ABOUT
Make connections, discover ideas, and find solutions to our industry’s greatest challenges at Women in Mortgage Summit Canada – an inaugural in-person event designed to amplify the careers of women in mortgage.
From fighting off fatigue and prioritizing women’s health, to novel approaches to business development and frameworks to advance your career, this event is tackling the issues that matter most, with the creative strategies that work.
Join us to break barriers and build bridges.
Why attend?
Enhance your career with skill-building leadership strategies
Make meaningful connections and network with top mortgage professionals
Explore a new approach to business development and discover career-enhancing insights
Find solutions to real challenges like women’s health taboos and fighting off fatigue
2023 SPEAKERS

Hali Noble
Managing Director
Fisgard Asset Management Corporation

Tracy Valko
Principal Mortgage Broker/ CVO-Founder
Valko Financial

Daniela DeTommaso
President
FCT

Christine Xu
President
MoneyBroker Canada

Frances Hinojosa
CEO/Co-Founder/Mortgage Broker
Tribe Financial Group

Kyra Wong
SVP Insurance Products
DLCG

Natasha Alli
Regional Sales Manager, Excalibur
First National Financial LP

Ameera Ameerullah
CEO, Lender, Broker
Canada Mortgage and Financial Group

Julie Angus
Explorer, Scientist, & Bestselling Author

Kate Arviko
AVP, Network & Business Development
Verico

Zeynep Babir
Director of Business Development, Sales
8Twelve Mortgage

Dalia Barsoum
Founder
StreetWise Mortgages

Tara Borle
Mortgage Broker
Mortgage Architects

Brenna Charles
Director of Business Development
FCT

Ivy Budisavljevic
Vice President, Business Development
Sagen

Leanne Conroy
Director of Sales
MCAN

Vivianne Gauci
Senior Vice President, Customer Experience and Chief Marketing Officer
HomeEquity Bank

Meaghan Hastings
Founder, CEO, & Principal Broker
The Mortgage Coach

Veronica Love
Senior Vice President, Corporate Development
TMG The Mortgage Group

