Judy has over 20 years of experience in brand management, marketing, and business strategy analytics in the consumer packaged goods industry, steering multi-million dollar franchises to rapid growth. Judy has led Fortune 500 teams at Kraft, Mondelez and The Nielsen Company, where she served as Vice President, Client Services. Judy currently leads York University’s YSpace Food Accelerator to help food start-ups scale and accelerate growth. She also serves as a Program Advisor for York University’s Entrepreneurial Leadership & Learning Alliance (ELLA) Accelerator supporting women’s entrepreneurship, and as a Business Mentor for youth entrepreneurs with the City of Markham. In 2014, Judy founded Pivot Perspectives Coaching & Consulting, a training organization for leaders and entrepreneurs.

Judy holds a Masters of Business Administration from Rotman School of Business with specializations in Marketing and Strategy. She also has a Bachelor of Science in Actuarial Sciences from the University of Toronto and is a Certified Coach with the Coaches Training Institute (CTI).

Nidhi brings over 20 years of accounting and finance experience. Her professional growth with large multinationals, start-up businesses and entrepreneurial enterprise has allowed her to develop a strong appreciation for evolving financial reporting and controls. During her career, Nidhi co-founded and operated a multi-modality medical clinic in the GTA and was a financial leader for a privately pharmaceutical business which was later acquired by a TSX listed company. During this time, she provided cross-functional leadership and her financial expertise was integral in growth strategies for products and services.

Nidhi now spends her time providing advisory services for small business, teaching at York University School of Continuing Studies, and volunteering in the non-profit sector. She is the Treasurer for a nonprofit organization, is the former Vice Chair at Skylark Youth and Families and a former board member for the Michener Institute for Applied Health Sciences. She also brings board experience from the private sector. Nidhi is a CPA, CA, and is certified in Risk Management.

Joanna has more than 20 years of experience in international business operations with industry expertise in manufacturing, retail, hospitality, and international logistics operations. Her progressive experience in human resources and organizational operations culminated in becoming the Chief Executive Officer of 3Ks Unique Co., a successful multinational firm. As a business and human resources consultant with a focus on business development, compliance, and health & safety for international organizations, Joanna brings a passion for teaching that brings business world reality into classroom instruction.

Joanna brings a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, an MBA from William Howard Taft University, and Certificates in Project Management, Human Resources Management and TESOL. She is currently in the process of completing her Doctorate in Business Administration with a specialization in business leadership and management, and receiving validation as a CPHR. Joanna teaches a variety of business and human resources courses at York University, Seneca College, and Centennial College and is a facilitator for HRPA-York Region’s Educational Committee.

Su-Yan Gay is a Human Resources professional who brings almost 20 years of HR experience to York University. Su-Yan worked as the Manager of Learning & Development for a large crown corporation for over 10 years. Her most recent position took her to Alberta, where she was the Supervisor of Employee Education and a Senior HR Advisor within a municipal government organization. Based in Toronto, Su-Yan is currently managing her own HR consulting firm (NAYUS Consulting Group) where she is advising public and private organizations in both Canada and the Caribbean with their HR and talent management needs.

Su-Yan holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from the University of Toronto, a Bachelor of Education degree (specializing in Adult Education) from Brock University, and a graduate degree in Human Resources Management from York University. In addition, she holds the professional designations of Certified Human Resources Leader and Certified Training & Development Professional.

Anwar has over 20 years of industry experience working for Unilever and Johnson & Johnson in Australia, South Asia, the Middle East and North Africa. During this time, he has managed global brands including Ponds, Vaseline, Sunsilk, Pepsodent, Aim, Band-Aid, Carefree and Acuvue.

Starting as a brand manager, Anwar progressed through various responsibilities in marketing and sales to become Regional General Manager and then Country Manager for the Middle East and North Africa, receiving recognition as a multi-year President’s Club award winner for outstanding achievement.

Anwar has been teaching marketing and international business for the last 13 years, both at York University and McKeil School of Business. He is also co-author of “Principles of Marketing,” the 1st Arab world edition with Professor Philip Kotler.

Dr. Syeda Fahmida Habib is a passionate, student-centered educator with 24 years teaching experience at University/College level. Her core area of teaching has been finance and banking. Fahmida has also taught accounting, marketing, and general management courses. She has been involved in text book writing, curricula, course material and assessment development as well as managing teaching teams. Fahmida has authored a textbook on Islamic Finance and Banking for Wiley Publishers in 2018. She completed her DBA from SMC University, Zurich and has a Masters in Applied Finance from Macquarie University, Sydney plus an MBA, majoring in marketing.

