Medical trailblazer Dr. Chika Stacy Oriuwa and CBC Dragon Wes Hall were both named to Maclean’s 2022 Power List for their achievements in confronting systemic racism and inspiring a new generation of leaders.
Medical Trailblazer Dr. Chika Stacy Oriuwa
Dr. Chika Stacy Oriuwa saw a problem in healthcare and decided to fix it.
In September 2016, Chika arrived at the University of Toronto as an incoming medical student to find she was the only Black student in her cohort. She channeled this disappointment into action, becoming a vocal advocate for diversity in medicine and the face of the University of Toronto’s Black Student Application Program.
In 2020, the University admitted the largest group of Black medical students in Canadian history. That same year, Chika was also the first Black woman to be named the sole valedictorian in the school’s 179-year history.
Chika is also an accomplished spoken-word artist who has competed nationally as a slam poet. Her platform has allowed her to reach and inspire a whole new generation of doctors.
As one of TIME magazine’s “2021 Next Generational Leaders”, Chika is available for brand partnerships that align with her expertise and values. She also offers brand partners a unique offering of creating custom spoken word poetry. Contact us at [email protected] for more information.
Business Change Agent Wes Hall
Maclean’s recognized Bay Street power player Wes Hall for the second year in a row for his efforts in dismantling anti-black racism, especially in the corporate world. In 2020, Wes founded the BlackNorth Initiative (BNI) to challenge businesses to put an end to anti-black systemic barriers.
Today, nearly 500 companies have taken BlackNorth’s pledge and committed to increasing Black representation among the c-suite and on Boards to 3.5%.
Wes continued to break barriers as he became the first Black judge on CBC’s Dragons’ Den in 2021. He took the role in hopes of creating more opportunities for up-and-coming BIPOC entrepreneurs.
One of the most influential businesspeople in Canada — having orchestrated multi-billion-dollar deals for Canada’s corporate elite — contact us to learn more about what Wes can offer you as a brand partner.
