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Our team

The Foundation’s team is composed of committed and dedicated professionals who work together to change the lives of women here.

Our team

Marie-Lise Andrade
President, Executive Director

After obtaining her law degree, Marie-Lise began a career in marketing as VP Marketing at Lise Watier Cosmetics. In 2009, together with her mother, Lise Watier, she established the Lise Watier Foundation and took on the role of General Manager.

Marielle Boyer
Program and Administration Director

Marielle has solid expertise in the development and deployment of training programs. With a degree in education, she understands the issues and needs related to training, and remains at the forefront of the development and deployment of the Foundation’s programs. Over the years, her keen interest in human resources and organizational structure has led her to develop her skills and take charge of the administrative department. 

Monica Lodygensky
Director, Development and partnerships

Following a career path in the international domain, Monica moved to Montreal in 2011 where she has since been dedicated to local causes. She was part of the leadership team at the CHU Sainte-Justine Foundation and that of the major campaign at Christ Church Cathedral before joining McGill, where she played a key role in the implementation of a new corporate engagement strategy as part of the university’s bicentennial campaign. With her rich experience acquired in the non-profit and philanthropic sector, Monica joined the team of the Lise Watier Foundation and intends to use her expertise to strengthen the reach and impact of the Foundation.

Yanice Artigny
Entrepreneurship Coach

Yanice has been working in the Quebec Entrepreneurship ecosystem since 2019. In recent years, she has held the position of STA advisor at the École des entrepreneurs (ÉEQ), financial analyst at Femmessor (EVOL) and she is now an entrepreneurship coach at the Lise Watier Foundation. With a double Master’s degree in Finance and Corporate Finance (France) and a Certificate in International Business, Operations and Management (USA), her expertise allows her to support the Let’s Start Up entrepreneurs by helping them develop a viable business project, aligned with their values and meeting the requirements of the business world.

Peilan Bergeron Parenteau
Manager, Communications and Donor Relations

Proactive and hard-working, Peilan is motivated by the desire to contribute to the development of the full potential of the women helped by the Lise Watier Foundation. Thanks to her experience acquired in the community setting, she can understand the reality of the environment and to develop relevant philanthropic practices. With a bachelor’s degree in communications and a DESS in marketing, Peilan uses her knowledge to make the Lise Watier Foundation shine at its brightness.

Jennifer Bertrand-Magnan
Coordinator, development and communications

Curious and determined, Jennifer has a passion for communications and a thirst for learning that encourages her to delve into various fields to broaden her knowledge. With a certificate in Digital information management and another in communication, she is currently studying in advertising and creative communication at UdeM. Her versatility, gentleness and team spirit make her the ideal person to coordinate and support the Foundation’s fundraising activities and communications campaigns. With the economic well-being of women at heart, she now wishes to put her expertise to good use for the cause.

Adeline Chapron, ACC Coach
Skills Development Advisor and Coach

With a Master’s degree in Communication, Adeline has moved through multiple careers and different environments, from salaried employee to self-employed, including the creation of a coffee shop dedicated to women on maternity leave. Today, as a certified coach with the ICF and with her ACC certification, she is dedicated to transform the lives of people who want to make a change. At the Foundation, she accompanies women in defining their employment objective, through a coaching approach, in individual and group sessions, in which they will be able to make enlightening, mobilizing choices that reveal their full potential.

Nathalie Deshaies
Manager / Development and Benefit Activities

Nathalie holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration. She began her career in the advertising industry. After a marketing interim at an Ivanhoe Cambridge commercial property, she repositioned marketing activities of a firm specializing in integrated web development, which later became Sid Lee Technologies. Nathalie then founded Intrafic, an agency focused on brand and event activation, leading her to collaborate with such flagship organizations as the Montreal Children’s Hospital, Mixte Magazine, the Festival Mode & Design and Anges Québec. She is also involved with philanthropic organizations, many of which focus on the condition and evolution of Quebec women. This unwavering passion for the cause has motivated her to join the Lise Watier Foundation.

Liza Harkiolakis
Programs Manager

Liza is a human and dynamic project manager who stands out for her contagious enthusiasm. She has more than twenty years of experience in project development that she acquired in various environments, both in the community and in the private sector. Always looking for new perspectives, she constantly challenges the status quo to create innovative solutions adapted to the needs of women. Her creative spirit, her ability to stimulate living ideas and put them into action, allow her to carry out ambitious and daring projects. Her greatest motivation is to propel women by helping them identify, recognize and deploy their full potential.

Marie-Lourdes Jean-Pierre
Administrative assistant

Marie-Lourdes has a strong human and professional background both in Quebec and abroad. She brings all of her qualities to the Foundation in her role as Administrative Assistant. Her versatility allows her to organize with determination and pragmatism, the various tasks related to accounting and secretarial administration for the efficiency of the team and the Foundation’s events.

Audrey Mollard
Entrepreneurial coach

Motivated by the desire to see women entrepreneurs achieve professional fulfillment, Audrey is concerned by driving women and their businesses forward. As an entrepreneur, she has been developing her coaching and training business for over three years, and she puts her energy into accompanying women entrepreneurs in their personal and professional transformation in changing situations. She graduated in coaching, and also holds a double master’s degree in management and marketing and in education and public health. Her versatility, ability to listen and empathy are natural assets for putting women into action, whatever their situation or life context. In these complex and challenging times, Audrey dreams of a business world that is more respectful of people and their environment, where everyone contributes to their community through their talents and personality, with a humanly sustainable vision.

Our Let’s Start Up advisors

Chantale Parent
Advisor, Laurentians

Sandrine Jeanjean
Advisor, Quebec City

Annie Nobert
Advisor, Montérégie

Géraldine Brouard
Advisor, Montreal

Frédérique D’Amours
Advisor, Montreal

Rachel Simioni
Advisor, Montreal

Deirdre Millin
Advisor, Toronto

Sanna Toelke
Advisor, Toronto

Sarah Reynolds
Advisor, Toronto

Our board of directors

The Lise Watier Foundation is administered by a board of directors that includes prominent public figures and business experts. The members of the board have ensured transparent management of the funds and contributed to the growing reputation and success of the Foundation.

MARIE-ÈVE

Graduate of the Let’s Start Up Program

The Lise Watier Foundation offers the Let’s Start Up program in Montreal, Toronto, Quebec City, the Laurentians and Montérégie. More than 200 women a year are committed to taking action through the Let’s Start Up program. They graduate with a better understanding of their strengths and skills, as well as the knowledge and tools to implement their professional project. Women thus begin a new journey towards financial independence through entrepreneurship, a return to school or a more fulfilling job.

Major donors

See all our donors
CDPQ
Fondation J.A. DeSève
RBC
Succes Finder
Sanimax