Juliette Powell
Speak from the heart. That’s the key. Speaking from the heart and speaking about something that you really care about… to me, that’s the ultimate, because in that way, we all grow together.”
Obituary
Juliette Powell, 54, of New York City and Montreal, Quebec, succumbed unexpectedly to acute bacterial meningitis on June 3, 2025. She is survived by a myriad of loving friends, colleagues, and collaborators, who are all heartbroken, and her beloved dog, Tyra Banks. Ms. Powell was an American-born Canadian media expert, tech ethicist, business advisor, author, and speaker renowned for her work at the intersection of technology, ethics, and society. She was the founder and managing partner of Kleiner Powell International (KPI), a New York City-based consultancy advising on responsible technology and business strategy.
Born in Manhattan in 1970, Ms. Powell moved to Montreal, Quebec, at the age of eight with her French-Canadian mother. She excelled in math and science during high school and was an avid swimmer. Motivated by a desire to challenge racial biases in beauty pageants, she entered and came in second in the Miss Montreal Pageant. That inspired her to enter and win the 1989 Miss Canada Pageant where she became the first Black Canadian to hold the title. She later represented Canada in the 1989 Miss Universe pageant. During this time, she studied Commerce at Vanier College.
Much later, in her application to Columbia, Ms. Powell wrote, “Neither my mother nor my father had a high school education, but they insisted that I was not black or white, Canadian or American, French or English, Catholic or Jewish, but rather that I was blessed to be all of those things as a citizen of the world.”
Ms. Powell earned a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Columbia University, graduating summa cum laude and becoming a member of Phi Beta Kappa. Her thesis, “The Limits and Possibilities in the Self-Regulation of Artificial Intelligence,” drew from her consulting work with Intel Labs and other multinational companies.
After her reign as Miss Canada, Ms. Powell transitioned into media, joining MusiquePlus in 1992 as a VJ while studying finance and business at McGill University. She hosted the weekly dance music show Bouge de là! until 1996. That same year, she moved to Toronto, transferring to MuchMusic and becoming host of Electric Circus and French Kiss, while also studying economics at the University of Toronto.
In 1999, Ms. Powell began working for CablePulse 24 as a business reporter and founded Powell International Entertainment Inc. (PIE Inc.), a media and consulting company that produced features with personalities such as Nelson Mandela, Richard Branson, Steven Spielberg, and Janet Jackson.
Ms. Powell's engagement with technology and ethics began in earnest in 2001 when she co-authored the media section for the UN Plan of Action of the World Conference against Racism. This led to advisory roles with international institutions, including the United Nations, World Economic Forum, and the World Bank. Ms. Powell enjoyed bringing together large groups of friends in so-called “Gatherings” to co-create, network, and meet each other, becoming close with the founders of Cirque du Soleil, Twitter, iRobot, and Alphabet.
Her 2009 book, 33 Million People in the Room: How to Create, Influence, and Run a Successful Business Using Social Networking, explored the business applications of social media and was translated into multiple languages. In 2011, she contributed to the E-G8, an extension of the G8 Summit focused on the future of the internet and connected society. Ms. Powell has provided live commentary on networks such as NBC, CNN, ABC, BBC, and BNN, addressing issues like privacy, cybersecurity, and bias. In 2016, she delivered a TED Talk on unconscious bias at TEDx St. Louis Women.
In 2021, Ms. Powell joined the faculty of New York University's Interactive Telecommunications Program, teaching courses at the intersection of media, technology, and ethics.
In August 2023, Ms. Powell co-authored The AI Dilemma: 7 Principles for Responsible Technology with Art Kleiner, integrating perspectives from engineering, business, government, and social justice to address issues like unconscious bias, data ownership, and accountability in AI systems.
Juliette Powell's multifaceted career had a consistent focus on promoting responsible innovation and challenging systemic biases. Her work continues to influence discussions on the ethical implications of emerging technologies.
Juliette loved her career. But the place where she had the most impact was with her friends. Juliette had a magical way of drawing people in with her infectious enthusiasm, and her brilliant intelligence and gorgeous smile lit up every room she ever entered. Her loss is devastating and she will be deeply, painfully missed by so many.
Juliette’s dream was to provide access to an ethical technology education for more women of color and for all children to grow up in safe, respectful and compassionate environments. In lieu of flowers, we ask that people who wish to make a contribution donate to Black Girls Code (www.wearebgc.org), Operation Respect (www.operationrespect.org) or another educational non-profit of their choice in Juliette's name.
Timeline
1970
Born in Manhattan, NY
1978
Moved to Montreal, QC at age eight
1989
Crowned Miss Canada; first Black Canadian to win.
and represented Canada at Miss Universe
1992
Studied at Vanier College, Montreal
1992
Joined MusiquePlus as VJ.
hosted dance music show Bouge de là!
1996
Joined MuchMusic; hosted Electric Circus and French Kiss, Toronto.
while studying economics at University of Toronto
1999
Became business reporter for CablePulse24
1999
Founded Powell International Entertainment Inc. (PIE Inc.)
producing segments with personalities like Nelson Mandela, Richard Branson, Steven Spielberg and more
2001
Co-authored the media section of the UN Plan of Action at the World Conference against Racism.
and began advising organizations like the UN, World Bank, WEF
2009
Published 33 Million People in the Room
a social networking business guide; translated into Chinese, Korean, German, Portuguese, Spanish.
2011
Participated in the E-G8 initiative, advising G8 leaders on internet and global connected society.
2016
Delivered a TEDx talk titled It’s About Time We Challenge Our Unconscious Biases
2020
Earned a BA in Sociology, summa cum laude, from Columbia University (Phi Beta Kappa)
2021
Joined NYU’s Interactive Telecommunications Program faculty, teaching media, technology & ethics
2023
Co-authored The AI Dilemma: 7 Principles for Responsible Technology
2024
Founder & Led AI strategy firm Kleiner Powell International
Gallery
Memory wall
Post your condolences and share your Memories.
