board, Council & Committee Members
Sisterhood Exclusive Council members are elected to solve problems and make decisions for the community about services, policies, and programs. SE Council members have an equal voice at the council table – every council member has one vote. Meanwhile, all members of the committees can assert and deliver ideas about the services, policies, and programs. A majority vote is required within the council and must be brought to the governance committee to make a binding decision which is then approved and authorized by the Board of Directors.
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Sisterhood Exclusive Board of Directors is an appointed group of individuals with a fiduciary duty to represent the interests of shareholders or stakeholders and oversee a company's management and operations.
What are the responsibilities of SE board members?
Director duties and responsibilities typically include the following:
-Taking care to act in the best interest of the company
-Being loyal to the organization and its members in good faith
-Attending board meetings
-Approval of specific company actions, such as agreements, contracts, new company policies, asset purchases and sales, and officer nominations
-Making changes to the bylaws and articles of incorporation
Board of Directors
Dr. Janét Aizenstros, MSc.D. Ph.D. MBA
TBA (To Be Appointed)
TBA (To Be Appointed)
TBA (To Be Appointed)
TBA (To Be Appointed)
TBA (To Be Appointed)
TBA (To Be Appointed)
TBA (To Be Appointed)
TBA (To Be Appointed)
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Sisterhood Exclusive Council Committees consist of board directors and council members in the development and delivery of services, representing member opinion in decision-making, and helping to serve member needs through interaction. They offer the opportunity for group problem-solving and to be a forum for presenting multiple points of view.
Sisterhood Exclusive Council - CURRENT
Dr. Janét Aizenstros
Jen O’Donnell
Shanitra Lockett
Janice Branch-Hall
Dawn Houston Lee
Emma Rogers
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Sisterhood Exclusive Governance Committee is a group of leaders who oversee the functions and duties of the board of directors. The members of the governance committee also review provincial/state and federal regulatory requirements to ensure the board and the nonprofit comply with them at all times.
Governance Committee
Dr. Janét Aizenstros, MSc.D. Ph.D. MBA
Dr. Janice Branch Hall, Ph.D.
Jen O’Donnell
Dawn House Lee
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Sisterhood Exclusive Advisory Committee consists of a group of outside advisors who work alongside the board of directors to enhance board governance. Essentially, an advisory council that provides advice, but doesn't engage in decision-making.
Advisory Committee - Non-Binding
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SE Leadership Committee's responsibilities are to establish the behaviors and processes used to help members and employees align their collective direction, execute strategic plans, and continually renew the SE organization.
Leadership Committee
Dr. Janét Aizenstros
Dawn Houston Lee
Jen O’Donnell
Shanitra Lockett
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SE Health & Wellness Committees’ responsibility for executing and supporting the content and programming by researching the latest advancements in healthy habits, to support our members in attaining better physical and mental health outcomes, as well as promoting and motivating members to participate in the wellness services, events and activities within the SE community.
Health & Wellness Committee
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The Sisterhood Events & Retreat Committee is responsible for developing, organizing, and executing the quarterly events and SE annual retreats for members and employees.
Events & Retreat Committee
Jen O’Donnell
Emma Rogers
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Sisterhood Exclusive Content, Programming & Media Committee offers insight and guidance into the curation, development, and planning of the content, programming, and media delivered to members throughout the Sisterhood Exclusive community.
Content, Programming & Social Media
Dr. Janice Branch Hall, Ph.D.
Dawn Houston Lee
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SE Fundraising & Membership Committee oversees the development and implementation of the fundraising plans and identifies external sources of support, e.g. donors, partners, sponsors, grants, employer match programs. Also, helps members develop connections that ensure the community runs smoothly.
Fundraising & Membership Committee
Emma Rogers
council MEMBER PROFILES
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Dr. Janét Aizenstros is an award-winning Canadian businesswoman who is the recipient of the prestigious 2021 RBC Canadian Women Entrepreneur Excellence Award, a finalist for the 2022 EY Entrepreneur of the Year for Ontario, a recipient of the 2020 WXN Canada's Most Powerful Women Entrepreneur Award: Top 100, 2019 honorary Presidential Service Medallion by the U.S. Presidential Service Center, and the 2020 Employer Of The Year by Canadian Business.
Her comprehensive background spans roles at TD Canada Trust and Canon. Throughout her corporate career, she has advised in a broad range of industries that honed her skills in finance, supply chain operations, data analysis, and strategic planning within multinational corporations and governments. Dr. Janét's ability to navigate foreign markets with ease originates from her fluency in English, French, German, and Hebrew.
