challenges to recover, find peace, build their support system, find counselling, and rebuild their lives.
Messia Ditshimba
MDS Consulting - Senior Immigration Consultant
I am nominating Messia Ditshimba because she is an inspiration for me and my other co-workers. She started her own immigration firm 7 years ago and has grown the company all by herself. She has helped so many newcomers achieve their Canadian dream/goals and still has time time to be a mother, business owner, and an outstanding legal representative. I never met anyone so hard-working and focused.
Eldeen Pozniak
Pozniak Safety Associates Inc - Owner/President
Eldeen is an international management consultant specializing in Occupational Health and Safety. She is from Saskatoon Saskatchewan and has worked on 5 of the 7 continents and in 28 different countries. She owns Pozniak Safety Associates Inc in Canada and Diggins Safety Consulting in the USA. She is passionate and committed to her profession and working to ensure Mom’s and Dad’s, partners, sons and daughters – people go home at the end of their day.
Zafina Zaman
Zafina is a grade 6 student at FFCA. - Student leader
Zafina is a fearless and confident youth leader involved in numerous charities and community building projects.
She is a champion for girls’ empowerment. She believes everything is possible when efforts are made with right intention and measurable footsteps.
Some of her efforts are mentioned below:
- Fundraising for building a Girls’ school in Africa.
- Financial support to three orphans to complete their undergrad degrees in Bangladesh.
- Global Youth Ambassador for HundrED. Advocate for passion-based learning, shared an impactful and scalable approach that are effective in low resource environment.
- Participant and guest speaker for ‘Closer to home’ non-profit organization to help young girls boost self confidence.
- Youth Facilitator for Youth Leadership Program at the Public Library
Notable mentions:
- Best speaker Toastmaster International.
- 1st and 2nd place in Optimist International oratorical contest from 2019-2021
Rose Marie Gage
Independent Board Member
Rose is an independent Board Director and Principal & Founder of Great Governance Matters and MPOWRU. She currently serves as Chair: Ontario Agri-Food Technologies; Vice-Chair: Agriculture Research Institute of Ontario; Independent Director (ID) and Chair, Sustainability & People, Link Energy, ID and Chair, ESG, HEXO Corp. and CO2-GRO. She has also served other corporate, not for profit or foundation boards.
Rose is the retired CEO of Ag Energy, a regulated energy retailer. Also was CMO: Schneider Electric Canada and GE Capital Canada – CDF. She led GE Canada’s Corporate Initiatives: Quality, Enterprise Sales, Diversity and other corporate imperatives (ie: P3s and Canadian Winter Olympics).
Rose is passionate about sustainability via positive change and engagement. She’s a champion for females and change and became Chair, UWN Advisory Board. She’s featured in UWN’s Women Who Drive Change book and is recognized by: Directors’ College Outstanding Achievement in Governance, Canadian Board Diversity Council’s Diversity 50, and Inspiring 50 Canada for inspiring women in STEM. She’s a Chartered Director and working towards the Competent Board Sustainability accreditation. She’s alumna of Directors’ College, Harvard, Rotman School of Business and McMaster University.
Lisa Patrick
Lisa Patrick - CEO and Founder
Lisa Patrick is a startup advisor, entrepreneur, award-winning podcast host, co-founder of Belongify, managing partner at Assessments24x7.ca, investor, speaker and co-author of Intelligent Curiosity. Highly sought after for her unique abilities in operations and expertise in marketing, Lisa is helping busy high-performing professionals gain clarity and access to the necessary resources to start, build, and scale their brands.
Leeling Yuen
ADP Canada Inc. - Director of Shared Services
Lee is a woman who I admire for her ability to maintain balance and calm. She leads with empathy and a solid understanding of the broader business goals. She leads her people with a sincere desire to see them progress and grow up to leave her for better opportunities. She is authentic, and fully committed to her people. Lee is unwavering in her championship of the underdog, and puts the full strength of her leadership behind doing the right thing. She advocates for women in the workplace and devotes every extra minute she has to mentoring others.
Diane Scott
JMCC Group - Group Chair and CEO
Diane Scott is a trailblazer in Canada, and globally, in many ways, but her work in the field of medical cannabis is particularly remarkable. To date, she is the only Canadian woman to build an international medical cannabis company, JMCC Group, including a self-owned supply chain extending from cultivation to patient delivery. Headquartered in Toronto, Diane helms an international team on 4 continents, and the Caribbean.
From day one, Diane has taken the road less travelled, not seeking public funds as was the trend at the start of Canada’s historic ‘green wave’. She has raised over $30M in private funding of JMCC Group to date. She credits a private funding model to allow her patient-centric development of the global company, and steady growth.
Sarah Harper
Stoke the Fire Hotsauce and Elements Camp Services - Business Owner/Entrepreneur
Sarah Harper- Stoke the Fire Hotsauce/Elements Camp Services- Business Owner/Entrepreneur
Sarah has found her passion. She grows natural produce in an urban setting. She creates the best hot sauces from her produce which she then sells in stores and markets. Sarah is a leader in creating sustainable ways to help her community grow. She brings people together by hosting the annual Revelstoke Garlic Festival that revolves around her farm and music to fundraise for the Revelstoke Local Food Initiative and the North Columbia Environmental Society.I first met Sarah in Resolute Bay, Nunavut. She has an aura of calm and positivity about her that is contagious. She is the most creative chef and a beautiful singer/song writer. She is authentic and true. She is well deserving of a Woman of Inspiration Award.
Stephanie Leheta
Canadian Tire Bank - AVP Customer Experience
Stephanie Leheta is a youth and women’s empowerment advocate and leader. She has a 20-year journey of service dedicated to her community, with a deep focus on compassion, diversity, inclusion, and equity. Following the untimely passing of her sister and brother-in-law, Stephanie took on guardianship of their children, in addition to her own. At the time, Stephanie worked as a full time professional, and her entrepreneurial husband had just launched a new business several hours away which meant he was rarely home. During all of this, Stephanie continued working on her International MBA when her young daughter fell ill with a near fatal illness that took months of recovery. Stephanie used the experience of overcoming adversity as a catalyst to wanting to do more for those who are underserved or have no voice. Her contribution has led to the development of Strategic Plans, Diversity Statements, Growth Plans and Fundraising Models with several charities and non-for-profits including Big Brothers Big Sisters, United Way and many more. Stephanie is an ambassador for women and committed to mentoring and inspiring others. She continues to dedicate her time to the advancement of women and paving the way for the leaders of tomorrow.
Shadi Yazdan
PredictivEye - Founder
Shadi Yazdan is an incredible entrepreneur having founded multiple companies. She is a passionate leader with an capability second to none to learn and develop new and innovative businesses as she has done most recently with PredictivEye.. She is a role model for entrepreneurs across Canada and we need more of them.
Dr Adesuwa Urhoghide-Edigin
Medical Women's Association of Nigeria Edo State - President
Dr Adesuwa Urhoghide-Edigin is an inspiration to the female doctors in Edo state and in Nigeria. She is a hard worker, very innovative and is a problem solver. She makes impossible goals and targets possible. Always finds a way to get everything done. She has brought life to the various medical and dental associations as most people are emulating her energy to achieve and get things done. She is presently the President of Medical Women's Association of Nigeria Edo State, Nigeria.
She has touched lives in every area. School Health, Mental Health, Gender Based Violence and Rape., Cancer research and data analysis. She organises non stop free health screenings, breast and cervical cancer screenings to the public. With the target that at 2030, our state would have almost zero incidence of cancer patients. She also organises non stop educational campaigns in schools, markets ,organisations, on TV and social media.
Jackie Scales
Teck Resources Limited - Director, Inclusion and Diversity
Jackie is a courageous leader for inclusion and diversity. As an openly gay woman in mining, Jackie is a role model and change agent, leading initiatives that disrupt bias and drive employee engagement. Under her leadership as Director, Inclusion and Diversity at Teck Resources, she launched a global LGBTQ2+ Pride campaign which raised the profile of the LGBTQ2+ community across the global mining industry.
Jackie’s commitment to inclusion and diversity extends beyond her corporate role, as she was co-chair for the Lieutenant Governor’s Forum on First Nations (Ontario) and co-founded Leaders To Be Proud Of, a national awards program that recognizes gay and gay-positive business leaders.
She has also served on the boards and advisory committees of organizations including Pride at Work Canada, Royal Roads University Business School, the Mining Industry Human Resources Council, the Women’s Executive Network and Girl in the Wild, which empowers young women through adventure-based learning.
Faith Dickinson
Cuddles for Cancer - Founder
Faith created Cuddles for Cancer when she was only 9 years old. She makes fleece tie blankets for cancer patients going through chemo, hoping they offer warmth, comfort & love. To date, more than 7,000 Cuddle blankets have been made & they’ve been sent to more than 45 countries. Faith is a firm believer that “everyone deserves a cuddle”, so blankets are also given to people with other diseases & illnesses & the homeless. There are also two signature blankets, one for Canadian Soldiers & Veterans & one for First Responders. Faith also opened a Drop In Centre in her hometown, encouraging people of all ages to come in and learn how to make Cuddle blankets. There have been hundreds of volunteers! Faith also visits schools across Canada encouraging youth to find a cause that they are passionate about & to make a difference in their communities. At 17, Faith has truly committed her life to helping others.
Mary Hawk
Sheen for She Foundation - Founder of Sheen for She Foundation
It reminded me of Mary Hawk who is working day and night to help shelter women and children who are facing more severe violence in Toronto. In our community this college girl is running a campaign to deliver 2000 Love boxes and more than 350 Backpacks and she has really done well and delivered these Love boxes to these women amid coronavirus pandemic. Now as per this girl she is targeting to deliver more than 350 backpacks to vulnerable children of this community and each Love Box and Backpack consist of more than $60 items. It’s really a huge impact she is making.
Sherry Larjani
Spotlight Development Inc. - Managing Director and President/Founder
Sherry Larjani is an award-winning real estate developer and entrepreneur. She has made a name for herself in a male-dominated industry as Managing Director and President of her own real estate development firm, Spotlight Development Inc. Dedicated to giving back to her communities, it is vital to her that Spotlight Development projects have a focus on affordable and healthy living. In 2020, and throughout her career, Sherry has developed spaces with a focus on providing support for communities. This year’s Toronto, Ajax and Port Hope developments (consisting of 400 new homes in total) are excellent examples of this unwavering vision. Along with multiple other developments in the works, Sherry gave birth to a little girl in 2020 and has somehow balanced it all with grace. A superpower among her peers, Sherry is leading a generation of women into a new era of real estate development.