May 13, 2026
20
May 13, 2026
20
October 6, 2025
1
I look at all these beautiful photos of Juliette, and I cannot believe she is gone from this world. I only met her a couple of years ago, but she has left an unbelievable mark on my life. I loved reading all of these messages that talk so much about the friend, colleague and woman she was to so many. She has an uncanny way of getting right to soul of you so quickly and become a friend. We had so many deep and wonderful conversations about life, choices and many "whys". I will cherish those conversations forever. This remarkable woman described me as formidable! I told her she was looking in a mirror! I am forever grateful I got to meet her and spend the short period of time with her I did. Whenever my book does get done it will be dedicated in her honor. Thank you, my friend, for sharing a friendship with me.
September 29, 2025
1
Rest in Power Juliette! You were a brave warrior and constantly fought for justice and the betterment of humanity. Your journey ended too soon and I hope we all can carry a candle lit from your torch. I miss you and all that I imagined you would create.
September 23, 2025
1
Art K is my connection to Juliette. Although I never met her in person, I experienced her radiance and intelligence during a single Zoom meeting with Art and a few e-mails we exchanged over the past few years.
In December 2024, I wrote to Art and Juliette to congratulate them for the student's presentations in the annual NYU Scenarios class they led.
I have been attending those presentations for many years. I truly felt that these presentations were excellent. At the time, I wrote this short e-mail -- "I... congratulate you two for inspiring two great teams. I’ve been coming to this class for a long time. These teams were the best. Learned a lot. Thank you for teaching!"
She wrote me back: "So glad you enjoyed it Ann! Agreed and more to come."
Later, Art told me over the phone that he was not confident that he had taught the students as effectively he could have. As I recall, he also told me that Juliette thought, the students had demonstrated the value and the gift of learning in this class Art has created year after year.
She challenged Art to think about the class and what they did well and what they could do better next year.
I was stunned and deeply, deeply saddened to hear about Juliette's sudden departure to wherever it is we humans go. Her life touch me briefly but deeply.
At this unfathomably complicated moment in humanity's digital journey, I know that the contributions Juliette and Art made individually and separately together will continue, and we who care must join them.
Juliette was a bright light, a shooting star. Her light will not be dimmed.
In December 2024, I wrote to Art and Juliette to congratulate them for the student's presentations in the annual NYU Scenarios class they led.
I have been attending those presentations for many years. I truly felt that these presentations were excellent. At the time, I wrote this short e-mail -- "I... congratulate you two for inspiring two great teams. I’ve been coming to this class for a long time. These teams were the best. Learned a lot. Thank you for teaching!"
She wrote me back: "So glad you enjoyed it Ann! Agreed and more to come."
Later, Art told me over the phone that he was not confident that he had taught the students as effectively he could have. As I recall, he also told me that Juliette thought, the students had demonstrated the value and the gift of learning in this class Art has created year after year.
She challenged Art to think about the class and what they did well and what they could do better next year.
I was stunned and deeply, deeply saddened to hear about Juliette's sudden departure to wherever it is we humans go. Her life touch me briefly but deeply.
At this unfathomably complicated moment in humanity's digital journey, I know that the contributions Juliette and Art made individually and separately together will continue, and we who care must join them.
Juliette was a bright light, a shooting star. Her light will not be dimmed.
August 4, 2025
1
Do the hard things first.
If I were going to list all the things I learned from Juliette, that would be number one. It was the exact opposite of the way I looked at life. I believed in putting off the hard things as long as possible, so that maybe they would go away on their own.
We met around 2014, when Napier Collyns brought her to visit a class I was teaching, on the future of technology and media. A few years later, she would end up co-teaching the class with me.
She became a critically important contributor to Strategy+Business. She was so self-possessed that for the longest time, I had no idea of the range of her accomplishments. Every conversation opened a door to some new way of looking at the world that she had already explored.
When she showed me her Columbia dissertation, I immediately knew that there was a powerful book there. She asked me to coauthor it with her, and that became The AI Dilemma -- a book that launched us into four years of intensive teaching, writing, and consulting together.
She asked to put my name first on the firm she founded. We cared deeply for each other, and we also fought viciously at times. She continually introduced me to people who felt she had elevated them, just by the way she paid attention.
Some of the things she taught me were: Bring your energy. Don't stay inside when you can go outside. Say it with fewer words. (I thought I knew that one, but not in practice.) Work with people who don't think the way you do. When the subject came up, "Is AI fair?" she would always say, "fair to whom?"
She was gloriously naive, worldly, and wise, like all my favorite people. I put off writing this because I keep wanting to ask Juliette what she thinks of it. Instead of asking her directly, I have to ask the Juliette who lives in my head, who I keep reaching out to as a vastly inadequate substitute for the person who we knew.
If I were going to list all the things I learned from Juliette, that would be number one. It was the exact opposite of the way I looked at life. I believed in putting off the hard things as long as possible, so that maybe they would go away on their own.
We met around 2014, when Napier Collyns brought her to visit a class I was teaching, on the future of technology and media. A few years later, she would end up co-teaching the class with me.
She became a critically important contributor to Strategy+Business. She was so self-possessed that for the longest time, I had no idea of the range of her accomplishments. Every conversation opened a door to some new way of looking at the world that she had already explored.
When she showed me her Columbia dissertation, I immediately knew that there was a powerful book there. She asked me to coauthor it with her, and that became The AI Dilemma -- a book that launched us into four years of intensive teaching, writing, and consulting together.
She asked to put my name first on the firm she founded. We cared deeply for each other, and we also fought viciously at times. She continually introduced me to people who felt she had elevated them, just by the way she paid attention.
Some of the things she taught me were: Bring your energy. Don't stay inside when you can go outside. Say it with fewer words. (I thought I knew that one, but not in practice.) Work with people who don't think the way you do. When the subject came up, "Is AI fair?" she would always say, "fair to whom?"
She was gloriously naive, worldly, and wise, like all my favorite people. I put off writing this because I keep wanting to ask Juliette what she thinks of it. Instead of asking her directly, I have to ask the Juliette who lives in my head, who I keep reaching out to as a vastly inadequate substitute for the person who we knew.
