Meet Our People

CO-FOUNDER

Alexander Sinora sold his first small marketing agency by the end of his bachelor's. Currently, he is a management consultant at Mckinsey & Co. He is also a research assistant at McGill University in entrepreneurship & social innovation.

Involved in his community; he sits on an advisory board as a federal policy advisor at the Black Canadian Youth Approach within the Heritage Department. Furthermore, he started a community project called MTLGiveback, where he enables the youth to be active in their community. He also hosts a podcast called "Les Généralistes."

Alexander is a recipient of a BComm in accounting at John Molson School of Business.

CO-FOUNDER

Paul Desmarais III is the Chairman and CEO of Sagard, an alternative asset management firm active in venture capital, private equity, credit, and real estate.

Paul has led Sagard since 2016, along with a handful of close partners bound by a common vision: partnering with entrepreneurs to catalyze transformation in our investments and communities. Sagard has experienced outstanding growth, with assets under management increasing to over $33B.

Under Paul, Sagard has built a global network of expertise that helps companies lead, embrace, and stay ahead of disruptive trends, expanding activity in North America, Europe, and the Middle East. The team is behind some of the largest technology success stories in Canada such as Wealthsimple, Koho, Nesto, and Dialogue. Sagard is also behind incredible international entrepreneurial journeys such as the growth of Ceva Sante Animale, the creation of Kiloutou as a French equipment rental champion, and the creation of Alan in the insurance space in France.

Paul engages actively in growing Sagard companies. Within the Sagard ecosystem, Paul is the Executive Chairman and Co-Founder of Portage (fintech & financial services investing) and the Chairman and Co-Founder of Diagram (venture builder). Within the investment portfolios, he is the Chairman of Wealthsimple, Novisto, and Grayhawk, and a director of Nesto and Midas. Paul also sits on the board of Empower, the number two 401(k) business in the U.S.

Paul is dedicated to helping build a better business world. He is Co-Founder of the Black Wealth Club and the Indigenous Leadership Circle, where emerging Black and Indigenous leaders learn about creating wealth and networks giving them tools and resources that can be reinvested in their communities. Under Paul’s leadership, Sagard has committed to a more sustainable financial system by becoming a signatory of the United Nations Principles for Responsible Investment, enlisting as a CREO participant, and embarking on its journey to carbon neutrality.

Paul was also co-chair of the Centraide (United Way) campaign in 2022 and now serves as Chair of the Major Donors campaign, playing a crucial role in mobilizing significant support for social equity and poverty reduction initiatives in the Greater Montreal area. He is also Honourary Co-President of the Sainte-Justine Hospital’s Foundation 2023-2028 campaign, where he actively contributes to advancing children's health. Furthermore, he is a member of the 2023-2028 campaign of the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts.

Paul is also a CMi mentor and founded Young Canadians in Finance. His exceptional contributions have been recognized with accolades such as the prestigious “MBA of the Year” award, solidifying his reputation as both a business leader and a compassionate advocate for positive change.

Finally, Paul received the Arnold Edinborough Award for his work chairing the fundraising campaign for the Kenojuak Culture Center. He was formerly a board member of the Rideau Hall Foundation, Alpine Canada, and the Glenbow Museum, and co-chaired the True Patriot Love Expedition to the magnetic North Pole.

Prior to his current role, Paul worked at Goldman Sachs in the Investment Banking Division, Investment Strategy Group and Special Situations Group, Imerys S.A. in supply chain management and strategy, and Great-West Lifeco Inc. in risk management. He has earned a B.A. in Economics from Harvard College and holds an MBA from INSEAD. Paul resides in Montreal with his wife and four children.

PRESIDENT

Perry is an avid learner. A curious kid trapped in an even bigger kid's body, with only a poker face and back pain to betray his age. 

Perry enjoys finding and resolving problems of complexity and uncertainty through Bayesian evaluation, interdisciplinary synthesis, intellectual cross-indexing, first principles thinking and strategy. 

