Team
Meet our team
The MyStartr & Diversity Institute
team dedicated to changing lives.
Leadership
Dr. Wendy Cukier (she/her)
Founder & Academic Director; Professor, Entrepreneurship & Strategy
Dr. Wendy Cukier, MA, MBA, PhD, DU (hon) LLD (hon) is a Professor of Entrepreneurship and Strategy, and Founder of the Diversity Institute at Ryerson University. She is the co-author of the bestseller, Innovation Nation: Canadian Leadership from Java to Jurassic Park and former VP of Research and Innovation and more than 200 articles on aspects of diversity, inclusion and innovation. Dr. Wendy Cukier is one of Canada’s leading experts in disruptive technologies, innovation processes, and diversity and inclusion. The Diversity Institute has more than 100 research staff and projects include DiversityLeads, which has tracked the representation of women in leadership roles and a host of projects focused specifically on women in technology. The Diversity Institute has also pioneered innovative projects such as the Advanced Digital and Professional Training program (ADaPT), the Women Entrepreneurship Hub and the Newcomer Entrepreneurship Hub. She also leads the Women Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub and a program of research for the Future Skills Centre as well as the new Inclusive Innovation and Entrepreneurship Network (IIE-Net).
Mohamed Elmi
Executive Director
Mohamed is the Executive Director of the Diversity Institute. The Diversity Institute conducts and coordinates multi-disciplinary, multi-stakeholder research to address the needs of diverse Canadians, the changing nature of skills and competencies, and the policies, processes and tools that advance economic inclusion and success. Mohamed holds a PhD in Information Systems at University of Cape Town. Prior to this, Mohamed completed his thesis Masters of Arts in International Development Studies at Saint Mary’s University in Halifax, Nova Scotia and an Honour Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of New Brunswick.
Katlynn Sverko (she/her)
Director, Research - Special Projects
Katlynn is the director of research - special projects at the Diversity Institute (DI). In previous roles, in entrepreneurship, accessibility and entertainment, Katlynn led the development of creative pilots, technical products and global expansion objectives. She has worked closely with municipalities and governments to engage in entrepreneurship programming and skills training. Katlynn has a BA in Creative Industries and an MDM from Toronto Metropolitan University. At the Diversity Institute, she contributes to content creation and curation, with a particular focus on the implementation of the Diversity Assessment Tool App, asynchronous e-learning courses, development of technology and tools to support DI’s organizational initiatives, and the development of EDI best practices. Katlynn’s work also includes EDI strategies, upskilling and training projects within Canada’s Super Clusters, including projects with the Digital Supercluster and Next Generation Manufacturing Canada. Within the 2022-2023 year, Katlynn led a number of training initiatives, curating over 120 courses, engaging over 1,000 diverse learners, and over 700 organizations. Building on these efforts, a new program is underway to define the specific skills and competencies required for in-demand job opportunities and work placements as well as research on what works for whom.
Juan Marsiaj (he/him)
Director, Research - Special Projects
Juan is currently Director, Research - Special Projects at the Diversity Institute at the Ted Rogers School of Management at Toronto Metropolitan University. Originally from Brazil, he received his PhD in Political Science from the University of Toronto, and his BA and MA in Political Science from McGill University. For over a decade, he taught at the University of Toronto, Toronto Metropolitan University, and York University (Glendon College), in Political Science, Sexual Diversity Studies, and Latin American Studies. Prior to joining the Diversity Institute, he worked at the Indigenous Advanced Education and Skills Council, where he played a leadership role in the development of Indigenous quality assurance for Indigenous Institutes in the province of Ontario.
In his academic work and experience working with Indigenous post-secondary education, Juan specialized in a wide range of areas, notably sexual and gender diversity issues, Indigenous education, international development, human rights, and democratic participation and governance.
Stephanie Roberts (she/her)
Director, Marketing and Communications
An accomplished communicator, Stephanie brings more than 16 years’ experience building teams and developing, executing and measuring the success of strategic communications programs in large, complex organizations. She holds an Honours BSc from the University of Toronto, and a BJ and Master of Journalism from the University of King’s College, and has mini-MBAs in business and marketing.
Prior to joining DI, she was founding director of communications at Sunnybrook Research Institute, the top-10-ranked research enterprise of Canada’s fourth-largest hospital. There, she provided strategic counsel to senior leaders and mentored a high-performing team to craft and carry out internal and external communications strategies and plans. Her leadership supported growth in staff to 1,309 from 600 and in revenue to $109 million from $74 million.