July 25, 2025
2
Juliette was like a sister to me.. I’ve been through a lot together in the past years. I’ve met her in 1974 she was 4 and I was 6.. I’m gonna miss her dearly. I still can’t believe that she’s gone far to soon 😞😞❤️
June 16, 2025
2
RIH Queen and fly high with the angels. Condolences to the family and friends and praying for strength and comfort during this time. 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽
June 16, 2025
3
Quelle tristesse d’apprendre ton départ. Je t’ai rencontré pour la première fois dans la vie à l’école primaire Des Roseraies il y a presque 50 ans de cela… ouf…. Sois en paix Juliette, tu resteras toujours dans me pensées. Louis
June 16, 2025
4
Juliette was a long time close friend of my husband. I will attach a recent picture of the 3 of us. We found out Juliette has passed on June 10th, while we were in Scottsdale Arizona. Proof that there is no ‘good time’ for anything, life unfolds….
I feel, besides a lot of sadness, a strong urge to attend/ be present at any memorial celebrating Juliette’s life, even if that means organizing it myself. She was special.
I feel, besides a lot of sadness, a strong urge to attend/ be present at any memorial celebrating Juliette’s life, even if that means organizing it myself. She was special.
June 15, 2025
4
This strange feeling, that I'm feeling, I could'nt let this page without saying something .since her days at''Bouge de la'' at music plus to electric circus at much music, I remember how sad I was of her leaving music plus bu happy to have found her again at much to later lose her again to other adventures. Knowing the ripple effect she has on many black girls in Canada looking for a reference, she was a woman of many firsts, a barrier breaker.. Growing up a black girl in Montreal, just arriving looking for a familiar face In the crown, there she was tall, gracious, poise, in media landscape often hostile, she was a calm ocean of strength and grace, No words can express the gratitude how important you've been in the media world and for me, like for so many black girls and Canada and the fact you owned It with pround, May your journey as an ancestor be blessed and continue to inspire us.
Haiku Tribute to Juliette Powell’s Legacy
Pioneer's light dims—
Breaking barriers, lifting minds,
Her voice echoes on.
Juliette speaks truth
Networks shaped by human care—
Code with conscience wakes.
Voice of fierce insight—
Beauty, tech, and truth aligned,
She lit future’s path.
Leaves fall in silence—
the wind carries what once was,
into endless sky.
Electric Circus fades—
Her voice still hums in the code,
a moonlit algorithm.
Final breath released,
Stars witness the gentle passage
From here to beyond.
Chasing digital dreams,
Juliette explores worlds—
Truths in pixels shine.
In memory of Juliette Powell—visionary thinker, ethical tech advocate, and a voice for responsible innovation.
June 14, 2025
3
I didn’t know Juliette as long as many of people here, but in the time I did, her kindness left a profound impact on me. As her Graduate Assistant at NYU, I came to appreciate how deeply she cared about each student’s journey. I wasn't even her student, but she took time to ask about my academic and career goals, and personally introducing me to people who could help me in my realm. Her generosity and genuine concern are rare qualities that shaped my graduate experience in ways I’ll always remember.
Thank you, Juliette, for your unwavering support and guidance. I hope that someday soon we’ll meet again in the kitchen on the floor.
Thank you, Juliette, for your unwavering support and guidance. I hope that someday soon we’ll meet again in the kitchen on the floor.
June 13, 2025
11
It's embarrassingly plain how inadequate language is.
The caller ID said it was the New York Police Department. A document identified me as Juliette’s brother and emergency contact. That day - Tuesday the third of June - was the worst day of my life.
We met about sixteen years ago in SOHO. Some people told her she should talk to me so she just walked up and we had an hour long conversation. There was a good deal of flow and she suggested we do it again soon. The next week we had a three hour walk and that same state of delightful flow happened. From then on we became close. She was closer than my blood relatives, calling me her brother and anam cara. She was certainly my anam cara and sister.
We talked a lot about our work using each other as sounding boards so we could communicate more clearly about these things to others. She was fascinated by some of the astrophysics images. The one I've attached is a radio image of the central part of the Milky Way. I was going to have it printed for her birthday this year.
I can’t bring myself to write much now - that will have to wait for the memorial - but it’s amazing how much just worked out. I will, however, offer an observation that may be unique. For me she was clearly in the key of E Major. She absolutely loved that thought. Last night I listened to the Prelude of Bach Partita No.3 for Violin in E Major and lost it as the memory of her was so intense. It’s the first time I was able to cry since that awful call.
The caller ID said it was the New York Police Department. A document identified me as Juliette’s brother and emergency contact. That day - Tuesday the third of June - was the worst day of my life.
We met about sixteen years ago in SOHO. Some people told her she should talk to me so she just walked up and we had an hour long conversation. There was a good deal of flow and she suggested we do it again soon. The next week we had a three hour walk and that same state of delightful flow happened. From then on we became close. She was closer than my blood relatives, calling me her brother and anam cara. She was certainly my anam cara and sister.
We talked a lot about our work using each other as sounding boards so we could communicate more clearly about these things to others. She was fascinated by some of the astrophysics images. The one I've attached is a radio image of the central part of the Milky Way. I was going to have it printed for her birthday this year.
I can’t bring myself to write much now - that will have to wait for the memorial - but it’s amazing how much just worked out. I will, however, offer an observation that may be unique. For me she was clearly in the key of E Major. She absolutely loved that thought. Last night I listened to the Prelude of Bach Partita No.3 for Violin in E Major and lost it as the memory of her was so intense. It’s the first time I was able to cry since that awful call.
June 13, 2025
2
I first met Juliette at my Strategy, Leadership and the Soul book launch, hosted by my friend and mentor, Napier Collyns. I remember being in awe—not just of her beauty, but of her presence.
Juliette didn’t just light up a room—she illuminated the future. She had a rare gift for asking tomorrow’s questions, pushing us to confront the ethical dilemmas of our digital age with courage and clarity.
I am deeply saddened by the loss of such a radiant human being, but even more by the loss of her provocation. She challenged us to think harder, go deeper, and do better.
We will carry your voice and your quest forward, Juliette.
((( deep bow ))) 🙏 🩷
Juliette didn’t just light up a room—she illuminated the future. She had a rare gift for asking tomorrow’s questions, pushing us to confront the ethical dilemmas of our digital age with courage and clarity.
I am deeply saddened by the loss of such a radiant human being, but even more by the loss of her provocation. She challenged us to think harder, go deeper, and do better.
We will carry your voice and your quest forward, Juliette.
