GET TO KNOW OUR RB+ COHORT

Aanchal graduated from UBC with a Bachelor of Arts, with a major in Political Science and a minor in Law and Society in 2020 and from BCIT with an Accounting Diploma in 2022. Aanchal now works at Deloitte LLP in their Audit Private practice.

Aanchal spends a lot of her time volunteering with organizations such as the Community Volunteer Income Tax Program, CPA BC's Member and Candidate Ambassador Program and Ascend Leadership.

When Aanchal is not working or volunteering, you can find her cooking a variety of cuisines, in the outdoors and travelling.

Alinga completed her undergraduate education at Queen’s University, obtaining a dual degree in Commerce and Life Sciences. Upon graduation she started working in consulting at Bain, where she engaged with clients across a variety of industries including retail, financial services, and mining. While at Bain, she also completed an externship at Goodstart Early Learning, a non-profit organization and Australia’s largest provider of early education and care. Alinga’s interest in joining a mission-driven company has led her to Vayda, a startup that aims to accelerate the transition to regenerative agriculture, where she is now a Strategy & Operations Manager.

My name is Alysha Selvarajah and I'm a 1st-year Social Sciences student at McMaster University. Ever since I was a child, I have always been interested in the world around me. Over time, this translated into a love for biology. I have been fortunate to attend multiple science fairs, advocating for my projects in the health and environmental spaces. In the last few years, I have focused my research in both virology and psychology. On the side, I've continued to advocate for social justice and environmental issues using both film and words as creative outlets.

Callista Ryan is a communications professional in the BC Public Service and an entrepreneur who is making video production more accessible for elected officials. She studied International Relations at Western University as a Loran Scholar. Her passion for communications, advocacy, and politics led her to serve the student union at Western as the Vice President Communications and Public Affairs. She grew up in Squamish, British Columbia and now lives in Vancouver, BC.

Cherie is a Hong-Kong Canadian, first-generation immigrant, traveller, and storyteller with a passion for building global communities. With an international development degree studied at the University of Waterloo and practiced in Peru and Bolivia, her heartbeat for advocacy is fuelled by the resilient humans and stories of transformation she's encountered. With experience in public speaking, lobbying, community mobilization, and entrepreneurship, Cherie has lived and seen the collective impact youth can drive in development policies and funding. Now, she is fostering greater grounds for more young leaders to actualize global change at World Vision Canada as a Youth Advocacy Officer.

Elaine is currently a Senior Analyst at Penfund Management, a private credit provider to the upper-middle market. Prior to joining Penfund in 2023, she worked as an Investment Banking Analyst in the Financial Institutions Group at CIBC. Elaine graduated in 2021 with an Honours Business Administration degree from the Ivey Business School at Western University. She is passionate about mentorship, having been involved in various initiatives while at school, and is currently participating in the Women in Capital Markets mentorship program. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, playing board games, and posting on her food Instagram account @elaine.noms.

Emily Tsui is an ab initio foreign service officer with Global Affairs Canada. She previously practiced corporate law at an large international law firm and is licensed to practice law in both New York and Ontario. She received her Juris Doctor/ Master of Global Affairs from the University of Toronto in 2021, where she focused on public international law and the Arctic region. In her free time, she enjoys being outdoors and travelling, and has visited over 60 countries.

Emily is a young professional who holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from York’s Schulich School of Business. She began her career as an investment banking analyst at BMO Capital Markets in Toronto. During her time in both BMO’s Financial Institutions and Metals & Mining Groups, she worked on a variety of transactions totalling over $15 billion, including sell-side and buy-side M&A deals. She recently joined the tech industry where she works at DoorDash in Strategy & Operations, focused on consumer growth and retention. Emily’s interests include watching live theatre productions, volunteering at church, swimming, and travelling.

“It has been my dream to serve on a Board in the future, and the Rise on Boards+ program will help me develop my skills so that I can bring my best foot forward. I enjoy volunteering and contributing within my community since it gives me a sense of purpose. As an introvert, I believe in making people feel comfortable sharing their stories. Professionally, I am an Accountant at Manning Elliott and am working towards my CPA designation.”

Isabel works at the Ontario Nurses’ Association as a Communications Assistant. She is an experienced campaigner, having worked on political campaigns at all three levels of government, as well as an external consultant supporting progressive campaigns around the country. Isabel holds a Political Science degree and a Public Policy Analysis Certificate from York University. In her free time, Isabel has volunteered with several charities and organizations, and she is an avid athlete, playing hockey and ringette year-round.

