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!
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Jennifer Schurer (she/her)
Book TimeJenn is a CPA and CMA with expertise in financial management and bookkeeping for small businesses. She has experience in renewable energy, oil and gas, mergers and acquisitions, and SAAS platforms.
Expertise:
Bookkeeping 101
Cash flow
Creating a budget -
Tiffany Astle (she/her)
Book TimeTiffany has experience in public relations, artist management and strategic brand partnerships. She founded her PR agency, penelopePR, 12 years ago and has managed media campaigns for most of Canada's biggest arts organizations.
Expertise:
Public RelationsMedia Relations
Entrepreneurship
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Nicole Athanasopoulos (she/her)
Book TimeNicole is the Creator and Director of Nulink Events. Over the past decade, she has built a roster of A-list clients and award-winning events. Recognized as one of Canada's Top Event Professionals by BizBash and nominated for RBC’s Women Entrepreneur of the Year in 2019, Nicole's leadership has made Nulink a top firm for elite event support.
Expertise:
Start up
Experimental Marketing
BrandingEvent Management
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Makini Smith (she/her)
Book TimeMakini Smith is a transformational mindset coach, author, and top podcaster who helps individuals overcome limiting beliefs to reach their full potential. She founded Legacy Leavers Media, assisting women entrepreneurs in self-publishing with traditional publishing tools and resources.
Expertise:
Podcasting
Mindset
Book Publishing -
Krista Murphy (she/her)
Book TimeKrista Murphy has 20 years of experience in graphic design, rising from production artist to art director at an ad agency. She also founded and grew Wishtree Design Inc. Krista specializes in brand and print design, package design, social media, and promotions, ensuring clients showcase their brands effectively.
Expertise:Brand design
Package design,
Work/life balance (to avoid burnout)
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Shannon Hickey (she/her)
Book TimeShannon Hickey has experience in researching factories, sourcing materials for prototypes in the fashion industry, along with the start up of a fashion brand.
Expertise:
Research and Development in fashionDealing with factories on production
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Georgette Dehaney (She/Her)
Book TimeGeorgette, founder of COC Socials, has over 20 years of experience in the Cake and Gift industry. For the past 5 years, she has helped female entrepreneurs master social media and marketing, providing tailored solutions and personalized guidance to help them thrive digitally.
Expertise:
Business FoundationProduct Pricing
Instagram Marketing and strategy
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Candicia John (She/Her)
Book TimeCandicia John has an experience in business development, partnerships and logistics. She is also a seasoned content creator with over a decade of experience in shaping narratives and fostering communities.
Expertise
Marketing
Business Development, Business Strategy
E-commerce Sales
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Candace Huntly (She/Her)
Book TimeCandace Huntly is the Founder of SongBird Marketing Communications, an award-winning agency specializing in Social Media, PR, Branding, and Marketing. She advises startups at Ryerson University and supports entrepreneurs through various hubs.
Expertise
Marketing
Public Relations
Influencer Marketing
Entrepreneurship
Life balance
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Ammara Malik (She/Her)
Book TimeDr. Ammara Malik is the founder of Seplaa Group Inc. and Seplaa Consultants Canada Inc., organizations dedicated to driving sustainable development and strategic consulting on a global scale. With over 25 years of experience in strategic development, sustainability, law & ESG, and impact entrepreneurship across multiple countries, Dr. Malik is a renowned expert in her field. Through her leadership at the SEPLAA Foundation, Dr. Malik has positively impacted over 130,000 people in Pakistan.
Expertise
Negotiation Skills
Conflict Management
Sustainability
ESG
Leadership
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Jojo Lai (She/Her)
Book TimeJojo has over 10 years of experience in private equity and corporate finance in New York, Toronto, and Vancouver. Recently, she led due diligence for Brookfield's $8.4 billion acquisition of Genesee & Wyoming Railroad.
Expertise
Finance
Fundraising
Strategy
Operations
Optimization and Growth Plans
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Lucy Cullen (She/Her)
Book TimeLucy Cullen is a serial entrepreneur with 10 years of experience. She has founded four companies, including two pioneering businesses in Canada. Lucy has helped women raise over $20M in capital and assisted over 300 entrepreneurs globally in growing their businesses.
Expertise
Mindset
Growth Strategy
Well-Being
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Faria Jafri (She/Her)
Book TimeFaria helps fempreneurs optimize sales and automate funnels, enabling stress-free achievement of sales goals. With a Master's in Management, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship, a PMP, and over a decade of project management experience, she teaches business development and digital marketing at TMU's Diversity Institute.
Expertise
Business Model Canvas (Lean Canvas)
Customer Journey Mapping
Digital Marketing
Sales Funnel
Business Strategies
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Osato Erebor (She/Her)
Book TimeOsato Erebor, a self-taught portrait and fashion photographer in Toronto, ON, creates work celebrating culture and lifestyle. As Managing Director at OFUURE, she supports small businesses and female entrepreneurs, leveraging her digital marketing and e-commerce experience.
Expertise
Marketing
Personal & Professional Development
Team Building
Business Strategy
Founders Fund is a safe space.
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.