Toronto, ON – November 22, 2017 - SUI is proud to announce that SUI’s President and CEO, Laurie M. Clark, has been named one of Canada’s Most Powerful Women: Top 100 Award Winner, in the Trailblazers and Trendsetters category, by the Women’s Executive Network (WXN). Launched in 2003, the Top 100 Awards celebrate the incredible accomplishments of Canada's top female executive talent as well as their organizations and networks.          

Laurie will receive the CIBC Trailblazers and Trendsetters award for being an innovator and one of the rare women in technology who is both a Founder and CEO.  Laurie has made a major contribution to the Canadian investment industry by founding SUI in 2010 to provide proficiency training for investment industry professionals.  Most recently she has assisted with the creation of Canchek Corporation (www.canchek.com), a Fintech that has developed a uniquely Canadian Anti-Money Laundering solution. 

Laurie has set an example as a technology leader and has had a strong impact on women entrepreneurs while at the same time contributing her skills to non-profit organizations. Laurie will be honoured during a gala celebration at the Metro Convention Centre on November 23. 

As a proud supporter of women in leadership Laurie works to create the necessary conditions and opportunities for women, to help them thrive and succeed within technology industries, and setting a strong example for women in business. 

Laurie has also contributed to society; in championing diversity, financial literacy, immigrants, women and children, corporate social responsibility, the disabled and the military -  through initiatives Laurie herself created or supports in countless ways, which to name a few include: 

• Disabled youth and their caregivers through Ability Online that provides a safe and unique social network technology
• Battered women, aiding Vancouver and Toronto women’s shelters
• Outstanding young financial and capital markets professionals, founding the Top Under 40 Award
• Immigrants through financial literacy with SUI
• Youth education and development through bursary awards for high school seniors and adult mentorship with the SmartMentor program
• Military veteran and reservist reintegration and employment through the “CAF Bridges to Bay Street” project in partnership with the Clarady Alliance Foundation. 

Laurie Clark joins a prestigious community of past Award Winners, including some of Canada's most iconic women trailblazers, such as Margaret Atwood, best-selling author Dr. Roberta Bondar, astronaut; Arlene Dickinson, chief executive officer, Venture Communications; Christine Magee, president, Sleep Country Canada; and, Michaëlle Jean, former Governor General of Canada. 

“I’m honoured to be counted among this group of remarkable women, and I extend my congratulations to those with whom I share this distinction” said Laurie Clark, CEO of SUI and a Founder of Canchek. “I have been fortunate to have built a number of businesses, and have never felt limited by my gender. I believe in doing and not apologising every step of the way.” Laurie says, “I have always seen myself as an individual with a drive to succeed and a clear articulation of a vision. Women must stop shying away from business achievement, but rather embrace it and also help other women to succeed.” 

The full list of WXN's 2017 Canada's Most Powerful Women: Top 100 Award Winners can be found at www.wxnetwork.com/top-100/top-100-winners. 

About SUI:

Smarten Up Institute (www.smartenupinstitute.com) provides real world education to financial industry professionals working in wealth management, investment banking, asset management, hedge funds, trading, regulatory and compliance and portfolio management segments. The company delivers services through its proprietary technology product SmartDirect that includes “Ask an Expert”, SmartTalk and the newly released Advisor SmartCase; SUI also offers classroom instruction led by the financial industry's most respected experts. The Smarten Up Institute is proud to be an employee-owned, Canadian company. 

About Canchek:

Canchek  (www.canchek.com) is a new Fintech company that has developed a cost-effective Canadian Anti-Money Laundering solution for screening individuals and promoting best practices in financial regulatory compliance.

For further information contact
Corporate Communications
Smarten Up Institute Inc.,
(416) 907-8468, Ext. 301,
info@smartenupinstitute.com