Tech

Precious Kolawole is a renowned manifester of excellence in the tech field. Drawing on facets of her experience as a Dev Degree Intern at Shopify, an Undergraduate Researcher, and her academics in Computer Science (Honors) at Carleton University, Precious has successfully carved out a niche for herself as an adept Data Scientist, with proficiency in machine learning, deep learning, and software engineering. Precious solves problems at the intersection of Artificial Intelligence and Healthcare; this inspired her brief attempt to pursue an undergraduate degree in Medical Rehabilitation at Obafemi Awolowo University, Nigeria. She started her career as a Data Scientist at Lendsqr and later became the Founding Data Scientist at Nazari, a dynamic opinion mining platform for crypto assets on the Algorand protocol. Her remarkable work and passion have placed her in the spotlight, earning her several prestigious awards, including the Google Generation, Palantir Women In Tech(North America), Cadence Diversity in Tech, Grace Hopper, and Carleton University Student Life Awards. Culminating in these accolades, she was bestowed the Ms. Algorithm Award, making her the Best Female Data Starlet in Nigeria in 2020. Precious believes anyone can do big things from even the smallest places, especially women, which is why she speaks and volunteers for organizations like She Code Africa, Zindi Africa, Open Source Community Africa, Techsploration, Technovation, and Women Tech Network. On her YouTube Channel, One Stop For Tech Newbies, she creates content tackling the problems of young aspiring tech beginners from Africa and other parts of the world.

Danielle Brewin Graham is a trailblazer in venture capital and angel investing, with a distinct focus on advancing women within the tech industry. As the General Partner at Phoenix Fire and Co-Founder of The Firehood, an innovative angel-stage VC fund and network, she is dedicated to propelling women-led tech startups to the forefront of the industry. Her strategic investments in emerging tech companies, coupled with advisory roles at notable institutions such as ventureLAB, Brampton Venture Zone, and Foresight, have solidified her reputation as a leader in this space. Danielle's extensive experience spans technology and entrepreneurship, where she has played a crucial role in scaling groundbreaking enterprises throughout Canada. Her leadership in the Ready 4 Market initiative at the Ontario Centres of Innovation, her consultancy in Human Capital at Deloitte, and her management of the Women in Tech Program at Communitech all underscore her deep-rooted expertise. As the founder of the Fierce Founders Programs, Canada’s first accelerator specifically designed for women entrepreneurs over a decade ago, she has established herself as a transformative figure in the industry. She has a deep academic background, including an MBA from Wilfrid Laurier University, an MA from Dalhousie University, and a BA from Trinity College, University of Toronto. 

Marissa is the Co-Founder and COO of Spontivly, a leading data analytics platform empowering teams to build simple data dashboards without the need for a data engineer. Spontivly provides intuitive solutions that transform complex information into clear insights, making data accessible and actionable for everyone. At Spontivly, Marissa oversees customer experience, marketing, and product development. Previously, she led an accelerator community that grew to 5,000 members during her tenure. In 2023, Marissa was recognized as the Top Youth Entrepreneur of the Year in North America and Tampa Bay's Emerging Tech Leader.

I bring a refined approach to value creation at the intersection of business and technology. I have grown my career at leading global consulting firms (Boston Consulting Group, Deloitte, Accenture) where I honed my analytical and strategic framing skills. I have also scaled growth at a Series B funded AI startup focused on the insurance space that raised over $40M. In my current role at Google, leveraging my experiences as strategist and operator, I work as a thought partner for business and government leaders helping craft a path towards transformation through Google's AI and cloud technologies. Notably, I recently led a first in Canada deal that saw Nova Scotia Health and Google partner to bring three AI use cases to transform the citizen experience and better support clinicians provide care. Outside of work, I am passionate about public policy and community development. I believe that a thriving community requires unlocking the potential of all its residents in order to grow the pie and thrive. I serve on the Board of Directors for Eva's Initiatives, a leading non-profit that provides shelter, housing, training, and support for youth experiencing homelessness in Toronto. On any given night Eva’s supports ~200 youth. I have also been selected as a 2025 CivicAction DiverseCity Fellow, this fellowship brings together leaders across the GTHA to focus on tackling the region's biggest challenges across affordability, housing, and polarization.

