She uses the power of research to identify gaps and improve policies for people and communities
Age: 36
Research is more than data collection. Or it should be, according to Stella Igweamaka. She has a bachelor’s degree and an MBA from Nigeria, and she, her husband and daughter came to Canada in 2020 seeking, “a better quality of life, and Canada opened its arms.”
In Nigeria, her professional focus was corporate market research. In Edmonton, she uses her training and experience to uncover social barriers and create change.
“I research people and communities. Things that matter to communities,” she says. “That research can improve policies.” It has already led to results. In 2021, she contributed to Canada’s first national survey about Black women entrepreneurs, developed by the non-profit Pitch Better. “Nobody was looking into this, and that research revealed a lot,” she says. “We found a huge gap in funding.”
The work inspired the launch of FoundHers, a fund to find and invest in enterprises led by Black women. “It has supported these entrepreneurs in building businesses in Canada,” Igweamaka says.
She also won a national competition for her work with Black Canadian Women in Action, investigating “adultification bias,” where Black girls are perceived as older and treated as adults.
Until recently, Igweamaka worked as a senior consultant for new markets and opportunities at Servus Credit Union. There, she helped build financial products for underserved groups, including newcomer packages and halal mortgages. She has since taken a role as a senior public engagement advisor for the Government of Alberta.
Community and family motivate her. “I want my daughter to see her mom doing this work and, to know that she can add value. I didn’t come to this country to not leave a mark.”
This article appears in the November-December 2026 issue of Edify
