who we are

HER Startup is a joint venture between the Syrian Canadian Foundation and Jumpstart Refugee Talent. HER Startup aims to empower refugee women by providing them with the opportunity to own and operate their own business ventures. Participants are provided with training, access to mentors and business consultants, funding, as well as an incubation period in order to sustain their startups.

SCF works to empower newcomers and people of diverse backgrounds through cross-cultural exchanges within Canadian society. SCF engages with partners and volunteers to build welcoming communities and culturally customized services for Syrian newcomers and other diverse communities.

Founding
Partners

Jumpstart Refugee Talent is a refugee-led organization that exclusively serves refugees seeking meaningful employment. Jumpstart began as an organization focused on working with Syrian newcomers in Toronto and has since grown into serving refugees from all backgrounds across Canada and works to address underemployment inclusion.

Founding
Partners

SCF works to empower newcomers and people of diverse backgrounds through cross-cultural exchanges within Canadian society. SCF engages with partners and volunteers to build welcoming communities and culturally customized services for Syrian newcomers and other diverse communities.

A refugee-led organization that exclusively serves refugees seeking meaningful employment. JumpStart began as an organization focused on working with Syrian newcomers in Toronto and has since grown into serving refugees from all backgrounds across Canada and works to address underemployment inclusion.

Meet The Team

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Rahima Paiman
Project Coordinator, HER Startup
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Jasmine Hawamdeh
Project Manager, HER Startup
Menahil Nauman
Menahil Nauman
Communications Coordinator, HER Startup
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Omer Qadri
Entrepreneurial Instructor

When Omer is not building Software as a Product Manager, he is excitedly working with young professionals, new graduates and newcomers to Canada as a Mindset & Career Coach and helping them land their dream jobs. Omer's purpose in life is to help others achieve Eudamonia - which is Greek for 'state in which one is achieving their greatest potential'.

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Marwa Khobieh
Executive Director, Syrian Canadian Foundation
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Rania Younes
Business Communications Instructor

In the last 10 years, social justice, inclusion, and economic empowerment became an area of focus for Rania after being involved with various NGOs. Rania strongly believes that when immigrants prosper, we all prosper, and with that belief rooted in her community work, she co-founded WelcomeHomeTO.

Malaz Sebai
Malaz Sebai
Director of Operations, Jumpstart Refugee Talent
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Mustafa Alio
Managing Director, Jumpstart Refugee Talent
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Rand Al Jammal
Director of Programs and Communications, Jumpstart Refugee Talent

