Meet the Founders
Co-Founders & mothers on a mission:
Jen Murtagh & Sonja Baikogli Foley
Your coaches & fierce advocates for gender equality
MaturnTM was created to shift the narrative and support systems around maternity leave in Canada — so that more working mothers can continue to advance in their careers and retain positions of leadership with greater support from employers, partners and like-minded mothers along the way. Our signature program, Maturn is the only comprehensive course of its kind in Canada focused solely on the crucial transition to and from maternity leave, and we hope to bring thousands of mothers back to work in a whole new way in the years to come.
Jen Murtagh, Co-Founder
With over two decades of experience spanning both corporate and non-profit, heart-centred leadership has been the guiding star of Jen Murtagh’s career. An award-winning and values-based C-Suite leader, Jen has successfully led and raised millions for national campaigns on anti-bullying, vulnerable youth, and advanced gender equity through her work with a variety of women’s organizations.
As an ICF accredited leadership coach, Jen supports women to live and lead bravely through her 1:1 coaching, workshops, speaking and signature Brave Leadership for Women program. Jen is a Business in Vancouver ‘Forty Under 40’ Award Winner and Greater Vancouver Board of Trade ‘Women of Promise’.
Jen is a community champion, who has volunteered thousands of hours for countless charities and in 2017 fulfilled a lifelong dream by travelling to Africa to lead mentoring + goal-setting workshops with non-profit One Girl Can. Jen is a mother and stepmother to four children who was inspired to co-create Maturn to serve mothers in a deep and meaningful way while advancing gender equity.
Sonja Baikogli Foley, Co-Founder
Sonja holds 15+ years of diverse experience in non-profit, public and private organizations and has always been drawn towards impact-driven work that genuinely makes a difference in the lives of others. Born to Iranian refugee-status parents in Sweden, she experienced her life from the eyes of displaced parents. These early experiences and hardships shaped Sonja’s foundation and made her the person she is today.
Educated in Sweden, Canada and Spain, Sonja began her career in media working in radio and continued to create change through her career — from participating in the United Nations, to serving as a board of director on the YWCA Canada Board for five years, to being appointed to the West Vancouver Police Board by the Province of BC in 2020, and most recently led the Intergovernmental Relations & Strategic Partnerships team at the City of Vancouver.
Sonja co-founded Maturn out of a desire to support women and turn maternity leave into an intentional year. She’s a proud mother of two who is driven to build a more equitable, compassionate and inclusive world for future generations.
Board of Advisors
Just like it “takes a village” to raise a child, it takes support, belief and counsel to launch a movement. Thankfully, we had these leaders advising us and in our corner from Day 1.
Amy Juschka
Director
Communications and Advocacy at YWCA Metro Vancouver
Bob Elton
Corporate and Non-Profit Board Director
Adjunct Professor, Sauder School of Business, UBC
Chantelle Krish
Executive Director
Big Sisters of BC Lower Mainland
Don Wright
Former Deputy Minister to Premier of B.C.
Dr. Victoria Gay
Executive Consultant
Martin Reed
Founder and Principal
Moreale
Julia Kwan
Program Manager
NOBL Collective
Want to find out if the Maturn program is for you?
Book a short discovery call with one of our Co-Founders, Jen and Sonja. We will use this time to best understand you, your needs, any fears you may have and help you decide if Maturn is the right fit for you.
Want to get in touch?
