ElevateHer: Celebrating, Growing, and Connecting

Join us for ElevateHer, a celebration of growth, empowerment, and meaningful connections leading up to International Women’s Day. This vibrant event is dedicated to honouring the growth and achievements of women within our community, at every stage of life: from our top student leaders, to young alumni beginning their careers in Toronto, to alumni and business professionals already established in their fields.  

Join us for a continental breakfast as we pay tribute to the unique experiences and accomplishments of women from diverse backgrounds. Be inspired by captivating keynote speakers that showcase the stories of remarkable women who have paved the way for progress. Connect and cultivate meaningful relationships with fellow attendees that transcend age and experience, and create a supportive community that fosters growth and empowerment for all. 

Open to all who believe in the limitless potential of women, ElevateHer invites you to join us in Toronto for a morning of celebration, personal growth, professional development, and meaningful connections that will propel you to new heights.  

Continental breakfast and coffee and tea will be provided. 

When registering for this inspiring event, attendees are strongly encouraged to make a $20 donation to the Dean of Arts and Science Trust Fund. Your contribution will support initiatives that nurture and empower the next generation of leaders in arts and sciences. If you are unable to attend, you can still make a gift through our Dean of Arts and Science Trust Fund.

Together, let's make a meaningful impact and elevate the opportunities available to aspiring students and women within our community. 

Meet the speakers

Dr. Stephanie Zhou

Dr. Stephanie Zhou is an Assistant Professor at the University of Toronto where she teaches the financial literacy curriculum. She practices Addiction Medicine and is the EDI & Social Accountability Lead at Sunnybrook and practices Family Medicine at Don Mills Family Health Team. Dr. Zhou is on the Board of Directors for Toronto Public Health and chairs the Scientific Planning Committee for the Ontario College of Family Physicians.  

Dr. Zhou immigrated to Canada and grew up in subsidized housing, which led to her investing in education and housing initiatives through philanthropy. She founded the annual Physicians Financial Wellness conference, a national, philanthropic conference for physicians on financial education and practice management. Last year, the ticket proceeds were used to establish The Equity Award, an endowment fund supporting students with financial need.

In 2022, Dr. Zhou received Canada's Top 100 Most Powerful Women award for her work in improving economic mobility through financial literacy. 

Outside of her clinical work, Dr. Zhou is a nationally invited speaker on personal finance and runs a popular financial education blog on Instagram and Youtube called Breaking Bad Debt.

Barbara Crow, Dean Faculty of Arts and Science

Dr. Barbara Crow was appointed Dean of Arts and Science at Queen’s University in July 2017 after leaving her position as Dean of Graduate Studies, Associate Vice-President, Graduate at York University. She holds a BAH in Political Science and Women’s Studies, and an MA and PhD in sociology.  

She is responsible for overseeing the overall operations of the Faculty of Arts and Science, including developing and supporting the Faculty’s long- and short-term goals, policies, fundraising efforts, strategic initiatives and academic priorities. Dr. Crow provides leadership to the Associate Deans and Senior Leadership Team of Arts and Science while guiding the Faculty’s growth and development.  Reporting to the Provost, the Dean ensures that initiatives within the Faculty of Arts and Science are in alignment with the university’s strategic goals and objectives. 

Meet the moderator

Brynn Plaxton

Brynn Plaxton is a future Queen’s alumnus of the class of 2024, graduating with a Bachelor of Economics and a focus on financial mathematics before moving to Toronto to begin her career in finance. Brynn is currently the president of both of the Queen’s Economics Department’s academic societies, the Queen’s Economics Society and the Queen’s Economics Case Conference club. She is incredibly passionate about empowering undergraduates to leverage their strengths and passions into crafting an authentic personal brand and professional ambitions. Brynn has worked closely with the Economics Department and over her time at Queen’s to host dozens of conferences, skills workshops, and networking opportunities that support students along their journey of self-discovery and pursuit of professional goals. She is proud to pass her legacy onto the next generation of QED leaders and continue to give back to the community as an alumni ambassador in Toronto. 

Brynn interned at the Bank of Montreal as a Private Wealth Analyst and the following summer at the Royal Bank of Canada as a Business Analyst before accepting a full time offer as a Product Marketing Analyst at Global X ETFs. Working in both back-end data infrastructure and fund performance analytics as well as front facing stakeholder reports, she is building a well-rounded financial acumen in fund management and pursuing her CFA Level I along with a graduate certificate in corporate finance from Harvard University. Brynn is thrilled to be joining the Queen’s ElevateHer event in celebrating the growth and achievements within our female community, as she is the product of so many incredible female mentors that have supported her academic and early professional journey.

Accessibility 

Smith Toronto is fully accessible for all mobility types. We invite you to contact us specifying with any needs we may have overlooked, or which are not already in place.