Isaac Olowolafe Jr., President of Dream Maker Inc, a Toronto-based asset management firm, started his entrepreneurial journey at just 22 years old. Now at 36, he credits the support of his parents, wife and his community for his success — and he’s paying it forward, with venture capital investments and philanthropic support guided by a […]
Can changing a physical workplace foster inclusion? Barbara Mason, Group Head and Chief Human Resources Officer at Scotiabank, explains how an “Activity-Based Working” approach to their office design created a space that enables all employees to work when, where, and how they choose — demolishing barriers, increasing engagement, and ensuring everyone is enabled to be […]
Jeff Perera credits his upbringing — and the negative male role models in it — for leading him towards his current career: as a speaker, writer, and facilitator focused on a modern view of manhood. His approach avoids shaming men for their learned biases, and instead encourages them to support each other as they build […]
The job title of Chief Technology Officer isn’t usually associated with diversity and inclusion initiatives — but Rahul Sekhon, CTO at Sun Life, sees things differently. A passionate advocate and ally for women, people of colour, indigenous people, and individuals with disabilities (among others), Rahul is using tech to contribute to a broader strategy of […]
Coined by Anjuan Simmons, the term ‘lending privilege’ describes using your own position or power to help underrepresented or disadvantaged groups. What does it look like in action? We spoke to Matthew Jefferson, who walked from BC to Newfoundland to raise awareness on the issue of missing and murdered indigenous women, and Jordan Hart, who […]
Pride month might be over but LGBT+ visibility is needed all year round. Meet LGBT Ally Maddy Falle, producer and the Development Manager at Gearshift Films, before taking on this role she worked on television shows like Hockey Wives, NHL Revealed, and Workin’ Moms. In 2015 she was a producer on the viral short film Gay […]
Deloitte recently released a report — The design of everyday men — that investigates men’s experiences with work, family, and masculinity. Co-author Eric Arthrell explains how his personal experience of becoming a father inspired the study, and why taking a closer look at men’s success is an opportunity for gender equality. By Hailey Eisen […]
Having spent 16 years as a physics professor at Simon Fraser University, Dugan O’Neil was well aware of the underrepresentation of women in academia — and was working to change it. His recent involvement with Informed Opinions, an organization committed to amplifying women’s voices in the media, is helping to end underrepresentation on an even […]
The journey towards a diverse and inclusive workplace can be long and difficult — especially in an industry that’s overwhelmingly male-dominated — but David Pathe, President and CEO of Canadian resource company Sherritt International, knows that the benefits still outweigh the challenges. Here’s how his organization is making change. By Hailey Eisen […]
The majority of Canadians have positive attitudes towards diversity and inclusion programs, but a new study reveals there is more work to be done to achieve truly inclusive workplaces. Smith School of Business and Catalyst Canada offer tips to help your organization increase the effectiveness of its D&I initiatives. By Kristen Sears […]
I’m supporting Trinity Earl in her participation in the 2019 Special Olympics Ontario Invitational Youth Games. Why? Because inclusion should be the lesson we teach, and guide the opportunities we give, well before we enter the workforce. Women of Influence is on board — and now we need your help. By Jan Frolic, Vice […]
At OMERS, diversity and inclusion isn’t just a goal on the horizon. Satish Rai, Chief Investment Officer with OMERS, explains how the organization has created a culture that puts respect and support first, with policies and daily actions that reinforce their inclusive message. By Hailey Eisen There’s no shortage of conversations about […]
In the often male-dominated tech industry, it’s rare to find a company with a good representation of women. At Wattpad, women are the majority, visible and in positions of power at every level. Allen Lau, co-founder and CEO, looks to his employees for guidance and diverse perspectives on what’s needed for an inclusive environment, and […]
Maya Chivi is an author, a two-time TEDx speaker, and an advocate for mental health, gender equality and children’s rights. Her 2017 book “What Nobody Knows” is an illustrated story on leadership, mindfulness and the power of believing in yourself. In 2014, Maya was invited to deliver a keynote speech to the Council of Europe’s […]
As Director of Sales Effectiveness at Scotiabank, as well as lead champion for Scotiabank’s Toronto Pride Employee Resource Group, Val Walls is always asking herself: How can I touch, move, inspire and make a difference? She shares how she’s driving change — and creating an inclusive vision of LGBT+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Trans+) […]
By Teresa Harris Early last year, former Uber CEO Travis Kalanick stepped down after several employees were ousted for their behaviour towards women, and the company was accused of fostering a toxic culture of sexism and harassment. In August 2017, James Damore, an engineer at Google, released a 10-page memo asserting women […]
With gender disparity a topic at the forefront of modern discourse, leading technology career platform Honeypot, has released the 2018 Women in Tech Index. The results offer a view on gender-based employment inequalities both at large and in the technology sector. In an effort to position themselves as industry experts, the developer-focused career […]
In the move towards workplace gender equality, progress is moving glacially slow on many key measures. Is that the way it has to be — or are we just making excuses? By Stephania Varalli In 2017, the World Economic Forum predicted we’d be closing the economic gender gap in 217 […]
Despite the business case for diversity, or perhaps because of it, organizations are facing backlash in efforts to achieve greater equality. Alyson Colón along with Sarah Kaplan, keynote speaker of the upcoming Radical Change Summit, explain why they believe that the solution will be innovation. By Sarah Kaplan and Alyson Colón […]
As the banking industry goes through a digital transformation, there’s a “war for talent,” says Kyle McNamara, Executive Vice President, Global Retail Banking Technology at Scotiabank. And if companies want the best and the brightest in their ranks, women need to be on the frontlines. By Shelley White “Technology is fundamentally […]
We all know it should be a priority, but how do we begin to make it one? Terri Hartwell Easter of T.H. Easter Consulting, a leading employee engagement, diversity and inclusion management, and human resources management firm based in Maryland, U.S., weighs in. By Terri Hartwell Easter You cannot pick up a […]
This article was first published on the EVE Blog. The EVE Program is an international intercompany leadership seminar for women and “enlightened men” to take more risks and move upwards in the company. By Michael Kaufman Recently I was speaking to a vice president of a major bank. He was concerned about […]
Many of the men in power today grew up in a time when a woman’s only place was in the home. Research shows we’re still carrying around those gender stereotypes. Could the highest of glass ceilings be propped up by antiquated perceptions? By Teresa Harris Over 3,000 world leaders descended upon the […]
Carolina Parra is the Vice President of Corporate and Commercial Risk at Scotiabank Chile. She’s also a mother, wife, and adamant advocate for the value of diversity, recognizing that when a diverse group of talented individuals is heard, incredible things can happen for both business and culture. By Shelley White Carolina Parra is an […]
Today Great Places to Work® announced their list of the Best Workplaces in Canada for Women in 2017. To qualify, organizations needed to be Great Place to Work Certified™ within the past year, have a minimum of 50 female employees, and provide a male/female breakdown by job level. The employees surveyed at the organizations on […]
Caroline Riseboro leads Plan International Canada’s operations as President and CEO. Previously she held roles at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health Foundation, as well as World Vision Canada, where she was the first and youngest woman in the agency’s history to serve in the SVP role. Her volunteer leadership positions span across numerous boards and […]
Marian Lawson, Executive Vice-President of Global Financial Institutions and Transaction Banking with Scotiabank, believes that corporate championing of diversity is good for not only minorities, but for businesses as well. Here she explains how not only bringing new perspectives to the forefront, but making those perspectives heard, benefits the capital markets sector. By Shelley White […]
