User:ResearchBarbie/Melissa Sariffodeen

Melissa Sariffodeen, a canadian entrepreneur who is best known as the co-founder and CEO of Ladies Learning Code and Canada Learning Code.

Early life and family
Sariffodeen, was born and raised in London, Ontario. A child of an immigrant father and Canadian mother, she grew up in a multi-generational home with her parents, younger sister, and grandparents.

Career and education
Sariffodeen is a professor of Business at Fanshawe College. She holds a master’s in educational leadership and policy from the University of Toronto's Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE).

Sariffodeen founded Ladies Learning Code in 2011. The company was rebranded to Canada Learning Code in 2017. On November 2016, She gave a TedxYouth Talk titled The Kids Will Be Alright to promote girls in STEM.

Awards and recognition
Sariffodeen is the recipient of the Governor General Award in Commemoration of the Persons Case honouring Canadians who advance gender equality as well as RBC Entrepreneur of the Year, WXN Top 100 and Canada’s Top 40 Under 40. In 2002, she was recognized by Mattel as a Barbie Role Model. A Mattel Barbie has been produced in her likeness to promote women empowerment.