Dear Women of Influence+ Community…

Dear Women of Influence+ Community,

My name is Maricel Dicion, and I stepped into the role of Managing Director of this organization in January 2025.

I thought long and hard about whether to send a note like this. Women of Influence+ has been built over the past 30 years by extraordinary women: founders, contributors, leaders, and a dedicated team. I wanted to approach this community with deep respect for that legacy. And, honestly, I wondered — should I wait until I have some big wins under my belt before I say anything at all? Should I prove I deserve to be here before I say I’m here?

Eventually, I decided this was the note I wanted to send.

The first thing I wanted to do in this role was to listen. Not in the buzzword sense. I mean, really listen.

That’s looked like reading through your comments on LinkedIn. Paying attention to what sparks conversation. Reaching out to past award recipients and finalists just to say hello. Reconnecting with women who’ve written for us or been profiled on our platform. I’ve spent time with your words — sometimes from ten years ago, sometimes from last week — taking in the through lines, the turning points, the truths that echo and evolve.

Sometimes, I just start with: Hi, I’m Maricel. I’m here. I’d love to connect.

What’s been clear is this: listening changes things. It doesn’t just collect information; it changes direction. It’s subtle, but it moves the work. And while I don’t claim to have all the answers, I do have clarity about the kind of leadership I want to offer here.

I believe in thoughtful growth.

I believe in storytelling that reflects complexity instead of cliché.

I believe in building structures where ambitious women — however they define that ambition — can be seen and supported.

You’ll find glimpses of that spirit in our newsletters, online events, articles, spotlights, awards, research — the conversations we’re hosting and the ideas we’re spotlighting.

Because the truth is, we’re not just observing change. We’re participating in it. The systems that shape our careers and our identities are being reimagined in real time. And that’s the work Women of Influence+ exists to support. Not to offer neat answers, but to ask better questions. To create space for dialogue and redefinition.

We’re still operating inside systems that weren’t built with us in mind — even as we work to transform them. We are building the plane while flying it. It’s a strange tension: shaping the future while living in the past. But that’s the work. And it’s worth doing, even when it’s messy.

What matters is being in the work. What matters is who we build with and how we build. And the values we don’t compromise along the way.

I know we won’t always see things the same way. That’s the nature of any real community: diverse, nuanced, evolving. But I believe we can meet at one truth: this isn’t as good as it gets. We can do better. And none of us should have to perform just to be seen.

Whether you’ve been part of this community for years or you’re just getting to know us — thank you. Thank you for reading our stories. Thank you for attending our events. Thank you for nominating women. Thank you for commenting. Thank you for sharing. Thank you for simply staying connected. You’re part of what makes this community meaningful.

If you’d like to share a thought, a story, a hello — please feel free to reach out to us at community@womenofinfluence.ca. While I may not be able to respond to every message personally, your voice is always welcome here.

We’re just getting started.
And I’m so glad to be here.

Very best,
Maricel