Elise Ahenkorah is an award-winning diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I) strategist, speaker, and founder of #shemeets, a women-of-colour entrepreneurship resource group. She is educated in Law & Justice, International Relations, Change Management and is completing her MBA in Strategy. She is also an alumnus of Cornell University’s coveted diversity and inclusion strategic planning program.

As the Inclusion Strategist of inclusion FACTOR, Elise Ahenkorah uses data-driven strategies to show how an inclusive workplace increases the bottom line and employee satisfaction. With inclusion FACTOR, Elise translates a company’s vision into measurable and practical DE&I tactics aligned with business and talent retention outcomes.

Her clients include Saje Natural Wellness, Hootsuite, IBM, EPICURE, Calgary Film Festival, Avenue Magazine, Evans Hunt Marketing Agency, Calgary Police Commission, Avenue Calgary, City of Toronto, University of Calgary, IABC, Magazine Association of BC, Alberta Magazine Publisher Association, Law Society of Saskatchewan, Leftovers Foundations, Fresh Routes, HDR International – to name a few.

In her 15 year career, Elise has covered diverse grounds in progressively senior roles in communications, marketing, stakeholder engagement, strategic planning, and DE&I for public and private sector organizations.

Elise’s innovative DE&I strategies and community contributions have been recognized by the Black Business and Professional Association, International Association of Business Communicators, Canadian Centre for Diversity, the University of Calgary, and the UN of Canada.

Last year, Elise was recognized for her impact with #shemeets as a L’Oréal Paris Woman of Worth Canada honouree. Most recently – Avenue Calgary recognized Elise as a Top 40 Under 40 finalist due to inclusion FACTOR’s impact and reach.