Isobel Boyd
The Empow(Her) Network - Marketing & Communications Executive
Isobel Boyd is a youth and women’s empowerment advocate and leader, dedicating over 500 volunteer hours a year since 2014 to improving the lives and community of those around her. Building upon her experience in grassroots mobilization and passion for social advocacy, in 2019 Isobel joined The Empow(Her) Network, anon-profit organization that provides young women in Ottawa opportunities for growth and networking, while encouraging them to assume positions of leadership. Isobel and The Empow(Her) Network have hosted hundreds of women through peer-to-peer mentorship, networking opportunities, and skills-building workshops that help women excel in their professional, personal and civic lives. Most notably The Empow(Her) Network is known for their Empow(Her) Conference that hosted 100 attendees with 13 workshops and brought in 17 guest speakers and facilitators for a full day of professional development.
CHESAND GREGORY
CHESAND GREGORY - Entrepreneur, Educator, Model & Author
Chesand Gregory is an award-winning educator, a multitalented, resourceful and naturally charismatic teacher, wife of a scientist, and mother of two energetic boys; The JAG Brothers with a flair for community leadership and empowerment.
She is the author of Did Santa Wear A Mask. Her book was inspired by her 4-year-old son when he asked the question that moved her, “Mommy, will Santa wear a mask?”. Did Santa Wear A Mask, which was endorsed by Amazon – Featured on ABC, FOX, NCB news outlets.
She is the titleholder of The Red Blazer Award for Women in Entrepreneurship, 2021, The Edna Scott Award for the Greatest degree of Diligence in Teaching, 2012 and The Ken Gray Award for innovations in Teaching, 2012 In 2020.
Please consider Mrs Chesand Gregory, a hidden hero in our community as she continues to inspire other women to reach new heights for the following awards: The Authentic Leader Award, Innovation Award Inspire Award, Millennial Leader Award Rising Leader Award and the Black Women Leader Award. Thank you for reading.
Guljit Sandhu
Vice-President, Research and international business development
Guljit Sandhu, age 29, is one of the youngest executives in the aviation and aerospace industry of Canada. Her interest in aerospace started at an early age which led her to take up aerospace engineering in university. Following that, she started working in the aviation industry as a flight attendant manager and held various other inflight services positions with renowned Canadian airlines for the past decade. She has always been deeply involved in community events, social causes and career development for flight attendants and pilots in Montreal. She has also been the pageant director at the Ms & Ms Canada South Asia pageant where she organized the international event, arranged sponsorships and mentored the models. She is often referred to when we think of inspiring women that have broken the society's barriers towards women of visible minority in entrepreneurial and or leadership roles. In her current role, Guljit oversees all research and international business development operations. She leads a team of aerospace, biomedical and mechanical engineers that work towards the development and improvement of additive manufacturing in the aviation and aerospace industries. Guljit is also in charge of the business development of the company in the medical and automotive industries.
Kelly Cooper
Centre for Social Intelligence - President and Founder
Kelly L. Cooper created the first sector-wide approach to achieving sustained culture change on diversity and inclusion in Canada’s forest sector. Harnessing leaders from all stakeholder groups created a united front and strong message that this workplace-culture shift is here to stay. Click http://www.freetogrowinforestry,ca to hear Kelly hosting a Podcast Series, and view her seminal reports on Inclusive Leadership – Creating a Culture of Empowerment, Accountability and Belonging (2021), and A Plan to Eliminate Resistance to Diversity and Inclusion (2020). The International Union of Forest Research Organizations’ Gender Equality Task Force is showcasing Kelly’s best-practice model.
Kelly authored the book, Lead the Change - The Competitive Advantage of Gender Diversity and Inclusion (2020) reaching the C-suite to explain the value proposition and provide a blueprint on how to take action.
See http://bit.ly/CSI-KellyCooper-MediaKit for all media recognition of Kelly’s inspiration on diversity and inclusion.
Daphne Wallbridge
Author, The First Year Principal - Superintendent of Education and Author
Daphne is an inspiring leader in the world of education and has been an educator for over twenty years. She has seventeen years of experience as a high school teacher where she taught French and later became the head of the Special Ed department. Daphne went on to become a high school vice principal, and elementary school principal and is now an acting superintendent in Northern, Ontario. In her current role as a superintendent of Education, she enjoys supporting principals on their leadership journeys. Daphne's coaching practice focuses on certain key pillars: clarity, consciousness, connection, and compassion. She holds a master's degree in educational leadership, is a certified Conscious Coach, and is the author of two books: Step Up, Step Out: A Girl's Guide to Empowerment, Self-Leadership, and Success and The First-Year Principal: 52 Practical Lessons to Help New Principals Thrive as Conscious Leaders.
Sonya Richmond
Come Walk With Us - Canadian Explorer
Dr. Sonya Richmond worked as a GIS Analyst developing of award winning Provincial Birding Atlases and publishing her research as an Ornithologist. In 2019 she sold her home, donated her possessions, and put her career on hold to fund a planned 4 year 24,000km trek across Canada on the world’s longest pathway, The Great Trail (Trans Canada Trail). Fewer people have completed this trek on foot than have gone to the moon, but none have done so for a cause and with the primary purpose of promoting diversity, accessibility and multiculturalism in the outdoors while striving to get youth reconnected to nature through Citizen Science. Concerned about the influence of screen time, her goal is to get young Canadians to spend more time in nature and interested in exploration toward becoming engaged leaders in their communities as well as lifelong environmental stewards. Her leadership, example, dedication and undertaking are inspiring!
Angele Miller
Abundant by Design - Founder
Angele Miller is the founder of Abundant by Design where she helps brands achieve their own success in the marketplace and abroad. She is also the founder of ActivPOP and Kombucha Mill. She is the co-founder of Abundant Beauty by Design, Inca Glow and Creekside RnR. As well she is a voice in New Brunswick as a director on the Women in Business committee helping to educate women in her field of expertise!
With such dedication and determination, she truly is an inspiration!
Agapi Gessesse
CEE Centre for Young Black Professionals - CEO
I’ve known Agapi for a few years now, and have been inspired by her work, vision for her community, and her dedication to foster understanding of what it means to be Black in Canada.Through quiet leadership, Agapi has grown the budget and scope of CEE: Centre for Young Black Professionals from a regional Toronto office to a national organization that has a goal to support young Black Canadians enter the workforce.
Agapi has done this through putting herself out there, becoming a go-to for Canadians on Bay Street, and in the media, for perspectives on being a Black CEO in the time of Black Lives Matter, and how we can move from divisions to acceptance and collaboration. I’m in awe of Agapi’s leadership, and once you get to know her, I’m sure you will be too.
Dayana Stanislaus
Owner
Dayana is a passionate and philanthropic. She does ample good in her community without any compensation. She has worked with traumatized youths and taught them filming and acting skills. She is a radio host and promotes unheard voices. She is Mrs. Galaxy Vaughan. She is a stand for married women who don't give up on their dreams after marriage.
Marcela Lay
Y Media Labs - SVP, Head of Client Strategy & PMO
Marcela has spent her career pushing change and redefining the status quo. As a minority woman, a woman in tech and a woman in senior leadership, Marcela has broken gender, ethnic and managerial glass ceilings, not only for herself, but as a true ally and power agent for everyone she has the privilege to lead.
Marcela has been recognized among Campaign’s prestigious “40 over 40” winners, as a dual Stevie Award® winner for “Maverick of the Year” & “Women-run workplaces”, as a winner of the “Women Worth Watching®” Award, and as a “WIT Women of the Year” Honoree.
Sanchari Sen Rai
Education Consultants Canada - Founding Chief Executive officer
Sanchari is not only a phenomenal entrepreneur but is an equally strong community leader. She is a shining example of what an immigrant can achieve through strong grit and consistent efforts. She is a guide and mentor to many new comers and a great promoter of equitable opportunities for women. She priorities social responsibilities of her business over merely making profits and leads by example.
Serena Bufalino
Help Heal Humanity - Founder and Executive Director
Serena Bufalino, alongside a group of global movers and shakers, runs Help Heal Humanity, an international charity which helps provide the world’s most vulnerable with access to education, food, community and love. What began as a career as a teacher under the Section 23 program with Toronto’s at-risk youth, has evolved into a lifetime of service work empowering and inspiring people across the globe, including the Haiti School Building Project - originally for one hundred students, and Help Heal Humanity has now 75 volunteers and has served over 100K meals in 7 countries. She is a heart centred, dynamic visionary who is making a powerful impact, worthy of being a Woman of Inspiration.
Stephanie Thompson
STEM by Steph - Founder/CEO
I am nominating Stephanie Thompson for the Trailblazer (STEM) Award.
STEM by Steph is a social enterprise with the objective of breaking down barriers for women to learn and appreciate STEM fields. Stephanie increases awareness of non-traditional careers by having an intuitive knowledge, drive, and enthusiasm for amplification and a visionary approach to creating inclusive STEM workshops. Increasing awareness of careers in trades and STEM demands that the problem is tackled from several angles and Stephanie does this by being a Storyteller, Problem Solver, and Barrier Breaker for all Women.
Rosemary Oglesby
Rosemary's Babies Co - CEO and Founder
Rosemary Oglesby-Henry is a bridge-builder, nationally-known Leadership Educator, and the founder and CEO of Rosemary's Babies Company, an impact organization (501c3) committed to helping teen parents master the concepts of self-leadership to leave a legacy. The mother of two adult children she is a well-respected city leader and influencer. Rosemary is a Board member of the Avondale Development Corporation and National Small Business Association. She is a member of the Cradle Cincinnati Policy Committee and the Children's & Family Cabinet for the City of Cincinnati. She has been a contributing writer for Forbes Magazine and
Her honors include receiving an Education Partner Award from Northern Kentucky NAACP, Cincinnati 40under40, A 2020 Pillar Award for Non-profit Executive Director of Year Award from Smart Business Magazine, Forbes Leading Women in Business, and an Unsung Heroine Award, and a 2018 Ohio Senate Award.
Shivani Jeet
Survivor Support Organization - Founder & Director
Shivani is an intersectional feminist, Criminology student and founder of Survivor Support Organization. Through SSO, she educates her community on sexual violence, psychological trauma, rape culture, healing techniques, but most importantly creates a safe and open space for survivors to share their story. As a sexual assault advocate in progress, her motive to get through each day is to stay on top of her mental health and breakthrough gender roles in this patriarchal society. As someone who has lived experience with sexual violence, she learned to set and honor her boundaries and not only advocate for myself, but for many marginalized and vulnerable women who have experienced the same thing as her. She never once took her mental health into factors until she graduated from high school and started to practice self-care, and begin her healing journey.
Farheen Akbar
DexPro Canada Inc. - Manager, Commercial Business and Clean Technology Development
Farheen Akbar is an Electrical Engineer with 12+ years of experience in O&G facility design, energy audits, commissioning and retrofitting. She is an advocate and integral part of the energy transition, with the world moving towards a greater mix of energy supply to manage carbon emissions and climate change.
Farheen is looking forward to making an effective change in the Oil and Gas industry by implementing Energy efficiency. She is the visionary and lead organizer behind promoting energy efficiency in O&G conference which has created a movement in the industry.