Under Dr. Janét's adept leadership, the consultancy (formerly known as Ahava Digital Group) swiftly became a unicorn organization that Canadian Business ranked 12th on their 2020 Growth List -- making her the first Black Woman in Canadian history to achieve this feat. This accomplishment was achieved by developing a proprietary technology known as the Data Concierge--a cloud-based management software that contains the only ethically-sourced, verified data file on American consumers. The International Trade Council in Washington D.C. awarded Ahava Digital, a TopPlacer in the GoGlobal Awards for utilizing this technology for the economic advancement of developing countries. In 2022 & 2023, Ahava Digital Group was awarded as one of the Americas’ fastest-growing companies by the Financial Times & Statista.
The foundation of Ahava Digital's notoriety was its 'employee-first' culture. The company's ethos awarded Dr. Aizenstros the '2020 Employer of the Year' by Canadian Business. In 2019, Ahava Digital's parent company, Ahava Group Global (AGG), was selected by the Young President’s Organization (YPO) to be one of OFactor Pulse’s (OP) featured organizations in their Organizational Trust Study. This report revealed that Ahava Group's Overall Trust score of 5.9 was higher than OP's benchmark norm of 4.39.
Abroad, Dr. Aizenstros serves on committees for the U.S. Interactive Advertising Bureau’s (IAB) Data Benchmarks & Activation, Identity & Audience Data, Social Media & Privacy, and Public Policy where she liaisons with executive branches of the U.S. government. She has served on boards such as the City of Guelph Children’s Foundation, and Guelph Arts Council and currently serves on the board of Women Entrepreneur Global - Capital Markets committee. In 2020, Dr. Aizenstros was a short-listed nominee for the Canadian region of the United Nations Global Compact Network. She is a business and entrepreneur advisor for the Prince’s Trust and an advocate for the National Council of Women in Canada. Her commitment to empowering veteran entrepreneurs gifted her the honorary Presidential Service Medallion from the U.S. Presidential Service Center in 2019.
Dr. Janét has spoken for top-tier companies, institutions, and governments including Microsoft, Concordia Leadership Council, Conrad School of Entrepreneurship & Business at the University of Waterloo, the University of Guelph Gordon S. Lang School of Business and Economics, Hampton University's Center of Entrepreneurship and Applied Economics, the U.S. Department of Commerce for the Office of International Trade Administration, the U.S. Department of Energy for the Office of Science & Technology and Office of Economic Impact and Diversity, and the U.S. Small Business Administration for Entrepreneurship & Innovation in the Office of American Innovation for the White House.
Dr. Aizenstros has been featured in and written for national and international media outlets such as Forbes, Financial Post, Yahoo Finance, INC, CTV, Huffington Post, Success, Macleans, National Post, Globe and Mail, Canadian Business, and the Financial Times.
In 2023, Dr. Aizenstros sold Ahava Digital Group to focus on family, legacy, and ministry.
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Dr. Janice Branch Hall was elevated to the inaugural Associate Dean for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) at Virginia Tech’s Pamplin College of Business in August 2022 after being appointed to the inaugural Assistant Dean in June 2021. Dr. Hall joined Virginia Tech’s Pamplin College of Business in 2019 as the first director of diversity and inclusion. In her current position, she is responsible for envisioning, reimagining, and translating strategic directions into concrete goals and plans that promote the success of all stakeholders, including efforts to enhance the visibility and lived experiences of underrepresented and underserved populations. A key component of Dr. Hall’s work includes collaborating with college, university, and corporate/industry leadership to ensure DEIB efforts align with the vision and goals of the Pamplin College of Business and the broader Virginia Tech community.
Dr. Hall also partners with community organizations and government entities to advance outreach, engagement, and philanthropic opportunities to support DEIB strategic priorities.
Most recently, Dr. Hall and the Office for DEIB team were named a recipient of the 2023 Inspiring Programs in Business Award presented by INSIGHT Into Diversity Magazine. Dr. Hall is a contributing author to the book chapter – Cultural Humility and Inclusion: Transformation to a Culture of Belonging in Inclusive Leadership: Equity and Belonging in Our Communities (in Building Leadership Bridges Series) by Emerald Publishing (in press October 2023). Prior to Dr. Hall’s work in Pamplin, she led diversity initiatives for the Wake Forest University School of Business and the Haslam College of Business at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville.
A native of Richmond, Virginia, Dr. Hall graduated from Highland Springs High School, received a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the College of William and Mary, a master’s degree in management from Wake Forest University, and a Ph.D. in higher education administration from the University of Tennessee-Knoxville.
