As the Executive in Residence leading the Cenovus Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Accelerator, Raissa is leveraging her diverse skill set to coach and financially support equity deserving groups, non-profit organizations, and underestimated founders. Raissa is a four-time founder, impact investor, and a prominent figure in philanthropy with nearly two decades of experience developing ideas and securing funding. Her expertise extends across various domains, including Health Research & Medical Technology—particularly focusing on FemTech—Social Innovation & Entrepreneurship, Social Finance & Impact Investing, Civic Wealth Building & Economic Development, and the establishment of Innovative Ecosystems.
Expertise and background:
- MBA, Ivey Business School, Valedictorian
- General Partner, The Venture Fund, Investing in diverse Women + Non-Binary founders solving our most pressing climate and health challenges
- Interim Director, Growth, Platform Calgary
- Managing Director, Healthy Horizons Foundation, Empowering youth in Northern Indigenous Communities
- Co-Founder & Executive Director of ReThink Collaborative Labs, Fund focused on early-stage enterprises at the intersections of health and civic wealth building
- Co-Founder of COSM Medical, Tackling female health research
- Co-Founder & CEO, Infused Canna, Edibles for social justice
- Co-Founder & CEO, BlankSpace, Live life optimal
- Advisory Board Member, Brood Care, Innovating the future of family care
- Advisory Board Member, My Climate Plan, Building strong, climate safe communities
- Chair, Youth Climate Lab, Equipping youth with skills, financial access and policy knowledge to take leadership in climate spaces
- Chair, Platform, Building leadership capacity among young Black, Indigenous, and racialized women and gender-diverse youth to advance gender equity and justice