Speakers for the 2025 Girls in Tech Conference
Joleena Teo
Joleena Teo is a seasoned finance and operations leader with over a decade of experience in the tech sector, specializing in scaling startups, optimizing financial strategy, and driving operational efficiency. As the Senior Director of Operations at Blurb.fm, she leads strategic planning, revenue growth, and business operations for a cutting-edge programmatic content creation company.
Prior to Blurb.fm, Joleena held key leadership roles at Big Viking Games, Parallelz, and Mix Space, where she played a pivotal role in securing government grants, refining loan structures, and navigating high-growth business transitions. At Sulon Technologies, she built finance and operations functions from the ground up and was instrumental in raising over $10 million in seed and government funding.
Joleena holds an Honours Bachelor of Science in Economics and Applied Statistics from the University of Toronto. Passionate about advancing women in leadership, she serves as the Director of Finance on the board of Lean In Canada, championing mentorship and community-driven initiatives.
With a deep commitment to fostering inclusivity in tech, Joleena continues to support emerging leaders and entrepreneurs, sharing insights on financial strategy, scaling operations, and navigating the evolving tech landscape.
Melonie de Guzman
Melonie de Guzman is an IT project manager, digital media leader, and an advocate for women in tech with over 15 years of experience. She has held key roles, including senior producer of CTV.ca, where she led digital initiatives for events such as the Olympics, Super Bowl, and Toronto Film Festival. A Canadian Screen Award winner, Melonie co-founded Rogers Women in Tech and serves as a council member of the WomenTech Network. As Director of Events for Lean In Canada, she champions initiatives that empower women to connect, learn, and lead in their careers.
Cristina Caballero
Cristina is a seasoned Digital Media Operations and Content Strategist with a proven track record of bridging the gap between traditional and digital media. With 14+ years of experience and degrees in Journalism, Communications, Digital Marketing and e-Commerce, she currently manages News Partnerships in Canada at Google, empowering news publishers and associations to thrive in a digital age. Prior to this role, Cristina led partnerships for YouTube Health and learning in Canada and was Executive Vice-president for Underknown, where she helped organizations and teams to create engaging content that informs and inspires audiences, particularly in the realms of science and education. Throughout her career, Cristina has championed digital transformation, built scalable operations, and fostered strategic partnerships.
Cristina is a passionate mentor, who empowers black content creators and students to find their next career path. She recently was selected as one of the TLN 10 Most Influential Hispanics in Canada.
Elnaz Mehrzadeh
Elnaz is a Software Engineer at Google with a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Computing Science. Her work at Google began at Stadia, a cloud gaming platform, where she optimized build systems, CI/CD pipelines, and testing frameworks to address the challenges of a large-scale cloud gaming platform. Currently, she works in AR Engineering Productivity at Google, streamlining workflows and ensuring a robust and reliable build process through test automation. Elnaz is passionate about using data to identify bottlenecks and drive continuous improvement in the software development life cycle.
amanda hanif
Amanda Hanif is a Director in KPMG in Canada’s Management Consulting practice and is the National Workday Human Capital Practice Leader. She has 12 years of Workday technology implementation and business transformation experience. Amanda has partnered with her clients through challenging transformation journeys to help them achieve their goals and extraordinary business outcomes. She values building trust through open and honest communication, and always acting with integrity. Amanda has delivered over forty-five deployments for global organizations, as well as supporting HR and finance transformation, change management, and training initiatives to facilitate the technology adoption process.
Pardis Talebian
Pardis Talebian is a Manager in KPMG in Canada’s Cybersecurity practice. She has a Master’s Degree in Information Systems Security and started her first job as a consultant. Over the past five years, she has experience advising and assisting her clients in different cybersecurity areas and supporting them to conquer their challenges and remain vigilant. As a member of the KPMG Women in Technology Community, she is very passionate about mentoring women who are interested in starting their career journey in technology and cybersecurity fields. Additionally, Pardis is keen on learning new techniques related to cybersecurity attacks and actively assists organizations in conducting Capture The Flag (CTF) cybersecurity events, further enhancing her expertise and contributing to the cybersecurity community.
LUCY RAK
Lucy Rak is a Partner Solution Architect in the Microsoft Americas partner organization, focused on AI and Machine Learning. She has advised partners and customers across industries on building and implementing effective GenAI solutions, growing an AI Practice, and developing robust Responsible AI and LLMOps approaches. She has a particular interest in AI Security, specifically AI Red Teaming and Prompt Injection mitigation. Prior to Microsoft, Lucy worked in the edtech space, with a focus on technology strategy.