((( deep bow ))) 🙏 🩷
June 13, 2025
1
Our condolences to Juliette's friends, family and community. Saddened to hear the news. She led with purpose and warmth and we're grateful at National Speakers Bureau for our time with her to help share her messages of community and ethics. Take good care of each other. I've posted a tribute and link to one of her videos about community here; https://lnkd.in/gBHy-psz
June 13, 2025
2
C’est avec une grande tristesse que j’apprends ton départ inattendu. Mes souvenirs avec toi à Musique Plus font partie d’une époque formidable. Ta gentillesse, ta générosité avec les gens étaient ta signature. Ta determination, ton intelligence ainsi que ton esprit frondeur ont pavé le chemin de tes nombreuses réalisations qui seront certainement une inspiration pour ceux qui ont croisé ton regard.
June 13, 2025
3
It's really hard to find the words... But part of me takes some small comfort in the idea that somewhere, Juliette is amused to see that something has FINALLY managed to render her overly talkative friend speechless after so many years of her patiently listening to me ramble on about one thing or another, the way great friends who love you let you ramble when you need to, and she was indeed a great friend. No matter how busy or successful she was - and she was all of those things - she ALWAYS managed to offer words of encouragement, a smile or just a safe space to vent, celebrate or dream. In a world in which there are so many stories in media about women not supporting and celebrating one another she lifted so many of us up and brought so many of us together. Recently, I invited her to something tangentially related to my career, Her response was not just, "Yes, I'll be there," but "Can I bring more people along to support?" I hate that that was the last time I saw her and wish I had known it would be, and yet it is an almost perfect final memory of her. She looked beautiful - as always - and when she smiled, she glowed and it was a glow that lit up the room and every person in it. Having shown up to support, and having brought a number of us together that day, she rushed off. I like to think that her introducing her various friends to one another was her final act of Juliette magic, so that we can be there for each other and lift each other up during this tough time. So incredibly sad she is no longer part of this world, but I am so very grateful she graced this Earth with her presence for as long as she did. We are all better for it.
June 12, 2025
3
I worked with Juliette at MuchMusic. She was a force of nature. We are all shocked and saddened by this. I send my sincere condolences to her loved ones.
June 12, 2025
1
I remember watching her on electric circus. Her energy is so infectious. You will be missed beautiful soul. You are such a trailblazer.
June 12, 2025
1
I can't believe this. What a bright light lost far too soon. I met Juliette at a conference where we powerfully connected. She left such a positive impact on me. I'm streaming hugs to all who loved her.
June 12, 2025
2
Nothing but heart-broken. I've shared some thoughts (and our conversation from last year)... to her family and friends: may her memory be a blessing... such sadness...
www.sixpixels.com/articles/archives/orbiting-juliette-powell
www.sixpixels.com/articles/archives/orbiting-juliette-powell
June 12, 2025
1
RIP. Your memory and accomplishments will live on.
June 12, 2025
2
Juliette brought her extraordinary energy and joie de vivre to MuchMusic in Toronto where we had the pleasure of working together. She was a beautiful, passionate soul and her enormous heart always done through. Sending love and strength and peace to all her friends and family. 💔
June 12, 2025
1
I met Juliette over 10 years ago. She struck me as a dynamo - creative, sassy and savvy. And intelligent! We shared many telephone conversations and would often discuss solutions to global issues. I am very shocked and saddened to learn of her death. Her smile lives on in my heart. May she rest in peace profound.
June 12, 2025
3
I met Juliette at the annual YPO event in Las Vegas in 2023. I was backstage helping speakers with their talks and she was one of the keynote speakers. Her energy was unmissable. In the moments before her talk, but mainly after, we connected.. Like minded humans who felt members of the same tribe. We talked about TED, life, goals, dreams and the universe. She called me her "witchy" friend. The next couple of years we exchanged texts and emails around ideas and current affairs. I was amazed by her sense of purpose, dreams, humor and knowledge; by her inner light. She was one of a kind.
Dearest Juliette, you will always be remembered.
Dearest Juliette, you will always be remembered.
June 11, 2025
3
Juliette SAW me. I don’t know why. (Thanks to Dawn Langfield for the photo.)
I can’t remember the event, (late ‘90s or early aughts?) but we met, we talked, we connected.
She contacted me later and invited me to a weekend “salon” on Long Island, New York with a group of like minded others. The discussions, the chats, the vibe? How we could save the world! And she meant it. I was in over my head and too intimidated to follow up.
I was in awe of her. So beautiful. So natural. So thoughtful. SO SMART! I remember when she went from Much Music to a CP24 business reporter. In broadcasting myself, I wondered how did she do that? Very few made (or were allowed to make) that type of leap. But, how could she be denied?
Juliette blazed a trail that sadly, many are just learning of now.
She won’t be forgotten.
Rest well.
I can’t remember the event, (late ‘90s or early aughts?) but we met, we talked, we connected.
She contacted me later and invited me to a weekend “salon” on Long Island, New York with a group of like minded others. The discussions, the chats, the vibe? How we could save the world! And she meant it. I was in over my head and too intimidated to follow up.
I was in awe of her. So beautiful. So natural. So thoughtful. SO SMART! I remember when she went from Much Music to a CP24 business reporter. In broadcasting myself, I wondered how did she do that? Very few made (or were allowed to make) that type of leap. But, how could she be denied?
Juliette blazed a trail that sadly, many are just learning of now.
She won’t be forgotten.
Rest well.
June 11, 2025
2
We lived on opposite sides of the globe most of the time but she was in my life for almost 20 years. I'm pissed off that she won't be there for 20 more. I saw her serious, I saw her silly. We had adventures, we laughed our heads off. Raising a glass to my friend and her many achievements but most of all remembering our last hug. Love you Juliette.
