LinkedIn Lives
The Real Cost of Scaling and How to Get It Right
Scaling a business is rarely about ambition alone. It’s about judgment: when to invest, when to hold, and when the cost of a wrong decision is unusually high.
On Monday, January 26 at 11:00 a.m. ET, join Annie Laplante, President and CEO of Groupe MMI inc., alongside Julie Dimitri, National Manager, Women in Enterprise, TD Business Banking, and Gabriel Badiuk, Relationship Manager, TD Commercial Banking, for a candid conversation on what it takes to scale a successful and impactful business deliberately — and sustainably.
Annie has built Groupe MMI into a national facilities maintenance company by making disciplined decisions around capital, operations, and leadership at critical inflection points. Drawing on her experience, the discussion will explore how women founders assess risk, navigate capital constraints, and work with financial partners who understand the realities of scaling when margins for error are thin.
This LinkedIn Live, sponsored by TD Women in Enterprise, is designed for women entrepreneurs who are navigating growth and want practical insight into how capital, expertise, and decision-making intersect when the stakes are high.
TD Women in Enterprise is ready to connect.
Reach out to Julie Dimitri, National Manager, Women in Enterprise, TD Business Banking at julie.dimitri@td.com
Closing The Authority Gap
Why are women still taken less seriously than men, even when their expertise and leadership are equal?
Subtle, often unconscious, biases continue to shape how women are perceived — from being interrupted in meetings to having their ideas overlooked. These everyday moments compound into what journalist and author Mary Ann Sieghart calls “the authority gap” — the credibility shortfall women face, not because of competence, but because of perception.
On Monday, December 8, at 11:00 a.m. ET, Mary Ann Sieghart, author of The Authority Gap, and Maricel Dicion, VP of Strategy at Women of Influence+, unpacked how this gap persists and what leaders can do to close it.
This event is part of the WOI+ x TENA Leadership Series, supported by TENA Canada, created to spark the conversations too often left out of leadership dialogue.
Menopause and the Future of Work
Despite affecting half the workforce, menopause has remained one of the least discussed workplace realities — and it was time to change that.
On Monday, November 17, at 11:00 a.m. ET, Dr. Talia Varley, Managing Director, Advisory Services at Cleveland Clinic Canada and Maricel Dicion, VP of Strategy at Women of Influence+ came together for a live conversation about how menopause impacts women’s leadership journeys and what meaningful workplace support can look like. Together, they explored how awareness and empathy can redefine what it means to lead — and thrive — through every life stage.
This conversation was part of the WOI+ TENA Leadership Series, supported by TENA Canada.
Cramping the Status Quo Evolving Bodies Parenthood and Leadership
Women experience a series of key life transitions while building their careers — from menstruation to maternity leave, motherhood, and peri/menopause. Yet too often, these realities are overlooked in the workplace, leaving women without the support they need to thrive as leaders.
On October 21, 2025, at 12:00 p.m. ET, Jen Murtagh, award-winning leader, gender equity advocate, and co-founder of Maturn, joined Maricel Dicion, VP of Strategy at Women of Influence+, for a conversation exploring how reproductive health intersects with leadership — and why supporting women through these life stages has become a workplace imperative.
This event is part of the WOI+ TENA Leadership Series, supported by TENA, created to spark the conversations too often left out of leadership dialogue.
Women, Aging & Authority: The Untapped Asset in Leadership
By 2030, women over 50 will represent more than a quarter of the workforce — yet research shows they are also the most likely to experience bias and invisibility at work (Bain & Company). At the very moment when women bring unmatched perspective, influence, and wisdom, aging is still too often framed as decline rather than as an asset.
Zabeen Hirji — Executive Advisor at Deloitte, former CHRO at RBC, and founder of Purposeful Third Act — joined Maricel Dicion, VP of Strategy at Women of Influence+, for a conversation exploring how we can redefine aging, reclaim visibility, and reshape the meaning of power.
Drawing on decades of senior leadership experience and her work at the intersection of leadership, culture, and the future of work, Zabeen will share how women can embrace their third act with clarity and purpose — and how organizations can evolve to fully recognize and value these contributions.
Part of the WOI+ TENA Leadership Series, supported by TENA Canada.
Closing the Sponsorship Gap: Reimagining Advocacy as a Leadership Skill
Despite two decades of progress, gender-balanced leadership remains elusive. One key reason? Sponsorship — or rather, the lack of it. Women have continued to be under-sponsored compared to their peers, especially at the intersection of race, identity, and power.
On Tuesday, June 17, 2025, leadership advisor Helen Tubb — whose INSTEAD-awarded research explored the mechanics of effective sponsorship— joined Navneet Hrishikesan, Senior Director and Associate General Counsel at Cisco. He shared personal insight into the impact of sponsorship on both the careers of underrepresented talent and his own growth as a leader. Together, they engaged in a candid conversation about what meaningful sponsorship looks like in practice.