Dr. Hall’s research interests center around DEIB issues in business education, specifically illuminating the voices of underrepresented and underserved populations in this context and operationalizing the cultural humility construct. Her dissertation study explored the lived experiences of Black women faculty in predominately White business schools, the findings of which has no doubt lend themselves to the role of associate dean.
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Jen went from an RN to an entrepreneur when she discovered God had a different path in store for her. She is currently on a mission to help leaders discover and unleash their gifts and talents while they navigate their roles through coaching executives, small business owners, and entrepreneurs. Being a part of a leadership team is a great privilege.
Jen has an Associate Degree in Nursing and has been trained in business, leadership, mindset, and life coaching from some of the best leaders and coaches in the world.
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Dawn Houston-Lee is a Learning and Development Solutionary and Leadership Luminary with over two decades of experience. She has illuminated the path to success for countless individuals and organizations through her firm, Tapestry Consulting.
As an Independent HIT Consultant, Dawn has reshaped the landscape of healthcare, ensuring that all receive the best possible care. Her dedication to integrating technology with compassion has earned her the respect and admiration of colleagues and peers.
Dawn is currently pursuing a Master's in Health Administration, further expanding her expertise to make a lasting impact on the world of healthcare and to reduce healthcare disparities.
Beyond her HIT success, Dawn embraces her role as a compassionate Business and Personal Coach, instilling confidence and self-belief in those she guides.
Over the course of five fulfilling years, she has nurtured personal and professional development within her clients. In addition to this, Dawn offers empowering mindset courses and collaborates with entrepreneurs to guide them in enhancing their services, empowering their clients, and assessing their business systems.
Dawn’s life is not confined to her corporate pursuits alone. Beyond her professional and personal adventures, Dawn is also a devoted Wife, Pastor, and Church Planter, guiding others on their journeys with wisdom and grace. She is a seasoned host of Leadership and Retreat Conferences, where she brings together individuals to foster growth, inner peace, and divine destiny. In every facet of her life, you will discover Dawn as a radiant force, a source of inspiration, and a beacon of hope.
Her mission remains crystal clear: to empower others, to ignite their potential, and to ensure that every person she meets finds their abundant life.
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Shanitra's journey is a testament to her dynamic career path and unwavering commitment to personal growth. She began her academic pursuit by earning a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration from The University of Michigan's prestigious Ross School of Business. With a strong foundation in business, she embarked on a diverse career, initially serving as a Program Territory Manager and then as Territory Manager for a national oil company, spanning roles in Atlanta, Georgia, and Raleigh, North Carolina. However, her quest for knowledge and a passion for the law ultimately led her to attain a Juris Doctor from Yeshiva University's Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law.
Shanitra's professional trajectory further blossomed as she ventured into the legal arena, initially as a dedicated prosecutor in the heart of New York City. Her journey took an exciting turn as she transitioned to private practice, showcasing her adaptability and versatility. Currently, she proudly serves as an attorney for a Fortune 500 company.
Beyond her career accomplishments, Shanitra is deeply interested in health and wellness, dedicating her spare time to make a positive impact. Her commitment to well-being extends to her personal life, as she holds a certification in personal training from the National Academy of Sports Medicine and has earned a certification in plant-based nutrition from eCornell. In her free time, she combines her legal acumen with her passion for health, nurturing a holistic approach to life. Shanitra embodies the perfect blend of professional excellence and a steadfast commitment to personal health and community wellness.
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Emma Rogers is a highly seasoned and results-driven professional with a remarkable track record of spearheading multimillion-dollar campaigns. Her adeptness in marketing has led to unprecedented growth, consistently doubling the donor and client base for organizations she has worked with. Emma's exceptional work has garnered significant recognition, with features on prominent media outlets such as Global and CTV news.
Beyond her impressive marketing expertise, Emma is also a charismatic public speaker and dedicated advocate for various organizations. Her captivating presence on the stage has inspired and motivated audiences, while her advocacy efforts have made a tangible difference in the communities she serves.
One of Emma's core strengths lies in her ability to develop diverse and empowering strategies for businesses, irrespective of their size or industry.
With Emma Rogers at the helm, success is not just a goal; it becomes an inevitable reality. Her proven leadership, strategic prowess, and unwavering commitment to excellence continue to drive organizations to new heights of achievement.
Emma is honored to be the Vice-Chair of Innovation Guelph, Chair of GuelphGives and Guelph Women in Leadership.