Jasper Jordan is a fifth-year psychology student passionate about social change and desires to understand the ins and outs of organizations and advocacy. She developed experience in public advocacy through her positions as vice president external of the Kings University Student Association and as the board secretary/director of the Alberta Student Executive Council. During the summer, Jasper is an active member at the Loose Moose Theatre as an improviser. She plans to apply what she learns in the Rise on Boards program to contribute to creating an equitable and inclusive environment for all.

Jood is a Palestinian Jordanian woman born and raised in Amman, Jordan. Her background and cultural heritage as a Middle Eastern woman drove her to pursue unique interdisciplinary studies. She is double majoring in Psychology and Disaster & Emergency Managment at York University, Toronto.

In her professional roles, Jood works closely with various individuals who have faced significant challenges, including those displaced by conflict in her region. Currently, she holds the position of Community Engagement Assistant at Jusoor. As an active member of her community, she volunteers at youth committees to advocate for various groups including charities and emerging professionals’ empowerment.

Julia is a second-year undergraduate student, studying a joint major in computer science and biology, and a 2022 Loran Scholar. They previously co-led a seven-person committee dedicated to building community within 1300+ first-year undergraduate freshman at McGill University. With this committee, they planned events for over 1000 students, of social and academic natures.

Julia is currently serving as the President and Co-Founder of the McGill Fungi Society and starting a project to grow oyster mushrooms from discarded organic matter to help alleviate food insecurity. They are also a peer mentor at McGill Student Accessibility and Achievement. An academically motivated student.

Kelly is a Senior Manager at RBC. As a strategy consultant, she works with senior executives to solve top-of-mind business challenges, cross-enterprise. She is a strong problem-solver, communicator, and leader.

Beyond her work, she consistently volunteers with Youth-focused organizations. As a Gold Award recipient herself, Kelly supports the Strategy, Brand and Growth committee for the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Canada Board.

Kelly holds a BScH in Life Sciences from Queen’s University and a Master of Management of Innovation (MMI) degree from the University of Toronto. She is an avid hiker and actively seeks out new challenges of all kinds.

"Having worked across the disciplines of business development and strategy, computer science and data, as well as marketing and design, I bring range of skills and a diverse outlook to projects, as well as the ability to effectively communicate with various stakeholders. As a dot connector, I thrive in projects that aim to find analytical, innovative, and compassionate solutions that enhance people’s experiences with technology.

Whether it be bringing together individuals across functions for collaborative success, translating technical jargon to a business audience, or searching for the bigger picture where multiple disciplines intersect, I am passionate about breaking down silos in my approach to design thinking. By combining conceptual and technical approaches to business solutions, I keep the users needs as the north star on projects.

I hold a Bachelor of Commerce in Business Analytics from the Haskayne School of Business at the University of Calgary.”

Leisha Toory is a highly accomplished international undergraduate student currently pursuing a major in Political Science with a minor in French for Francophones at Memorial University. Her dedication to fostering positive change and championing social justice has positioned her as a dynamic leader, particularly in menstrual equity, and youth engagement.

As the visionary founder of the Period Priority Project, a pioneering initiative in Canada, Leisha takes a multifaceted approach by distributing menstrual products nationwide and enhancing menstrual health education for youth through innovative mediums. Recognized for her outstanding contributions, Leisha has received prestigious nominations and awards, including the Human Rights Award and the City of St. John's Applause Civic Awards.

Leisha's involvement extends beyond academia; she has worked in the Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly and served as a Summer Leadership Program policy intern in Parlimanet Hill. Her expertise was showcased at the Municipalities of Newfoundland and Labrador's Leadership Summit where she was a distinguished panelist and as a National Volunteer Week Ambassador, reflecting her commitment to challenging stereotypes, dismantling barriers, and exploring actionable strategies for positive change.

Malaieka Khan is a person driven by learning and bringing evidence-based solutions to her community, locally, nationally, and internationally. She started in 14 & Muslim, a CBC documentary, where she advocated for marginalized communities in the education system. She has sharp analytical skills and strong problem-solving skills evidenced by her Research Assistant positions, where she analyzed financial crime patterns globally and established trends. She is completing her Bachelor of Commerce at the Smith School of Business, a MAX scholar, and is busy with diverse extracurriculars from spearheading women's leadership, to providing strategic insight for the Commerce program and Commerce Student Government.

