WiT Champion
Celebrates a woman who exemplifies the spirit of WiT through volunteerism, leadership, and unwavering commitment to advancing the community and mission.
Becky Melchionna
Jazwares
Sr. National Account Manager
Becky exemplifies the spirit of Women in Toys through meaningful volunteerism and leadership. As a WiT Ruth Handler Mentor and Canadian Toy Association committee member, she actively advances industry growth and talent development. She expanded WiT engagement within Jazwares Canada by personally recruiting and onboarding more than 10 colleagues, doubling Jazwares’ attendance at key events through hands-on coordination and encouragement. As a mentor, she provides thoughtful, one-on-one guidance to mentees, offering practical career advice, facilitating introductions within the industry, and helping mentees set and achieve professional goals. One mentee successfully transitioned into a new role within the toy industry.
Caroline Stern
Mattel
Sr. Sales Manager
Caroline Stern is a driving force for women’s advancement at Mattel and beyond, transforming grassroots efforts into scalable, high-impact initiatives. Since 2021, she has expanded Women of Mattel globally launching the Canada chapter and stepping in as WoM Co-President in 2026. She created the first-ever WoM Toy Fair Reception, convening 200+ global colleagues to spark meaningful connection. As a WiT Mentor, she has guided four mentees, and as Co-Chair of WiT Toronto, she has delivered three community-building events. Caroline’s leadership addresses critical gaps in access, visibility, and community, resulting in sustained engagement, expanded networks, and measurable growth.
Cathérine De Bleeker
Toy Executive
Cathérine has proven herself in numerous leadership roles, namely as general manager of Oxybul éveil et jeux, president of the France WiT chapter, founder of Women's Executive Network, countless mentorship roles, her toy industry presence as an angel investor. Above all, and the common denominator to all of these positions is Cathérine's undying humility, as well as her willingness to learn from her teams. She has always valued insights from others, their localised expertise, their knowledge, and has uplifted them in their careers. Her excellence lies in her leadership style. Cathérine is an expert at empowering others.
Lisa Gilbert
Hasbro, Inc.
President Commercial - Americas Region
Lisa Gilbert is an inspiring leader and true champion within the toy industry, dedicated to developing talent and elevating those around her. She promotes continuous learning by encouraging cross-functional education that broadens perspectives and strengthens collaboration across teams. Lisa actively invests in people, mentoring and nurturing the next generation of leaders with intention and care. She is deeply committed to advancing female leadership, creating meaningful opportunities for women to grow, lead, and succeed. Her focus on building an inclusive, knowledgeable, and confident workforce has driven lasting impact across teams and organizations.
Margie Janes
Playmates Toys, Inc.
Sales Manager- Amazon
Margie Janes has consistently turned challenges into opportunities for impact. As the only woman on the Playmates sales team, she has navigated a traditionally male-dominated environment with confidence and results, building strong client relationships and driving meaningful business growth. As Co-Chair of the WiT LA Chapter, she helped expand programming and engagement, strengthening the local network and visibility of women in the industry. Additionally, through her leadership in volunteer organizations, she has mobilized large-scale community involvement, contributing to over 5,000 volunteer hours. Across every role, Margie leads with resilience and intention, creating pathways for others while delivering measurable results.
Sunny Lauridsen
Just Play
SVP, Marketing
Sunny exemplifies the spirit of Women in Toys through her leadership, mentorship, and unwavering commitment to advancing the company. As SVP of Marketing and Brand Strategy, she champions the development of talent across the organization, actively mentoring team members and encouraging participation in WiT programs and events. With over 15 years in the industry, Sunny brings both experience and passion to everything she does. Additionally, she proudly serves on the Board of Trustees for The Toy Foundation, further extending her impact across the industry.
Trisa Bui
The LEGO Group
Associate Corporate Counsel
Trisa's an extraordinary leader who consistently mirrors the values of The LEGO Group and the spirit of WiT. She is a leader in the Women’s Inclusion Network and the Race, Ethnicity, and Cultural Heritage Inclusion Network, advancing spaces that empower and support colleagues. In the past month alone, Trisa coordinated two panels celebrating International Women’s Day and Lunar New Year, crafting thoughtful questions that led to engaging, reflective conversations. She also regularly plans events for the Rainbow Builders Inclusion Network. These initiatives address the need for inclusive dialogue and connection, resulting in stronger engagement and meaningful reflection across the organization.
