About

Maryam Monsef, Founder and CEO of ONWARD, is a sought-after international speaker,  facilitator, and strategic advisor. She has dedicated her life to women’s empowerment and equity. She is a dynamic speaker, who designs her keynotes and workshops to uplift women and provide them with a toolkit to thrive in their personal and professional lives. Balancing her role as a dedicated mother with her professional commitments, Maryam draws daily inspiration from working moms everywhere. 

She was a Member of Parliament and a Federal Cabinet Minister from 2015 to 2021, where she served as Canada’s President of the Queen’s Privy Council, Minister for Democratic Institutions,  Minister for the Status of Women, Minister of International Development, and Minister of Rural  Economic Development. Across these portfolios, she was tasked with driving social and economic justice files for the Government both in Canada and around the world. She established Canada’s first full Department for Women and Gender Equality and rolled out Canada’s largest investment in high-speed internet. Under her stewardship, Canada was recognized as a world leader in Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights, investments in domestic and international grassroots women’s organizations, and for its intersectional response to COVID-19.

Maryam has been named one of the Top 20 Global Influencers on Gender Equality, alongside notable figures such as Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Michelle Obama, and Malala Yousafzai.  Through her business and volunteer work, she strives to foster a world where women and their families are thriving.