Our Team
Girl. Strong. founder
Yollanda Zhang
Yollanda is a mom, serial entrepreneur, keynote speaker, coach, and a passionate mental health advocate who helps people live their best lives.
Drawing from her background in engineering, corporate sales, and teaching, she provides valuable coaching services to guide others toward a more fulfilling and balanced lifestyle. Yollanda also shares her personal journey with bipolar disorder to offer bipolar disorder support, helping individuals navigate their challenges and find hope.
Yollanda founded Girl. Strong. only a few weeks after her grandmother passed to honour her memory and legacy. Knowing the hardships that her grandma faced growing up, Yollanda wanted to help give young girls the opportunities her grandma never had.
Yollanda is currently pursuing her Masters in Counselling Psychology and releasing her first book, Dear Younger Me, in 2027 with Dundurn Press.
Meet the Team
Our Girl. Strong. team of adult and youth facilitators are united in helping young people live unstoppable lives without limits. Meet our knowledgeable, friendly, caring, empathetic and enthusiastic team!
Managing Director
Renata Ortega
Renata Ortega is the Managing Director of Girl.Strong., where she leads the organization's strategic growth, partnerships, and operations to expand its impact and empower the next generation of confident, resilient girls.
With more than two decades of experience in business development, brand strategy, and relationship management, Renata has built a career creating meaningful partnerships and driving sustainable growth across corporate and nonprofit sectors. Her leadership combines commercial expertise with a deep commitment to community impact, enabling organizations to achieve measurable results while staying true to their mission.
At Girl.Strong., Renata works closely with educators, community leaders, corporate partners, and supporters to create opportunities that help girls build confidence, develop leadership skills, and reach their full potential. She believes that when girls are equipped with the right tools, mentorship, and support, they become powerful catalysts for positive change in their communities.
Known for her collaborative leadership style and passion for empowering others, Renata is dedicated to building partnerships that create lasting social impact and ensure Girl.Strong. continues to inspire, educate, and elevate girls across Canada and beyond.
Facilitator
Sonia Dong
Sonia is a writer, podcaster, speaker, and mom of two exploring personal growth, mindfulness, and human connection.
She is the host of Raising the Next Gen, a podcast for parents of teens and tweens, and a co-author of the book Mama’s Gotta Grow.
As a certified Kind Voice of Impact Speaker™, Sonia shares stories from her own journey of parenthood to inspire parents to slow down, show up, and lead with intention.
Sonia brings over two decades of experience across youth education, nonprofit leadership, and values-driven entrepreneurship to Girl. Strong., with skills in community engagement, facilitation, personal and professional development, and diversity and inclusion.
Facilitator
Mary "Madette" Mendoza
Born in the Philippines and raised in Toronto, Canada, Mary “Madette” Mendoza is an award-winning artist, speaker, and founder of Resilient Musicians Academy helping students become skilled musicians, confident performers, and resilient individuals.
With her own experiences of living with anxiety, depression, and bipolar disorder, Madette shows that it’s possible to thrive with mental health challenges.
Known for her heartfelt stories and powerful messages, Madette inspires her audiences to turn their hardships into masterpieces through creativity and community.
Madette brings her passion for creativity and empowerment to inspire and support Girl. Strong. participants.
Youth Leader
Fatemah
Fatemah is a grade 12 student in Toronto who is a former Girl. Strong. program participant. She is creative and passionate about youth leadership.
Youth Leader
Willow
Willow is a grade 12 student in Toronto who is a former Girl. Strong. program participant. She is creative and passionate about youth leadership.