About Our Mentors

Mentors are leaders in our community that volunteer their time to guide fellow entrepreneurs. Mentors range in life experience, gender, cultural background and expertise (which can be found in their profiles below).

Every mentor is required to complete subconcious bias training.

All mentor sessions are a one on one, virtual session.

Guidelines for Mentees

Come on time

Mentors volunteer their time and it's important that the scheduled time is respected. It's also the best way for you to maximize value!

Come prepared

Each mentor will require you to submit specific questions and areas of advisement in advance to make the most of your session. Do a bit of research about your mentor if you can, and craft thoughtful questions tailored to their relevant experience and your business goals.

Book with intention

Limit booking a particular mentor to once a quarter to allow them to be available to many people in our community.

What a mentor is:
Mentors share their experiences and offer insight into business that may impact your business goals and objectives holistically.

What a mentor isn't:
Mentors are not here for the purpose of making decisions for you and your business.

Want to learn more about how to leverage a mentorship? Read on here!

  • Lindy Ledohowski (she/her)

    I used to be a university professor, and then I cofounded EssayJack an academic writing startup and ran it as its CEO for nearly 6 years when it was acquired by Wize, another Canadian EdTech company. As part of the acquisition process, I joined Wize as part of its executive team.

    Expertise:
    Digital Marketing
    Public Relations
    Equity & Team Culture

    Book Time 

  • Annie Shuttin (she/her)

    I'm a floral designer and have owned my own shop for 5 years now. We are a full service flower shop with a cafe!

    Expertise:
    Marketing
    Managing team
    Operations
    Vision +

    Book Time 

  • Jenny Chandler (she/her)

    I am Jenny, owner and creator of Simple Desk, a highly specialized small business support company. Our team is comprised of industry experts who are focused on helping you succeed! I have a passion to help others and an expansive appetite for new knowledge.

    Expertise:
    Marketing
    Systems
    Operations & bookkeeping

    Book Time 

  • Rachel Lambo (she/her)

    Rachel Lambo loves creating products that matter. As CEO of Sade Baron, Rachel’s role is to bring her mother Sade’s vision— healthy skin for everybody— to life. With 14 years in Marketing and Design, Rachel is full of ideas, hands-on, and tuned in to what people want and need.

    Expertise:
    Marketing
    Operations

    Book Time 

  • Georgia Fox (she/her)

    I have a background in communications and marketing and a passion for innovation and entrepreneurship. I’m happy to share everything I’ve learned throughout my journey as an entrepreneur to help more women-led businesses thrive! 

    Expertise:
    Marketing
    Event Planning
    Web Design

    Book Time 

  • Lisa Alves (she/they)

    Lisa Alves (she/they) is a queer artist, theatre producer, educator and human rights practitioner. They has been a freelance producer for 10 years working with companies like GeneratorTO, manidoons collective, RedDress Productions, Soulo Theatre Festival, Theatre Direct, and Theatre of the Beat. Lisa has been the General Manager at Cahoots Theatre for three years and has been running a small business called Lisa Alves Creations where they sell handmade goods and digital illustrations.

    Expertise:
    Marketing
    Human Resources
    Finance

    Book Time 

  • Christy Laverty (she/her)

    Christy Laverty is a PR and Media Relations Strategist and consultant focused on helping entrepreneurs step into the stoplight of media to bring visibility, authority and credibility to their businesses. She uses her 20 years in the media to advise, guide, support and champion her clients and entrepreneur students when teaching DIY techniques. Christy wants entrepreneurs to stop being the best kept secret!

    Expertise:
    Public & Media Relations
    Pitching Press

    Book Time 

  • Anu Luthra (she/her)

    I started my company Lumehra in 2017, after leaving the corporate sector after 20 plus years. My company’s goals have evolved as strategies changes. However, our mission has always been the same, quality, affordable products for families. I believe as an entrepreneur one of the greatest strengths you need is flexibility.

