Women in leadership

Go beyond in 2023

ANN-MARIE FLINN PRESIDENT AND FOUNDER CHAMPION FOUNDATIONAL CHANGE AGENCY

AsInternational Women’s Day approaches, there is still more to be done to close the gender gap, to remove the “broken” rung in entry-level management, and to break the glass ceilings once and for all.

Our society still has a way to go to truly embrace full gender equity where we work, live, and play. We all have a part to play in embracing equity. This is why I’ve created the Champion Women’s Summit.

Women leaders of today and tomorrow will gather from March 8 to 10 at Digby Pines Resort to build on their leadership capacity and help them succeed in their personal and professional lives. The summit’s mission is to empower women to lead in their chosen fields, to provide a platform for networking and connection, and to embody authentic leadership.

The summit will focus on three main areas of concern.

1. Equity in leadership development

Women are still significantly underrepresented in leadership positions. For years, fewer women have risen through the ranks because of the “broken rung” at the first step up to manager.

When employers support leadership development programs specifically curated by women for women, they acknowledge the specific challenges women face while reaching their summit in leadership.

Women are still facing microaggressions in the workplace where they are being belittled, questioned, or mistaken for someone more junior. When this happens, there is a drama dynamic that can ensue, where it feels psychologically unsafe to bring forth authentic leadership.

This year’s summit will address various types of “drama” in the workplace and how building a psychologically safe culture for all encourages authenticity.

2. Well-being

Since the pandemic, the boundaries between work and life have blurred, especially for women. Mental unwellness has reached record levels, especially in women. Many are faced with trying to do “everything right,” which can lead to unhealthy perfectionism, stress, and burnout rates that are reaching a crisis level.

Women are demanding more opportunities for well-being from their employers, and they’re leaving their companies in unprecedented numbers to get it.

Industry leaders need to rethink their approach to allow greater opportunities for well-being.

The summit will address unhealthy perfectionism to lead change — personally and professionally — in a healthier way. It will encourage creative and expansive thinking while learning in a positive environment of other likeminded women.

Work-Life balance will not happen by accident. It is a joint effort — including the organization, the employee's family, and society — to embrace it and allow time for it.

3. Embrace authentic leadership

Authentic leadership is the healthy alignment between internal values and beliefs and external behaviour. These leaders bring their whole selves to their jobs and participate fully and honestly in the workplace.

Organizations that foster authentic leadership are more likely to have engaged, enthusiastic, motivated employees and psychologically safe cultures. Women leaders who don’t feel safe leading from authenticity are switching jobs or leaving the workforce altogether.

In response to the fierce competition for acquiring and retaining top female talent, organizations need to find ways to embody a culture where authentic leadership is embraced and encouraged.

The Champion Women’s Summit will encourage authentic leadership through leading from the Inner Champion. Be the organization that promotes and supports these leaders! Companies that go beyond will attract and retain women leaders — and this will lead to a better workplace for everyone. They’ll win the war for talent today and into the future.

Start today! Sponsor your female leaders of today and tomorrow to attend the Champion Women’s Leadership Summit.

To learn more about the Champion Women’s Leadership Summit, visit: changechamp.ca/ champion-womens-summit