Awards!
INSPIRE CHANGE
April 4, 2024
HOST | MONICA KRETSCHMER
@UniversalWomensNetwork | Founder and CEO, Universal Womens Network™, Women of Inspiration™ Awards and SupportHER™
LAND ACKNOWLEDGMENT
The Universal Womens Network™ and the Women of Inspiration™ Awards are taking place in the City of Toronto. We acknowledge the land our event is being held is on the traditional territory of may nations including the Mississauga’s of the Credit, the Anishnabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee and the Wendat people and is now home to many diverse First Nations, Inuit and Metis peoples. We also acknowledge that Toronto is covered by Treaty 13 with the Mississauga’s of the Credit.
SPECIAL ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
AAP – Registration & Volunteers
Leslie Gallacher
Darcy Garbutt
Powerplay
Isenberg Entertainment
Roberta Battaglia
D.O. Gibson
Michael Burns
Crystal Derouin Design Inc.
TPH Showtech
Encore AV
Metro Toronto Convention Center
The Look Company
Donna Dahl
Patricia Gagic
Greg Paupst
Emma Pascu
The Women of Inspiration™ Awards is presented by the Universal Womens Network™ Inc.
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Join the conversation using #WOIAwards #WOI2023InspireChange #SupportHER
For a Full List of the 2023 Women of Inspiration™ Nominees, scan the QR Code
To learn more visit: universalwomensnetwork.com
Nominate for 2024 Woman of Inspiration™, SupportHER™ or Top Company – Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion SupportHER™
Champion: universalwomensnetwork.com
A MESSAGE FROM THE CEO
We are pleased to invite you to the 9th Annual Women of Inspiration™ Awards hosted by the Universal Womens Network™. This event celebrates the accomplishments of women who lead, inspire, and motivate.
As a female entrepreneur and owner of a women-led business, I extend my gratitude for your support in making this event possible. Thank you for actively being a SupportHER™
Acknowledging women’s contributions in our networks, society, and workplaces is crucial. Visible role models are essential for learning, aspiring, and breaking barriers to showcase possibilities. To drive change in our networks, workplaces, and communities, we need visible SupportHERs to champion and encourage us. We cannot achieve this alone; everyone has a role to play in being a SupportHER™.
The Universal Womens Network™ is expanding to include SupportHERs (male allies) in the conversation. We believe that involving our allies is crucial to achieving gender equality.
In the room and among us are visible SupportHERs, industry leaders, partners, changemakers, visionaries, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion SupportHER™ Champions from Top Companies, as well as family, friends, colleagues, and leaders dedicated to promoting change. Together, we are fostering change and creating a ripple effect to empower women through media, awards, and leadership initiatives.
Congratulations to the 2023 Women of Inspiration™ nominees. Thank you for boldly stepping into the spotlight, demonstrating what is achievable, and inspiring us to all dream big.
AGENDA
Monica Kretschmer
Founder and CEO, Universal Womens Network™, Women of Inspiration™ Awards, SupportHER™
5:00 pm: Registration | Red Carpet | VIP Reception
6:15 pm: Doors Open, Dinner
7:00 pm: Opening Show, Awards, Performances, Keynote, Group Photo
9:30 pm: After Party, Red Carpet Interviews
MENU
Rustic breads | Red & White Wine | Coffee/Tea
Tossed baby greens. Sprouts, herbs, figs & roasted apples, shaved beets, crumbled Woolwich goat cheese, sangria dressing (V, NF, GF)
Ontario chicken breast. Leek & goat cheese herb stuffing, roasted local mushrooms, soufflé potato, seasonal vegetables, herb jus (NF, GF)
Flourless chocolate cake. White chocolate Chantilly (NF, GF), whipped ganache, berry compote
CASH BAR
VIP Signature Drink – Inspire Change
VIP Reception
After Party/Red Carpet Interviews
*Bars will be closed at 7:00 pm and reopen after the awards program
OPENING SHOW | HANNAH ISENBERG
Co-Owner, Choreographer, Isenberg Entertainment | @ISENBERGENT | HAN.ISENBERGENT
Hannah Isenberg is a multifaceted artist from Toronto, Canada. With much success in the realms of the arts, Hannah is humbled and grateful to be considered a professional dancer, choreographer, adjudicator, musician, actor, designer and photographer. Her work has allowed her to share her passions with communities in 35+ countries, providing learning opportunities to all ages in the arts.
