Introducing the 2023 Executive Judges
Updated: Apr 18
We are beyond thrilled to announce the Executive Judges for Canada's Total Mom Pitch presented by TD. This year, we've gathered a group of inspirational leaders who are excited to support and amplify the voices of our women founders.
The judges are experts in their fields and will be evaluating pitches based on a range of criteria, including the viability of their business, the potential for growth and scalability, and the ability of the entrepreneur to execute their vision.
The 2023 Executive Judges Line-up
About Krystal
Krystal Van Westerop, National Manager Women in Enterprise, has been with TD Business Banking since 2007, and she has held positions in both credit and relationship management. Krystal’s experience covers various roles within TD, including commercial banking throughout different locations in Ontario; time with the National Accounts group covering both the Automotive and Food and Beverage; as well as working in risk adjudication.
In her current role, Krystal leads TD Business Banking’s strategy around women-owned and women-led businesses, by collaborating internally and externally on partnerships to support Women in Enterprise (WE) and by educating stakeholders and colleagues on the WE segment and solutions—to facilitate the success and growth of Women in Enterprise at TD.
As a volunteer, Krystal has been previously involved as the National Chair for the volunteer network
within Business Banking, leading more than 150 volunteers across the country and she has also served as secretary for the Greater Toronto Area Women at TD Executive Steering Committee. Krystal is currently the Vice Chair of the Vaughan Chamber of Commerce Women & Committee— working to support local women entrepreneurs.
On a personal note, Krystal is married and has two children and two dogs. She loves to spend time
outside—but her favourite pastime is movie nights with family on the couch.
About Devorah
As Bell’s Senior Vice President & Chief Brand Officer, Devorah oversees all brand and marketing communications activities for Canada’s largest communications company, including Bell’s digital and social media platforms, corporate and product advertising campaigns, sponsorship and events programs, as well as visual design activities including retail stores and offices.
Devorah is an accomplished business executive with over 20 years of experience in telecommunications, marketing and branding. She began her career at Bell in 2006 as Vice President, Marketing Communications and was promoted to Senior Vice President & Chief Brand Officer in 2017. Throughout her career at Bell, Devorah has been a key driver of Bell’s reputation for leadership in corporate Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) standards, including the initiatives Bell for Better and Bell Let’s Talk. Devorah was also behind the successful transformation of the Bell brand, which today is considered one of Canada’s most valuable brands.
Devorah serves on the board of the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) and the Canadian Marketing Association. She is a graduate of the University of Toronto and an alumnus of the Rotman School of Management’s Judy Project for rising women executives and the International Women’s Forum Fellows Program hosted by Harvard Business School and INSEAD.
Devorah is passionate about women in business and has long supported Canadian women entrepreneurs, both personally and professionally at Bell. As a mother herself, she’s thrilled to be a judge this year for Canada’s Total Mom Pitch and to help more Canadian women grow their businesses.
About Paula
A seasoned executive, Paula brings over 25 years of experience and a proven track record of success driving global, high-performing organizations toward profitable partnerships. By taking an exceptionally disciplined approach to technology, data, digital strategy and revenue leadership, Paula continuously demonstrates her knack for developing revolutionary solutions and unique monetization strategies that generate revenue.
Currently, Chief Executive Officer at huumans, a smart, cost-effective bookkeeping service for small business owners, Paula uses her extensive skill set to support SMBs at every stage of their entrepreneurial journey, while supporting huumans’ mission to make small business ownership accessible to as many people as possible.
Prior to joining huumans, Paula served as the Chief Revenue Officer for Alibi Technologies and Postmedia where she led and developed transformational business strategies across cross-functional teams. She has also served as Pelmorex Media’s Senior Vice President of Global Advertising Sales where she played an instrumental role in the execution of global sales strategies.
Currently, board director at Good Deeds, Paula was previously chair of the board at Responsible Gambling Council Check and has previously held board seats for IAB Canada, the Broadcast Executive Society, and the National Advertising Benevolent Society. Paula has been recognized for her work as a leadership mentor for young professionals and has been involved in a number of programs such as the Great Canadian Sales Competition and Junior Achievement Central Of Ontario.
