1994 

        The world population is 5.6 billion people.

• Chatelaine is first to present the Women of Influence Luncheon Series.
• 179 countries sign up to the Cairo Programme of Action, a landmark document encouraging women’s empowerment, with specific goals for reproductive health, education, and more. 

1995 

• A global Platform for Action for women’s equality, empowerment and justice is created at the Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing, where First Lady Hillary Clinton delivers a powerful speech: “When women are excluded from the political process, they become even more vulnerable to abuse. I believe that now, on the eve of a new millennium, it is time to break the silence. It is time for us to say, here in Beijing, and for the world to hear, that it is no longer acceptable to discuss women’s rights as separate from human rights.”

1996

• For the first time, more women (154) than men (153) make up the Canadian Olympic team.
• Madeleine Albright becomes the first woman U.S. Secretary of State.
• Vigdís Finnbogadóttir, the world’s first democratically elected woman leader, steps down as President of Iceland after exactly sixteen years — becoming the longest-serving elected woman head of state of any country to date.

1997

• The first Harry Potter book is published, starting J.K. Rowling on her path to becoming the world’s first billionaire author.
• Jenny Shipley is elected Prime Minister of New Zealand, becoming the first female head of state in Australasia.
• Ellen DeGeneres comes out to the world — the first openly gay woman to have her own sitcom. While it initially leads to controversy, cancellation and career challenges, Ellen will launch her eponymous talk show in 2003 and earn 29 Daytime Emmy Awards and 21 People’s Choice Awards by 2019.

1998

• For the first time Women’s ice hockey is an event in the Winter Olympics.
• Tina Brown resigns as editor of The New Yorker. In 2010 she will launch the Women in the World Summit to share the stories of extraordinary women — and will speak at a Women of Influence Luncheon in May, 2019 to share her own.

1999

• Julie Payette is the first Canadian to take a place in an International Space Station assembly mission. In 2017, she will be named the 29th Governor General of Canada.

2000

• 58.9% of women aged 15 and older are part of the Canadian labour force.
• The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) are developed and include a goal to promote gender equality.
• Beverley McLachlin becomes the first female Chief Justice of Canada. When she retires in 2017, she will be the longest serving Chief Justice in Canadian history.

2001

• Terrorists down the World Trade Centre. It will take 10 years for CNN to produce the documentary Beyond Bravery: The Women of 9/11 to shine a spotlight on the women rescue workers, firefighters and law enforcers who saved lives that day.
• In Canada, women make up 58% of all university graduates.

2002

• Halle Berry becomes first African American woman to win an Oscar for Best Leading Actress.

 2003

• Eight Fortune 500 companies have female CEOs.
• In Canada, 25% of women hold senior management positions. This number will grow to 29% in 2013 — and remain unchanged four years after that.

2004

• Wangari Maathai, a Kenyan environmental activist, is awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. She is the first black African woman to win a Nobel Prize.
• Forbes premiers their 100 World’s Most Powerful Women list. At the top: Condoleezza Rice, U.S. National Security Advisor.

2005

• Women of Influence and RBC partner to take on the Canadian Women Entrepreneur Awards.
• Angela Merkel becomes the first woman chancellor of Germany, Europe’s largest national economy.  
• Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka becomes the Deputy President of South Africa. She will go on to become the Executive Director of UN Women in 2013.
• Michaelle Jean becomes Canada’s first Afro-Caribbean Governor General.

2006

• The World Economic Forum’s first annual Global Gender Gap Report is released. Canada is ranked 14th out of 115 countries.
• Bev Busson is appointed as the first woman Commissioner of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
• Tarana Burke coins the phrase “Me Too” as a way to help women who had survived sexual violence. Fast-forward more than 10 years, and the phrase will be reignited as the hashtag slogan of the anti-sexual harassment movement.

2007

• Pratibha Patil becomes the first woman President of India — the largest democracy in the world. She is 72 when elected.
• Women make up 3% of enrolments in Canadian skilled trades programs, but only 1.5% complete their schooling.
• The first all-women UN Peacekeeping unit is deployed in Liberia, made up of over 100 policewomen from India.
• Nancy Pelosi becomes the first woman Speaker of the House.
• Inuit leader, activist, and environmentalist, Sheila Watt-Cloutier, is nominated for the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize.

2008

• Canadian Paralympian Chantal Petitclerc wins five gold medals and sets three world records at the Beijing Paralympic Games.
• Sheryl Sandberg becomes COO of Facebook — the first woman on the company’s board. Five years later she will publish Lean In.