Michelle is a multidisciplinary, interdisciplinary artist, focussing on the themes, around language advocacy‘s, communicating with love as a lifestyle and strengthening, cultural identities and intersections through storytelling and cultural bridging. They are an arts educator, an equity diversity, inclusion accessibility, and justice consultants, and a law clerk they have partnered with organizations like the Chanie Wenjack fund experiences, Canada, specifically around reconciliation, Canadian Roots Exchange, now known as indigenous youth roots, Ontario Council for international corporation. Results Canada, the United Nations, working in child and youth rights, world health organizations youth advising the YMCAs national community action network youth challenge international. And many more in their artwork, you can find at a dear dearest CA.

“I am from a small town, Mylavaram, in South India. I belong to a Scheduled caste who are predominantly from rural India, with lot of culture been forgotten. My family is nuclear with me, my brother and our parents. Due to my social background and socio-economic status, I had limited opportunities until I moved to Canada. With the given opportunities, I did Computer Science degree in India and currently studying Psychology at University of Prince Edward Island. The reason for my career switch was the distress and disruption caused by the scarcity of mental health awareness in my family.”

"My name is Pritika, a 19-year-old teen, currently on a gap year. I was born and brought up in Indonesia, and am ethnically Indian. I moved from Indonesia to Hong Kong for my high school studies and currently have decided to settle in Canada to pave my future. My diverse background has allowed me to become a very adaptable person and a keen learner.

I firmly believe that I am able to adapt to new environments quickly, love communicating with different people, and exploring new topics due to my willingness to learn."

Priyanka holds a Bachelors degree in Business Management Organizational Studies with a Honors Specialization in Accounting and Minor in Biology from Western University. She currently works for the Ministry of Public and Business Service Delivery as a project coordinator and business relationship manager. In this role, she partners with various ministries, vendors and stakeholders to implement and operationalize digital products that improve government processes. Priyanka is passionate about creating inclusive and safe spaces where diverse team members can share their thoughts and ideas to build better products that reflect a diverse population.

Raisa Sayed is a Senior Finance Analyst at TD Bank on the Enterprise Real Estate team. She previously worked at Deloitte Toronto supporting clients in financial services, real estate and private equity. She is a graduate of the Smith School of Business, Queen’s University with a Bachelor of Commerce. Raisa has worked with a variety of non-profits ranging from early-stage to established in areas such as sponsorship and finance. She currently serves as the Treasurer on the Board of Directors of the Kitchener-Waterloo Chamber Orchestra. She also co-leads Strategic Partnerships at MAX (Muslims Achieving Excellence). While at Smith, she was the Editor in Chief of the Queen’s Business Review publication. In the future, Raisa hopes to continue serving on the Boards of impactful organizations.

Ramanja is a dedicated young professional working in a Quality and Patient Safety role at the Scarborough Health Network. She holds a Master of Business Administration from McMaster University and an Honours Bachelor of Science from the University of Toronto. Ramanja is passionate about working with non-profit organizations and consistently seeks ways to improve systems and organizations through smart, scalable solutions. Proficient in project management, communications, and quality improvement, her work reflects a deep commitment to driving meaningful change. Ramanja seamlessly integrates her academic excellence with practical skills, demonstrating a steadfast dedication to making a significant impact.

Rebecca Jones, a Calgary native now living in Montreal, is a double major graduate in Political Science and Communications from the University of Ottawa. She now thrives as a skilled public affairs advisor for the federal government. She was formerly a policy advisor specializing in stakeholder relations. Her passion lies in communicating complex issues in a clear and concise manner so Canadians can fully participate in the development of effective policies. Outside of the boardroom, you can find her lacing up her running shoes and training for a half marathon or on the tennis courts.

Sanaa Jeraj moved from East Africa to Toronto in 2012 to pursue post-secondary education. Since then, she has been involved in the social service industry through her work with children and youth in the education and mental health sectors. Sanaa has held leadership positions for inpatient child and youth psychiatry, and currently is in the role of managing the Counselling & Support Services department at WoodGreen Community Services. Sanaa is most passionate about amplifying the voices of marginalized populations through her work, and reflects on her lived experience as a woman of colour, visible minority and immigrant status, to continue to strive to do so.

Shahla is an engagement and communications consultant. She obtained her BA in international relations from UBC in 2022 where she received the Young Global Citizen Award. Shahla is originally from Afghanistan and moved to Canada in 2015 to attend Pearson United World College in Victoria, BC. She has worked with several non-profit organizations both in Afghanistan and Canada on various community service, development and engagement projects. She is always eager to learn new skills and take on new challenges that align with her mission of making a positive impact in the world. In her free time, Shahla enjoys cooking, dancing and DIY projects.