Employment
Sangeeta Mehta (she/her)
Senior Manager, Partnership Development
Sangeeta has completed her BA in Economics from Brock University and two post graduate diplomas in Human Resources Management and Career Development Practitioner. She is currently the Manager, Partnership Development and Career Counsellor for the ADaPT program. Prior to joining ADaPT, Sangeeta spent 15 years in Human Resources working for entrepreneurial to large organizations in the areas of recruitment, employee development, and HR strategy. Sangeeta's mission is to provide career coaching to post secondary graduates and to empower them with the requisite skills to succeed in today's labour market. She is passionate about coaching her students, preparing them to be job ready and helping them transition to meaningful employment.
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)
Program Manager
Laurene’s solution-focused approach to life led her to complete post-graduate studies in Alternative Dispute Resolution and Human Resources Management at Humber College. She previously read for her Bachelor of Laws (LLB) at the University of Technology, Jamaica. Laurene returns to the Diversity Institute having previously worked as a research assistant before joining the University's Office of the General Counsel and Board Secretariat, where she interned as a Student-at-Law before transitioning to a legal advisor role, primarily supporting the Office of the Vice President and Research Services. She also held several roles in the human resources and alternative dispute resolution industries. Laurene enjoys volunteering and community engagement and is passionate about the advancement of those in her community.
Lousia Makhtar (she/her)
Program Manager
Lousia is currently working on the Lifeline Afghanistan portfolio that encompasses the following: working within the PSR and GAR resettlement pathways to support the arrival of refugees and Human Rights Defenders (HRD's) into Canada, promoting and advocating for refugee protection, durable solutions, and international human rights, as well as programming to further aid newcomers with integrating meaningfully into Canada's labor market.
Lousia holds a Master's (MA) - Refugee Protection and Forced Migration Studies from the University of London, as well as a Bachelor's of Science - Double Major in Population Health and Mental Health from the University of Toronto.
Prior to joining the Diversity Institute, Lousia worked as a mental health counsellor providing direct emotional, trauma-informed care, and crisis support to newcomers enduring various challenges associated with their pre, during, and post-migration journeys.
Wessam Ayad
Program Manager
Wessam Ayad is currently a program manager at the Diversity Institute working on the Pathways to Employment for Newcomers and Underrepresented Groups portfolio. She also continues to be part of the leadership team at KEYS Newcomers and Employment Services focusing on equity, diversity and inclusion and employers’ engagement initiatives. For almost 9 years, Wessam has supported several diverse populations including BIPOC communities, people with disabilities/disabled People, Indigenous peoples, newcomers, racialized women and many more and advocated for more inclusion practices in the Canadian workplaces and communities.
Hundreds of employers, member organizations and service providers have applauded her skills and experience in designing, implementing and leading innovative equity, diversity and inclusion/EDI solutions in the workplace and beyond. Wessam has recently been nominated for the Ban Righ Foundation Inspiring Women Leadership Award for 2021-2022 as well as The Chamber of Commerce Excellence Award 2022 for her recognized and remarkable EDI work in the Kingston community
Ahmad Ali Yaqubi (he/him)
Research Assistant
My name is Ahmad Ali Yaqubi and I have studied medicine in Afghanistan, I worked for a more than seven years as a medical professional (Assistant Anesthetist) in a mother and child Clinic for refugees in Quetta, Pakistan.
Since I had also been involved in the humanitarian projects during my refugee life in Pakistan, and volunteered working at the refugee camps, I became very passionate about human rights. Therefore, with emerging opportunities, I changed my profession and joined the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC).
Throughout my years of experience in the AIHRC, I have tried to establish a decent professional identity in human rights. I’m not sure how successful I have been but I know that as a team we have always managed to get to the better position than yesterday.
Currently, I’m working as a research assistant with Diversity Institute’s Lifeline Afghanistan.
Bonte Minnema (he/him)
Executive Assistant to Mohamed Elmi; Project Coordinator BYAP
As a project coordinator at Diversity Institute, I support the executive director and the communication coordinator for the Black Youth Advancement Project ADaPT program.
With over ten years of experience in marketing communications, new media and social media networking, I have developed and implemented effective and innovative sales and communications and solutions. I have managed and organized webinars, social media campaigns, and content strategies for Magnet, connecting employers and job seekers, and for the Faculty of Community Services at Toronto Metropolitan University.
Using a consultative and collaborative approach, I have also built strong relationships with sales clients, partners and funders raising funds for many community organizations.
