Valerie Fox is an expert in building thriving entrepreneurial communities, both locally and globally, by fostering partnerships and embracing intentional diversity.

Based in Toronto, Canada, she’s perhaps best known as the co-founder and former Executive Director of the DMZ, a leading innovation hub.

More recently, she founded The Pivotal Point, where she’s helping grow community-based incubators worldwide through coaching, mentoring, and co-creation.

With over 30 years of experience in the digital world, Val started by launching a graphic design business.

Her work caught the attention of IBM, where she joined their senior innovation network and led enterprise software design teams.

One of her standout projects was serving as the creative director for large online experiences like the Sydney Olympics.

Along the way, she earned five patents, including one for the Universal Shopping Cart for the Web—a key innovation that helped shape the e-commerce landscape.

She sits on 8 advisory boards, impacting business of all kinds through support of impact investing, women’s empowerment and community building.

She is a creative at heart, and has recently re-ignited her passion for art, carving out time to create, and collaborate with artists in her local Toronto neighbourhood.

Conversation Highlights:

1. Community Builder: Val Fox's journey is marked by her exceptional ability to build and connect communities, especially through the DMZ incubator in Toronto.
2. Career Evolution: From graphic design to IBM's creative director, Val's career showcases the power of lifelong learning and adaptability.
3. Resilience: Val's personal stories of overcoming setbacks, like post-Olympics challenges and injury recovery, highlight her resilience.
4. Artistic Revival: Recently, Val has embraced her artistic side, exploring painting and collaging, emphasizing personal growth and creativity.
5. Purposeful Living: Val focuses on health to continue serving others, with a strong commitment to social entrepreneurship and supporting women.
6. User-Centered Design: Val's work at IBM and beyond underscores the importance of designing with the user's perspective in mind.
7. Leadership and Mentorship: Val's leadership style encourages risk-taking and learning, fostering growth in her teams and community.