80+ women leaders walked into The Aria in Toronto, and the room came alive instantly. #TruCelebratesHer, our annual International Women’s Day celebration, brought women leaders across industries into one shared space, spanning retail, fintech, banking, technology, hospitality, and many others.
Conversations explored growth, equity, and influence through diverse lived experiences. The energy was open and welcoming. Discussions moved in full flow, ideas travelled across industries, and leadership came through as expansive, generous, and grounded.
The room reflected calibre, candour, and a spirit of generosity in every exchange.
Bold Conversations. Honest Leadership Perspectives.
Built around open dialogue, the room encouraged rich and engaging conversations.
The panel was guided with care by Kimberley Carrera (Chief Revenue Officer, Tru) and Tara Conway (VP, Community & Toronto Chapter Lead at Executiv).
Tara Conway kicked off Tru’s Happy Hour Mixer with her signature warmth and community-first energy, lighting up the room right away. Kimberley Carrera brought in a sharp strategic edge, connecting ideas on growth, partnership, and innovation as the conversation picked up pace.
Kate Brown, Tanya Kreinin, Glain Roberts-McCabe, Emily Demeo, and Kelly Jackson kept that energy going, adding depth and perspective while setting the tone for everything that followed.
What Our Panelists Brought to Tru’s Happy Hour Mixer
Kate Brown, CMO at Insurely Inc., operates where growth meets trust, navigating complex fintech with a sharp focus on customer experience.
Tanya Kreinin, CMO at the University of Toronto, shapes how one of the world’s leading institutions shows up on a global stage.
Glain Roberts-McCabe, CEO at The Roundtable, brings decades of experience working alongside leaders to strengthen collaboration and leadership.
Emily Demeo (Hendren), Director of Marketing and Digital Experience at Voila, Sobeys, works across eCommerce and digital experience in dynamic retail environments.
Kelly Jackson, Vice President at Destination Toronto, connects tourism, community, and city-building through a leadership lens focused on inclusion.
The discussion moved naturally from strategy into real experiences, making every insight feel relevant and applicable.
Conversations Sparked Partnerships and New Ideas
The energy in the room carried into action quickly. Leaders connected with intent, shared perspectives openly, and explored opportunities together.
Across Every Corner of the Mixer:
New partnerships kicked off across industries in full swing
Follow-up roundtables lined up to keep ideas flowing
Cross-industry introductions opened doors for fresh collaborations
As the evening wrapped up, the conversations and connections were what stayed.
Three Takeaways Leaders Carried Forward
Some ideas stood out and continued to shape the way the room thought:
Progress Demands Action: Equity, visibility, and opportunity move forward through deliberate, consistent effort.
Leadership Grows Through Community: Peer dialogue, shared experience, and active support help leaders move ahead faster.
Leadership Looks Different for Everyone: Each journey evolves at its own pace, with women defining success on their own terms.
These ideas held strong because they reflected lived experience across the room.
Built by Women. Continued by Community.
One of the most meaningful parts of #TruMixer sat behind the scenes. This experience was brought to life by women at every stage, from planning and curation to execution in the room.
The intention came through in the smallest details, from the flow of conversations to the connections continuing today.
The room may have cleared. The energy continues.
Until next year. 💜
At Tru, conversations like these carry into the work we do every day, supporting leaders across data, technology, and digital strategy.
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Contact UsFrequently Asked Questions
You can join Tru’s IWD event by reaching out directly through our Contact Us page or connecting with us on LinkedIn and Instagram for updates and registrations.
Tru events bring together leaders across industries for open conversations on leadership, growth, and digital strategy. They offer a space to exchange ideas, build meaningful connections, and gain perspectives shaped by real experience.