Lee-Ann McEllister
Associate Director, Sales, Western Canada
MCAP

Dr. Nancy Ellen Miller
Founder
Insight Coaching

Christa Mitchell
Chief Strategy Officer
Pineapple

Christelle Mwamba
Mortgage Agent
Mortgage Scout

Tiffany Pedersen
Director, Western Canada Sales
Strive Capital Corporation

Kerri Reed
Owner and Principal Broker
Premiere Mortgage

Tracey Robinson
Principal, Relationship Management
FILOGIX

Livian Smith
Mortgage Broker/Owner
Next Generation Mortgage

Sarah Strauss
Mortgage Broker and Owner
The Place To Mortgage

Sherri Vanderleeuw
Vice President, Marketing
Magenta Capital Corporation
2023 AGENDA
All times in ET
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Opening remarks from chairperson
Hali Noble
Managing Director
Fisgard Asset Management Corporation -
Opening Keynote: Rowboat in a hurricane: Dealing with change and unexpected setbacks
Imagine surviving a hurricane with nothing more than a rowboat to shelter you. When Julie set off on a quest to become the first woman to row across the Atlantic Ocean from mainland to mainland this was not what she anticipated. But Julie soon realized that to succeed she’d not only need to deal with adversity and uncertainly, but embrace it and use it as an opportunity to grow and prosper. Julie shares techniques to deal with changing environments including altering our perception, preparing for the unexpected, assessing risks, and improving communication.
Julie Angus
Explorer, Scientist, & Bestselling Author
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Fireside Chat: Breaking the boys club – A novel approach to business development as a woman
In recent years, many traditional business development activities, like sporting events and client dinners, have shifted in priority, as clients re-evaluate their time and companies refresh their strategies. But where do we go from here? Due to the competitive nature of the market, business development still proves critical, but how can we approach it authentically and effectively as women, and what is proving effective these days? During this session, we will explore a novel approach to business development for women in the mortgage industry, aimed at breaking down barriers and leveling the playing field for long term success.
- Gender neutral ideas and tips on how to reframe your approach to business development
- Personal brand: Benefits of leveraging digital tools and social media to build your brand and expand your network beyond traditional industry channels
- Strategies for building relationships and creating a pipeline of business opportunities, such as targeting underserved or niche markets, and a culture of collaboration and support
- A look at natural relationship-building, rather than transactional incentives: remote group workshops, family-friendly activities, and more
- Discover fresh examples of business development best practices that work in a hybrid setting
Moderator
Tracy Valko
Principal Mortgage Broker/ CVO-Founder
Valko FinancialPanelists
Natasha Alli
Regional Sales Manager, Excalibur
First National Financial LPBrenna Charles
Director of Business Development
FCTTiffany Pedersen
Director, Western Canada Sales
Strive Capital CorporationTracey Robinson
Principal, Relationship Management
FILOGIX -
Networking coffee break
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Candid conversation: Fighting fatigue – How to remain on top of your game
With competing priorities and stressful working environments, many managers and executives are experiencing various levels of burnout. How can we prioritize wellbeing, and in turn, create a culture of empathy and support? This session will discuss strategies to fight fatigue, boost resilience, and focus on self-care and mental wellbeing to lead by example.
- What are the best strategies for fighting fatigue, and how can we develop them?
- How can managers and organizations encourage and prioritize a culture that supports wellbeing?
- Overcoming common challenges such as time management, multiple responsibilities, and burnout
Moderator
Meaghan Hastings
Founder, CEO, & Principal Broker
The Mortgage CoachPanelists
Leanne Conroy
Director of Sales
MCANSarah Strauss
Mortgage Broker and Owner
The Place To MortgageKate Arviko
AVP, Network & Business Development
Verico -
Guided wellness break
Dr. Nancy Ellen Miller
Founder
Insight Coaching -
Panel: Let’s talk senior leadership – So you want a seat at the table?
A leadership role is one that comes with a unique set of challenges and opportunities. To succeed in this position, female leaders must possess strong leadership abilities, be able to manage teams effectively, and have a deep understanding of the industry’s complexities. But what does a seat at the table really mean? How do you best determine your career goals and get to where you want to be? Learn from the experiences of three successful women on the corporate side, as they explore what it takes to have their voice in the conversation.
- Do titles really matter? Does leadership mean C-suite level?
- Challenges faced: Navigating the often-male-dominated corporate landscape, overcoming gender-based biases, and discrimination
- Building the confidence to ask for what you want
- How do you become an influencer?
- Moving on up: What does it take to get there? Where do you go from here?
Moderator
Daniela DeTommaso
President
FCTPanelists
Vivianne Gauci
Senior Vice President, Customer Experience and Chief Marketing Officer
HomeEquity BankChrista Mitchell
Chief Strategy Officer
PineappleKyra Wong
SVP Insurance Products
DLCG -
Networking lunch