    Expertise:
    Retail/Wholesale
    Marketing
    General

    Book Time 

  • Candicia John (she/her)

    My name is Candicia and I own two businesses called Toronto Curly Girl Meetup and Curly Prints. These businesses strive to give men and women with curly hair a voice and a supportive community, while allowing amazing Canadian brands in the industry to shine. I am also a content creator, known as “Hey it’s Candicia” on social media. I started my journey creating content highlighting the growth and transformation of her hair after a perm damage incident. I began my YouTube channel in the summer of 2016 sharing my knowledge of natural hair care, products, and lifestyle.

    Expertise:
    Marketing
    Social Media
    Business Development

    Book Time 

  • Sarah Williams (she/her)

    Sarah is the Founder and CEO of Rebel Office Inc., an online resource and consultancy for entrepreneurs scaling their online-based businesses. Through self-study resources, custom audits and 1:1 mentorship, Sarah's your guide to simplifying your offers, streamlining your operations, and scaling your money-makers through intentional (and exceptional) client experiences.

    Expertise:
    Client Experience
    Evergreen Funnels & Marketing
    Roadmapping/Strategic Planning

    Book Time 

  • Jasmin Pannu (she/her)

    Jasmin Pannu is an award-winning Professional Artist working within the realm of public art, including artist talks, workshops, murals and installations. Her clients include Coca-Cola, City of Toronto, Inkbox and her work has been featured by CBC Arts, Cp24, Toronto Star and more. Jasmin has created more than 80 murals in the GTA, Las Vegas and Philadelphia.

    Expertise:
    Personal Branding
    Creative Careers
    Marketing

    Book Time 

  • Kira McClenaghan (she/her)

    I specialize in creating soft & effortless bridal hair and teaching everyday gals that there's no such thing as bad hair. I created Ottawa's first and only hairstyling lesson for the everyday gal and I've turned my passion into a 6-figure career.

    Expertise:
    Admin Automation
    Client Experience
    Finding Your Niche

    Book Time 

  • Makini Smith (she/her)

    Makini Smith is a mindset coach and Proctor Gallagher certified consultant helping turn goals into accomplishments. She’s the founder of Legacy Leaver's media, helping women entrepreneurs self-publish with the same tools and resources as traditional publishers without the need for their validation or approval. Makini is also a 5-time published author and host of the 5-star rated H.E.A.L. Her podcast, formerly known as the “A Walk in My Stilettos” podcast— one of the top 1.5% of most popular podcasts globally. By coaching frustrated, confused, or isolated women, she helps them find peace, clarity, and connection. Whether it's through changing paradigms, publishing a book, or mastering a podcast, her passion is to help you find the confidence to turn your dreams into a reality.

    Expertise:
    Podcasting
    Start Ups
    Social Media
    Publishing

    Book Time 

  • Keren Moynihan (she/her)

    Former commercial banker and second time founder, Keren Moynihan is the CEO of Boss Insights. With 15+ years’ experience in financial services as a banker, advisor and mentor, she’s built Boss Insights to provide fintechs, private & traditional lenders with their business clients' financial data ... in minutes. With the broadest coverage of accounting, commerce, payroll and tax data, and a seamless portal that serves fintechs, private lenders and financial institutions, Boss Insights has earned media coverage by American Banker, Forbes, Bank Innovation, Open Finance World and The Financial Brand for saying that “Banks Must Adopt APIs or Fintechs Will Win”. Boss Insights has won multiple awards including: Money20/20 Rise Up, CB Insights’ Top 35 Future in Fintech, Corporate LiveWire’s 2021 Lending Technologist Of The Year, Open Banking Excellence’s 2020 SME Award, 2020 Women In Payments’ Unicorn Challenge, Corporate Vision’s Most Innovative Leader In Lending Technology & Canadian Lenders Association’s 2019 Executive Leader In Lending.

