A National Circle for Canada's Women Leaders

The Women’s

Brain Trust

Leadership, redefined.

Where Canada’s women leaders connect, rise, and redefine what power looks like. Across business, government, science, technology, and the everyday — we gather to be seen.

01 — The Promise

We are not asking for a seat at the table.

We are redesigning the room.
About

A community built to elevate women leaders.

The Women’s Brain Trust brings together visionary women who are shaping industries, influencing decisions, and creating lasting impact. Across Canada, extraordinary women are already leading — in business, government, science, education, technology, community, and every day in their homes.

Too often, their leadership goes unseen. We exist to change that — through curated events, mentorship, and national recognition initiatives that build an ecosystem where women help other women rise.

Founded by

Stephanie Best

Co-Founder

Monica Arora

Co-Founder

Our three pillars

Three promises.

One movement.

Recognition. Mentorship. Acceleration. Each pillar is a commitment — to make women’s leadership visible, supported, and unstoppable.
01 — Recognition

Recognition

We identify and nominate exceptional women across Canada whose work deserves national recognition. Every story told is a spotlight on what leadership truly looks like.

02 — Mentorship

Mentorship

Real mentorship between leaders and the next generation of change-makers. Honest conversations, introductions that matter, and relationships that shape careers.

03 — Acceleration

Leadership Acceleration

Platforms, connections, and visibility that help women expand their influence and impact — from boardrooms to keynote stages to policy tables.
Why this matters

When women's leadership is visible, the definition of power changes.

More

Collaboration, across every industry.

More

Innovation, from unexpected places.

More

Courage, to redesign the room.

Leadership looks

like her.

Every nomination, every recognition, every story shared — it’s a message to the next generation. And the next. And the one after that.

Events & Gatherings

Join the conversation.

Women’s Brain Trust events bring together leaders across industries for meaningful dialogue, mentorship, and collaboration.

These are not traditional networking events. They are rooms where ideas grow, partnerships form, and leadership expands — often over a long table, always with intention.

One last thing

Women don't need

permission to lead.

We already are.

Join a growing community of women shaping the future of leadership across Canada. You’ll hear from us when invitations open and stories are told.

Leela Aheer

Founder

Leela Aheer

The Honourable Leela Sharon Aheer is a dedicated public servant, entrepreneur, and advocate for equity and innovation.

First elected to Alberta’s Legislative Assembly in 2015 for Chestermere-Rocky View, and re-elected in 2019 for Chestermere-Strathmore, she served as Minister of Culture, Multiculturalism and the Status of Women from 2019 to 2021. During her tenure, she championed Clare’s Law, advanced protections against gender-based violence, and made history by proclaiming Canada’s first Women’s Entrepreneurship Day.

Aheer’s legislative work culminated in the passage of the Health Professions (Protecting Women and Girls) Amendment Act, 2022, reinforcing her commitment to social justice and human rights. She was the first Minister of Multiculturalism in 25 years and served as Deputy Leader of the United Conservative Party.

Beyond politics, Aheer is a professional musician, vocal coach, and French speaker who has operated a successful music studio for over two decades. Her multilingual background reflects the breadth of her engagement with diverse communities across Canada and internationally. Her deep roots in Chestermere reflect a lifelong dedication to community, arts, and volunteerism. She continues to perform regularly and is a sought-after speaker and performer globally.

In the private sector, she has held leadership roles as Senior Director of Strategy and Partnerships at BioAro Inc. and Chief Growth Officer at BioSport. She is currently Director of Country Engagement at Nextvia, a partner and board member at ARKA Biosciences, and sits on multiple nonprofit boards. She is the CEO and Founder of SLAM Industries Inc.

Her visionary leadership continues to shape public policy, health innovation, and inclusive economic growth across Alberta and beyond.