Sheena yap chan
Sheena Yap Chan is a Wall Street Journal bestselling author, keynote speaker, strategist, and award-winning podcaster renowned for her expertise in elevating leadership and self-confidence through media. She is the founder and host of the acclaimed podcast, The Tao of Self-Confidence, where she interviews women about their journeys to self-confidence. With over one million downloads, her podcast ranks among the top 0.5% most popular shows globally and features over 800 interviews, including conversations with celebrities and eight-figure CEOs. Sheena's influence extends beyond podcasting. Her debut book, The Tao of Self-Confidence: A Guide to Moving Beyond Trauma and Awakening the Leader Within, published by Wiley, is a Wall Street Journal and Publishers Weekly bestseller. It is also recognized as one of the top 20 best self-confidence books of all time by Book Authority, the world's leading site for book recommendations. Her work has been featured on prominent platforms such as MindValley, FOX, NBC News, and the Manila Times. Sheena is dedicated to closing the gender confidence gap through her training and programs, aiming to elevate women into leadership roles across all industries. She has delivered impactful speeches for organizations like Live Nation, NASA, and UKG, sharing her insights on self-confidence and leadership.
Anamika Ahmed
Anamika Ahmed is a Senior Software Engineer at Marqeta and a former Software Engineer at Amazon, with over four years of industry experience in cloud computing and distributed systems. She is the Founder of She Thinks Code, an online platform dedicated to empowering women in technology, and Mitro, a digital safety application for victims of intimate partner violence. Her work has been recognized by CBC News, CBC Radio, and UNICEF, highlighting her contributions to tech-driven social impact. Anamika also served as a judge for cmd-f 2022, British Columbia’s largest all-women hackathon, championing diversity and innovation in the tech industry.
Joyce Zhou
Joyce Zhou is a Senior Software Engineer at Google working on LLM-based Agent evaluation. Joyce is passionate about community engagement and always looking for ways to inspire girls to explore different fields of STEM. In her free time, Joyce enjoys skiing in the winter and camping in the summer. Joyce is also a gamer.
Joyce holds an Honours Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from the University of Toronto and a Master of Engineering in EECS from UC Berkeley.
Sonia Agrawal
Sonia is a Global Account Executive at Google Cloud, and has been innovating and partnering with some of the world’s most interesting Retail, AI & Tech clients. Prior to Google, she spent over 10 years at IBM in a variety of sales, marketing, and client management roles. Sonia is positive, persuasive, and passionate. She loves the art of storytelling, thinking in 10x, and debating moonshot ideas with her customers and peers. She is energized by connecting with others over shared experiences and different perspectives. Sonia graduated from Carleton University with a degree in Criminology and Criminal Justice. She is keenly interested in amplifying BIWOC voices & breaking the stigma of mental health.
Lada semakova
Lada Semakova is a Senior Marketing Manager at KPMG in Canada, overseeing national marketing strategy for the firm’s Management Consulting portfolio. Lada is a seasoned marketer with 10 years of experience working with world-class brands to differentiate their in-market positioning, generate demand, and drive business growth. She holds an HBA in Corporate Communications and Professional Writing from the University of Toronto. She blends her project management rigor with artistic sentiments, bringing together teams from across Canada and leveraging the latest MarTech tools to create innovative multi-channel marketing campaigns that cut through the noise. Lada is also a runner, avid reader, and proud dog mom of her little Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Henry.
Martha Schrader
Martha Schrader is a Consultant at HSO Canada, where she specializes in delivering business solutions using Microsoft technologies. Martha has held various technology leadership roles in Telecommunications, Financial Services, and Manufacturing. She is currently leading a multi-year Case Management program for a Financial Services Regulator.
Martha’s start in technology began back in Grade 7, when she got her start with her TRS80 and a weekend coding class—long before robotics clubs!
She is also a graduate of the Ivey School of Business and is always happy to share her positive experiences about Ivey.
Edlyn chingcuanco
Edlyn is a seasoned IT executive with over 20 years of experience in Data Architecture, Application System Design and Solution Architecture. She currently serves as Northbridge's Director of CRM Systems, where her and her team help support the business in their Customer Relationship Management. Before leading the Customer applications, Edlyn was a Data Architect. She worked closely with IT Application owners to help develop robust and extendable solutions that adhere to data standards.
Prior to her tenure at Northbridge, Edlyn served as a Data and Solution Architect for Telus Mobility and Wind Mobile where she helped build Enterprise Data Warehouses from the ground up - enabling business partners to be able to realize business improvements using data.
She holds a Bachelors Degree in Computer Science from the University of Toronto.
