When
March 4, 2026
8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.
Cost
Free - Registration Required
Play to Win: Redefining Wealth and Peak Performance for Women
McMaster University and the DeGroote School of Business invite you to a special event on March 4, 2026, in celebration of International Women’s Day. This year’s theme, Play to Win: Redefining Wealth and Peak Performance for Women, brings together leaders and experts for an inspiring discussion on how women can build personal, professional and financial well-being.
This event features a keynote address and panel conversation highlighting women’s leadership, resilience and the importance of investing in the whole self – mind, body and future. Guests will have the opportunity to join in meaningful conversations and community-building with alumni, donors, students, campus leaders and influential volunteers.
Event details:
Date: Wednesday, March 4, 2026
Time: 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.
Location: Ron Joyce Centre | DeGroote School of Business, 4350 S Service Rd, Burlington, ON L7L 5R8
Agenda:
- 8:00 a.m. – Doors open & networking breakfast
- 8:45 a.m. – Program begins
Please join us as we celebrate women’s achievements, share stories and reflect on the collective strength of our community.
We look forward to connecting with you!
Keynote Speaker
Gillian Stovel Rivers
Senior Wealth Advisor, Flourish Family Wealth
As the founder of Flourish Family Wealth, Gillian is driven by an overarching mission: To empower financially independent women and power couples by arming them with deep human knowledge about what wealth is and how to enjoy it at every life stage. This comes after more than 20 years in Canadian wealth management, where she was mentored by her father before taking over—and tripling—the business. Making the most out every minute, Gillian has also become a CrossFit coach, a competitive Masters CrossFit athlete, and a neuroscience performance coach.
Moderator
Lauren McLean
Educator, researcher and advocate
Lauren McLean (she/her/they) is an educator, researcher, and advocate whose work centers on intersectional social change, community, and collective models of support. Holding a PhD in Literary and Theatre Studies, Lauren brings a critical and compassionate lens to their work across academic, community and advocacy spaces. Lauren is actively engaged in advocacy and community initiatives, serving as a board member of Lighthouse for Grieving Children & Families, supporting inclusive community-building practices and equity-informed policies, and as Co-Chair of the Gala Committee at Halton Women’s Place.
Panelists
Dr. Susan Tighe
President and Vice-Chancellor, McMaster University
Appointed on July 1, 2025, Dr. Tighe is the first professor of engineering to serve as McMaster’s president. She joined McMaster from the University of Waterloo, where she was a professor of civil engineering and served as Deputy Provost. Her research has influenced the development, design and management of sustainable concrete and asphalt for airports, roads and other critical infrastructure. As a professional engineer, she has worked on projects like Highway 407 and led projects in Africa, Chile, India, China, New Zealand and Australia. Dr. Tighe is a fellow of the Canadian Academy of Engineering and has received the Sanford Fleming Award and the Ontario Professional Engineers Research and Development Medal.
Gloria Liu
Senior Finance and Strategy Executive
Gloria Liu is a senior finance and strategy executive with over 15 years of international experience across investment banking and C-suite leadership. She was a Director in Corporate and Investment Banking at Standard Chartered Bank, advising multinational organizations on cross-border financing and capital strategy. She later served as CFO and board member of publicly listed global businesses, including a renewable energy group with operations across Europe, the Middle East, and Asia, and as CFO of Israel’s largest digital healthcare company. Based in Toronto, Gloria is a Board Member of Young Women in Business, Canada. She holds an Executive MBA from McMaster University, is a CFA Charterholder, and is a CPA (Australia).
Erin Reid
Professor of Human Resources and Management, DeGroote School of Business; Canada Research Chair in Work, Careers and Organizations
As the leader of McMaster’s Work & Equality Lab and a founding member of the Gig Work Life Lab, Erin Reid’s research focuses on the connections between inequality, the careers people build and the evolving design of work and organizations. The goals of her research are two-fold: To help people build satisfying careers, and to help employers build inclusive workplaces. Erin’s work has been recognized with McMaster’s University Scholar award, Poets & Quant’s Top 40 under 40 award, and a Radar Thinker designation by Thinkers50.