Jobpostings Magazine: November 2013 Vol. 16 No. 3 by jobpostings Magazine

Nov 2013 | VOL. 16 No. 3

Breaking gender barriers at work

Top female executives in Canada: where they started and how they got to the top

Breadwinner moms Women’s business programs

It’s a woman’s world

CAREERS. EDUCATION. IDEAS. ALL OF IT.

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at its very best We OFFer DeGrees, DiPLOMas, POstGraDs, aND CONtiNUiNG eDUCatiON. business.humber.ca

TABLE OF CONTENTS

THE FRONT PAGES THE FRONT PAGES

06 SUCCESS STORIES

Catherine Miao, division director with Investors Group, tells us about jumping into new fields.

09 Interview Tips

Thilo Mohan, sourcing and recruitment specialist with Xerox Canada, asks and answers “Where do you see yourself in the next five years?”

10 STARTUP

Chantelle Buffie, co-founder of Fusion Kitchen, talks about her success in creating jobs for immigrant foodies.

CAREER REPORTS 12 The actual lives of actuaries

As proficient communicators, women have an edge in this statistical field.

14 Capitalizing on your career

Find out why there’s a demand for women in capital markets.

BREAKING BOUNDARIES 16 The sky’s the limit

Condos are popping up everywhere, which means a greater need for female architects.

19 The rise of breadwinner moms

More women are stepping out of the kitchen and into high-earning positions.

20 SHE SHOOTS, SHE SCORES

It’s about time the boys’ sports club is shut down. We tell you how to get into sportscasting, wearing sneakers or heels.

FEATURES 22 It’s a woman’s world

There are plenty of careers that are stereotypically dominated by men. We talk to women that are leading the way and creating new opportunities.

27 FEMALE EXECUTIVES

In companies across Canada, there’s a rise in women in top positions. We speak to five of these women in different positions and industries to follow their paths from the bottom to the top so you can aim high, no matter your gender.

22 12

EDUCATION 32 ACTIVE PASSION

The sports management field is broad and a growing number of women are breaking into it.

33 Business programs for women

Take a look at the female-oriented business programs and organizations available in Canada.

THE BACK PAGES 35 The salary report

This month, we analyze wages for women in Canada, and detail some top hourly wages that are easily accessible.

36 Managing your manager

Did you know that part of succeeding at your job is ensuring your boss looks damn good? We explain why and tell you how to do it.

NOVEMBER 2013 | JOBPOSTINGS.CA

THE FRONT PAGES

Take charge...

and get paid what you’re worth.

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Nathan Laurie nlaurie@jobpostings.ca

associate publisher Mark Laurie mlaurie@jobpostings.ca

COMMUNICATIONS AND PROJECT MANAGER David Tal dtal@jobpostings.ca @DavidTalWrites

editor

James Michael McDonald jmcdonald@jobpostings.ca @mcjamdonald

ART DIRECTOR

Anthony Capano acapano@jobpostings.ca

STAFF WRITER

MEGAN SANTOS msantos@jobpostings.ca @megnifisantos

DEVELOPER

Mishraz Ahmad Bhounr mbhounr@jobpostings.ca

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GENERALADs For more information or to apply, visit: jobpostings.ca/company/investors-group Connect with us at: facebook.com/investorsgroup twitter.com/valueoftheplan youtube.com/investorsgroupcanada linkedin.com/company/7441 ™ Trademarks owned by IGM Financial Inc. and licensed to its subsidiary corporations. This is a full-time opportunity to establish your own variable-income and self-employed business in association with Investors Group Financial Services Inc. (in Québec, a financial services firm). Submissions are subject to an initial and ongoing review process. Investors Group offices are located in all provinces and territories in Canada. Please submit your Resumé/ Application only to one office.

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CONTACT Published by Passion Inc. 25 Imperial Street, Suite 100 Toronto, ON M5P 1B9 jobpostings.ca 1-877-900-5627 ext. 221

contributors

Jamie Bertolini, Hillary Di Menna, Samuel Dunsiger, Laura Eley, Nailah King, Heidi Murphy, Sheila O’Hearn, Kyle Reynolds

national account manager Mary Vanderpas

EDUCATION ACCOUNT MANAGER

BERNIE connect@jobpostings.ca @careerunicorn

Photos from istockphoto.com are used throughout this issue; individual artists have been credited. Jobpostings Magazine is published eight times in the school year. Copies of jobpostings are distributed to over 105 universities and colleges across Canada. Contents of this publication are protected by copyright and may not be reprinted in whole or part without permission of the publishers. “It is past time for women to take their rightful place, side by side with men, in the rooms where the fates of peoples, where their children’s and grandchildren’s fates, are decided. — Hillary Clinton

There’s lots of excitement in store for you as Executive Team Leader. We’re getting our Store Leadership team in place and are seeking ambitious people who can create the best shopping experience for our guests. If you have a passion for developing dynamic, sales-driven teams and are looking to grow your career, we can’t wait to hear from you.

