What Is ElevateHer?

ElevateHer is a workplace mentorship and sponsorship initiative of Times Change Women’s Employment Service that partners with employers across the Greater Toronto Area to strengthen women’s career advancement through systemic workplace change.

Designed to address barriers affecting the career progression of equity-deserving women, we work with employers to implement internal mentorship and sponsorship models through practical training, ready-to-use resources, implementation support, and ongoing coaching. Whether launching a new initiative or strengthening an existing one, employers are supported to test and refine approaches that foster more inclusive workplaces and leadership pathways.

 
ElevateHer is funded by Women and Gender Equality Canada (WAGE) as part of a systemic change initiative to advance gender equity in Canadian workplaces.

Mentorship & Sponsorship Benefits

Mentorship and sponsorship are complementary approaches that help organizations strengthen leadership pipelines while creating more equitable opportunities for career growth.
 
Together, they create meaningful benefits for both employers and employees.
 
For Employers
  • Build stronger leadership pipelines
  • Increase employee engagement and retention
  • Foster a culture of learning and development
  • Promote diversity, equity, and inclusion
  • Strengthen knowledge sharing across the organization
  • Accelerate talent development through sponsorship
  • Support succession planning and internal mobility
For Employees
  • Build professional skills and confidence
  • Expand professional networks
  • Better understand workplace culture
  • Receive guidance to achieve career goals
  • Increase visibility and access to leadership
  • Gain opportunities for high-impact projects
  • Advance their careers through active advocacy
  • Access new growth and promotion opportunities
 
Explore Our Evidence Resources:
Discover the research and evidence reviews, that informed the development of the ElevateHer Toolkit, training and implementation approach.
  • Evidence Review: Workplace Mentorship
    Explore evidence, case studies, and leading practices that help employers design effective mentorship programs to strengthen employee development and organizational learning.
Download Evidence Review: Mentorship
  • Evidence Review: Workplace Sponsorship
    Explore evidence, case studies, and leading practices that help employers build sponsorship initiatives that expand visibility, leadership opportunities, and career progression for women and equity-deserving talent. 
Download Evidence Review: Sponsorship

Our Approach

ElevateHer was intentionally designed to help employers build mentorship and sponsorship initiatives that are practical, evidence-informed, and responsive to the realities of today’s workplaces.
 
Our approach is:
  • Co-designed through lived experience, drawing on the perspectives of employers, equity-deserving women, subject matter experts, and our Advisory Council.
  • Focused on education and capacity building, providing employers with practical tools, training, coaching, and implementation support rather than a one-size-fits-all model.
  • Built on over 50 years of experience supporting women’s employment, career advancement, and employer engagement.
  • Committed to systemic change, helping employers identify and address barriers while creating more equitable pathways for career growth and leadership.

Our Offers

Designed with employers’ capacity and implementation needs in mind, ElevateHer provides practical tools and support to help you launch or strengthen workplace mentorship and sponsorship initiatives.
 
Workplace Mentorship & Sponsorship Toolkit
A comprehensive employer toolkit with ready-to-use templates, planning guides, matching resources, workbooks, checklists, and implementation tools.
 
Capacity-Building Training
Practical training modules covering mentorship and sponsorship, leadership, communication, relationship-building, and other transferable workplace skills that support employees across sectors.
 
Ongoing Implementation Support
Regular check-ins, a tailored program roadmap, troubleshooting support, and coaching to help your organization successfully implement and adapt the program.

Ready to ElevateHer?

We’re looking to partner with employers across the Greater Toronto Area who are interested in strengthening women’s career advancement through workplace mentorship and sponsorship.
 
If your organization:
  • Has been established for 3 or more years
  • Has employees interested and available to participate in a mentorship or sponsorship pilot
We’re here to support you.
Sign up

 

Have questions? Reach us at : [email protected]

Engaged Employers

Program Spotlights

Building Inclusive Workplaces: ElevateHer at the Toronto Small Business Summit
 
On October 24, the ElevateHer Program participated in the Toronto Small Business Summit, joining entrepreneurs, business leaders, and community organizations for a day of learning, networking, and conversations about innovation, resilience, and inclusive growth.
 
The event provided a valuable opportunity to connect with small and medium-sized employers who are committed to building stronger, more inclusive workplaces. Throughout the day, the ElevateHer team shared how mentorship and sponsorship initiatives can help organizations improve employee retention, support women’s career advancement, and develop more inclusive leadership pipelines.
 
Participating in the summit also allowed us to exchange ideas with employers about the opportunities and challenges they face in creating equitable workplaces. These conversations continue to shape the way ElevateHer supports organizations in developing practical, people-focused solutions that foster belonging, leadership development, and long-term success.
 
We’re grateful to have been part of this inspiring event and look forward to continuing these conversations with employers across Canada.

Empowering Women’s Career Advancement

 

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. 

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 Specialist/Manager | ElevateHer Program
Horia Sardarzada

[email protected]

Program Assistant | ElevateHer Program
Büşra Boğazlıyan

[email protected]

Intake Coordinator
Caitlin Droney

[email protected]

Advisory Council

Our Advisory Council brings together leaders from employers, human resources, community organizations, employment services, leadership development, and gender equity across Canada.
 
Drawing on their professional and lived experience, Council members provide strategic advice, emerging insights, and sector perspectives that help ensure ElevateHer remains relevant, practical, and responsive to the evolving needs of employers and the women they support.
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

Workplace Mentoring Lead at Mentor Canada
Heather Ancliffe

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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.
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