As a past co-chair of Women in Leadership (WIL), she led an executive committee consisting of 18 industry professionals with a versatile background. At WIL, she demonstrated success in profitably, driving growth in a non-profit institution through strong leadership, insightful strategic planning, and finding innovative ways to promote the Chapter. Currently, she is involved with APEGA, CRIN, CECN advisory board and events committee.
She is an advocate for women empowerment and is continuously involved in various community initiatives.
This year, Farheen is representing Women’s Entrepreneurship Day as a Global Ambassador. It is worldwide movement that aims to empower women to become active participants in the economy.
Chantal Milloy
Levvel Inc. - Co-founder, & COO
Chantal started Levvel with her husband Brian Milloy 5 years ago. A pair who has built this business together as a couple and business partners and know how to conquer and divide and run the business as a team, despite the naysayers - that you can't work with your spouse. Brian is a fierce supporter of women in business, diversity and inclusion and was raised by a single mother who held two jobs while continuing her education. Chantal was a trailblazer for women in tech owning a web development company 17 years ago but after her business partner left the country with funds, Chantal found herself as a single parent in bankruptcy.
Truly a Woman of Inspiration!
Kelsey Boyer
Women's Leadership Accelerator - Founder
Kelsey launched a 90 day program that focuses on upleveling the confidence and leadership potential of women so they can unlock their potential and thrive. Over the last 9 months she has since changed the lives of over 40 women and counting. These women become new people and rave about how her coaching has irrevocably changed them for the better. I cannot say enough how positive her words and actions are, and how she lives to help women become leaders. Read her testimonials and look at her content, she's truly an inspiration to women and entrepreneurs everywhere.
Sonya Shorey
Invest Ottawa - Vice President, Strategy, Marketing and Communications
Sonya Shorey, Vice President of Strategy, Marketing and Communications for Invest Ottawa, Bayview Yards and Area X.O, is an executive with 22 years of leadership experience in technology, entrepreneurship, economic development, and innovation. Since 2005, she has led or significantly contributed to public-private proposals garnering $193+M.
Sonya launched her career with a Vice-Presidential Cabinet at Nortel from 1999 to 2002, and then served as the Director of Marketing Communications for CMC Microsystems. She established her own strategy company in 2008, serving Canadian and global technology organizations. Sonya’s current leadership role includes:
· Helping to create and lead Area X.O, an R&D complex for next-generation smart mobility, connectivity, and autonomy; and the first Pan-Ontario Scale-Up Platform to accelerate the growth of more $100M tech companies in Canada ·
Leading Invest Ottawa’s first Women Founders and Owners strategy ·
Co-founding SheBoot, an investment-ready bootcamp for women founders ·
Establishing and leading International Women’s Week with 65+ partners to empower women leaders
Dr Farah Shroff
Maternal and Infant Health Canada - Founder and Lead
I'm nominating Dr Farah Shroff for the Health and Wellness Advocate Award her extraordinary commitment to addressing the world's social and humanitarian challenges with notable global impact. Dr. Shroff’s unwavering optimism for social justice and better health around the world is inspiring. This year alone, her media interviews are enough to merit this award. Dr. Shroff tirelessly speaks truth to power about issues related to equity and justice for women, particular those who are racialized. She is a fine scholar, one whom Harvard University has just recognized by selecting her as a Fellow in Global Health for 2021-22.
She founded Maternal and Infant Health Canada (MIHCan), an impactful collaborative of leaders in feminism, anti-racism, health and well-being. MIHCan fills an important gap in global health by emphasizing integrative health practices; she has taught yoga in over 50 countries and loves to empower women by teaching self-defence, theatre etc.
Vahen King
Non-profit Charity "Going Farther Organization" - Author, International Speaker, licensed Minister, Founder of Going Farther Organization, and hold the title of First ever Miss Wheelchair Canada and Miss Kindness World.
Vahen King – Author / International Speaker & Founder of the Non-Profit Organization Going Farther. At age 23, one week after her engagement, Vahen developed Transverse Myelitis, a virus that left her physically disabled and dependent on the use of a wheelchair. Trying to adapt as a person with a disability, her “new normal” was feelings of self-doubt and exclusion. Reaching a point of desperation, Vahen realized that she had a choice to make, to be paralyzed by fears and insecurities, or push forward.
And push forward she did. In 2017, Vahen was crowned the first ever Miss Wheelchair Canada and Miss Kindness World. Not only her beauty, but her character has won her awards. Vahen’s courage is contagious. She inspires boldness and resiliency by facing each new adversity head-on. Demonstrating that the biggest limitations or disabilities are often the ones we place on ourselves.
Vahen currently lives with her amazing husband Vaughan, in Edmonton, Alberta, and acknowledges that she is humbled to see how her message of hope and courage is inspiring others around the world. Vahen states; “My biggest achievement is seeing how my courage is helping people of all ‘abilities’ overcome their fears to go farther.”
Tracie Gray
Tracie.comedy Productions - Professional l Broadcaster with a strong history of working in the media. Skilled in Acting, Voice Overs, Writing, Commercials, Public Speaking, Television, Radio and Film. Strong Personality, Comedian and Master of Ceremonies.
Tracie Gray is an Influencer & a true Woman of Inspiration. Known for her infectious smile & magnetic personality, she can light up any room. Tracie is skilled in Announcing, Acting, Voice Overs, Commercials, Public Speaking, Television, Radio, Writing, Film, Stand-Up Comedy & Master of Ceremonies.
Tracie's #1 passion is her family, she is a loving wife to her husband, Devin, & Mother to her 2 sons, Dylan & Anson.
Her 2nd passion is her work. She starred in her first TV commercial at just 3 years old & started in radio at 15. Her extensive media & broadcasting career includes co-hosting a Radio Morning Show, host & producer of her own Movie Review, a Helicopter Traffic Reporter & hundreds of TV & Radio Commercials, plus several TV shows & Movies. Tracie has done it all.
She owns companies for Professional Voice Overs, Music & Comedy Entertainment & Real Estate Investing. She also has a passion to help others, with over 200 volunteer hours every year for various charities. She was honoured with this year's Volunteer of the Year Award from the Alberta's Teachers Assoc.
Sophia Wells
Elevate Aviation - Director of Community Engagement and Mentorship
Sophia works tirelessly to help women and diversify aviation.
Sophia has always had a passion for aviation. After many setbacks, she became a force in Canadian aviation. Completing her training as one of the youngest flight instructors in Canada, she became the Chief Flight Instructor at the Edmonton Flying Club. Sophia also works as a pilot examiner and a contract pilot sits on the Board of Directors for the Alberta Aviation Museum and the Alberta Aviation Council, and is the Director of Community Engagement and Mentorship for Elevate Aviation. She has received multiple awards for her work including Top 20 under 40 for Wings Magazine and the Outstanding Alumni Award from Mount Royal University.
Through Elevate Aviation, Sophia runs aviation’s largest mentorship program in Canada, now with over 400 mentors and 800 mentees. Sophia’s journey paves the way for women to follow their dreams, see their value, and become self-sustainable
Theano Evagelou
Theano Inc. - CEO
Theano’s genius is in helping visionary women access their true power through the portal of their sexuality in a way that is grounded, nurturing, empowering, and safe – using a rare blend of tantra-based methodologies and strategic, psychological insight.
She is a multi-faceted woman who has covered so many areas of discipline in her life. Her brilliant mind just keeps expanding as she is always cultivating creative ways to ignite people into being who they actually want to be. Her expertise is in the areas of construction, real estate investing, relationships, and so much more.
The best part about Theano, is that she is humble and one of the most compassionate and loving women you'll ever meet. As a role model, Theano allows herself to be guided more by her body than her mind, recognizing the potent qualities of the feminine, especially when applied in loving leadership, rooted in deep connection and care, where true power can rise.
Her sincere and no nonsense ways are engaging and her radiance fills any room with a magical way of just making you feel like you belong.
Gunjan Syal
GoEmerald - Founder, Chief Strategy Advisor
I have been working to raise awareness and capabilities to enable inclusive innovation at a global scale, starting with home base at Canada. I started this with the initiative called 'transform this'. transform this has gathered global attention, including support from TED Circles, IBM and others. I am now working on growing and scaling this initiative - by turning every woman into an influencer towards inclusive, ethical innovation in their communities.The goal is to ultimately influence the boards and C-level - to change their hearts and minds, to ingrain this in their daily operations. I look forward to partnering with UWomen to enable this at home and globally.
Charmaine Hammond
Raise A Dream - Founder
Charmaine is a powerful and dynamic speaker and trainer. She has supported the growth of my new career and is always there to support and share my success with her community. As a leader in her industry, supporting thousands of not for profit and for profit organizations she has changed the lives of thousands of people for the better.
Patti Jannetta-Baker
Janta Entertainment Group - President
Patti Jannetta is a multi award-winning Singer-Songwriter, Recording Artist, Writer, Actor, Producer and Host with a demonstrated history of working in the entertainment and events services industry. She is a strong business development professional, skilled in Concert Production, Commercials, Radio, Grant Writing and Festivals and Events Management. Patti is an inspiring leader, the President/CEO of Janta Entertainment Group, and the Co-Founder of Music Makes Miracles, helping charities and non-profits fundraise through the gift of music, Patti’s a Founding Director of award-winning festivals including the Mississauga Waterfront Festival, Mississauga Italfest Heritage Festival and SING! The Toronto International Vocal Arts Festival. An avid community and arts supporter she enthusiastically supports and mentors emerging artists. Volunteer passions include events for Sick Kids Hospital, Para Sport, Breakfast with Santa and Gilda’s Club. Patti has an incredible voice, toured with the LA/Vegas production of Jesus Christ Superstar, is a Juno-nominated Canadian Dance, Pop and Rock Singer, and the Creator/Producer of "Memories of Louis Jannetta and the Imperial Room". Awards include a Diamond Record, Recording Legacy Award, Leading Women Leading Girls Queens Diamond Jubilee Medal, Brilliant Minded Women and in 2020 Patti was thrilled to receive a granite star on the Mississauga Music Walk of Fame.
Helen Filipe
Azul Education Service - Executive Director and Founder
Well respected by her peers and community groups and leaders, Helen has an infectious positive attitude in all her undertakings. She is passionate about supporting others and helping individuals in times of change. Making a difference in her community is top priority as she knows the value of how being extending a hand in some of her most difficult days. As Executive Director and Founder of Azul Education she is dedicated to be a resource and advocate for individuals in discovering each person’s gifts and talents to make the world a better place. Helen considers herself a serial volunteer, and social justice advocate in contributing to many community initiatives and organizations. She offers her knowledge, experience, and genuine desire to uplift individuals, and to contribute to a more inclusive and equitable environment. Helen has helped thousands of individuals in activating their potential and motivating youth to be of service. Whether it be one-on-one, in groups, or through social media, Helen is a Connector and a Community builder. Her unwavering commitment to elevating others, has earned her Community Leadership Awards as she continues to raise the bar of community engagement.
