ACE and Co: Full STEAM Ahead

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, b...

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...

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 studen...

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...

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 d...

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...

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...

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, s...

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 s...

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...

Meet Dr. Marci Klein, a pediatrician, educator, and co-founder of 3DuxDesign. With over 25 years of experience in childhood development and social-emotional health, she’s bringing a fresh approach to STEM education through hands-on, project-based learning. By weaving together art, culture, and environmental awareness, Dr. Klein empowers young innovators to design solutions for a more sustainable a...

Meet Christine Nguyen, a 5th-year Electrical Engineering student at Toronto Metropolitan University, and recipient of the prestigious ACE & Co EmpowerHer Scholarship. In this inspiring interview, Christine shares her journey in engineering, her passion for advocacy and student leadership, and how she balances technical studies with a Minor in Music and Culture. As President of the Metropolitan...

Meet Iman Cheema, the first-ever recipient of the prestigious ACE EmpowerHer Scholarship Award! Iman is a recent Computer Engineering graduate from Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) who is passionate about fostering inclusivity in STEAM. As a co-founder of Makers Collective, she co-led the innovative “Full Steam Ahead” program, blending STEM and art through hands-on projects. Iman also empower...

Meet Ferdinand Wilhelm, a 26-year-old originally from Germany who moved to Canada seven years ago to pursue a career in the music industry. With a background in technical work within the audio-visual industry and music studios, Ferdinand has spent the last 4.5 years at Grayson Music as a Studio Technician & Coordinator. His passion for critical thinking and precision work shines through in his...

Meet Dennis Ma, an avid tech enthusiast with a passion for electric cars, artificial intelligence, and robotics. As an electrical engineer who transitioned into software engineering, Dennis has been deeply immersed in the world of cutting-edge technology. His true passion lies in mentoring and inspiring the next generation by sharing his excitement for emerging tech. Interested in watching this po...

Meet Chikodili P Odinakachukwu, a dynamic Speaker, Advocate, and Developer with an Honors Bachelor of Engineering in Mechatronics Engineering. As a Vehicle Infotainment Developer at General Motors of Canada, she leads product engineering efforts to create safe and reliable software. Beyond her engineering role, Chikodili is deeply fascinated by psychology and finance, and she explores how these fi...

Meet Ross Cadastre, the founder and CEO of Innovative Talent Solutions Inc., encompassing ITS Global and Kontingence Recruitment, which address recruitment challenges in Canada. He also founded Lyenn Dous in Saint Lucia, providing back-office services to North American tech start-ups. A champion for under-represented individuals, Ross created www.bipocjobs.ca, a leading job board for BIPOC talent...

Meet Jennifer Ladipo, an Industrial Engineer who graduated from Dalhousie University. She is passionate about guiding young women into the creative realm of STEM. Combining her love for mathematics and writing, she founded thestemgirl.com, an initiative that encourages young girls to embrace both their femininity and scientific interests through storytelling. Jennifer has published four fiction bo...

Meet D’Andre Wilson-Ihejirika, an engineer, educator and social entrepreneur with a P.Eng, PMP and LSSB. Join us for an inspiring conversation about her journey pursuing an education and career in engineering as she focuses on better understanding the alignment of student experience to career pathways for underrepresented groups. Interested in watching this podcast in a video format? Click here to...

Meet Desmond McKenzie, the CEO at Leadertree Inc. Join us in an interesting conversation about how he brings 20 years of leading the people side of technology transformation projects across industry and government. Desmond’s clients range from AWS and Scotiabank to brand-new startups. As an Executive Coach and Consultant, he asks “what do you really want?”, and helps you achieve it. Interested in...

Meet Kingba Lawson-Jack, a Human and Organizational Factors Specialist at Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC). She is pursuing PhD research in Human Factors Engineering at the University of Toronto. She holds an MSc in Safety and Reliability Engineering from the University of Aberdeen and a BEng in Chemical with Environmental Engineering from the University of Nottingham. Interested in watch...

Meet Jaheim Henry, a passionate second-year student at Toronto Metropolitan University, deeply interested in midwifery. With over seven years of experience in midwifery practices, hospitals, and the Toronto Birth Centre, Jahiem has developed strong communication and interpersonal skills. He is committed to sharing his knowledge and experiences, making him a valuable addition to any team or communi...