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ElevateHer: Advancing Women in the Workplace!

ElevateHer is a WAGE- Women and Gender Equality Canada funded initiative led by Times Change Women Employment Service. The program is designed to reduce workplace barriers and create advancement pathways for women; particularly those from equity-deserving backgrounds; within the Toronto GTA.

Through the development of a mentorship and sponsorship model co-piloted with selected organisations, ElevateHer aims to increase women’s representation in leadership and support workplaces in fostering inclusive, equitable practices and cultures.

The program supports organisation’s capacity building and offers a mentorship/sponsorship toolkit/model that reflects both research, lived experience and evidence-informed practices.

Program Goals

ElevateHer aims to advance gender equity and promote inclusive workplace practices that support women’s career advancement and leadership. Our mission is to help break down systemic barriers; particularly for equity-deserving women; through mentorship, sponsorship, and the application of a Gender-Based Analysis Plus (GBA+) lens.

Our key objectives are to:

  • Co-develop and pilot an evidence-based GBA+ mentorship and sponsorship program with selected workplaces
  • Collaborate with community partners, employers, equity-deserving women, and subject matter experts to inform and strengthen the program
  • Equip workplaces with practical tools and resources to build inclusive practices and workplace cultures
  • Raise awareness of systemic barriers affecting women’s career advancement, using a GBA+ approach

Meet the team

Our dedicated team brings a strong blend of experience and passion for advancing gender equity and women’s leadership.

Horia (Program Coordinator) and Busra (Program Assistant) lead ElevateHer with a shared commitment to inclusive workplace practices and removing barriers to women’s career advancement. Caitlin, our talented Graphic Designer, brings ElevateHer’s vision to life through thoughtful visual storytelling.

Christine and Diana, our Co-Mentors/Program Managers, bring valuable expertise in leadership development, mentorship, and fostering equitable workplace cultures.

For partnership, consultation, or collaboration inquiries, please reach out to Horia and Busra at: [email protected]

EDUCATIONAL COUNSELLOR/MANAGER
Diana Bahr

[email protected]

OPERATIONS SPECIALIST/MANAGER
Christine Sweeton

[email protected]

Program Coordinator | ElevateHer Program
Horia Sardarzada

[email protected]

Program Assistant | ElevateHer Program
Büşra Boğazlıyan

[email protected]

Computer, Intake & Admin Support
Caitlin Droney

[email protected]

Advisory Council

Founder & President, Accelerate Her Future & Divity Group 
Dr. Golnaz Golnaraghi

Project Manager, Gender Equality at UN Global Compact Network Canada
Atifa Hasham

Project Manager at Canadian Council of Muslim Women (CCMW)
Firdaus Ali

Executive Leadership Coach at Coach K- Kadine Cooper
Kadine Cooper, CPCC

Manager of Programs at Pride at Work Canada
Misha Goforth

Director of Senomi Solutions Inc.
Nicole Kaniki

IAYT-certified yoga therapist at Holitci Yoga Therapy
Niya Bajaj

Director of Public Affairs at the Ontario Society of Professional Engineers (OSPE)
Paola Cetares

President of DAMA Toronto & Co- Founder and EDIB Practice Lead Fund Development Manager at Iron & Earth
Sapna Jain

Instructor at University of Toronto & at Goodwork Sustainability
Thanuja Thananayagam

Program Associate and Coordinator at Bangladeshi-Canadian Community Services (BCS)
Urbi Khan

How You Can Get Involved:

Is your organization committed to advancing gender equity in the workplace?

We’re inviting small to medium-sized employers (1–499 employees) based in the Toronto GTA to partner with us through the ElevateHer program. We’re especially interested in organizations that:

  • Have been established for 3+ years
  • Demonstrate leadership commitment to gender equity
  • Have the capacity to support mentorship and sponsorship (Staff who can act as mentors or sponsors)
  • Are eager to learn about and implement mentorship and sponsorship practices to support women’s career advancement

If this sounds like your workplace, we’d love to connect and work with you.

Get in touch with us at: [email protected]

This project has been funded through Women and Gender Equality Canada’s Women’s Program.

Empowering Women in Leadership: ElevateHer Mentorship and Sponsorship Program

We were thrilled to participate in the RBC Advancement of Women in Leadership event in Novemeber , in support of United Way Greater Toronto, where our ElevateHer program took center stage. 
 
Our Program Coordinator, Horia Sardarzada, joined an inspiring panel alongside Anita Carroll from ACCES Employment and Agapi Gessesse, Executive Director of CEE Centre for Young Black Professionals. Together, they explored strategies to empower women, dismantle systemic barriers, and promote leadership through mentorship and sponsorship models. Through engaging discussions and strategic collaboration, we highlighted the impactful work of our ElevateHer program and its focus on mentorship and sponsorship as essential strategies for advancing women in Canadian workplaces. 
 
What We Shared: 
  • Strategies and Action Items: Sharing practical approaches and action plans for tackling systemic barriers, in collaboration with organizations dedicated to advancing women’s leadership. 
  • Collaboration for Change: Exploring how collective action can drive progress and create more inclusive, equitable workplace environments. 
  • By partnering with like-minded organizations and thought leaders, we aim to shape workplaces where women can lead with confidence and authenticity. Together, we’re making impactful strides toward a future of empowered women leaders. 
We extend our gratitude to RBC for hosting this impactful event, and to all participants for their engagement and insights. Events like this reinforce the importance of collaboration in building a future where women lead with confidence, resilience, and authenticity. 
 

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Join Us in Creating a More Diverse and Inclusive Workplace
Embrace the power of diversity and inclusion with the ElevateHer program. Contact us today to learn more about how Times Change can help your organization achieve its diversity, equity, and inclusion goals.
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