Kelowna Women in Business is excited to announce our Winners for the 2025 RISE Awards.
Woman of the Year Award - Presented by WeBC- Paula Quinn
Paula is not just a leader—she is a builder. Whether she’s developing a $25 million legacy project preserving Canada’s aviation history—the KF Aerospace Centre for Excellence, which we are celebrating tonight—and guiding the Okanagan Gymnastics Centre to new heights, Paula brings strategy, integrity, and heart to everything she does.
Her leadership extends well beyond the organizations she directs. As a board member of WeBC, COEDC, and the Kelowna Chamber of Commerce, Paula is a tireless advocate for local businesses, women entrepreneurs, and inclusive economic development. She understands that real progress happens when we bring diverse voices together—and she creates the space for that collaboration to thrive.
What sets Paula apart is her steadfast dedication to creating opportunities for others to grow and succeed alongside her. In industries where women’s leadership is still underrepresented, she leads with both confidence and humility, mentoring, advocating, and opening doors for women to step into their own power.
She’s a role model not because her path has been perfect, but because she shares it authentically, with all its challenges and triumphs. She leads with purpose, she empowers with action, and she serves with an impact.
Change Maker Award - Presented by Crowe MacKay - Mohini Singh
For Mohini, serving others isn’t just something she does — it is who she is. From her early days volunteering at the Kelowna Women’s Shelter in the 1990s, reaching out to women in ethnic communities facing abuse, to her current work as a four-term Kelowna City Councillor and the first person of visible minority background to be elected to council, she understands the responsibility that comes with breaking barriers. Her presence on Council has inspired many individuals from diverse backgrounds to see themselves reflected in local leadership for the first time. It’s a role she carries with deep humility and pride, knowing that representation matters — not just in words, but in action. Mohini has devoted her life to creating a more inclusive, compassionate, and connected Kelowna.
She co-founded the East Meets West Children’s Foundation to bring vital health and education resources to children both locally and abroad. For over a decade, she’s raised funds for Starbright Children’s Development Centre, ensuring children with disabilities have the tools they need to thrive. And when Ukrainian children arrived in our city, fleeing war, Mohini mobilized the community to bring them moments of joy, from Christmas toys to summer camp experiences.
Mohini leads with humility, integrity, and heart. She is a role model for young women, a connector for newcomers, and a relentless champion for those who often go unheard. Her belief is simple yet powerful: when we come together with empathy and purpose, we build a community where everyone belongs.
Spirit Award - Presented by Pushor Mitchell Lawyers - Mehrsa Maali
Mehrsa is the founder of Artful Real Estate—but her work goes far beyond buying and selling homes. She is an educator, a designer, a mentor, a yoga teacher, and above all, a powerful force for connection and community.
As an Iranian-Canadian woman, Mehrsa brings her whole self to every space she enters. She’s created healing spaces through yoga, led rallies for women’s rights, and sponsored art that tells the stories of courage, resilience, and freedom. Through her lecture, Barehead Venuses, she’s amplified the voices of women often overlooked in art, culture, and history.
Her advocacy is not performative—it’s deeply personal. She mentors newcomer women, supports Dress for Success, and builds bridges for those just starting their journeys in Canada. She sees the quiet fears people carry—and helps transform them into strength.
In her real estate work, Mehrsa leads with collaboration over competition, believing deeply in the law of abundance. She lifts others, highlights women entrepreneurs, and invites every client and community member to feel seen, valued, and truly at home.
Mehrsa Maali doesn’t just talk about inclusion—she lives it. Whether it’s creating safe spaces for dialogue, celebrating cultural heritage, or mentoring the next generation of leaders, she walks with grace, humility, and fierce compassion. As Nelson Mandela said,
“May your choices reflect your hopes, not your fears.” When we name our fears, we loosen their grip and in doing so, we invite others to stand bravely with us.
