Our Story
WNORTH is the vision of Heather Odendaal, an accomplished entrepreneur, brand builder and an acclaimed event producer in Western Canada. While working as a sales executive at a Fortune 500 company, Heather’s pursuit of finding a leadership conference for women on a path to senior executive leadership fell short. In spring 2015, Heather co-founded the inaugural WNORTH Conference with her husband Mike to support women on their leadership journey. Regular event speakers include executives from CISCO, PwC and Amazon. In 2018, the Members’ Club at WNORTH was launched to support the growing community of female executives and provide them with networking opportunities and resources to support their leadership journey. In April 2020, the Membership rapidly expanded to support the growing need for online community support women in leadership.
Our Mission
Develop more women to leading positions in business, and in doing so we will elevate the teams they work in, the families they lead and the communities in which they live.
We Achieve This Through…
Facilitating a powerful membership community that supports a diverse group of women on their leadership journey. We curate content and personal development around our foundation pillars which aim to accelerate growth, promote balance, establish connections that matter, and inspire change
As Featured In
Notable Awards
CSuite Digital Leadership Awards – Finalist 2020
Canada 250: The Top Canadian Event Professionals
Woman to Watch 2017 Nominee
Premier’s People’s Choice Award Nominee
2018 Innovative Business of the Year Nominee
Rising Star 2015 & 2016 Nominee
Best Event Planner (Western Canada) – Winner 2016
Board of Advisors
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[kswr_modernimage mdim_link=”url:http%3A%2F%2Fwnorthconnect.wpengine.com%2Fabout%2Fteam%2Fphilip-grosch%2F||target:%20_blank|” mdim_titlecolor=”#ffffff” mdim_titlepadding=”6″ mdim_subtitlecolor=”#cccccc” mdim_overlaycolor=”rgba(0,0,0,0.7)” mdim_colorscheme=”#ffffff” mdim_boxshadow=”disabled” mdim_image=”4142″ mdim_title=”Philip Grosch” mdim_titlefont=”font-size:20px;” mdim_titlefontstyle=”font-family:Inherit;font-weight:700;” mdim_subtitle=” Former Partner Salesforce Transformation Program Executive, PwC Global” mdim_subtitlefont=”font-size:14px;” mdim_subtitlefontstyle=”font-family:Inherit;font-weight:400;”]
[kswr_modernimage mdim_link=”url:http%3A%2F%2Fwnorthconnect.wpengine.com%2Fspeakers%2Fcandice-Faktor||target:%20_blank|” mdim_titlecolor=”#ffffff” mdim_titlepadding=”6″ mdim_subtitlecolor=”#cccccc” mdim_overlaycolor=”rgba(0,0,0,0.7)” mdim_colorscheme=”#ffffff” mdim_boxshadow=”disabled” mdim_image=”5920″ mdim_title=”Candice Faktor” mdim_titlefont=”font-size:20px;” mdim_titlefontstyle=”font-family:Inherit;font-weight:700;” mdim_subtitle=”Co-founder at Disco, Venture Partner at Lobby Capital” mdim_subtitlefont=”font-size:14px;” mdim_subtitlefontstyle=”font-family:Inherit;font-weight:400;”]