Pics: Marylebone, London (2006) and Prospect Park, Brooklyn (2017)
Pics: Marylebone, London (2006) and Prospect Park, Brooklyn (2017)
June 11, 2025
5
There was never a more beloved Canadian TV personality. I grew up watching her on Musique Plus + Much Music, and had no idea she was so intellectually accomplished too. RIP Juliette - the nation mourns
June 11, 2025
3
Sending sincere condolences. You were the first 'personality' I volunteered for at MuchMusic assisting you with French Kiss and Electric Circus. I remembered I laughed at you when you first tried to convince me to join yoga citing that yoga back then was something I didn't and wouldn't make the time for. If you could see me now, lol I know you would be laughing - there's no more cameras in my life, only my yoga mat and that remains one of the stories I tell to this day to my students about how I discovered my practice and how it's changed my life today. Thank you. You were never just a personality. You were (and are) a beautiful human soul whose light will be missed. Rest well. xo
June 11, 2025
4
A part of my generation dissapeared last week. As a black women watching Musique Plus in the 90's, seeing someone that ressembled me meant a lot. I always liked to watch her sense of fashion, her beauty. I believe she opened many doors on the Quebec television back then as many Musique Plus VJs of different origins took the torch after she left the famous station. RIP Juliette ! Thank you for your smile and all those days I sat patiently in from of my TV waiting to see you, your interviews with celebs and your energy on Musique Plus.
June 11, 2025
2
I'm so sorry that you're gone.
June 11, 2025
7
The Last Thing I Expected to Write
By Taffi Laing
The last thing I expected to be writing. The last person I expected to lose. She was the one you thought would outrun time.
She lived a short life, but she filled it with so much brilliance, movement, generosity, fight, beauty, courage—that it felt... expansive. And somehow, a midst all of it, I got to be her friend. She was my sister. My close friend. The kind you talk to almost every day. The kind who gets invited into the soft underbelly of someone extraordinary.
The first time I saw her, we were both outside Moses Znaimer’s office—new hires, a little starry-eyed, both standing on the threshold of lives that hadn’t yet unfolded. She had just arrived from Montreal, and I remember thinking she looked like a baby giraffe—beautiful, nearly six feet tall, all limbs and elegance, with a slight air of being unmoored. I was there as a videographer for Bravo Arts & Minds, she was about to help create Electric Circus. She needed help finding a place to live. I nudged the assistant to Moses to pay attention to her. That was the beginning—just a small moment of noticing. But with her, even small moments had gravity.
Seven years later, she called —but this time with something wild. She was creating a one-of-a-kind television pilot about creativity in Turkey, and asked me to be one of two videographers. How could I say no? She had a way of pulling people into possibility.
We met in Rome and took a bus across Italy to catch a ferry to Izmir. From there, it was a moving festival—markets bursting with life, the surreal rock formations of Cappadocia, the pulse of Istanbul. We filmed musicians playing in the streets, the alleys and cafés, captured artists and poets, and let the country reveal itself through its creators. She led with a producer’s precision but also a poet’s heart.
That trip was so her, visionary, a little chaotic, full of beauty, and unforgettable. But what I didn’t know then was that years later, when my own life would splinter apart, she wouldn’t just be a memory of adventure. She’d become my constant. My call-every-day person. The voice that made me laugh when I felt like disappearing. The one who helped me walk out of my marriage, and out of the U.S., when both had stopped being safe.
She supported my decision not to return to the States, even when it meant turning down potential work. I was too overwhelmed by the political climate, too wary of feeling financially dependent while sleeping on her couch in a tiny New York apartment. She understood—even when I turned down her many warm, insistent invitations to visit. I carry some guilt about that. But I know she knew my reasons. She always knew the nuances.
Over the last three years, we became woven into each other’s days. Calls, texts, voice notes, and articles shared. It was a steady rhythm that made space for us to be exactly who we were. No performance. Just a connection.
And in those years, she wasn’t just a friend—she was also a guide to the future. At NYU, she taught with a clarity and curiosity that made complex issues human. Her students weren’t just informed—they were enlightened. She co-wrote her second book, The AI Dilemma: 7 Principles for Responsible Technology, with Art Kleiner. It’s a powerful work that urges technologists and citizens alike to engage with AI in conscious, ethical ways. She didn’t just study the intersection of humanity and tech—she lived in that space, with heart and rigor.
In the last weeks, her voice grew quieter. She’d been suffering from migraines, the kind that sent her to bed and silenced our regular check-ins. It wasn’t like her. She always called me back. And then, the call came—not from her, but about her. She was gone. Just like that. Fifty-four. Too soon. Too wrong. Too impossible.
I keep waiting to hear from her. I still catch myself reaching for the phone. I still compose sentences in my head meant just for her.
She lived a short life, but a deep one. She created, she moved, she gave, she connected. She taught. She questioned. And she left behind principles for living with integrity in a rapidly changing world.
And I was lucky—no, blessed—to be close enough to see it all. I will carry her with me, always, in the small everyday ways that only soul mirrors leave behind.
By Taffi Laing
The last thing I expected to be writing. The last person I expected to lose. She was the one you thought would outrun time.
She lived a short life, but she filled it with so much brilliance, movement, generosity, fight, beauty, courage—that it felt... expansive. And somehow, a midst all of it, I got to be her friend. She was my sister. My close friend. The kind you talk to almost every day. The kind who gets invited into the soft underbelly of someone extraordinary.
The first time I saw her, we were both outside Moses Znaimer’s office—new hires, a little starry-eyed, both standing on the threshold of lives that hadn’t yet unfolded. She had just arrived from Montreal, and I remember thinking she looked like a baby giraffe—beautiful, nearly six feet tall, all limbs and elegance, with a slight air of being unmoored. I was there as a videographer for Bravo Arts & Minds, she was about to help create Electric Circus. She needed help finding a place to live. I nudged the assistant to Moses to pay attention to her. That was the beginning—just a small moment of noticing. But with her, even small moments had gravity.
Seven years later, she called —but this time with something wild. She was creating a one-of-a-kind television pilot about creativity in Turkey, and asked me to be one of two videographers. How could I say no? She had a way of pulling people into possibility.
We met in Rome and took a bus across Italy to catch a ferry to Izmir. From there, it was a moving festival—markets bursting with life, the surreal rock formations of Cappadocia, the pulse of Istanbul. We filmed musicians playing in the streets, the alleys and cafés, captured artists and poets, and let the country reveal itself through its creators. She led with a producer’s precision but also a poet’s heart.
That trip was so her, visionary, a little chaotic, full of beauty, and unforgettable. But what I didn’t know then was that years later, when my own life would splinter apart, she wouldn’t just be a memory of adventure. She’d become my constant. My call-every-day person. The voice that made me laugh when I felt like disappearing. The one who helped me walk out of my marriage, and out of the U.S., when both had stopped being safe.
