Sobey School of Business

Building Her Future: Shaping the landscape of tomorrow

7th Annual Women in Business Conference — October 2, 2025

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Sobey School of Business
Building Her Future: Shaping the landscape of tomorrow 7th Annual Women in Business Conference — October 2, 2025

Shaping Tomorrow's Landscape: Celebrating Women in Construction & Real Estate

The Sobey School of Business is thrilled to present the 7th Annual Women in Business Conference: Building Her Future: Shaping the Landscape of Tomorrow. This year, we are proud to shine a spotlight on the invaluable contributions of women transforming the construction and real estate industries. Join us for a day dedicated to empowering women in these traditionally male-dominated fields, providing a vital platform to discuss industry challenges, share inspiring success stories, and explore innovative solutions. Through engaging discussions, expert-led sessions on project management, financial leadership, and strategic planning, and dedicated networking opportunities, attendees will gain insights and create connections essential for leading change and building their futures. 



* Free but registration is required.

* Discounted for students.
Victoria Stanhope
Keynote speaker: Victoria Stanhope BA’07 MBA'13

Victoria Stanhope is the CEO of Stanhope Simpson, a leading insurance brokerage specializing in the large, complex construction & development space. With a distinguished career that includes an MBA and serving as Board Chair for the Construction Association of Nova Scotia, Victoria has been honored with national leadership awards from both the Insurance Institute of Canada and the Canadian Construction Association for her significant industry contributions

Learn more about Victoria Stanhope BA’07 MBA'13
Victoria Stanhope
Keynote speaker: Victoria Stanhope BA’07 MBA'13

Victoria Stanhope is the CEO of Stanhope Simpson, a leading insurance brokerage specializing in the large, complex construction & development space. With a distinguished career that includes an MBA and serving as Board Chair for the Construction Association of Nova Scotia, Victoria has been honored with national leadership awards from both the Insurance Institute of Canada and the Canadian Construction Association for her significant industry contributions

Learn more about Victoria Stanhope BA’07 MBA'13
Four empty chairs on a dramatically lit stage.
Constructing Change: Women Leading in Construction and Real Estate Panel Discussion and Q&A

Our dynamic panel discussion will bring together a diverse group of women who are shaping and leading the construction and real estate sectors. These visionary panelists will share their unique journeys, discuss the challenges and opportunities facing women in these industries, and offer invaluable insights for aspiring leaders looking to build their future and drive innovation. 

Meet the panelists
Four empty chairs on a dramatically lit stage.
Constructing Change: Women Leading in Construction and Real Estate Panel Discussion and Q&A

Our dynamic panel discussion will bring together a diverse group of women who are shaping and leading the construction and real estate sectors. These visionary panelists will share their unique journeys, discuss the challenges and opportunities facing women in these industries, and offer invaluable insights for aspiring leaders looking to build their future and drive innovation. 

Meet the panelists
Dr. Bahareh Mansouri
Faculty Speaker: Dr. Bahareh Mansouri Associate Professor, Management Science Sobey School of Business, Saint Mary’s University

Dr. Bahareh Mansouri is an Associate Professor at the Sobey School of Business, Saint Mary’s University. She joined Saint Mary’s University in 2017. Her research focuses on optimizing operations within complex systems, with applications in the areas of supply chains analytics/sustainability/ethics, transportation, e-commerce, and healthcare resource allocation. Dr. Mansouri earned her Ph.D. in Computational Science and Engineering from McMaster University and has since built a distinguished career in academia, publishing in top-tier journals, book chapters, and conference proceedings. She is also an active member of several professional organizations. In addition to her academic pursuits, Dr. Mansouri frequently collaborates with industry partners to address real-world challenges, offering innovative solutions that enhance efficiency and sustainability. 

 

Dr. Bahareh Mansouri
Faculty Speaker: Dr. Bahareh Mansouri Associate Professor, Management Science Sobey School of Business, Saint Mary’s University

Dr. Bahareh Mansouri is an Associate Professor at the Sobey School of Business, Saint Mary’s University. She joined Saint Mary’s University in 2017. Her research focuses on optimizing operations within complex systems, with applications in the areas of supply chains analytics/sustainability/ethics, transportation, e-commerce, and healthcare resource allocation. Dr. Mansouri earned her Ph.D. in Computational Science and Engineering from McMaster University and has since built a distinguished career in academia, publishing in top-tier journals, book chapters, and conference proceedings. She is also an active member of several professional organizations. In addition to her academic pursuits, Dr. Mansouri frequently collaborates with industry partners to address real-world challenges, offering innovative solutions that enhance efficiency and sustainability. 

 

Agenda

Time Activity
10 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. Registration & Networking in Loyola Conference Hall (LA290)
10:30 a.m. - 10:45 a.m. Opening Remarks
10:45 a.m.-11:00 a.m. She Builds, She Leads:
Data-Driven Insights on Women in Construction & Real Estate with Dr. Bahareh Mansouri, Ph.D., Associate Professor in Management Science
11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Keynote Address with Victoria Stanhope BA’07 MBA'13
12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. Lunch and Networking 
1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. Constructing Change: Women Leading in Construction and Real Estate
Panel Discussion and Q&A
2:00 p.m. - 2:10 p.m.  Closing Remarks
2:10 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. Booth & Networking continues
3:00 p.m.  Event Concludes