Claudette McGowan

CEO, Co-Founder

Protexxa / The Firehood

Claudette McGowan is a global information technology leader with more than 20 years of success leading digital transformations, optimizing infrastructure and designing new approaches that improve service and cybersecurity experiences. She has worked in the technology industry for several organizations such as Deloitte, Metropolitan Police Services, North York General Hospital, Bank of Montreal, and TD Bank.

At BMO, Claudette served as the Chief Information Officer, Enterprise Technology Employee Experience, and at TD she was the Global Executive Officer for Protect Fusion & Cyber Experience.

Claudette is currently the Chief Executive Officer for Protexxa, a Canadian-based cybersecurity software and services company.

Claudette is the Founder of the Black Arts & Innovation Expo, and Chair of the Coalition of Innovation Leaders Against Racism (CILAR). Her commitment to community is evidenced by her multiple board seats for leading organizations such as Air Canada, MaRS Discovery District, SickKids Hospital Foundation, Black North, CILAR, Elevate Technology Festival, University of New Brunswick Canadian Institute for Cybersecurity, and the U.S. Consul General of Toronto U.S.-Canada Innovation Council.

Schedule


wednesday – 02:30pm Women in Tech

Time Icon 60 mins

Location Icon Meridian Hall - Upper Mezzanine

Angel Investors

If you’ve been wondering, “Where do I start?” This workshop has got you covered with invaluable funding tips and tricks. Learn the ins and outs of approaching angel investors, crafting a compelling pitch, and showcasing your business’s potential for growth.

thursday – 03:30pm Main Stage

Time Icon 5 mins

Location Icon Meridian Hall - Main Stage

Women+ Investment Announcement

It’s time for the big reveal, join us as we announce the winner of the $100,000 Women+ investment live. This announcement is the culmination of a week long selection process, where ten angel investors heard pitches from over 100 Start Up founders.

wednesday – 03:50pm Secure & Protect

Time Icon 20 mins

Location Icon St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts - Jane Mallett Theatre

Anatomy of an Attack: Decoding Cyber Threats for Enhanced Defense

It was 10:04pm when Toronto businessman Bill Daniels received a text on his personal phone. The text had one statement: All your files are encrypted and stolen by Ragnarok. If you asked Bill to describe the rest of his year, he sums it up in two words: defeated and devasted. Over 50% of the 5 billion internet users have already been compromised. Join this intriguing conversation to discover what happens when a company gets hacked and learn 5 key actions you can take to protect your systems and people.