Meet Lori Lalonde, CEO and Founder of Her Executive Ascent Inc., leadership strategist, executive coach, and former technology executive dedicated to helping women step into leadership with confidence and purpose.
With nearly 30 years of experience in the technology industry, including senior leadership roles at Microsoft and Manulife, Lori has led large-scale digital transformation initiatives, built high-performing teams, and navigated complex organizational change. Today, she uses those experiences to help accelerate the advancement of women leaders through coaching, mentorship, and leadership development programs.

Passionate about empowering women to stop waiting for permission and start owning their leadership potential, Lori helps professionals strengthen their confidence, find their voice, and create meaningful impact in their careers and communities.

Interested in watching this podcast in a video format? Click ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to check out the full YouTube video!

Meet Amy Au, Founder of Innovate You, an ICF Professional Certified Coach (PCC) and Fascinate® Certified Advisor dedicated to empowering women in STEM to lead with confidence and authenticity.

With over 25 years in the technology sector, including more than a decade in leadership roles, Amy brings firsthand insight into navigating and succeeding in male-dominated spaces. She specializes in helping women amplify their voices, uncover their unique strengths, and step into leadership with clarity and impact.

In 2024, Amy became an international best-selling author through her collaborative book Evolution of Leadership in STEM: Women Catalyzing Change. Through her work as a Fascinate® Certified Advisor, she supports individuals and teams in becoming high-performing, collaborative, and confident in their authentic identity.

Beyond her professional work, Amy is also a certified #IAmRemarkable facilitator, actively supporting women and underrepresented groups in building confidence through self-promotion, personal growth, and professional development.

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Engineering student at Toronto Metropolitan University with a strong passion for leadership, community building, and advancing opportunities for women in STEAM.

She has taken on impactful student leadership roles, including serving as Vice President of Outreach for Women in Engineering (WiE), where she focused on fostering inclusive spaces, strengthening industry connections, and supporting student engagement. Currently, Nadia is the Logistics Coordinator for Women in Innovation, Science and Health (WiSH) at TMU, supporting initiatives that bring together students and professionals working at the intersection of femtech, innovation, and STEM.

Through her experiences, Nadia is dedicated to creating inclusive, community-driven spaces that uplift women in STEAM and open doors for future leaders.

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Meet Gini Wong, a seasoned technology executive with over 20 years of experience leading digital and business transformation across financial services, wealth management, government, and enterprise sectors.
With deep expertise in software development, program management, and Agile transformation, Gini has led large-scale strategic initiatives that drive measurable business impact. Her work centers on aligning enterprise IT strategies with organizational goals while building high-performing, collaborative teams.
Beyond systems and strategy, Gini is committed to cultivating supportive work environments where individuals are empowered to grow, lead, and contribute at their highest potential.

Interested in watching this podcast in a video format? Click ⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠ to check out the full YouTube video!

Meet Dr. Anna Olanrewaju, scientist, pharmaceutical professional, and founder dedicated to expanding access and opportunity for women in STEM. Currently a sales representative at GSK, she focuses on growing the respiratory portfolio while building strong, strategic partnerships across the healthcare space. Previously a Provost Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Toronto, Anna specialized in designing small-molecule drug leads for rare cancers such as Fibrolamellar Carcinoma. She holds a BSc in Biopharmaceutical Chemistry, along with a M.Sc. and Ph.D. in Chemistry from Dalhousie University and the University of Ottawa. Beyond her work in research and industry, Anna is the founder of Empowering Female Minds in STEM (EFeMS), a nonprofit supporting over 300 women across Africa with mentorship, resources, and tools to thrive in STEM careers. Through her leadership, she continues to create pathways for women of colour to grow, lead, and innovate globally.

Interested in watching this podcast in a video format? Click ⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠ to check out the full YouTube video!

Meet Jeannette Richards, an award-winning IT professional, mental health advocate, and founder of Be Mentally Motivated. Jeannette’s story begins with her first VIC-20 computer, sparking a lifelong passion for technology that led to a successful career in the financial sector’s IT support and multiple Spotlight Awards for excellence.Jeannette opens up about navigating the realities of living with a mental health diagnosis, breaking down mental health stigma in the Black community, and how her late psychotherapist’s compassion inspired her to pursue an Honours BA in Psychology. She also shares her mission to combine her expertise in technology with mental health advocacy to create inclusive workplaces, safe spaces, and meaningful conversations.

Interested in watching this podcast in a video format? Click ⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠ to check out the full YouTube video!

Meet Dr. Colleen Kelley, retired chemistry professor, science communicator, and author of a comic book series making chemistry fun and accessible for kids. Her Emmy-winning PBS short documentary Comic Book Chemistry and TEDx talk Molecular Literacy for Ages 8–108 have inspired audiences around the world.

Through storytelling and humour, Colleen is changing how we teach and think about science. Her mission: to ensure everyone, from children to lifelong learners, can see themselves in the world of chemistry.

Interested in watching this podcast in a video format? Click ⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠ to check out the full YouTube video!

Meet Kaleb Laidman, a high school filmmaker and founder of KalKaden Productions—a youth-led production company blending creativity, storytelling, and bold leadership. What began as a passion for performance evolved into a growing team behind internationally recognized promotional films.

Driven by a shared vision with childhood friends, Kaleb is redefining what it means to lead behind the camera, showing that age is no barrier to impact, innovation, and creative direction in the entertainment world.

Interested in watching this podcast in a video format? Click ⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠ to check out the full YouTube video!

Meet Sunny and Hasini, high school leaders and co-founders of a global youth-led nonprofit on a mission to empower young women through mentorship, leadership, and community building.Built by girls, for girls, The Pink Stairs is focused on making leadership and innovation more inclusive and accessible. Sunny and Hasini are driving real-world change — from co-authoring global coding workbooks and supporting small businesses to creating spaces where young women can grow, lead, and thrive.

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Meet Charles Achampong, best-selling author, award-winning keynote speaker, and seasoned leader with over 20 years of experience across sectors including the Vancouver 2010 Olympics and Scotiabank.

Charles unpacks how intentional pauses; through rest, reflection, and purpose, which can transform the way we work, lead, and live. His concept of “failure immunity” is a timely message for students and professionals navigating burnout, and aligns closely with our Avoiding Burnout workshops here at ACE & Co.

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