Ishaan is an award-winning entrepreneur and innovator in the CleanTech and AgTech sectors. Named Canada’s CleanTech Youth Founder of the Year & BC 30 Under 30, he sold his first business by age 23 and was the youngest person to develop an award-winning medical device in the Canadian CancerTech industry. His expertise spans multidisciplinary engineering, from CancerTech to Aerospace, which he has leveraged to disrupt traditional farming with SkyAcres. Ishaan’s personal connection to the challenges in agriculture—his friends and extended family’s farms having been impacted by climate disasters—drives his mission to democratize farming through low-cost, energy-efficient vertical farming solutions. His work has earned recognition from investors, accelerators, and industry leaders, including participation in the Google Startup Accelerator. Passionate about sustainability and innovation, Ishaan continues to push boundaries, making farming more accessible and profitable for small farmers and individuals alike.

May is currently a Sales Leader at Webflow, where she has been a key contributor to the company’s growth over the past two years. Initially joining as a key member of the Enterprise team, she transitioned into leadership to scale her impact across the sales organization. May’s leadership is grounded in a values-driven approach, emphasizing motivational coaching, empathy, and authenticity to build high-performing, results-oriented teams. Passionate about diversity and inclusion, May launched and has co-led Women at Webflow for two years, driving initiatives to empower women in technology. Prior to Webflow, she spent 9.5 years at Salesforce, where she gained extensive experience encompassing the entire SaaS sales process, across various segments and industries. This experience deepened her expertise in sales strategy and leadership. Before her software career, May was a professional basketball player, an experience that instilled in her a strong commitment to teamwork, discipline, and resilience. With a focus on growth, empowerment, and sustainable success, May continues to drive innovation and excellence.

Raghav Gopalakrishnan is a results-driven product leader with a passion for building and scaling innovative products using first-principles thinking. He has a proven track record of developing high-impact solutions that drive significant revenue and business growth. At HackerRank, Raghav created a 0-1 Interview Product that was rapidly adopted by large enterprises during the pandemic, helping diversify the company’s revenue streams. This product contributed to over $30M in ARR and played a crucial role in securing Series-D funding. At Radius, he spearheaded the development of a paid agent-referral product that generated over $1M in ARR, supporting the company’s successful Series-A funding round. At Loblaws, Raghav established a new Product-Led Growth (PLG) team, driving business efficiencies and improving topline metrics across the organization. Currently, at Pulse Labs AI, a UX research company backed by Google and Amazon, Raghav leads new product initiatives that address critical user research challenges for enterprise teams. His focus is on building scalable AI SaaS solutions that empower product and business teams to make better decisions, drive innovation, and accelerate revenue growth. Throughout his career, Raghav has consistently identified market opportunities, launched successful products, and implemented strategies that create long-term value. His expertise spans AI, SaaS, PLG, and enterprise solutions, making him a key driver of innovation and revenue expansion in the organizations he serves.

Brayden is the co-founder and CEO of 3Common, a modern operating system for event and experience-driven businesses. He has a proven track record in entrepreneurship, creativity, and initiative. At 17, he started his first venture as a music producer and recording artist, achieving over 9 million streams and providing services to other artists.

Rutuja Jori is a dynamic leader in Canada’s innovation ecosystem, driving startup growth, investment readiness, and strategic partnerships. With over seven years of experience in venture development and stakeholder management, she has played a pivotal role in scaling high-potential startups and fostering impactful collaborations between founders, investors, and ecosystem partners. As Venture Services Manager at Altitude Accelerator, Rutuja has transformed startup support programs, managing a portfolio of over 200 tech startups and leading strategic partnerships with Brampton Angels, NRC, OCI, SDTC, IPON, and IDEA Mississauga, creating commercialization and funding opportunities for startups. Her leadership in investment readiness initiatives has helped founders secure significant private capital and government funding. Previously, at ventureLAB, she was instrumental in launching automotive and medtech accelerator programs, supporting startups in scaling their hardware innovations. She has helped commercialize over 70 products, generating $25M+ in revenue and contributing to the creation of 60+ jobs. Beyond venture development, Rutuja is deeply committed to peer-to-peer learning and founder empowerment. She leads Ask A Founder, a monthly webinar series that highlights successful entrepreneurs, providing invaluable insights to early-stage founders and fostering a community of learning and collaboration. In addition to her work in the startup ecosystem, Rutuja serves as the Head of Partnerships and Community Relations at Project 200, a mission-driven organization dedicated to executing 200 high-impact projects aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs). Through this role, she is actively building partnerships and mobilizing talent to drive meaningful, lasting change in communities.

