CEO of Communitech

The Organization


Communitech helps founders start, grow and succeed. Established in 1997, our mission has been our guide ever since. 

We are doubling down on our commitment to elevate Waterloo Region as an innovation hub on the global stage. A strong and vibrant region is essential for a prosperous province and resilient nation. Firmly rooted in our commitment to Tech for Good®, we collaborate with tech communities from coast to coast to create growth opportunities for our founders. With a unified support network, we are shaping a future where Canadian tech sets trends and sparks inspiration worldwide. 

Our superpower is the ability to connect, convene and catalyze: we bring people, opportunities and resources together, create space for collaboration and partnerships, and provide the tools and support tech companies need to scale.

We help founders:

  • Hire and retain the smartest, brightest and most experienced team
  • Access growth financing at every stage
  • Sell to the biggest customers at home and around the world
  • Connect the right people at the right time – peers who have been there before, coaches who can guide them through the difficult spots and partners from all over Canada

Our community is strong because of massive support from our partners: established tech companies that want to lift others up, large organizations that are pillars in their industries and government players who care about economic and social impact.

We are nimble, combining the strength of our experience with the flexibility to adapt based on the changing needs of our founders and our tech community. We’re also ready to explore industries and movements that provide the greatest opportunities to our founders.

Communitech Guiding Principles

To Founders & Canadian Tech Companies: A commitment to working hard to understand founder problems, deliver timely solutions, amplify wins and advocate for public policy that helps businesses succeed.

To Public & Private Investors: A commitment to delivering strong return on investment by helping companies create jobs and grow revenue, and by working to make Canada the best place anywhere to start and grow a tech company.

To Partners: Universities and colleges, municipalities, government departments, private companies and sister organizations – Communitech commits to working collaboratively, diligently and in good faith to align efforts and achieve mutual goals.

To Team Members: A commitment to providing a diverse, dynamic, inclusive and fun place to work, where people can find their calling, achieve greatness and belong to an important movement.

To the Community: A commitment to doing its part to make Waterloo Region a better place to live, by supporting a vibrant arts and culture scene, advocating for quality health care and rolling up our sleeves to help those in need.

To Everyone: Communitech will never stop fostering an inclusive and anti-racist environment to create a place, and the space, where everyone is free to be their whole selves. Its commitment to building a community rooted in diversity, inclusion and equity will never waver.

Communitech is at an important and exciting juncture and the Board seeks a proven leader who will shape the future for its continued impact on the community and in support of founders. Communitech views its job to be building the environment that provides the best opportunities for the region’s founders to start, grow and succeed their companies. This means creating and nurturing a vibrant tech ecosystem regionally, provincially and nationally, rooted in Waterloo Region. This leadership role will appeal to an executive who has proven their ability to listen to diverse groups of stakeholders, develop a vision and strategy, inspire the team and build on its contributions to fuel Canadian innovation. Never has there been a more important time to guide Communitech into its next chapter.

Supporting Startup Success

54

Events hosted

$89,948,948

Capital raised

145

Introductions provided

Purpose of the Position


The next CEO of Communitech will demonstrate a compelling ability to inspire and lead a team while building relationships of trust and collaboration with local founders and external partners. The role requires a mix of authenticity and boldness as well as the confidence and comfort to provide visible leadership in the region. With over 1,400 tech companies in Waterloo Region, Communitech has a significant role in shaping Ontario and Canada’s innovation landscape. The CEO will engage public and private partners, founders and staff to develop a vision for how Communitech will continue to support founders in the region and extend Communitech’s influence and networks for the benefit of Canada as the country adapts to shifting economic, social and geopolitical realities.

The successful candidate will be a thoughtful and compelling leader with a deep understanding of the tech ecosystem, the ability to credibly relate to the needs of founders, and a proven leader who will shape the next chapter for Communitech with curiosity, humility and creativity. This person will bring proven skills developing strategy and driving results, and connecting with founders to deliver value-adding support that keeps Communitech relevant.

This leader will be a visionary, a strategist, a respected people leader, someone who translates ideas into action, and who knows how founders think.

Key Responsibilities

Leadership & Vision: Provide inspiring, forward-thinking leadership that aligns with Communitech’s goals and values. Develop a clear vision with a strong implementation plan while remaining adaptable to new opportunities in a dynamic tech environment.

Ecosystem Engagement: Act as a central figure within the tech ecosystem, engaging founders, industry, government, and academia. Communicate a compelling vision that galvanizes the community, building commitment to advancing both the local and national tech landscapes.

Culture & Talent Development: Foster a high-performance culture rooted in authenticity, inclusivity, and integrity. Attract, inspire, and retain top talent, ensuring an engaged and diverse workplace where employees can thrive.

Operational Oversight: Oversee day-to-day operations in collaboration with senior leaders, ensuring alignment across departments for optimal performance.