2009

• US President Barack Obama signs the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Restoration Act, which allows victims of pay discrimination to file a complaint with the government against their employer within 180 days of their last paycheck.

2010

• The first issue of Women of Influence Magazine is published. The cover features Bonnie Fuller, Canadian-born media executive, President and Editor-in-Chief of hollywoodlife.com. Fuller has led several publications including: YM, Flare, Star, Glamour, Cosmopolitan, Us Weekly and Marie Claire.
• The United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women — also known as UN Women — is officially founded.

2011

• Christine Lagarde becomes the first woman director of the International Monetary Fund.
• Jill Abramson becomes the first woman executive editor of The New York Times.
• Women of Influence launches the Top 25 ranking, an annual salute to 25 leading and inspiring women in Canada.

2012

• In Brazil, Maria Das Gracas Silva Foster becomes the world’s first woman CEO of a major oil company, after starting as an intern over 30 years prior.
• Tunisia adopts a new constitution declaring “equal rights and duties” for women and men.
• Canada’s then Minister for the Status of Women, Rona Ambrose, proposes the Day of the Girl at the UN — and it is celebrated for the first time on October 11.

2013

• There are six women premiers managing 85% of the population of Canada.
• Kathleen Wynne becomes Ontario’s first female premier and Canada’s first openly gay premier.
• Alice Munro becomes the first Canadian woman to win the Nobel Prize in Literature.

2014

• Malala Yousafzai becomes the youngest person ever to be awarded a Nobel Peace Prize.
• Actress and Goodwill Ambassador to the UN, Emma Watson, launches a global solidarity campaign, HeForShe, calling on men and boys to become allies in achieving gender equality.

2015

• Current Co-CEOs Alicia Skalin and Stephania Varalli take over Women of Influence.
• 88 Canadian women are elected to the House of Commons — the highest number of women elected in one year — and Trudeau forms Canada’s first gender-balanced cabinet, “Because it’s 2015.”
• The UN’s Sustainable Development Goals launch, including a gender equality goal and targets about ending violence against women and ensuring equal participation.

2016

• Hillary Clinton becomes the first woman to win a major political party nomination for president of the United States.
• Linda Burney is the first Indigenous woman in Australia to be elected into the House of Representatives.
• Canada ranks 35th on the World Economic Forum’s annual Global Gender Gap Report — its worst showing ever. Two years later, Canada will climb back up to 16th place.

2017

• The RBC Canadian Women Entrepreneur Awards celebrates 25 years.
• First openly transgender US State Legislator, Danica Roem, defeats 26-year incumbent Bob Marshall to represent the 13th District of the Virginia House of Delegates.
• The Women’s March on Washington, DC, becomes the largest single-day protest in US history, and turns into an international mass demonstration in support of women’s rights. Worldwide participation is estimated at over seven million.
• In the UK, 32% of MPs are women, ranking 38th in the world for representation of women in parliament.
• 32 women CEOs run Fortune 500 companies, the highest share of women since Fortune’s first list in 1955.

2018

• Nova Scotia civil rights pioneer and businesswoman Viola Desmond becomes the new face of Canada’s $10 bill — the first Canadian woman on a regularly circulating banknote.
• Spain’s new Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez, makes history by appointing a majority-female cabinet. Almost two-thirds of his cabinet-level appointees — 11 of 17 — are women.
• Women in Saudi Arabia finally gain the legal right to drive.
• Prime Minister of New Zealand, Jacinda Ardern, is the second elected head of state to give birth while in office, and the first elected leader ever to take maternity leave.
• Women hold 24% of senior roles across the world — a decrease from 25% in 2017.
• US Congress sets a record for the number of women elected, at 102.

2019

        The world population is 7.7 billion people.

• Women of Influence celebrates their 25th anniversary. They will soon launch Shine and Rise — a new initiative to encourage everyone to join them in sharing the stories of extraordinary women.

Across Canada, women’s networks, corporations, charities, educational institutions, government bodies, political parties, the media and beyond are celebrating International Women’s Day 2018. Join the movement to #PressforProgress at one of these events, or plan your own celebration! 

The Dinner Party featuring Arlene Dickinson (Burlington, ON, March 7 @ 5:30pm EST)  

The Dinner Party is a major fundraiser to raise awareness and support for three important charities: Sexual Assault and Violence Intervention Services Halton (SAVIS), Canadian Women for Women in Afghanistan-Halton and Zonta International. All profits raised through ticket sales, silent auction and 50/50 draw are solely dedicated to supporting these three groups. Since inception, The Dinner Party has raised approximately $320,500.