[kswr_modernimage mdim_link=”url:http%3A%2F%2Fwnorthconnect.com%2Fabout%2Fteam%2Frob-simms||target:%20_blank|” mdim_titlecolor=”#ffffff” mdim_titlepadding=”6″ mdim_subtitlecolor=”#cccccc” mdim_overlaycolor=”rgba(0,0,0,0.7)” mdim_colorscheme=”#ffffff” mdim_boxshadow=”disabled” mdim_image=”5805″ mdim_title=”Rob Simms” mdim_titlefont=”font-size:20px;” mdim_titlefontstyle=”font-family:Inherit;font-weight:700;” mdim_subtitle=”Global Head of Executive Customer Relations & Acquisitions at Google” mdim_subtitlefont=”font-size:14px;” mdim_subtitlefontstyle=”font-family:Inherit;font-weight:400;”]
[kswr_modernimage mdim_link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fwnorthconnect.com%2Fspeakers%2Fjordana-pourian%2F||target:%20_blank|” mdim_titlecolor=”#ffffff” mdim_titlepadding=”6″ mdim_subtitlecolor=”#cccccc” mdim_overlaycolor=”rgba(0,0,0,0.7)” mdim_colorscheme=”#ffffff” mdim_boxshadow=”disabled” mdim_image=”5804″ mdim_title=”Jordana Pourian” mdim_titlefont=”font-size:20px;” mdim_titlefontstyle=”font-family:Inherit;font-weight:700;” mdim_subtitle=”Senior Vice President, Operations & Chief of Staff, Aritiza” mdim_subtitlefont=”font-size:14px;” mdim_subtitlefontstyle=”font-family:Inherit;font-weight:400;”]
[kswr_modernimage mdim_link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fwnorthconnect.com%2Fspeakers%2Fquyen-chang%2F||target:%20_blank|” mdim_titlecolor=”#ffffff” mdim_titlepadding=”6″ mdim_subtitlecolor=”#cccccc” mdim_overlaycolor=”rgba(0,0,0,0.7)” mdim_colorscheme=”#ffffff” mdim_boxshadow=”disabled” mdim_image=”5047″ mdim_title=” Quyen Chang” mdim_titlefont=”font-size:20px;” mdim_titlefontstyle=”font-family:Inherit;font-weight:700;” mdim_subtitle=”Head of Global Revenue Enablement at Airbnb” mdim_subtitlefont=”font-size:14px;” mdim_subtitlefontstyle=”font-family:Inherit;font-weight:400;”]
The Team
[kswr_modernimage mdim_link=”url:http%3A%2F%2Fwnorthconnect.wpengine.com%2Fabout%2Fteam%2Fheather-odendaal%2F||target:%20_blank|” mdim_titlecolor=”#ffffff” mdim_titlepadding=”6″ mdim_subtitlecolor=”#cccccc” mdim_overlaycolor=”rgba(0,0,0,0.7)” mdim_colorscheme=”#ffffff” mdim_boxshadow=”disabled” mdim_image=”3617″ mdim_title=”Heather Odendaal” mdim_titlefont=”font-size:20px;” mdim_titlefontstyle=”font-family:Inherit;font-weight:700;” mdim_subtitle=”Co-Founder & CEO” mdim_subtitlefont=”font-size:14px;” mdim_subtitlefontstyle=”font-family:Inherit;font-weight:400;”]
[kswr_modernimage mdim_link=”url:http%3A%2F%2Fwnorthconnect.wpengine.com%2Fabout%2Fteam%2Fmike-odendaal%2F||target:%20_blank|” mdim_titlecolor=”#ffffff” mdim_titlepadding=”6″ mdim_subtitlecolor=”#cccccc” mdim_overlaycolor=”rgba(0,0,0,0.7)” mdim_colorscheme=”#ffffff” mdim_boxshadow=”disabled” mdim_image=”3623″ mdim_title=”Mike Odendaal” mdim_titlefont=”font-size:20px;” mdim_titlefontstyle=”font-family:Inherit;font-weight:700;” mdim_subtitle=”Co-Founder & Director of Finance” mdim_subtitlefont=”font-size:14px;” mdim_subtitlefontstyle=”font-family:Inherit;font-weight:400;”]
[kswr_modernimage mdim_link=”url:http%3A%2F%2Fwnorthconnect.com%2Fabout%2Fteam%2Fjessika-noda%2F||target:%20_blank|” mdim_titlecolor=”#ffffff” mdim_titlepadding=”6″ mdim_subtitlecolor=”#cccccc” mdim_overlaycolor=”rgba(0,0,0,0.7)” mdim_colorscheme=”#ffffff” mdim_boxshadow=”disabled” mdim_image=”5349″ mdim_title=”Jessika Noda” mdim_titlefont=”font-size:20px;” mdim_titlefontstyle=”font-family:Inherit;font-weight:700;” mdim_subtitle=”Global Director, Membership & Marketing, The Members Club” mdim_subtitlefont=”font-size:14px;” mdim_subtitlefontstyle=”font-family:Inherit;font-weight:400;”]
