Lisa Zarzeczny
CEO & Co-Founder
Elevate
Lisa is a passionate advocate of Canada’s tech and innovation economy. She is the Co-Founder and CEO of Elevate, a mission-driven not for profit organization at the intersection of technology, arts and social innovation. In 2017, Lisa was instrumental in launching Elevate Festival, growing it from 5,000 attendees to over 20,000 in three short years. Overseeing Festival programming, Lisa worked to welcome speakers including Former First Lady Michelle Obama, VP Al Gore, Eric Schmidt, Martha Stewart and more. Under Lisa’s leadership, Elevate launched an innovation arm and flagship accelerator program and several new events including Think 2030. Previously, Lisa oversaw marquee events and educational programs at MaRS Discovery District, one of the world’s largest urban innovation hubs. She graduated from McGill University with a B.A Honours in History & Political Science and completed a post-graduate diploma for Project Management from Sheridan College.
Schedule
20 mins
Meridian Hall - Main Stage
Minister Valdez on Fueling Success for Women Entrepreneurs
Join Minister Rechie Valdez as she discusses how Canada is removing barriers for women entrepreneurs and driving small business growth. With nearly $7 billion in investments and commitments, the Women Entrepreneurship Strategy (WES) improves access to financing, networks, and mentorship. Minister Valdez, drawing from her own entrepreneurial experience, will share how these efforts are shaping a more inclusive economy and fostering future success for Canadian women.
120 mins
Meridian Hall - Main Stage
Elevate Festival Opening Night
It all starts here! Elevate Festival 2024 kicks off Opening Night, presented by TD. Join us for an intimate evening of curated speakers and performances from today’s top thought leaders as we bring you to the forefront of Canada’s tech and innovation industries.
Hosted by Amber Mac, Opening Night features…
A kickoff performance from gold medalist breakdancer Phil Wizard.
Mayor Olivia Chow shares her vision for the future of Toronto’s tech & innovation industries.
TD’s Rizwan Khalfan joins Signal AI’s Mara Lederman and Radical Ventures’ Jordan Jacobs for a look at how organizations can leverage the collective strengths of their ecosystems to drive breakthrough innovation.
Mastercard’s Jennifer Sloan hosts a live hack of Arlene Dickinson by ethical hacker Rachel Tobac.
Chris Hadfield and Harley Finkelstein go deep on the state of Canadian innovation.
and a few surprises along the way…
10 mins
Meridian Hall - Main Stage
Women+ Investment Announcement
It’s time for the big reveal, join us as we announce the winners of the Elevate Women+ program. This announcement is the culmination of an 8-week program made possible by the Government of Canada and Mastercard, and will see the Firehood Angels make $100,000+ investments into program founders and others who have pitched over the last 2 days. Find out who wins!
5 mins
Meridian Hall - Main Stage
Main Stage Day 1 Kick-Off
It all starts here! Kick off the day with Amber Mac and get ready to be taken to the forefront of Canadian tech and innovation.