Women in Tech® N’ America Awards 2026

Celebrating Excellence in Technology Across N’America: We are thrilled to announce the fifth edition of the Women in Tech® N’America Awards, a prestigious event recognizing outstanding achievements of women in the technology sector throughout N’America.

Event Highlights

Date: 9th September 2026
Location: Montreal

Event Agenda

Two signature experiences. One extraordinary day.
Join North America’s leading technology executives, entrepreneurs, innovators, allies, and rising leaders for the Women in Tech North America ELEVATE Symposium and Annual Awards.

Designed to spark meaningful conversations and celebrate impact, the day brings together bold voices shaping the future of technology, leadership, and AI from across Canada and the United States. From executive discussions and interactive workshops to an evening awards ceremony recognizing outstanding achievements across the technology ecosystem, this is where leadership, innovation, and community converge.

Capacity is limited for both events.

Women in Tech ELEVATE Symposium

The Agentic Leader: The Future of Work with AIFuture-Proofing Leadership in the Age of AI.

⏱️ 8:30 AM – 12:00 PM
📍 PwC Montréal

The ELEVATE Symposium is an executive leadership forum designed for professionals navigating significant shifts in technology, business, and leadership.

Through keynote presentations, expert panels, hands-on workshops, coaching opportunities, and curated networking experiences, attendees will explore how AI is transforming careers, organizations, and the future of work.

Hosted By:
Julie Watson
President, Ultimate Tech
Canada Chapter Head, Women in Tech
Nyla Beth Gawel
Senior Managing Director, North Highland
US Chapter Head & North America Director, Women in Tech

Symposium Agenda

9:00 AM | Opening Remarks
Julie Watson, President, Ultimate Tech
Nyla Beth Gawel, Senior Managing Director, North Highland
Welcome and opening reflections on leadership, innovation, and the future of technology.

9:10 AM | Opening Keynote
Future of Work with AI
Keynote Speaker: Éric Beaudoin, Partner, PwC Canada
A forward-looking perspective on how AI is reshaping organizations, careers, and competitive advantage.

9:30 AM | Executive Panel
AI Is Smarter — Do We Still Need You?
A candid discussion on the evolving relationship between human expertise, leadership, and artificial intelligence.
Moderator: Jaime Klein, Partner, HR Path

Featured Panelists

• • Claude Guay, Member of Parliament LaSalle-Émard-Verdun & Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Energy&Natural Resources
  • Dessalen Wood, Global Chief People Officer at Syntax
  • Titi Akinsamni, AI Thought Leader & Board Member
  • Christina Fung, Senior Vice-President Consulting Services – Global AI Enablement Center of Excellence Leader, CGI

10:30 AM | Interactive Breakout Sessions

Session 1: Beyond Expertise: How Leaders Amplify Their Impact and Influence
In a world of technology and AI, technical expertise alone won’t be enough for leaders to create meaning. This session covers the mindset shift required to become a future-proof leader.

Facilitators:

• Nogol Madani, Founder at Glee Factor
• Mike Amato, Author, Executive Coach and Keynote Speaker at The Better Way to Win.

Session 2: Perfecting Your Pitch with AI
Learn how to leverage AI as a strategic partner to enhance executive presence, storytelling, and influence.
Facilitators:
Nyla Beth Gawel, Senior Managing Director, North Highland
Jennifer Hall, P/artner, LIDD

Session 3: Strategic Foresight

Learn four time-tested steps for designing the future:

• Spot forces of change, by cutting through the noise to the shifts that will create the biggest impact over the next decade.
• Stress-test scenarios, by exploring alternative futures that could unfold and determine how to thrive in each.
• Pinpoint disruption, by mapping where disruption might emerge to mitigate risks and seize opportunity early.
• Build an action plan, by drafting concrete steps you can take tomorrow to get ahead of what’s coming.
  Facilitator: Erin Bradner, Director of Strategic Foresight at AutoDesk  & 2025 Women in Tech Most Disruptive Award Winner, North America

Session 4: Boardroom Confidential: AI Risks 

Industry executives discuss the opportunities, risks, policy considerations, and ethical questions keeping leaders awake at night

Facilitator: 

• Marie-Soleil Boucher, Tech Executive, Founder Agence MSB Collective & Women in Tech Canada Founding Volunteer
• Ray Daoud, Senior Vice-President & Chief Security Officer, CGI
• Titi Akinsamni, AI Thought Leader & Board Member

11:20 AM | Interactive Leadership Workshop
Introverts, Extroverts & Ambiverts
Dr. Karl Moore, McGill Professor, Host of CEO Insights, Forbes Columnist & Author

This interactive workshop will be based on his recent book with his former undergrad student Gabriele Hartshorne-Mehl, We Are All Ambiverts Now: Introverts, Ambiverts and Extroverts as Leaders based on +500 interviews with senior leaders. We will discuss which you are and you can work more effectively with others.

Women in Tech North America Annual Awards

Celebrating Excellence. Recognizing Impact. Inspiring the Future.
⏱️ 5:30 PM – 10:00 PM
📍 Pointe-à-Callière Museum, Montréal

The Women in Tech North America Annual Awards celebrate individuals, organizations, allies, and innovators advancing technology and creating lasting impact across the industry.

The evening blends inspiration, recognition, and connection through keynote presentations, award recognitions, and networking with leaders from across North America.

Co-MC’d By:
Julie Watson
President, Ultimate Tech
Canada Chapter Head, Women in Tech
Nyla Beth Gawel
Senior Managing Director, North Highland
US Chapter Head & North America Director, Women in Tech

Awards Program
5:30 PM – 7:00 PM | Cocktail & Networking Reception
7:00 PM | Opening Ceremony

The Induction
A formal welcome recognizing the Class of 2026 and celebrating the achievements of this year’s finalists. 

7:10 PM | Anchor Keynote
Dr. Gina Cody, Engineer, Business Leader, Philanthropist
One of Canada’s most respected leaders shares her perspective on leadership, resilience, innovation, and impact. 

7:45 PM | Lightning Keynote
Dr. Andrew Forde, Head of AI Research, KPMG
An inspiring perspective on innovation, technology, and leadership. 

Featured Award Presenters

• Rebecca Finlay, CEO, Partnership on AI & 2025 Women in Tech Winner
• Dominique Anglade, Ing., MBA, ICD.D, Executive Director, École des dirigeantes & dirigeants, HEC Montréal
• Nicole Martell, CEO, Association québecoise des technologies (AQT)
• Claude Guay, Eng., ICD.D, Member of Parliament LaSalle-Émard-Verdun & Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Energy&Natural Resources
• Additional industry leaders to be announced

With the Support of Our 2026 Partners

The Women in Tech North America Annual Awards and ELEVATE Symposium are made possible through the support of organizations committed to advancing women in technology and building a stronger, more inclusive innovation ecosystem.

CGI, HD Gatanas, HR Path, LIDD, Microsoft, PwC, Sparck + DigiWomen,, Syntax, TeamWork, TechnoCompétences, VAST Data

And Thank you to our Global Partners: Amazon, Cardano Foundation, Dynatrace, Edison Alliance, École des Ponts Business School, FreeBalance, Freedom Holding Corp., Hiscox, La French Tech, Microsoft, République Française, Servier, TD SYNNEX, Tech Diplomacy Global Institute

Women in Tech N’America Awards 2023 

Women in Tech® America Awards Finalists 2026

Women in Tech® N’America Award Winners 2025

Gallery 

With the support of our Regional partners 2026

With the support of our Global partners 2026