Inspiring Fifty, a Dutch-based organization that recognizes women leaders in the tech and innovation sectors, has announced the first-ever Canadian edition of its project.
Inspiring Fifty aims to highlight inspirational female role models in tech, as well as advocate for increased diversity in the tech and innovation sector. In 2018, the organization — which has brought its project in Europe, South Africa, and other Nordic countries — partnered with the Netherlands embassy in Canada and Canadian Senate to deliver the Canadian edition.
Inspiring Fifty said a distinguished panel of business and technology influencers from across Canada and the world selected 50 women from a pool of 400 nominees. The women were recognized during a ceremony on Parliament Hill last week.
“By celebrating and raising awareness of diverse role models, together we can show young women and girls that they too can rise up as leaders, founders, and innovators.”
Notable women who were recognized included Foteini Agrafioti, the chief science officer at RBC and the head of Borealis AI; Janet Bannister, a partner at Canada’s active early-stage VC firm Real Ventures; Mallorie Brodie, the CEO and co-founder of Bridgit; Saadia Muzaffar, the founder of TechGirls Canada; Sylvia Ng, the head of product operations at Shopify; Kirstine Stewart, president and CRO at TribalScale; Alyssa Furtado, CEO of Ratehub.ca; Arlene Dickinson, a general partner at District Ventures Capital; Janice McDonald, co-founder of This Space Works; and Jeanette Stock, co-founder of Venture Out.
Inspiring Fifty also recognized women from prominent Canadian startups and startup programs including Eva Medical, Interaxon, Hootsuite, HackerYou, and Nudge.ai.
“I’m honoured to be among this incredible group of women who represent the changing faces of innovation in Canada,” said McDonald . “By celebrating and raising awareness of diverse role models, together we can show young women and girls that they too can rise up as leaders, founders, and innovators who can change the world for the better.”
View the full list of women recognized by Inspiring Fifty here.
Photo via HiMama