She supported my decision not to return to the States, even when it meant turning down potential work. I was too overwhelmed by the political climate, too wary of feeling financially dependent while sleeping on her couch in a tiny New York apartment. She understood—even when I turned down her many warm, insistent invitations to visit. I carry some guilt about that. But I know she knew my reasons. She always knew the nuances.
Over the last three years, we became woven into each other’s days. Calls, texts, voice notes, and articles shared. It was a steady rhythm that made space for us to be exactly who we were. No performance. Just a connection.
And in those years, she wasn’t just a friend—she was also a guide to the future. At NYU, she taught with a clarity and curiosity that made complex issues human. Her students weren’t just informed—they were enlightened. She co-wrote her second book, The AI Dilemma: 7 Principles for Responsible Technology, with Art Kleiner. It’s a powerful work that urges technologists and citizens alike to engage with AI in conscious, ethical ways. She didn’t just study the intersection of humanity and tech—she lived in that space, with heart and rigor.
In the last weeks, her voice grew quieter. She’d been suffering from migraines, the kind that sent her to bed and silenced our regular check-ins. It wasn’t like her. She always called me back. And then, the call came—not from her, but about her. She was gone. Just like that. Fifty-four. Too soon. Too wrong. Too impossible.
I keep waiting to hear from her. I still catch myself reaching for the phone. I still compose sentences in my head meant just for her.
She lived a short life, but a deep one. She created, she moved, she gave, she connected. She taught. She questioned. And she left behind principles for living with integrity in a rapidly changing world.
And I was lucky—no, blessed—to be close enough to see it all. I will carry her with me, always, in the small everyday ways that only soul mirrors leave behind.
June 11, 2025
1
Thank You for Existing. Rest in Peace new ancestor.
June 11, 2025
5
I wanted to say that thousands across Canada watched her on television, as a Much Music VJ in the late 1990s. She was tall, kind and a stunningly beautiful woman. She was the epitome of cool. She was beautiful and classic. I remember watching her throughout Jr. High and High School in the late 1990s. I remember her well. She was smart, intelligent and achieved so much, after being crowned as the first black 1989 Beauty Queen and after her time on Much Music. We are shocked and very saddened to hear about this sudden loss of such a beautiful, smart and intelligent woman. My prayers and all of our prayers are with her and her entire family, at this time. Juliette, thank you for all you are and all you have given to others; your love for others, your belief in equality and humanity, your ambition, your words, infectious smile and kind heart. From Alberta Canada and from all the 1990s and 2000s teens-young adults who watched and grew up with you; Thank you Juliette. We Love You. May God protect you in his loving arms and may those you loved deeply, find healing and comfort. Thank you Juliette.
June 11, 2025
5
I'm so shocked of words when i heard about her sudden death.
she is one of my role models that i looked up to growing up as an African child in Nigeria , when she won the beauty pageant of MISS CANADA i was young but loved her so much.
may her gentle soul rest in the blossom of the lord almighty Amen.
she is one of my role models that i looked up to growing up as an African child in Nigeria , when she won the beauty pageant of MISS CANADA i was young but loved her so much.
may her gentle soul rest in the blossom of the lord almighty Amen.
June 11, 2025
4
Heart is aching for this loss. In 1992, I was a little lost girl and seeing Juliette felt like so comforting. She was black, beautiful and so damn cool. Her voice and her smile, that smile was always there helping me and I am sure countless other little lost girls. I will never forget you! Rest in Peace beautiful woman.
June 11, 2025
4
Oh this is sad news. So much more to do and achieve even after doing and achieving so much. A wonderful person taken too soon. Kinda unfair 😞
June 10, 2025
8
I dedicated my 3-hour radio show last night to the beautiful soul of a woman that is, Juliette Powell. A small act but my way to honour such a fine friend. (Choose browser option to fast forward ads & news). Playlist also available on Spotify (see bottom):
7pm:
www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/xmo069nqxfckawx0wd0br/2025.06.10-18-59-58.-Sweet-FM.mp3?rlkey=dbv3934ogwrswc81s1gj1wrn4&dl=0
8pm:
www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/5q1h4ri9l10mzsyal31v2/2025.06.10-19-59-58.-Sweet-FM.mp3?rlkey=36u567jvnvrp8tv7w9t8248n6&dl=0
9pm:
www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/818z39tc7hk5p5hkfez05/2025.06.10-20-59-58.-Sweet-FM.mp3?rlkey=pb0vd407j79pxshdgk1y408ql&dl=0
Spotify playlist (for Juliette):
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/73XW8rxbTzTTyWjnvNgj00?si=9fc98dcca6194f7a
7pm:
www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/xmo069nqxfckawx0wd0br/2025.06.10-18-59-58.-Sweet-FM.mp3?rlkey=dbv3934ogwrswc81s1gj1wrn4&dl=0
8pm:
www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/5q1h4ri9l10mzsyal31v2/2025.06.10-19-59-58.-Sweet-FM.mp3?rlkey=36u567jvnvrp8tv7w9t8248n6&dl=0
9pm:
www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/818z39tc7hk5p5hkfez05/2025.06.10-20-59-58.-Sweet-FM.mp3?rlkey=pb0vd407j79pxshdgk1y408ql&dl=0
Spotify playlist (for Juliette):
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/73XW8rxbTzTTyWjnvNgj00?si=9fc98dcca6194f7a
June 10, 2025
5
Une femme absolument exceptionnelle, et de grande classe. Une grande force de caractère. Un grand sens de la justice. Authentique. Gifted. Et d'une joie rayonnante.
What a beautiful soul! She was not from the Earth, but definitely from the stars.
Thank you, Juliette, for your gifts to humanity. 🙏🏻
And, BTW, now that you are up there, please send us the Codes. The Codes to replicate you down here. We need more of your kind.
Juliette Powell. Ange terrestre et trésor national. Pour l'éternité.
Mes plus sincères condoléances à la famille et aux amis.
What a beautiful soul! She was not from the Earth, but definitely from the stars.
Thank you, Juliette, for your gifts to humanity. 🙏🏻
And, BTW, now that you are up there, please send us the Codes. The Codes to replicate you down here. We need more of your kind.
