Introducing FFIL Alumni Leads: Fall 2023 Cohort
Who better to champion the next cohort of the Financial Feminism Investing Lab than past participants themselves?
Kicking off this cohort of FFIL earlier in October, we mentioned elevating the experience with a few program additions, a big one being…
Alumni Leads: select former FFIL graduates who are helping foster a supportive and inclusive environment where new and seasoned lab participants can come together to learn, grow, and support each other on their financial and investment journeys.
We know that learning as a community is better (and has a number of impactful benefits!), so it’s with much excitement that there are more opportunities to go through this journey together. With a lot of content and the quick pace of the course, alumni leads guide their learning pods by:
Meeting weekly for at least 30 minutes to work through a few guiding questions
Acquiring and sharing knowledge as working through the course material
Sharing their learnings with fellow course participants
Connecting with others on the same journey!
Meet this cohort’s alumni leads, hear a bit about their experience in the program, and learn why they have decided to play a leading role this time around.
Devon Krainer
Devon is an investment associate at Raven Indigenous Capital Partners with over nine years of experience in impact investing. Passionate about using finance to promote inclusive economies, Devon’s professional experience spans twenty countries including at a Canadian pension plan and global economic development organization. Devon earned an Honors Business Administration bachelor’s degree with distinction from the Ivey Business School and a post graduate diploma in Social Innovation from the University of Waterloo.
What did you love about FFIL?
One of the keys to addressing the climate crisis, social inequality, among other intractable problems, is shifting the way finance flows. FFIL, through promoting values-based analysis and investment decision making, supports this movement.
What was your motivation to become an alumni lead?
The community. The FFIL community offers a deep well of support and inspiration to help individuals move from education to action.
Hailee Turpin
Having lived and worked in five different countries, Hailee has come to deeply appreciate the profound significance of connecting with diverse community networks and the extraordinary value of assisting others in their journey towards success. As a seasoned organizer and passionate planner, her career has instilled the value of effective communication, collaboration, and the art of learning from others. These principles have been the cornerstone of Hailee’s journey to success.
Hailee’s true calling and passion lie in aiding the elderly members of our community in achieving a fulfilling and dignified aging experience within the comfort of their own homes. She is dedicated to investing her time and energy into exploring innovative approaches to enhance the aging process and the services that cater to the unique needs of our elders.
What did you love about FFIL?
I love being part of the FFIL community. It has provided me with a platform to develop my financial skills, connect with inspiring individuals. and learn how to make a meaningful impact with my investment choices.
What was your motivation to become an alumni lead?
As a proud alumna of the Financial Feminist Investment Lab, I want to share my support for new members and students. I want to continue to learn and support others in an inclusive learning environment. The Lab's mission to empower women in finance was a significant factor that resonated with me. I wanted to be a part of an organization that actively worked towards breaking gender barriers in the financial sector.
Leyla Kara
Leyla Kara is a serial entrepreneur and early-stage investor with a broad background in international business, commercialization, supply chain, and project management. As the CEO and Co-Founder of SpectraCann, She is leading a team of innovators to bring first rapid drug breathalyzer to the market. Additionally, she serves as a Commercialization & Scale Up expert for the RADx initiative by the US National Institute of Health, in one of her latest roles as Project Manager at OraSure Technologies, she successfully delivered a major project backed by a significant U.S. Department of Defense contract. She also is dedicated to serves as Business Mentor at Futurpreneur, assisting young Canadian entrepreneurs. An alumni of institutions like MIT, Ryerson University, University of Cambridge, and Tehran University, Her multifaceted career across various countries and sectors embodies her capacity to innovate, lead, and motivate globally!
What did you love about FFIL?
Taking the Financial Feminism Investor Lab course was an eye-opener! I dove in hoping to learn a bit, but came out feeling super empowered and even more passionate about inclusivity. The course didn't just highlight the hurdles women-led ventures face; it made me realize the untapped potential and fire within them. It's given me a whole new perspective and optimism for a brighter, more inclusive economic future.
What was your motivation to become an alumni lead?
Deciding to step up as an alumni lead was a choice fueled by both passion and purpose. Going through the Financial Feminism Investor Lab course was a game-changer for me, and it ignited a deep desire to pay it forward. My goal? To be a guiding light for new participants, linking them to invaluable resources, incredible opportunities, and a community that's got their back. Even though I’m far from being an expert in the investing realm and continue to learn every day, I felt that I could make a difference by being the bridge, introducing the new team to all the fantastic resources available and support the amazing FFIL team in achieving their goals. Staying on as an alumni lead also meant staying connected to a mission that truly touched my heart, allowing me to be a part of something bigger – to foster change, motivate others, and magnify the power of a movement I wholeheartedly stand by.