    Expertise:

    Fintech
    Entrepreneurship
    Finance

    Book Time 

  • Jenn Schurer (she/her)

    I'm a CPA, CMA who has started multiple businesses across Canada. My current focus is helping small business owners with the financial aspects of their company including bookkeeping and consulting. I have worked with small start ups all the way up to large international companies. I'm passionate about financial literacy and organization and supporting women in business.

    Expertise:
    Bookkeeping
    New Business Ownership
    Creating and understanding financial statements
    Selling your Business

    Book Time 

  • Janelle Jordan (she/her)

    Hello! My name is Janelle Jordan, and I am the founder and Chief Protein Officer of Fusion Fit Foods where we want you to live your best fit foodie life! As a corporate cubicle escapee turned healthy snack foodpreneur, I am also a nationally-certified personal trainer and nutrition coach, as well as a communications professional for more than a decade. The genesis of my snack food business was inspired by my clients who confessed to me about the daily challenges of having snack food addictions that didn’t align with living a holistically healthy lifestyle. I developed organic, adaptogenic, and plant-based protein snacks called Proteinelicious, which highlights the underrepresented cultural cuisines of the Caribbean and South/East Asia. My passion to give back into the local BIWOC, and women and girls community is what drives my personal and professional initiatives, which is why I would be honoured to be a part of your entrepreneurial journey!

    Expertise:
    Holistic Health
    Wellness
    Writing
    Brand Partnerships

    Book Time 

  • Kevin Sterling (he/him)

    Kevin is a long time entrepreneur, having started his first business at the age of 16. He operates two companies that are both focused on helping entrepreneurs and small business owners excel. He is also a mentor and advisor with Invest Ottawa.

    Expertise:
    Accounting
    Finance
    Operations

    Book Time 

  • Marlee Rabin (she/her)

    Prior to starting my first business, I worked in the fashion industry in marketing and leadership positions. I launched my first company in 2018, renting designer dresses, with the mission of creating a circular fashion economy. I made the decision to close this business in 2020, due to the effects of the pandemic. I have since launched a new company, called Homie Collection, selling organization products online. Marketing & content creation are my passions, and I’m quite knowledgeable in selling on Amazon and e-commerce.

    Expertise:
    Marketing
    Content Creation
    Product Viability

    Book Time 

  • Sarah Delaney (she/her)

    I'm an experienced senior manager turned independent consultant. With 25+ years in customer experience and operations, I built a firm to help small/medium sized retailers fix their businesses by putting more fun in their days and more profits in their pockets.

    Expertise:
    Team Building
    Confidence
    Operations

    Book Time 

  • Georgette Dehaney (she/her)

    I'm the owner of a Mississauga based online Cake Boutique, Georgie Porgie Cakes & Gifts, founded in 2004 and expanded to cakes in 2009 with my Mother Carol the baker. We are a dynamic mother & daughter duo are dedicated to creating custom cakes & sweet tables that are beautifully designed. Georgette is a self-taught cake artist navigating through the entrepreneurship journey.

    During this journey I’m helping other homebased or retail product based businesses price their products for profit, narrow down their target market and enhance their creative Mojo. I would be thrilled to have the opportunity to wok with you along your entrepreneurship journey.

    Expertise:
    Pricing Products
    Niche Marketing
    Creativity
    Social Media

    Book Time 

  • Filiz Yildiz (she/her)

    My name is Filiz and I was born and raised in Vancouver Canada. Upon graduation from Simon Fraser University with a major in Marketing I moved to Europe to work in fashion. I worked in Turkey and Italy as a buyer and then became a Brand Director for e-commerce companies. I moved back to Canada, specifically Montreal in 2018 and decided to pursue my dream of launching my own jewelry brand called The Bow Jewelry. The Bow has received great attention as it merges art and jewelry. I have been recieved multiple grants for CCA and Sodec and have been approached by magazines Harper's Bazaar Brazil, Vogue USA and stylists of major celebrities for music videos.