Join our team. Expect the best.

THE FRONT PAGES

EDITOR’S NOTE

The female climb From the desk of

James Michael McDonald For me, creating this issue was an enlightening experience, to say the least. As some background, I was raised predominantly by strong women. My mom was a single parent and raised me with conviction. And when she worked nights, my grandmothers took turns looking after me—wise, fun, intelligent women that likely taught me more than anyone else. So when I was told to organize our yearly women’s issue, I was obviously excited. It was surprising, however, that friends and peers made statements like “why do we need a women’s issue? It’s 2013.”

In a way, they’re right. Things are better now than ever before for women in the workplace, which was reiterated by the many women we interviewed. Many told us that they have yet to experience discrimination at work, that being a woman has never hindered their success. That said, I believe women’s issues of all types of publications are important, for a number of reasons. Primarily, I think showcasing the great successes of women reminds us how far we’ve come, and how much more work towards equality we have left. Boys’ clubs still exist, shown by only 4.5 per cent of the Fortune 1000 having female CEOs. These issues are also key in repeatedly showing the abilities and accomplishments of women to the rest of the world, to continue to push for worldwide gender equality. Although our magazine may be a drop in the bucket in that push, we should all do what we can to eradicate discrimination. In this issue, we highlight a number of women that are leaders in their fields— retail, oil and gas, food services, finance, and sales. We asked them how they got to the top and where they began, so both

JOBPOSTINGS.CA | NOVEMBER 2013

male and female grads can make big plans for their futures. We look at unique problems and successes for women, like being a breadwinner mom, and breaking into sportscasting as a woman. We also take a look at special post-secondary programs for women, and the rising number of women in sports management programs around the country. Although we can see gender equality on the horizon, we still have a ways to go before it’s a true reality in all workplaces.

Hopefully our magazine informs you of the strides we’ve made and the distance we have left to travel. Happy reading!

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THE BABY, NOT THE DOCTOR. Chances are you already know a St. George’s University doctor. There are over 11,000 SGU doctors in the US and around the world. And, SGU has put more doctors into the US health care system than two-thirds of US medical schools.* In 2013 alone, SGU graduates obtained over 800 residency positions in the US and Canada. Study medicine at SGU and join thousands of SGU doctors who deliver bundles of joy, every day.

Find out about information sessions and webinars in your area at sgu.edu/futurestudents US/Canada: 1 (800) 899-6337 ext. 9 1280 sgu.edu/futurestudents • sguenrolment@sgu.edu *From an AMA data source, distributed in February 2010 ©2013 St. George’s University

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THE FRONT PAGES

SUCCESS STORIES

Catherine Miao COMPANY: Investors Group Financial Services Inc. Position: Division Director EMPLOYED: Eight years Degree: Bachelor of Arts system and sticking to it so I can generate strong results in both areas, although each only receives 50 per cent of my time. What is a rewarding part of your job? When clients and consultants put their trust and faith in me, I know I’m making a positive impact in their lives. What skills have you learned through your work experience? Other than all the skills required to be a financial planner, my involvement with Investors Group has had a very positive impact on my personal development.

SUCCESS STORIES Wondering how to get to the top? Read on to find out how this young professional is succeeding in the business world. Where did you go to school? What program did you attend? I graduated from Beijing Foreign Studies University. I studied English, German, and culture exchange. The program is designed to prepare students with language competence and a global vision to serve in the foreign affairs department. What drew you to your field? Control and flexibility of time, high incomeearning potential, and a great corporate culture. How did you find your position? I was looking for interior design and fashion-related employment when I was starting my career search. I watched The Wedding Planner and immediately found that career attractive. When I searched “wedding planner” on the internet, Investors Group financial planner popped up. The title of “financial planner” peaked my curiosity so I applied for the role online even though I

