This year's recipients are Deanna Zumwalt, BComm'93; Kelly Schmitt, BComm'00; and Jordan Lypchuk, EMBA'19. Their journeys, from launching Calgary's first professional women's soccer team, to leading a high-growth tech company, to building businesses when facing barriers, show how determination and bold action can shape a career.
This year's Haskayne Alumni Award recipients, from left: Deanna Zumwalt, Kelly Schmitt and Jordan Lypchuk.
Deanna Zumwalt: Management Alumni Excellence Award
Zumwalt turned her accounting focus at Haskayne into a career spanning many senior leadership roles, most recently including president and CEO of Coril Holdings.
A proud UCalgary Dinos Field Hockey alum and passionate advocate for women's sports, Zumwalt founded and now chairs Calgary Wild FC, the city's first professional women's soccer team, serving also as director and chair of the finance committee for the Northern Super League, Canada's first professional women's soccer league.
Beyond this, her community work is expansive. Sitting on several boards over the years, she is a champion for business education, innovation, inclusion and leadership. In 2022, she received the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal. She enjoys helping others find their own leadership voice.
"In the beginning of your career, don't be afraid to just take a chance or take a risk," Zumwalt says. "Certainly, I was one of those students that had my life or career plotted out for me and, at one point in time, I decided, hey I can always go back to what I know, but, if I get an opportunity to do something new, I may not get that again."
Kelly Schmitt: Big Ideas Bold Leaders Award
Schmitt's impact on Calgary's tech sector continues to grow in her newest role as CEO of Headversity, a leading workplace mental health training company and one of Canada's fastest-growing tech companies.
A three-time unicorn CFO, Schmitt previously led Benevity as CFO and then CEO, growing the company from a valuation of $300 million to more than $1.1 billion US. She was previously CFO at Solium Capital and SMART Technologies.
Her focus is creating workplaces where people can thrive, implementing programs for employee well-being, diversity and inclusion, while mentoring women and emerging leaders.
Recognized as a Calgary Influential Woman in Business (2023) and Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business Influential Leader (2022), Schmitt includes her time on Haskayne's Inter-Collegiate Business Competition team among her successes.
For Schmitt, leadership is about stepping into challenges with courage and helping others do the same.
"As women, we tend to find more reasons why not to do something instead of why to do something. And for years, I told myself I couldn't be a CEO because I couldn't public speak or I wasn't a great product visionary, like many founder CEOs are," Schmitt says. "And the truth is, you can overcome any perceived weakness that you have, as long as you're willing to get uncomfortable and put some effort into it."
Jordan Lypchuk: Rising Star Award
Lypchuk is vice-president of business development and partial owner at Ziing, a Calgary-based technology company focused on logistics that acquired Torstar's delivery arm in 2024. A serial entrepreneur, he has been a part of multiple startups, with several successful exits, building his first business while navigating early life barriers, including dropping out of high school after a sports career-ending injury and periods of houselessness.
Driven by resilience and a commitment to give back, Lypchuk coaches lacrosse and boxing, mentors through Haskayne programs, and has raised more than $1 million for local and international charities through several personally directed initiatives.
He credits hands-on learning, mentorship and persistence for his growth.
"When you hit rock bottom, you don't really have a lot of options; you can either lay down, or you can start moving forward," Lypchuk says. "And, for me, it just started by incremental improvements trying to make one day better than the other."
This year's celebration takes place in-person on Nov. 19 at Decidedly Jazz Danceworks, 111 12 Ave. S.E. Go here to learn more and be part of the celebration.