Dr. Suhayya Abu-Hakima
Alstari Corporation - Co-Founder and CEO
Dr. Suhayya Abu-Hakima is a rare woman tech entrepreneur with a reputation for excellence & innovation. As a successful three-time start-up founder/CEO, she has formed boards of directors & advisors & directed business strategy, ensuring product development matches customer need. Her first start-up, AmikaNow! spun from government R&D labs, focussed on AI and automatic content analysis. . She also has served on Dalhousie University's Big Data Institute & McGill's Innovation Board. In 2018, she joined the ENCQOR board with a smart city focus & connected vehicles. She was recently invited to the C100 and is the ASIS Ottawa Chapter 140 Chair.
Sue holds over 45 International patents in AI, and as many as 35 Global Companies have cited her pioneering patents including Google, Apple and Ford. Sue is a multiple award winner including 6 US GOVIES & ASIS Judge's Choice & Security's Best in emergency communications, Top 10 Angel Backed company Nationally, Top 25 Women of Influence and Top 100 Most Powerful by the WXN in the Trailblazer Category. Sue indeed is an inspiring leader as she was invested into the Order of Ontario in 2011 and honored with Queen Elizabeth II Medal for Service to Canada in June 2012.
Capt. Linda Feuerhelm
Tymac - 150T Captain
Believe me when I say it’s only a matter of time until every Mariner in Canada knows this woman’s name. She is a West Coast trailblazer , certainly soon to be a national treasure!
While quickly running up the ranks to 150T captain, Linda has established a thriving educational community -Bits & Bollards Bridgewatch- devoted to developing new mariners and connecting them to opportunities for growth; she has been a powerful advocate fighting for and making changes in favour of human and women’s rights. Currently, Linda is fighting to bring awareness to safe navigation and working practices on the water. She takes a remarkable amount of initiative and her passion for the industry is giving way to an unforgettable legacy.
Jennifer Menard-Shand
Staff Shop - Founder and CEO, Director of Happiness
Jennifer Ménard-Shand is an Indigenous-French-Canadian female entrepreneur, who dreamed of leading a purpose driven organization, from anywhere in the world - that employs top talent who are hungry to serve, grow and leave a legacy worth following. Her brainchild Staff Shop now provides the platform to keep that dream alive as an award-winning diverse supplier servicing Canada, the USA and the Caribbean. Her story is one that celebrates the triumph of Good over Evil. The odds were stacked against her as a survivor of oppression faced by women, especially Indigenous women including; alcoholism, abuse, neglect, trauma, abandonment and imposter syndrome. Jennifer is focused on breaking the silence, ending generational curses and stopping unhealthy cycles. Driven by Faith-Passion-Freedom at her core, there is no limit to the positive impact Jennifer and her team can have on humanity. This brings her joy and energy daily to do what she does best, and inspire others to reach their full potential.
Andrea Linger
Raymond James Ltd - Head of the Women Canadian Advisor Network
Andrea Linger says: "Have the courage to live your life the way you want to live it. Be passionate about what you do. Have the commitment to follow through to the end. " She lives by these principles and brings the same enthusiasm to her work as
Associate Vice President, Practice Management. She is responsible for managing, facilitating, and designing programs to improve the profitability and growth of their Financial Advisors across Canada and serves as the primary point-person for marketing, coaching, and leading their Practice Management offerings. Andrea is also Head of the Women Canadian Advisors Network, for Raymond James Ltd and she is committed to advancing the success of the women advisors through professional and personal coaching initiatives, training, workshops, and networking opportunities. She is committed to creating an environment of inclusiveness that encourages women to join the advisory role and increase diversity.
Trish Guise
High Conflict Divorce Strategies - Founder
Trish Guise, MBA is a Divorce|Pre-Mediation|Co-Parenting|New Ways for Families® Coach, with a focus cases involving coercive control and high conflict. In addition to her private practice, Trish is an Associate at Supporting Wellness Psychological and Family Services in Calgary, Alberta and the Canadian Ambassador for Contemporary Family Magazine.
Trish founded her divorce coaching practice after surviving her own high conflict divorce that spanned over 12 years. Trish couples her firsthand knowledge with the knowledge gained from studying and working with many of the world's leading experts in family law, coercive control, high conflict, post-separation abuse, and parental alienation.
As a Divorce Coach, Trish guides people through each stage of the divorce process while keeping them focused on protecting their children from the conflict that can arise between the parents. Trish supports clients with safe exit plans, issue assessment, document preparation, mediation preparation, communication with their lawyer, communication with their ex, recognizing/managing power imbalances and advocating for their children’s relationship with both parents, unless neglect or abuse is present.
Kara Kennish
Tim Hortons - Owner/Operator
Kara Kennish is a third-generation Tim Hortons Franchisee. She is committed to finding ways to utilize her platform as Tim's owner for the good of her community by advancing the conversation of equal opportunity and shine a light on emerging needs in her community locally and internationally. Kara is an ambassador for the Tim Hortons Foundation Camps leading the annual fundraising efforts that afford children and youth from disadvantaged circumstances to experience a leadership development multi-year, camp-based program empowering them to change their stories for the better. In 2020 her restaurant joined forces with Empowerment Squared and together they raised the second-highest Smile Cookie sales across Canada. Locally, E2 supports newcomer and marginalized youth to access post-secondary education and start their new lives in Canada.
In 2020 Kara also represented Tim Hortons in the ‘Barbie Dream Gap’ and ‘One-of-a-kind Barbie’ campaigns where she had the opportunity to share her hockey story with young women across Canada as she had played competitive hockey in her youth and attained four national medals in Judo. She has partnered with the Grindstone Awards Foundation to help build their ambassador program in an effort to provide girls with grants to continue their hockey careers.
Laura Didyk
BDC - Vice President and National Lead, Women Entreprenuers
Laura Didyk is Vice President, Client Diversity at BDC since 2020. Diversity and inclusion are at the core of BDC’s corporate values and business strategy. Laura leads the bank’s national approach to support Canada’s diverse entrepreneurs, including women, Indigenous, and people from black and LGBTQ2 communities, veterans, and newcomers: helping their businesses, and our economy, thrive.
Laura is a long-term advocate for small businesses and inclusivity. In 2018, she was promoted to National Lead, Women Entrepreneurs and helped BDC reach its ambitious $1.4B financing target ahead of schedule to inspire more women to start or grow their businesses. Since joining the bank in 1994, she has held progressively senior roles across many divisions that always centre on helping entrepreneurs thrive.
Having lived and worked in Calgary for over 20 years, Laura loves spending time in the mountains skiing and hiking with her husband and two daughters. She supports many like-minded organizations including sitting on WBE Canada’s Board of Directors, and national advisory committees for the Community Business Development Corporation, WEConnect International’s Expert Advisory Council, and the International Women’s Forum.
Victoria Nguyen
CIBC - VP Capital Markets
Victoria Nguyen is a strong advocate for higher learning, youth empowerment, women leadership, diversity and inclusion. Victoria is a seasoned professional; Vice President in Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce providing leadership and initiative implementations that provide strong value to clients and their evolving banking behaviors. She is a highly collaborative, engaging and thoughtful leader who is committed to the success of her teams.
Victoria is passionate about heart health and balanced living. She currently serves on the Heart and Stroke Foundation Advisory Board of Ontario and the Board of Directors for The Project Management Institution - Toronto Chapter.
Shelley McLellan
My Health Journals - Founder and Executive Director
Like many women, Shelley wears many hats. She is a licensed practical nurse, a COVID frontline, and an entrepreneur who is hands-on in operating two businesses. She has a heart for improving our healthcare system, especially in giving our dear seniors a better quality of life. She inspires me to nurture a sense of purpose in everything I do. She keeps me motivated and grounded during this challenging time.
Emma Wilson
Acumen Law Corporation - Barrister and Solicitor
Emma inspires me every day with how hard she works. Emma is a lawyer in Vancouver, running a busy practice defending people charged with serious criminal offences, driving prohibitions, and traffic tickets. She has distinguished herself as someone who is able to be compassionate, calm, but also cutting when she needs to be. In early 2021, Emma was called to the Yukon bar as well. Emma also publishes a blog called the Sexual Assault Blog where she writes about developments in the law of sexual assault from an intersectional feminist perspective.
Helen Lightstone
Lightstone Mediation Services - L.L.M. (DR), Chartered Mediator, Qualified Arbitrator, Licensed Paralegal
Helen Lightstone is a passionate Mediation Practitioner, an unsung hero, a champion who has an unselfish desire to share her knowledge, while establishing a polished business enterprise and making the world a better place.
Hazel McCallion
Former Mayor of Mississauga - Madame Mayor
Hazel McCallion is a true Canadian hero and a true inspiration for many. She’s an awesome leader who has empowered many and doesn’t tolerate anything but what is right and fair.
Hazel McCallion, businesswoman, athlete, politician, mayor of Mississauga from 1978 to 2014 (born 14 February 1921 in Port-Daniel, QC). One of Canada's longest-serving mayors, McCallion led her city for 12 consecutive terms, only retiring at age 93. Nicknamed “Hurricane Hazel” for her brash political style, she oversaw the development of Mississauga from a semi-rural bedroom community into the sixth-largest city in Canada. McCallion is considered a trailblazer for women in politics.
Kristina Shea
BlueSkys Life - Founder
Kristina Shea lived her whole life in the corporate world, and while she has been very successful, it was not an easy path. The single mother of a daughter attending university, Shea was twice widowed, dealt with excruciating health issues that led to her literally collapsing in Toronto’s financial district one day. In spite of all her challenges, Kristina never has been one to crumble. When asked what got her through it all, she smiles and says “It’s a BlueSkys Life…” And she means it so much she named her new business endeavor and passion project after it. She shares what she learned about change, challenges, resilience, and coming out on top with others who need that message, now more than ever. This is only the beginning for BlueSkys Life, we will be not only adding beautiful, natural, mindful products — but education on how to live YOUR BlueSkys Life™.
Rebecca McLaren
Polemical Zine - Founder & Editor-in-Chief
Rebecca is a talented, young social entrepreneur and visionary who is leveraging creativity to empower people around the world. After founding online arts collective: Polemical Zine, in mid-2017, Rebecca has grown her team to a total of 15 volunteers across 4 continents, and the magazine has published the works of an impressive 800+ contributors in 65+ countries. Rebecca’s innovative, free publication has challenged the status quo of traditional, juried magazines and has created an experimental platform for people of every race, sexuality, geography, and skill set to connect with one another and celebrate their talents. On top of her volunteer work with Polemical Zine, Rebecca has a full time job in public relations where she applies the same passion for diversity, equity, and inclusion to both her agency’s groups and her day-to-day work.
