Dolce proudly presents its Fall Edition, celebrating the eighth class of women who demonstrate leadership and the importance of being relentless in their passion.
What is the ultimate power move? In my opinion, it’s letting your work ethic speak for itself. A person’s work ethic reveals more than ambition; it reflects integrity, discipline, and a deep sense of purpose. The professional journeys of these women remind us that true influence isn’t loud, forced or manufactured, but earned through persistence and authenticity.
EMINA MEMIA
Founder and principal designer of Memia Interiors, Emina Memia has dedicated over a decade to creating homes that exude quiet elegance and enduring beauty. Her hallmark use of layered textures, earthy tones, and nature-inspired elements reflects a deliberate design philosophy. Beyond interior spaces, she is expanding into lifestyle and retail sectors, while inspiring young designers through her resilience, vision, and commitment to how true design can transform both spaces and lives.
@memiainteriors
VALÉRIE PLANTE
Valérie Plante is a powerful force for Canadian and international leadership. In 2017, history was made when Plante became the first woman ever elected as the mayor of Montréal. She began her journey to that milestone in 2013, when she was elected city councillor in Sainte-Marie under the banner of Projet Montréal. Before entering the political arena, Plante earned degrees in anthropology and museology, with a certificate in multiethnic intervention. She also became actively involved in nonprofits, including Fondation Filles d’Action, to empower girls, young women and gender-diverse youth across Canada.
In February 2022, Plante was elected vice president of the Steering Committee of C40 Cities, which is the first global network — comprising nearly 100 major world cities — to develop a strategy on climate action. She has championed causes including better access to public transit, more environmentally conscious urban development, more public services that benefit everyone as well as bold sustainability policies, including the development of what will be the largest urban park in Canada, Grand Parc de l’Ouest.
@val_plante
CHELSIE HILL
Chelsie Hill continues to break barriers in the world of performance as a professional dancer, entrepreneur and pioneering voice for disability representation. Recently, she has contributed to the choreography team for Wicked: One Wonderful Night, airing November 6 on NBC and Peacock. While she was there, Chelsie worked as the specialty choreographer for Marissa Bode’s performance, which served as a powerful breakthrough for inclusive choreography on an international stage.
Chelsie was 17 years old when she sustained a spinal cord injury that may have shifted her path but certainly not her passion. When she returned to dance, she chose to redefine it by becoming the founder and CEO of the Rollettes, a globally known wheelchair dance team and empowerment group. Beyond leading this movement, Chelsie was the first wheelchair user to be featured on the cover of Women’s Health magazine, as well as to perform at the Paris Paralympics opening ceremony, and she also appears in Lady Gaga’s “Abracadabra” music video. With her powerful story and swiftly growing portfolio of partnerships, including with Reebok, Disney, Dove, Target and Aerie, Chelsie is quickly changing the game for disability representation across the board and redefining what is possible in dance and beyond.
@chelsiehill
DAHABO AHMED-OMER
Dahabo Ahmed-Omer is an inspiring voice for justice and system change. In 2020, she was chosen as the first executive director of the BlackNorth Initiative, leading efforts to partner with Canadian business leaders to eliminate anti-Black racism and set measurable goals that move toward unity.
Prior to her affiliation with BlackNorth, Ahmed-Omer served as director of operations at the Somali Centre for Family Services and became a celebrated policy advisor and human rights activist. She is on the Federation of Black Canadians’ board of directors and co-founded the coalition of Justice for Abdirahman to pursue action on situations of police brutality.
Her leadership abilities have also been well noted and, in 2019, she was included in the “100 Most Influential People of African Descent Under the Age of 40” list. She was also awarded the Diversity, Equality and Inclusivity Award at the 2025 Women Empowerment Awards. With her openness and dedication Ahmed- Omer demonstrates the power of action and responsibility, inspiring women all over to guide with purpose, courage and clarity.
@dahaboahmedomer
DR. LISA A. ROBINSON
Dr. Lisa A. Robinson is a groundbreaking Canadian leader in both the medical and academic fields. As of July 1, 2024, she has served as dean of the Temerty Faculty of Medicine and the vice provost of Relations with Health Care Institutions at the University of Toronto. Dr. Robinson is a professor in pediatrics, biochemistry, and medical science, and her background stretches across multiple academic and clinical fields. Her clinical background is in Pediatric Nephrology, where she previously led the division at The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids). She holds a Canada Research Chair Tier 1 in Vascular Inflammation and Kidney Injury, and her research fuses molecular and cellular techniques to advance understanding and treatment of kidney disease. Apart from her scientific and administrative success, Dr. Robinson is deeply committed to mentorship and outreach. She founded Kids Science to inspire youth in STEM and she also initiated the Student Advancement Research (StAR) program for high school students. Her leadership and passion for education continue to inspire women globally.
@sickkidstoronto
