Janice McDonald was awarded the degree of Doctor of Laws, honoris causa at the 5:15 p.m. ceremony on Friday, June 24, “in recognition of an outstanding contribution as a tireless advocate and global champion for women, with a particular focus on women’s economic empowerment, leadership and entrepreneurship.” 
McDonald is an award-winning serial entrepreneur, board director, advisor, bestselling author, podcast host, and speaker.
McDonald is a co-author of three ground-breaking studies on women entrepreneurs in Canada, focused on risk, innovation, and export. McDonald’s career achievements include driving the financial turnaround and re-branding of Women in Communications and Technology (WCT) as board chair from 2013 to 2015. She was Startup Canada’s national ambassador for women entrepreneurs for two years and the host of Startup Canada’s Thrive podcast.
She is the chief executive officer and founder of The Beacon Agency, a boutique advisory firm that works with innovative companies and offers customized breakthrough insights in entrepreneurship, business strategy and leadership training.
She was selected as a 2020 mentor for the Trudeau Foundation and a 2021 mentor with Public Policy Forum’s Action Canada Fellowship. She was appointed to the Women’s Leadership Board at Harvard Kennedy School.
Her significant community involvement includes her work as chair of the International Women’s Forum Canada (Ottawa chapter), as a director on the IWF global foundation board and president of the Organization for Women in International Trade Ottawa. She has been a past board director with Futurpreneur, Ashbury College, The Boys and Girls Club of Ottawa, The Royal Ottawa Hospital and Ottawa Senators Foundation. She is an independent director with Vista Radio.
Women’s Executive Network recognized McDonald as one of Canada’s Top 100 Most Powerful Women from 2013 to 2016, and she was inducted into its Hall of Fame.