Welcome back to Northern Lights: Canadian Women in Tech and Business, the podcast where we spotlight the women redefining leadership across Canada’s business landscape.

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In this episode, we sit down with Priti Singh, Chief Risk Officer at CPP Investments. Priti leads the organization’s global risk management functions, ensuring that risk perspectives are embedded across all investment decisions, spanning market, credit, climate, liquidity, and operational risk.

Prior to her current role, Priti led Capital Markets and Factor Investing, managing globally diversified investments across public equities, fixed income, currencies, commodities, and derivatives. She also previously served as Managing Director and Head of External Portfolio Management.

Priti holds an MBA from the Rotman School of Management and a Master’s in Physics from the University of Waterloo. She also serves on the Common Investment Committee of the Sunnybrook Foundation.

We explore her career journey, her approach to risk management, and how she helps guide investment decision-making at one of the world's leading institutional investors.

Welcome back to Northern Lights: Canadian Women in Tech and Business, the podcast where we spotlight the women redefining leadership across Canada’s business landscape.

In this episode, we sit down with Claire Thornhill, Partner and Portfolio Manager at EdgePoint Wealth Management. Claire oversees global equity strategies while working closely with families, institutions, and foundations to think thoughtfully about long-term capital, stewardship, and values-driven investing.

With a background in investment management and research, Claire is known for her disciplined decision-making, people-first leadership style, and commitment to mentoring the next generation of talent. We explore her journey in finance, her perspective on long-term investing, and how she’s helping shape the future of leadership in Canadian finance.

Shelby Austin is the co-founder and CEO of Arteria AI Inc., a FinTech organization that works with some of the largest financial institutions in the world and provides them with the documentation infrastructure to surveil deals with clients and manage their unstructured data. Arteria was recognized by Gartner as a “Cool Vandor” for AI Banking, and named one of the 100 most promising AI companies by CB Insights.

Before Arteria AI, she was with Deloitte, where she served as the Managing Partner of Growth & Investments and Artificial Intelligence. Before Deloitte, Shelby was the Founder of ATD Legal, which is a high-growth startup that was acquired by Deloitte.

Shelby has also been a Partner at Bay Street “Seven Sister” law firm where she focused on corporate and commercial litigation.

She’s also received numerous awards, including the Risings Stars award given by Lexpert Magazine to Canada’s leading lawyers under 40, and the Canada’s Most Powerful Women: Top 100 award given by The Women’s Executive Network (WXN). Recently, she’s been named the FastCase50 for her work as an innovator.

Welcome to Northern Lights: Canadian Women in Tech & Business, where we spotlight the incredible journeys of Canada's most trailblazing women

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Susan is the Dean of the Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto, the first woman to hold this position in the school’s history. A leading expert in mutual funds and capital markets, she has published extensively in top academic journals and is recognized globally for her research and thought leadership in finance.

Since joining Rotman in 2010, Susan has launched groundbreaking academic programs, strengthened Rotman Commerce, and championed initiatives that expand opportunities for students and foster innovation. Her leadership continues to shape the next generation of business leaders in Canada and beyond.

Kathleen Taylor is one of Canada’s most accomplished business leaders, best known for her groundbreaking role as the first woman to chair the Board of RBC, the largest bank in Canada, and one of the largest in the world.

Her career has spanned leadership in the hospitality industry as CEO of Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, corporate governance roles at some of the country’s most respected institutions, and deep involvement in advancing education and healthcare. Most recently, Katie was named Ivey Business Leader of the Year for 2025, a recognition of her visionary leadership and lasting impact on Canadian business.

Katie’s journey, from breaking barriers in boardrooms to championing innovation and mentorship, has inspired countless women and continues to redefine what leadership looks like in Canada.

Welcome to Northern Lights: Canadian Women in Tech & Business, where we spotlight the incredible journeys of Canada's most trailblazing women

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Kelly LaRocca is the Chief of the Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation (MSIFN), located near Port Perry, Ontario. A dedicated leader and advocate, she has served her community on Council since 2008 and was elected Chief in 2013. With an honours degree in philosophy from the University of Western Ontario and a law degree from the University of Windsor, Kelly also studied Aboriginal law at the University of Victoria after beginning her career as a civil litigation lawyer in Toronto. As Chief, she helped negotiate the commercial gaming and revenue share agreements for the Great Blue Heron Casino, ensuring long-term community resilience and the advancement of capital projects. Beyond her work with MSIFN, she serves as an elected Director of the National Lands Advisory Board for First Nations Lands Management, Vice-Chair of the Ogemawahj Tribal Council, and has held roles on the Aboriginal Justice Committee and Baagwating Community Association.

Welcome to Northern Lights: Canadian Women in Tech & Business, where we spotlight the incredible journeys of Canada's most trailblazing women

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Alyson is a Senior Vice President at Wasserman, where she leads strategic growth initiatives and client partnerships in sports and entertainment. She previously served as Chief Commercial Officer and SVP of Business at OverActive Media, overseeing global partnerships, marketing, and operations for one of the world’s leading esports organizations. Earlier, she was Vice President of Brand Partnerships & Client Strategy at Bell Media, where she developed innovative content and data solutions for top advertisers, and held leadership roles at Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment and the Canadian Olympic Committee, contributing to major milestones such as the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Games. Beyond her executive work, Alyson is a Board Member of Wise Toronto, where she champions the advancement of women in sports business, and serves as a Senior Advisor and Mentor at the Future of Sport Lab, supporting innovation and research in the industry.

Welcome to Northern Lights: Canadian Women in Tech & Business, where we spotlight the incredible journeys of Canada's most trailblazing women

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As Chief Administrative Officer, Chief Human Resources Officer and Head of People, Culture & Brand at BMO Financial Group, Mona oversees all aspects of talent strategy, leadership development, and organizational performance.

Over her career, she has held leadership roles across personal and commercial banking, wealth management, and corporate sectors, earning a reputation for driving growth, innovation, and building high-performing teams. Her journey reflects a deep commitment to leadership excellence and the continuous evolution of the workplace to meet the demands of a changing world.

We’re so excited to introduce our next Northern Lights Canada guest: Teresa Resch!

Teresa is leading the way as the first-ever President of Toronto Tempo, Canada’s new WNBA team starting in 2026. She’s spent over 20 years helping grow basketball around the world—from working with the NBA to spending 11 seasons with the Toronto Raptors. She helped launch Raptors 905, built the OVO Athletic Centre, and even led the team during their move to Tampa.

🏀 In this episode, we talk about how she got here, what it takes to build a new team, and her vision for women’s sports in Canada. Follow Northern Lights Canada and catch the full episode this Saturday, June 7!

Welcome to Northern Lights: Canadian Women in Tech & Business, where we spotlight the incredible journeys of Canada's most trailblazing women. In this episode, host Berlin Mathur is joined by Vass Bednar, Executive Director, Master of Public Policy in Digital Society at McMaster University.

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Vass Bednar is a renowned public policy entrepreneur operating at the vibrant intersection of technology and public policy. With her rich background in various leadership roles at notable institutions like Delphia, Airbnb, and the City of Toronto, she brings a unique, interdisciplinary approach to understanding and shaping the regulatory frameworks that influence our future work and lifestyles. Vass is also known for her creative, data-driven insights, having chaired the federal government's Expert Panel on Youth Employment. Her dedication extends to fostering public dialogue, demonstrated through her role as co-host of the "Detangled" podcast and her newsletter "regs to riches," which explores Canadian startups and policy dynamics. Her contributions have been recognized with the prestigious McMaster "Arch" award, highlighting her as an outstanding alum.