Trish Mandewo
Mentor-in-Residence
Diversity and Inclusion Stream Lead
LinkedIn: Trish Mandewo
Email: vc_edi@sfu.ca
Trish Mandewo is multi-award winning, experienced entrepreneur, mentor, board professional, politician and author. She was elected to the Coquitlam City Council in 2018. She is the President & CEO of Synergy Executive & Boards Consulting Group, a recruitment, HR and leadership consulting company that supports the advancement of Black, Indigenous and Visible minority subject matter experts and senior-level executives seeking to take their voices and expertise to the boardroom, c-suite and other decision-making tables.
With an impressive early career in microbiology & embryology followed by nearly 20 years of experience in entrepreneurship, governance and as a small business advisor / mentor, Trish has a passion for working with startup and growth phase entrepreneurs. She is the author of "Growth Strategies for the hungry entrepreneur.
Trish has served on more than 20 boards. She currently sits on the Women’s Enterprise Center Board, Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM) Indigenous Relations Committee (chair), UBCM Economic Development Committee, Metro Vancouver Indigenous Relations Committee and The Black Opportunity Fund Governance Committee.
Trish’s roots are from the Shona tribe of Zimbabwe. Her totem is Shava Mhizha / Mhofu (Eland Antelope) from Chivhu reserves. She is a first-generation settler and is humbled and grateful to live and work in the traditional, ancestral and unceded territories of Kwikwetlem Nations.
Areas of expertise:
- Advisory and company board development
- Strategic planning
- Stakeholder engagement
- Multi-sectoral relationship building
- Equity, Diversity & Inclusion
- Leadership & Team Development