Kianna Hydal (she/her)
Research Assistant
Kianna is a BA (Hons) graduate from Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson University at the time), as well as a MEd (Hons) graduate from the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE) at the University of Toronto. Kianna has extensive knowledge of social injustice and inequality, the complexity and interdisciplinary aspect people's unique lives and experiences, as well as the importance of DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) in society, in addition a strong passion, commitment and determination for/towards education, kindness, a better humanity, justice and helping others. This is represented in her experience working with, teaching/educating, learning from and alongside, as well as advocating for disproportionately marginalized and disadvantaged groups in society. Kianna is also knowledgeable about and has used/applied various qualitative and quantitative research methodologies, approaches, and practices through and within her work process--personally, professionally and academically.
Matthew Augustine (he/him)
Coordinator, Youth Employment:
Matthew Augustine is a Sports Management graduate from the University of Regina. Where he also went on to play USport basketball for four years. Matthew has a strong diverse background in coaching & mentoring. Matthew ran after school basketball programs, basketball clinics, and was an advanced scout for the Hamilton Honey Badgers (CEBL).
Throughout his journey in basketball and building relationships with youth in the non-profit sector. He developed a passion and dedication to creating equal opportunities for young people. As a Youth Employment Coordinator, he looks forward to fostering new relationships and helping others throughout their employment journeys.
Megan Van Massenhoven (she/her)
Career Coordinator, ADaPT
Megan joined the Diversity Institute after years of working in the non-profit sector as a program manager, where she has led projects addressing student mental health, youth engagement and experiential learning. She is passionate about the connections between career development and mental health, particularly during the transition from school to work. Megan is a graduate of the Bachelor of Humanities Program at Carleton University, as well as the Community Engagement, Leadership, and Development Chang School program at TMU. More recently, she completed a certificate in Adult Education, specializing in Career & Academic Advising, at the University of Calgary.
Shania Pierre (she/her)
Program Assistant, Partnership Development
Shania has completed her BSc in health sciences from the University of Toronto. Presently, she is the program assistant, partnership development for both ADaPT for Success and the ADaPT-BYAP Program. Shania has experience in career coaching and youth work placement from her prior work with MyStartr, a startup dedicated to breaking barriers in the youth employment sector. Her passion for training youth in areas of communication and confidence shows through her work to encourage them to succeed in the workplace by bringing their transferrable skills to any job and forging alternative career paths for themselves.
Sohaila Khaliqyar (she/her)
Research Assistant
Sohaila Khaliqyar is a research assistant at Ryerson’s Diversity Institute, Lifeline Afghanistan.
Sohaila Khaliqyar worked with LERRN, UNICEF Afghanistan, George Brown College, and the Livelihood project. Sohaila is a Ph.D. student in the Humanities program at York University.
Jazz Dev (she/her)
Program Coordinator
Jazz is a Ryerson University graduate with an Honors BA degree in Arts & Contemporary Studies and achieved a double minor in HR Management and Sociology. She has over six years of combined work experience in higher education, business development, research support, placements and the customer service sector. To expand and diversify her knowledge, she is working towards a Business Communication certificate at Ryerson.
Marketing
Deirdre O'Beirne-Røsaeg (she/her)
Marketing & Communications Manager
Deirdre O’Beirne-Røsæg is a marketing communications specialist with over ten years of experience and joins the Diversity Institute as Marketing & Communications Manager.
She started her career with a top global premium drinks company, dedicating five years to building brands and advancing strategic communication plans while working in Montréal, Brussels, Dublin and Copenhagen. After successfully developing significant marketing expertise, she was keen to combine this knowledge with her activism on climate and social justice.
And so she worked for the Green Party of Ireland and Canada in various positions, including as a Legislative Assistant on Parliament Hill and as Deputy Director of Communications for the Green Party of Canada. Her most recent role was Head of Communications at the feminist non-profit, the National Association of Women and the Law.
Alexander McAvoy (he/him)
Program Manager, Marketing & Communications
Alexander is a graduate of Carleton University & Algonquin College's degree for Interactive Multimedia & Design, with a focus in marketing, communications, and digital design. With over 9 years experience working within the not-for-profit sector he has raised awareness as well as millions in funding for important causes near and dear to his heart. He is using his experience and expertise to continue making a positive impact and changing lives at MyStartr.
Jahbari Shaw (he/him)
Project Coordinator, Marketing & Communications
Jahbari is a Wilfrid Laurier University graduate who studied Business Administration and Marketing. He comes from a startup tech sales and marketing background, always looking at new and innovative industries. Jahbari is passionate about connecting with young people through social media and creating relevant content that resonates with their job-seeking experiences.