Katherine Dudtschak
RBC - EVP, Personal and Commercial Banking
Katherine is a truly inspirational woman. She has had a personal journey that few will be able to understand, yet is inspiring the world. In her role as a very senior leader at RBC, she has broken glass ceilings for women and all genders, and done so in a way that shows true leadership, mentorship, compassion and grace.
Katherine (Katie) Dudtschak leads RBC’s eight personal and business regions in Canada and is the Chair and Chief Executive Officer, Royal Mutual Funds Inc.. This includes more than 20,000 advisors in branches and business centres, and industry-leading specialist teams such as Commercial Banking, Financial Planning, Investment and Retirement Planners and Mortgage Specialists. More than 10,000 of these advisors are also licensed through Royal Mutual Funds Inc.
Katie is responsible for setting and leading the execution of distribution strategies that enable RBC’s “digitally-enabled relationship bank” strategy. From 2013 to 2019, Katie also had overall leadership responsibility for RBC’s presence in the Caribbean, following her successful repositioning of the region’s personal, business and corporate banking businesses.
Katie is proud parent of 4 children
Pamela Morgan
Pamela Morgan - CEO
Pamela is a leader of leaders! A believer in people! And what she does for mental health is INCREDIBLE! Not too mention she is a business leader BOSS and a huge #supporther
Emily Pyke
Featuring Inspiring women - Owner/creator
Emily is a strong fearless lady who has over come many gender stereotypes in becoming a licensed automotive technician. Not only does she make waves in her industry, she has also been shattering stereotypes online by creating an Instagram and website that showcases other strong women in male dominated industries. She has been gaining quite a bit of popularity by featuring inspiring women. She is an amazing role model for her two little girls to look up to, as well as her younger sisters and an inspiration to women everywhere. She’s making sure that women know all of the different routes they could take for a career. That the “unconventional” route is actually just another normal option. That just because it’s a male dominated industry, that that doesn’t mean it’s not waiting for some strong females to make their mark. She is reminding people that you don’t need to look or act a certain way to succeed in whatever you put your mind to. Her website is http://www.featuringinspiringwomen.ca
Ameera Ameerullah
Canada Mortgage and Financial Group - Mortgage Broker
Ms. Ameerullah is known for her transparency, generosity and resilient attitude. She’s a woman who is not afraid to challenge anyone to include the government on matters that requires immediate attention for the improvement of our community and the well being of others. She’s a strong advocate for human rights, an award winning mortgage broker, business entrepreneur and a social service worker who has been paving the path and making a difference not only in Canada but being a resource to emerging communities aboard.
Ameerullah coordinated the CMFG feeding program in 2020 even while she was battling cancer and COVID herself but had to ensure the homeless, seniors, families in need and frontline workers were fed and taken care of. On a daily basis, over 350 meals was donated to the hospitals. Also she’s been raising money to help keep the doors open at Covenant house Toronto so youths who are victims of trafficking can have a safe place to be, she’s also helping those affected in Texas by partnering up with Our Calling organization to help the disaster that disrupt many lives in Texas. Recently,
Robin Kovitz
Baskits - President and CEO
Working under the incredible leadership of Robin Kovitz has been instrumental to the growth of myself and the other fantastic women on our team at Baskits! I am nominating Robin to acknowledge her leadership skills and goals to constantly support and uplift the women in her community
Robin Kovitz is the President & CEO of Baskits Inc. Canada's preeminent gift delivery service company which designs, manufacturers and delivers unique and luxurious gifts across Canada and the US. Baskits has been featured in leading publications including: Forbes, House & Home, Elle Canada, Canadian Business and the Huffington Post. Robin lives in Toronto with her husband and two children. As a sought-after speaker on “Entrepreneurship through Acquisition”, “Digital Retail” and “Mompreneurship” she frequently guest lectures at the Yale School of Management and the Harvard Business School. In 2017 and 2021, she was recognized as a Canada’s Most Powerful Women: Top 100 award winner. In 2020 and 2021, Baskits was recognized as one of the Top Growing Companies in Canada by the Globe and Mail’s Report on Business Magazine.
Nnenna Uboma
TripleJ Consulting - Founder/CEO
Nnenna Uboma is founder TripleJConsulting. She is also the co-author of Beyond math, an analytical workbook for kids. She also works as a Director in Scotiabank. She refers to herself as the Corporate Entrepreneur.
Nnenna Uboma is a woman that is very inspiring, she is a consistently hard worker, who is also compassionate and empathetic and a go-to-person.
Her love for youth is unquestionable which has led to her organizing events to improve kids, teaching them different aspects of life in entrepreneurship, career to other topics.
Ultimately, all her efforts to champion those around her are significant to her community, and makes an impact on many, which makes her completely deserving of the title, Woman of Inspiration.
Meseret Haileyesus
Canadian Center for Women Empowerment - CEO
"Meseret Haileyesus is a multi-award-winning entrepreneur, change-maker, economic justice and health equity advocate with more than seventeen years of experience, and a founder of the Canadian Centre for Women’s Empowerment. The first kind of organization addresses economic abuse in Canada through education, research, policy change, advocacy, and economic empowerment. Her project focus on the development of new approaches to economic abuse and injustice, working with the organization and financial institution to review existing systems, policies, and procedures to improve women's financial safety and security.
Meseret has identified a huge gap (unmet needs) and established a grass-root movement to address economic abuse and injustice. her non-profit is addressing critical gaps in policies and systems which are preventing survivors of economic abuse from recovering and becoming economically secure and independent. Economic abuse is a form of domestic violence where a partner controls a victim’s access to resources such as money, education, employment, food, transportation, convinces them to take on debt, or even interferes with schooling and employment to limit their independence.
Charlie Wall-Andrews
SOCAN - Executive Director, SOCAN Foundation
Charlie Wall-Andrews (MBA, MA, BA, CCIP) is a Trudeau Scholar, strategic planner, and sessional faculty member at the University of Toronto and Northeastern University (Boston, USA). She created the Women In Music Accelerator program at Ryerson University, and is a research associate at the Diversity Institute where she leads projects pertaining to address inequalities in the creative and cultural sectors. She is a Management Ph.D. candidate at Ted Rogers School of Management, where she specializes in strategy, innovation, and entrepreneurship. She is on the Board of Directors of WorkInCulture, and TELUS Community Investment Board, and is the inaugural Vice-Chair of Music Canada’s Advisory Council. In 2019, she was appointed a global Legacy Fellow for the Ariane de Rothschild Fellowship (a prestigious initiative of The Edmond de Rothschild Foundations).
Natasha Feghali
Feghali Group Inc / GECDSB - Investor, Educator, Philanthropist
Natasha E. Feghali, an award winning Canadian for her philanthropy in community and strong dedication to education. She is the recipient of the 40 Under 40 United Way/ Leadership Windsor-Essex Award 2018 as well as numerous awards and recognitions; most notably the Sovereign Canadian Medal in 2015 for her dedication to education and the future of entrepreneurship and youth. She is an international educator working overseas throughout her career while giving workshops, seminars and conferences Nationally and Internationally. She has taught in China, France, Kuwait and Ontario for 10 yrs. Feghali is also a distinguished media personality acting as MC in her community events, hosting events in the GCC as well as a journalist since 2012 and has written for magazines such as Bazaar Kuwait and City Pages Middle East. Most recently she has received the Odyssey Award from the University of Windsor and has been published in a book on Women and Leadership in Ontario with the Elementary Teachers Federation. She is a 2x graduate from the University of Windsor with extensive expertise in Second Language Education.
Ally Stone
Original Joe’s - Owner
Ally Stone is the ultimate support to a vast community of people she has constructed in the past 20 years. She gives selflessly and with unrelenting effort to bring the best out of everyone around her. She puts other’s growth and opportunity as the highest priority in her career, helping and supporting others find their way, which has left a wake of people living rich fulfilled lives and pursuing their passions behind her. She has been the ultimate catalyst in building loving team culture in her restaurants she is partnered in at Franworks. All while doing her best to share this remarkable recipe she produced there with the world through her work at Original Joe’s, with the purpose of hoping others will enjoy the rich life that wonderful connection in the workplace can bring.
Amber Zenith
HIGH Fitness - Co-Founder
Amber is a woman who has grown a business from a single fitness class in a community centre to a network of over 3,500 trained instructors across North America. Over the last year, she also did the ultimate pivot and took the format online by launching HIGH Fitness Live - quickly growing to over 3,000 subscribers and forever changing the business. She is innovative, supportive of her team, and encourages countless men and women to 'work off the emotional weight' of the day (instead of talking calories, pounds, food, etc).
Tanya Thorn
Town of Okotoks - Town Councillor
Tanya is a devout proponent and inclusion advocate. She is a Town Councillor, a Board Member with the Alberta Urban Municipalities Association, the Interim Chair of the Alberta Police Advisory Board and the Vice-President of the Alberta Water Council. She works tirelessly to engage the community and to genuinely represent the interest of residents. She has been invited to sit on panels addressing such vital matters as women in politics, design of healthy communities, effective water management and water policies. In addition to all of this, she finds time to mentor female candidates wishing to run for any level of government. Not only does Tanya bring a considerate and thoughtful approach to leadership but her devotion towards fairness and transparency are to be admired. It is without hesitation and with much pride that I support Tanya’s nomination for a Women of Inspiration award.
Luanne Whitmarsh
ARBI - Association for the Rehabilitation of the Brain Injured - Executive Director
I have never met a soul quite like Luanne. She is an inspiration in how she leads as Executive Director of ARBI (Association for the Rehabilitation of the Brain Injured), along with running her own consulting business as a Certified Professional Consultant on Aging. She is all about doing what's right while allowing people to show up exactly as they are. In this, she is a dedicated person who lives her life as an opportunity to advocate for individuals who society often forgets to include. Her curiosity and spunk for life inspire everyone with who she comes into contact. The truth is, Luanne is someone who changed my heart, my mindset, and my commitment to being an advocate myself. Without a doubt, Luanne is the definition of a Woman of Inspiration!
Koleya Karringten
Absolute Combustion - CEO
Koleya is an inspiring entrepreneur and has built a successful business with Absolute Combustion. In addition to this she is a champion for women in business across the board and a vocal supporter in doing so.
Masooma Sayed Hashim
ACSA - CEO
Founder & CEO biography: Masooma Sadat Hossaini
1. Graduated of Physical Education as a bachelor degree in Higher Education at Kabul University on 2008, 2. Diploma of Business management in American university of Afghanistan on 2011, 3.Diploma of Mathematics in Samayan high school 2002 4.Certificate of a personal trainer in American Council on Exercise( ACE) on 2020 5.Student of marketing management in BCIT college in Vancouver, BC 2019
• Certificate: 1. Dan 2nd certificate from world taekwondo federation 2014 2. sports educator certificate from Sport Sans Frontiers (SSF) 2009
• Awards:
Shawna Magence
Rodan and Fields - Level V Independent Consultant
Shawna Magence is the CEO of her global skincare company. She's also the mother of four amazing children, the Leader of the FemCity Thornhill chapter, and she is also a bestselling cookbook author. She has regularly volunteered her time at her children's school over the past decades, as well as, at Emunah Women of Toronto.
