HALTON, ON – March 13, 2025 – Today in Burlington, Innovation Factory’s annual women’s networking event, HERhalton brought together a lively community of founders, business leaders, and entrepreneurs. This year’s theme, “Driving Results: Women in Leadership,” highlighted the achievements of women in business while fostering meaningful discussions on inclusivity, leadership, and innovation.
The event supported by Deloitte, TechPlace, Halton Region and Town of Oakville welcomed over 150 attendees for a morning of engaging discussions, valuable networking, and thought-provoking insights from accomplished women leaders. The keynote address, “Risk: The Four-Letter Word Women Must Embrace,” was delivered by Sherry Shannon-Vanstone, Founder, President & CEO of Profound Impact Corporation and Co-Founder of Women Founding Women, who shared her expertise on the importance of taking bold steps in business. Panel discussions and speaker sessions featured insights from The Firehood, Mave & Chez, Deloitte, The Dough Parlour, A.I. VALI Inc., and Consoul, explored topics such as securing funding for women-led ventures, scaling businesses through leadership and innovation, and embracing risk for success. These expert speakers provided real-world strategies, while networking sessions facilitated impactful connections among like-minded peers and industry trailblazers.
“HERhalton is more than just an event—it’s a catalyst for connection, opportunities, and growth,” said Karen Linesman, VP of Operation at Innovation Factory. “As a leading accelerator, we’ve seen firsthand the impact of supporting women-identifying entrepreneurs. Our mission is to drive innovation, and diversity in leadership is a key part of that. With the support of partners like Deloitte, we are creating spaces for dialogue and collaboration that break barriers, foster inclusive economic growth, and drive meaningful change.
The annual HERhalton event reinforces Innovation Factory’s commitment to championing women in entrepreneurship. By bringing together inspiring voices, fostering critical conversations, and building a strong support network, the event contributed to a more inclusive and innovative business landscape.
About Innovation Factory
Innovation Factory is a not-for-profit business accelerator, serving as the catalyst for technology innovation in Ontario since 2010. Innovation Factory provides business services, training, mentorship, and strategic connections to drive market adoption, leverage intellectual property, and increase revenues, investment, and jobs. Innovators can also access sector-specific resources including exclusive smart transportation test environments and data; and a formal life science and health innovation ecosystem.
innovationfactory.ca
