Franca Gucciardi
Chief Operating Officer
CIFAR
Franca is an entrepreneurial leader who has built innovative programs in Canada and globally. She has founded various international initiatives that nurture the next generation of entrepreneurial leaders and has recruited and engaged hundreds of volunteers and donors across Canada and around the world. Franca is a global expert on contextual-based assessment systems and youth leadership programs. She has put together high-performing teams and executed bold strategic visions, delivering results in non-profit, public, charitable and philanthropic organizations that she has led through different phases, including turn-around, start-up and transformational growth.
Most recently, Franca served as CEO of the McCall MacBain Foundation and she is the Founding CEO of the McCall MacBain Scholarships at McGill. Prior to this, she served as CEO of the Loran Scholars Foundation for 13 years. Franca has also served as a board director or an advisory member to many non-profits and universities, including Enactus Canada, Volunteer Canada, McGill Institute for the Study of Canada, the Arrell Food Institute at University of Guelph, the Ivey Business School Leadership Council and University of Waterloo’s campaign planning cabinet.
She is the published co-author of You’re It! Shared Wisdom for Successfully Leading Organizations alongside Alan Broadbent and is often asked to speak on leadership, civic engagement, merit scholarships and fellowships, talent development and higher education.
Franca holds an M.A. in International Relations from the Norman Paterson School of International Affairs at Carleton University, and a B.A. from the University of Waterloo as a Loran Scholar. She has completed executive programs at the Harvard School of Business and INSEAD, and has the C.Dir. Designation from Directors’ College. She has also been recognized as an International Women’s Forum Fellow, a global recognition program for women leaders.