Juliette Powell. Ange terrestre et trésor national. Pour l'éternité.
Mes plus sincères condoléances à la famille et aux amis.
June 10, 2025
I met Juliette through Nicolas Cianca in 2007. She appeared on a panel that I produced and moderated for the Producers Guild of America (PGA) on February 28, 2008, 'Local T.V. Meets Global New Media: A Real-Time Interactive Session between
New York and San Francisco.' She was a striking presence, tall/thin, often wearing a beret, and was way ahead of the curve in how technology was being considered for the greater society. Juliette was a rare individual, and was the kind of polymath you meet in New York, but she was also a beautiful person in every way. I feel fortunate to have known her, and feel that the world has lost a great spirit.
New York and San Francisco.' She was a striking presence, tall/thin, often wearing a beret, and was way ahead of the curve in how technology was being considered for the greater society. Juliette was a rare individual, and was the kind of polymath you meet in New York, but she was also a beautiful person in every way. I feel fortunate to have known her, and feel that the world has lost a great spirit.
June 10, 2025
2
Condolences to her family
June 10, 2025
9
Good Bye Sweet Friend,
Some people don’t just enter your life; they alter its rhythm. Juliette Powell was one of those people for me. When she was at Much Music, I invited her to speak at the Ontario Science Centre, and we became friends. She generously included me in the groundbreaking Think Tank called The Gathering, which brought together the bravest minds in science and technology. She was dazzling. Not just because of her brilliance, undeniable, or her beauty, which was magnetic, but because of her spirit. Juliette had the rare gift of making you feel seen, really seen, and simultaneously challenging you to see farther, deeper, and more honestly than you ever had before.
She could hold both fire and grace in the same breath. One minute, we’d be laughing so hard we could barely breathe. Next, she’d be unpacking a complex ethical dilemma in AI or peeling back the layers of power structures that most people would rather ignore. That was Juliette's magic. She didn’t separate joy from justice or curiosity from compassion; she embodied it all, fully, fiercely.
Some people don’t just enter your life; they alter its rhythm. Juliette Powell was one of those people for me. When she was at Much Music, I invited her to speak at the Ontario Science Centre, and we became friends. She generously included me in the groundbreaking Think Tank called The Gathering, which brought together the bravest minds in science and technology. She was dazzling. Not just because of her brilliance, undeniable, or her beauty, which was magnetic, but because of her spirit. Juliette had the rare gift of making you feel seen, really seen, and simultaneously challenging you to see farther, deeper, and more honestly than you ever had before.
She could hold both fire and grace in the same breath. One minute, we’d be laughing so hard we could barely breathe. Next, she’d be unpacking a complex ethical dilemma in AI or peeling back the layers of power structures that most people would rather ignore. That was Juliette's magic. She didn’t separate joy from justice or curiosity from compassion; she embodied it all, fully, fiercely.
June 10, 2025
2
I am so heartbroken to hear this. Juliette was a warm, kind, open, fun and just AMAZING community builder. I so admired her and adored her. We became friends, and she was the first person to push me towards an inner journey — and now I teach meditation for a living. Maybe you changed my life Juliette - I miss you already.
June 10, 2025
6
I have never met Juliette before but like millions of Canadians, I grew up watching her on MusiquePlus and MuchMusic. She was a force on TV with a likeable aura, genuinely curious interviewer and the epitome of coolness that brought so much joy to all viewers. She also helped pave the way for more diversity in TV. Rest in peace, we all love and will miss you dearly.
June 10, 2025
5
I met Juliette on the late spring of 1997. I was siting on a bench along Sunnyside beach in Toronto. She walked by me and asked if I had a light. I asked if she's the VJ from Electric circuit. She replied if it would make a difference if she were or not for her to get one. It wouldn't matter to me if she were on not, wouldn't change anything. Not sure why, but I think she liked my straight forward approach. We sat and talked for over 2 hours that day. I had just gone through a bad breakup.. And we commiserated on both our highs and lows in life. Speaking with each other felt do natural. So real. Fast forward to the summer of 97. She was hosting a stage Ong St. Claire for much music. I was walking with someone, and out of the blue I hear my name called. Here she came running towards me. So happy to see her. I was a smart ass and said and you are? She gave me a head tilt and a eyebrow lift as though to say really. We laughed. Then she comes up and whispers. Is she the one that did all that to you? Well it wasn't and she said good. If it was wanted to give her a stare down lol....
Years passed and I reached out to her on twitter and asked if she recalled a conversation that took place years back... Her reply?Frann. I would never forget deep conversations and the people I had them with. She still recalled that time.
I am in so taken aback and this sad sad news. What an amazing human being.
So real. So down to earth. Empathetic and a go getter.
May you rest if peace my friend. May you said to heights you had not yet achieved. You made a difference. With affection.
Frank
Years passed and I reached out to her on twitter and asked if she recalled a conversation that took place years back... Her reply?Frann. I would never forget deep conversations and the people I had them with. She still recalled that time.
I am in so taken aback and this sad sad news. What an amazing human being.
So real. So down to earth. Empathetic and a go getter.
May you rest if peace my friend. May you said to heights you had not yet achieved. You made a difference. With affection.
Frank
June 10, 2025
9
I was her first friend in Montreal (Anjou). We both went to French school but we were English. That school was mean to her but she had me. She was tall and awkward and learning french. I remember sleep overs and her mother who was so loving. They didn't have much but her mom made everything fun. Later on a saw her again after Miss Canada... I praised her and she was so humble. Remembering our friendship. I told her as a joke I knew you would be famous that is why I hung out with you! We would speak on Facebook and the first thing she said was thank you for being such a great friend.
June 10, 2025
2
Juliette and I worked closely together in the preparation of education case studies at the IFC. She was always extremely professional, friendly, pa great writer and a very pleasant person to work with. Juliette will be deeply missed and I would like to express my deepest condolences to her family and friends. It has been a true honor to work with Juliette.
June 10, 2025
3
So completely saddened and heartbroken by the loss of Juliette. She was such a light! She was such a role model to all of us who grew up watching her on tv. She broke glass ceilings in Canada, representing us. So proud of her. Gone too soon but she will never be forgotten. She left an incredible legacy and imprint that will forever remain in our memory and in our hearts
June 10, 2025
1
Juliette, I am so saddened to hear of your passing. The years we spent at CP24 are still with me. Your smile, your laugh, your enthusiasm has inspired a generation of people. People who will carry on in your footsteps. I remember the days at work... the after hour gatherings I was asked/told I should attend lol. Those are cherished memories I will carry with for my lifetime.