JOBPOSTINGS.CA | NOVEMBER 2013

didn’t know much about it, and was invited for an interview. I went through the interview process and, after three interviews, I was offered the role. Not one to shy away from a challenge and trusting that Investors Group would provide me with the training and support I would need, I accepted. Tell us about your responsibilities. I run two advisory practices under the umbrella of Investors Group. As a Certified Financial Planner professional, I provide a variety of financial planning services to clients including investment planning, tax planning, estate planning, and risk management assessments. I also run a division; I spend my time recruiting, training, and mentoring a group of advisors. What is the most challenging aspect of your position? Creating an efficient time management

What do you think it takes to be successful in this career? A strong desire and determination to succeed, disciplined self-management skills, a desire to help people, and a willingness to do whatever it takes to get the job done. What are you most proud of to date? I started with very little background in financial services as a new immigrant. English is my third language. I am proud to say I’m now among the top financial planning professionals in the industry having achieved the coveted CFP designation, and am now able to train and mentor other advisors. What are your career aspirations? I would like to continue to grow my financial planning practice and become a leader in the industry. In the meantime, I want to grow my division of advisors to become the largest and most productive under the umbrella of Investors Group. What advice do you have for students looking to land their first job? Positive attitude is essential. Find your passion, plan, and start early. Be proactive and make a conscious effort to network with the right people who might lead you to your dream career. Have an open mind and don’t be afraid to follow your instincts.

I’ve got the energy to help people.

And the power to make a difference.

Because working here is about more than helping customers choose the right product. It’s about making a difference in their lives and their homes. We call it “unleashing your inner orange” and it’s my ability to tap into my inner potential to help customers create a space worth calling home. Working at The Home Depot gives me the training and support I need to help customers plan projects from beginning to end. I take pride in knowing about all of the products and services we offer—and exactly how to suggest them to bring home improvement ideas to life. That’s the power of The Home Depot. – Anna, Home Depot Associate

We are committed to diversity as an equal opportunity employer.

Learn how tapping into your inner potential has the ability to help yourself and others.

Apply online at homedepot.ca/9174 and discover how youWecan unleash your inner orange! are committed to diversity as an equal opportunity employer.

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INTERVIEW TIPS

THE FRONT PAGES

Do interviews make you sweat? Our HR connections and recruitment friends on the inside let you know what they ask and exactly what they want to hear.

Thilo Mohan

Sourcing and recruitment specialist, XEROX CANADA Our question this issue: Where do you see yourself in the next five years? This is one of the most common questions an employer will ask a potential employee. Why do we want to know? Well, it’s quite simple. We want to know that you have given some thought to your future, have set measurable goals, and are willing to take the necessary steps to achieve those goals. What does this tell us about you? It tells the employer that you are not merely focused on getting a job, but you’re looking to develop yourself personally and professionally and establish your career within our organization. As an employer, we want to invest in you and help you achieve the goals you have set but we need to know that you are willing to do your part to make this partnership

beneficial to you and the organization as a whole. It also shows your prospective employers that you are ambitious, driven, responsible, committed, and are actively pursuing career opportunities that will help you achieve the goals you have set for yourself. Here’s what to keep in mind when answering this question: Where do I want to be in the next five years? What role do I want to play in this organization? Are my goals realistic, measurable, and attainable? If so, how would I go about reaching my goals? How do my goals align with the values this organization stands for? And here’s how to answer this question:

“Within the next five years, I would like to gain valuable experience within your organization, learn cross-functional and transferrable skills, and become a well-established professional within my industry. Although this is an entry-level position, I will definitely take this position as a stepping stone to move up in the company and further enhance my skill set in order to foster continuous professional growth and benefit this organization. I plan on achieving this goal by participating in any training programs, workshops, or seminars that may be offered and by enrolling in various courses to gain more knowledge and insight on relevant skills that would be beneficial to my role.”

NOVEMBER 2013 | JOBPOSTINGS.CA

THE FRONT PAGES

STARTUP

Today’s special Chantelle Buffie’s recipe for success. If you have a taste for savoury cuisine, here’s some food for thought: there are about 72,000 restaurants for you to try in Canada. This is salivating news for Chantelle Buffie, a self-professed foodie and business administration student at Simon Fraser University’s Beedie School of Business. There, she has put her entrepreneurial spirit and passion for food and cooking to work as the co-founder of Fusion Kitchen, a social enterprise she started with fellow student Sonam Swarup. Recipient of the 2013 National HSBC Woman Leader of Tomorrow Award from Enactus Canada, Buffie describes Fusion Kitchen as a platform for immigrants to gain work experience, build self-confidence, and develop transferrable skill sets in a Canadian, inclusive, and non-judgmental environment.

