An exceptional
team makes all the difference.

Alex is a design leader and product strategist & coach that specializes in complex problems that exist outside of typical processes or frameworks. Applying systems thinking to map complex informational environments, he works across the entire product/service lifecycle from research and prototyping, to optimization & delivery, for consumer and enterprise-grade interactive experiences.

Leveraging a blended approach between design and product management, Alex has been designing, strategizing and coaching startups to Fortune 500 companies over the last 12+ years; managing, coaching, and building teams that deliver complex product and service offerings.

Alex is a strong leader, mentor, coach and educator who inspires organizations, teams and individuals to produce their best work.

Björn Hallgrímsson is a Technical Writing student at Algonquin College with a background in political science and a strong desire to make an impact through clear, effective communication. As a Technical Writing Intern at Outwitly, he supports the team by creating structured documentation, assisting with research and content development, and contributing to administrative and marketing initiatives.

With experience producing technical materials and a background in research and analysis, Björn brings a detail-oriented and organized approach to every project. Björn is excited to evolve his technical writing skills and contribute to creating impactful, user-centred documentation at Outwitly.

Ares brings over 13 years of global talent acquisition experience across four continents and more than 10 industries, with a strong focus on technology and consulting. Known for his action-oriented, results-driven approach, he designs and implements strategic hiring practices that efficiently and thoughtfully connect exceptional talent with the right opportunities.

Throughout his career, Ares has led diverse talent teams across multiple countries and advised executive leadership on recruitment strategy, process optimization and candidate experience. He has held senior recruitment roles at companies like Emids, Cognizant, Idea Couture, and AMD, and has spearheaded complex executive searches for major pharmaceutical clients at S&P 100 companies, earning a reputation as a trusted headhunter.

As Outwitly’s Head of Talent, Ares drives recruitment strategy, talent operations, and client service, partnering with organizations to build high-performing teams through efficient, tailored hiring solutions that align with their business goals.

Vani Edwardson is a seasoned marketing leader with over 20 years of experience driving growth for tech companies across Canada. As a fractional Chief Marketing Officer, she partners with startups and scale-ups to craft strategic marketing plans that deliver measurable results.

Vani’s expertise spans brand development, digital marketing, and sales enablement, with a focus on aligning marketing efforts with business objectives. She has held senior roles at organizations such as Nanometrics Inc. and Macadamian, where she led teams in executing comprehensive marketing strategies.

Holding an MBA from the University of Ottawa, Vani is passionate about empowering businesses to scale effectively through tailored marketing solutions. She specializes in bridging the gap between strategy, execution, and people — helping marketing teams and businesses thrive. She loves diving into the unknown, and is committed to fostering innovation and delivering value for every organization she touches.

Tanya is a Talent Coordinator with a strong background in recruitment as well as social media marketing. Leveraging her dynamic skill set, she excels at engaging top talent while ensuring a positive, seamless candidate experience. Tanya is passionate about building unstoppable teams and helping individuals find golden opportunities that match their goals and potential. 

At Outwitly, she is focused on supporting the growth of design teams by cultivating a diverse and skilled talent pool that aligns with innovative and collaborative missions. She finds joy working in a fast-paced environment and supporting ambitious people as they thrive in their careers.

Tanya holds an Honours Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Human Resources from the University of Waterloo, as well as a Certified Human Resources Professional (CHRP) designation. Tanya is based in Ontario.

Katie brings extensive experience in executive assistance and administration, and thrives in creating well thought-out systems and optimizing workflows. She’s adept at combining strategic thinking and creative problem-solving, and insists that efficiency doesn’t have to be dull. She’s known for her organizational skills and attention to detail, and loves helping others succeed.

Katie takes pride in looking after a team and making sure everyone has what they need to do their best work. Outside of the office, she’s an avid lover of the great outdoors, and believes in balancing hard work with a love for life’s simple pleasures. She brings that same energy and positivity into everything she does.

Zuna Amir Dhanani is a Toronto-based graphic designer with a passion for transforming ideas into visually captivating experiences. With over seven years of experience in brand development, graphic design, and digital marketing, Zuna blends strategy and artistry to craft branding that resonate across diverse industries.