[kswr_modernimage mdim_link=”url:http%3A%2F%2Fwnorthconnect.wpengine.com%2Fabout%2Fteam%2Fruth-barrow%2F||target:%20_blank|” mdim_titlecolor=”#ffffff” mdim_titlepadding=”6″ mdim_subtitlecolor=”#cccccc” mdim_overlaycolor=”rgba(0,0,0,0.7)” mdim_colorscheme=”#ffffff” mdim_boxshadow=”disabled” mdim_image=”3625″ mdim_title=”Ruth Barrow” mdim_titlefont=”font-size:20px;” mdim_titlefontstyle=”font-family:Inherit;font-weight:700;” mdim_subtitle=”Graphic & Web Design” mdim_subtitlefont=”font-size:14px;” mdim_subtitlefontstyle=”font-family:Inherit;font-weight:400;”]
[kswr_modernimage mdim_link=”url:http%3A%2F%2Fwnorthconnect.wpengine.com%2Fabout%2Fteam%2Fcarlee-cindric%2F||target:%20_blank|” mdim_titlecolor=”#ffffff” mdim_titlepadding=”6″ mdim_subtitlecolor=”#cccccc” mdim_overlaycolor=”rgba(0,0,0,0.7)” mdim_colorscheme=”#ffffff” mdim_boxshadow=”disabled” mdim_image=”3618″ mdim_title=”Carlee Cindric” mdim_titlefont=”font-size:20px;” mdim_titlefontstyle=”font-family:Inherit;font-weight:700;” mdim_subtitle=”Event Production Manager” mdim_subtitlefont=”font-size:14px;” mdim_subtitlefontstyle=”font-family:Inherit;font-weight:400;”]
[kswr_modernimage mdim_link=”url:http%3A%2F%2Fwnorthconnect.com%2Fabout%2Fteam%2Fhayley-ostridge%2F||target:%20_blank|” mdim_titlecolor=”#ffffff” mdim_titlepadding=”6″ mdim_subtitlecolor=”#cccccc” mdim_overlaycolor=”rgba(0,0,0,0.7)” mdim_colorscheme=”#ffffff” mdim_boxshadow=”disabled” mdim_image=”4151″ mdim_title=”Hayley Ostridge” mdim_titlefont=”font-size:20px;” mdim_titlefontstyle=”font-family:Inherit;font-weight:700;” mdim_subtitle=”Event Coordinator ” mdim_subtitlefont=”font-size:14px;” mdim_subtitlefontstyle=”font-family:Inherit;font-weight:400;”]
[kswr_modernimage mdim_link=”url:http%3A%2F%2Fwnorthconnect.wpengine.com%2Fabout%2Fteam%2Fbronwen-hill%2F||target:%20_blank|” mdim_titlecolor=”#ffffff” mdim_titlepadding=”6″ mdim_subtitlecolor=”#cccccc” mdim_overlaycolor=”rgba(0,0,0,0.7)” mdim_colorscheme=”#ffffff” mdim_boxshadow=”disabled” mdim_image=”3742″ mdim_title=”Bronwen Hill” mdim_titlefont=”font-size:20px;” mdim_titlefontstyle=”font-family:Inherit;font-weight:700;” mdim_subtitle=”Guest Relations & Travel” mdim_subtitlefont=”font-size:14px;” mdim_subtitlefontstyle=”font-family:Inherit;font-weight:400;”]
[kswr_modernimage mdim_link=”||target:%20_blank|” mdim_titlecolor=”#ffffff” mdim_titlepadding=”6″ mdim_subtitlecolor=”#cccccc” mdim_overlaycolor=”rgba(0,0,0,0.7)” mdim_colorscheme=”#ffffff” mdim_boxshadow=”disabled” mdim_image=”5374″ mdim_title=”Anastasia Chomlack” mdim_titlefont=”font-size:20px;” mdim_titlefontstyle=”font-family:Inherit;font-weight:700;” mdim_subtitle=”Photography” mdim_subtitlefont=”font-size:14px;” mdim_subtitlefontstyle=”font-family:Inherit;font-weight:400;”]
City Directors
[kswr_modernimage mdim_link=”url:http%3A%2F%2Fwnorthconnect.com%2Fspeakers%2Fjennifer-harper-uncao%2F||target:%20_blank|” mdim_titlecolor=”#ffffff” mdim_titlepadding=”6″ mdim_subtitlecolor=”#cccccc” mdim_overlaycolor=”rgba(0,0,0,0.7)” mdim_colorscheme=”#ffffff” mdim_boxshadow=”disabled” mdim_image=”4426″ mdim_title=”Jennifer Harper Uncao” mdim_titlefont=”font-size:20px;” mdim_titlefontstyle=”font-family:Inherit;font-weight:700;” mdim_subtitle=”Event Consultant & Capital Strategist, Elevate Strategies” mdim_subtitlefont=”font-size:14px;” mdim_subtitlefontstyle=”font-family:Inherit;font-weight:400;”]