Tri-Cities Chamber of Commerce 2018 International Women’s Day (Coquitlam, BC, March 8 @ 11:00am PST)

Presented by TD Canada Trust, the afternoon event will connect, inspire, and empower all professionals in the room. Featuring guest speaker Fiona Forbes, host of Vancouver’s hit TV talk show, “THE RUSH.”

SHEfights II: #PressForProgress (Toronto, ON, March 10 @ 5:00pm EST)

SHEspars and Back Forward Kick present this Muaythai Ontario sanctioned all female amateur muaythai event in support of International Women’s Day.

International Women’s Day: keynote from Microsoft’s Vaz Rosario (Winnipeg, MB, March 8 @ 11:00am CST)

Part of ICTAM’s (Information and Communications Technologies Association of Manitoba) Women in Technology Series.

#TimesUp: A Dialogue on Women’s Equity in the Workplace, Politics & Society (Montreal, QC, March 8 @ 7:00am EST)

The Montreal Global Shapers hub, Forusgirls and JCCAC – Jeune chambre de commerce algérienne du Canada unite their forces to introduce a unite for a poignant discussion on women’s equity and the #TimesUp movement.

Leading with a Purpose: An International Women’s Day Lunch (Toronto, March 8 @ 12:00pm EST)

Attendees will be given the chance to network with extraordinary purpose-driven women from surrounding communities in support of this year’s IWD theme, #PressforProgress, a global advocacy and support movement for gender parity.

Women with Tech Taking Over the World by Volta Labs (Halifax, NS, March 8 @ 5:30pm AST)

The event will kickoff with a brief keynote given by Sreejata Chatterjee, co-founder of Leadsift, on the importance of having a co-founder. Sreejata will discuss how having a co-founder has assisted LeadSift in its growth, how to find the right co-founder, and her experience as a female founder. Following the address, we will open the floor to anyone who is interested in sharing their experiences and what they’re looking for in a co-founder.

“Flow and Goals” Yoga and Goal Setting by Lululemon (Toronto, ON, March 8 @ 7:00pm EST)

An evening of yoga, goal setting, female empowerment, and treats. The vinyasa flow yoga class (for all levels) will begin at 7:30pm, followed by a vision and goals workshop.

“Women Changing Lives” hosted by Family of Women Inc and Making Changes Association (Calgary, AB, March 8 @ 6:00pm MST)

In support of Family of Women Inc and Making Changes Association, the evening will include a guest speaker, a fashion show, and two musical performances.

International Women’s Day 2018 Concert (Red Deer, AB, March 8 @ 7:00pm MST)

Featuring Randi Boulton, Kimblery MacGregor, Amelie Patterson, Billi Zizi, Vissia, and Justine Vandergrift.

International Women’s Day: Pink Attitude 18 featuring Manjit Minhas (Brampton, ON, March 10 @ 6:30pm EST)

Pink Attitude Evolution celebrates women that shatter through barriers, while inspiring and empowering others to be prominent leaders regardless of age, gender, orientation, race, religion, or abilities. The event will feature Manjit Minhas, Co-founder & CEO, Minhas Breweries and Distilleries and Dragon on Dragons Den. 

Find more information and events on the International Women’s Day website.

The CWEA awards recognize the country’s leading female entrepreneurs who have made impressive and substantial contributions to the local, Canadian or global economy. This year’s judging panel was comprised of twelve of Canada’s top business leaders, including: Ian Portsmouth, Publisher & Editor of PROFIT Magazine; Tracie Crook, COO of McCarthy Tétrault LLP; Rajini McRae, Senior Director, Pricing and Treasury Relations, RBC Royal Bank and; Raymonde Lavoie, Co-Founder and Partner, DesArts Communication.

Our judges selected six ventures and the eight incredible entrepreneurs behind them as the recipients of the prestigious awards, which span across six distinct categories. The winners include two business partnerships comprised of sisters; the founder of Canada’s leading wellness brand; and the CEO of one of the country’s leading mortgage firms with over $20 billion dollars in assets.

