CMAinclusion 2022

Mastercard is creating meaningful solutions to real issues that members of the 2SLGBTQ+ community face every day. We recognize the importance of collaborating with members of marginalized communities to make the most meaningful impact.
 
In this session, attendees will:

• Understand how inclusive initiatives are brought to life, starting with ideation all the way to execution
• Best practices for bringing a global initiative to Canada in a way that is relevant and impactful

Hear from 2SLGBTQ+ members on how using their chosen name on their credit card is making a difference in their everyday lives.


Na Forest Lim
Director
Alfredo Films

Na Forest Lim  (they/them) has directed national broadcast commercials, as well as branded content, and documentary style work for a wide range of clients including Mastercard, Microsoft, General Motors, Ford, Chevy and Bumble, all with a commitment to ensuring visibility of everyone from local artists to trans and gender non-conforming individuals, poets, and urban farmers.
 
They have developed a well-earned reputation for always considering the meaning behind the story while seeking its emotional heart. The resulting films are made with a steadfast commitment to the pride, success, and wellbeing of their clients throughout the entire creative process—one that is created through heartfelt conversations, deep listening, and intimate collaboration.


Shawna Miller
Vice President of Marketing and Communications 
Mastercard Canada

Shawna Miller is Vice President, Head of Marketing & Communications for Mastercard in Canada, leading the Consumer Marketing, Sponsorships, Product & Partner Marketing, and Communications disciplines. Her focus is on driving brand leadership through breakthrough campaigns, innovative thought leadership and solutions, and strong partner relationships. She is an active member of the Canadian Leadership Team, and Executive Sponsor of the Mastercard Women’s Leadership Network Toronto Chapter. Prior to Mastercard, Shawna spent her career in the Advertising industry, working with high profile clients and businesses.

Canada enjoys a global reputation as a progressive and inclusive country and boasts an empathetic population, ranking higher than the global average on compassionate pro-social values. But recent disruptions have shone a light on ongoing challenges of discrimination and inequities. Increasingly Canadians are concerned that Canada itself is not a truly inclusive place.
 
Canadians are willing to show their support for businesses that have worked to be more diverse and inclusive but tend to be more suspicious of brands trying to play a role in conversations around social issues. Including underserved populations can unlock new growth opportunities, but requires a nuanced understanding of the Canadian cultural context.
 
This session will look at the overall state of diversity, equity, and inclusion in Canada, and deeper understanding on high-growth minority groups.

Margaret McKellar
SVP of Brand Strategy, Innovation & CX
Kantar
 
Margaret McKellar is SVP of Brand Strategy, Innovation & CX at Kantar Canada. Margaret's passion is building purpose-led brands and championing ESG. Margaret brings over 20 years of experience in consumer packaged goods and beverage alcohol, and completed Business Sustainability Management program at the University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainable Leadership.

The strong female leadership in marketing panel will be an inspirational female-centric experience for the audience, with a focus on:

• How marketing has changed coming out of COVID specifically for women
• Discussions on each panelist's journeys in marketing and how they got to where they are today
• Roadblocks that they’ve experienced as women in marketing and what would they tell their younger selves
  
  

Azadeh Attar 
Head of Industry, Brand
Pinterest

Azadeh (@tartsandcrafts) has over 20 years of experience at the intersection of all things branding and technology. As the Head of CPG industry partnerships at Pinterest, she and her team work closely with top brands to devise game-changing strategies on Pinterest that can help them meet their ambitious branding-building and business goals. 

Prior to joining Pinterest Azadeh spent almost a decade at Google in a number of progressive leadership roles across marketing and sales, after first honing her skills as a brand marketer at Kraft and General Mills.  Azadeh began her career on the agency side, and in 2008 she earned an MBA from the Schulich School of Business. 

When she's not thinking about digital marketing, she's mom to two awesome kids, and is currently saving ideas on the latest short hair styles and home remodeling inspo on Pinterest.


Christine Sabourin
Vice President, Marketing Services
Scotiabank

A Senior Business Professional who is a strategic thinker and results focused, Christine is the Vice President of Marketing Services at Scotiabank.  Christine launched Scotiabank’s in-house agency – Lighthouse – in March 2021, and as the head of Lighthouse, has oversight for the Creative, Account Management, Marketing Channel Strategy, and Production and Agency Operations teams.

As part of her role, Christine also oversees Scotiabank’s Inclusion by Design strategy; a focus on diversity and inclusion in Scotiabank’s marketing and advertising, aimed at championing authentic inclusivity and proper representation in everything they do.

Christine joined Scotiabank in 2013 holding roles within Canadian Banking Marketing, supporting several B2C and B2B business lines, as well as Canadian retail brand.  Most recently Christine held the roles of Director, Credit Cards and Unsecured Lending, and Director, Brand and Media.

She graduated from McMaster University with Bachelor of Commerce with a focus on Marketing. 


Sarah Thompson
CSO
Mindshare Canada

Sarah Thompson is the CSO of Mindshare Canada and the former CSO of Theo. She believes media needs to serve the consumer and deliver satisfaction for every opportunity for attention in order to deliver any business and brand result. She is focused on bringing back creativity and media into one strategy driven by data and fueled by knowing people and accountability of the results.

Previously, Sarah was the VP, Strategy at Cossette working on consulting, brand, product innovation, integration, digital, media and 1:1 strategies for Canopy Growth, TELUS, TD Bank, and SickKids Hospital. Prior to that she worked in entertainment overseeing social media for Corus and in digital as Associate Director of Strategy for Mirum. 