Fahmida believes that learning happens when the material is adapted to the learner’s abilities and interest. She has had great rapport with her students and colleagues. Fahmida has worked with mature multicultural student groups and strives to instill in her students her own passion for life- long learning and learning beyond borders. She also encourages them to work professionally, independently, in teams and contribute to their work environment, their societies and to their families.

Salman has over 10 years of experience in business development, international business and technology across the corporate and non-for-profit sector. He has been highly successful at advising fast-growing international companies on market entry strategies in his current role at Toronto Global, where he has helped attract over 25 international companies that will create more than 800 new jobs for Canadians and generate upwards of $140M of investment to Canada.

Prior to this, Salman worked in client facing roles in technology companies which included 5 years at IBM where he supported enterprise clients. Salman is currently on the Program Advisory Committee at the Faculty of Business at Humber College and serves as a board member at the Toronto Workforce Innovation Group.

Salman has an Honours Degree in Computer Science from York University and an MBA in Technology and Innovation from Ted Rogers School of Management at Ryerson University.

Jennifer is a marketing and business professional with more than 20 years of leadership experience in both the public and private sectors. Jennifer previously held the role of Director of Economic Development and Culture at the City of Vaughan. In the private sector, Jennifer has held senior leadership positions in venture capital and business consulting. Recognized as a serial entrepreneur, Jennifer successfully built a business consulting firm that sold to a large multi-national accounting firm in 2013.

Jennifer is the co-founder of Women Leadership Nation Inc., an organization committed to helping close the gender gap in the workplace and she is the host of the WLN Breaking Barriers Podcast. Jennifer has been recognized by Insights Success Magazine as 1 of 20 successful businesswomen to watch in 2020, has won 11 marketing awards, and was designated as a Women of Influence by the Universal Women’s Network in 2020.

Jennifer holds an MBA specializing in international business and marketing, as well as a Bachelors in Commerce, a Certificate in Higher Education Teaching, a Masters Certificate in Municipal Leadership, a Certificate in Marketing Management, and a Graduate Diploma in Management. She has completed the York Entrepreneurship Development Business Incubator Program at Schulich School of Business and holds the Economic Development Professional (EcD) Certification and Designation. Jennifer is currently obtaining a PhD in Management, specializing in Leadership.

Shirley has taught a wide range of courses including accounting, finance and taxation for over ten years at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Her industry experience spans both the public and private sectors in the areas of corporate finance, accounting, controllership and project management.

Shirley is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) and a member of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA). She holds a Masters in Business Administration (MBA) with a focus in Commerce and Strategy from Laurentian University.
Shirley also teaches in the MBA Program at Cape Breton University and has been involved as a subject matter expert in curriculum design to meet industry and professional certification requirements. Her teaching philosophy includes motivating and encouraging students to learn from one another, while always challenging them to be critical thinkers.

Cheryl is the CEO of Knowledge Adapters, a Toronto-based consulting firm that offers business analysis and project management consulting and training services in the areas of business analysis, project management and change management. Clients include public and private sector organizations across all industries, including financial services, high tech, telecommunications, transportation, construction, entertainment, and all levels of government.

Cheryl is co-author of “Effective PM and BA Role Collaboration” (2015), J. Ross Publishing, and one of four global authors of The PMI Guide to Business Analysis (2017), published by the Project Management Institute (PMI). She has spoken at conferences, chapter meetings, colleges, and at universities to audiences across the globe.

Cheryl founded the PMI Toronto Chapter Business Analysis Community; the first Business Analysis Community within a PMI Chapter, and has served as a Director at Large for the International Institute of Business Analysis (IIBA) Toronto.

Cheryl is a certified Professional in Business Analysis (PMI-PBA), Project Management Professional (PMP) and Certified Business Analysis Professional (CBAP).

Jeff’s background in business and human resources management spans more than twenty-five years. In his capacity as an independent consultant, he has worked with some of Canada’s most influential companies, completing client engagements in both the public and private sectors. His international experience includes working with post-secondary partners in Indonesia to assist with the development of applied entrepreneurship curriculum and the establishment of community business support centres.

Jeff has taught management development, organizational behaviour, human resource planning and development, and business foundation courses at McMaster and York universities, and at Seneca, Conestoga, and Confederation colleges. He has an undergraduate honours degree in Economics from Laurentian University in Sudbury, and a graduate degree in Education from Nipissing University in North Bay.

