Montréal, February 13, 2019 – The three Ubisoft Women in Tech ambassadors have been announced: Amira Boutouchent, Julie Tousignant, and Catherine Proulx will be the inspiring role models for the initiative, the objective of which is to encourage young women to consider one of the many careers in the technology sector. In the coming months, they will have a unique experience that will include meeting entrepreneur Randi Zuckerberg as part of a Bell International Leaders event and travelling to Silicon Valley for a trade mission. Throughout the campaign, the ambassadors will share their experience with the public, particularly young women, through a series of events, videos, and digital communications.
“Businesses in every sector are facing serious challenges when it comes to recruitment,” said Michel Leblanc, President and CEO of the Chamber of Commerce of Metropolitan Montreal. “One of the solutions to the issue is to encourage greater diversity and increase the presence of women in businesses. Amira Boutouchent, Julie Tousignant, and Catherine Proulx are inspiring role models, and their diverse backgrounds illustrate the many career opportunities in high tech. We are pleased they have agreed to be part of the Ubisoft Women in Tech initiative to help promote this promising sector to the next generation of leaders.”
“Montréal is known for its diversity and large talent pool,” said Cédric Orvoine, Vice-President, Human Resources and Communications, for Ubisoft Montréal. “And yet, women are still underrepresented in high tech. We need to build more awareness as a society to ensure they have a greater presence in the industry and motivate more girls and women to study in technology fields. The participation of our three Ubisoft Women in Tech ambassadors will show younger generations the variety of careers in technology.”
Ambassadors with diverse technology profiles
The ambassadors selected for the Women in Tech initiative have profiles that illustrate the diversity and potential of jobs in high tech, from research to entrepreneurship and programming.
Amira Boutouchent
Cofounder and CEO, BRIDGR
A native of Algeria, Amira Boutouchent arrived in Montréal with a computer engineering degree in hand. After completing a master’s in management at HEC Montréal, she made the move to entrepreneurship. In 2016, she cofounded the company BRIDGR, which offers a platform driven by artificial intelligence that gives industrial enterprises access to the top experts and technologies for a successful digital transformation.
“Through my business, I have been able to work in high tech and have incredible freedom in my choice of projects, as well as creative freedom,” Amira Boutouchent said. “I agreed to sign on to the Ubisoft Women in Tech campaign to show young women that there are endless career opportunities in technology.”
Catherine Proulx
Digital Health Researcher, National Research Council of Canada
Catherine Proulx completed studies in computer engineering. She spent almost a decade developing medical devices and then made a shift to the video game industry. Two years ago, she went back to her first love – health – and now spends her days studying how virtual reality can be harnessed to better understand and respond to the medical challenges involved in human brain health. Her position at the National Research Council of Canada allows her to combine her passion and expertise: health and technology.
“I spent a long time working in the video game industry, but I have always had a major interest in medicine,” Catherine Proulx said. “I wanted to make a positive impact on people’s lives. I spent the early years of my career working with surgical devices, and I wanted to find a job that would combine my two passions. Technology is much broader in scope than people think. That is what I want to show as a Ubisoft Women in Tech ambassador.”
Julie Tousignant
Programmer, Ubisoft
Julie Tousignant was interested in the technology industry from a young age. Her parents encouraged her to explore her passion early on and suggested she register for the bachelor’s program in digital imaging and media at the Université de Sherbrooke to tap into her potential. It was the start of a successful adventure in video game programming that led her to spend two years working in San Francisco, before bringing her back to Montréal in 2017.
“During my career, I have seen the impact of the underrepresentation of women in high tech, because I was often the only female programmer on a given team,” Julie Tousignant said. “I am lucky to be with a company that cares about this issue and that has enabled me to thrive. I am happy to be able to share my experience and offer the next generation of women in technology a positive image of our industry.”
Learn more about the Ubisoft Women in Tech initiative: http://ccmm.ca/femmesentechubisoft
About the Ubisoft Women in Tech initiative
UbisoftWomen in Tech is an initiative designed to inspire and encourage young women to explore career possibilities in the technology sector. Co-developed by Ubisoft Montréal and the Chamber of Commerce of Metropolitan Montreal, this initiative is presented by the Ministère de l’Économie et de l’Innovation in collaboration with CN and thanks to the participation of the Ministère du Travail, de l’Emploi et de la Solidarité sociale.
About the Chamber of Commerce of Metropolitan Montreal (CCMM)
With a network of over 7,000 members, the CCMM is active on two fronts: being the voice of the Montréal business community and delivering specialized services to businesses and their representatives. With its finger on the pulse of current events, it acts on issues that are decisive for the prosperity of the city’s businesses. With the support of the Acclr experts, the CCMM’s goal is to accelerate the creation and growth of businesses of all sizes, at home and around the world.
About Ubisoft
Ubisoft is a world-leading creator, publisher, and distributor of video games and interactive services, with a rich portfolio of world-renowned brands, including Assassin’s Creed, For Honor, Far Cry, Watch Dogs, and Rainbow Six. The teams throughout Ubisoft’s worldwide network of studios and distribution subsidiaries are committed to delivering original and memorable gaming experiences across all popular platforms, including consoles, mobile phones, tablets, and PCs.
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Source:
Véronique Blais
Public Relations Advisor
TACT Intelligence Conseil
Tel.: 514 667-0196, ext. 417
Cell.: 514 241-2686
vblais@tactconseil.ca