Rest in peace mon ami. You will always be remembered fondly.
Rest in peace mon ami. You will always be remembered fondly.
June 10, 2025
4
I am in shock and heartbroken by the loss of my dear friend Juliette Powell. We just spoke two weeks ago, joking about how we were both finally getting over colds and sharing ideas about collaborating and promoting my new book together.
I first met Juliette as she began her work as a business reporter on CP24. That is when she interviewed me about my first book. Before the interview, we reviewed the questions, so I’d know what to expect. But she went the extra mile, doing more research beforehand, and came up with a few surprise questions designed to get me talking candidly and in the moment. It worked! I ended up covering areas that went beyond what we had prepared. Such a great experience! We became close friends following that interview.
From the start, I was struck by her remarkable positive energy, her boundless enthusiasm, and her unwavering passion for learning, ethics and justice. She was a truly inspiring person whose presence lit up every room she entered.
Her loss leaves a void that cannot be filled. I am devastated and will miss her dearly. May her memory always be for a blessing.
I first met Juliette as she began her work as a business reporter on CP24. That is when she interviewed me about my first book. Before the interview, we reviewed the questions, so I’d know what to expect. But she went the extra mile, doing more research beforehand, and came up with a few surprise questions designed to get me talking candidly and in the moment. It worked! I ended up covering areas that went beyond what we had prepared. Such a great experience! We became close friends following that interview.
From the start, I was struck by her remarkable positive energy, her boundless enthusiasm, and her unwavering passion for learning, ethics and justice. She was a truly inspiring person whose presence lit up every room she entered.
Her loss leaves a void that cannot be filled. I am devastated and will miss her dearly. May her memory always be for a blessing.
June 10, 2025
1
This is so sad…. I took Juliette’s Content Strategy class at NYU Tisch last Fall semester. Juliette is such a supportive and sweet professor, I will never forget the dynamics and energy she has brought to us. She was so encouraging and supportive towards my work and I will never forget talking to her in the IMA kitchen and she told me to “bravely embrace things and try things”, looking back at Juliette’s obituary, she lived her own words and lived bravely for this life. I am still so in shock of this news, may she rest in peace. 🙏
June 10, 2025
3
Goodbye Juliette
To your beautiful smiles, your pure joy, your lovely way to connect people and always being connected with the whole world, to your beautiful empathy...
The beautiful timesnwe spent in Italy, to your happiness in visiting places, to all the mokas you were happy to drink, to the pizzas and the dances we shared...
To your lips and your eyes, to your panther sights and moves in the dark, brightened by the light of your teeths...
In the trace of love who united our souls for few moments in ours rushing lives...
To the mosquee chants and musiques who made us meet...
Your existence is not finished, it is just evolved, you became now what you always have been... An Angel...
Ti vorró sempre bene dolce e fragile Juliette...
To your beautiful smiles, your pure joy, your lovely way to connect people and always being connected with the whole world, to your beautiful empathy...
The beautiful timesnwe spent in Italy, to your happiness in visiting places, to all the mokas you were happy to drink, to the pizzas and the dances we shared...
To your lips and your eyes, to your panther sights and moves in the dark, brightened by the light of your teeths...
In the trace of love who united our souls for few moments in ours rushing lives...
To the mosquee chants and musiques who made us meet...
Your existence is not finished, it is just evolved, you became now what you always have been... An Angel...
Ti vorró sempre bene dolce e fragile Juliette...
June 10, 2025
1
I'm so shocked when I see the email from my school this morning. I can't really believe it. She taught me Content Strategy at NYU. She was so energetic to the class and has always been really kind to me and encourage me to understand myself and be myself. The last time I met her was in IMA/ITP's kitchen. She was trying to get water and I was trying to heat up my lunch. She asked me when I will be graduating and I was really happier to met her again after the class was over. She was always supportive and affirm my work.
Thank you for all your guidance and support.
Thank you for all your guidance and support.
June 10, 2025
1
I worked with Juliette on the marketing for her BK book "The AI Delimma". She was vital, energetic–a true spark of light. I'm deeply saddened to hearof her passing. My condolences to her family and friends.
June 10, 2025
1
My deepest condolences 💐
June 10, 2025
4
I am shocked and devastated by this loss - as I'm sure are many others. What an indescribable gift your friendship was/is to myself and Bishop. We love you so much.
June 10, 2025
1
I was very sadden to hear of this when I got back from vacation. I had the privilege to see her speak and talk about the topic of her latest book. She was/is very inspiring.
June 10, 2025
7
Je suis tellement triste d’apprendre le décès de Juliette. Elle est la 1ere que j’ai employé comme modèle pour mes collections , hiver 88 et printemps 89, c’est moi qui lui avait prêté des vêtements pour se présenter au concours de Miss CANADA, alors qu’elle avait été sélectionnée pour la finale j’ai aussi confectionné la robe sa maman à qui je transmets mes plus sincères condoléances si elle est toujours de ce monde. Une si gentille et très belle jeune fille dans tous les sens du terme.
plus sincères
plus sincères
June 10, 2025
3
Juliette and I met at Vanier Collège in Montréal in 1988 and remained close for the next 37 years. A person of rare empathy, kindness and integrity. She was there for me and my husband during hard times and was like a sister to me. I will miss her forever. RÎP ma belle.
June 10, 2025
1
Merci Juliette d’avoir accepté mon invitation pour un café pour parler de mes projets de fou en IA. Je me suis senti écouté, respecté et valorisé. Comme une grande sœur de MusiquePlus, tu m’as fait sentir bienvenue dans la communauté new-yorkaise. Continue à rayonner de là-haut.
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Juliette’s dream was to provide access to an ethical technology education for more women of color and for all children to grow up in safe, respectful and compassionate environments. In lieu of flowers, we ask that people who wish to make a contribution donate to Black Girls Code (www.wearebgc.org), Operation Respect (www.operationrespect.org) or another educational non-profit of their choice in Juliette's name.
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