91ÑÇÉ«

Principal, Global Commercial Cloud and AI Datacenter Integration, Microsoft
Law & Society, Bachelor of Arts (BA) - Honours 2003

With more than 25 years of leadership experience spanning Telecom, Finance, and Technology, Dr. Sanja Cancar-Todorovic (Dr. SCT) is a seasoned business executive, published author, keynote speaker, strategic advisor, and award-winning leader recognized for translating innovation, research, and emerging technologies into meaningful business and societal impact. As a leader within Microsoft’s Cloud Operations + Innovation, she is leading global network infrastructure supply-chain strategy, translating long-range fiber and telecom capacity strategies into executable supply plans that enable predictable Commercial Cloud and AI datacenter deployment, helping advance the infrastructure that enables Microsoft’s cloud and AI strategy at scale.
Dr. SCT combines deep executive experience with a strong academic foundation, holding a Doctor of Business Administration (DBA), Executive MBA, Master of Management, and Honours BA with a double major in Law and Political Science. Her multidisciplinary expertise spans AI & Cloud Infrastructure, Global Supply Chain & Datacenter Integration, Network Strategy, Capacity & Execution, BPO, ITO, Category and Vendor Management, Third-Party Risk Management, AI-Driven Transformation, Customer Experience Strategy, and Transformational Leadership. Her work sits at the intersection of technology, strategy, innovation, governance, and organizational transformation.
A passionate advocate for diversity of thought and inclusive leadership, Dr. SCT has spent decades mentoring emerging leaders and entrepreneurs, grounded in her belief that diverse perspectives fuels innovation. Since 2013, she has supported entrepreneurs from women- and minority-owned businesses through partnerships with nonprofit organizations. In 2020, she partnered with the Haslam College of Business at the University of Tennessee to advance Supplier Diversity and Economic Inclusion initiatives.
In 2023, she expanded her impact by advising the Information and Communications Technology Council (ICTC), a Canadian government-funded initiative, on its Pathways for Success: Women’s Economic Empowerment in Canada’s Digital Economy toolkit. That same year, she became a mentor with NPower and co-founded goBeyondBounds.org, an initiative dedicated to breaking barriers, shattering glass ceilings, and championing inclusive empowerment. Her commitment to empowering others also inspired her debut book, Be Bold and Brilliant (2023), which became an Amazon Bestseller in the Career Guide category and subsequently received the 2025 International Impact Book Award. In 2026, she released a second edition, revised and expanded for the age of AI.
Her commitment to mentorship continued to grow in 2025 when, as a 91ÑÇÉ« alumna, she joined the university’s Advancing YU program, providing strategic mentorship to senior undergraduate students and helping accelerate their academic achievement and professional readiness. In 2026, she expanded this commitment by joining Girls E-Mentorship (GEM), where she mentors young high-school women facing socioeconomic barriers, helping them build confidence, develop leadership capabilities, and navigate pathways toward future academic and professional success. She was also invited to join Capella University’s Alumni Mentorship Program, where she mentors graduate students as they advance their careers and leadership aspirations.
Dr. SCT’s leadership and contributions have earned national and international recognition, reflecting the breadth and impact of her work across business, technology, innovation, and society. These honours recognize not only her professional leadership, but also her longstanding commitment to collaboration with nonprofit organizations, academic institutions, and policymakers to advance innovation, inclusion, and meaningful societal impact. In 2026, she was named to WXN’s Top 100 — Canada’s Most Powerful Women, one of Canada’s most prestigious honours recognizing women leaders who are driving meaningful impact across business, innovation, and society. Her international recognition includes the 2025 Women Changing the World Awards, where she received Gold Changemaker of the Year and Silver Woman of the Year in the Americas. In 2026, she was further recognized on the global stage with Bronze in the Changemaker category at the Global Women Changing the World Awards Summit.
Complementing her leadership and advocacy work with Women in Tech® Canada, and building on her 2025 doctoral research in AI and cybersecurity, Dr. SCT joined an AI Leadership and Learning Academy as a strategic advisor, contributing to initiatives focused on advancing AI leadership, literacy, responsible innovation, and the practical application of emerging technologies. Building on her academic expertise and decades of diverse industry leadership, she also authored the Practitioner’s Guide to AI-Driven Cybersecurity Implementation. Rooted in insights from her doctoral research, the guide equips leaders across industries with practical strategies to foster cross-departmental collaboration, harness AI-powered cybersecurity systems, and strengthen technological resilience against emerging threats.
Active on numerous boards dedicated to professional development, Dr. SCT is a highly sought-after speaker, thought leader, and advocate for responsible innovation. Since 2019, her insights have been featured across international media outlets, publications, podcasts, and major industry events. In 2021, she appeared on the covers of two prominent industry magazines, and throughout her career she has received multiple leadership distinctions, including a nomination for the Order of Canada.
Driven by an unwavering commitment to innovation, inclusive leadership, and professional excellence, Dr. SCT continues to bridge the worlds of research, technology, business, and social impact—helping organizations navigate transformation, advancing responsible AI, developing the next generation of leaders, and shaping industries for a rapidly evolving future.