THE VISION A multimedia display of live dance choreography paired with a background video featuring diverse Women of Inspiration™ from diverse industries, ages and stages
THE CAST A cast of multifaceted young women, all up-andcoming in the local arts community. These ladies showcase what we have to look forward to in the next generation of youth, exuding confidence and determination to make their own marks in our society.
THE DANCERS: Naomi Couture-Gagnon, Reese O’Donnell, Jaliyah Power, Madelyn Taylor, Julliana Gould, Quinn Gow, Delainey Shennan, Abbey Reynolds, Claudia Machado, Arabella Turano, Charlie Ennis, Charlotte Hoxey, Logan Denning, Laura Brunelle, Jada Flavius, Ava Darch
Music – On Purpose, Women of Inspiration
We are committed to access for all
The digital divide is growing. At Dell Technologies we are using technology to drive digital inclusion and ensure everyone has equitable access to opportunities. By partnering with schools, governments, nonprofits and private organizations, we are creating an ecosystem committed to driving digital inclusion by creating opportunities for underrepresented communities around the world.
We are delivering access to the tools, skills, and resources communities need to participate in a digital society.
SKILLS
TECHNOLOGY Information technologies and connectivity for essential needs
Programs and resources that build digital skills NETWORKS Community building and support that move communities toward digital equity
CO-EMCEE | MICHAEL BURNS
CEO, Canada’s Valour Games | Canadas_valour_games
Burns was the CEO of the Invictus Games Toronto 2017. The Invictus Games are the largest international adaptive sports competition in the world featuring ill and injured soldiers and veterans. Burns led the execution of the Games, including building the organization from the ground up, which took more than two years. Under his leadership, the Games secured support from all three levels of government and more than 100 corporate and community partners and recruited more than 1,800 volunteers. The Toronto Invictus Games were completely sold out and generated the highest national and worldwide viewing audience ever for the Games. Michael is a SupportHER™ and Advisor for the Universal Womens Network™ Inc.
PERFORMER | ROBERTA BATTAGLIA
AGT Season 15 GOLDEN BUZZER WINNER 4th Overall Finalist on America’s Got Talent, the WORLD’S BIGGEST STAGE show. To date, 91M people around the world have viewed Roberta’s performance.
Roberta Battaglia is a dynamic, new young vocalist from Toronto, Canada. Born in 2009 into a musical family, Roberta began her singing career at the astonishing age of three years alongside her father, Alessandro Battaglia and together the duo have graced many stages from local community performances to galas and noted charity events. Roberta has been busy performing at various highprofile events and functions in both Canada and the USA and on the Big Screen singing the CDN Anthem for the Toronto Blue Jays. A second-generation Italian Canadian, Roberta is fluent in both English and Italian and performs a diverse repertoire of music in both languages ranging from ballads and top-40 hits to high-octane pop. She has studied her craft via academy singing instruction and has already contributed to commercial productions while receiving recognition in noted competitions such as 1st runner up at CNE Rising Star. Her special independent appearances include a performance at Idea City presented by television mogul, Moses Znaimer, as well as Toronto’s Breakfast Television, where her rendition of Lady Gaga’s Shallow ‘broke the internet’ resulting in over two million views in only two weeks – an outstanding accomplishment for a nine year old.
Passionate and well ahead of her time in both skill and maturity, many consider Roberta an old soul who utilizes her many talents for the greater good. Roberta launched her own charitable initiative designing bracelets, donating 100% of the sales to Toronto’s world-renowned SickKids Hospital. “It’s about kids helping kids,” explains the philanthropic artist. “I just want to see people smile. I love making everyone happy.”