    Expertise:
    Start Ups
    Brand Building
    New Business Owners

  • Rae Brenne (she/her)

    I have owned a successful retail shop for almost 13 years in Northern Ontario and started my entrepreneurial journey at the age of 20. As a young business owner, I have struggled through financial ups and downs, difficult employees, building a social media following, building a website and expanding my shop in the middle of a pandemic. I have learned so much in my time as a business owner, and I love sharing my journey with other budding entrepreneurs!

    Expertise:
    Social Media
    Marketing Products
    Customer Aquisition & Retention

    Book Time 

  • Zeba Dantas (she/her)

    I founded Sway Mgmt. back in 2020, when the pandemic first hit. It was slightly out of necessity (I needed to work and the flexibility of being self-employed helped me care for my toddler who was 2 years old at the time) but as the months rolled on, my business grew. I had 6 clients and a part-time staff member by the end of summer 2020. One year later, I had ten clients, one full-time staff member and one intern, who has since signed on full-time.

    I run my company in the way I wanted my former employers to run theirs; transparently, with full visibility into client relations, new business development and the opportunity to learn. It has been an incredible journey and I have a great deal of knowledge and experience that I can pass on to those just getting started.

    Expertise:
    Marketing
    Public Relations
    Starting a Business

    Book Time 

  • Carla Smith (she/her)

    Carla left a career as a licensed Architect to pursue her passion for fitness and roller derby in 2015 with an online training company called Roller Derby Athletics. In 2018 she teamed up with a fellow roller derby entrepreneur to launch Rolla Skate Club, a badass community of empowered skaters, bringing the joy and passion of rollerskating to a wider audience. Rolla Skate Club serves the rollerskating community in person in Vancouver, and worldwide online.

    Expertise:
    Community Building
    Course Creation
    Leadership

    Book Time 

  • Trina Turl (she/her)

    Trina Turl is a GTA photographer with 20 years of experience. While her work has appeared in international publications and on Toronto's iconic Manulife centre, she absolutely loves seeing how high level photography drives success for her ambitious small and medium sized business clients.

    Expertise:
    Photography
    Long Term Client Relationships
    Community Connections

    Book Time 

  • Taylor Sargent (she/her)

    Hi, I'm Taylor, a one-woman marketing business of her own. I offer a wide range of creative services from graphic design, business branding, website design, and even social media design and management!

    Expertise:
    Branding
    Graphic Design
    Marketing
    Social Media

    Book Time 

  • Azetta Young (she/her)

    I am Azetta, a creative designer, founder of Azetta Design Co. and go-to expert in custom stationery and building brand visuals.
    My perfect world is a meshing together of architecture + graphic design. My experience working as a full time interior designer has helped me to strengthen my designer’s eye and build brands.
    As a self taught graphic designer in Toronto, I have been able to merge my passion for branding with my love of stationery. My mission is to help other women in business grow their brand by aligning brand visuals and strategy so you can lead confidently.

    Expertise:
    Branding
    Creative Direction
    Package Design

    Book Time 

  • Shannon Hickey (she/her)

    I have been operating a financial coaching business for 8 years after working in finance for 10 years. Plus, I have been working on launching a fashion brand where I design and create heels and bags. It has been three years in the making; some delays have been due to trade-wars amongst countries and Covid-19.

    Expertise:
    Marketing
    Manufacturing
    Finance

    Book Time 

  • Sheri Allain (she/her)

    Bootstrapped a 6-figure business while a busy mom, now I help others do likewise. 