Shalini Mohan is a tech professional with a diverse upbringing, spending her childhood between countries such as Ukraine, India and Jamaica before arriving in Canada. Her upbringing has led her to explore and understand a variety of perspectives. As a product manager at IBM her interests within the tech industry include building sustainable software (she is currently working on frameworks to map out the carbon footprint of software products in her organization), regulating AI bias and designing inclusive/accessible technological experiences. She previously co-chaired STEM4Girls, promoting STEM careers for young women, and published research on designing culturally inclusive mental health technologies. Shalini hopes to advocate for underrepresented voices in tech and environmental policy.

Shannon is a young professional in public health, currently working in the cancer system. She holds a Master's degree in Public Health and a Project Management Professional (PMP)® certification from the Project Management Institute. In addition to her work in cancer care, Shannon serves on the Board of Directors at Yorktown Family Services, the Health Quality Committee at Sherbourne Health and the Youth Public Engagement Champions at CARE Canada.

Sirada is currently a Product Manager at an aquaculture tech startup helping farmers farm more sustainably by leveraging AI. She has a background in Engineering and Technology Consulting, working with various industries (Energy, Health, CPG etc.) where she cultivated her analytical, creative and leadership skillset.

As an immigrant woman of colour working in Technology, she is passionate about advocacy and mentorship for POC and Women in Tech, early education in STEM, and the ethics and impact on AI on minority communities. Through the RB+ program, Sirada hopes enact a greater voice for WoC, and inspire meaningful change in her community.

Susana Veliz started her career in education management working on education credentials for financial professionals and now is in program management in higher education. In her current role at Vector Institute, she is focused on building research programs and events for students/researchers.

Susana holds a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration from the Schulich School of Business at York University and a Master’s in Business Administration from the Smith School of Business at Queen’s University.

Taku is a business strategist at a consultancy firm driven by a passion for creating pathways to success. She is instrumental in enabling clients to optimize their IT investments by leveraging her strong analytics background to dissect complex information to develop effective solutions. With an interest in developing her leadership skills, Taku is eager to participate in the Rise on Boards+ program as it will facilitate her growth, and expand her professional network. As an immigrant and visible minority, she recognizes the influence of mentorship and networking, and looks forward to harnessing that support to refine her leadership acumen.

Tara Green graduated from UBC with a bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering and a minor in Commerce and has been actively involved with UBC's Women in Engineering to promote and empower women in the engineering field. She was a presenter and organizer for UBC's Women in Engineering Symposium and has been the Community Engagement Lead and Professional Development Lead for two Co-op councils during her work terms. She was the Finance Director for the EIT Program for an energy company in Calgary promoting professional opportunities for Engineers-in-Training (EITs). She is also passionate about sustainability and innovation towards the energy transition. She is active in her community where she is the youngest female committee member for the Concessions & Exhibitors Committee at the Calgary Stampede.

In her spare time, she is outside skiing and hiking in the Rocky Mountains.

Born to a family of entrepreneurs, Taylor Ball studied business at Queen’s University. While there, she had the opportunity to study abroad at HEC Paris and the London School of Economics.

Taylor grew interested in sustainability and interned for two non-profits; Junior Achievement of British Columbia and How to Change the World. Hoping to change the world, Taylor enrolled in a sustainability certificate program at Harvard and then began her Master’s in Sustainability Management at the University of Toronto, with a semester abroad at the University of Copenhagen.

During her master's degree, Taylor focused on the sustainable fashion niche. In February 2021, Taylor gave a TEDx talk about her vision of the future of sustainable fashion. Recently, Taylor joined the Strategy & Operations department at Aritzia and is working to make fashion better for people and our planet.

Ziyana Kotadia is a feminist advocate, writer, and researcher. She is a graduate student in Multi-Disciplinary Gender Studies at the University of Cambridge and holds a Bachelor of Arts Honours Specialization in Global Gender Studies with a Minor in Feminist, Queer and Critical Race Theory from Western University. Passionate about academia, art, and activism, Ziyana has served in several leadership roles, including as the inaugural Chair of the Safe Campus Coalition, Vice-President University Affairs of Western University’s Students' Council, and President of the Huron University College Students’ Council. She is currently representing Canadian youth at the upcoming United Nations 68th session of the Commission on the Status of Women and has published a variety of works including op-eds, academic articles, and poems.