Reputation Building: Strengthen Communitech’s reputation as a collaborative leader by fostering strong relationships with the board, government, investors, and key partners. Elevate the brand and expand Communitech’s profile through strategic communication and partnership.

Fiscal Responsibility: Prioritize financial stability by securing and nurturing funding sources, both public and private, and by driving fiscally responsible growth initiatives.

The Candidate


Experience and Professional Qualifications

The ideal candidate will bring a strong understanding of the tech ecosystem, with experience engaging founders, supporting innovation, or contributing to the growth of entrepreneurial initiatives. While direct experience as a founder is not required, it would be an asset. This individual will serve as a thoughtful and dynamic advocate for founders and the broader innovation ecosystem, representing Communitech’s mission with a diverse group of stakeholders.

Specifically, the candidate will bring:

Leadership and Organizational Expertise:

  • Experience in senior leadership roles, such as CEO, Executive Director, or a comparable position. Experience in a not-for-profit, accelerator, innovation hub, or related environment is an asset.
  • A track record of driving organizational growth, strategic planning, and effective team leadership.

Ecosystem and Community Engagement:

  • Familiarity with the Canadian tech and innovation landscape, with the ability to build and maintain credible relationships across diverse groups, including industry, academia, and government.
  • Experience fostering collaboration and trust within a community-focused environment.
  • Strong familiarity with venture capital, angel investment networks, and public/private funding mechanisms relevant to startups.
  • Direct experience in supporting founders through funding, mentorship, and scaling initiatives is an asset.

Founder’s Journey Insight:

  • Deep understanding and ability to support the founder journey, including its unique challenges and milestones.

Fundraising and Financial Acumen:

  • History of success of securing diverse funding sources, including grants, sponsorships, partnerships, and donor relationships, to sustain and grow not-for-profit operations.
  • Experience managing multi-million-dollar budgets, ensuring financial sustainability and alignment with Communitech’s mission.

Technology Sector Knowledge:

  • Comprehensive understanding of emerging technology trends and their implications for startups.
  • Experience in the software, SaaS, fintech, or other high-growth technology sectors is highly desired.

Stakeholder Engagement and Advocacy:

  • Demonstrated success in building and maintaining strong relationships with diverse stakeholders, including founders, investors, industry leaders, academic institutions, and government bodies.
  • Adept at advocating for the organization’s mission and priorities at local, national, and international levels.
  • Preferably a background in government relations and external partnerships, with an ability to secure funding and maintain productive public sector relationships.

Operational and Team Leadership:

  • Skilled at building, leading, and retaining high-performing, cross-functional teams.
  • Experience fostering an inclusive and collaborative organizational culture that aligns with core values and encourages innovation.

Community Commitment, Mission Alignment and Passion:

  • A deep, personal investment in the success of Waterloo Region, ideally with a proven track record of engaging with the local community and fostering partnerships.
  • Demonstrated commitment to empowering founders and driving innovation within a not-for-profit or mission-oriented context.
  • Passion for entrepreneurship, technology, and the transformative potential of startups in driving economic and social change.

This role requires the ability to work from our Kitchener office at least three days per week, with the expectation that the successful candidate will actively engage with the local community and build strong, in-person connections. This is not a traditional 9-to-5 job; it requires someone who is eager to connect with founders, attend community events, and participate in meetings, many of which may take place outside of regular business hours. While familiarity with or connections to the Kitchener-Waterloo region are not required, a commitment to becoming an active and engaged member of this community is essential, as is the flexibility to adapt to the dynamic needs of the role.

Leadership Profile & Personal Attributes

Authenticity & Truthfulness: 

  • Leads with honesty and transparency, aligning actions with words and creating a culture of trust and integrity.

Emotional Intelligence: 

  • High emotional intelligence, with the ability to manage emotions, empathize with others, and build authentic relationships.

Visionary & Inspirational Leadership: 

  • Skilled at communicating a clear, strategic vision and inspiring teams to achieve ambitious goals.

Adaptability: 

  • Embraces change with resilience, shifting strategies as needed to address evolving opportunities and challenges.

Entrepreneurial Mindset: 

  • Comfortable taking calculated risks, with a proactive, innovative approach to navigating challenges.

Accountability & Integrity: 

  • Upholds a high standard of integrity, setting a clear example of personal accountability.

Empathy & Compassion: 

  • Values diverse perspectives and fosters a supportive, collaborative environment.

Networking & Relationship-Building: 

  • Skilled at building and maintaining strong relationships with stakeholders, investors, partners, and employees.

Conflict Resolution: 

  • Proficient in resolving conflicts constructively to maintain team morale and cohesion.

We are excited to announce our partnership with Korn Ferry for this search. If you would like to learn more about the position or are interested in applying, please reach out to: sharon.rudy@kornferry.com and stefanie.kutteh@kornferry.com