​Breaking the Boardroom: Navigating Tech Leadership Together

​What does it take to step into leadership?

​Join Vancouver Women in Technology and ISACA SheLeadsTech for a curated, small-format experience designed to connect you directly with senior leaders across the tech industry.

​At the core of the evening are Leadership Circles — intimate, rotating conversations where you’ll engage in small groups with experienced executives. This format is intentionally designed to offer something rare: real access, candid dialogue, and the opportunity to ask the questions you wouldn’t normally get to ask — from navigating your next step, to advocating for your growth, to understanding how others have made the move into leadership.

​Whether you’re building momentum in your career, navigating a transition, or looking to better understand what it takes to move into leadership, this is a space to gain practical insight, perspective, and connection alongside others on a similar path.

​What to expect:

• ​Arrival, networking, and light refreshments

• ​Opening remarks to set the tone

• ​Leadership Circles: small-group, rotating discussions with industry leaders

• ​Closing reflections and open networking

​Seats are limited to maintain an intimate, high-impact environment.

​Sponsors:

​Accenture is a leading solutions and services company that helps the world’s leading enterprises reinvent by building their digital core and unleashing the power of AI to create value at speed across the enterprise, bringing together the talent of our approximately 786,000 people, our proprietary assets and platforms, and deep ecosystem relationships. Our strategy is to be the reinvention partner of choice for our clients and to be the most client-focused, AI-enabled, great place to work in the world.

​Leaders

​Opening remarks

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​Melanie Somiah is a cybersecurity leader at Accenture focused on the Products and CMT client groups.

​Discussion Leaders

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​Cristina Richter is a Senior Director in Cybersecurity at lululemon, where she leads the global strategy and delivery for Security Engineering & Architecture and Data Security. She also serves as a Board Member of Vancouver Women in Technology (VanWIT), where she supports initiatives that empower and advance women across the tech ecosystem.

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​Golnaz Elahi is a principal strategic cyber advisor with Mandiant Canada. She has served sectors such as energy and utilities, government and public sector, insurance and financial services, both as an external consultant and as an in-house security officer / virtual CISO. 

​Nev Kent is a cybersecurity leader at Accenture focused on retail, CG&S, aviation industries.

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​Sahar Kayhani is the Chief Product Office at Global Relay.

​MCs

​Thais Ramos serves as the Director of SheLeadsTech at ISACA Vancouver, where she champions the advancement of women in technology and creates spaces for meaningful connection, mentorship, and growth. By day, she is the Director of Governance, Risk & Compliance within the Chief Information Security Office at Simon Fraser University, leading initiatives that strengthen cybersecurity, privacy, and risk management across the institution.

​Judy Sin serves as the Co-President of VanWIT, where she champions the advancement of women across all sectors of technology. By day, she is a Cybersecurity Consultant at Mandiant Canada, tackling some of the world's most pressing digital security challenges.

​Julie Le Hegarat serves as the Associate Director of SheLeadsTech at ISACA Vancouver, where she supports initiatives that foster connection, learning, and advancement for women in technology. By day, she is an Instructional Designer at the University of British Columbia, where she designs and delivers innovative learning experiences that support teaching and learning across the institution.