Mehnaz Tabassum
Mehnaz Tabassum is an award-winning young social entrepreneur, keynote speaker, and career coach, named one of Atlantic Canada’s Most Inspiring Immigrants. She is the founder of four ventures spanning food security, AI consulting, real estate, and leadership development—each built from the ground up with resilience, vision, and a deep commitment to systems-level change. As Co-Founder of NL Eats Community Outreach Inc., she has grown the charity from a grassroots initiative into a national platform tackling food insecurity through a mobile food bank, research in smart agriculture, and Canada’s FOOD FORWARD Conference. Through CogniCo AI Consulting, she helps nonprofits and changemakers integrate AI for impact, while her venture Lighthouse Rentals supports flexible housing solutions. A sought-after speaker and career coach, she also co-founded the SheLeads Network, empowering women leaders across industries. Formerly one of the youngest Senior IT Project Managers in the Government of Canada, Mehnaz now channels her expertise into ventures at the intersection of innovation, equity, and community impact.
AI for Impact: A Workshop Empowering Nonprofits with Practical AI Tools
AI for Impact: A Workshop Empowering Nonprofits with Practical AI Tools equips youth-led and newcomer-serving organizations with accessible, hands-on training in artificial intelligence. The project focuses on practical workflows, from automating routine tasks to improving communications and data use, enabling nonprofits to scale their impact with limited resources. Through interactive learning and mentorship, participants gain confidence in using AI ethically and effectively, fostering innovation and resilience in Canada’s nonprofit sector.
www.mehnaztabassum.comAbout this Project
Communities Served
My project will involve and/or impact the following communities:
United Nations Sustainable Development Goals
When it comes to community impact projects, the UN has created 17 Sustainable Development Goals. These are the Sustainable Development Goals associated with my project.
How the project works
AI for Impact will deliver a half-day interactive workshop, supported by preparatory outreach and participant selection in February 2026. The workshop includes hands-on training, mentorship, and resource sharing. Follow-up support and evaluation will occur within two weeks, ensuring participants apply AI tools effectively in their nonprofit work.
Project Impact
AI for Impact will empower youth-led and newcomer-serving nonprofits with practical AI skills to improve efficiency, communication, and service delivery. By lowering barriers to technology adoption, the project enhances organizational capacity, fosters innovation, and equips leaders to better address community needs, creating long-term impact across Canada’s nonprofit sector.
Project Mission
AI for Impact empowers youth-led and newcomer-serving nonprofits with practical AI training to strengthen capacity, efficiency, and innovation. The project’s mission is to democratize access to AI tools while fostering ethical adoption. Its goals are to enhance service delivery, build digital confidence, and create pathways for organizations to scale their impact sustainably.
Project Team
Led by experienced social entrepreneurs, our multidisciplinary team blends expertise in AI, community development, and education.
Video
Mehnaz Talks AI - AI’s Future: Transforming Work, Life, and Global Innovation
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