Shawna is a heart-centred individual who is always looking at opportunities to connect others to create win-win solutions. She loves to service others, and to lift them up by offering a partnership in her successful company.
Her latest contribution to others' happiness is her professional matchmaking business, to help individuals find their true love.
Jabeen Boga
Delara India Assistance Society (DIAS) - Director
Jabeen is an exemplary individual whose commitments are proven out by her actions. Her strength of character and willingness to help others has been a fundamental component of her legacy. It is echoed in her community involvement for not-for-profit organizations by serving as Ismaili CIVIC-Lead to improve the well-being of the broader Canadian community. Over the past 3 years, Jabeen has led 40+ events that have included 45,000 volunteer hours for over 3,000 volunteers. She has supported numerous initiatives through her to the food banks, homeless shelters, YWCA and Habitat-for-Humanity amongst others
Upon a visit to India, Jabeen engaged in community work and discovered a desire to give back towards educational development. She sought out a role as a Director for Delara India Assistance Society (DIAS), a not-for-profit organization which supports continuing education in Goa, India. Her commitment has made a difference to over 150 students annually.
Eni Oszlai
RBC - Financial Doctor
Eni Oszlai is a Financial Doctor, RBC’s TOP Financial Specialist. She is a true inspiration.
Eni is a Leader, a Role Model, an Educator, a Connector, a Mother, a Philanthropist, a True Friend. Everything she does, she does from the space of Love, Contribution and Gratitude. Her life purpose is to empower others, and help everyone whose life she touches to make their dreams and passion a tangible reality.
She regularly educates others not just about financial matters, but also how they can use different mindset techniques to overcome adversity and get on the path of true success.
Eni regularly volunteers her time and provides financial support to various charities, effectively empowering women, children, the sick, and third world countries to reach their fullest potential.
Her book “The Waterfront Awards: Powerful Success Stories” became a Bestseller in 2020; and her online show “The Financial Doctor Show” has attracted trailblazers, mindset-gurus, TEDx speakers, musicians and business people to be featured and connected with thousands of Eni’s audience, effectively connecting them with collaborators and new clients, but also to show the light and opportunities for others to be empowered and to rise.
Anaida Deti
DentalX - Ceo
Anaida is an inspiration to whoever knows her. She, better than anybody, can be called a woman of inspiration. Her humble beginnings start with her and her husband coming to Canada 19 years ago with pocket change and no English. She worked 7 days a week while going to school full time. She started everything from scratch. Now she has a very successful business, an award winning dental office and in the process of opening her second one. Her story has been considered a success story not only by everyone that knows her, but also by a lot of national and international media. She has been featured in many Tv shows, radio shows, magazines, newspapers, online platforms and more to share her amazing journey and her dental expertise.
Anaida has won many local, national and international awards. Even though, she is a very successful business woman, Anaida is a very humble and simple person, which makes everyone that knows her, fall in love with her. She is a very beautiful person inside and out. She has worked very hard to be where she is and she deserves to be a Woman of Inspiration.
Christa Gibbs
Centurion Property Associates Inc. - Director, Student Operations
When considering extraordinary women who lead by example, I mind immediately goes to Christa. Firstly, I am blown away by Christa’s dedication and commitment to hard work, and her tenacity, for climbing the corporate ladder and succeeded so well professionally, despite her lack of formal education. Christa never gave up, and tackled all challenges head on. Today, she sits on the executive board for an asset mgmt organization, her days spent driving the business, and leading others to succeed as well. Christa has a passion for people, and is often commended for her ability to lead others to be their best selves. And I can speak from experience, I have learned so much from her. She is honest to a fault, authentic, and kind. The number of people who have attributed their success to Christa’s dedication to their growth is too high to count. Aside from professionally, Christa also wrote and published 2 novels, both reaching Amazon bestseller in many countries. Reviews of the books mention that she (via her novels) ‘changed their life’, ‘helped them find the courage to reach for more’, and ‘to never stop reaching for their dreams’.
Shakira Rouse
Special Compass, - Founder, Keynote Speaker, Workshop Facilator, Educator
Shakira Rouse is the founder of Special Compass, keynote speaker, facilitator, and yoga instructor. She has an incredible passion for connecting people to understand that learning disabilities shouldn't deter one from accomplishing their goals. As an adult with a learning disability, Shakira regularly experiences emotional frustration and stress but, at twenty-five, this ambitious young woman decided to turn her setback into a comeback to help other students with learning disabilities. Special Compass is an organization dedicated to helping students with learning disabilities achieve success in and outside the classroom. Merging her personal experience and education, Shakira Rouse creates and facilitates workshops for students, parents, and educators. Speaking and presenting at events in Canada and stateside. The recipient of the Black Female Role Model award has been interviewed in nationally and internationally outlets, sharing her story of how she overcame challenges with her learning disability in her education.
Kim Ledgerwood
Crazy Water Girls - Founder Crazy Water Girls, Ex Toronto Police Officer
I am Kim Ledgerwood, previously a Toronto Police Officer for 30 years, happily retired now. I have 2 daughters, 23 and 25 years old. I am happily single. I am writing a chapter in a book to Empower Women To Succeed and overcome any challenges. I want to leave a legacy to my children and be the best I can be and live life to its fullest while being fulfilled in what I do professionally and personally. I am blessed that both those entities are one and I am truly living my passion and my income is a result of me just living life and telling my story to people. I am currently growing a business with my best friend. We call it Crazy Water Girls, and we endorse water ionizers that are medical devices that change people’s lives. This is my passion and what I feel is my service to those that need a change in their lives by changing their water. I changed my drinking water 2 years ago and it helped with my mental health issues and I want to help everyone I can experience this mental health freedom like I have.
Erin Bigney
Canada East Spine Centre's Director of Research Erin Bigney - Director of Research
Erin Bigney is the Director of Research for the Canada East Spine Centre (CESC), a research centre for orthopaedic and neurosurgery. Spine injury and disease can have debilitating effects on patients. Through clinical research the CESC lead by Erin Bigney, strives to improve patients outcomes.
Since she took over, the CESC has quadrupled its staff and has won multiple awards reflecting research excellence. Erin has multiple peer-reviewed publications, a book chapter, and has presented at national and international scientific conferences. Erin is a strong proponent of fostering research practices into medical care and recognizes the importance of mentorship to enhancing the next generations’ skills and opportunities in research. As part of her commitment to mentorship she has embedded programming to support undergraduate, graduate and medical student research opportunities and skills training within the CESC strategic plan.
Erin embodies the true definition of what a successful mentor should be and is a strong female leader and mentor in medical research. Through facilitating the research training of students, Erin makes major contributions to improving the quality of care and quality of life of spine surgery patients both in New Brunswick and across Canada.
Denise Byers
DanDeeLion Publishing - author, poet, founder
Denise Byers is an author, poet, and co-founder of a publishing company. Her award-winning poetry book, Shattered, is comprised of over 50 poems written over the past 40 years about her issues with maintaining good mental health. Shattered, both dark and deeply personal with insightful and inspirational messages of hope, courage and strength, caught the attention of the prestigious Book Excellence Awards and won. The Book Excellence Awards is a competitive literary academy that honors notable authors every year and is sponsored by Literary Excellence Incorporated. Ms. Byers has suffered from various forms of mental illness for most of her life. She has attempted suicide and fights suicidal thoughts on a regular basis. In addition, she has struggled with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) stemming from past abuse and currently receives treatment for depression and anxiety. According to the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA - National) and the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI - the US), statistics show that one in five North Americans has had, have, or will have, some form of mental illness in their lifetime. Denise Byers is a graduate of York University in Toronto, Canada with her BA in Sociology.
Francisca Mandeya
Author, public speaker
Zimbabwean-born World-Changer,Francisca Mandeya, living in the Canadian archipelago is a powerful voice on paper and on stage. Her influence crosses continents and her vitally important message is creating an international movement of mothers who understand that the lessons they impart to the next generation can change the world. She is a double winner of Qulliit Nunavut Status of Women Gender Equality award. Her best seller Mother Behold Thy Son and Upcoming book Racial Equality convey messages of equality, love, and freedom. As a result of the Mental Fitness coaching and empowerment she teaches, mothers and individuals take care of themselves first; and create healthy family relationships, leading to peace in their homes. She is the CEO of Transformational Call Coaching & Consulting Inc and Founder of Mothers United. She has been featured on CBC North, CBC Winnipeg, Authority Magazine USA, Ticker TV Australia and podcasts in Asia, Africa and America.
Sistah Lois
Actor, Singer
A valued longtime member of activist and artistic communities she brings a wealth of experience together in her offerings - from classrooms to auditorium floors to stages and screens. People find comfort in her music because it's appealing, and they listen to her words because they are revealing, uncovering thoughts and emotions which many of us would like to express. The power behind her words is a singing voice that subtly expresses the spirit of varied authenticities, that touches each and every individual heart in an intimately personal way. Described as “original soundscapes that blend traditional with original songs, poems, stories which mirrors our collective souls. Freely fusing rhythm, word, and sound, “It's an ITAL ting, carries a culturally conscious sting, after 50 years knowing it's noSistah Lois (pronounced “Loyce”) is an incredibly talented singer, actor, creatrix across disciplines. She is, she says “a muddah, dawtah, Sistah, afrikan princess, is a dynamic Edutainer and musical messenger.” Born in Trinidad, she lived in the Caribbean and in the UK as a child. She has lived in Canada since she was eight years old. Reverend Kelly Addison, of KGL TV near Toronto, Canada, calls her “a national treasure.
Nathan Skoufis
Guelph Family Martial Arts - Owner
Nathan Skoufis is a 23 x world champion and member of Team Canada. He is one of the most accomplished martial artist. He is active in promoting females in the martial arts world and advocating for equality. He is involved in helping the community through a variety of community innovations including women in crisis and many more. He is a community champion!
Sophie Skoufis
Guelph Family Martial Arts - Owner
Sophie Skoufis is a mentor to so many throughout the area including youth and adults. She is a multiple time world champion, 5th degree black belt and a member of Team Canada. She is heavily involved in several charity innovations and has had a huge positive impact on the community as a whole. She is very deserving of this award. She makes everyone believe they can, an amazing leader and mentor.
Phoebe Wasfy
Philopateer Christian College - Principal
Phoebe Wasfy, Principal of Philopateer Christian College (PCC), was born in
Egypt and immigrated to North America at the age of nine. She is an active
member of the Ontario College of Teachers (OCT). Her love for academia
and her active involvement in the field has earned her the Arab Women of
Excellence Awards in Academia from Life Transformation Academy (Calgary,
Alberta - Canada).
