Ema Dantas is an award-winning entrepreneur and philanthropist who founded Language Marketplace,
a successful Canadian translation and
interpretation company, and Peaks for Change
Foundation, a charity focused on ending mental
health stigma.
Ema is excited to share her message of passion,
resilience and strength with the world. Her story is
one that many can relate to. One where family
mental health issues and lack of awareness and
support led to fractured relationships and broken
homes. Ema provides hope and inspiration in how
to turn our challenges into opportunities that can
change the world. And she shares how she learned
to overcome her limitations and fears one mountain
at a time - literally.
Ema Dantas founded Language Marketplace in the year 2000 as a professional interpreter. She saw
an opportunity to do things differently by treating language professionals with respect and building
trusted relationships with professionals across Canada. Language Marketplace quickly grew to
become a multi-million dollar company and due to her success Ema received Canada’s Top 100
Female Entrepreneurs from Chatelaine Magazine in 2012. Ema led her company to the Profit 500
list of Canada’s Fastest Growing Companies in 2013. She also received the President’s Award in
recognition of her Public Policy work to benefit fellow Women Business Enterprises by WBE
Canada. Language Marketplace joined NATIONS Translation Group in November 2022 and Ema is
currently the VP of Interpretation Solutions for NATIONS.
Ema founded the charity Peaks for Change Foundation in 2017 and is currently Board Chair. Her
charity is focused on raising awareness (and funds) to end the stigma surrounding mental health.
Ema created Peaks for Change Foundation after witnessing her mother’s mental health challenges
while growing up, and her untimely passing which Ema attributes to her mother not getting adequate
diagnosis and care. Ema recognized how difficult it was for those suffering from mental illness to
seek help, or even tell anyone they had mental health challenges, especially within some cultures.
Ema and her board of directors believe that completely ending the stigma of mental health will take
something extraordinary. So Ema chose mountain climbing because of her slight stature (she is 5
feet tall and weighs just over 100 pounds) and she also had a panic attack inducing fear of heights.
So why not go and climb the tallest mountains in the world?
Ema completed the 7 Summits for Mental Health when she summited Mount Everest on May 13,
2022. By doing so she became the first Portuguese person to complete both versions of the 7
Summits (Bass and Messner) and live to tell the tale. Ema speaks to overcoming obstacles; not just
the physical ones in front of you, but those mental mountains that threaten your success. She shares
her personal journey, defeats and triumphs with an honesty and authenticity that is sure to inspire all
audiences alike.