Building FAIR Workplaces: Moving Beyond Performative DEI
The call for fair, inclusive workplaces hasn’t faded. But the old playbook — one-off trainings, surface-level commitments, empty language — has. As backlash grows and confidence wanes, the real work is designing workplaces where fairness is a practice and not just a promise.
Lily Zheng, strategist, consultant, and bestselling author of DEI Deconstructed and Fixing Fairness, joined Women of Influence+, for a conversation about the future of workplace equity — and why Lily’s FAIR framework (Fairness, Access, Inclusion, Representation) offers a smarter, more effective path forward.
Lily’s work has been featured in the Harvard Business Review, New York Times, and NPR, offering a clear, data-driven perspective on how leaders can create workplaces that work for everyone. Expect an honest, solution-focused conversation — and tangible strategies you can bring back to your organization.
Shared Power, Shared Progress: The Role of Men in Gender Equity
Allyship is a force multiplier. Organizations that prioritize inclusive behaviour see better outcomes across the board. Men continue to hold the majority of leadership positions across most industries, placing them in a unique position to help drive meaningful progress. And when men are active partners in equity, the impact is exponential.
On Monday, April 21st, 2025, W. Brad Johnson, PhD, and David Smith, PhD, joined Women of Influence+ for a timely, research-backed conversation on the role men can play in creating more equitable workplaces.
Professors, former naval officers, and co-authors of Good Guys and Athena Rising, Dr. Johnson and Dr. Smith bring decades of experience advising Fortune 500 companies, government agencies, and academic institutions. They are among the foremost experts on allyship and gender partnership at work.
Redefining the Meaning of Power in an Era of Uncertainty
What happens when leadership stops being about power over and starts being about power with?
Dr. Alaa Murabit — medical doctor, UN Advisor, human rights advocate, and leadership strategist — has spent her career dismantling outdated leadership models. From founding The Voice of Libyan Women at just 21 to shaping UN policies on sustainable development and peace building, her work proves that true authority comes not from dominance, but from collaboration.
On Tuesday, March 11th, Dr. Murabit joined Women of Influence+, for a conversation on how power with is redefining influence, decision-making, and impact.
From Entry to Executive: Overcoming the Broken Rung
For every 100 men promoted to manager, only 81 women receive the same opportunity. That early career gap snowballs — fewer promotions means fewer leadership roles, fewer pay increases, and fewer women at the top. The “glass ceiling”? Few women are even able to tap it, let alone breaking through.
McKinsey senior partners Kweilin Ellingrud, Lareina Yee, and María del Mar Martínez call this phenomenon “the broken rung.” Their research pinpoints this early career barrier as the single biggest obstacle holding women back from leadership.
On Tuesday, March 25, 2025 Kweilin, Lareina, and María, joined Women of Influence+, for a powerful conversation about how women can navigate systemic roadblocks and reclaim their career trajectories.
Power, Data, and Influence: How Women Can Lead in the Age of AI
As AI accelerates decision-making across industries, systemic biases are becoming harder to detect and even harder to dismantle. For women, the challenge isn’t just breaking into positions of power, it’s ensuring that the technology shaping those positions doesn’t leave them out entirely. During this LinkedIn Live, Bhuva Shakti, Chief Ethics & Culture Officer at Women in AI and founder of Wallet Max, joined Women of Influence+ for a provocative discussion on the hidden biases coded into AI systems — and the influence women must wield to change them.
Closing the Authority Gap: Giving Women Credit Where It’s Due
Women in the workplace often face subtle yet pervasive biases — their expertise is questioned, their authority is challenged, and their contributions are too often overlooked. During this LinkedIn Live, Mary Ann Sieghart, bestselling author of The Authority Gap and Founding Partner of The Authority Gap Consultancy, discussed why the authority gap exists, how it manifests in workplaces, and what leaders can do to close it. Women’s expertise deserves recognition — not dismissal.
Paychecks & Portfolios: The Financial Playbook for Every Career Stage
Financial planning isn’t one-size-fits-all — especially for women. During this LinkedIn Live, Celine Mathews-Negash, Chartered Investment Manager and Certified Financial Planner with Wealthsimple, shared strategies tailored to women’s unique career journeys. Take control of your financial future, no matter your stage. Wealth-building isn’t about fitting into someone else’s plan — it’s about creating your own. Sponsored by Wealthsimple.
Menopause, Menstruation, and Workplace Wellness
How often have you avoided conversations about periods or menopause? During this LinkedIn Live, Dr. Woganee Filate, Physician, Co-Founder of Lume Women + Health, and certified menopause expert, shared her insights on how these experiences impact women and offered practical advice for navigating them in the workplace. From gaining a deeper understanding of your health to initiating conversations with confidence, she offers actionable advice to help you advocate for your well-being at work.
Women, Money & Wealth: Navigating Major Life Transitions
What do women need to know about managing money through life’s changes? During this LinkedIn Live event, Margaret Adaniel, Vice President, Wealth and Imperial Service, Digital, Marketing and Communications at CIBC, and Carissa Lucreziano, Vice President of Financial Planning and Advice at CIBC, joined Dr. Rumeet Billan, CEO of Women of Influence+, to discuss strategies for women navigating life’s big changes. From securing retirement income to starting a business, this discussion offers insights to help women confidently manage their finances, ensuring long-term security and resilience through life’s transitions. Sponsored by CIBC.