Alison Simpson
Alison is the Vice President of Human Resources at AstraZeneca Canada, a leading global biopharmaceutical company developing innovative medicines in several core areas: cardiovascular, diabetes, oncology and respiratory diseases. Prior to this role she has worked in a wide range of business roles at AstraZeneca and across two other large global companies Campbell Soup and Procter & Gamble. Bringing 30 years of experience in total, her roles have included Product Development, Marketing, Commercial Operations and Strategic Planning with her current accountabilities focused on driving the people agenda and growth at AstraZeneca.
Avanti Ramachandran
Avanti is a tech and AI enthusiast, passionate about bridging the gap between cutting-edge innovation and legacy industries. Having spent her career in tech at Google, Hootsuite, and multiple startups, she brings a wealth of expertise in Customer Success and technology adoption. Currently, she is the Founding Customer Excellence Manager at Nexxa.ai, helping enterprise-level businesses harness AI-driven automation solutions effectively.
An alumna of UTS (Class of '09) and Shad Valley (‘07), Avanti holds a Bachelor of Commerce from Queen’s University. Beyond her professional life, ask her about her two dogs, sustainable fashion, staying active, or culinary travel.
Rahemeen Ahmed
Rahemeen is an analyst (and a structural engineer) and is interested in working at the intersection of risk and resilience, artificial intelligence and venture investment. Her current work at Arup focuses on climate adaptation for communities and corporations to help them respond to extreme weather events. Rahemeen aims to accelerate investment in founders working to leverage new technologies to address some of the biggest challenges in our world, climate change and beyond. In her free time, she enjoys hiking and making chai.
Divya Ankam
Hi, I'm Divya, a Solutions Engineer at Google, and let me tell you, it's a dynamic and demanding role. I tackle complex tech challenges for clients, requiring constant problem-solving and staying ahead of the tech curve. Before Google, I spent a decade in the fast-paced world of Fintech, specializing in AI and machine learning. I've even had the privilege of publishing research papers in those fields. Beyond my professional life, I have a deep passion for the arts. I play the violin and find solace in painting watercolors, allowing me to express a different kind of creativity. I also find immense joy in teaching coding, helping others unlock their potential. And, to keep my mind sharp, I'm currently pursuing a PhD. So, I juggle a lot – from intricate code and AI algorithms to musical scores, vibrant watercolors, and academic pursuits. I believe in the power of blending analytical thinking with creative expression.
Marwa aljobori
Marwa Aljobori is a Global Senior Financial Analyst at KPMG in Canada, with over 10 years of experience in finance, accounting, budgeting, and strategic decision-making. She specializes in leveraging technology to enhance financial workflows and ensuring a reliable build process in collaboration with the KPMG international team. She holds a bachelor’s degree in finance and has pursued advanced certifications in finance and accounting from the University of Toronto, which are part of her journey towards becoming a CPA.
Marwa is part of KPMG’s Women in Technology Community and is deeply committed to mentoring and inspiring girls to explore careers in STEM and business. At GiTCon, she shares her journey in finance, encouraging girls to develop confidence, embrace new opportunities, and pursue their interests in technology and beyond.
TIffany joseph
Tiffany (she/her) is an engineer by training, and has worked in STEM fields including aerospace, distribution logistics and cloud technology. After completing her undergraduate in Space Engineering at York University, where she conducted summer undergraduate research projects and participated in Residence Don roles, Engineering Society leadership and a variety of student volunteering roles, she spent 3 years in a project engineering role with Bastian Solutions, designing and project managing material handling systems across the province and country.
Currently, she works with Microsoft partners to develop and enhance their Copilot and Modern Work strategy across the US, Canada and Latin America. Her passion is interdisciplinary, with a strong focus on equity and opportunities for marginalized groups, as well as intersectional considerations in her endeavours. She has worked in the generative AI space and is passionate about helping students prepare for their careers through initiatives such as this one.
Susan Yu
Susan Yu is currently the Manager of Connected Platform Strategy for 5G & Industry Solutions at TELUS, where she leads a product team responsible for product strategy, development, and commercialization. Her team owns the TELUS Business Marketplace and comprehensive Managed Mobility Solutions with TELUS IQ. With nearly 25 years of experience in the telecommunications sector, Susan had roles in supporting the wireless engineering department as a Geographic Information Systems specialist, led programs for various software development for engineering operations optimization, and supported the launch of a marketplace with IoT Solutions for business customers. Passionate about fostering diversity in tech, Susan is an advocate for gender and diversity equity through her long-time volunteering in Connections - a TELUS Women's Network, including taking on term roles as the Chair of the GTA Chapter and as a strategic program leader and executor of the CHLOE awards - an annual global award program for the corporate Women's Network and Diversity and Inclusion. Susan believes that we all rise when we lift each other, and she's excited to share her journey and insights to inspire the next generation of female tech leaders.