2025 Judges

Meet the Pow Wow Pitch Judges who assess pitches, ask questions, provide entrepreneurs with feedback, and determine the Industry Finalists and Grand Finale Winners.

GRAND FINALE

Herb ZoBell

VP Commercial Financial Services, RBC

Ahtahkakoop Cree Nation

Kate Karn

Director of Government Affairs & Policy

Mastercard

Dr. Shyra Barberstock

Founder & CEO, Kebaonish Inc.

Kebaowek First Nation

Darion Ducharme

Founder, Teqare

Lac Seul First Nation

ALUMNI CHOICE

Trisha Pitura

Co-Founder & Co-Owner, MINI TIPI

Nipissing First Nation

Jordan Smith

Founder, Renterii

Manitoba Métis Federation

Erica Daniels

Founder & CEO, Kejic Productions

Peguis First Nation

Angela Gillette

Founder, White Corn Wear

Great MHA Nations

NOT-FOR-PROFIT

Bruce Young

VP Corporate Client Group, RBC

Qalipu First Nation

Imtiaz Qureshi

Deal Management Manager

Mastercard

Ana Itoafa

Communications Specialist

CIRA

Stacey Mallory

Director

Altis Recruitment

TOURISM

Katelyn Lawson

Commercial Relationship Manager, Indigenous Banking, RBC

Cross Lake First Nation

Amy Seabourne

Product Management Director

Mastercard

Katherine Soler

Account Executive & Newcomer Program Lead

Altis Recruitment

Donna St. Louis

National Lead of Indigenous Exports, EDC

Coldwater Indian Band

KNOWLEDGE SERVICES

Hunter Michael

Strategic Initiatives, RBC Origins

Beardy's and Okemasis First Nation

Blessing Alfa

Managing Consultant, Specialized Product Delivery

Mastercard

Alyssia Tassone

Senior Account Executive

Altis Recruitment

Jordan Smith

Indigenous Programs Specialist, Futurpreneur

Manitoba Métis Federation

CONSUMER BRANDS & RETAIL

Kenna Stanley

Senior Relationship Manager, RBC

Pine Creek First Nation

Nicole An

Specialist, Product Management

Mastercard

Kat Collins

Manager, Strategic Initiatives

Altis Recruitment

Jocelyn Eisert

Business Development Manager, Futurpreneur

British Columbia Métis Federation

HEALTH & WELLNESS

Rebeccah Slaunwhite

Branch Manager, RBC

Qalipu Mi'Kmaq First Nation

Bronwen Fitzsimons

Senior Analyst, Security Resolution

Mastercard

Anthong Wingham

Co-Founder, Nuez Acres®

Métis Nation of British Columbia

Lisa Vicaire

Founder & Owner, Algonquin Acres

Timiskaming First Nation

SUSTAINABILITY

Sydney Baldwin

Senior Relationship Manager, Commercial Markets, RBC

Chippewas of Nawash

Mustufa Baig

Senior Principal Software Engineer

Mastercard

Carissa Sanchez

Investment Associate, Raven Indigenous Capital Partners

Tohono O'Odham Nation

Shehnila Sayeed

Senior Communications Specialist

CIRA

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES & TRADES

Brayden Bumstead

Relationship Manager, Commercial Financial Services

RBC

Teodora Niculae

Senior Counsel

Mastercard

Wade Kerr

Manager, Indigenous Entrepreneurship, BDC

Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg

Holly Brown Bear

Entrepreneur Development Officer, JEDI

Neqotkuk First Nation

FOOD & DRINK

Chad Garlow

Senior Manager Indigenous Development Program, RBC

Six Nations of the Grand River

Aya Maoui

Director, Product Delivery

Mastercard

Carissa Sanchez

Investment Associate, Raven Indigenous Capital Partners

Tohono O'Odham Nation

Cassandra Sole

Account Manager

BDC

CREATIVE

Cameron Skura

Private Banker International Clients, RBC

Métis

Helena Wade

Manager, Communications

Mastercard

Meagan Thompson

Director, Corporate Proposals

Altis Recruitment

Pegah Bazogh

Director, Operations

Aritzia

YOUTH

Kayla Neveu-Gordon

Manager, Accessibility Enablement, RBC

Big Trout Lake First Nation

Urvashi Kalson

Manager, Product Integration

Mastercard

Gillian Martin

Category Director

Best Buy Canada

Destinee Peter

Founder, Tangles Hair & Beauty Salon

Carry the Kettle Nakoda Nation

STARTUP

Chris Hunt

Director Senior Commercial Markets, RBC

Kwakiutl

Chetan Singh

Director, Product Management

Mastercard

Sherry Zah

Vice President

Best Buy Canada

Brianna Babineau

Recruitment Partner, Government Services

Altis Recruitement

Mélanie Bernard

Co-Founder & Co-Owner

MINI TIPI

TECHNOLOGY

Crystal Brummell

Senior Digital Product Owner, RBC

Fort Alexander First Nation

Thomas Ko

Director, Software Engineering

Mastercard

Zachary Pashe

Coordinator, ADAAWE

Dakota Tipi First Nation

Althea Wishloff

Partner, Raven Indigenous Capital Partners

Gitxsan First Nation

Maddy Poupore

UX Manager

CIRA

FASHION

Tara Brown

Vice President, Group Advantage, RBC

Gitxsan

Duong Vu

Senior Data Scientist

Mastercard

Corinne Kepper

VP, Corporate Giving

Aritzia

Trisha Pitura

Co-Founder & Co-Owner, MINI TIPI

Nipissing First Nation