Perry currently works in Technology Business Management, analyzing and optimizing tech costs at Morgan Stanley. 

An avid tennis player, former powerlifter, reader, podcast listener and Formula 1 armchair quarterback (mixing up my sports idioms, I know)

Passionate about giving back to the community, Perry volunteers with youth education initiatives and sits on the Boards and Steering committees of nonprofits. 

Perry holds a Masters in Accounting and Finance, Masters in Nuclear Decommissioning and a BEng in Computer Science and Electronic Engineering.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Andrea Baird is an experienced leader with a strong background in operations, organizational management, and strategic growth across both public-interest and private-sector environments. Her work has focused on building sustainable systems, supporting mission-driven teams, and translating vision into effective day-to-day operations.

Deeply committed to community impact and inclusive leadership, Andrea was drawn to the opportunity to serve as Executive Director of the Afrodescendant Leadership Alliance. She views this role as a meaningful way to support the development of Black leaders by strengthening access to resources, mentorship, and opportunities, an approach that reflects her values around servant leadership, equity, and collective advancement.

A strong advocate for capacity-building and people-centred leadership, Andrea has extensive experience coaching, mentoring, and supporting individuals and teams through periods of growth and change. She is particularly passionate about creating environments where leaders can thrive with the right tools, structures, and support systems in place.

(MONTREAL CHAPTER LEAD)

Axel is a dynamic leader currently serving as Senior Manager of Customer Strategy and Operations at Bell, where he oversees a team of more than 300 professionals. With a Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering and a Master’s program in Sports Management underway, Axel blends technical expertise with strategic vision to drive transformative initiatives that elevate customer experiences and operational efficiency.

Axel’s career spans diverse roles in process improvement, business intelligence, strategy, field operations, and capacity management, building a versatile skill set that fuels his impact daily. In 2021, he was honored as one of The Globe and Mail’s Changemakers, recognized for reshaping the future of Canadian business.

Beyond his professional accomplishments, Axel is an avid traveler and adventurer, having hiked iconic peaks like Kilimanjaro and the Himalayas. A passionate advocate for sports and community engagement, he dedicates time to volunteering with many organizations in the sports sector.

Since 2019, Axel has served as a steering committee member for Bell's Employee Resource Group, the Black Professionals at Bell network, actively promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion within the workplace.

Axel is driven by a vision to create meaningful change at the intersection of technology, business, and sports, combining innovation with a commitment to community impact.

(BACK TO THE ROOTS Pillar Lead)

Marc Lorfils Milord navigates the consulting world as a technology enabler, with experience in supporting complex digital and operational transformations, particularly within supply chain and logistics environments. With a Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering, he brings a systems-level approach to problem solving at the intersection of technology, operations and strategy.  

Early in his career, Marc has contributed to strategic investment initiatives, including the deployment of a $45M innovation fund at Desjardins Group, focused on emerging technologies across sectors such as HealthTech, Proptech, Fintech and ESG. 

Beyond professional work, Marc is deeply engaged in community building, entrepreneurship, and international economic engagement. He helps design and execute cross-border initiatives connecting ecosystems across Africa, the Caribbean and North America. He also serves on multiple boards within the education ecosystem. 

A passionate and vivid traveler, Marc has explored diverse cultures and local realities that shape his global outlook and commitment to inclusive growth.

(TREASURER)

Maja is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) with a strong background in both external and internal audit, bringing a rigorous, governance-focused approach to financial oversight. He holds a Bachelor’s degree and a Graduate Diploma in Professional Accounting from Concordia University in Montreal.

Professionally, Maja has developed expertise in financial reporting, risk management, internal controls, and organizational governance. He currently serves as Treasurer of the ALA, where he supports the organization’s mission by ensuring financial integrity, transparency, and long-term sustainability.

