Leigh Mitchell, Founder of Women in Biz Network
Leigh Mitchell is the founder of Women in Biz Network. Statistics Canada recognized her as an expert in Gender Equity. Leigh has an executive certificate in Marketing Leadership from the Sprott School of Business at Carleton University, an Honours Diploma in Recreation Leadership from Humber College and certifications in Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) Specialization from the University of Colorado Boulder and Ethical Leadership from the University of Virginia.
Leigh is passionate about equity in business, education and sport with diversity-related coaching certifications from the Coaching Association of Canada and Gender Equity: Inclusive Design Specialization from the University of Toronto. Leigh also teaches marketing, PR and business to international students at the York University School of Continuing Education.
Leigh has worked with brands such as Microsoft Canada, SAGE, TELUS, TD Canada Trust, Staples Canada, and Chevrolet Canada throughout her career. Leigh has been featured in the CBC News, The Globe and Mail, Toronto Star, Canadian Living, Wall Street Journal, and has spoken at numerous industry events.
Natalie Haynes, Registered Psychotherapist and Speaker
Natalie Haynes is an educator, Registered Psychotherapist and speaker. Natalie’s experience combines 13 years in logistics and supply chain, which include various management roles at Canadian Tire Corporation. To support her mental health challenges, Natalie sought out therapy and became a client, which changed how she related to everything. Natalie decided to change careers and has been a Psychotherapist in private practice for over 15 years.
Natalie uses her varied experience to facilitate experiential workshops, and online courses on mental health, equity, inclusion and belonging. Natalie engages others through her vulnerability, personal stories and experiences, creating psychologically safe spaces necessary for learning and growth to occur.
Her current program entitled “The Comfortable Race Conversation Process” leads individuals through an experiential process to learn how to have uncomfortable conversations about race with other races. This program has been included in the Government of Canada’s, 50-30 Challenge, as a tool to support organizations to have more honest conversations about race.
Hilda Gan, Culture & HR Expert
Wouldn’t you like to have a place where people feel motivated and engaged to come to work? Well, Hilda knows how to make that happen.
Hilda Gan (RN, MHSc, CHRL) is the President and Chief People Officer of People Bright Consulting Inc., an award-winning HR management consulting firm based in the Greater Toronto Area. She has helped leaders of companies and organizations build the foundations for successful hiring, healthy and inclusive work culture and engaged staff. An International Best-Selling Author featured in the ‘Women Who BossUp’ series, Hilda is a Fascinate Certified Advisor, using Sally Hogshead’s Fascinate® Test to help Leaders and Staff gain confidence in understanding their unique advantages. Managers and Teams are transformed into high-performing teams through the REVUP approach and the Fascination Test.
Land Acknowledgement:
Women in Biz Network is located in the traditional territory of many nations, including the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee and the Wendat peoples and is now home to many diverse First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples. We also acknowledge that Toronto is covered by Treaty 13 with the Mississaugas of the Credit and recognize our role in fostering peaceful and equitable relationships with all people on these lands