Zuna has honed her expertise by working with clients to deliver design solutions that tell compelling stories. Her approach combines a deep understanding of design principles with a strategic mindset, ensuring each project stands out and makes a lasting impact. Known for her fresh perspective and meticulous attention to detail, Zuna creates work that not only captivates but also drives meaningful connections.

She is a graduate of OCAD University with a Bachelor of Design, majoring in Illustration and Graphic Design.

Rachaela Van Borek is a versatile writer and strategist with over a decade of combined experience in the marketing, entertainment and tech spheres. Her control of language and flair for impactful messaging have helped both B2B and B2C brands increase their reach and conversions via thought leadership, case studies, customer success enablement, user education, SEO, and digital advertising, among other approaches.

She holds a BA Honours in English and Creative Writing from Concordia University in Montreal, and got her start editing adaptation scripts and managing projects in animated TV with clients and partners, including LEGO, Nickelodeon and Netflix. Her passion for writing and effecting positive change then led her to pursue a full-time career in digital marketing, where she could use storytelling to help great brands grow and make people’s lives better. Behind everything Rachaela does is a fascination with human connection and a love of pushing ideas to their highest potential.

Lena is an experienced talent strategist with a background in Anthropology and Sociology, enabling her to establish authentic connections with a diverse range of talent. Transitioning to a sales role six years ago, she discovered her passion for talent acquisition, dedicating the past three years to building numerous adaptable and diverse IT teams within the private sector.

Her pride stems from guiding individuals to their desired roles and witnessing the outstanding work her consultants consistently deliver. Lena has been recognized with multiple awards for “talent retention” and “talent service experience,” consistently exceeding client and consultant expectations and ensuring sustained employment opportunities for her team.

In her current role, Lena focuses on nurturing relationships within the design community, collaborating with top-tier talent to align their career aspirations. Her joy lies in securing dream job placements for practitioners and witnessing their growth and success over time.

Lena holds a Joint Honours Bachelor’s degree in Anthropology and Sociology from Wilfrid Laurier University.

Marion Verschaeve is an accomplished sales professional with a wealth of experience, underpinned by a Bachelor’s in Business Administration from HEC Montreal, specializing in B2B sales. During her 15-year tenure at notable firms like Nespresso, DAVIDsTEA, and a renowned pharmaceutical company, Marion has excelled in leading sales and marketing teams, crafting strategies that consistently surpassed growth targets.

At Outwitly, Marion’s mission is clear: to articulate the unparalleled value of Outwitly’s services and catalyze our growth. In her current role, Marion is dedicated to understanding the intricate needs of customers and clients, ensuring a positive experience for all. Her responsibilities encompass leading client success initiatives and designing strategies, building, nurturing, and strengthening relationships, and maintaining a stellar customer/client experience. 

Abigail Lautan is a Communications and UX Design student studying at Wilfrid Laurier University. Based in Ontario, she is Outwitly’s Marketing Coordinator, working on maintaining and monitoring a strong brand presence across all of Outwitly’s social platforms. Her passions include creating impactful content for the audience and helping to build meaningful connections. She is constantly striving to learn and implement new strategies to enhance engagement and foster a strong community through various social media platforms. 

Janine is a UX Designer with a background in Industrial Design. She is an expert in product design, UI design, and qualitative and quantitative research methodologies. Janine is passionate about solving problems and looking outside the constraints of tools and media to design exceptional experiences. 

Janine has had a wide range of experience within the field of design. She began her career as an Industrial Designer within the aerospace industry. Following her time as an Industrial Designer, she worked in the public sector as a Graphic Designer and Analyst with the Department of Canadian Heritage. She made her transition into UX Design in 2021, where she continues to develop human-centered solutions.

Janine will graduate in May 2023 with a Bachelor of Industrial Design from Carleton University.

Amy is a Service Designer with a specialty in User Experience Research. Her design thinking approach is informed by her background in exhibition curation, ethnography, digital experience strategy, and workshop facilitation. She is an advocate for diversity, equity, accessibility, cross-disciplinary teamwork, and building with foresight. Amy enjoys sharing research findings throughout organizations in ways that allow others to connect with the humanity of users. 

She holds an MDEI, Digital Experience Innovation, from the University of Waterloo, and a BA (Hons), from the University of Toronto.

Aday is a Nigerian-born, Ontario-based service designer. Her work meshes human-centered design practice with her extensive background in the strategic development of interactive experiences.