PERFORMER | DO GIBSON
Motivational Speaker, Advocate, World Record-Setting Rapper | @IAMDOGIBSON
Duane Gibson, aka D.O. (Defy the Odds) is a two-time Guinness World Record-Setting rapper, author, music executive and motivational speaker who has inspired hundreds of thousands of youth since 2001. He set a Guinness World Record by freestyling for 8 hours and 45 minutes and has performed worldwide, performing multiple tours in Asia, Europe, United States and touring nationally in Canada. Gibson has performed more than 3500 shows at schools across Canada combining motivational speaking with live performances.
OFFICIAL JEWELLERY AWARD PARTNER | DEAN DAVIDSON @DeanDavidson
Creating timeless jewelry with a global perspective, Dean Davidson is known for careful craftsmanship, hand-cut gemstones, and a signature brushed finish. Rooted in Canada and inspired by world travels, the brand’s story is as remarkable as the designs themselves.
National Bank Financial (NBF) would like to acknowledge the great work that the Universal Women’s Network does to recognize extraordinary women across Canada.
Congratulations to all of the nominees for the 2023 Women of Inspiration Awards, in particular, our own Anna Hilberry, Wealth Advisor & Portfolio Manager with NBF in Duncan, BC for this impressive nomination. Anna’s passion is relentless and her commitment for doing what is right for her clients goes above and beyond.
anna.hilberry@nbc.ca
nbfwm.ca/hilberry-group | 1-800-361-8838
National Bank Financial - Wealth Management (NBFWM) is a division of National Bank Financial Inc. (NBF), as well as a trademark owned by National Bank of Canada (NBC) that is used under license by NBF. NBF is a member of the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada (IIROC) and the Canadian Investor Protection Fund (CIPF), and is a wholly-owned subsidiary of NBC, a public company listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: NA).
CELEBRITY KEYNOTE | BOBBI BROWN
@JustBobbidotcom | @JonesRoadBeauty
Bobbi Brown is reinventing beauty at every age! World-renowned makeup artist, serial entrepreneur, and bestselling author Bobbi Brown is a titan of the ultra-competitive beauty industry. Bobbi founded Bobbi Brown Cosmetics with her husband, Steven D. Plofker, in 1991 because she was sick of red lipstick. Bobbi created 10 simple lip colors that evolved into a global beauty empire when the brand was acquired by The Estée Lauder Companies in 1995, placing Bobbi as the Chief Creative Officer of a rapidly growing, billion-dollar brand. With her business savvy, determination to follow her passion, and will never accept no for an answer, Bobbi worked her way from an almost college dropout to the cosmetics queen, wellness expert, and serial entrepreneur that she is today. She speaks on the struggles of founding, launching, and running her own business, as well as the fast-paced world of microtrends today.
Bobbi Brown has grown a beauty empire. Since leaving Bobbi Brown Cosmetics 2016, Bobbi has written numerous beauty and wellness books and launched Beauty Evolution LLC. She has also launched EVOLUTION_18, a line of lifestyle-inspired wellness products, The George, a boutique hotel run with her husband, Steven Plofker, in the heart of Montclair, N.J., and Jones Road Beauty, a line of high-grade, clean beauty projects.
Entrepreneur and real estate developer Steven D. Plofker’s successful business portfolio reflects his hardworking nature and deep understanding of market trends. Steven co-founded Bobbi Brown Cosmetics with his wife, Bobbi, in 1991. The cosmetics brand was acquired by The Estée Lauder Companies in 1995, spring-boarding Steven and Bobby to global recognition in the beauty industry. His real estate projects include urban infill, historic renovations, new construction, and adaptive uses of commercial, industrial, and residential projects. His other business endeavors include ownership of a film and photography studio, a boutique hotel, and cosmetics and supplements companies.
