Michelle Lee

Mount Royal University

I was born and raised in Hong Kong, one of the world’s busiest cities, and my personal experiences and the values passed down through my family have shaped who I am today. Coming from a background where stability and financial success were emphasized, I initially pursued a career in the real estate industry. I earned my Bachelor of Science in Surveying from the University of Hong Kong, believing that this path would offer a secure future.

However, as I worked in the industry, I realized that my true passion lies in social enterprise and innovation—using my skills to support others and create social impact. This led me to transition into the social enterprise and non-profit sectors, where I found my passion for helping individuals overcome barriers to employment and connect with the community. My journey led me to pursue a Master’s in Social Work, and I became a Registered Social Worker.

Now, settled in Canada, I am thrilled to serve as the Coordinator for StartWork at the Institute for Community Prosperity at MRU. In this role, I support refugees facing multiple challenges to find employment in a new country, helping them navigate the complexities of a new life and thrive in their communities. I am also deeply committed to fostering social enterprise and innovation projects in Canada, particularly in Calgary, as a means to address social challenges and contribute to the collective well-being.

Workshops

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Other speakers & attendees

Barb Rallison

StartWork

Barb serves as the Associate Director at the Institute for Community Prosperity. Her work, both locally and nationally, focuses on applying economic approaches to advance community benefit and address complex social challenges.

Jenna Walsh

Elevated Escapes

Owner of Elevated Escapes, Social Business Coordinator with Be Local YYC, and Co-founder of GOT Foundation

Randy Poon

Purpose and Performance Project

Chief Story Officer and Founder of the Purpose and Performance Project, a consulting and coaching collaborative that helps leaders and organizations align purpose with impact.

Jeff Loomis

Momentum

Jeff works as the Executive Director of Momentum - a change-making organization that combines social and economic strategies to reduce poverty in Calgary. Momentum partners with people living on lower-incomes to get good jobs, create their own job through self-employment and save money to build their assets.