She is an expert in design planning, qualitative and quantitative research methodologies, and product design. Ayomide is passionate about connecting people, businesses and the world through inspiring design. Aday has had a diverse career in the public service including the Federal Immigration and Citizenship sector of Canada and pharmaceutical companies.

She holds a BASC of Industrial Design in the Department of Applied Science from the University of Toronto as well as a MDES of Strategic Foresight and Innovation from OCAD University.

Sara Fortier is a design strategist and CEO/founder of Outwitly Inc. She is an expert in ethnographic research methods, workshop facilitation, and design-thinking, and she is passionate about human-centered approaches to innovation.

Prior to founding Outwitly, Sara worked in Silicon Valley for Fortune 500 clients such as Apple, AT&T, and Microsoft. She is also the former User Experience Director for one of the top ten media companies in the United States where she led the consumer products design and research teams.

Transitioning from her experience in the tech world, she now helps organizations improve systemic issues surrounding user and customer experiences by applying the same human-centered and innovative practices used in product and service development.

Sara received a Master of Interdisciplinary Design and a Bachelor of Industrial Design from Carleton University. She continues to work closely with the University as a sessional lecturer and advisor to the School of Industrial Design.

Michelle McCune is a design leader with over 15 years of experience in consulting. She is passionate about making sense of messy, ambiguous problems and building inspired-yet-practical solutions to improve people’s lives.

Her work has helped numerous global pharma and healthcare organizations to bring new service solutions to market while establishing the internal capabilities, systems and tools for delivering better patient and physician experiences. She is passionate about healthcare and understanding how the complex interactions between patients, professionals, and families impact care.

Michelle holds a bachelor’s degree in industrial design, and her work has garnered award recognition from the Design Exchange, Neocon, and the Chicago Athenaeum (Good Design Awards.)

Shanna Small is an administrative professional with 15 years of experience in bookkeeping and office management. She holds a Business Administration Certificate from the University of Victoria and is QuickBooks trained and certified.

Shanna brings balance, loyalty, and companionability to her work. She believes that “you must begin from where you are,” remaining committed to your goals while learning to enjoy the flow through the ups and downs of life.

When she is not on her yoga mat or working behind a computer, you can usually find her at the lake as she loves being on the water with friends and family.

Danielle Mallett is an experienced marketing professional who specializes in building brand awareness, crafting engaging content, and developing comprehensive marketing strategies that resonate with diverse communities. As Marketing Manager at Outwitly Inc., Danielle is responsible for leading the marketing team in the creation and execution of integrated campaigns across social media, newsletters, blogs, and other communication channels.

Danielle joined Outwitly in 2021 as a Social Media and Communications Coordinator, where she played a pivotal role in establishing a strong brand presence and thoughtful communication strategies. In her current role, she oversees the development of content that educates and engages Outwitly’s growing community and business.

Danielle holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Manitoba.

Meaghan Gorchynski is a graphic designer based in Brandon, Manitoba. As Outwitly’s in-house graphic designer, Meaghan specializes in branding and creating compelling digital materials for Outwitly’s social media channels, newsletter, blog, and more.

Meaghan’s educational background includes graphic design, web design, and video production studies. She worked for five years as a designer for a growing media company and has created branding and web design projects for small businesses in her community.

Meaghan’s creative style centers around clean and sophisticated aesthetics, with a dedication to elevating clients’ experiences through a thoughtful approach to design.

Chinedum Achebe, also known as Nedu, is a talented UX & UI Designer. She specializes in delivering seamless user experiences, well-researched brand identities and beautiful user interfaces for Outwitly’s clients.

Possessing a comprehensive and multi-faceted design experience, Nedu has designed for several industries, including healthcare, fashion, law, e-commerce, and technology. In 2020, she worked with Hackworks as a UI/UX Designer, IBM as a Visual Designer, Danna Nicole, and HackerGal as a Graphic Designer.

Nedu holds a B.Eng in Information & Communication Engineering (Covenant University, Nigeria) and a Masters degree in Digital Experience Innovation (University of Waterloo, Canada). In addition, she has received qualifications as a Google Analytics Individual, an IBM Design Thinking Practitioner, and holds a certificate in Mimic Pro Digital Marketing.