This year’s winners are:

ADP Micro Business Award

Isabelle Primeau & Marie-Helene Primeau, Premier Continuum Inc., Montreal, QC

Deloitte Start-Up Award

Angela Marotta & Melissa Paolicelli, Two Sisters Vineyard, Niagara Region, ON

RBC Momentum Award

Kate Ross Leblanc, Saje Wellness, Vancouver, BC

Social Change Award

Jennifer Flanagan, Actua, Toronto, ON

TELUS Trailblazer Award

Eva Sun, The Rice People, Richmond, BC

PROFIT Award for Excellence in Entrepreneurship

Kathy Gregory, Paradigm Quest Inc., Toronto, ON

“RBC is honoured to recognize women entrepreneurs and their immense contributions in the Canadian and global economies,” says Neil McLaughlin, Executive Vice President, Business Financial Services, RBC. “Through their passion and dedication, these dynamic women are leaving their mark on the marketplace and their communities. They are an inspiration for other Canadian business owners.”

Congratulations to our winners! We are proud to honour your achievements and continue to be inspired by your success.

BY Carolyn Lawrence PHOTOGRAPHY Kourosh Keshiri

Make it happen. That’s my mantra, and the simplest way to explain my outlook on life. I believe that if you have a great idea, a big goal, or just something you want to try, then you should do more than contemplate it—you should do it. Yes, you’ll need to figure out the ‘how,’ but it starts with the intention to make it happen. I’ve used this strategy to help lead the growth of Women of Influence, and now we’re empowering, educating, and impacting individuals and organizations in more ways than ever before. I apply the same mentality to my personal life, and while it’s a challenge being a working mama of influence, I’ve found a balance that works for me. It all begins with setting intentions, then working towards them, day by day. This year, I’m creating a new build on an old structure, making decisions that lead to living a good life, with joy, grace, creativity, truth, a little fire and, as always, strength.

 Related: Check out Carolyn’s “Inspired View” blog series for more of her career insights! 

6 AM

I’ve run in this ravine all my life, and it always helps to clear my head. It’s beautiful in all seasons, with a rolling creek and a few great hills to help me when I need to work something out. Sunday long runs here are nonnegotiable, and if I can make it out a few more times I’m happy.

7 AM

Breakfast with my son Jack is the most important meal of the day. While I do like to sneak out of the house and get to the office early, eating a good meal and creating that ritual has become priority. It’s a beautiful way to start the morning. We’re both eating muesli these days, mine with yogurt and berries, his with whole milk and my discarded raisins. We’re a good team.

11 AM

Mondays and Fridays tend to be my internal meeting days. I review our results and upcoming marketing campaigns, brainstorm new events, and stay on top of aggressive deadlines in our high-production business. Our employees are as passionate about women’s advancement as I am. They give me energy to keep evolving and increasing our impact.

2 PM

The Women of Influence office is located on the corner of Spadina and Adelaide, but I rarely have a day that doesn’t involve me venturing away from homebase. I often feel like I’m running between meetings on Bay, talking to sponsors and connecting with inspiring senior executive women (one of the parts of my job I enjoy the most). The downtown core is my stomping ground, and I can’t help but feel alive in this vibrant part of the city.

4 PM

Blo Blow Dry Bar has been a great blessing! I head to their location in The Path before every event. Having someone take care of me is a welcome change, and it gives me the time I need to quiet my thoughts and prepare for the event ahead. I go through the connections to be made, the script, and my opening remarks. It sets me up for success.

Related: Find out which reads helped Carolyn Lawrence find her passion!

6 PM

I’m proud to say that Women of Influence is well known for putting on stellar events, and even after attending a countless number of them, I still get excited. They offer such a unique opportunity to hear the personal stories behind the professional success of female role models. Plus, I get to connect with so many inspiring, interesting women, from high-profile leaders to those aspiring to the reach the top.

Is your career aligned with your passion? Attend Carolyn’s upcoming course, “Find Your Passion: Doing What You Love For A Living” on June 2nd in Toronto! For a complete list of Women of Influence Advancement Centre courses, click here.

1995

A TRAILBLAZER EMERGES

“When women are excluded from the political process, they become even more vulnerable to abuse. I believe that now, on the eve of a new millennium, it is time to break the silence. It is time for us to say, here in Beijing, and for the world to hear, that it is no longer acceptable to discuss women’s rights as separate from human rights.”

–HILLARY CLINTON, FOURTH WORLD CONFERENCE ON WOMEN IN BEIJING

1996 – FOR THE FIRST TIME…

← Madeleine Albright becomes the first female U.S. Secretary of State.

Which milestone in 1996 was a first for Canadian women?

For the first time, more women than men make up the Canadian Olympic team!

