Get Media Ready
This event is created by and for women founders.
Male allies are welcome to join and support the conversation, but please note that space is prioritized for women-identifying entrepreneurs.
About the Event
Heading to Web Summit? Thinking about media exposure but not sure if you’re ready?
Join us for a special WAKE x Deloitte morning focused on one thing: helping founders get media ready — strategically, confidently, and practically.
This is not a panel. It’s not a lecture.
It’s a working session.
We’re bringing together experienced media and PR leaders — including a journalist who will be at Web Summit — to help you:
Clarify your strategic narrative
Align your messaging with investors and stakeholders
Assess whether you’re truly media ready
Practice telling your story in a real-time role play setting
If you’re building momentum ahead of Web Summit (or any major visibility moment), this session will help you show up prepared.
What to Expect
A practical session on media readiness as a business strategy
Small-group learning in a casual, supportive setting
Live role play with real-time feedback
A founder sharing her firsthand Web Summit media experience
Coffee, connection, and community
This is designed to be interactive, honest, and actionable.
Agenda
10:00 – 10:10 AM → Arrival & Coffee
10:10 – 10:15 AM → Welcome, Land Acknowledgement & Expert Intros
10:15 – 11:00 AM → Media Readiness as a Business Strategy, led by Sarah Mawji, Principal of Venture Strategies. Define your narrative and proof points, align your message with investor interests, and know when you’re ready (and when you’re not).
11:00 – 11:45 AM → Live Media Role Play, hosted by Vancouver Tech Journal (VTJ). Select founders will participate in 5–10 minute mock interviews with a journalist attending Web Summit.
11:45 – 11:55 AM → Founder Story
Guita Yazdani shares key lessons from her media interactions at Web Summit 2025 — what worked, what surprised her, and what she’d do differently.
11:55 AM – 12:00 PM → Closing & Community Announcements
Media Expertise
Vancouver Tech Journal (VTJ)
VTJ is the primary independent source for news and insights covering Vancouver’s tech ecosystem, reaching 25,000+ readers weekly. Founded by William Johnson in 2017, VTJ delivers trusted reporting through its newsletter, Morning Report, and community events.
Shannon Havard is a seasoned C-suite executive and purpose-driven leader with over two decades of experience transforming organizations and elevating the people within them. Currently serving as COO at Overstory Media Group, Shannon brings a rare combination of strategic vision and emotional intelligence to everything she does — believing that lasting transformation is as much about people as it is about performance.
Sarah Mawji, Founder & Principal, Venture Strategies
Sarah is a strategic communications advisor helping companies define how they show up publicly — aligning positioning, earned media, and thought leadership with growth and long-term credibility. She has supported organizations across financial services, tech, mining, defence, sports, and lifestyle, and was part of the inaugural launch of Vancouver Rise FC, the city’s first pro-women’s soccer team.
Registration & Tickets
Registration required.
WAKE runs entirely on community power. We don’t have a budget, so your contributions directly support the costs of running the community and hosting gatherings like this. It’s pay-what-you-can, with a suggested donation of $10.
WAKE events are created by and for women founders. Male allies are always welcome to support and be part of the conversation, but with limited spots, we’re prioritizing registration for women founders first.
A huge thank-you to Deloitte for generously making the space for WAKE.