Up With Women/Exponenti’elles named one of Fast Company’s 100 Best Workplaces for Innovators 2026
We’re proud to share that Up With Women/Exponenti’elles (UWW/EXP) has been named one of Fast Company’s 100 Best Workplaces for Innovators for 2026, joining a global roster of organizations recognized for fostering a culture of innovation at all levels. At UWW/EXP, that culture empowers our employees to turn bold ideas into meaningful impact.
“This recognition belongs to the extraordinary community behind this work: our clients, volunteer coaches, partners, donors, and supporters,” said Lia Grimanis, Founder and CEO of Up With Women/Exponenti’elles. “This honour elevates Canadian innovation on the global stage and advances the conversation around economic barriers faced by women and gender-diverse people. When we change how we approach a problem—and who gets to be part of creating the solution—we open the door to new possibilities. That’s where true innovation happens.”
The awards have previously recognized global innovators such as Google, Siemens and L’Oréal, underscoring the significance of our recognition as a growing Canadian charity bringing innovation to the complex challenge of gendered poverty. We were also named one of Fast Company’s Small but Mighty Companies, honouring organizations with fewer than 100 employees that have cultivated workplaces where innovation can thrive. Together, these dual recognitions shine an international spotlight on our work helping women and gender-diverse people overcome barriers to economic opportunity through an innovative, community-based model.
We joined fellow honourees at the Fast Company Innovation Festival in New York City on September 16, where the 2026 Best Workplaces for Innovators were recognized. It was an opportunity to celebrate this milestone—and the people and community who have helped make it possible.
Celebrating UWW/EXP’s recognition as one of Fast Company’s 100 Best Workplaces for Innovators 2026, from the Innovation Festival in New York City to our feature in the magazine.
Putting people at the centre
Founded in 2009, UWW/EXP was born from Lia Grimanis’ lived experience of violence and homelessness and her determination to help women and gender-diverse people facing similar barriers find pathways to meaningful employment and financial stability. Today, we have mobilized a national community of nearly 500 volunteer professional coaches to support our clients.
Our strengths-based coaching model is grounded in a simple premise: clients are the experts in their own lives. They define their own goals, supported by coaches who help them build confidence and take steps to achieve them.
Our model is delivering measurable results. An analysis of our 2025 clients, comparing outcomes from intake to graduation, found that:
- Annual client income increased by an average of 157 per cent.
- Reliance on social assistance decreased by 38 per cent, while full-time employment increased by 180 per cent.
- More than 90 per cent of clients reported greater confidence and progress toward their goals.
Together, these outcomes affirm the value of community-driven innovation that puts people at the centre of addressing real-world challenges.
Innovation is a shared responsibility
Our commitment to lived experience is reflected in our leadership. Our staff and Board include former clients and individuals with firsthand experience of the barriers we work to address, ensuring that lived expertise informs our organizational strategy, program design and decision-making.
At UWW/EXP, innovation is a shared responsibility. People at all levels are empowered to identify challenges, improve processes and design solutions informed by the lived experiences and realities of the clients we serve.
“Gendered poverty is one of Canada’s most persistent challenges, but it is also an opportunity for innovation,” said Grimanis. “Addressing it calls for solutions that are community-led and grounded in the perspectives of those closest to the issues. We’re honoured that Fast Company has recognized a model built on that belief.”
This recognition is a milestone for our organization, but it also belongs to the extraordinary community behind this work: our clients, volunteer coaches, partners, donors, supporters and team.
We’re grateful to everyone who continues to challenge us, collaborate with us and help turn new ideas into meaningful impact.