In addition to his role at the ALA, Maja brings over five years of experience serving as a board member for CEED Concordia, an international non-profit organization with offices in Montreal, Canada, and Gulu, Uganda. The organization is dedicated to empowering youth locally and abroad through programs focused on entrepreneurship, technology, and sustainability. In this capacity, Maja has contributed to strategic decision-making, financial stewardship, and organizational growth. He is particularly passionate about equipping mission-driven organizations with robust financial foundations to maximize their impact.

Maja has also been invited as a panelist on two occasions at Léo Africa Institute’s Annual Leaders’ Gathering, a forum that brings together African leaders on the continent and across the diaspora to share experiences and perspectives on leadership, identity, and community development.

Beyond his professional roles, he is deeply interested in personal finance, mentorship, and leadership development. In his spare time, he enjoys staying active, learning continuously, and engaging in meaningful conversations around community building and economic empowerment.

Rita is the founder and chief executive of the Field-Marsham Foundation that is drawn to projects that advance education and nurture healthy, inclusive communities. One such project is the Key School Libraries Program that Rita founded 16 years ago and is the chief executive of. She’s also a founding board director of the Andre De Grasse Family Foundation, a founding Board Governor of the MPESA Foundation Academy and a board director of the Kenya Scholar Access Program (KenSAP) that has placed 259 students at the most competitive universities in the United States and Canada.

Before moving to Canada in 2004, Rita was a lawyer in private practice in Kenya and provided pro bono legal services to the High Court, Court of Appeal, and FIDA-Kenya for litigants unable to afford the services of a lawyer.

Bertrand is a Canadian business leader, with a strong track record in the fields of branding, creative management, marketing and international business. After joining Sid Lee in 1997, he led the company's transformation from a local design studio, to an internationally recognized creative micro-network of more than 1000 employees in 6 offices across Canada, France, the US and the United Kingdom. Working with top tier clients in the fields of digital marketing, advertising, experiential marketing and architecture, he sought to create work that matters (Cirque du Soleil, Adidas House Party, Adidas is All In, We The North, Made by McGill and the re-development of Place Ville-Marie). He has worked extensively in M&A, leading seven sales and acquisition processes on behalf of both Sid Lee's partner group and its parent company kyu, a Japanese holding company.

In 2011, along with Jean-François Bouchard (Sid Lee) and Daniel Lamarre (Cirque du Soleil) he co-founded C2-Mtl, a globally-recognized international conference on creativity and business.

From 2015 to 2019 he was an independent board member on the Caisse de Dépôts et de Placement du Québec (CDPQ), a $340B asset manager that services the Province of Québec's various pension funds.

In 2019, his contribution to industry and society was recognized by McGill University, his alma mater, when he received a doctorat honoris causa. In 2023 he was awarded Chevalier de l'Ordre de Montréal.

Candice Maxis joined the COC in July 2023 after spending four years with Deloitte Canada, most recently as the Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion co-developing and driving the firm’s DEI strategy and vision.

Candice is responsible for continuing the evolution of the people and culture strategy for the COC, which ranks among the Best Workplaces™ in Canada. She is a respected HR executive whose personal mission is to inspire others to reach their full potential, while helping under-represented voices to feel seen, heard and supported. Candice has over 15 years of experience in Human Resources with sector leaders such as Deloitte, Coca-Cola and Intact.

Candice is a mentor at work and in her community and acts as a keynote speaker for events focused on leadership development, workforce transformation, and the advancement of underserved communities. She sits on several boards including the Afrodescendant Leadership Alliance and Aéroports de Montréal. She received a WXN Canada’s Most Powerful Women: Top 100 Award in 2022 and was nominated as one of the 100 Black Women to Watch in Canada in 2019. She was also selected by Concertation Montréal (CMTL) as one of the 2019 ambassadors of the Group of Thirty, which aims to promote diversity on boards of directors and inspire other talented people to follow in their footsteps.

Candice holds a bachelor’s degree in human resources management from ESG-UQÀM and is a member of the Human Resources Professional Association of Quebec.