Erin “RobotZwrrl” Kennedy (she/they) is an eccentric robot maker and analogue astronaut. She develops low-cost robots that address environmental challenges, leveraging creative new-media art forms. To actively engage environmental stewards, both young and old, Erin brings her robots outdoors into public parks where participants can interact hands-on — gaining a tangible understanding of how robots can be used to support conservation. This led to engaging with hundreds of environmental stewards and robot enthusiasts through a summer-long mission pilot on a beach in Ottawa, ON. She unconventionally learned to build robots being self-taught online and through mentorship, leading to studies at International Space University. Erin's curiosity-driven approach has earned her recognition as a Rising Star in Embedded Systems at Sensors Converge in Silicon Valley, the Lieutenant Governor's Visionaries' Prize finalist, and a Hackaday Prize finalist — along with coveted hand-drawn artwork from young aspiring robot builders. As well, she has demonstrated her robots to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, TEDxMechanicsville, Discovery Channel, and more. She has notably tested her robots at the Mars Desert Research Station during an analogue astronaut mission and at the Canadian Space Agency terrain. Committed to open innovation, Erin shares her designs freely, with several of her creations certified by the Open Source Hardware Association. To further her mission, she founded Robot Missions Inc. Explore her work at: https://robotzwrrl.xyz

 Michelle Wehbe is a globally experienced marketing leader with a passion for working with diverse cultures and multidisciplinary teams. Having worked in over seven countries across various industries, she firmly believes that innovation thrives at the intersection of differing perspectives. She embraces collaboration across cultures and disciplines, recognizing that every individual brings unique expertise that fuels creativity and problem-solving. At the hear of her work is a commitment to authentic connection and relationship-building. She invests in people, not just projects, ensuring that the communities she is part of grow, evolve, and succeed together. Her belief in marketing as a force for good drives her approach-she champions organizations that not only advance their business objectives but also find ways to contribute to the greater good. A passionate advocate for social marketing, Michelle believes that large organizations have the power to shape society through philanthropy, ethical storytelling, and community driven initiatives. She works to help businesses align their brand impact with meaningful action, ensuring their voice extends beyond profit into purpose. Her ultimate mission in her career is to make high-quality marketing accessible to all charities, empowering them with the tools to amplify their voices and expand their reach. 
 

Ammar Memon is the co-founder & COO of Quickly, a B2B fintech company focused on automating and scaling early payment programs for businesses - enabling suppliers to access capital whenever they need it while helping buyers improve their bottom line through discounts. With a background in accounting, finance, and digital transformation, Ammar brings deep expertise in scaling businesses through strategic growth, acquisitions, and financial innovation. Before launching Quickly, he was Director of Financial Reporting at STEP Energy Services, where he played a key role in the company’s IPO and expansion across North America. A CPA with a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Calgary, Ammar has led many initiatives building financial infrastructure for high-growth organizations. At Quickly, he is focused on streamlining B2B transactions, integrating accounting systems, and improving payment efficiencies for a diverse range on industries.

Norissa Samuels is a leader in the creator economy, currently serving as the first Creator Partnerships Lead for Snapchat in Canada. Based in Toronto, she oversees relationships with Canadian public figures and content creators, helping them unlock creativity and maximize brand partnership opportunities. Previously, she led athlete and creator partnerships at TikTok Canada, where she played a key role in growing the platform's creator ecosystem. With a strong background in brand partnerships and digital strategy, Norissa has spent the last decade developing impactful collaborations across sports, entertainment, and media. She is also passionate about community building and supporting the growth of emerging creators.

Janice Liu has always had an eye for spotting opportunities others overlook. As one of the youngest senior leaders at Cossette Media, one of Canada’s largest media agencies, she helped brands like Toyota, TELUS, and the Government of Canada use data to make smarter business decisions. But while AI and data were transforming industries like finance and tech, she saw that media agencies and marketing teams were barely scratching the surface — stuck in outdated ways of working and missing out on real growth opportunities. Realizing the industry wasn’t moving fast enough, Janice decided to bet on herself. She left behind the security of an executive role to build something new —The Mantis Group, a company focused on helping businesses turn their own data into competitive advantage. In just one year, she scaled Mantis into a 7-figure business, working with companies like Purolator, easyfinancial, and Publicis Groupe to help them unlock the real value of their data.