    Expertise:
    Marketing
    Business Strategy
    Bootstrapping
    Affordable Marketing

    Book Time 

  • Jackie Szabo (she/her)

    Jackie’s obsession with digging deep ‘to find the root of a problem’ lead her to study Human Relations at Concordia University. Graduating with distinction, her focus was on communications, organizational development and change, human systems intervention and design, qualitative research, conflict resolution…etc. As a yoga teacher of close to fifteen years, a world-renowned retreat leader, and the founder + studio owner of one of Toronto’s most dynamic yoga brands as well as other entrepreneurial efforts, Jackie is a powerhouse of knowledge and gifted educator. She has created and lead mentorship programs, personal and profession coaching programs, training programs and started multiple businesses over the years. Her latest projects include: https://www.wanderhomenow.com/ https://saltshackbackyards.com/

    Expertise:
    Branding/Voice
    Strategic Growth
    Team Development

    Book Time 

  • Lina Alvarez (she/her)

    Lina Alvarez is a strategist and service designer with experience in entrepreneurship, government, and the private sector. She is passionate about making things happen, whether it is launching a new idea, improving a service, or bringing a team together to solve a problem. Lina brings her design thinking and facilitation skills to all business areas, from internal processes improvements to designing memorable client experiences. She holds a B.A from McGill University in Montreal and is a Master's candidate at the Parsons School of Design in New York

    Expertise:
    Customer Experience
    Design Thinking
    Strategic Planning

    Book Time 

  • Lianne Hannaway (she/her)

    Lianne Hannaway is a Chartered Professional Accountant, an experienced financial executive and an investor. Lianne helps first-generation business owners bringing in 6 figures or more but not seeing that in their bank account achieve financial freedom by taking control of their business finances.

    Expertise:
    Financial Management
    Building First Gen Wealth

    Book Time 

  • Carolynn Mann (she/her)

    Carolyn Mann is a Marketing Strategist with a focus on helping entrepreneurs develop straightforward marketing strategies to that speak to their ideal customers. She believes in helping her clients simplify their messaging and their marketing instead of overwhelming themselves trying to do everything.

    Expertise:
    Marketing

    Book Time 

  • Khaoula Abtouche (she/her)

    I am the founder of Dignitii Activewear, a leading modest sportswear brand in the modest fashion industry. I have bootstrapped my business using my own savings in 2018. I run my business from home while taking care of my toddler. I wear every hat in the business. I am currently working on hiring a team and streamlining processes in the business.

    Expertise:
    Marketing
    Branding
    Website

    Book Time 

  • Clarecia Christie (she/her)

    Clarecia Christie is a Certified International Trade Professional (CITP®) and former political staffer in the Ontario Legislature, with a passion for people, photography, cultural knowledge and women empowerment, international business, the Caribbean and Africa. As an International Business Consultant with Global Compass Consulting Services Inc., she helps startups and entrepreneurs in Canada and globally navigate the export process.

    Expertise:
    International Marketing
    Export Coaching
    Trade Mission Prep

    Book Time 

  • Ashley Hughes (she/her)

    Impulsive online shopper, e-commerce expert, and passionate about empowering women. As a current Merchant Success Manager at Shopify, I help businesses scale and reach their e-commerce goals. Formerly an owner of an international swimwear brand, Nora Swimwear, I now coach and mentor young women on starting their own business.

    Expertise:
    Marketing
    Influencer Marketing
    E Comm Stores
    Manufacturing

    Book Time 

  • Kirsten Jordan (she/her)

    I have over 15 years experience working in digital marketing. For the last 12 years, I have held a leadership position at a national healthcare organization focused on improving cancer outcomes for Canadians. For the last two years I have also consulted on social media strategy for female led businesses at the community level.

    Expertise:
    Social Media
    Website UX
    Team Building

    Book Time 

  • Christie Buckley (she/her)

    Financial and Operational background. Serial Entrepreneur. Super connector. Leads with Integrity. Lots of wisdom to share.

    Expertise:
    Finance, Tax, Compliance
    Boundaries & Process
    Entrepreneurship & Leadership
    Strategy Mapping
    Cash Flow / Budgeting

    Book Time 

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If you encounter harassment, prejudice or any kind of malice from a mentor, please complete this report form immediately and a member of our team will connect with you within 48 hours.