Pillars

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CO-CHAIR

Tanekia Sloley-Bertolacci works as a supervisor at a nonprofit youth employment agency in Toronto and serves as a member of the Board of Directors for EmpowHERto. She graduated with a degree in sociology from Laurentian University and holds numerous professional development certificates in counselling and mental health. 

Helping people realize their full potential is her passion, and she looks forward to encouraging girls and young womxn to be themselves and hold their standards high through her work at EmpowHERto. 

TREASURER 

Maleena Thurston is a finance professional at a leading cybersecurity company. Prior to this, she was an audit manager at a public accounting firm. Her previous roles as a Leadership Executive for a career development program and a Community Leadership Manager are a testament to her natural desire to help womxn achieve success in their careers. 

“I value the importance of mentorship in developing both personally and professionally. I can attribute much of my success and opportunities to having great mentors in my life. I seek to act as a mentor for others and continue to build networks of people supporting and advocating for talented womxn.” 

In her new role, Maleena hopes to provide strategic and financial guidance for the organization to be able to achieve its greatest impact. She also wants to inspire young womxn and girls to let go of their inhibitions in order to achieve their career goals.

Maleena graduated from Queen’s University in 2013 with a Bachelor’s in Life Science and obtained her Diploma in Accounting from the University of British Columbia in 2014. She obtained her Chartered Professional Accountant designation in 2017.

When she is off-duty, Maleena ventures to her local dog park with her toy poodle Millie, or she tends to her indoor plant collection. 

DIRECTOR

Bethany is a lawyer at TAP Law, a female-owned and operated civil litigation boutique. Before joining TAP Law, Bethany articled and worked as an associate in the litigation department of a large international full-service law firm.

Bethany graduated from the University of Toronto in 2012 and received her J.D. from Osgoode Hall in 2016. Prior to joining the board at EmpowHERto, Bethany acted as Chair of the Young Lawyers Division of the Canadian Association of Black Lawyers. Bethany has always been focused on supporting youth through accessible programming and inclusive mentorship, and her professional and volunteer history reflects this passion.

When she’s not reading trashy novels or trying to perfect her lemon square recipe, Bethany is spending time with her daughter, Eva. She is excited to be a part of an organization that makes the world better for little girls just like hers.

DIRECTOR

Kirsten Ingham believes in being involved in organizations whose mission and values align with her own. The projects she works on and roles are chosen based on the tangible impact her decisions will make on her community and the growth of her organization. “I want to change the world, and have no qualms with making my voice heard.”

She joined the Canadian Autism Society's Board of Directors in 2020 but has been a lifelong advocate in public outreach, education, and advocacy for individuals on the autism spectrum and other disadvantaged communities. 

As an EmpowHERto Board member, she hopes to take charge of the SHEleads program and maximize its impact on young womxn in the Greater Toronto Area to empower their personal and professional development.

“I am incredibly passionate about empowering young womxn to be leaders and to take hold of their own strengths – I’ve spent the past decade volunteering at numerous organizations dedicated to youth leadership.” 

Currently, she is a Marketing Manager of Revenue Management at Yellow Pages/Pages-Jaune where she champions the new neighborhood economy. Over the course of her career, Kirsten has created and managed marketing offers for one of Canada’s largest online advertisers in English and French. As an avid small-business supporter, she is all about supporting local businesses. 

She graduated with a degree in marketing from the University of Ottawa and has spent her career working in digital marketing strategy and revenue management. When not working, Kirsten is a competitive powerlifter and avid reader. She is also the proud owner of a retired racing greyhound named Beau and does freelance photography and flips vintage designer clothing as a hobby.

DIRECTOR

Karen Lilly is a dynamic leader and change agent, with over 14 years of experience in Human Resources, Talent Management, and Career Coaching.

Originally from the UK, Karen graduated from the University of Toronto with a Bachelor of Arts in History and Political Science. She began her career as a secondary school teacher before working in Human Resources within the finance industry. This is where she found her passion: helping people navigate their careers and, through authenticity and trust, support leaders and organizations in keeping their employees engaged. 

Karen has since started her own business offering Career Coaching and Talent Management Services. She has coached hundreds of executives and facilitated numerous personal branding, networking, and team effectiveness workshops. 

Karen is a mother of two boys (and a Portuguese Water Dog). She and her husband are passionate about community engagement and started KidsCan Charity in 2016, which funds extracurricular activities for children with economic barriers. 

As a Board Member at EmpowHERto, she says, “One of my biggest passions is encouraging and mentoring young womxn to be courageous, authentic, and humble leaders.”