Surekha Shenoy’s remarkable journey from a small town in Karnataka to a leadership role in Canada is an inspiring tale of perseverance and dedication. Originally from Puttur, she has twice contested provincial elections in Ontario as a candidate for the Liberal Party and actively serves on nine community service boards.

Daughter of Indian Army veteran Moolky Satyanarayana Shenoy and Sharada Shenoy, Surekha excelled academically and aspired to be a doctor. However, Karnataka’s introduction of entrance exams led her to pursue engineering—an unusual choice for women in the 1980s. “In 1984, I was one of the first girls from Puttur to study engineering. A scholarship and student loan helped me graduate and later pursue a master’s in industrial engineering in Canada,” she shared.

In Canada, she married Revi Krishnan Kizhatil, a senior consultant in the nuclear power sector. While settling in Cambridge, Ontario, she earned an MBA in finance and climbed the ranks at TD Bank, eventually leading a $60 million project as AVP, business banking. She resigned in 2011 to dedicate herself to community initiatives, mentoring, and philanthropy.

Surekha has chaired and founded numerous initiatives supporting immigrants, hospitals, and social causes. She spearheaded a diversity fundraising dinner for Cambridge Memorial Hospital and played a key role in raising $450K for charitable causes. She credits her mother for instilling resilience and ambition.

Her legacy continues through her daughters, particularly Anoosha, who has founded two nonprofits and earned a Youth Volunteer of the Year award.

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