HerStory 2022: Meet the winners!
It sounds cliché, but picking just four winners from the 29 finalists who participated in HerStory 2022 was an outrageously difficult task. The quality of the storytelling, the incredible nature of the businesses and the journeys these women—from all walks of life—took to arrive on our stage, made the event extraordinarily powerful for all.
We’d like you to meet our four winners, and get to know them, and their businesses, better.
Lourdes Juan
Knead Technologies
Lourdes is a Calgary-based entrepreneur and Urban planner, with a Masters in Environmental Design, who has founded a diverse array of organizations including Hive Developments, Soma Spa, Knead Technologies, Leftovers and Fresh Routes. As a daughter of immigrants, Lourdes’ parents instilled in her a passion for taking care of her community. This has been a driving force behind her tireless work to solve problems including by creating two non-profit organizations that address dignified food access and newly founded a tech company to redirect food surplus. Lourdes’ community advocacy is vast and also includes serving on numerous local and national boards related to urban planning and design, development appeals, affordable housing, impact investment and business leadership. Lourdes is a mom to a one-year-old son who inspires her to continue to work towards building a brighter future for Calgary.
On “financial feminism,” Lourdes said:
“To me, is about women having equal access to capital, investment, and advisors!”
On The51, she said:
“There are so many financial statistics about women that aren’t fair. For example, female founders raised 2% of venture capital in 2021, but our ventures out perform by 63%. We don’t have the financial access that we deserve. The 51 is aiming to change that.”
Shelvie Fernan
Fly & Fetch
Shelvie is the CEO and Co-founder of Fly and Fetch. Entering Canada as an immigrant, Shelvie used her deep understanding of international shipping challenges and needs of immigrants, and created Fly and Fetch to make international shipping cheaper, faster, and friendlier. Shelvie’s post-secondary background is in Electronic Engineering, Entrepreneurship and Innovation, and Marketing contributes to her unique female entrepreneurial skills. She also lead international students and Filipino- Canadian community for more than three years which hone her leadership skills and expanded her network. Shelvie believes in the power of community which is why Fly and Fetch is built as a shipping company powered by a community working together so the world gets better shipping services.
On “financial feminism,” Shelvie said:
”Financial Feminism means that women is given equal access to financial opportunities bias free.”
On The51, she said:
”The51 is a valuable organization because it creates a community of women that supports and cheers up one another from all sides of the table: founder, community supporter, and investors.”
Dr. Karolina Valente
VoxCell BioInnovation
Karolina has a B.Sc. and M.Sc. in Chemical Engineering, and a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering. She has deep expertise in tissue engineering, 3D bioprinting, and oncology. Karolina has published multiple peer-reviewed papers and is currently an Assistant Professor at the University of Victoria and the CEO & CSO of VoxCell.
On “financial feminism,” Karolina said:
“Financial Feminism to me goes beyond just believing in financial equability of women: it means providing financial opportunities to an extremely capable group that is currently receiving less than 3% of all venture capital. It means creating a change in the way money is invested!”
On The51, she said:
”The vision that The51 has: The future is woman-funded. This organization is created by inspiring women that are making a change now (not just proposing a change!), and putting capital accessible to hard-working women out there.”
Julia Rivard Dexter
Shoelace Learning
Julia Rivard Dexter is an innovative tech entrepreneur focused on impact, one of the top 50 Canadian women in STEM, former Olympian and mother of 4. Julia has founded and led several successful technology ventures, including as CEO of Google’s first North American premier GoogleApps partner. Currently the Co-Founder and CEO of Shoelace Learning, she leads one of the most innovative education technology companies in North America, which delivers the best education for millions of kids through video games they love. Julia has been honoured with the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal and BMO’s Global Growth and Innovation Award and is a member of the Board of Nova Scotia Power.
On “financial feminism,” Julia said:
“To me financial feminism is financial equity for women from pay equity to practice investment in female founders for a balanced and better future.”
On The51, she said:
”A lot of groups talk about change and balancing the scales for women but there is an important difference between motion and action. My experience so that The51 acts, helping build the muscles we all need to have a stronger future for financial feminism.”