Meet Stefanie Ince, the enthusiastic new Executive Director of Innovators Alliance. With a remarkable 20+ years of experience in fundraising, corporate development, and executive leadership, Stefanie brings a wealth of knowledge to our team.
Her entrepreneurial spirit makes her the perfect leader to guide Innovators Alliance into an exciting new chapter. Keep reading to get to know Stefanie better and discover what inspired her to take on this pivotal role.
Welcome to Innovators Alliance! As the new Executive Director, we’d love to get to know you better. Can you share a bit about your background and what drew you to this role?
Sure! I’ve spent most of my career focused in the not-for-profit sector, working on fundraising, corporate development, membership development/support and executive leadership. I really enjoy identifying new opportunities for member engagement and revenue streams, and am driven to identify ways to add value for the communities that I serve.
Five years ago I started my own coaching and consulting company, recognizing the need for small not-for-profits to benefit from executive leadership, and obtained my executive coaching credentials in order to provide the coaching support that would best meet the needs of my clients.
I was drawn to this role, because it felt like the opportunity to lead Innovators Alliance into its next chapter perfectly balanced my work history and my entrepreneurial spirit. I love the mission of the organization, and I am excited by new challenges and opportunities to learn and grow.
Innovators Alliance has a vibrant community of entrepreneurs. What excites you the most about joining this community and working with our members?
I am really excited about the opportunity to be able to meet with and learn from so many different people, all who are excited about their work. I know that I really thrive in dynamic environments, and I think the Innovators community will provide a really great opportunity for me to learn and grow, and add a lot of value.
What are your top priorities and goals in leading Innovators Alliance forward?
Identifying new opportunities for growing the membership, and exploring new ways to bring unique value to the existing membership are two top priorities. I can’t wait to dig into the data to learn more about where the best opportunities are.
We know that being an Executive Director can be a demanding role. How do you unwind and recharge outside of work? Are there any hobbies or activities you enjoy that help you find balance and inspiration?
I love going to see live music, reading, and I’m pretty into pilates these days. But my favorite thing to do is hang with my 11 year old!
Is there anything else you’d like to share with our members, chairs and sponsors?
Just that I’m excited to be joining Innovators! It feels like a really great group of people and I can’t wait to get started.
If you understand the value of learning with and from other like-minded entrepreneurs, consider attending an Innovators Alliance event. Innovators Alliance is Canada’s most valued ‘idea ecosystem’ for entrepreneurs, developed by entrepreneurs.
Join us in-person or virtually to explore a fit for you and your business. You’ll meet other business innovators, share knowledge about handling business challenges, and discuss solutions in an atmosphere of confidentiality, respect and mutual support.
Sara is also currently the Chair of the Board of Directors at Innovators Alliance where she serves as a resource for Canadian CEO’s focused on profitable, innovative and sustainable business growth.
