February 27, 2024
Shades of Success 2024
150+ Attendees
Leading Tech Companies
The Well, 8 Spadina Avenue, Toronto
Intuit Canada Headquarters
Opening time
6:00PM to 9:00 PM
Tech, Law, Healthcare, Media & Entertainment
Event Type
OVERVIEW
An SOS for Intersectional Women in Tech & Beyond represented a pivotal moment in Toronto's tech ecosystem, a gathering that transcended traditional networking to create genuine community and actionable change.
Shades of Success (SOS)
Hosted by Blink Equity in partnership with Intuit's African Ancestry Network (IAAN) and Intuit Women's Network (IWN), this exclusive event brought together some of the brightest minds and most passionate advocates in technology, business, and innovation.
The timing was intentional and powerful. As Black History Month drew to a close and Women's History Month prepared to begin, SOS created a bridge between these two important celebrations, honoring the unique experiences of women who live at the intersection of multiple identities. The event wasn't just about acknowledging challenges—it was about celebrating resilience, amplifying voices, and building the foundations for lasting systemic change.
EVENT THEME
Empowering Intersectional Women. Equipping Allies. Expanding Possibilities.
The 2024 edition of Shades of Success was built on a three-pillar foundation that recognized the complexity of creating truly inclusive spaces. We explored how the intersectionality of social identities like race, gender, and class shapes women's experiences in technology, leadership, and innovation in ways that are often invisible to those who don't live them.
EVENT THEME
Community & Impact
The impact of Shades of Success extended far beyond the four hours of programming. For many attendees, particularly Black women and women of colour in the event provided something increasingly rare in professional spaces: the experience of being fully seen, deeply understood, and genuinely celebrated.
SHARED HIGHLIGHTS
Conversations into Commitments
The event began with welcoming remarks that immediately established an atmosphere of vulnerability, authenticity, and shared purpose. Leaders from Blink Equity and Intuit opened their hearts as much as their doors, sharing personal stories about why events like SOS matter—not just as networking opportunities, but as spaces where women of colour can exhale, be seen fully, and know they're not alone in their experiences.
Titles Dissolved and Community Emerged
The networking portion of SOS was unlike typical corporate mixers. This was a space where executives from Google stood shoulder to shoulder with emerging professionals, where founders shared stories with students, where people from Intuit, TikTok, CBC, and dozens of other organizations found common ground not in their titles but in their shared commitment to change.
Unpacking Intersectionality in Action
The heart of the event was a dynamic panel discussion that brought together five extraordinary women whose experiences spanned law, science, technology, media, and entrepreneurship. Expertly moderated by Stefania Mancini, VP & GM of Intuit's Consumer Group, and Kerry-Ann Lewis, Leader of Canada Customer Experience at Intuit, the conversation moved fluidly between personal narrative and structural analysis, between individual triumph and collective struggle.
Honoring Identity and Humanity
Throughout the event, cultural celebration was woven into every aspect of the experience. Music curated to reflect the diversity of the African diaspora played during networking sessions. Visual art celebrating Black women in leadership adorned the space. Storytelling moments allowed attendees to share their own narratives in formats that honored oral traditions and communal knowledge-sharing.
Allyship in Action:
From Theory to Practice
One of the most powerful segments of the afternoon focused on moving allyship from abstract concept to concrete practice. Attendees participated in facilitated discussions that challenged them to examine their own roles in either perpetuating or dismantling systems of inequity. For allies particularly those in positions of power and privilege the conversations provided practical frameworks for supporting women of colour in professional environments.
Closing:
A Call to Legacy
As the afternoon drew to a close, the tone shifted from reflection to commitment. The final session was framed not as an ending but as a beginning—a launching point for ongoing collaboration, sustained action, and lasting change. Leaders from Blink Equity and Intuit challenged attendees to carry the conversation forward in their own organizations and communities.
NETWORKING
Shades of Success represented a rich cross-section of Toronto's tech ecosystem and beyond
proof that when you create inclusive, meaningful programming, people will show up from all corners of the industry and at all stages of their careers.
COLLECTIVE ACTION
For Women of Colour: Access to Resources and Community
Women of colour attending the event gained access to mentorship, peer support networks, and information on programs to advance their careers. They built accountability partnerships, joined ongoing online communities, and strengthened confidence to advocate for themselves. Importantly, they were left empowered to prioritize their well-being, set boundaries, and recognize that self-care is necessary, not selfish.
WHY PEOPLE ATTEND
Motivations and Aspirations
Participate in Shaping a More Equitable Tech Ecosystem
They came because they recognized that the tech industry's lack of diversity isn't just a moral failing, it's a business liability that leads to products that don't serve all users, innovations that solve problems only privileged people face, and cultures that drive away brilliant minds. They wanted to be part of building something better.
ATTENDEES
A Cross-Section of Toronto’s Tech Ecosystem
The audience at Shades of Success reflected the full spectrum of Toronto’s tech community — from senior executives and DEI leaders of major firms like Intuit, Google, TikTok, and CBC to founders, venture partners, mid-career professionals, students, and advocates. Together, they formed a diverse, multigenerational network united by a shared commitment to equity and inclusion. Leaders came to listen and act; founders sought to embed fairness into their ventures; professionals and emerging talents looked for mentorship and belonging; and advocates aimed to strengthen their impact through collaboration and authentic representation.
OUTCOME
Measuring Impact Beyond Metrics
While Shades of Success generated tangible outcomes—partnerships formed, mentorship connections made, policy changes initiated—its deepest impact lives in the shifts of consciousness, confidence, and commitment that are harder to quantify but impossible to ignore.
From Isolation to Community
For women of colour in attendance, the empowerment outcome was profound and immediate. Many attendees described the experience as "exhaling" for the first time in professional contexts—being able to bring their whole selves into a space without fear of judgment, misunderstanding, or tokenization.
Awareness: Seeing What Was Always There
The first outcome was heightened awareness—not just abstract understanding, but visceral recognition of how intersectionality shapes every aspect of women's experiences in leadership and innovation. For many attendees, particularly those with privilege in some dimensions of their identity, the event illuminated blind spots they hadn't known existed.
Building Bridges Across Sectors
One of the most exciting outcomes was the emergence of cross-sector collaborations designed to continue the conversation and translate insights into action. Organizations that had operated in silos began exploring partnerships to address shared challenges in recruiting, retaining, and advancing women of colour in tech.
Establishing a Movement
Perhaps the most significant outcome was the establishment of Shades of Success as more than a one-time event, as a recurring platform and growing movement for dialogue, allyship, and actionable change in the tech community.
OUR PARTNERS
Presented by Blink Equity in partnership with Intuit Canada, IAAN (African Ancestry Network), and IWN (Intuit Women’s Network), the event was powered by a collective commitment to advancing equity and inclusion across the tech ecosystem. Supported by a growing network of community partners, Shades of Success served as a unifying platform for leaders, innovators, and allies dedicated to championing representation, leadership, and systemic change that empowers women of colour to thrive in technology and beyond.
