Just a year ago, HBA student Shirley Zhong and her partners were researching to convince investors that their startup, Xatoms, could change water purification. Growing up in China, Zhong saw the harsh effects of water pollution. She was determined to make clean water available to everyone.
Now, Zhong and her team have made great progress, even earning a spot on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list in North America for their contributions. Their success shows how resilience drives action, which is this year’s theme for International Women’s Day.
Zhong was one of three outstanding leaders sharing insights on empowerment, overcoming challenges, and the role of technology, especially artificial intelligence (AI), in promoting gender equality during a special International Women’s Day panel. The event, hosted by Accenture and the Women of Ivey alumni community, took place on March 4 at Accenture’s Toronto office. Inka Skinner, EMBA ’16, Lead of Data, Analytics, and AI at Accenture and a former Canada’s Most Powerful Women award winner, moderated the discussion. The panellists included:
- Anique Asher, HBA ’99, MBA ’03, Chief Strategy and Operating Officer at Scotiabank;
- Angelo Schiafone, EMBA ’16, Senior Vice President at RBC; and,
- Shirley Zhong, HBA ’26 candidate and COO at Xatoms.
The panellists shared personal stories of overcoming obstacles and how resilience shaped their careers. Having shifted from accounting and investment banking to leading the Bank’s Strategy and Operating Group, Asher spoke about stepping outside one’s comfort zone and seizing opportunities when they arise. Schiafone talked about balancing work, education, and family while leading major corporate projects, like a large-scale merger. He highlighted the need for continuous learning and adaptability. Zhong mentioned the challenges of entrepreneurship and how community support and perseverance are vital in the startup world.
Here are some key takeaways.
Navigating challenges through empowerment, resilience, and adaptability
For Asher, empowerment came from adapting and pushing beyond her comfort zone – skills she learned at different points in her life, including during her time at Ivey. She described how stepping into larger leadership roles could sometimes bring self-doubt but stressed that success comes from trusting one’s ability to learn and lead. She also encouraged leaders to seek help when needed and emphasized that there is strength in vulnerability, which can help to build trust and strengthen teams.
“I think about the leaders and mentors I’ve had and my commitments to support them because of the relationship we built, the vulnerability they showed, and the opportunities they created for me,” she said. “Paying it forward is also critically important. Part of the empowerment journey is making sure others can learn from past mistakes so that hopefully they won’t repeat them.”
Schiafone, a leader in global payments technology, shared how balancing an executive career, an Executive MBA, and parenting two young children was empowering. He described doing case studies with his child on his lap, hoping his perseverance would inspire future generations.
“It was super empowering for me when, at the end, it felt like your kids are proud of you. They see that it's something they could aspire to," he said. “At the same time, from a career perspective, it helped me in terms of self-confidence – knowing you can get through some of these moments in your career where you need to be super resilient in your personal life.”
For Zhong, launching a startup meant constantly proving skeptics wrong. Each challenge became an opportunity to show results and build credibility. She also relied on community support and accelerator programs to help her company succeed.
While making it onto Forbes 30 Under 30 was a defining moment, she said she realized the next day that her journey was far from over.
“I feel like it’s a continuous journey … As an entrepreneur, I’m always pushing through challenges and taking risks,” she said. “But [the recognition] is also validation that as long as you're ambitious – you dream big and drive your actions towards it – ordinary people can have a chance at success.”
AI as a tool for gender equality
The panellists also explored AI’s potential to enhance gender equality while acknowledging its ethical concerns.
Zhong, whose company uses AI for material discovery, noted that AI could make high-level education more accessible to women worldwide.
Asher pointed out AI’s biases, sharing examples where AI-generated content reinforced gender stereotypes. She emphasized the importance of curating data carefully and ensuring diverse representation in AI development. One practical example she noted was using AI-driven resumé-screening tools to help mitigate bias and look at skills rather than names.
Schiafone highlighted AI’s transformative potential across industries, including finance and health care, while stressing the need for ethical use.
“Anything that powerful can be used for good or for bad. It’s up to us as a community to look at the ethical issues around AI and ensure it serves as a tool for empowerment rather than exclusion,” he said.
Shaping a more inclusive future
The discussion closed with advice on navigating uncertainty and driving action.
“Focus on controlling what you can control,” said Asher, rather than focusing on external influences.
“What we can control is within our organizations – how we pivot and support our clients and our teams. Move forward with what you can control because there is always a path forward and finding that path means you can still make progress,” she said.
Zhong emphasized that challenges will always arise, but staying true to one’s values and mission is key.
“You need to know what success looks like for you,” she said. “Know what your value is – what you want to work on – and stay true to yourself and have resilience around that.”
And Schiafone stressed the importance of lifelong learning to adapt to change.
“Be flexible. Stay curious. Educate yourself. The world is changing fast, and the best way to navigate it is to keep learning and adapting,” he said.