Phoebe is a board member of ACSI-Eastern Canada. She is an adjunct
Faculty for the Youth Ministry Certification Program (YMCP) offered by the
Canadian Coptic Center in affiliation with YouthTrain, New Zealand. Phoebe
enjoys interacting with other educators, students and parents and is
committed to fostering leadership and professional development amongst
her staff. Phoebe heads many initiatives and is responsible for the school
youth missionary trips globally while partnering with other governments,
worldwide charity groups, and global aid organizations. Her contiguous
efforts to make an impact on her students and in her day to day work has
led her to be chosen by the Marquis Who’s Who Publication Board to be
inducted for 2021-2022. She is also featured as one of the top 10 Most
Inspiring Business Women Making a Difference in Insights Success.
Katie Bushie
Life Spark Holistic Coaching & Wellness - PsychoPractitioner/ Trauma Sensitive Yoga Instructor
Katie is a PsychoPractitioner who has pioneered the connection of mental health & yoga/wellness for hundreds of veterans, first responders & individuals in trauma recovery.
This has been demonstrated in first-ever long-term collaborations with military services, first responders, hospitals, nonprofits & schools.
She is a regular speaker across Ontario Canada on the healing evidence of holistic interventions.
She was nominated for 10 awards across Ontario for her work in the mental health forum last year.
Aymie Rondeau
Shop the Curvy - Owner
Aymie is a positive leader in the Calgary community. She is a voice for those living in plus-size bodies. She advocates for the needs of fashion for those in plus size bodies continually. She advocates for women empowering one another, and she also lives that in her everyday life. She is a heart centric business and it’s easy to feel connected to her. Her passion for community and fashion is palpable.
Michelle Buckland
EMBRACE - President/Founder
Michelle is an inspiration because she is passionate about what she does. I believe that she is intentional and motivated to advocate for those who may not be able to advocate for themselves. She has been championing and training inclusivity and accessibility for many years. This is not a fleeting exercise du jour for Michelle - but a deep-seated belief in ensuring that we see people with disabilities as being able to contribute in many ways. She believes in providing support in an equitable manner having lived and living through certain stigma. Michelle devotes herself to this work and is ever-ready to provide others with the knowledge and resources needed for awareness and action. She is a kind, detailed-oriented, driven phenomenal leader and entrepreneur with advocacy at the core.
Rachel Lemos
Canadian Western Bank Financial Group - Director, Procurement
Rachel is a strategic and highly results-oriented procurement leader with over 20 years’ experience in international companies in the North and South America. Rachel has a diverse background, experienced in large organizations, well versed in various processes associated with private and public procurement, strategic sourcing and supply chain operations management.
In Canada, Rachel has worked for public corporations both in the Provincial and Federal levels, has led staff in complex environments, including unionized settings. Nevertheless, she has stand out as an inspirational leader, closely coaching and developing her teams.
Rachel holds Professional Designation as a Certified Professional in Supply Management (CPSM), has MBA in Purchasing and Logistics, Bachelor in International Relations and Business Leadership Certification.
Jennifer Hadley
Fierce Mom - founder
I am nominating Jennifer because she is a fierce mom! Not only is she a fierce mom but she is a fierce community connector! She is always willing to help those around her, she encourages people to look at every day as a new day and helps everyone get organized! With a focus on empowering women and encouraging growth and change Jennifer is a women of inspiration!
Asawari Lele
RBCRoyal Bank of Canada - Business Account Manager at RBC Royal Bank of Canada
Asawari goes above and beyond the requirements of an account manager and is extremely liked by her customers. she is a strong advocate of female entrepreneurship. Her strength is client servicing and going above and beyond. She owns their issues and challenges and comes back with solutions.This is also the reason she has been recognized, honoured and awarded the 'RBC Convention Award 2020' for Business Markets.
Anita Erskine
Anita Erskine Holdings Limited. - Broadcaster, Actress, Advocate
Anita Erskine was educated in Canada, built her brand helping women and becoming a broadcasting powerhouse in Africa.
Now back in Hamilton splitting her time between McMaster University, making appearances on international television and expanding her media profile in North America, Anita has risen to the forefront of the African broadcast industry to become a powerful Award-Winning voice seasoned by experience as well as talent, and aimed at uplifting and inspiring women around the world. She has almost two decades in the broadcast industry focusing on Music, Lifestyle, Maternal Health, Social Impact, Education, Entrepreneurship and Empowerment. She hosted The One Show; +233 Discovery; and is the host for the female edition of Making of a Mogul. Anita is also the Executive Producer and host of Sheroes of Our Time and Host /Advisor of the 2020 edition of the Africa Netpreneur Prize Initiative. Named one of the 100 Most Influential Women in Africa, the 100 Most Inspirational Women in Ghana and 100 Most Influential People in Ghana, Anita truly is a global powerhouse who is making Canada home and working here on the international version of her show SHEROES.
Hanna Ormanczyk
Biomedicine Holistic Healing Clinics - Founder, Osteopath, an Integrative Medicine Practitioner and Registered Nutritional Therapist
Hanna Ormanczyk is an Osteopath, an Integrative Medicine Practitioner and Registered Nutritional Therapist with an international reputation. People come from around the world to get one on one specialized care from Hanna's two Biomedicine Holistic Healing Clinics in Oakville and Mississauga. As she puts it "I specialize in integrative medicine,
epigenetic approach, and advocating for its usage in correction, improve, and normalization in contemporary medical practice. I am one of the very few practitioners offering these particular forms of treatment and clinical trials to investigate root causes of dietary issues ranging anywhere from weight management, nutritional tracking, and other health issues like sleep apnea, diabetes, and leaky gut. I specialize in combating today’s issues in dietary consumption such as obesity and malnutrition with an overall success rate of 86% and climbing. I offer all of me services in person and online for anyone who need my help. I excel at being able to connect and empathize with all my clients, employing an empathetic approach and recognizing the underlying personal motivations and drives of my patients to use to achieve their goals of self-betterment and personal growth.
Nancy Barber
Bombardier Aviation - Chief Operating Officer
Nancy is an accomplished leader and the first female in the role of Chief Operating Officer at Bombardier Aviation. She has shown incredible resilience, strength, discipline, and heart, inspiring so many around her in her journey. She is an enthusiastic leader who truly cares about her team and enables them to channel their own enthusiasm and grow in their roles. Even during challenging times, Nancy has a way of instilling confidence through her positive approach. Throughout her career, she has always been generous of her time and enjoys coaching young women. She actively promotes gender parity both within her organization and through speaking events. What inspires me most about Nancy is not only what she does, but how she does it.
Yasemin Sezer
L&T Infotech - Head of Technology and Operations
Yasemin Sezer has been working in the technology sector as an influential executive leader for more than 20 years. She is a pioneer in providing digital technology solutions and transforming organizations by implementing automation and robotics solutions. Being a successful trailblazer in STEM, she sponsored Women4Women; networking for women in technology, both in her global organization, (where half of her team was operating out of India) and in the industry. She has been given the Top 100 Powerful Women Award in light of her achievements in the tech industry.
Kween
Guelph Black Heritage Society - Executive Director
Kween ran the largest protest ever seen in history in this area and in Guelph. It brought over 8,000 with a viewership of 20k. Every day she inspires others through her two businesses or her role as Executive Director for a nonprofit called Guelph Black Heritage Society. From her social media to her constant everyday life. She is exquisite. She makes monumental strides for the Black communities.
Catherine Chow
REALTOR®
Catherine is a true leader in her community and a role model for other Realtors. In addition to being on the Board of Governors for the CREB® Reator® Community Foundation, she is the Chair of the CREB® Community Investment Standing Committee. She is a 16 year Senior Associate Shareholder of the Calgary Stampede Committee, promoting Calgary and Western Pride. Catherinehas also helped fundraise and volunteer for several organizations such as: Kids Cancer Care Foundation, RMHC, is a founding member of the CV&Me committee with the Libin Cardiovascular Institute and was nominated as a "Hero of the Flood" by the Government of Alberta in 2013 for flood relief efforts. She is an inspiration to all women.
Hannah Yohannes
Filmmaker - Program Coordinator - Speaker
I'm nominating Hannah Yohannes as a Woman of Inspiration because she uses her filmmaking gifts and talents to educate and advocate for her community. For example, as a program coordinator, she transformed the Ve'ahavta Skills Academy (VSA) program which is a 9-week essential skills program from an in-person class to a digital online training program due to COVID-19 being announced as a global pandemic. This is one of the several moments in which Hannah shows her adaptability and dedication to her community members. She also uses her platform as a filmmaker to advocate for those who feel voiceless and mentors youth in the Presenting Our Vision film program on the power of storytelling and highlighting the importance of representation in the media industry.
Rosemary Mupambwa
Rosemary Mupambwa - Author, Speaker, Life Transformational and Relationship Expect, CEO
Rosemary Mupambwa is an Author, Speaker, Life Transformational, and Relationship Expect, CEO of Roseslifecoaching Healing Inc. She has transformed a lot of women’s lives through her speaking and retreats about healing. A widow herself is one of the most courageous, resilient, and powerful women I know, who got tired of crying herself to sleep after her loss, decided to use her pain to change people’s lives. This strong woman got separated from her children for 6 years when she migrated to Canada from Zimbabwe, but she is still standing. The acclaimed Relationship Expect, went through failed relationships before realizing that people needed to heal from their past before getting into new relationships. Now she helps a multitude of women worldwide, to reset, reignite their groove and get back into the dating scene. Rosemary believes crying without taking action is self-destructive behavior. Her motto is, “Healing Is A Choice.”
Dr. Janét Aizenstros
Ahava Group Global - Founder & Chairwoman
Dr. Janét Aizenstros is a signatory with the United Nations Business Action Hub (UNBAH) for the United Nations Global Compact Network. She is an award-winning businesswoman with several leadership awards such as the Top 40 under 40, the Top 10 Inspiring Women in Canada, 2019 Conscious Company Media’s Top 22 Business Leaders, 2013-2014 YMCA-YWCA Woman of Distinction of Business and Entrepreneur, a recipient of the 2020 WXN Canada's Most Powerful Women Entrepreneur Award: Top 100, the Stevie® Award winner for Female Entrepreneur of the Year Canada; Employer Of The Year for Canadian Business which ranked her company 12th on Canadian Business 2020 Growth List -- making her the first Black Canadian woman in history to scale a 9-figure organization and sole female founder to be featured on the list. Janét is also a member of the Young President’s Organization (YPO), a participant with Concordia Leadership Council and a Global Goodwill Ambassador for the Global Goodwill Ambassadors Foundation.