At the Summer Olympic Games in Atlanta, the Canadian team was comprised of 154 WOMEN to 153 MEN

1997 – GOODBYE ENGLAND’S ROSE

• The first Harry Potter book is published. J.K. Rowling will become the world’s first billionaire author.

← The People’s Princess, Princess Diana, dies in Paris.

• Ellen DeGeneres comes out to the world! She is the first openly gay woman to have her own sitcom. Ellen launches her talk show in 2003 and will earn 35 Daytime Emmy Awards by 2014.

1998 – REMEMBER WHEN…

← Tina Brown resigns as editor of The New Yorker. She will later create the Women in the World Foundation.

It’s shocking but…

This is the first year women’s ice hockey is an event in the Winter Olympic Games!

← Witnessing a legacy: Since 1998, Canadian Hayley Wickenheiser has competed in all five of the Winter Olympic Games for Team Canada, winning four gold and one silver medal.

Women of Influence was thrilled to hear her keynote address back in May 2014 at The Art of Leadership conference in Toronto. →

1999 – THE EVE OF A NEW MILLENIUM

← Nearly 48.5 million people watch Monica Lewinsky’s interview with Barbara Walters. Another exclusive for Walters – the first woman co-anchor of any network evening news show.

• Julie Payette is the first Canadian to take part in an International Space Station assembly mission.
• Catalyst’s Census reports that 39% of FORTUNE 500 companies have multiple women board directors (a 10% rise since 1994)
• The number of Internet users worldwide reaches 150 million; more than half live in the U.S. FAST FORWARD Today there are more than 2.92 billion Internet users worldwide. Over 600 million of them live in China.

2000 – PROGRESS, BUT STILL ROOM FOR GROWTH

• Hillary Clinton becomes the only First Lady ever elected to the U.S. Senate.
• 72% of U.K. women are employed; 22% have management jobs; 9.6% are executive directors

← Beverley McLachlin becomes the first female Chief Justice of Canada.

2001 – NEVER FORGET

← Terrorists down the World Trade Centre. It will take 10 years for CNN to produce the documentary Beyond Bravery: The Women of 9/11 to shine a spotlight on the women rescue workers, firefighters and law enforcers who saved lives that day.

2002 – FINALLY!!

← Halle Berry becomes first African American woman to win an Oscar for Best Leading Actress.

• California becomes the first American state to authorize paid family leave (6 weeks). It won’t be implemented until 2004.

2003 – NOT GOOD ENOUGH

← Andrea Jung, Avon, is one of eight female CEOs running FORTUNE 500 companies.

• 8 Fortune 500 companies have female CEOs.
• In Canada, 25% of women hold senior management positions. This number will “grow” to 29% in 2013.

2004 – A DECADE AGO…

• TheFacebook.com launches with a target audience of university students. What did we ever do without it?!
• Forbes premiers its 100 World’s Most Powerful Women list…

Who tops the lists?

Condoleezza Rice, U.S. National Security Advisor

Followed by:

2. Wu Yi, Vice Premier, China

3. Sonia Gandhi, President, Congress Party, India

2005 – A YEAR OF GREAT BEGINNINGS

• Women of Influence and RBC partner to take on the Canadian Women Entrepreneur Awards.

← Angela Merkel becomes the first female chancellor of Germany, Europe’s largest national economy.

• Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka becomes the Deputy President of South Africa. She will go on to become the Executive Director of UN Women in 2013.
• Michaelle Jean becomes Canada’s first Afro-Caribbean governor general.

2006 – “ONE COULD CHANGE THE WORLD WITH 140 CHARACTERS”

• Twitter is launched. FORTUNE TELLING The pound key symbol will be known to Generation Y and Z members as a “hashtag.” #believeitornot
• World Economic Forum’s first annual Global Gender Gap Report is released. Canada is ranked 14th out of 115 countries.

2007 – NEW WORLD LEADERS

• First iPhone goes on sale in U.S. – BlackBerry (who launched in 1999) has a tough competitor…
• Pratibha Patil becomes the first female President of India – the largest democracy in the world. She is 72 when elected.

← Argentina elects its first female President, Fernandez de Kirchner.

• WHAT’S GOING ON? Women make up 3% of enrolments in Canadian skilled trades programs, but only 1.5% complete their programs.

2008  – WE “LIKE” THIS

← Sheryl Sandberg becomes COO of Facebook – the first woman on the company’s board.

• Deloitte becomes the title sponsor for Women of Influence’s Luncheon series.

