I thrive on seeing possibilities where the path forward seems uncertain, unclear or impossible. On supporting others to find that path. And on empowering them to move forward and succeed (or learn from failure and try again until they DO succeed).

 

Currently, I do this through funding and supporting startups and founders via SheEO (a global community of  generous women supporting women + non-binary people helping fund and support women who are working on the UN SDG goals), and as a venture coach and competition judge, speaker, community builder, mentor, and supporter of under-represented groups in tech and beyond. Previously, I applied my strategic, relationship-building, product and tech strengths to a role as Director of Artificial Intelligence Strategy for the enterprise-wide-servicing AI team of the Bank of Montreal (BMO), North America’s 8th largest bank by assets, that has over 45,000 employees serving more than 12 million customers. There I helped our team define and deliver AI solutions that positively impacted customers and businesses in areas of growth, loyalty, productivity, and performance. I also created and built relationships, identified new AI and partnership opportunities, and delivered customer success.

 

Prior to that, I’ve held roles that involved Product Management, Customer Success, UX Design, Business Development, Account Management, People Leadership and Entrepreneurship for companies ranging from tech startups like Taima (acquired by Convergys), Shopify, professional services companies like Myplanet, and household names like Rogers. I’ve also run my own businesses, and been a consultant and advisor for AI startups in the legaltech, healthtech and fintech industries, like ROSS intelligence and Wave Financial.

 

I also provide thought leadership through writing, speaking and running workshops on topics like AI, Strategy, Product, User Experience, Leadership, Diversity and Inclusivity. I do this for individuals, teams, high-school and post-secondary students, and non-technical audiences. I also coach leaders and entrepreneurs, including founders through the SVZ Startup Incubator. Contact me for more information. 

 

As a woman, an ‘out’ LGBTQ+ identified person, and a leader in AI and tech I’m committed to showing up authentically and to community-building, outreach, support, and empowerment initiatives, for under-represented groups. I was recently named one of Canada’s Top 25 Most Influential Women 2020, am a leader on the Vision50 team to define and drive the 10 year strategy (including increased age and gender inclusivity) for TSVL, an over 600 member LGBTQ+ Toronto Sports League, and I am a certified workshop Facilitator/Trainer for #IamRemarkable, a Google initiative empowering women and under-represented groups to celebrate their achievements in the workplace and beyond by improving their self promotion motivation and skills, and by challenging the social perception around self promotion. In the past I was also the Director of Lesbians Who Tech Toronto (2016-2018), the local chapter of LWT Global, the largest LGBTQ community of technologists in the world -committed to visibility, intersectionality, and changing the face of technology -with 40,000 non-binary, LGBTQ women, queer women of colour (and allies) in tech and in over 40+ city chapters worldwide. Contact me if you’d like to learn more about any of these initiatives.