Marina Mann
Marina is the founder and CEO at Eat Sleep RIDE Mobile Inc.; a web and mobility platform singularly focused on keeping motorcycle riders safe. ESR's CRASHLIGHT technology was the first mobile crash detection application technology launched in North America. The community and safety platform helps riders connect with the community and track their distance and progress. Our Two-wheelers embedded insurance product is an AI powered safety score; it helps riders exchange safe riding for insurance credit and puts insurance into the hands of people who need it.
Marina is an advocate for road safety reform and insurance accessibility, pioneered low-cost crash detection technology for motorcycle riders and helped provide riders with the best and safest self-guided road trips world wide. Previously, Marina led product launches for brands like Virgin Mobile, Wind Mobile, Apple Inc, The Sports Network (TSN), and Ontario Lotteries.
What did you love about FFIL?
I loved the accessibility and camaraderie of FFIL. We were all new to this.
What was your motivation to become an alumni lead?
My motivation was to connect with other female investors and to refresh my learning. It takes a while to absorb so much information and talking about it helps to put the learning into practice.
Nadia Lachman
Nadia is an Investment Analyst at Panache Ventures in Calgary, AB where she supports the Prairies startup ecosystem. She has a background in health sciences, biomedical technology and holds an MBA from the Haskayne School of Business. Nadia has experience working in clinical trials, pharmaceuticals and various startup companies. She is a Calgary Chapter Co-Lead for Canadian Women in VC, a Lead for one of the VCAA Education committees, and is involved with too many community initiatives to count.
What did you love about FFIL?
What drew me to FFIL was its ability to bring structure to my daily job responsibilities as a newcomer to early-stage venture investing. The real-life case sessions were particularly eye-opening, offering diverse perspectives and showcasing the myriad ways in which deals could be approached from different angles. Additionally, the learning pods provided a safe space to discuss uncertain topics and share ideas openly.
What was your motivation to become an alumni lead?
As for my motivation to become an alumni lead, I was driven by the desire to reinforce my understanding by revisiting and sharing material, thus giving back and putting my knowledge to the test. I also saw it as an opportunity to help those with similar goals, remain connected and continue growing within the M51 network.
Rhiannon Stromberg
Rhiannon is an accomplished leader specializing in project and organizational turnarounds. Currently, she is the Director of Organizational Transformation with CGI Canada’s Western Business Unit, where she works with clients through large-scale organizational changes and transformation. Prior to joining CGI, Rhiannon worked for both provincial and municipal governments where she developed highly effective teams that have varied widely in size, structure and subject matter. Notably, she worked closely with frontline staff, people leaders, Labour Relations and the union at the City of Edmonton to develop a plan for workplace restoration while implementing a revised service delivery model for technical engineering teams. This led to a 40 percentage point increase in employee satisfaction.
What did you love about FFIL?
I loved the Financial Feminism Investing Lab because it created a safe space for me to learn about a world that, until that time, did not seem accessible to me. The best part was that I got to do this with other like-minded individuals that identified as women.
What was your motivation to become an alumni lead?
I benefited so much from the FFIL that I wanted an opportunity to give back to the program. I also really enjoy being connected to the FFIL community, which is made up of an amazing group of individuals that are committed to empowering others. It's really an awesome community to be a part of.
Zeynin Juma
Zeynin is a leader with over a decade in the hardware and software community. An accomplished engineer, she has experiences ranging from commercial Internet of Things (IoT) to mobile devices, in a wide range of sectors including: robotics, aeronautics, military, automotive, energy, and more.
What did you love about FFIL?
I wanted to invest in private equity, but didn't know how to access this. I also wanted to decrease consumption but invest in women and the environment somehow. Luckily The51 was launched right when I was asking these crucial questions. Movement51 has shown me the HOW, enriched my WHAT and really focused on the WHY which has had life-long changes to our future.
Shelley and Judy taught me that I vote with every dollar I spend. Extending that: every dollar spent is a dollar invested, I live my investment thesis every day. Products align with my values, and this has led to a simpler, more joyful life.
What was your motivation to become an alumni lead?
I had a difficult time learning while part of cohort 3 (March 2022). My self talk was harsh and impeded my learning. I wanted to give back, but I also wanted to absorb all that I didn't learn the first time. Since the curriculum was redesigned, the call for alumni leads was in response to my thought "I really should go back and take the FFIL again"!
We couldn’t be more thrilled to introduce this element into the FFIL experience with such fantastic leads. Kudos to these women for stepping up, playing a prominent role in our community, and uplifting aspiring investors.
Feeling FOMO? Keep an eye out for upcoming FFIL dates, and join us in the next cohort!