[kswr_modernimage mdim_link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fwnorthconnect.com%2Fspeakers%2Fraissa-uwineza%2F||target:%20_blank|” mdim_titlecolor=”#ffffff” mdim_titlepadding=”6″ mdim_subtitlecolor=”#cccccc” mdim_overlaycolor=”rgba(0,0,0,0.7)” mdim_colorscheme=”#ffffff” mdim_boxshadow=”disabled” mdim_image=”5059″ mdim_title=”Raissa Uwineza” mdim_titlefont=”font-size:20px;” mdim_titlefontstyle=”font-family:Inherit;font-weight:700;” mdim_subtitlefont=”font-size:14px;” mdim_subtitlefontstyle=”font-family:Inherit;font-weight:400;”]
[kswr_modernimage mdim_link=”url:http%3A%2F%2Fwnorthconnect.com%2Fspeakers%2Fsamantha-englert%2F||target:%20_blank|” mdim_titlecolor=”#ffffff” mdim_titlepadding=”6″ mdim_subtitlecolor=”#cccccc” mdim_overlaycolor=”rgba(0,0,0,0.7)” mdim_colorscheme=”#ffffff” mdim_boxshadow=”disabled” mdim_image=”5354″ mdim_title=”Samantha Englert” mdim_titlefont=”font-size:20px;” mdim_titlefontstyle=”font-family:Inherit;font-weight:700;” mdim_subtitlefont=”font-size:14px;” mdim_subtitlefontstyle=”font-family:Inherit;font-weight:400;” mdim_subtitle=”Head of Business Development and Growth – Professional Services at Salesforce”]
[kswr_modernimage mdim_link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fwnorthconnect.com%2Fspeakers%2Fniamh-farrelly%2F||target:%20_blank|” mdim_titlecolor=”#ffffff” mdim_titlepadding=”6″ mdim_subtitlecolor=”#cccccc” mdim_overlaycolor=”rgba(0,0,0,0.7)” mdim_colorscheme=”#ffffff” mdim_boxshadow=”disabled” mdim_image=”5351″ mdim_title=”Niamh Farrelly ” mdim_titlefont=”font-size:20px;” mdim_titlefontstyle=”font-family:Inherit;font-weight:700;” mdim_subtitlefont=”font-size:14px;” mdim_subtitlefontstyle=”font-family:Inherit;font-weight:400;” mdim_subtitle=”Associate, The Humphrey Group”]
[kswr_modernimage mdim_link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fwnorthconnect.com%2Fspeakers%2Fkelly-smyth%2F|title:Kelly%20Smyth|target:%20_blank|” mdim_titlecolor=”#ffffff” mdim_titlepadding=”6″ mdim_subtitlecolor=”#cccccc” mdim_overlaycolor=”rgba(0,0,0,0.7)” mdim_colorscheme=”#ffffff” mdim_boxshadow=”disabled” mdim_image=”5638″ mdim_title=”Kelly Smyth” mdim_titlefont=”font-size:20px;” mdim_titlefontstyle=”font-family:Inherit;font-weight:700;” mdim_subtitlefont=”font-size:14px;” mdim_subtitlefontstyle=”font-family:Inherit;font-weight:400;” mdim_subtitle=”Talent Consultant”]
[kswr_modernimage mdim_link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fwnorthconnect.com%2Fspeakers%2Fyvonne-lee-hawkins%2F|title:Yvonne%20Lee-Hawkins|target:%20_blank|” mdim_titlecolor=”#ffffff” mdim_titlepadding=”6″ mdim_subtitlecolor=”#cccccc” mdim_overlaycolor=”rgba(0,0,0,0.7)” mdim_colorscheme=”#ffffff” mdim_boxshadow=”disabled” mdim_image=”4951″ mdim_title=”Yvonne Lee-Hawkins” mdim_titlefont=”font-size:20px;” mdim_titlefontstyle=”font-family:Inherit;font-weight:700;” mdim_subtitle=”Senior Program Manager, Global Benefits at Amazon Corporate” mdim_subtitlefont=”font-size:14px;” mdim_subtitlefontstyle=”font-family:Inherit;font-weight:400;”]
