Loretta Lam

It’s been 30 years since Loretta Lam immigrated to Canada, but those newcomer experiences and her world travels since continue to inspire her ground-breaking achievements as an entrepreneur and thought leader in communication and diversity strategies.

Loretta is the founder and chief strategist of Focus Communications Inc., established in 1994 to help Fortune 500 client corporations effectively communicate with the fast-changing faces in Canada and the U.S.A.  She built her business on two decades of professional experience that included management and consultant roles at leading multinational firms Hill & Knowlton Canada and Ogilvy Asia, and leadership at the International Association of Business Communicators as Director of Advocacy and Collaboration, the Canadian Marketing Association as founding advisor of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Council, and TRIEC as advisor and newcomers’ mentor.  She was the first to convince the mainstream industry associations, media and corporate marketers about the burgeoning potential of diversity marketing, and instigated the first annual multicultural marketing report and awards event.

As a member of the York University Board of Governors and its External Relations Committee, Loretta is applying her deep insights and perspective to help York strengthen its brand and to ensure communications resonates with diverse stakeholders.

In 2024, Loretta received the prestigious Champion of Diversity award from the Ontario Ministry of Citizenship and Multiculturalism for playing a vital role in helping build a stronger, more inclusive Ontario.

She is an active mentor of youth and immigrants, and an in-demand speaker and author on topics including multicultural marketing, public relations, branding, diversity & inclusion, career-building and entrepreneurship.