About Natasha
Natasha Walji is the Managing Director at Google Canada for Google Customer Solutions focused on helping small & medium businesses grow & thrive. Previously she was a McKinsey consultant and a software developer. Natasha has actively served the community for 20+ years focused on disaster relief, poverty alleviation, public health and co-founded an organization for children with disabilities. She is an angel investor and is an Investment Committee member for Blue Ivy Ventures. Natasha holds a BSc., Computer Science (University of Victoria), MBA (Yale University) and MSt. Sustainability Leadership (University of Cambridge). Natasha is recognized as one of Canada's Top 100 Most Powerful Women (WXN).
About Andrea
Andrea is a Cambridge-educated business lawyer with over fifteen years’ experience working with business owners at every stage of the entrepreneurial journey. Having seen way too many of her sisters in business taking unnecessary risks and not going after killer opportunities because they didn't have the right legal advice, she decided to co-found her law firm, Henry Brooks LLP as well as her e-commerce contract template site, The Secure Startup, to help more women confidently create the business of their dreams.
Andrea is a mom of three and a breast cancer survivor who has built thriving businesses in the years since her shock diagnosis at the age of 37. She enjoys reading dystopian fiction and long walks among the trees.
About Stephanie
Stephanie Palasti-Walker is the Partner and VP of Client Solutions at The Influence Agency. Stephanie and her Business Partners started The Influencer Agency in 2017 and have grown the agency to include 50+ talented and diverse employees managing some of the largest brands in the world.
Stephanie has volunteered with organizations such as NABS and held a seat on the board for three years with The AdClub of Toronto. In her personal life, Stephanie enjoys spending her time with her husband and two children.
About Tanya
Tanya Hayles is an award-winning TEDx speaker + creative storyteller using various mediums to evoke emotions, create change, build movements, and colour in white spaces.
She is the founder of Black Moms Connection, an online global village of almost 30,000 and a national non-profit providing culturally relevant programs and resources to educate and empower the Black mother and her family. She is now a thought leader on Black motherhood, recently doing a TedxToronto talk that was top 5 in the world when released in August 2022.
She and her words can be found in and on CBC, Global TV, CityNews, Globe and Mail, CityLine, Toronto Star, Today’s Parent, Cottage Life and more.
She was a 2020 L’Oreal Woman of Worth honoree and was selected as one of Canada’s Top 25 Women of Influence in 2021.
From social media copywriting to diversity, equity, and inclusion consulting to public speaking - Tanya brings her fresh brand of authenticity everywhere she goes using the power of storytelling to change the world.
Find more of her work at Tanyahayles.com.
About Julie
Julie Cole is a recovered lawyer, mom of six and co-founder of Mabel’s Labels. She is an award-winning entrepreneur, best-selling author, and sought-after speaker and emcee. Julie is no stranger to the media, having appeared on NBC’s The Today Show, HLN’s Raising America, Breakfast Television, The Marilyn Denis Show, CP24, among many others. Her articles have appeared in The Huffington Post, Today’s Parent, The Globe and Mail, Profit Magazine, Working Mother Magazine, and numerous websites.
When she’s not juggling her busy family and professional life, Julie is an engaged community member serving on boards and volunteering. She is passionate about women’s issues, mentoring young entrepreneurs, and social justice.
About Jenn
An award-winning social entrepreneur, Jenn Harper is the founder and CEO of Cheekbone Beauty Cosmetics INC. Cheekbone Beauty aims to help every Indigenous person see and feel their value in the world while developing sustainable colour cosmetics that won’t end up in a landfill.
Jenn Harper is an Anishinaabe woman and is a member of the Northwest Angle #33 First Nation in Kenora, ON. Throughout her life, Jenn has struggled with accepting her Indigenous roots. She was estranged from her Indigenous family for much of her childhood and adult life. After learning about her grandmother’s experience in residential school, she understood how her family was affected by generational trauma. Harper has been making a name for herself in the beauty industry for a number of years but gained popularity quickly after appearing on CBC’s hit show, Dragon’s Den in 2019. Since her appearance on the show, Jenn has been featured as Chatelaine’s “Woman of the Year in 2019”, Canadian Business’s “2022 New Innovator’s List”, and Entrepreneur Magazine’s “100 Women of Influence in 2022” list.
For more information about Canada's Total Mom Pitch, head over to totalmompitch.ca