News

The BMO-Centre for Applied Innovation and Research (BMO-CIAR) is delighted to welcome you to a panel discussion on the topic of “Perspectives On Women Entrepreneurship” as part of Edmonton Startup Week celebrations. The goal of this panel is to inspire and encourage budding entrepreneurs and provide a platform for networking to the attendees. 

This panel will feature the following CUE women innovators who will share their stories of struggles, wins, and obstacles as they build their businesses and innovations:

• Dr. Glenda Stirling, Assistant Professor, Faculty of Arts
• Dr. Nasim Hajari, Associate Professor, Faculty of Science
• Nikki DeOliviera, Founder, Bayou Mermaid by Nikki, and Administrator, External and International Relations
• Valerie Auwa, Founder, Rayaa Respite Care and Wrasse Fashion Inc., CUE student

Moderator: Kathleen Norman, Executive in Residence for CUE, Edmonton Unlimited

Date and time: 18 Oct 2022, 1-2 pm

Venue: Google Meet

Agenda:

1-1:15pm: Introduction to the session, moderators and panelists

1:15-1:50pm: Discussion on topics such as 

• women entrepreneur traits, 
• barriers to women entrepreneurs, 
• power of building a network, 
• wellprenuer (maintaining entrepreneur wellness and achieving work/life balance); 10 minutes per topic

1:50-2pm: Q&A and event reflections

Contact

Please email Dr. Isha Katyal, Associate Vice-President, Innovation at isha.katyal@concordia.ab.ca in case of any questions.

Panelist Information

Dr. Glenda Stirling, Assistant Professor, Faculty of Arts

Glenda Stirling is an Assistant Professor of Drama at Concordia University of Edmonton.  Previously Glenda has taught acting, movement, devising and professional development and directed student productions at Mount Royal University, the University of Alberta, the University of Calgary and Red Deer College. Glenda is also a Certified Movement Analyst (Laban/Bartenieff Institute of Movement Studies, NY) working with performers and  corporate clients to develop more supported functional and expressive movement. She is also the former Artistic Director of Lunchbox Theatre and former Curriculum Director for Artstrek, the acclaimed youth summer drama program offered by Theatre Alberta. Glenda holds an M.F.A in Theatre Studies from the University of Calgary and a B.A in Drama from the University of Alberta. Her passion is to train and support artists to become entrepreneurs. 

Dr. Nasim Hajari, Associate Professor, Faculty of Science

Dr. Nasim Hajari got her PhD degree from University of Alberta, and her MSc degree from Simon Fraser University, both in the field of Computing Science. She was a postdoctoral fellow at University of Alberta before joining CUE. Her research areas are Computer Vision, Pattern Recognition and Multimedia Applications. Currently, Nasim is working on developing a computer vision based model for material detection that can have implications for waste management. 

Nikki DeOliviera, Founder, Bayou Mermaid by Nikki, and Administrator, External and International Relations

Nikki grew up in Louisiana with a versatile landscape of bayous, lakes, and countryside. She infuses her past and present surroundings into her vibrant abstracts and florals.  She is an avid artist, administrator, and multi-tasker who always has a project on the horizon.  She holds a BA in literature from Louisiana Tech University where she graduated summa cum laude.  Nikki is a proud wife and a mother of three whose goal is to spark joy and spread a bit of brightness in all aspects of her life.  

Valerie Auwa, Founder, Rayaa Respite Care, CUE student

About Valerie – “Valerie is a student in the After Degree Program Environmental Public Health at CUE. Her intuitive mind and passion for problem-solving have led her to launch two startups – RYAAA Respite Care Inc. and Wrasse Fashion Inc. a dress brand aggregator online store. Valerie is an idea explorer and creative thinker in today’s fast-growing economy, and she hopes to build success in the world of female entrepreneurs. By looking at consumer needs, she is hoping to create a sustainable, profitable, and scalable online clothing store business. Her entrepreneur journey demonstrates the value of staying true to your business ideas and passion and never giving up on oneself. She believes that setbacks may come our way, but we can always pick ourselves up and do better.” 

Release Consent

Please note that the session will be recorded and posted on the BMO-CIAR website. By attending this event, you hereby consent and authorize the Concordia University of Edmonton to use your testimonials/comments and any photographs, video, or audio recordings taken of you for internal and external newsletters; news releases; journalist requests; and Concordia University of Edmonton promotional materials, including the World Wide Web, printed documents, audiotapes, videotapes, CD-ROMs, posters and in any and all other media, whether now known or hereafter existing, controlled by the Concordia University of Edmonton. You will make no monetary or other claims against the Concordia University of Edmonton for the use of the above-mentioned media.