Sumeet is the founder and CEO of Starboard. Starboard is a venture funded company that is building virtual infrastructure for global trade and backed by largest supply chain VCs in silicon valley. Sumeet has lived in 5 different countries across Asia, Europe and NA. He was the founding GM of Flexport in Canada and have had stints at BCG [Denmark], Maersk [India, Singapore, Dubai] and a unicorn trucking startup [India, Singapore]. He holds an MBA from IMD Switzerland [ranked no. 1 in Europe by Forbes and top 20 B school globally]

Jackson is the co-founder & CEO of Quandri - the Renewal Intelligence Platform for insurance brokerages and agencies. The Quandri platform optimizes every part of the personal lines renewal process. Using data intelligence and AI, Quandri ingests and understands all information about an upcoming renewal, highlights cancellation risks, cross-sell and upsell opportunities, and E&O risks. This data is segmented and presented to front-line staff so they are prioritizing the right renewals, and have all the data they need at their fingertips. 

As the Director of AI at PwC, Danielle plays a key role in driving the growth of the Cloud, Data, and AI Practice in Western Canada, with a focus on AI and Generative AI in the Public and Private Sector. Danielle is known for building national teams, labs and partnerships with over a decade of experience in advancing the commercialization of cutting-edge products and services from 0 to 1. Her expertise spans B2B and B2C SaaS, with a specialization in AI, AR, and cloud technologies. Before joining PwC, she led the launch of The51 Ventures investment platform, M51, securing $1.8M in funding and activating $1.5M in early-stage capital. At AltaML, she established the Artificial Intelligence Talent and Experimentation Lab, training 240 individuals in Applied AI Methodology and developing over 70 AI use cases for private and public sector clients. She also played a key role in launching the Creative Destruction Lab (CDL) Rockies site in Calgary. As a Venture Manager and Recruitment Lead, her efforts contributed to over $250M in equity value creation across ventures in health, operations, energy, and fintech. A sought-after speaker and moderator, Danielle regularly presents at national technology conferences such as Elevate Festival, Collision, and SaaS North, where she drives discussions on emerging technologies and innovation. In her spare time, she serves as an Adjunct Professor at the University of Calgary, teaching an AI in Business course for MBA students.

Malek is a technical leader and enterprise architect at Priceline. With over 8+ years in performance engineering and scalable cloud systems between New York and Toronto. He contributed to Priceline's transition from on-premises infrastructure to a cloud-native architecture, enhancing system observability. Malek also played a pivotal role in establishing Priceline's Toronto office, shaping its engineering culture. Malek also founded Tekmanda, a restaurant management system in the MENA region. He is a licensed pilot and avid traveler, Malek is passionate about aviation, technology, and the future of urban mobility. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Winona State University.

Heather Page is the Chief of Staff at TribalScale, a global innovation firm helping enterprises thrive in the digital era. She works closely with leadership on people & culture, operations, and marketing, driving strategic initiatives that enhance team engagement, streamline processes, and strengthen TribalScale’s brand. With nearly a decade in tech, including roles in customer success, marketplace management, and now executive operations, Heather blends business strategy with a deep commitment to fostering strong company culture. She also contributes to thought leadership, advocating for human-centric innovation in digital transformation. Beyond TribalScale, Heather is the co-founder and race director of Rev & Run, a 5K charity race on the Toronto Honda Indy track. She launched the event to merge her passions for running and auto racing, attracting 500 runners in its inaugural year and raising more than $30,000 for the Parkdale Community Food Bank to date. Her leadership in community engagement, sponsorships, and marketing has positioned Rev & Run as a standout experience in the city’s running scene. Heather’s career is defined by her ability to build strong teams, drive operational excellence, and create meaningful connections—whether in the boardroom or on the race track.

Leah Bae is an organizer and strategist specializing in the intersection of tech and social impact. With over 13 years of experience, she has guided progressive organizations with their innovation programs, digital strategies, and community engagement across the US, UK, and Canada. She is currently the VP of Programs & Partnerships at Higher Ground Labs — the leading funder, accelerator, and incubator of progressive political technology. In her role, she supports 60+ political tech startups in scaling through the firm's platform initiatives and their flagship Political Tech Startup Accelerator. She also oversees the firm's anchor programs, including the Progressive AI Lab, a 2024 elections program that saved political campaigns 21,000 hours of staff time, conserved $16 million, and trained 3,600+ professionals on responsible AI usage. Two issues close to Leah’s heart are mental health and civic engagement. Before working in venture capital, she founded the social impact consultancy Cause Digital and co-founded the mental health nonprofit The Burnout Project and the civic technology community Civic Tech Vancouver. She has been recognized for her work as a DiverseCity Fellow by CivicAction, Global Shaper by the World Economic Forum, Social Innovation Fellow by RADIUS SFU, and a TD Scholar for Community Leadership. She is a proud alumna of the boards of Hollyhock, YWCA Toronto, and CityHive. Outside of work, Leah loves traveling the world, exploring new cultures, and bringing people together.