Hillary Clinton concedes the democratic party nomination in the presidential race.

“Although we weren’t able to shatter that highest, hardest glass ceiling this time, thanks to you, it’s got about 18 million cracks in it and the light is shining through like never before, filling us all with the hope and the sure knowledge that the path will be a little easier next time.”

…BUT WHEN WILL THAT BE, HILLARY?

2009 – ONE STEP FORWARD, TWO STEPS BACK

← Indra Nooyi, PepsiCo, Inc. is one of 15 female CEOS running FORTUNE 500 COMPANIES, almost double the 2003 number. In 2014 this number will grow to 24.

• 15 women CEOs run Fortune 500 companies, almost double the 2003 number. In 2014 this number will grow to 24.
• BACK SLIDE World Economic Forum’s annual Global Gender Gap Report ranks Canada 25th out of 135 countries.

2010 – A REVOLUTION BEGINS OVERSEAS

← First issue of Women of Influence Magazine is published. Who’s on the cover? Bonnie Fuller, Canadian-born media executive, President and Editor-in-Chief of hollywoodlife.com. Fuller has led several publications including: YM, Flare, Star, Glamour, Cosmopolitan, Us Weekly and Marie Claire.

• Kathy Dunderdaole is sworn in as the first female premier of Newfoundland and Labrador.
• The Arab Spring revolution begins, overthrowing leaders of Tunisia, Egypt, Libya and Yemen, giving Arab women hope that their rights and freedoms will improve.

A leader steps forward…

← Broadcaster and activist Bothaina Kamel becomes Egypt’s first female presidential candidate in 2011. She will run and lose again in 2014.

2011 – WE’RE KILLING IT!

← Christine Lagarde becomes the first female Director of the International Monetary Fund.

• Jill Abramson becomes the first female executive editor of the New York Times.
• 76 Canadian women are elected to the House of Commons – the highest number of women elected in one year.
• Women of Influence launches the Top 25, an annual ranking of the most influential women in Canada.

2012 – PROGESS ON A GLOBAL SCALE

← >Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi becomes leader of the opposition after several years of house arrest and fighting for rights in Burma.

• In Hong Kong, 9% of board positions are held by women. (A measly increase of 0.1% from 2009.)
• After the president is ousted in 2011, Tunisia’s National Constitutional Assembly drafts a new constitution declaring women “complementary to men.” Thousands protest and in January 2014, Tunisia adopts a new constitution declaring “equal rights and duties” for women and men.

In Brazil, Maria Das Gracas Silva Foster becomes the world’s first CEO of a major oil company.

SUCCESS STORY

Maria is a chemical engineer who began as an intern as Petrobras over 30 years ago. Today, the company generates $140 billion in annual revenues.

2013 – THE POWERFUL INFLUENCE OF WOMEN

• Angelina Jolie reveals she underwent a double mastectomy to reduce her risk of breast cancer. The growing number of women pursuing genetic testing is later dubbed “the “Angelina effect.”

← Kathleen Wynne becomes Ontario’s first female premier and Canada’s first openly gay premier.

• There are 6 women premiers managing 84% of the population of Canada.

2014 – THE WORLD POPULATION IS 7.16 BILLION PEOPLE

← Gloria Steinem, leading activist in the women’s liberation movement, turns 80.

• 20th anniversary of Women of Influence! Over 400 inspirational speakers, over 30 professional development courses, 10 RBC Canadian Women Entrepreneur Award Galas, 100 Top 25 winners, 1 white paper, and countless passionate women inspired to advance.

We know you’ve had your own important milestones. Share them with us @womenofInflnce #WeOwnIt

(Hold breath, hold breath, hold breath.)

This is what happened to me yesterday. Arlene Dickinson, a favoured woman of influence in our community, leaned into the podium and said those exact words, closely followed by “I’m going to talk about sexual harassment.”

“Oh boy,” I thought. “Here we go.”

Arlene is one of the most successful women in our country, a celebrity entrepreneur, a voice for women and a voice for entrepreneurs. She picked our forum to use that voice: Not only to address a topic that is top of mind for our nation ,but also to share her own personal experiences of being sexually harassed.

I spent the better part of her speech worried. Worried that this was not the right forum for this address, that people came here to be inspired about business, and that they would be upset that it wasn’t what they wanted; but more so, worried that this would make some people in the room uncomfortable. By the end of the speech I recognized that this line of thinking was part of the problem.