“When immigrants come to Canada … they tend to fall into jobs that aren’t necessarily aligned with what they want to do careerwise, so we’re trying to target individuals who are more interested in the cooking or teaching industries and helping them transition into the Canadian workforce through our platform,” says Buffie. She says the HSBC award recognizes and celebrates female post-secondary students for their ingenuity, love for community and country, and entrepreneurial leadership. She and her Enactus team at SFU were given a $2,500 grant to put towards the development of an initiative to advance women in their community. With a drive for business that has thrived for as long as she can remember, Buffie says her perspective of the industry is always changing, especially as she continues to navigate through university and simultaneously run her organization. But balancing so many items on one plate is all part of the trade off. “Beedie School of Business has been great in encouraging and supporting me to grow as an individual beyond just school and academia,” says Buffie, adding she’s been fortunate enough to go on an international exchange to Milan. “I’ve also done a co-op term at Telus, which actually led to me getting a permanent role with the organization, and there’s a bunch of faculty and staff that have been supportive and instrumental in my pursuit of entrepreneurship. So just

JOBPOSTINGS.CA | NOVEMBER 2013

Make as many connections as possible as a student because I think students tend to be afraid to make mistakes, but people are more forgiving when you’re a student.

having that environment where they really encourage you to become an overall, wellbalanced person has been great.” According to Buffie, she and Swarup spent about two years working for Enactus SFU, a non-profit global organization that brings together university groups to develop social, environmental, and economic projects in the local community. “We took a social entrepreneurship class at the Beedie School of Busi-

ness and everything just kind of aligned, in terms of using our non-profit background, our skills of business, and the fact that we wanted to help empower these groups of individuals that we also personally connect with,” she says. “And we also just love food, travel, and culture.” She advises young, aspiring entrepreneurs to leverage the fact that you’re a student because people are generally more willing to offer you their time and feedback knowing that you’re in school. “I’ve been fortunate enough to meet and sit down with people I don’t think would make the time if I was not a student already,” says Buffie. “Make as many connections as possible as a student because I think students tend to be afraid to make mistakes, but people are more forgiving when you’re a student.” | Kyle Reynolds

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CAREER REPORT

actuaries

The actual lives of actuaries As proficient communicators, women have an edge in this statistical field. Jill Wagman, managing principal of Eckler Ltd., might never have begun her career as an actuary if her high school guidance counsellor hadn’t suggested it. “I was strong in mathematics,” she says, “and the counsellor told me about the actuarial science program at the University of Waterloo. She also recommended the co-op component to prep me for working in the field.” The definition of an actuary? “It’s complicated,” Wagman asserts, whose speciality is pensions. “We’re often mistaken for accountants, but actuaries use statistics and mathematical models to take past experience and use it to predict future outcomes.” Sharon Giffen, president of Foresters Canada and life insurance expert, quips that “it’s a relatively unknown profession,” and yet it exerts an influential force globally. Actuaries with their dedicated knowledge of mathematics, statistics, and risk theory help solve problems faced by pension plans, government regulators, social programs, and individuals. “They assess, quantify, and manage the financial implications of uncertain future events,” Giffen explains. “They develop models to help businesses project future cash flows, based on historical data. Many factors must be weighed and analyzed, such as the probability of inflation and a person’s future state of health, in order to predict an optimal current action.” Actuaries have highly developed computer skills, a practical business sense, and the creativity to apply training and experience to new problems and provide innovative solutions. With excellent communication skills, they help people plan better for the future by controlling or reducing financial risks associated with retirement, sickness, disability, unemployment, property loss and damage, investment policy, premature death, or extended life expectancy.