As SVP of Revenue at Push Operations, Cam Harold oversees Sales, Partnerships, Customer Success, Expansion, and Implementation, driving a cohesive GTM strategy that has tripled revenue in under three years. With over a decade of experience spanning startups, scale-ups, incubation zones, and mature high-growth companies, he has developed deep expertise in scaling revenue teams, optimizing GTM efficiency, and maximizing customer lifetime value. Prior to Push Operations, Cam worked in healthcare tech at PointClickCare, one of Canada’s largest privately held SaaS companies, where he gained experience in scaling revenue teams and driving market expansion. Before transitioning into the Canadian SaaS space, he played D-1 baseball in both Alabama and California, developing the discipline, resilience, and competitive mindset that continue to shape his leadership style today. Cam specializes in building repeatable revenue engines, leading teams through 100% YOY growth, expanding into new markets, building high-performing teams, and launching new revenue channels—all while reducing payback periods through process unification. His approach blends data-driven decision-making, a deep focus on customers, and a culture of high accountability and execution. He believes in grit over talent, execution over strategy, and speed over perfection—a philosophy that defines his leadership style. Beyond revenue leadership, Cam has had various speaking opportunities, sharing insights on scaling revenue teams, GTM efficiency, and customer-centric growth. Most recently he has been featured on panels, discussing topics like AI in restaurants, California labor laws, and navigating industry shifts.

Sarah is a seasoned professional with over 15 years experience in fintech, banking and higher education in Canada, the USA, and the UK, working across teams to drive growth, streamline operations, and support the CEO in scaling the business. She is the Chief of Staff at Loop Financial, a cross border banking platform for Canadian businesses.

As CTO and co-founder of Metronome, I’m building technology that empowers homeowners to optimize every decision they make and dollar they spend. With over a decade of experience delivering software at scale, I’ve tackled complex challenges across industries. Before launching Metronome, I led engineering teams at CoreLogic and Slalom. I’m passionate about building high-performing teams and leveraging technology to drive meaningful change. Now, as an entrepreneur, I’m channeling that experience into creating something transformative for homeowners.

Tamara Grominsky is an award-winning product marketing leader, entrepreneur, and the founder of PMM Camp, a media company and community shaping the next generation of product marketers. For over a decade, Tamara has been at the forefront of modern product marketing, leading high-performing teams and launching category-defining products at companies like FreshBooks, Unbounce, and Kajabi. At Unbounce, she climbed from Senior Product Marketing Manager to Chief Strategy Officer in just four years, spearheading an AI-powered product strategy that helped secure $38.4M USD in private equity funding. Under her leadership, Unbounce was named the Best Place to Work in Product Marketing by the Product Marketing Alliance in 2021. Beyond the corporate world, Tamara has made it her mission to elevate the craft of product marketing. She’s trained over 2,800 product marketers through her courses, shared insights on global stages like Inbound and the Product Marketing Summit, and now runs PMM Camp, a thriving community where product marketing leaders can sharpen their skills, build meaningful connections, and take their careers to the next level. In less than two years, she’s grown PMM Camp into a multiple six-figure business, with over 7,500 members from companies like Google, TikTok, and Shopify. A builder at heart, Tamara isn’t just shaping the industry—she’s shaping the leaders who will define its future.

Dan Monafu is a community builder, serial small business owner, and public servant. At the community level, Dan has started a number of initiatives, including: Soup Ottawa, a participatory micro-grant event held seasonally which has brought together more than 2,500 people to fund worthwhile community-benefit projects; Ottawa (de)tours, which used the walking tour model to invite Canadians to critically think about complex issues shaping Canada; and, Ottawa Civic Tech, a community group of individuals working to strengthen civics and who think policy, technology and inspiration can solve tough problems and make communities better. In the public sector, Dan has worked on system-level public sector innovation initiatives for over a decade. Highlights have included leading the Government of Canada’s experimentation community, and modernizing the government’s ability to use novel tools by expanding departments’ ability to use outcome-based funding models, microgrants, or prizes and challenges. An active speaker on experimentation, the new philanthropy, and new partnerships models, his work has been featured nationally and internationally in newsprint, radio or TV. Dan was included in Apolitical’s inaugural 100 future leaders: the world’s most influential young people in government.