Our Experts

Hammad Siddiqui is currently working as Director of Asia Programs at the Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE), a non-profit affiliate of the US Chamber of Commerce. He has worked at CIPE since 2006.
Hammad Siddiqui is currently working as Director of Asia Programs at the Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE), a non-profit affiliate of the US Chamber of Commerce. He has worked at CIPE since 2006.
Founder of PUSH, Rami’s true passions lie at the intersection of sport and technology. Motivated by his own experiences as an athlete and witnessing the potential that technology can unlock in sports and athletes of all levels, Rami set out on his journey to launch PUSH in 2013 and hasn’t looked back since.
Founder of PUSH, Rami’s true passions lie at the intersection of sport and technology. Motivated by his own experiences as an athlete and witnessing the potential that technology can unlock in sports and athletes of all levels, Rami set out on his journey to launch PUSH in 2013 and hasn’t looked back since.
Hani is a serial entrepreneur and lawyer. He launched his own legal practice to reimagine the delivery of legal services. In his practice, Hani serves as outside counsel to startups, small businesses, and employees. He advises on matters ranging from formation to exit, including equity compensation and intellectual property, employment litigation, and the purchasing and selling of businesses.
Hani is a serial entrepreneur and lawyer. He launched his own legal practice to reimagine the delivery of legal services. In his practice, Hani serves as outside counsel to startups, small businesses, and employees. He advises on matters ranging from formation to exit, including equity compensation and intellectual property, employment litigation, and the purchasing and selling of businesses.
Katie Salem is an accomplished financial and management consulting professional with over 25 years of experience. She started her career at Ernst and Young, in the Financial Services Group, where she planned and executed client engagements for the Audit, Consulting, and Private Client Services practice areas. Katie is always embracing challenges with grit and a focus on delighting customers.
Katie Salem is an accomplished financial and management consulting professional with over 25 years of experience. She started her career at Ernst and Young, in the Financial Services Group, where she planned and executed client engagements for the Audit, Consulting, and Private Client Services practice areas. Katie is always embracing challenges with grit and a focus on delighting customers.
Amjed is a trained researcher and psychotherapist with a PhD in counselling psychology from the University of Jordan. He has over 17 years of research and community-based intervention program experience. He is also the co-founder of Resilience Assessment Research and Consultation in London, Ontario.
Amjed is a trained researcher and psychotherapist with a PhD in counselling psychology from the University of Jordan. He has over 17 years of research and community-based intervention program experience. He is also the co-founder of Resilience Assessment Research and Consultation in London, Ontario.
Kundan Joshi is the founder and CEO of TheAppLabb. Kundan graduated from Western University with a software engineering degree, founding TheAppLabb in 2007. Kundan also serves as a partner, investor, and advisor to 42 technology startups.
Kundan Joshi is the founder and CEO of TheAppLabb. Kundan graduated from Western University with a software engineering degree, founding TheAppLabb in 2007. Kundan also serves as a partner, investor, and advisor to 42 technology startups.
Omer Qadri is on a mission to unlock the true potential of our minds to empower each of us to create a positive impact in the world. He believes that all of us possess unique talents and strengths; to unlock our true potential, we need to cultivate our foundational non-cognitive skills.
Omer Qadri is on a mission to unlock the true potential of our minds to empower each of us to create a positive impact in the world. He believes that all of us possess unique talents and strengths; to unlock our true potential, we need to cultivate our foundational non-cognitive skills.
Darrel Pinto’s previous experience spans both large global corporations and small startups, non-profit organizations and for-profit companies. Pinto grew up in the middle east, and besides Toronto, he has worked in London, New York, and Shanghai, allowing him to develop a strong handle on intercultural communication.
Darrel Pinto’s previous experience spans both large global corporations and small startups, non-profit organizations and for-profit companies. Pinto grew up in the middle east, and besides Toronto, he has worked in London, New York, and Shanghai, allowing him to develop a strong handle on intercultural communication.
Danielle Graham is a principal at Sandpiper Ventures, the first all women-founded fund in Canada. She was previously a Principal at DreamMakers Ltd, the first Canadian Venture Capital Fund founded by people of colour and women, focused on investing in diverse, underrepresented, and underestimated entrepreneurs. Prior to DreamMakers, Danielle oversaw the Market Readiness Fund, Ontario’s most active seed-stage investment fund.
Danielle Graham is a principal at Sandpiper Ventures, the first all women-founded fund in Canada. She was previously a Principal at DreamMakers Ltd, the first Canadian Venture Capital Fund founded by people of colour and women, focused on investing in diverse, underrepresented, and underestimated entrepreneurs. Prior to DreamMakers, Danielle oversaw the Market Readiness Fund, Ontario’s most active seed-stage investment fund.
Katerina Zhukova is a Life Coach at Achieve with Coaching. She was previously at Manulife excelling in her People and Talent Management role, with extensive experience in coaching and mentoring. With experience in North America, Europe, Africa, Asia, South America, and Australia, Katerina has a vast amount of global exposure in the coaching and mentoring profession, and has worked within both developing and highly multicultural environments.
Katerina Zhukova is a Life Coach at Achieve with Coaching. She was previously at Manulife excelling in her People and Talent Management role, with extensive experience in coaching and mentoring. With experience in North America, Europe, Africa, Asia, South America, and Australia, Katerina has a vast amount of global exposure in the coaching and mentoring profession, and has worked within both developing and highly multicultural environments.
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Our Advisory Board

Darrell Pinto’s previous experience spans both large global corporations and startups, for-profit and not-for-profits. He grew up in the Middle East and besides Toronto, he has worked in London, New York and Shanghai so has developed a good handle on inter-cultural communication. In his roles he has had to communicate with very diverse stakeholders: media, the public, regulators, senior executives, governments, boards of directors, investors, academics and students.

Darrell Pinto

Danielle Graham is a Principal at Dream Maker Ventures, the first Canadian Venture Capital Fund founded by people of colour and women, focused on investing in diverse, underrepresented, underestimated entrepreneurs. Previous to DreamMaker, Danielle oversaw the Market Readiness Fund, Ontario’s most active seed-stage investment fund.

Danielle Brewin Graham​

Omar is the Chief Client and Product Officer at Bonfire Interactive. He has built the Client Experience department from a team of one to a dynamic group of 20+ team members comprised of client success managers, implementation specialists, support agents, and trainers. The team has consistently delivered industry-leading customer experience; achieving NPS scores of 70+, retention rates of 98%, and consistent net-negative churn rates.

Omar Salaymeh​

Questions?

If you have any questions, or wish to learn more about the program, please reach out to the HerStartUp team: herstartup@syriancanadianfoundation.ca.