The Ripple Effect

One connection, one invitation, one opportunity can change everything.

On April 7 at 5:00 PM, City BuildHERS, in partnership with the University of Ottawa, convenes the leaders shaping our city for an evening rooted in one powerful idea: one connection, one invitation, one opportunity can change everything.

The Ripple Effect brings together women across construction, engineering, architecture, development, real estate, and the public sector — the people influencing what gets built and how communities function. The evening opens with a keynote from Caroline Cao, Dean of Engineering at the University of Ottawa, whose leadership embodies how institutions create ripple effects through students, research, and the cities they anchor. Her perspective will frame the night around influence, visibility, and the power of leadership to shape both careers and communities.

Following the keynote, we will host a dynamic panel conversation with senior city-building leaders — including Kelly Rhodenizer, Vice President Development at Colonnade Bridgeport, and Councillor Marty Carr. Together we will dive into the ripples that shape projects, careers, and communities. Expect an engaging and honest discussion about the moments when a voice, a decision, or a connection changed the trajectory of a project or opened a door for someone else — and how those leadership moments ultimately shape the cities we live in.

Built on connection and designed for change, this is where influence turns into action — and where one ripple can transform a career and a community.