She has held roles in start-ups, consultancies and agencies. In 2020, Sarah was named Media Leader of the Year by the CMDC. She is active with the CMA, APG, ICA and the CMDC, where she is part of a team dedicated to a vibrant Canadian media ecosystem. Sarah is part of Pride@GroupM and is often speaking on inclusivity in all facets of work and life.

In this panel of DE&I Marketing Leaders will discuss diversity, equity and inclusion in the marketing community and how they are supporting their teams in understanding and applying best practices. CMA's newly created DE&I Committee, supported by subject matter experts will share their insights including:

• Exploring the state of our industry and why the need for change
• Creating a case for change especially in the areas of racial and age diversity
• Share best practices and findings from organizations leading the change toward greater inclusion and diversity.

Grace Chan (Panelist)
Vice President, Media, Content & Merchandising
RBC

Grace currently leads Marketing Integration and Retail Merchandising at RBC Royal Bank as a Senior Director. Since joining RBC, Grace has overseen some major transformation and achievements across many key businesses, channels and client segments.  She’s known for her passion, dedication and drive for creativity, and is synonymous with achieving results. With her 20+ years of marketing leadership across financial services and telecom industries, she has deep knowledge and experience in several disciplines including mass advertising, data, digital and retail programs. As an advocate for inclusion Grace plays a key role as the Chair for the Marketing Diversity & Inclusion committee and as a member of the Chief Administration Office Diversity Leadership Council. She builds strong relationships wherever she goes and is valued as both a leader and team member. Her passion extends to her team as she is known for her mentorship and always keeping a keen eye on growth and career development for those around her.


Christine Sabourin
Vice President, Marketing Services
Scotiabank

A Senior Business Professional who is a strategic thinker and results focused, Christine is the Vice President of Marketing Services at Scotiabank.  Christine launched Scotiabank’s in-house agency – Lighthouse – in March 2021, and as the head of Lighthouse, has oversight for the Creative, Account Management, Marketing Channel Strategy, and Production and Agency Operations teams.

As part of her role, Christine also oversees Scotiabank’s Inclusion by Design strategy; a focus on diversity and inclusion in Scotiabank’s marketing and advertising, aimed at championing authentic inclusivity and proper representation in everything they do.

Christine joined Scotiabank in 2013 holding roles within Canadian Banking Marketing, supporting several B2C and B2B business lines, as well as Canadian retail brand.  Most recently Christine held the roles of Director, Credit Cards and Unsecured Lending, and Director, Brand and Media.

She graduated from McMaster University with Bachelor of Commerce with a focus on Marketing.


Abhishek Sarathy 
[a-bee-shake sa-ra-thee] (he/him)
Associate Vice-President, Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging – Programs & Partnerships
Canadian Tire

Born in the Middle East with south Indian heritage, Abhishek acknowledges his responsibility as an immigrant settler in, what is currently known as, Toronto, Ontario.
 
Abhishek is co-leading Canadian Tire’s journey to cultivate a culture where belonging thrives and helps make life in Canada better. He was a founding member of the Equity Secretariat at Trillium Health Partners, where he co-facilitated the organization’s pathway to become an antiracist hospital. Prior to this, Abhishek led marketing and communications teams for 10 years at Sun Life Canada, that designed campaigns to support employees at Canada’s largest workplaces to achieve their financial, physical and mental health goals. Abhishek co-founded employee engagement groups to embed racial inclusion and workplace philanthropy in Sun Life’s culture.
 
Abhishek is the Board Co-Chair for the Centre for Equality Rights in Accommodation and the Steering Committee Co-Chair for the Centre for Connected Communities. He is a 2019 CivicAction DiverseCity Fellow. Abhishek is a binge watcher, rookie curler, French fry aficionado, and never not thinking about travel.

Marème Touré (Panelist)
VP, Diversity Equity and Inclusion, Canada
Canada Dentsu International

Marème, third-culture kid to the core, has harnessed a sensitivity to culture and differences through her mixed heritage upbringing and frequent moves as a child. She understands that people’s unique abilities and perspectives are what propels companies in a globalized context.
From her Master’s thesis on the integration of immigrants in the Quebec labor market, to partnering with community organization for Talent choices, or developing Pay Equity analysis services for SMEs to address gender inequities, as well as her work as an HRBP earlier in her career, Marème has always sought equity.

She joined dentsu Canada in 2019 as HR director for the Montreal office. Her passion and dedication as co-chair of dentsu Canada’s Anti-Racism Action Team guided her to her current role in DEI. Marème continues to strategically advocate for efforts to build a diverse and inclusive workforce, creating methods of connection, integration, and seamless interaction across the business - shaping and implementing transformational diversity, equity and inclusion efforts including all human capital practices associated with the workforce, culture, marketing, supply chain and clients. 

She is committed to creating a healthy and vibrant culture, enabling every employee to do great work, build a phenomenal career and feel that they can show up as they are, culminating in an inclusive work product.

Featured:

• https://www.forbes.com/sites/karlmoore/2022/03/25/how-dentsu-canada-is-building-a-more-inclusive-advertising-industry/?sh=5bc0c6e51a5c
• https://www.dentsu.com/ca/en/blog/belonging-is-essential-to-thriving
• https://www.grenier.qc.ca/nouvelles/22366/dans-loeil-de-mareme-toure-dentsu
• https://www.lesaffaires.com/blogues/karl-moore/le-pelerinage-de-dentsu-canada-vers-une-industrie-du-marketing-plus-inclusive/632315