In the midst of losing her job, Bobbie Racette set out to build a platform that would economically empower others. As the Founder and CEO of Virtual Gurus, this Cree-Metis champion for Indigenous and the 2SLGBTQIA+ communities is doing just that through her inclusivity-first talent and services solution.

With an eye to ushering a new generation of financially empowered youth, Tecla K. Kalinda, a Senior Analyst at the Bank of Canada, founded ZalaSmart: a financial education company geared towards teaching kids and teens financial literacy by helping them develop personal finance skills to better manage their money.

She raised $1.4 million and co-founded Black Women Talk Tech along the way. Today, Esosa Ighodaro-Johnson wants to help you get out of your own way.

Makini Smith is an award-winning entrepreneur and the founder of A Walk in my Stilettos. As a mindset coach and Proctor Gallagher certified consultant, Makini helps you turn your goals into accomplishments.

Erin Blaskie is a fractional CMO and marketing advisor to startups and scaleups. In 2004, Erin founded one of the first virtual assistance businesses in Canada, served over 300 business across North America and entered into the technology space. As a voracious learner, Erin made a name for herself in the industry, took on many challenges and built a brand as a marketing expert.

Julian Cook is the co-founder and CEO of a London-based tech company called Howamigoing. They are on a mission to prevent 1 million people from having painful performance review processes. Julian and his team have developed an online platform that helps employees get better feedback, more often.

Julian Cook is the co-founder and CEO of a London-based tech company called Howamigoing. They are on a mission to prevent 1 million people from having painful performance review processes. Julian and his team have developed an online platform that helps employees get better feedback, more often.

Mari is the master of her fate. As CEO and founding board member for the Women's Society of Cyberjutsu (WSC) — one of the fastest growing non-profit communities in this space — Mari is propelling the next generation of women and girls in cyber security, helping them take the small, critical steps necessary to grow and protect their wealth along the way.

Pivots are just a part of the process for Julia Slanina. A graduate of the Norman Paterson School of International Affairs, she shifted careers from the foreign service to build stronger communities through connected, human-centred healthcare. As Founder and CEO of Treehouse Medical, she does just that — empowering maternal health care providers and mothers to raise the next generation of healthy, happy leaders.

Nita Tandon is changing the world, one household at a time. A seasoned sustainable health expert, Nita brings more than two decades of experience as a pharmaceutical and biotech professional to her work as the founder and CEO of Dalcini Stainless, an award-winning maker of safe, simple and sustainable storage containers and housewares made from recyclable, toxic-free Stainless Steel.

Sem Ponnambalam refuses to settle on her dreams. The President and Co-founder of XAHIVE, Sem drives the businesses global operations, fuelled by her mission to empower people, businesses and nation-states from the devastating repercussions of cybersecurity breaches.