I started my career at TELUS before joining Google Canada, where I worked on various product initiatives across Payments and Hardware. Later, I moved to San Francisco with Google to join the Next Billion Users team, building technology for emerging markets. In 2023 I became one of the first employees at Rec Technologies. At Rec, we’re transforming how people connect with their communities through sports, hobbies, and recreation. We partner with local institutions to make it easier for everyone to access facilities and programs, reimagining recreation with a focus on accessibility and equity.

Miranda Russell is the Chief of Staff at Helcim, a payments company that delivers an easier, smarter, and more affordable payment experience with a human touch. She supports Helcim’s Executive Team and ensures the company remains on tempo by working with senior leaders across the organization. Prior to joining Helcim, Miranda worked for a multinational oil and gas company in recruitment marketing and employer branding.

Feiran Zhou is a seasoned Business Development and Investment Professional with a passion for innovation. With over 10 years of experience in the Ontario’s innovation ecosystem, she has supported mission-driven founders and companies across diverse sectors in commercialization, fundraising, industry-academic collaborations, and the adoption of emerging technologies. As a selection committee member for Angel Investor Networks, Feiran evaluates and identifies high-potential technology startups for investment opportunities. She is particularly passionate about entrepreneurship, with a strong commitment to empowering female founders and fostering diversity in the innovation community. Having lived and worked in China, the Netherlands, and Canada, Feiran brings a global perspective, to business, investment, and entrepreneurship. she continues to be a bridge-builder and catalyst for cross-cultural partnerships, shaping the future of innovation.

Tyler Hennick is the Managing Director of Presia Ag Insights, a McCain Foods company that leverages satellite and other remote technologies to predict crop growth and support overall food supply. Tyler leads a team of data scientists and software engineers to build and run this service for Canadian and global companies that care about how potatoes grow and improving farm sustainability. While a niche application of AI and earth observation technology, the power of global insights can improve the effectiveness and sustainability of Canada’s supply network for potatoes - and other crops in the future. Tyler has spent the better part of the last decade working in various unique roles within the food and agriculture industries. On the agriculture side, he worked as a project leader at an Ethiopian NGO focused on designing supply chain interventions that support rural smallholder farmers. On the food side, he has worked in strategy and analytics roles at Uber Eats and McCain Foods. Tyler has also served as a juror with Impact Canada in a volunteer capacity, supporting the organization’s Food Waste Reduction Challenge which has helped Canadian companies that are tackling the issues of food waste and loss. Tyler holds a Bachelors of Commerce and a Masters of Management in Artificial Intelligence, both from Queen’s University.

Jenny McElwain is a Senior Consultant in Navigator’s Toronto office, where she provides counsel on strategic communications, issues management, and government relations mandates. She has worked across diverse sectors, helping Canadian businesses, non-profits, and public figures navigate complex challenges, protect their reputations, and engage stakeholders effectively. Jenny has played a key role in several national activation and persuasion campaigns, supporting organizations in engaging the public, addressing existential policy issues, and achieving their goals. Prior to joining Navigator, Jenny worked at Ontario’s Ministry of Transportation where she assisted in the delivery of Toronto’s Priority Subway Projects and the Transit-Oriented Communities Program. In addition, she worked for Global Affairs Canada as part of the Commercial Trade team at the High Commission of Canada in Canberra, Australia. Jenny holds a Master of Public Policy from the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Western University.

Shreyansh Manchanda is the Founder and CEO of CaterDash, a startup transforming corporate and event catering by connecting companies with the best local restaurants. Under his leadership, CaterDash has delivered thousands of meals for over 250 companies like Microsoft, EY, BMO, Amazon, RBC, PepsiCo, BDC, Workday, Brex, P&G, Harper Grey, National Bank, Boast, Arc'teryx, UBC, SFU, VGH, Spring, Ripple VC, Vancouver Startup Week (VSW), Vancouver Entrepreneurs Forum (VEF), Vancouver Tech Week (VTW), UBC, SFU, Northeastern University, University Canada West (UCW) etc. and are currently catering for over 90% of tech events in Vancouver. Shreyansh launched CaterDash with a vision to make high-quality catering more accessible and cost-effective while supporting local restaurants with consistent, profitable orders. His platform streamlines the catering procurement process, providing companies with diverse cuisine options, seamless logistics, and exclusive event sponsorships through food discounts. Beyond CaterDash, Shreyansh is deeply passionate about entrepreneurship, technology, and Vancouver’s growing startup ecosystem. A strong advocate for supporting local businesses, Shreyansh chose to build his company in Vancouver to contribute to the city’s economic growth. With a data-driven approach and a commitment to innovation, Shreyansh is redefining the catering industry, making it more efficient, affordable, and community-driven.

