Please welcome Karen Garcha, Susan Langdon and Mégane Visette as Directors of OWIT-Toronto, on the Board of Directors for 2024.
With new Officers of OWIT-Toronto:
- Karen Garcha as Vice President, Membership
- Susan Langdon as Co-Vice President, Events
- Lilian Marins as Co-Vice President, Events
- Mégane Visette as Vice President, Partnerships
Interim Board Appointments:
Karen Garcha, Board Member & Vice President, Membership
Karen is an international trade professional with 20 years of experience in business development within the financial services industry. Karen is currently a Senior Commercial Account Manager at Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) where she enables entrepreneurs across a broad range of industries to grow their businesses through financing and advisory support.
Previously, Karen was a Commercial Account Manager in the Mid-Market Segment team at Export Development Canada (EDC), where she managed a diverse portfolio of clients to become more internationally competitive by providing market intel, risk mitigation and trade finance solutions.
She holds Master of Business Administration (MBA) and Bachelor of Commerce (B. Com) degrees and is a certified Commercial Banking Credit Analyst through the Corporate Finance Institute (CFI).
Susan Keiko Langdon, Board Member & Co-Vice President Events
Susan Keiko Langdon, a Toronto-born, third-generation Canadian, was recently honored as a Member of the Order of Canada for her significant contributions to Canada's culture and economy. In 1994, Langdon shattered barriers by becoming the first racialized woman to assume a leadership role in the Canadian fashion industry when she joined the award-winning non-profit organization, Toronto Fashion Incubator (TFI).
Langdon's journey is one of inspiration, marked by her unwavering dedication and mentorship. Her outstanding achievements have earned her numerous accolades, and she is renowned globally as a foremost authority on fashion incubation and entrepreneurship. Her career has been incredibly fulfilling, spanning roles as both a fashion designer with her own label and a part-time professor at local universities. Her impact as a leader, mentor, and volunteer has left an indelible mark on Canada's cultural landscape, making her a true role model for aspiring entrepreneurs and change-makers alike.
Mégane Visette, Board Member & VP Partnerships
Mégane is a bilingual public affairs professional specializing in government relations, fundraising, and international advocacy for inclusive socio-economic development. She’s currently Government Relations Manager at Futurpreneur, a national non-profit supporting diverse young entrepreneurs launch successful businesses, and the G20 Young Entrepreneurs Alliance Sherpa for Canada. As Sherpa, she’s responsible for Futurpreneur’s G20-related mandate, including the recruitment, representation, and consultations of the annual G20 YEA Canadian delegations. Her focus has been on creating inclusive opportunities and dialogue on the global stage for/by diverse young entrepreneurs. She’s passionate about establishing partnerships for social and sustainable impact and advocating for intersectional equality and the defense of human rights throughout the global value chains. She has also worked for the Council of Ministers of Education, the Consulate General of the Republic of Korea, HanVoice Support Association, and the NATO Association of Canada.
As VP of Partnership, Mégane hopes to leverage her non-profit experience and entrepreneurial network to create meaningful partnerships aligned with OWIT-Toronto’s mission & member needs. Export readiness, ESG monitoring, and trade literacy for early-stage/small businesses are also themes she’s eager to prioritize as a new board member.
New Officers
Lilian Marins, Co-Vice President Event
Lilian brings over 15 years of experience in the private and public sectors in Brazil and Canada, with four years of leading projects as an Executive Leader with the American Chamber of Commerce in Brazil. She is passionate about fostering collaboration within diverse teams and is an active mentor to entrepreneurs and SMEs.
She has a Masters in Business Management from FGV – Fundacao Getulio Vargas in Brazil and a Degree in Project Management and International Relations. Lilian speaks many languages, including Portuguese and is an Executive Master Coach.
