At The Forge, our team is driven by a shared passion for innovation and entrepreneurship.
With diverse expertise spanning business development, technology, communications, and leadership, we are committed to empowering startups at every stage of their journey. From supporting early-stage ideas to helping established ventures scale, we’re here to provide the guidance, resources, and connections needed to succeed.
Each member of our team brings a unique perspective and skill set, united by a common goal: fostering a thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem that creates real-world impact.
Leigh Wilson
Interim Director
Leigh is the Assistant Director, New Ventures for the McMaster Industry Liaison Office (MILO). Over her 17 year career at MILO, Leigh has driven the commercialization of McMaster life sciences technologies, including negotiating license agreements, securing commercialization funding and supporting emerging McMaster Start-ups. Leigh’s role as Assistant Director has turned her focus onto start-up support, including management of the McMaster Seed Fund (MSF). The MSFis a start-up/early-stage, seed investment fund initiated to foster research-intensive and innovative start-up companies that will have a significant economic and societal impact in the Greater Hamilton Area (GHA). The MSF has deployed over 3M in investment funds to McMaster based companies over the past 3 years. Leigh is currently appointed as an adjunct lecturer in the Department of Biochemistry at McMaster University and teaches a commercialization and entrepreneurship course to Biochemistry graduate students.
Leigh holds a PhD in medical sciences from McMaster University.
Lauren Brown
Business Incubator Manager
Lauren Brown manages the Business Incubator at The Forge, where she works closely with our mentors, service providers, and innovation ecosystem partners, to provide hands-on support to the startups in our Business Incubator program to accelerate their growth. Lauren has 15 years of experience driving special projects and programs for diverse organizations, from startups to Global Fortune 500 companies. She is also a former entrepreneur, herself, having co-founded and built two companies. Lauren is a McMaster University alumni, with an Honours Bachelor of Commerce from the DeGroote School of Business, and also holds an MBA in the Management of Innovation and Technology from Toronto Metropolitan University.
Mariya Leslie
Manager of Student Entrepreneurship
Mariya Leslie is the Manager of Student Entrepreneurship at McMaster University, where she focuses on helping campus entrepreneurs launch and grow their startups. Originally from Ukraine, Mariya is now a proud Hamiltonian whose mission is to help build and strengthen the local entrepreneurship and innovation ecosystem. Prior to her role at McMaster, Mariya led the operations of Altitude Accelerator, Peel Region’s hub for innovative technology startups. Mariya received a Master of Biotechnology from the University of Toronto and an Honours Bachelor of Science from the University of Waterloo.
Jessica Rudden
Program Coordinator
Jessica is The Forge’s office & finance manager and ensures that operations run smoothly. She joined The Forge back in 2015 as one of the first team members and is proud to have helped form The Forge into the successful program it is today. She believes everyone should spend their lives doing what sets their soul on fire and she is delighted to support entrepreneurs doing just that. Prior to her role at The Forge, Jessica specialized in sales in both the hospitality and retail sectors.
Marissa Principato
Marketing & Communications Manager
Marissa Principato is the Marketing and Communications Manager for The Forge. She is responsible for developing, implementing and evaluating the marketing and communication efforts of The Forge. She facilitates a variety of student-focused events and programs through The Forge, including Startup Survivor and McMaster’s Entrepreneurship Week.
A proud McMaster Alumni with an Honours Bachelor of Commerce, Marissa is passionate about helping other McMaster students achieve their startup dreams at The Forge.
Brittany Sostar
Forge Makerspace Lead
Brittany Sostar (they/them) is the Forge Makerspace Lead, overseeing the space and offering support for makers working on projects. They provide training on tools and equipment, troubleshoot technical issues, and offer advice to ensure projects are successful. Joining The Forge in late 2024, Brittany is committed to creating an inclusive environment where makers can develop new skills, explore their creativity, and confidently bring their ideas to life.
Joshua Rocafor
Communications Assistant
Joshua is an International Business graduate and a third-year student at McMaster University, pursuing a combined degree in Work and Labour Studies and Economics. At The Forge, Joshua supports the marketing team with social media strategy, outreach, and communications initiatives. He also contributes to data analysis to enhance client reporting, coordinates events and workshops, and provides administrative support across various programs. With a strong background in financial management and marketing, along with a passion for community engagement, Joshua is dedicated to helping bring innovative ideas to life in a collaborative environment.
Dev Gala
Program Support Assistant
Dev is the Program Support Assistant for The Forge, supporting the planning and organization of events, workshops, and community engagement initiatives. He also assists with various financial and administrative projects across all Forge programming, helping to ensure smooth operations.
Currently pursuing an Honours Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience at McMaster University, Dev will be entering his third year this fall. He is passionate about bridging the gap between science and innovation, with a keen interest in pursuing a career in biotech and healthtech. He is driven by the potential of cutting-edge technologies to transform healthcare and improve patient outcomes, and he is excited to support and learn from entrepreneurs at The Forge.
