Nella Brodett is a game-changer for student athletes
Nella Brodett
Law and Business ’15
Head of Integrated Markets, Company Support and Partnerships, CAN Health Network
Nella Brodett was a cast member of The Amazing Race Canada season 8, a former TMU women’s hockey team captain, and a 2025 TMU Alumni Rising Star. Now, through her establishment of the Nella Brodett Empowerment Award, the Law and Business ’15 alumna can add champion of student athletes to her list of successes. The award annually recognizes a female-identified varsity athlete in the TMU Bold community who demonstrates actions and character that contribute to building an empowering culture for their teammates and community.
The genesis of the award comes from Nella’s own experiences. Not long after Nella joined the TMU women’s hockey team in 2011, the elite athlete began to feel burnout from the pressures of finances, school, grades and team performance, and was diagnosed with depression. First to reach out to help were Nella’s teammates.
“Being a Filipino immigrant, being a minority, being a female athlete, there are many challenges that come with all of those things. But you can overcome them if there are people there cheering you on,” she said.
In turn, Nella rallied the community to help her fundraise tens of thousands of dollars for the #RamsTalk Mental Health Resilience and Support Award, which ran from 2014 to 2024.
“I definitely wouldn’t be where I am if it wasn’t for my time at the university — as a hockey player, as a student leader, and just being in an environment that really encourages young people to thrive and grow.”
Now based back in her hometown of Edmonton, Alta., Nella currently works as Head of Integrated Markets, Company Support and Partnerships at CAN Health Network, a not-for-profit that removes barriers for Canadian health innovation companies to grow. It’s a leadership role Nella credits to her time at university.
“TMU has really helped to propel me and my career, and brought me together with amazing and incredible human beings that I cherish and love dearly to this day,” said Nella. “I definitely wouldn’t be where I am if it wasn’t for my time at the university — as a hockey player, as a student leader, and just being in an environment that really encourages young people to thrive and grow. And that’s why I want to pay it forward and leave a legacy through this award.”
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