JOBPOSTINGS.CA | NOVEMBER 2013

A challenging career, the actuary’s education doesn’t stop after university. Undergraduate programs prepare students for the series of rigorous post-university exams required to gain full accreditation as a Fellow of the Society of Actuaries (USA) and the Canadian Institute of Actuaries (Canada), a process that can take three to five years, or longer. To keep current, actuaries continue their education with courses after the exam process. But, yes, there are rewards! Entry-level actuaries, upon completing one to two exams and gaining some experience, can earn between $50,000 and $65,000 annually. In addition, study time and exam costs are traditionally at the employer’s expense. Fully qualified with seasoned experience, one can expect to bring in over $100,000. Wagman says that the field offers tremendous variety, including advancement to senior management and executive positions. Thirtysix per cent of actuaries work in pensions, while 40 per cent work in life insurance; the remainder thrive in other businesses. Giffen believes that the banking industry will use actuaries in the near future. Wagman and Giffen both agree that women, in particular, have an edge in the actuarial field. “On the consulting side, women tend to be strong communicators, more perceptive of their clients’ needs, and empathetic, which is key,” Wagman notes. “Fortunately, the profession is gender-blind,” Giffen adds. “The technical component is the same for men and women, but women tend to focus better, in my opinion, and they tend to have a more holistic way of thinking, which is necessary in order to synthesize a lot of information into an optimal course of action.” For more information, visit www.cia-ica.ca. | Sheila O’Hearn

CAREER REPORT

CAPITAL MARKETS

Capitalizing on your career The growing demand for women in capital markets.

At universities and colleges across Canada, business and commerce programs are booming with intelligent, young women eager to tackle the economic industry. Many are likely considering careers as accountants or analysts in the Big 4 accounting and professional services firms, but another world of opportunity awaits them in the capital markets.

research, trading, and portfolio management; and legal skills are required in the compliance area,” she explains.

Jennifer Reynolds is president of Women in Capital Markets, an organization dedicated to the advancement and development of women working in the industry. “The capital markets are where companies in Canada—well, not just Canadian companies but companies from elsewhere as well—raise capital, and that can be through debt or that can be through equity,” she explains. Reynolds adds that the capital markets also serve as a place for companies to seek advice on potential transactions, strategic advice, and implementing business plans.

There are post-secondary clubs specifically set up to get students involved in the capital markets, like at the University of Western Ontario and Ryerson University. Agusta suggests that those interested in pursuing a capital market career follow business news and keep up-to-date on the business sector. She also recommends that young women join women’s groups, like Women in Capital Markets, to acquire additional insight into the industry and career strategies.

CEO and founding partner of Lexion Capital Management LLC Elle Kaplan made the decision to start her own company in capital management after a decade of working on Wall Street. “I wanted to build a place that was completely independent, client-centric, and values-driven: the anti-Wall Street, Wall Street firm,” she says. “When three clients (all independent of each other) asked me to go out on my own and manage their money as a private wealth manager, I knew it was time to build that ideal firm.” Typically considered a male-dominated industry, the capital markets offer many opportunities for women that, as Reynolds says, range from the trading floor to investment banking. Gisella Agusta, human resources director with ITG Canada, explains that the field provides opportunities for a range of interests. “Computer science skills are needed for databases and algorithmic trading; accounting, finance, and economics skills are needed in

JOBPOSTINGS.CA | NOVEMBER 2013

Kaplan says that “women make excellent, savvy investors and can add unique value as advisors,” also stating that females often have strong communication skills, and a better understanding of the concerns that female investors bring to their financial lives.

Reynolds encourages young women to network while still in school and to discover what best suits their interests. “I think too often people in business, for instance, [say] ‘I guess I’ll apply to go into audit’ or something like that, just because it’s well known,” she says. Like any industry, a little bit of exploration and risk-taking can often lead to higher work satisfaction—if one is willing to invest the time. Kaplan, for one, has found the capital markets rewarding because they combine her own interests with the ability to make an impact on the lives of others. “Every day, I get to pursue my passion for investing while helping people in a vital way. These are not just numbers. These are people’s lives, their dreams, their financial security,” she says. “The key thing is to get women aware of these opportunities,” says Reynolds. “There’s a great demand, there’s all kinds of programs going on at the bank to try to recruit women and also to advance women, so it’s a great time for young women to be coming into this industry.” | Laura Eley

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BREAKING BOUNDARIES

ARCHITECTS

The sky’s the limit Addressing the need for more women in architecture.