With a background in astrophysics and a passion for digital creation, Derek Attewell thrives at the intersection of analytical thinking and creative problem-solving. As a marketing and product leader at SoftwareReviews, he takes a big-picture approach, designing scalable systems and products that adapt to a fast-changing tech landscape. Bridging strategy, data, and design, Derek creates holistic solutions that drive engagement and industry impact. He see's beyond individual components—connecting the dots across the entire tech stack to build platforms that work seamlessly at scale.

Government can be a force for good, but so much of it is broken in Canada today. I have been obsessed with this idea all my life, and have worked to improve government in whatever way I can. I worked for years as a strategy and operations consultant at Deloitte, using technology to solve government problems. I quit my job to start Publicus, because I saw firsthand how broken our procurement system is. Publicus automates procurement for SMBs so they can focus on what they do best, delivering quality goods and services to the public. By solving this problem, everybody wins. Businesses save money on procurement, government saves money on contracts with increased competition, and citizens ultimately pay less in taxes.

Michael Ruffolo is an innovative marketing leader with a track record of building impactful brand strategies and pioneering creator-driven marketing initiatives. After earning a B.Comm and MBA from the Odette School of Business, he led a strategic marketing revamp that helped transform the Windsor International Film Festival into the largest volunteer-run film festival in Canada. He then brought his expertise to Crayola and Wasserman, helping both brands develop Gen Z strategies tailored to the evolving digital landscape. Recognizing the power of gaming and digital communities, Michael founded a gaming and esports agency, The Huxley Group, where he managed influencer talent and led brand strategies for companies across North America, like Grubhub. In 2021, he joined Shopify to launch the company’s creator program, building a team dedicated to amplifying entrepreneurial stories and inspiring the next generation of business owners. Today, he leads Shopify’s largest creator partnerships with MrBeast and Ryan Trahan while helping map go-to-market strategies for creator products.

Azia is the co-founder of DilatoTech, a digital health platform and mobile app designed to support individuals experiencing painful sex due to pelvic tension. With over 11 years of expertise in social media marketing (@azia_mery), she became TikTok’s first vaginismus-led content creator, building a dedicated community of over 60,000 members and raising awareness about genito-pelvic pain disorders through her personal journey. After struggling with vaginismus for six years, Azia was determined to create a comprehensive, accessible solution for those navigating pelvic pain. Alongside her co-founder, Ellie Hong, a pelvic floor physiotherapist, they developed one of the first digital therapy programs tailored for individuals with vaginal pain disorders. Since launching, DilatoTech has helped over 63,000 women and vulva owners on their healing journeys, providing expert-led education, tools, and support. Azia has become a recognized thought leader in vaginal health, frequently featured in publications like Refinery29 and Women's Health Magazine. Through her platform, she provides educational resources, recovery vlogs, and practical tools to help others on their healing journey. DilatoTech’s app has earned a 5-star rating, reflecting its impact and effectiveness in addressing pelvic pain with expert-led guidance. With a mission to bridge the gap in sexual health education and care, Azia continues to advocate for greater awareness, accessibility, and empowerment for those experiencing pelvic and sexual pain disorders. 

I’m Shivani Prajapati, a strategic and results-oriented leader driven by a passion for delivering exceptional member experiences. In my current role as Director, Member Services at Info-Tech Research Group, I work alongside a talented team in developing consultative & innovative IT strategies to maximize member value and drive engagement. Prior to this, as Manager, Strategic Relationships at Blackhawk Network, I managed a portfolio generating over $700M in revenue, consistently exceeding profitability targets by fostering strong relationships and delivering tailored solutions. I believe in empowering others, as demonstrated by developing and implementing a training program for Sun Life Financial that significantly reduced ramp-up time for new hires. Beyond my professional pursuits, I am deeply committed to animal welfare. Whether volunteering at the local animal shelter, or fostering a dog, it is here that I demonstrate my belief in creating a supportive environment and also give back to the community in the best possible way I can.

