The Inclusive Innovation and Entrepreneurship Network

(HQP) Researcher
Training and Highly qualified personnel

Training sessions

To date, 22 IIE-Net training sessions have been hosted by the Diversity Institute:

  • September 18, 2024: Optimizing LinkedIn for Researchers: Enhancing Visibility and Knowledge Mobilization | Session 2 by Sarah Eagen, entrepreneur and brand strategist, founder of Scarlet Communications, and founder of Spark Creative Agency; and Kathleen Powderley, president, Responsible Communications 

  • September 11, 2024: Optimizing LinkedIn for Researchers: Enhancing Visibility and Knowledge Mobilization | Session 1 by Sarah Eagen, entrepreneur and brand strategist, founder of Scarlet Communications, and founder of Spark Creative Agency; and Kathleen Powderley, president, Responsible Communications 

  • August 27, 2024: Critical Race Theory in Action by chair, Nancy Mitchell, director of research and special projects, Diversity Institute; Dr. Mohamed Elmi, executive director, Diversity Institute; Gaynel Diana Curry, independent expert member of the United Nations Permanent Forum of People of African Descent; Dr. Delores V. Mullings, professor & vice-provost of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Anti-Racism, Memorial University of Newfoundland; and Tamara Thermitus, Ad. E., visiting scholar, McGill Centre for Human Rights and Legal Pluralism, and past chair, Quebec Human Rights Commission

  • February 7, 2024: Introduction to the Diversity Assessment Tool by Katlynn Sverko, director of research, special projects, Diversity Institute; Jason Martyn, senior manager, IT portfolio and projects, Diversity Institute; and Joey Chong, program manager, Diversity Institute

  • December 4, 2023: Leveraging Universal Design – Inclusive Research and Project Development by Dr. Matthew Edwards, senior research associate – Future Skills, Diversity Institute; and Sharon Broughton, senior research associate – Future Skills, Diversity Institute 

  • November 1, 2023: GEM Data Retrieval and Analysis by Dr. Chad Saunders,  associate professor in entrepreneurship and innovation, Haskayne School of Business, University of Calgary 

  • October 20, 2023: Open Social Innovation by Dr. Thomas Gegenhuber, professor for managing socio-technical transitions; and JKU Linz; associated researcher, Institute of Organization Science, and visiting researcher, Leuphana University Lüneburg

  • October 19, 2023: Navigating the Digital Landscape: Utilizing Online Data for Qualitative Research by Dr. Thomas Gegenhuber, professor for managing socio-technical transitions; and JKU Linz; associated researcher, Institute of Organization Science, and visiting researcher, Leuphana University Lüneburg 

  • September 25, 2023: Leveraging Universal Design – First Approaches and Best Practices for an Inclusive Workplace by Dr. Matthew Edwards, senior research associate – Future Skills, Diversity Institute; Rachael Dempsey, senior research associate – Future Skills, Diversity Institute; and Caroline Cassinelli, research assistant, Diversity Institute 

  • August 17, 2023: Accelerating Your Literature Review with Citavi and NVivo (external) by Laura Lagendyk, NVivo-certified platinum trainer

  • July 17, 2023: Labour Market Data Retrieval and Analysis by Dr. Victoria Osten, senior research associate, Diversity Institute

  • June 26, 2023: Quantitative Research Using Statistics Canada by Dr. Rupa Banerjee, research chair in Economic inclusion, Employment and Entrepreneurship of Canada’s Immigrants and associate professor of Human Resource Management and Organizational Behaviour, Toronto Metropolitan University

  • April 28, 2023: Text Recycling by Cary Moskovitz

  • April 5, 2023: Media Data Collection by Simon Blanchette, Senior Research Associate, Diversity Institute

  • March 16, 2023: Academic Journals by Dr. Andre Laplume, professor of Entrepreneurship and Strategy, Toronto Metropolitan University; Dr. Eddy Ng, Smith Professor of Equity & Inclusion in Business, Queen’s University; and Dr. Anna Triandafyllidou, Canada Excellence Research Chair in Migration and Integration, Toronto Metropolitan University

  • February 28, 2023: Academic Integrity by John Paul Foxe, director, Academic Integrity Office, Toronto Metropolitan University; and Chloe Langlois, manager of SRC policy and programs, Office of the Vice President, Research and Innovation, Toronto Metropolitan University

  • January 11, 2023: Qualtrics Basics by Dr. Lindsay Coppens, postdoctoral fellow, Diversity Institute

Inclusive Entrepreneurship Webinar Series

  • April 18, 2024: Advancing the Pursuit of Entrepreneurship – Incubators and Accelerators in the Entrepreneurial Ecosystem by moderator Shannon Pestun, senior advisor of business and finance, Women Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub; Charlie Wall-Andrews, assistant professor of Creative Industries, Toronto Metropolitan University; Dr. Tomke Augustin, postdoctoral fellow, Asper School of Business at the University of Manitoba; Wen Teoh, director, EPICentre, University of Windsor; and Dr. Lesley Esford, executive director, SFU VentureLabs