Arlene’s message was one of sharing to connect and unite us, but most importantly to advance us.

It made me reconsider some advice I’d given recently, when I recommended to a peer that she NOT share her story of sexual harassment at work because I didn’t think it was appropriate or considerate to her current employer. In so doing, did I give more authority to the accused? More power to the problem?

I have made my life and my living about bringing female role models into the spotlight to share their stories, so that we can be successful as a gender. This wasn’t any different. This was the right forum for us to talk and leverage the power of sharing our voice.

As Arlene quoted, “Nothing strengthens authority so much as silence.”
—Leonardo da Vinci

The talk hit home for me, when Arlene, visibly choking on the well of emotions this was bringing up, thanked those who gave her strength, and thanked those who give strength in general to others who feel they aren’t worth it; like they have no voice, no value, or no options. When someone feels this way, and someone else chooses to use their strength to believe in you, and support you, it makes success possible, it makes people like Arlene possible, and me possible. It can help an entrepreneur grow; it can pull a woman out of a bad situation; it can help someone stand taller and it can help you go on. It can help you advance.

Isn’t that what organizations like mine are all about?

The call to action here is for this generation, our generation, to not let this go on. Arlene did inspire us yesterday by sharing her opinion that “while we all know that businesses need to make a profit to run, it doesn’t have to at the expense of other people.”

They say the reason that so many women don’t report their harassment is because they don’t feel safe to do so. I didn’t feel safe even supporting the conversation at our event, but Arlene has given us that strength as a result of sharing her story. #power2speak

Arlene said, “The only story worth telling is your own.” And I agree. Her story empowered us all.

At the conclusion of the speech, there was a standing ovation and an immediate line up at the podium — a sure signal that she had struck a chord. During the Q&A, 6 women shared their own story of sexual harassment, one leading with “What a risk. Bravo!” I’ll say! What I heard from their stories was that many other women had similar experiences to Arlene in the workplace; from being expected to go the “extra mile” for a promotion or a client or put up with, quite frankly, inappropriate behaviour.

Arlene didn’t just talk about her rise to the top today, she didn’t just talk about being a woman of influence, she showed us what they look like, she walked the walk and used her voice to influence and ignite a change through the power of sharing.

It was ironic that on every seat was a copy of this week’s issue of Maclean’s magazine featuring Jian Ghomeshi with the headline “How he got away with it,” an in-your-face reminder of the relevancy of the topic at hand.

As people left the room I scanned the expressions and first responses of all who were there; from board directors to aspiring young leaders, and the response was consistent:

• This may not be what people came here for today, but perhaps it was what they needed.
• It was the right message and the right forum.
• It’s the same as using our voice to celebrate female entrepreneurship and women’s advancement.
• Why do we as women question our confidence and our voice? Why do we shy away from authority in the face of conflict or being disruptive?
• 90% of women in the room will have had a similar experience as Arlene, and now they can go on knowing they are not alone, that if women like Arlene can go on to achieve greatness, then they can too.

Thank you, Arlene, for sharing your voice and your influence with us today.

TORONTO – October 20, 2014 –How much would you bid on an opportunity to spend a day shadowing one of Canada’s leading female executives? For many young women, the experience to be mentored by the likes of Annette Verschuren and Rosemary McCarney would be priceless.

However, this dream may soon become a reality for the highest bidders as Women of Influence holds its annual online auction for future Women of Influence, from October 20th to October 27th until midnight in support of G(irls)20, a powerful initiative that economically empowers girls and women to be agents of economic and social change.

Click here to download the full press release.

Something about networking seems forced and fake, there’s an inherent opportunism that seems obvious and distasteful. It’s not that I haven’t attended conferences and seminars, I have. And I’ve given my card out to people and taken theirs…but there’s not usually any follow up. I’m not planning to leave my job, but I’m confident it won’t be the last job I ever have either. I’ll be looking for work again even if it’s not next month or next year.  What should I do to start networking in a way that feels honest and real?”

Elaine Kunda
Consultant, and former CEO, B5Media

Networking comes easily to Elaine; she can’t help herself from finding a common connection, enjoying the company, and always offering value.

A: There is nothing worse than being net-“worked.” It’s kind of like watching an actor who is painfully reading their lines from a teleprompter: actors are supposed to transform themselves into the character they are playing and anything less feels contrived, or as my nieces say, “awkward!” Networking comes more naturally to some, but networking naturals are few and far between. Regardless, even the blessed conversationalist and connectors work to master their craft.