I’m Linda Abraham, a Director of Product Management at Priceline with over eight years of experience in travel tech. I started my career as a backend developer at PayPal before transitioning into Product Management. I started my travel industry journey at Hopper, where I helped build Hopper’s flights product. Now, at Priceline, I lead teams focused on creating seamless, trustworthy travel user experiences by combining data, customer insights, and innovation. I love solving complex problems and finding ways to make travel better for everyone. Outside of work, I’m an avid traveler and enjoy singing in my free time.

Samantha Campana is a seasoned communications executive, with nearly 15 years of experience in communications and marketing. Sam currently serves as Head of Communications at Cisco Canada and is responsible for internal, executive and external communications and brand reputation at one of the largest global technology companies. Prior to joining Cisco, Sam spent over a decade working at leading communications agencies including Agnostic, Edelman and Ketchum. Using her strong background in B2B and technology industries, corporate and strategic communications, executive positioning, branding and integrated marketing, Sam led business for top brands including Cisco, PayPal, SAP Concur, FedEx, Okta, Schneider Electric, H&R Block, Dell and more. Sam is dedicated to helping develop and mentor her peers and young professionals, and most recently volunteered with the Monday Girl to mentor women in business. Sam has a Master's of Professional Communications from Toronto Metropolitan University (Ryerson University) and a Honours BA in Communications from Wilfrid Laurier University.

I'm building a new-era revenue platform to challenge legacy CRMs like Salesforce & Hubspot. As the GTM Leader, I create our go-to-market strategy and own the revenue goals for our company. I focus on building a diverse, equitable and inclusive culture and empowering my sales teams to be their very best. Our product will enable sales teams to be more efficient, save money and remove the data silos that exist in most companies tech-stack. Definitely a company to watch! Alongside my full-time role at Reevo, I also contribute my knowledge to other founders. I am a mentor for startups at Futurepreneur Canada, helping newly formed companies build strategy and scale. Working with the founders to maximize their chances for success, contributing to sustainable business practices. Previously a first hire for DoorDash Canada, I was recognized as the top sales leader (Presidents Club) for multiple years in a row (800+ sellers). As a first sales hire for DoorDash, I secured their initial partnerships and then scaled a team from 1 seller to 25+ sales reps and 3 sales managers across Canada. We achieved top market share across many Canadian cities, a proud achievement against top companies like UberEats and Skipthedishes. A modest individual with an entrepreneurial passion for building products and teams that will have significant impact.

I'm currently the CEO of Boosted, a company dedicated to building the world's most effective engineering teams—and empowering our clients to achieve the same goal. Since launching around three years ago, Boosted has scaled to over 40 senior engineers across Canada, delivering exceptional product and data solutions for top-tier clients like Coinbase, Google, and Greenshield. Previously, I founded and served as CEO of Float, a leading business banking platform for Canadian businesses, which raised over $100 million in venture capital funding.

I spend my days in the world of AI, data, and business strategy. For over a decade, I've helped companies figure out how to use new tech to work smarter, not harder. I've seen first-hand what works, what doesn't, and what's coming next.

With over 10 years in customer success, Sarah Beatty has built and scaled high-performing CS teams that drive real impact. As Director of Customer Success at Spellbook, she’s led the charge in refining onboarding, renewals, and customer engagement strategies, ensuring customers get maximum value from the platform. A human-first leader, Sarah is passionate about mentoring her team, fostering collaboration, and creating scalable processes that make customer success seamless. She thrives on turning challenges into opportunities—both for customers and her team. When she’s not leading CS initiatives, Sarah loves to travel and will take any excuse to practice her surfing.

Dmytro Grechko is an immigrant from Ukraine, a passionate engineer, and a seasoned entrepreneur with a track record of building and scaling software businesses. With experience managing over 100 software projects, he has developed a deep understanding of engineering, product development, and business strategy. As the founder of **Deskree** ([@deskree.com](https://www.deskree.com/)), Dmytro is on a mission to simplify backend development, enabling developers and startups to build scalable applications faster. Before Deskree, he built multiple software ventures, gaining firsthand experience in product-market fit, fundraising, and scaling operations. Beyond building companies, Dmytro is dedicated to supporting the next generation of founders. Every year, he mentors and assists over 50 entrepreneurs, helping them navigate product development, fundraising, and business growth challenges. With a unique blend of technical expertise and entrepreneurial insight, Dmytro is passionate about turning ideas into reality and fostering a thriving startup ecosystem.

Lover of baked goods, people and technology (in that order), and believes in tech that helps humans. When I'm not working, I'm out doing coffee walks with HR folks, exploring new countries, or convincing my friends to join me for spin class.