Calgary’s Movement51 has completed their nationwide search for an Executive Director and announced that Danielle Gifford will be taking on the role.
Formerly with AltaML and the Creative Destruction Lab (CDL), Gifford joins Movement51 with a wealth of experience in building national accelerators and training programs, as well as leadership in tech, entrepreneurship and business.
Gifford is a natural fit for the ecosystem where M51 exists having worked as CDL’s Venture Manager and Head of Site Recruitment where she sourced and managed a portfolio across energy, agriculture, fintech, and health, leading to over $250M in equity value creation.
“Movement51 was founded with a singular focus and purpose: to develop financial acumen, investing capacity and investment readiness in women and gender-diverse people,” says M51 Co-founder and Board Director Shelley Kuipers.
“To date we have graduated over 100 new early-stage investors from across Canada and the US, and we’ve only just gotten started. We now have the opportunity to fully leverage our funding, academic and industry partners with Danielle at the helm to achieve our national plans, growth and impact objectives.”
As the new ED, Gifford replaces outgoing ED Salima Shivji, who will transition to a seat on M51’s board. Over the past 18 months, Shivji was instrumental in helping to set up M51 and establish the burgeoning non-profit, including its core program, the Financial Feminism Investing Lab: Investor Edition, which was built in partnership with the Haskayne School of Business at the University of Calgary.
The Financial Feminism Investing Lab: Investor Edition is currently accepting applications for the Fall 2022 cohort. Apply now to participate.
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