Kayla Isabelle
Startup Canada - CEO
Kayla Isabelle has demonstrated incredible resilience and noteworthy leadership during 2020. Faced with taking leadership of both Startup Canada, Canada's Entrepreneurship Organization, on March 1st, 2020, and of the Innovators and Entrepreneur Foundation during a global pandemic, Kayla has not only sustained, but grown an event-based non-profit, and provided an extended reach to Canada's entrepreneurship community during one of its most challenging years on record. Kayla began her journey as Executive Director getting a crash course in crisis management in her first two weeks as the new leader of Startup Canada. In the span of just a few days, she went from meeting with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau during Startup Canada's International Women’s Day event to discuss women's entrepreneurship, to dealing with perhaps the greatest economic crisis this country’s small businesses have confronted in generations. Startup Canada was able to retain 100% of their corporate partners by shifting traditionally conference-based events, digitally. By developing strategic partnerships with organizations like Google, Kayla led the charge on national digital programming, reaching the highest cohort of entrepreneurs on record.
Mikaella Celeston
Ottawa Hair Loss Clinic & Wellness - Founder
Mikaella is an extraordinary individual she is very knowledgeable and has expertise in the Domaine of Trichologist. She has been helping hundreds of people with hair loss and scalp conditions. She is the first Trichologist clinic in Ottawa. She also formulated and developed a line of products to help the clients especially during those hard times. She deserves to
Be recognized for
All the good she has been doing for her clients.
Kehkashan Basu
Green Hope Foundation - Founder President
Winner of the 2016 International Children’s Peace Prize, 20-year-old Kehkashan Basu is an iconic youth leader, global influencer, environmentalist, champion of women and children’s rights, TEDx speaker, Climate Reality Mentor, author, musician, peace, and sustainability campaigner. A Forbes30under 30 for Education and the first-ever Voices Youth Gorbachev-Schultz Legacy Award for her work on nuclear disarmament, Kehkashan is a United Nations Human Rights Champion, a National Geographic Young Explorer, an UN-Habitat Young City Champion, and the youngest ever Global Coordinator for the UN Environment Program’s Major Group for Children & Youth and one of Canada's Top25 Women of Influence. Kehkashan is the Founder President of the global social innovation enterprise Green Hope Foundation, which works at a grassroots level in 16 countries, empowering young people, especially those from vulnerable communities, in the sustainable development process and she has spoken at over 200 United Nations and other global fora. Through Green Hope, Kehkashan has directly empowered over 130,000 young people, mostly from vulnerable and marginalized communities in 25 countries.
Jennifer Quaglietta
Healthcare Insurance Reciprocal of Canada (HIROC) - Vice President, Performance Excellence and Information Sergices
Jennifer has been a visionary leader in the Canadian healthcare sector for over 20 years. Jennifer has overseen countless, system-wide changes with a commitment to nurturing people and advancing patient safety while at the same time keeping performance, innovation, and sustainability at the forefront.
As Jennifer’s career has progressed, she has had a focused commitment to mentoring women (students, peers and colleagues). Jennifer has always made time to contribute to accelerating growth in others and helping create joy at work. She has inspired and supported many colleagues and mentees across the system in achieving their vision, by bridging their strategic functional expertise with landscape navigation to support them in obtaining their professional goals, all while improving value across the system. She was recently named as a Top 10 Women Leader in Digital Health by Digital Health Canada and continues to support women across the country in achieving their goals.
Evangeline Chima
Black Mentorship Inc.. Black Mentorship Inc. (BMI) - Founder
Evangeline Chima is the founder of Black Mentorship Inc. BMI – an organization dedicated to fostering the professional growth and personal expansion of Black professionals through education, mentorship and skills
building. BMI was born out of her personal experiences with systemic racism and bias as a Black professional woman in Canada. Despite her education, numerous professional certifications, work ethic and commitment, she could not reach her professional aspirations.
Out of these experiences and recognizing Black professionals are underrepresented across industries and in leadership roles, Evangeline created Black Mentorship Inc – (BMI) to inspire, support, and mentor Black professionals to fulfill their potential, build community, and promote change.
Evangeline is vast in Information Technology Services, DEI strategies, Workplace Safety and Wellness Programs. She provides consultation to Sheridan College executives and academic leadership teams on Equity, Diversity & Inclusion.
She is the Sheridan College BLACKS career readiness series co-creator and is the brain behind the recently launched Sheridan College Black Mentorship Program. Evangeline mentors many students and professionals and sits on many Boards and Advisory Table participating in strategic planning towards promoting change and building safe, inclusive and equitable communities.
Evangeline was named one of the 2020 Black women to watch.
Kiruthika Vamatheavan
Auto Market Inc. - Founder, CEO
Kiruthika is 21 years old. She’s an entrepreneur, the founder, and CEO of AutoxMarket Inc, it’s an online marketplace for automotive shopping. Also, the founder of Aram Foundations which helps children in third world countries with their education needs. She’s a law student and very interested in global issues. She also received the award for Emerging Leader by CSPN 2020.
Shreya Patel
Window Dreams Productions - Creative Director
Model turned writer, filmmaker, actress, and mental health advocate, Shreya Patel a voice to empower the voiceless. , she has dedicated her life to not only a professional career in film and the arts but also in social work. She is an honoree of the Women’s Achiever Award 2020 for Youth Leadership and CSPN’s Emerging Leader Award Under 35. She is also nominated for Forbes 30 under 30. A natural storyteller, she uses many of her diverse interests and impactful activism work in film projects. Her directorial debut, the documentary “Girl Up”, brings light to domestic violence and human trafficking in Toronto and has been partnered with TIFF to showcase at Civic Action Summit. During this pandemic, she has gathered over 65 countries on 6 different continents with over 100 casts and made a documentary called Unity showcasing the plight of the human spirit.
Cindy Watson
Women On Purpose - Founder
Cindy is a true Woman On Purpose. As a successful social justice attorney, she dedicated herself to uplifting, empowering, and promoting women to rise up together. While many people hid during the pandemic, Cindy shone. She showed up doing daily FB lives to uplift and inspire and had people around the world tune in to hear her messages of hope. She used her platforms to share free content, doing intensive free workshops and even offered much of her programing for free. She inspires women worldwide, empowering them to find and live into their purpose and passion. She helps women leverage their innate power to get what they want and deserve through her Art of Feminine Negotiation programs (because all of life is a negotiation). She’s an international speaker, award-winning author, master negotiator and world-class women’s empowerment coach, known for her passion, commitment and ability to inspire.
Blair Fast
Rogers Sports & Media - Sr Manager, Digital News Products
Blair Fast is a digital product leader who thrives the pursuit of customer value. With a knack for aligning teams towards customer-driven growth, she could happily spend hours listening to feedback, co-creating with customers and ideating with colleagues—anything where other humans are involved. She has led digital teams across industries and currently leads Digital News Products at Rogers Sports & Media. Blair is also proud to bring her customer and product expertise to a number of community organizations including Next Gen Men, an organization focused on gender equality
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/blair-fast-8186b026/
Suzie Yorke
Love Good Fats - CEO and Founder
Suzie Yorke is on a mission to bring healthy fats back.
A mom of 4 kids, eleven-time Ironman competitor and yoga enthusiast, Suzie spent years adhering to a low-fat diet only for her health to hit a wall in her mid-40s. After reading Nina Teicholz’s best seller, Big Fat Surprise, she immediately shifted to a high-fat, low-carb diet, and started to feel better within a few weeks. While she loved the benefits of her new lifestyle, Suzie found it challenging to find convenient, good-fat snacks. Seeing a gap in the marketplace and a huge opportunity to help others through food, Suzie developed Love Good Fats, a company that produces low-sugar foods loaded with good fats.
Starting in 2017, Suzie led the launch and expansion of Love Good Fats to exceed $100 million in Gross Revenues in a little over 3 years with sales in the largest Retailers across Canada and the US. Love Good Fats quickly became one of the fastest-growing bar brands in North America.
Nadiya Manji
Curacion Group of Companies / Nadiya Manji Brand - CEO and Founder
Nadiya Manji is a thought leader in the area of utilizing emotional intelligence in leading your life and business. Originally from Pakistan, Nadiya has worked with numerous clients over 3 continents, for over 15 years and has decided to make Canada her home. Through many adversities, she has powered through to create a place for herself on the emotional intelligence and leadership stage. She strongly believes that emotional intelligence and leadership skills can be utilized in both our personal and professional lives. Nadiya is also a 2018 TEDx Speaker, Author and is currently completing her designation as a clinical hypnotherapist. I believe Nadiya is a prime candidate for this award as she has worked with many people helping break through their inner blocks and barriers to attain the best life possible. There is no one more deserving than Nadiya Manji.
Mikaella Celestin
Ottawa Hair Loss Clinic & Wellness - CEO
Mikaella is making a massive difference in Canada with Trichology. She is the first black owned operated Trichology clinic in Canada. She been helping peoples regaining confidence and growing their hair back by applying only holistic approach. She also an incredible business woman managing different businesses.
Unstoppable Tracy - 2019 Women of Inspiration Change Agent Award
Unstoppable Tracy - Expert on Disarming Limiting Beliefs, International Award-Winning Leader & Speaker, TV Host & Bestselling Author
A Woman of Inspiration fosters understanding and conviction. those around her know what’s expected of them and others and in this world and are compelled and influenced to agree because they feel a meaningful value to jump on board and activate change together. Unstoppable Tracy
You are going to be blown away …not only is she a powerhouse from an inspiration and motivational standpoint after over 50 million views 2019 this woman is also a powerhouse in business. TV Show host Unstoppable Tracy is a #1 international mega-success and TEDX speaker who spoke in 40+ countries. She has shared the stage and events with Dr. Phil, Jane Fonda, Mark Wahlberg, Michael Douglas, Mel Gibson, John Travolta and dozens of more A-listers! Her mind-blowing story always gets standing ovations pushing audiences out of their limitation zones to taking action.
Tracy has been in magazines such as in OPRAH’s “O” and Chatelaine and on covers like Thrive and in Business Booster Today as well as seen on ABC, BBC, CBC and many more globally around the world … As 2018/19's #1 Transformational Leader Global Female by the John Maxwell Team out of 160 countries… she has represented companies such as Air Canada, Shoppers Drug Mart, and Uber in times of crisis …where Tracy became a major disruptor of normal, resulting in out-performing the stock market.
She has climbed the Himalaya Mountains and captained tall ships in the Eastern Atlantic and a decorated world cup athlete in a male-dominated sport of sailing who has lived as a Premier Awarded Humanitarian in developing countries such as Uganda, Nepal, Mexico and Jamaica to name only a few!!!
Tracy is both a Best-Selling Author on Amazon and with her Publisher of the book ‘Unstoppable YOU; Delivering the Limitless Secret’ endorsed by Cup of Chicken Soup for the Soul!
To top it all off... if she is not incredible enough in Business, as a Humanitarian, as a World Cup Sailor and a mountain climber … she was also born a 4-way amputee with no hands and no legs, no problem.
Lindsay Harle-Kadatz - 2019 Women of Inspiration Influencer Award
The Write Harle - Owner
Lindsay Harle-Kadatz is known as the Values Vixen (that…and a quirky human). As a leadership coach and team health consultant, she supports leaders who want to have an immediate and lasting impact on their people - and it starts with values.