BVZ Women Who Build: Her Path Forward Brings Women Leaders and Founders Together in Brampton
Women Who Build circle leaders, BVZ team, & Regional Councillor Rowena Santos pictured above.
In celebration of International Women’s Day, the BVZ Women Who Build: Her Path Forward event brought together women founders, ecosystem leaders, investors, and community builders for an evening focused on mentorship, collaboration, and actionable learning.
Hosted in Brampton—one of Canada’s fastest-growing innovation hubs—the event created a space for women building and scaling technology-enabled businesses to connect, share experiences, and explore pathways for growth across the regional startup ecosystem.
Anchored in the theme Give & Gain, the gathering reinforced a powerful idea: when women share knowledge, open doors, and support one another, the entire innovation ecosystem becomes stronger.
Opening Remarks from Councillor Rowena Santos
The evening began with inspiring remarks from Rowena Santos (external link) , Regional Councillor for Wards 1 & 5 in Brampton.
Councillor Santos highlighted the importance of building inclusive innovation ecosystems where women entrepreneurs can thrive. She emphasized the city’s commitment to supporting founders and strengthening opportunities for women across business, technology, and community leadership.
Her remarks set an empowering tone for the evening, encouraging women to step confidently into leadership and opportunity. Rowena Santos left the audience with a memorable message: “Take your place. Own the space. Do it with style, humour, smarts, and grace”. Her words resonated strongly with the founders and leaders in the room, reinforcing the importance of confidence, representation, and creating space for women to lead and thrive.
Keynote: Manvir Bhangu on Empowerment and Community Leadership
The keynote address was delivered by Manvir Bhangu (external link) , award-winning community leader and founder of Laadliyan.
Drawing from over a decade of experience advancing gender equity and grassroots engagement, Bhangu spoke about the power of community-driven leadership and the importance of uplifting the next generation of women leaders. Through her work with Laadliyan, she has empowered thousands of girls and women across Canada through mentorship, advocacy, and education.
She shared a powerful message with the women in the room: “there is enough room for all of us”. Bhangu encouraged founders and leaders to shift away from competition and instead focus on supporting, collaborating with, and uplifting one another to create stronger and more inclusive communities.
Her keynote resonated deeply with the audience, reinforcing the idea that meaningful change often begins with small actions, courageous leadership, and a commitment to lifting others along the way.
Her Path Forward Circles: Real Conversations for Real Growth
Moving beyond a traditional panel format, the event featured curated roundtable discussions, or Her Path Forward Circles, where participants engaged in candid conversations with experienced women leaders from across the startup ecosystem.
Each circle focused on a key area of the founder journey, offering practical insights and shared learning.
The sessions were led by accomplished ecosystem leaders including:
Amanda Leard (external link) – Expeditor, City of Brampton Economic Development Office
Lisa Mohapatra (external link) – Co-Founder & CEO, Bidblox
Minalini Lakshman (external link) – Founder, MYK Solutions Inc.
Neelam Bance (external link) – CEO, ODINsight
Pam Banks (external link) – Executive Director, Altitude Accelerator
Nehha Bahal (external link) – Head of Strategy, Allium IP
Tehmina Chaudhry (external link) – Founder, Canada Startup Association (CSA)
Christina Albert (external link) – National Service Line Leader, Doane Grant Thortnton LLP
These small-group discussions enabled founders to ask real questions, exchange insights, and gain advice tailored to their current stage of growth.
Building Connections That Extend Beyond the Room
The evening concluded with intentional networking, where participants connected with mentors, founders, investors, and ecosystem partners from across the Greater Toronto Area and Peel Region.
The atmosphere was collaborative and energizing—demonstrating that when women gather to share knowledge and resources, new partnerships and opportunities quickly follow.
A Community Focused on Give & Gain
BVZ Women Who Build: Her Path Forward showcased the strength of the region’s growing innovation ecosystem and the powerful role women play in shaping its future.
More than an event, the gathering served as a reminder that building a thriving tech ecosystem requires collaboration, mentorship, and intentional support for diverse founders.
As conversations continued well beyond the formal program, one thing became clear: when women build together, the future of innovation becomes stronger, more inclusive, and more impactful.