SHORT DAY – Monday September 30, 2024. Truth and Reconciliation. Office will only be open from 10am to 2pm.

What Is ElevateHer?

ElevateHer is a is a capacity-building program that helps small and mid-sized employers in the Greater Toronto Area design and implement internal mentorship and sponsorship initiatives. The program supports the career advancement and leadership of women, especially those from equity-deserving groups.

Led by Times Change and backed by over 50 years of experience in women’s career development, ElevateHer offers practical training, resources, and coaching to help organizations build capacity and pilot an inclusive leadership development model. We support employers to strengthen their leadership pipelines, foster inclusive workplace cultures, and retain diverse talent.

This project has been funded through Women and Gender Equality Canada’s Women’s Program.

Why Mentorship & Sponsorship?

Mentorship and sponsorship are proven tools for advancing women in the workplace, but they serve different purposes.

  • Mentorship offers guidance, skill-building, and long-term development through trusted relationships.
  • Sponsorship involves senior leaders actively advocating for talent, opening doors to stretch opportunities, promotions, and leadership roles.

Together, these approaches help organizations:
✔ Build internal leadership pipelines
✔ Improve promotion equity and retention
✔ Support inclusive culture and knowledge sharing
✔ Boost employee engagement and career satisfaction
ElevateHer helps you implement both, at a pace and scale that fits your organization.

Grounded in Equity & Guided by GBA+

Our work is shaped by Gender-Based Analysis Plus (GBA+), a framework that considers how factors like gender, race, class, ability, and migration status intersect to impact experiences in the workplace.
We designed and deliver ElevateHer in close collaboration with employers, women and equity focused experts. Our approach is shaped by:

  • Community insights and lived experiences
  • Direct feedback from participating employers and women
  • Guidance from our expert advisory council
  • A strong commitment to addressing systemic barriers and 

What we offer:


Designed with your team’s capacity in mind.

  • Onboarding & Training: Sessions for program leads and participants (mentees, protégés, sponsors, and mentors)
  • Toolkits: Editable templates, timelines, and implementation guides
  • Coaching & Check-ins: One-on-one support when you need it
  • Community: Access to ElevateHer’s network and learning events

Ready to ElevateHer?

 Is your organization committed to advancing gender equity in the workplace?

We’re inviting small to mid-sized employers (1–499 employees) based in the Greater Toronto Area to join us as ElevateHer partners. Whether you’re starting from scratch or ready to refine an existing initiative, we’ll meet you where you are and support you to implement a mentorship and sponsorship model that works.
We’re especially excited to work with organizations that:

  • Have been established for 3 or more years
  • Demonstrate leadership commitment to equity and inclusion
  • Have staff who can act as mentees or protégés
  • Are open to learning and building internal capacity
  • Want to strengthen career pathways for women and equity-deserving employees

If this sounds like your workplace, we’d love to connect.

 

Sign up

 

Have questions? Reach us at : [email protected]

Our Employer Partners

Meet the People Behind the Program

Our dedicated team brings a strong blend of experience and passion for advancing gender equity and women’s leadership.

Horia (Program Coordinator) and Busra (Program Assistant) lead ElevateHer with a shared commitment to inclusive workplace practices and removing barriers to women’s career advancement. Caitlin, our talented Graphic Designer, brings ElevateHer’s vision to life through thoughtful visual storytelling.

Christine and Diana, our Co-Mentors/Program Managers, bring valuable expertise in leadership development, mentorship, and fostering equitable workplace cultures.

For partnership, consultation, or collaboration inquiries, please reach out to Horia and Busra at: [email protected]

EDUCATIONAL COUNSELLOR/MANAGER
Diana Bahr

[email protected]

OPERATIONS SPECIALIST/MANAGER
Christine Sweeton

[email protected]

Program Coordinator | ElevateHer Program
Horia Sardarzada

[email protected]

Program Assistant | ElevateHer Program
Büşra Boğazlıyan

[email protected]

Computer, Intake & Admin Support
Caitlin Droney

[email protected]

Advisory Council

Founder & President, Accelerate Her Future & Divity Group 
Dr. Golnaz Golnaraghi

Project Manager, Gender Equality at UN Global Compact Network Canada
Atifa Hasham

Project Manager at Canadian Council of Muslim Women (CCMW)
Firdaus Ali

Executive Leadership Coach at Coach K- Kadine Cooper
Kadine Cooper, CPCC

Manager of Programs at Pride at Work Canada
Misha Goforth

Director of Senomi Solutions Inc.
Nicole Kaniki

IAYT-certified yoga therapist at Holitci Yoga Therapy
Niya Bajaj

Director of Public Affairs at the Ontario Society of Professional Engineers (OSPE)
Paola Cetares

President of DAMA Toronto & Co- Founder and EDIB Practice Lead Fund Development Manager at Iron & Earth
Sapna Jain

Instructor at University of Toronto & at Goodwork Sustainability
Thanuja Thananayagam

Program Associate and Coordinator at Bangladeshi-Canadian Community Services (BCS)
Urbi Khan

Program Spotlights

Empowering Women in Leadership
 
We were thrilled to participate in the RBC Advancement of Women in Leadership event in Novemeber , in support of United Way Greater Toronto, where our ElevateHer program took center stage. 
 
Our Program Coordinator, Horia Sardarzada, joined an inspiring panel alongside Anita Carroll from ACCES Employment and Agapi Gessesse, Executive Director of CEE Centre for Young Black Professionals. Together, they explored strategies to empower women, dismantle systemic barriers, and promote leadership through mentorship and sponsorship models. Through engaging discussions and strategic collaboration, we highlighted the impactful work of our ElevateHer program and its focus on mentorship and sponsorship as essential strategies for advancing women in Canadian workplaces. 
 
What We Shared: 
  • Strategies and Action Items: Sharing practical approaches and action plans for tackling systemic barriers, in collaboration with organizations dedicated to advancing women’s leadership. 
  • Collaboration for Change: Exploring how collective action can drive progress and create more inclusive, equitable workplace environments. 
  • By partnering with like-minded organizations and thought leaders, we aim to shape workplaces where women can lead with confidence and authenticity. Together, we’re making impactful strides toward a future of empowered women leaders. 
We extend our gratitude to RBC for hosting this impactful event, and to all participants for their engagement and insights. Events like this reinforce the importance of collaboration in building a future where women lead with confidence, resilience, and authenticity. 
 

Join us on LinkedIn and Follow our posts!

Join Us in Creating a More Diverse and Inclusive Workplace
Embrace the power of diversity and inclusion with the ElevateHer program. Contact us today to learn more about how Times Change can help your organization achieve its diversity, equity, and inclusion goals.
Contact Us