LeadHERship Conference
The UTWSA’s LeadHERship conference is our flagship event and a reflection of our investment in our campus community. For one Saturday in March, we bring together female-identifying UofT student attendees, industry professionals, academics and trailblazers with the goal of shattering glass ceilings. As an integral component of our comprehensive engagement program, we are proud to unite all three of the University of Toronto’s campuses towards encouraging attendees to create networks of female-driven support and empowerment. By facilitating connections between attendees and our esteemed speakers, the LeadHERship conference aims to inspire attendees to see through to their professional goals. The connections our conference creates are critical to accomplishing our goal of elevating UofT’s female student community.
Our Goals
-
Raise awareness about social gaps and the lack of opportunities in the professional industry for all self-identifying women, creating a safe space for meaningful conversations.
-
Establish a community where students can safely seek advice or support through tailored programs, empowering members to explore new experiences within and beyond post-secondary education.
-
Educate the University of Toronto community on various women's issues and emphasize the importance of allyship between men and women through intentional initiatives.
LeadHERship 2025 Schedule
Saturday March 8, 2025
William Doo Auditorium (45 Willcocks St, Toronto ON)
9:30 am - 10:00 am
Check-In
10:10 am - 10:25 am
Opening Ceremonies
10:25 am - 11:20 am
Women in Underrepresented Fields Panel
11:15 am - 11:55 am
Workshops
11:55 am - 1:20 pm
Lunch
1:20 pm - 2:05 pm
Women in LeadHERship Panel
2:10 pm - 2:45 p,m
Keynote Address from Jennifer Bernard
2:45 pm - 3:00 pm
Prize Giveaway
3:00 pm - 3: 10 pm
Closing Remarks
3:15 pm - 5:15 pm
Networking
2025 Conference Speakers
We are honoured and grateful to have trailblazers in their fields speaking at our 2025 LeadHERship Conference and imparting their wisdom and experiences with us.
Jennifer Bernard
President & CEO of SickKids Foundation
Keynote Speaker
Jasmina Piragic
Founder of The Happiness Hype
Workshop Leader
Janine Rogan
CEO of The Wealth Building Academy Inc.
Workshop Leader & Women in Underrepresented Fields Panelist
Manjula Selvarajah
National Columnist for CBC Radio One
Women in LeadHERship Panelist
Lisa Tong
Founder of This Project Called Me
Women in LeadHERship Panelist
Amanda Kelly
Co-Founder and President of Awake
Women in Underrepresented Fields Panelist
Mandy Grewal
President of Wylo Health
Women in LeadHERship Panelist
Paige Cey
Co-Founder & Co-CEO of Benny
Women in LeadHERship Panelist
Women in Underrepresented Fields Panelist
Sapna Saleem
Leadership Coach & Mentor of Leading Change Network
Marya Bangas
Educational & Outreach Coordinator at Smile Canada
Women in Underrepresented Fields Panelist
Brianne Helfrich
Founder of The Helfrich Collective
Moderator for Women in Underrepresented Fields Panel
Manu Pant
Youth Engagement Specialist for Plan International Canada
Moderator for Women in LeadHERship Panel
Past Conferences at A Glance
Our 2025 Conference Sponsors
"Having attended the Conference as a first-year student, I can confidently say that this event helped reassure me of my potential to succeed! As a self-identifying woman, it's the little things I notice — such as entering largely male-dominated classes, but the LeadHERship Conference showed me that I was not alone, there are supportive communities dedicated to empowering women."
— Veronica Luo, March 2024