I’m curious and enjoy learning about others, so people genuinely intrigue me. That is the natural part for me. But networking is more than just idle chatter—it’s about quickly finding interesting common ground and figuring out a way to leverage it. All good relationships require give and take, so you can’t expect to network for your own purposes without intending to help the other person in some capacity.

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5 Networking Tips to apply the next time you’re at an event:

• Approach a group or person with confidence and sincerity. Say hello, shake hands, introduce yourself and smile.
• Bring energy to the conversation and ensure it at least “appears” as though you want to be there. Until you are skilled, practice a few conversation openers. Ask friends or colleagues to give you input.
• Ask questions and listen. People like to talk about themselves and trust is earned from listening. Don’t hover, and if the person or group is not openly engaging you, or including you in their conversation, politely remove yourself from the situation.
• Look for common ground. Try something like, “that is very interesting, I’m working on a project in the same area and would love to tell you about it. Maybe we can grab a coffee next week? Do you have a card? I’ll give you a call to set it up.”
• Figure out if there is anything you can do for them. Everyone has something to offer, and should.

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Liane Davey
Knightsbridge Human Capital Solutions

Liane is a New York Times best-selling author on the principles of getting ahead and a regular Good Question contributor.

A: You’re not the only nervous networker. I hear this trepidation all the time. For some, it’s the discomfort of trying to make intelligent conversation with someone you don’t know. For others, it’s concern about appearing self-serving, ingenuine, or smarmy.

It’s time to change your approach to networking. My Knightsbridge colleague (and partner with Women of Influence’s Advancement Centre) Tammy Heermann describes behaviour change in three steps:

1.) Change your mindset
Get rid of the word networking if it’s getting in your way. Instead, think of it as making connections with interesting people. Override your concern about being self-interested by trying to be the first to add value. That’s a lot more palatable than thinking of it as hunting for people you can call on for favours.

2.) Build your skillset
If networking is about connecting with people so you can help each other, you need two skills: the ability to ask great questions and listen deeply to the answers. Having a few handy questions that are as versatile as your little black dress helps (ex. “What’s your connection to the host(ess)?”, “Who else do you recommend I meet while I’m here? Would you introduce me?”) Once you ask these questions, listen intently for what you can learn about the person. Then ask a follow-up to deepen the conversation. “I don’t know much about your industry. How is that trend playing out for you?” A little bit of dialogue makes it more likely that you’ll have enough context to be of assistance to the person in the future.

3.) Settle into a deliberate practice
Rather than take a business card that you’re just going to misplace, put the person’s email straight into your phone with a note about where you met and your shared interests. Follow up with a LinkedIn invitation. Then keep an eye out for one thing you can send them that might be valuable—an article from the paper, or a blog post that might be of interest.

Liane is speaking in Calgary on June 4th at the Deloitte Women of Influence Luncheon!

Click here to register.

Isabel Bassett
Canadian broadcaster and former politician

Isabel is a master networker, demonstrating warmth and depth in every conversation.

A: There is no downside to networking, and you have everything to gain—confidence, insights, alternative viewpoints and solutions, friendships and yes, opportunities. As for that icky feeling that you are being “opportunistic”—get over yourself. You also have things to contribute.

The hardest part is starting. Imagine how you feel at an event full of strangers, when someone comes up and says “Hello.” Immediately you feel relieved and welcome, right? Now be that person. Get over your fears of rejection, approach a stranger, smile, say “hello,” and introduce yourself. It’s that simple.

Not everyone will want to network, but stay positive. At any event there will be at least a few people who would enjoy and benefit from networking with you too. That’s the key to being authentic—recognizing that like any relationship, it’s a two-way street.

My advice is to pick three or four people—women and men—in your field who are senior to you, and develop business relationships with them. Research their interests so you can have a relevant question or issue to discuss. Attend events where there is an opportunity to meet people in your field. You might be tempted to chat only with people you already know, but try stepping out of your comfort zone, and make it a priority to meet new people.

You mention having exchanged lots of business cards but have had little follow up. That’s your job, and it requires initiative and patience. If someone you meet doesn’t respond to a phone call or email, don’t hound them, but don’t be discouraged either—be sure to say “hello” at the next event. Eventually you will have developed a handful of mutually rewarding relationships with people you feel comfortable with, and otherwise never would have crossed paths with.

Looking for more information about building your network? The Women of Influence Advancement Centre runs highly-targets one-day courses including “Networks that Work.” Click here to see our list of upcoming courses.