04AprApril 12, 2021AnnouncementsCelebrating achievements of a rising star, a mentor, an innovator, and an exceptional Ascend Canada volunteer Ascend Canada congratulates recipients of the Ascend Canada Leadership Awards, an annual celebration to honour individuals who exemplify personal dedication and professional achievement. “This year’s recipients are community champions who are building an inclusive tomorrow. We’re proud to recognize four outstanding individuals for their leadership in challenging the status quo and demonstrating meaningful impact in their workplace and communities,” said Manjit Singh, President, Ascend Canada. This year’s winners will be celebrated at a virtual gala on April 28. Rising Star Award: Leah den BokSponsored by RBC, this award recognizes an individual under 30 years of age who has demonstrated early leadership qualities through personal performance and commitment to professional, volunteer, and educational opportunities. Leah is in her third year of a Bachelor of Photography program at Sheridan College. She is a powerful advocate for the homeless community through her photographs and has published three books – and donated 100% of these profits. Mentor of the Year: Pradeep MathurSponsored by Manulife, this award recognizes a Pan-Asian individual who has provided significant guidance and leadership to an employee or several employees’ quality of life and professional development. Pradeep has been paying it forward to other immigrant professionals for the past eight years. Through his leadership, he has spent more than 400 hours mentoring more than 20 newcomers from all over the world, with many whom identify as South Asian. Ascend Canada Innovator of the Year Award: Anna HuThis award recognizes a Pan‐Asian individual who is a disruptor and has successfully brought their innovative idea to life. Anna is an entrepreneur leading a multi-national tech start-up. As co-founder of Brizi, the creator of the world’s first audience-controlled camera, Anna has changed the way fan-generated sports content and brand affinity intersects. She is a mentor to the next generation of entrepreneurs and is purposefully building a diverse and inclusive company.Ascend Canada Volunteer of the Year Award: Alexandra GaburaThis award recognizes an individual for their exceptional contribution as an Ascend Canada volunteer team member. Ali, a senior manager in Business Banking at TD Bank, led and oversaw to the launch of Ascend Café for Ascend Canada members. The program, powered by Ten Thousand Coffees, connects members with each other through peer-to-peer introductions and small group coffee chats with executives. Today, there are more than 1,800 active participants in the Ascend Café network and nearly 100 Office Hours have been hosted by executives and leaders across different industries. In 2020, an Ascend Café was created for Ascend US leveraging many of the learning’s that Ali had helped develop.Our sincerest congratulations to all of the Leadership Award winners. Follow Ascend Canada on LinkedIn where we will be highlighting their stories throughout April. FacebookTweetPinLinkedIn
