Branksome Hall is once again at the forefront of educational innovation, as highlighted in the Season 2 premiere of the PrincipalED podcast. The episode, titled "Innovation in Action: Building the Future at Branksome Hall," was recorded live at the University of Toronto’s new Schwartz Reisman Innovation Campus (the second event in Branksome’s Innovation in Action series).

The discussion focused on how Branksome Hall is proactively evolving its curriculum to meet the demands of a rapidly changing world. A key part of this vision is the new Karen L. Jurjevich Innovation Centre and Studio Theatre (iCAST) building, which is set to open in 2026.

The live event features a dynamic panel discussion moderated by Branksome alum Shannon LEWIS’96, President of the Canadian Media Directors’ Council. The panelists share their expertise across various sectors, including healthcare, law, education and AI.

Panelists included:

• Shelby AUSTIN Cooper’99, Co-founder and CEO of Arteria AI Inc.
• Eva Lau, Founding Partner of Two Small Fish Ventures
• Dr. Mara Lederman, COO and Co-Founder of Signal 1
• Megan McKellar, Branksome Hall’s Associate Director, Curriculum Innovation
• Grace McCallum, Principal of Branksome Hall

Throughout the conversation, the group addresses Canada’s growing skills gap in digital and STEM fields, as well as the gender imbalance in innovation sectors. The panelists emphasize how Branksome Hall is not just talking about these issues but is taking concrete steps to help close them.

This PrincipalED episode serves as a powerful call to action for the future of girls’ education, reinforcing Branksome’s commitment to ensuring that its students are empowered to lead and shape the future of technology, innovation and leadership.

Listeners can follow along on Instagram at @principalEDpod for behind-the-scenes updates and exclusive content. The PrincipalED podcast is available for streaming on Apple and Spotify, where the official podcast music playlist is also now available.

Branksome Hall’s YouTube channel features a full video version of this discussion, which can be viewed here.