  • April 4, 2024: Leveraging Diverse Procurement by moderator Dr. Wendy Cukier, founder and academic director, Diversity Institute; Darrell Schuurman, CEO and co-founder of Canada’s 2SLGBTQI+ Chamber of Commerce; Catherine Grosz, membership manager, Women Business Enterprises Canada Council; Cassandra Dorrington, president and CEO, Canadian Aboriginal and Minority Supplier Council; Natalie Adams, director of Supply Change, Canadian Council for Indigenous Business; and Stephanie Fontaine, regional director, Canada and the United States, WEConnect International

  • March 28, 2024: Spotlight on Diversity – Indigenous Entrepreneurship by moderator Ashley Richard, associate director, WEKH Indigenous and the 50-30 Challenge; Michael Mihalicz, assistant professor of Entrepreneurship & Strategy and Indigenous Advisor, Office of the Dean, Ted Rogers School of Management; and Dr. Bob Kayseas, professor of Indigenous Business & Public Administration, First Nations University of Canada

  • March 21, 2024: Spotlight on Diversity – Immigrant Entrepreneurship by Dr. Wendy Cukier, founder and academic director, Diversity Institute; and Dr. Francine Schlosser, Odette Research Chair, Odette Professor of Entrepreneurship and Innovation, University of Windsor

  • March 21, 2024; Spotlight on Diversity – Black Entrepreneurship by moderator Sabine Soumare, executive director, Women Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub; Nadine Spencer, CEO, BrandEQ Group; Dr. Mohamed Elmi, executive director, Diversity Institute; and Ms. Ejibola Adetokunbo, founder, de Sedulous Women Leaders

Developing the next generation of researchers

Lindsay Coppens, PhD, OCT

Dr. Lindsay Coppens is a post-doctoral research fellow at the Diversity Institute (DI). She completed her Ph.D. in Higher Education at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE) at the University of Toronto, where her research explored the experiences and persistence decisions of first-generation women in male-dominated STEM programs. Her research interests lie within areas such as equity, diversity, and inclusion in STEM, access to post-secondary, and post-secondary pathways and labour market outcomes. She also holds a M.A. in Integrated Studies (Adult Education and Work, Organization & Leadership), Bachelor of Education, and Bachelor of Mathematics. Lindsay is passionate and committed to changing STEM education for equity-deserving groups and has over nine years of experience working in the field of education as a course instructor for teacher candidates at OISE, mathematics and physics teacher and tutor, and a mentor for young women interested in pursuing STEM.

Lindsay Coppens

Tomke J Augustin, PhD

Tomke Augustin is a Postdoctoral Fellow in the Business Administration Department and earned her PhD at the School of Business and Economics at University of Tübingen, Germany. She works with Professor Suzanne Gagnon on a Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) funded project that aims to advance equity, diversity and inclusion in entrepreneurship and innovation. Her research interests further include multicultural individuals and multilingualism in organizations, intersections of language and gender in organizations, leadership, and social innovation. Her PhD dissertation won the Junior Researcher Award of the Industrial Trade Association of Baden-Wuerttemberg, the Best Dissertation Award of the International Management Division of the German Association of University Professors and Lecturers (VHB) and the Best Dissertation Award of the Faculty of Economics and Social Sciences at University of Tuebingen. She has published in Human Relations, presented her work at conferences of the Academy of Management and Academy of International Business and was an award finalist at the Academy of Management Annual Meeting 2020.

Tomke J Augustin

Dike Ike, PhD (ABD)

Dike Ike is a PhD candidate in Management at the Ted Rogers School of Management, Toronto Metropolitan University. His research interest revolves around the intersection of returnee entrepreneurship and green entrepreneurship. He is particularly interested in exploring the interdependence between different elements in entrepreneurial ecosystems and their role in promoting returnee entrepreneurship. Dike holds a bachelor’s degree in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta in Nigeria, a masters degree in information and communications engineering from Covenant University in Nigeria, and an MBA from University of East London, United Kingdom. He has a diverse working experience, from working as a research/teaching assistant to working in operations management at several Fortune 500 companies.

Dike Ike, PhD (ABD)

Sharon Broughton

Sharon Broughton works as a Senior Research Associate at the Diversity Institute and is a PhD candidate (ABD) in Policy Studies at Toronto Metropolitan University. She holds a B.A., Honours B.Comm., M.B.A. and an M.A. in Public Policy and Administration. Sharon brings over 20 years private sector leadership experience and 8 years non-profit board experience, including work in the settlement and employment services sector. She has over a decade of quantitative and qualitative research experience in industry and holds a Certified Analytics and Insights Professional designation issued jointly by CAIP and ESOMAR. Her research interests include immigration and labour market policy, skills recognition and DEI.

Sharon Broughton
Upcoming training opportunities