A passionate and enthusiastic instructor, Janet Melo-Thaiss believes that York University’s classrooms have the power to change the world for the better. Winner of multiple teaching awards, including the President’s University-Wide Teaching Award and Humanities Teaching Award, Janet focuses on mentoring students and facilitating their journey towards the highest expression of their own skills and talents.

Janet’s work in the financial and insurance industries as a Marketing Professional and Financial Writer informs her focus on experiential learning in the classroom and helps students to see the connections between their academic and professional paths. Known as an innovative teacher, Janet’s classroom is a dynamic space where mindfulness meets academic excellence.

Chris is a data expert: determining its value, monitoring its integrity and managing its performance. After spending decades working in full-service and multi-national marketing agencies, he has turned his passion and experience to helping organizations build positive, long-term relationships with their stakeholders.

For more than ten years, Chris has created, revised and taught a range of courses for Canadian colleges and universities. On his own time, he works with sector development organizations to educate non-profit leaders on best practice. Additionally, he creates and delivers workshops to under-served communities to improve employment opportunities. Chris holds his MBA from the University of Ottawa.

Rehan is an HR and Project Management Professional with over 20 years of experience. In January 2014, he became the Founder & CEO of the HR and Project Management Corporation, a global firm specialized in providing recruitment and training services.

Rehan is a part-time faculty member at York University, Humber College, and Lambton College where he teaches HR and project management. He has an Honours BA in Economics from the University of Toronto, an MA in Economics from the University of Western Ontario, and an MASc in Management Science from the University of Waterloo. He also has a Master’s Certificate in Learning & Development from Schulich’s Executive Education Centre and holds both the PMP & CHRL Professional Licenses.

Dr. Indira Somwaru is a human resources professional and educator with over twenty years of experience in both business and academic settings. Her industry experience includes senior human resources management positions in a variety of organizations including health care, real estate and publishing.

Indira currently teaches courses in business and human resources management at York University in the Schulich School of Business, School of Administrative Studies, School of Continuing Studies, and School of Human Resources Management, from which she is a Teaching Excellence Award recipient. She brings specialized expertise in negotiations which she teaches to Schulich undergraduate, graduate and executive level students. Indira also teaches courses in the Master’s Degree program in Industrial Relations and Human Resources at the University of Toronto and Rotman Commerce.

In addition to teaching, Indira designs and delivers workshops and provides consulting services to private industry, particularly in the area of human resources management. Her areas of expertise include negotiations, change management, leadership and managing diversity.

Indira brings a PhD in Management from Griffith University as well as an MBA, BEd and BA from the University of Toronto. She is also a Certified Human Resources Professional (CHRP).

A senior global executive with over 25 years’ experience, Faith has served in roles such as Chief People Officer, Global Head of Talent as well as SVP, Human Resources for a number of multinational organizations. She currently serves as an active Professional Advisory Committee member for degree programs for two Canadian universities.

Faith brings expansive expertise and specialization in Organizational Design & Development, Talent Management, Succession Planning, Talent Acquisition, Performance Management, Employee Relations, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, and Strategic Planning. Additionally, Faith’s background has given her broad experience across a range of industries that include Technology, Pharmaceutical, Engineering, HR Services, and Insurance.

Faith obtained her Masters of Human Resources Management (MHRM) from York University, a BA in Industrial/Labour Relations from the University of Toronto, a Certificate in Adult Training & Development from OISE, as well as a Business Administration Diploma from Sheridan College. Faith is a member of the HRPA, from which she holds the top tier designation of Certified Human Resources Executive (CHRE).

Faisal has 20 years of experience in national, regional and branch leadership roles with TD, Laurentian Bank and London Life, progressing to executive-level roles including District Vice President and Associate Vice President of Sales, Strategy and Digital. He is also a management consultant within the Canadian financial services sector.

Faisal has worked in many different areas of the industry which includes analytics, sales leadership, capability development, advice strategy and distribution leadership roles within insurance, retail banking and wealth management.

Faisal has over 10 years of experience as an educator. He is currently a part-time professor in the Business Faculties at York University, Humber College, and Sheridan College. He is Co-Founder & Chair of Refugee Girls Worldwide, a current Board Member at William Osler Health System Foundation, and past Cabinet Chair at United Way.

Faisal holds a Bachelor of Commerce (concentration in Finance) and an MBA (concentration in Strategy) from the University of Windsor.