Is Your Workforce Overlooking the Power of Neurodiversity?
During this LinkedIn Live event, sponsored by Ivey Business School at Western University, Dr. Rumeet Billan, CEO of Women of Influence+, moderated a compelling discussion with Robert Austin, Professor at Ivey Business School, and Megan Pilatzke, Inclusion Specialist at Specialisterne Canada. Together, they explored how companies can tap into the strengths of neurodivergent individuals to fuel innovation and solve pressing business challenges. Sponsored by Ivey Business School.
The New Rules of Digital Defence: How Safe Are You?
The line between home and office has blurred, making cybersecurity more crucial than ever. With global cyber threats on the rise, how prepared are you to protect and defend your digital privacy? During this LinkedIn Live event, Claudette McGowan, CEO of Protexxa, joined us for an important conversation on navigating the shifting landscape of digital security. Together with Dr. Rumeet Billan, CEO of Women of Influence+, Claudette shared essential insights and actionable steps to safeguard your data in today’s digital age.
Navigating Achievement Envy: Bragging Without Backlash
What fuels achievement envy and how it can impact your personal and professional life? This LinkedIn Live event features an engaging conversation between Lisa Bragg, author of Bragging Rights: How to Talk About Your Work Using Purposeful Self-Promotion and Dr. Rumeet Billan, CEO of Women of Influence+. Lisa and Dr. Billan break down the causes and effects of achievement envy and how it can affect you. They share practical tips on how to recognize and address achievement envy in yourself and others, turning it into a positive force for growth and collaboration.
How Important Is Character When It Comes to Leadership?
During this engaging discussion, Dr. Rumeet Billan and Dr. Mary Crossan discussed how attributes like integrity, judgment, and accountability are not just ideals but essential tools for leading effectively. Dr. Rumeet Billan is the CEO of Women of Influence+, and special guest Dr. Mary Crossan is a Distinguished University Professor and Professor of Strategic Leadership at the Ivey Business School, Western University and Co-Founder of Virtuosity Character and Leader Character Associates.
Prioritizing Mental Wellness
During this LinkedIn Live, Alisa Simon, EVP at Kids Help Phone, and Dr. Rumeet Billan, CEO of Women of Influence+, will explore a range of topics essential to fostering mental well-being in personal and professional settings — the dual impact of technology on mental health, the role of social media in promoting mental health awareness, and ways organizations can harness technology to support mental health at work.
Beyond Burnout: Why Women are Stepping Out of Senior Positions
In this important conversation, we will dive into the nuanced reasons behind the increasing trend of women leaving senior positions.
Special guest Jodi Kovitz, CEO, HRPA – Human Resources Professionals Association, will join Dr. Rumeet Billan, CEO, Women of Influence+, to discuss the challenges women face in leadership roles, from systemic barriers to the personal cost of navigating high-stress environments.
Age and Ambition: Challenging Limiting Beliefs for Women’s Career Growth
We are thrilled to have Marjorie Zingle, an entrepreneur in the tech industry, join Rumeet Billan, Ph.D., Owner and CEO, Women of Influence+, for this online discussion. At 88-years-old, Marjorie defies age and gender norms, running a successful data centre business, DataHive. Her journey is a remarkable testament to the power of ambition and resilience, breaking stereotypes in an industry often dominated by younger demographics. Sponsored by TD.
From Boomers to Zoomers: Communicating in a Multigenerational Workforce
In this insightful discussion, Rumeet Billan, Ph.D., Owner and CEO of Women of Influence+, will be joined by our special guest, Dr. Mary Donohue, CEO of The Digital Wellness Center and author of the book, Message Received: 7 Steps to Break Down Communication Barriers at Work.
Harnessing the Impact of Personal Branding sponsored by TD
In this engaging discussion, Rumeet Billan, Ph.D., CEO and Owner of Women of Influence+ alongside our special guest, Cher Jones, Your Brand At Work™ Expert, Corporate Trainer, Speaker, and Founder, will delve into why being able to articulate your brand will help others understand who you really are, what you stand for, build authentic relationships, and ultimately, help you realize your goals. Sponsored by TD.
The Power of AI: Exploring Possibilities and Impact
In this captivating discussion, Rumeet Billan, Ph.D., CEO and Owner of Women of Influence+ alongside our special guest, Iliana Oris Valiente, Managing Director and Innovation Lead at Accenture Canada delved into the profound transformations that AI is effecting in the landscape of work and innovation.
October 2023 – Tall Poppy Syndrome
In this important discussion, Rumeet Billan, Ph.D., Owner and CEO, Women of Influence+, is joined by Laura Williams, founder and managing partner of Williams HR Law LLP and CEO of Williams HR Consulting Inc. Together, they discuss the impact of Tall Poppy Syndrome on employees and the overall impact this syndrome has on organizations.