Aliza Lakhani

Worth knowing

She knows how to stand up and scale a regulated, multi-site organization in Canada, from accreditation and staffing to corporate partnerships, and she has done the same work in reverse by taking a Toronto startup incubator into New York. Founders and operators facing Canadian regulators, cross-border expansion or a talent pipeline problem should write.

Story

Aliza studied mathematics at Waterloo and spent more than a decade in financial services in Canada and the US, including several years at BMO in banking, debt capital markets and credit risk before moving into workforce transformation. She left banking for the DMZ, the Ryerson-based incubator, where she tripled annual revenue through Fortune 500 partnerships and opened its New York City outpost. Northeastern recruited her in 2017 to start and grow its Toronto campus, now 100-plus staff and faculty at 375 Queen St W. She also oversees Northeastern's global campuses, including Miami and Charlotte, and is heavily involved with transformation and AI strategy at the university.

In Aliza's words

Grew up in Toronto, lived and studied in NYC but moved back. Builder and operator with a 20-year track record of scaling regulated organizations. Currently leading and scaling Northeastern University Toronto, located @ 375 Queen St W.

Highlights

• CEO and Dean, Northeastern University Toronto; Managing Director, Global Campuses
• Former Head of Business Development and International, DMZ
• Former Chair of the Board, Rexdale Women's Centre
• Current and Past advisory boards: C.D. Howe Human Capital Council, #MoveTheDial, Wealthsimple Foundation
• BMath with distinction, Waterloo; MBA, NYU Stern