Photo of women listening to a speaker

Women, Leadership & Philanthropy Initiative

Learn, engage, and be inspired

The McGill Women, Leadership and Philanthropy Initiative aims to increase the representation of women in positions of leadership, governance and philanthropy. Launched in 2013, we’ve created learning spaces and opportunities to build networks through events in Montreal, Toronto and New York, and worldwide through LinkedIn.

We tap into the knowledge and expertise of the McGill network, to help you maximize your potential and elevate your career. Topics we explore include stepping into your first leadership role, navigating a seat on a board of directors, and succeeding within and beyond the workplace. Speakers and mentors are accomplished McGill alumnae and friends at the top of their field, so these events are not to be missed!

The McGill Women, Leadership and Philanthropy Initiative wouldn’t exist without the generous support of our alumni.

How to participate

Advisory Council Members

Montreal

  • Kathy Fazel, BCom’91, Investment Counsellor & Vice-President at RBC Global Asset Management Inc.
  • Lili de Grandpré, MBA’81, Managing Director at CenCEO Consulting
  • Gisele Wilson, BA’84, Partner and Founder at Coriel Capital Inc.

New York

  • Sarah Schroeder, BA’06, Partner at DiRaimondo & Schroeder LLP (Co-Chair)
  • Lubna M. Faruqi, BCL'80 LLB'81, Co-Founder and a Managing Partner of Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP. (Past Co-Chair)
  • Dr. Sophie Guité,  BA ’04, Executive Director, Morgan Stanley Investment Management
  • Rena Shadowitz, BCom'94 BCL/LLB'98, Managing Director of Compliance and Operational Risk at Bank of America
  • Lisa Megeaski, BSc'82, President of the Musicians Foundation, Inc.
  • Dr. Yanxi Tan Cain, PhD'97, Retired Executive Director, Merck Co. (Co-Chair)

Toronto

  • Paula Albiani, BEd'03, Director, Business Development, Stratum Advisory Group
  • Jess Allen, BCom’03, Director of Forensic Accounting at PriceWaterhouseCoopers
  • Tyrenny Anderson, BA’04, Owner/Consultant at Tyrenny Anderson Consulting
  • Shannon Beddoe, BA’07, Senior Associate at Martha McCarthy & Company LLP
  • Victoria Bovaird, BCom’01, Partner (Human Capital Consulting) at Deloitte 
  • Vivien Brown, BA'75, MDCM'79, Vice President of Medical Affairs at Medisys Health Group Inc., and Assistant Professor, Faculty of Medicine at University of Toronto
  • Eileen de Villa, BSc’91, Medical Officer of Health for the City of Toronto
  • Robin Fowler, BA’90, MEd’96, Vice President, St. Michael's Hospital Foundation
  • Sivan Fox, BA’90, BCL/LLB’94, VP Legal at Dundee Corporation
  • Jennifer Good, BA’93, BCL/LLB’97, Vice President & General Counsel at CRH Canada Group Inc.
  • Natalie Green, MBA’00, Head of Industry, Food & Beverage at Google
  • Julia Hanigsberg, BA’87, BCL/LLB’91, President & CEO of Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital
  • Roz Heintzman, BA’91, Major Gifts Coordinator at The Stop
  • Dixie Ho, BCom’02, Senior Corporate Associate, Sotos LLP
  • Nasreen Khatri, BA’91, Clinical Psychologist at Rotman Research Institute
  • Marilyn Mirabelli, BA’69, Cruise and Vacation Consultant at Expedia Cruise Ship Centers
  • Marilyn Monk, MSc(A)’80, Retired - Former Executive Vice-President, Clinical at Sickkids
  • Apple Newton-Smith, BA’94, Justice, Ontario Court of Justice
  • Harriet Sidler, BCom'79, Retired - Former Senior Manager, Customer Segmentation & Innovation, TD Insurance
  • Kim Stevens, BCom’85, DPA’87, VP Finance & CFO Investor & Treasury Services, RBC

Vancouver

  • Celia Johnson, BA’95, Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary, Graymont
  • Darlene Hyde, BA’69, Chair of Stabilization Central Credit Union, interim CEO of the Alberta Insurance Council, former CEO of the BC Real Estate Association (Chair)
  • Jodi Proznick, BMus’98, Bassist, Composer, Educator & Co-Artistic Director and Co-Founder, Music Arts Collective
  • Julie McGill, BCom'99, Private Equity Investor, Advisor and Corporate Board Director
  • Marie-Claire Dy, BA’99, Partner, Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP
  • Sonia Mata, MSc’93, Director of Operations, Headford Cultural Group
  • Shannon Cooney, BSW’93, Real Estate Specialist, Royal LePage Westside

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