“Leena Mo, CEO” Uses Storytelling to Foster Young Entrepreneurs

In a heartwarming quest to explain her complicated job to her young children, Deena Shakir, an investor at Lux Capital, turned to creativity. Shakir, known for her investments in innovative health tech companies like Alife Health and Maven Clinic, decided to directly tackle the subject by writing a book that not only explains the startup process but does so through an engaging story accessible to kids.
“Leena Mo, CEO,” Shakir’s debut picture book, follows the title character, Leena Mo, as she turns a simple robot designed to plow snow into a thriving business, ultimately becoming a CEO through determination and community support. After many agents passed on the manuscript, Shakir’s persistence finally paid off with a deal from Simon & Schuster in the spring of 2022.
As the book hits shelves, Shakir is considering expanding the universe of Leena Mo to include more about the investor’s role in entrepreneurship. Beyond the mechanics of business, Shakir hopes that children reading about Leena Mo—who is American Iraqi and Muslim girl—will see themselves excelling in entrepreneurship and technology. Her portrayal aims to dismantle stereotypes and foster a more inclusive understanding of who can be a leader in innovation.
Author: Mikaela Wang, 2024/2025 Articling Student-At-Law
Photo Credits: https://unsplash.com/@microsoft365
Photo Credits: https://unsplash.com/@microsoft365
Expertise
Insights
-
Technology
Nectir Launches Custom AI Tool to Transform Learning in Schools
Nectir, an educational AI tool, is transforming academic support at over 100 colleges and high schools by enabling educators to create personalized learning assistants tailored to their courses. These… -
Technology
PolicyMe Raises C$30 million to Revolutionize Digital Insurance
PolicyMe, a Canadian digital insurance provider, recently announced the successful close of C$30 million in new funding, building off of its C$3.3 million Seed Round (2020) and C$18 million Series A… -
Energy
Supreme Court of Canada Interprets the Telecommunications Act
In Telus Communications Inc. v. Federation of Canadian Municipalities, the Supreme Court of Canada considered the correct interpretation of the term “transmission line”, as used in sections 43 and… -
Technology
Twelve Labs Develops Enhanced Search Capabilities in Video AI
In the fast-evolving field of artificial intelligence, a new frontier is emerging: video understanding. Jae Lee, co-founder of Twelve Labs, believes that AI models adept at interpreting videos as well… -
Technology
LED Me Be: The Busy Bar Tells Your Coworkers You’re Tied Up
Have you ever been in an online meeting with your headphones on, and wished that your coworkers could read your mind and stop coming to your desk with questions? The team at Flipper Devices know this… -
Technology
Lights, Camera, Cycle: Garmin’s New Headlight Records While You Bike
Garmin is levelling up its biking equipment with Varia Vue, a headlight equipped with a front-facing, video-recording camera. The technology is similar to the “dash cam” feature for vehicles. While…