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Panel: Navigating mentoring and sponsorship as the workplace evolves
Leveraging the support of different mentors throughout your career is widely acknowledged as pivotal to success, but how have approaches to mentorship changed in the hybrid workplace? Sponsorship is equally important for career progression, but how can remote working leaders overcome proximity bias to remain visible for opportunities? Do you have someone advocating for you and your career aspirations? This panel will navigate traditional and alternative routes to mentoring and sponsorship in a hybrid workplace.
- Mentoring vs sponsorship – how to know which type of support you need or should offer
- The importance of creating a network of supportive and like-minded professionals, including women in leadership and peers
- Best practices to maximize the benefits of mentoring relationships
- Optimizing mentoring relationships in a hybrid workplace – how has mentoring changed since the pandemic?
- From referrals to external mentorship programs to reverse mentoring: How to find the best fit in mentoring relationships
Moderator
Veronica Love
Senior Vice President, Corporate Development
TMG The Mortgage GroupPanelists
Lee-Ann McEllister
Associate Director, Sales, Western Canada
MCAPChristelle Mwamba
Mortgage Agent
Mortgage ScoutLivian Smith
Mortgage Broker/Owner
Next Generation MortgageSherri Vanderleeuw
Vice President, Marketing
Magenta Capital Corporation -
Speed networking
Expand your network, make connections, and meet fellow delegates in a structured networking session.
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Networking coffee break
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Panel: Empowering women in mortgage: Successful broker owners & their journey to leadership
In a mortgage industry that has been traditionally male-dominated, women are still underrepresented in leadership positions and women-owned businesses are still a minority. Women brokers continue to face a range of challenges from gender bias, limited access to resources, and managing work-life balance. Join this panel of successful women mortgage brokers, as they share personal experiences and insights on navigating the obstacles they have faced in the industry, along with practical tips that have helped them to build and grow their businesses.
- Success stories and best practices from successful female broker owners
- How to create a more inclusive and supportive environment for women in mortgage
- Advice for navigating bias or discrimination from colleagues, clients, and other industry stakeholders
- Balancing work and family responsibilities as a broker owner
- Financial barriers that may prevent growth and scaling a business, such as difficulty accessing capital or funding
Moderator
Tara Borle
Mortgage Broker
Mortgage ArchitectsPanelists
Dalia Barsoum
Founder
StreetWise MortgagesFrances Hinojosa
CEO/Co-Founder/Mortgage Broker
Tribe Financial GroupKerri Reed
Owner and Principal Broker
Premiere MortgageChristine Xu
President
MoneyBroker Canada -
Accelerating your career – The latest scoop on skills development
The industry is rapidly changing, and leaders need to be at the forefront to deliver business objectives. How can you ensure you and your team are performing at your best through self-driven learning and development? This fireside chat on skills development will discuss strategies to develop capabilities and skillsets for career advancement.
- What are the top 3 emerging leadership skills, and how can we develop them?
- How can managers and executives encourage and prioritize learning and development for themselves and their teams?
- Overcoming challenges, such as leading inclusively and authentically in a hybrid environment, juggling multiple responsibilities, and collaboration between multi-generational teams
- Tips on how to take the next step in your career
Moderator
Ivy Budisavljevic
Vice President, Business Development
SagenPanelists
Ameera Ameerullah
CEO, Lender, Broker
Canada Mortgage and Financial GroupZeynep Babir
Director of Business Development, Sales
8Twelve Mortgage -
Closing remarks from chairperson
Hali Noble
Managing Director
Fisgard Asset Management Corporation
2023 SPONSORS
Gold Sponsors
Silver Sponsors
ASSOCIATE SPONSORS
MEDIA PARTNER
2023 VENUE
Lennox Hall Toronto
- 77 Adelaide St. West, First Canadian Place, Toronto, ON, M5X 1C1
- (416) 364-1211
- https://www.oliverbonacini.com/event-venues/toronto-region-board-of-trade/
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Parking:
For parking information, please click here.
TRAVEL PLANS
Preferred Accommodation
Hotel room rates are subject to all applicable taxes and fees. Rooms are subject to availability in each hotel from May 30 to June 2. We recommend that you book as soon as possible or 45 days before the event at the latest.
Courtyard Toronto Downtown
475 Yonge St, Toronto, ON M4Y 1X7
Book your group rate by calling line +1 416- 924-0611. Use the group name Women in Mortgage Summit Canada to secure the discounted rate.
Room rate: $365.00 plus tax CAD per room/night
Cut-off date: May 2, 2023
Check in: 4pm Check out: 12pm

The Hazelton Hotel
118 Yorkville Avenue Toronto, ON M5R 1C2
Book your group rate by emailing [email protected]. Use the group name Women in Mortgage Summit Canada to secure the discounted rate.
Room rate: Guaranteed discount of 20% on the current rate at the time of guest booking
Cut-off date: May 1, 2023
Check in: 4pm Check out: 12pm

THANKS FOR TAKING PART IN WOMEN IN MORTGAGE SUMMIT CANADA 2023
Missed this year’s event? Register your interest to participate in the next Women in Mortgage Summit Canada