Team
Meet our team
The MyStartr & Diversity Institute
team dedicated to changing lives.
Leadership
![Dr. Wendy Cukier (she/her)](https://mystartr.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Wendy.jpg)
Dr. Wendy Cukier (she/her)
Founder & Academic Director; Professor, Entrepreneurship & Strategy
![Mohamed Elmi](https://mystartr.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Mohamed-Elmi-e1701965345926.jpg)
Mohamed Elmi
Executive Director
![Katlynn Sverko (she/her)](https://mystartr.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/katlynn-e1701971716550.jpg)
Katlynn Sverko (she/her)
Director, Research - Special Projects
![Juan Marsiaj (he/him)](https://mystartr.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Juan-e1701972529537.jpg)
Juan Marsiaj (he/him)
Director, Research - Special Projects
![Stephanie Roberts (she/her)](https://mystartr.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/steph-e1696535280484.jpg)
Stephanie Roberts (she/her)
Employment
![Sangeeta Mehta (she/her)](https://mystartr.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Sangeeta-e1701965236403.jpg)
Sangeeta Mehta (she/her)
Senior Manager, Partnership Development
![Edmund Sofo (he/him)](https://mystartr.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/vEdmund-e1701965110369.jpg)
Edmund Sofo (he/him)
Manager, Partnership Development Edmund Sofo is a BComm graduate in economics and management science from the Toronto Metropolitan University with over 7 years of leadership experience. Edmund currently serves as the partnership development manager at the Diversity Institute's ADaPT-BYAP Program. He excels in project management and partnership development, having worked across diverse sectors including technology, public policy, and civil society. Edmund showcases expertise in communication, strategic analysis and relationship building. His track record and unwavering commitment to fostering inclusive and innovative solutions make him a standout professional in his field.
![Laurene Williams (she/her)](https://mystartr.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Laurene-e1701965621162.jpg)
Laurene Williams (she/her)
Program Manager
![Lousia Makhtar (she/her)](https://mystartr.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Lousia-e1701972697883.jpg)
Lousia Makhtar (she/her)
Program Manager
![Wessam Ayad](https://mystartr.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Wessam.jpg)
Wessam Ayad
Program Manager
![Ahmad Ali Yaqubi (he/him)](https://mystartr.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/holder-e1701973176228.jpg)
Ahmad Ali Yaqubi (he/him)
Research Assistant
![Bonte Minnema (he/him)](https://mystartr.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Bonte-e1701971844331.jpg)
Bonte Minnema (he/him)
Executive Assistant to Mohamed Elmi; Project Coordinator BYAP
![Kianna Hydal (she/her)](https://mystartr.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Kianna-e1701972039801.jpg)
Kianna Hydal (she/her)
Research Assistant
![Matthew Augustine (he/him)](https://mystartr.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/team_matthew.jpg)
Matthew Augustine (he/him)
![Megan Van Massenhoven (she/her)](https://mystartr.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/meganvh-e1701972158310.png)
Megan Van Massenhoven (she/her)
Career Coordinator, ADaPT
![Shania Pierre (she/her)](https://mystartr.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/download-e1701964803710.jpg)
Shania Pierre (she/her)
![Sohaila Khaliqyar (she/her)](https://mystartr.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Sohaila-e1701972792423.jpg)
Sohaila Khaliqyar (she/her)
Research Assistant
![Jazz Dev (she/her)](https://mystartr.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Jazz-e1701972408468.jpg)
Jazz Dev (she/her)
Program Coordinator
Marketing
![Deirdre O'Beirne-Røsaeg (she/her)](https://mystartr.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Deirdre-e1696535051328.jpg)
Deirdre O'Beirne-Røsaeg (she/her)
![Alexander McAvoy (he/him)](https://mystartr.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/DSC08118-e1668796250778.jpg)
Alexander McAvoy (he/him)
![Jahbari Shaw (he/him)](https://mystartr.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/team_jahbari.jpg)