More than a dozen U of T alumnae named to Canada's Top 100 Most Powerful Women

Melissa Sariffodeen (MEd 2020), is a celebrated digital literacy advocate and the co-founder and CEO of Canada Learning Code (photo by Erika Donovan)

Nearly two dozen members of the University of Toronto community, including more than a dozen alumnae, have been recognized by the Top 100 Most Powerful Women in Canada list published by Women’s Executive Network (WXN).

The list, which recognizes the country’s highest achieving female leaders in the private, public and not-for-profit sectors, includes U of T alumnae, faculty members, supporters – and an undergraduate student. The honourees include:

Undergraduate student and activist Kehkashan Basu of the Faculty of Arts & Science, who founded Green Hope Foundation to empower young people and women from vulnerable communities.

Alumna Jennifer Bernard (BA 1990 NEW), President & CEO of Women’s College Hospital Foundation, who was honoured for her leadership work championing diversity and inclusion.

Alumna Rowena Chan (BA 1985 NEW), who as president of Sun Life Financial Distributors (Canada) Inc. champions financial security for Canadians.

Associate Professor of Paediatrics Paige Church of the Temerty Faculty of Medicine, who directs Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre's Neonatal Follow Up Clinic and leads the Spina Bifida/Spinal Cord Injury Program at Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital.

Alumna Rupinder Dhillon (MBA 2018), who as Senior Vice-President VP Data Innovation and AI for the Hudson's Bay Company is an expert in both business intelligence and machine learning.

Alumna Reetu Gupta (BBA 2005 UTSC), the CEO of three companies (The Easton’s Group, The Gupta Group and The Gupta Family Foundation) who makes the list for the second year in a row.

Supporter Julia Hanigsburg, President and Chief Executive Officer of Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital, a three-time member of this list and a leading advocate for children’s health, women in leadership, and girls in STEM.

Alumna Sara Israels (PGMT 1983), Vice-Dean of the University of Manitoba, an advocate for women in medicine, and a pediatric oncologist with Cancercare Manitoba.

Alumna Soheila Karimi, a neuroscientist at the University of Manitoba who researches multiple sclerosis and spinal cord injury while mentoring young scientists.

Associate Professor Dina Kulik of the Temerty Faculty of Medicine, a physician who founded the Kidcrew multidisciplinary clinic for children and shares child health information widely to the public.

Governing Council member Kikelomo Lawal, a Harvard-educated lawyer who leads CIBC's global legal operation, as well as its ombuds and privacy offices.

Alumna Jane Langford (BA 1992 VIC), who leads TD Bank’s Canadian legal department,  while advocating for workplace diversity and women’s economic and professional advancement.

Alumna Shannon MacDonald (MHSc 1999), a managing director at Accenture, a founder of Sandpiper Ventures and a mentor at U of T's Creative Destruction Lab, who was named to the WXN Hall of Fame for making the 100 Most Powerful Women list four times.

Alumna Sherry Peister (BScPharm 1982), whose career of dedication to her profession has included serving as president of the Canadian Pharmacists Association and the Ontario Pharmacists Association, as well as chairing Green Shield Canada.

Alumna Linda Plumpton (LLB 1994), an expert litigator at Torys LLP who has won numerous professional awards, including Canadian Law Awards Litigator of the Year.

Alumna Caroline Cole Power (MEd 2011), who founded Canadian HR Solutions, Inc. and its national network of workplace training offerings while studying at U of T.

Recent OISE grad Melissa Sariffodeen (MEd 2020), who as co-founder and CEO of Canada Learning Code is a digital literacy advocate working to ensure women and youth will thrive in our increasingly digital world.

Alumna Nazia Shahrin (BSc 2006 UTSC, MI 2013), Senior Director, Regulatory Strategy and Delivery at RBC - and also a U of T lecturer! - who is honoured as an emerging tech leader.

University Professor Molly Shoichet of the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering, who is regularly honoured for her innovative research at the intersection of engineering, chemistry and biology and has founded four companies.

“It is a great honour to be included among this group of game-changing, successful people, and even more wonderful to share this award with women leaders across Canada,” said Shoichet. “Growing up with ‘girl power,’ and a fantastic role model in my mother, Dorothy Shoichet (Hon LLD 2010), I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to forge new paths and have these be recognized.”

Alumna Pam Sethi (MPH 2009), who as well as working for the Institute for Advancements in Mental Health and the World Health Organization, is the founding director of Lean In Canada.

Alumna Effie Simanikas (BCom 1992 INNIS), a vice-president of operations, finance and IT at IAMGOLD and an advocate for diversity and women’s career advancement.

Supporter Tina Tehranchian, a senior wealth advisor at Assante Capital Management Ltd. who has won many awards from her peers.

Did we miss anybody? If you know a member of the U of T community who was named on the list but isn't mentioned above, please let us know at uoft.celebrates@utoronto.ca