Women Wanted: How 'Toast' is Redefining Tech Hiring

Up to So Good: The Purpose of Business

Toast isn’t your average tech recruitment firm. Founded in 2022 by April Hicke and Marissa McNeelands, this Canadian powerhouse is on a mission to shatter the glass ceiling in tech. They’re not just about filling seats; they’re about transforming workplaces. With a blind hiring process and an AI-driven job matching tool, they ensure that talent speaks louder than bias. Their membership portal offers women in tech the mentorship and support they deserve. Expanding their empire to cities like New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago, Toast is flipping the hiring dynamic in favour of women in tech.

With over 15 years of experience in leadership, mentoring, and strategic team development, I am the co-founder and Chief Growth Officer at Toast, a talent partner that works towards increasing gender diversity within the tech industry. As a Certified Change Practitioner and social innovation enthusiast, I bring a wealth of expertise in business process improvement, talent planning and strategies, digital transformation, and change management to Toast and its community of diverse and passionate women. My core value and mission is to make a difference by disrupting the status quo and inspiring people to think outside the box, reimagine the possible, and act like owners. I am a serial relationship builder, a savvy problem-solver, and an exclamation mark personality. I devote a great deal of my time coaching emerging leaders and building psychological safety in teams.

April's Website

We talk to visionaries and game-changers who are doing things differently; using their businesses to do more good in the world. Join us as we dive into the stories and strategies of companies driven by purpose, not just profit. Each episode uncovers unique strategies, challenges, and the deeply satisfying rewards of using business as a platform for change. We offer listeners practical insights on building businesses that are not only successful but also socially and environmentally conscious. You really can make both profit and a positive impact—come join us to find out how others are doing just that.

Leena Manro is an award-winning writer, director, and co-founder of All Purpose, an award winning B Corp-certified creative agency based in Vancouver. As VP of Strategy and Storytelling, she leads an in-house team that creates powerful, purpose-driven media for corporate clients. With over a decade of experience, Leena has directed hundreds of narrative projects across diverse genres, earning awards for their cinematic quality and storytelling depth.

Leena is driven by a passion to make a meaningful difference in her community, environment and the planet. She’s drawn to collaborating with people and initiatives that strive to make the world a better place.

All Purpose is proud to be B Corp certified. B Corps are companies verified to meet high standards of social and environmental performance, transparency, and accountability. The B Corp Movement transforms our economy to benefit all people, communities and the planet.

Through this podcast, one of our aims is to showcase the impactful work of fellow B Corps, to inspire others to embrace purpose-driven practices that make a difference.

B Corp Certification

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Up to So Good: The Purpose of Business is produced by All Purpose; a creative design and media agency located in Vancouver Canada. Follow the link to find out more about who we are and what we do.

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