For centuries, the skylines of cities around the world have grown and been shaped by the ideas of architects. Frank Lloyd Wright, Frank Gehry, and Philip Johnson are just some of the great architectural names renowned for creating these buildings, names that seldom represent female figures. Often referred to as the “glass ceiling,” (the unspoken barrier that keeps women from advancing to their maximum potential), the architecture industry is no stranger to criticism for its lack of female presence. “There are times when I’m in a meeting of say 20 people, and looking around I realize that I’m the only female,” says Jennifer Mallard, an associate with Toronto’s Diamond Schmitt Architects. “It is a male-dominated industry, especially on the construction side.” According to a 2012 survey from the American Institute of Architecture, approximately 17 per cent of its members were female—a jump from their 2000 survey, which reported just nine per cent of all members as women. Jennifer Marshall, co-founder of Urban Arts Architects in Vancouver, came to understand this imbalance early in her career. “I had to start my own practice because I was pregnant. In those days [1988], you could not survive as a working mom in that environment because getting time off because your child was sick, etc. [was difficult]—you would just be fired,” she explains. Mallard adds that “the gender balance in school and in the industry at the entry level is virtually equal.” She says that she was given as much opportunity and challenge as anyone else; it’s in the higher professional roles that female numbers dwindle. Sharon Leung is an architecture student currently pursuing her master’s of architecture at Columbia University. Having recently

JOBPOSTINGS.CA | NOVEMBER 2013

entered the architectural world, she views the gender imbalance as something that will change over the course of her career, although she is uncertain of by how much. Like Mallard, Leung says that, in school, “it is a more equal division between males and females” despite males still primarily holding the senior positions. So, what can women do to continue to shift this disproportion? “[Women are] much more team-oriented, much more wanting to find a solution that everybody’s happy with, (and that can work for better or worse), but I definitely think that’s a strength that we bring,” says Marshall. Mallard agrees, explaining that in her experience, “women are stronger coaches, collaborators, and team builders.” Given that architecture is an inherent team effort that often solely recognizes the “superheroes—the ‘starchitects,’” she also explains that it’s important for women not to adopt a defeatist attitude and stay in the background. “It’s about being clear about what you want and not being afraid to ask,” adds Marshall. “The world is changing, and I think for women pursuing a design architecture career, staying on top of technologies, always bringing something extra to the table really will help; having an expertise in something and developing an expertise is really important because it gives you some power.” Regardless of gender, if you develop a strong interest in architecture, you will already bring an excellent asset to the professional table—passion. “Don’t be afraid!” says Leung to other young women pursuing (or considering) architectural careers. “Architecture is such a fascinating field to be in. Although it requires passion, dedication, and hard work, if you love it, it becomes a part of you.” | Laura Eley

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BREADWINNERS

BREAKING BOUNDARIES

The rise of breadwinner moms More women are stepping out of the kitchen and altering typical gender roles to become the primary earners in their families.

19 Breadwinner moms and stay-at-home dads are not the standard titles you say when describing today’s family dynamics, but they are steadily becoming commonplace in our modern-day homes. Monaica Ledell and Liz O’Donnell are two successful women that have settled into their own titles of breadwinner moms. Ledell, founder of Mommy Breadwinner and TruthHacking, works from home with her husband most days while raising nineyear-old and five-month-old girls. “If I have the capacity to provide a better life for them, then I better do it,” she says in a phone interview while juggling her very vocal infant daughter. O’Donnell, senior vice-president and general manager of Bubble Forte, as well as author of a new book, works full-time while her husband effectively runs the roost at home with their son and daughter. She says her plan works because she gets fulfilment from working that her husband doesn’t. “He has much better domestic skills then I do; I run the whites and the reds and everything comes out pink. He’s the really good cook and I stress over boiling water,” she adds. Last spring, the Pew Research Centre found that in a record 40 per cent of families, the mother is the primary earner. Though the majority of that figure consists of single mothers, 37 per cent are married and out-earn their husbands. Ledell says the experience of being the breadwinner in her family was challenging at first. “It caused marital problems for a while until I realized that this is probably the best thing I could do for

my family. Whether it be working outside the home or working for myself is irrelevant.” Ledell feels that, like many adult women, she was raised to acknowledge that typically the husband earned more than the wife. “I kind of had this idea in my mind that I was going to marry the brain surgeon and be at home and be a soccer mom and have four or six kids and drive around in a suburban, and that didn’t happen,” she says, adding that she has always worked. According to O’Donnell, the experience has been something she’s had to adjust to. Like Ledell, her image of a mother was one who was at home in the kitchen taking care of the family. “It was interesting to get used to the fact that I’m not necessarily the first parent that the kids come to when they need comforting,” she says. As for reasons why women become the breadwinners in their homes, the answers are varied with some choosing the lifestyle and others being forced into it. Ledell says for her it wasn’t a decision. “I came to realize pretty quickly that I am just more driven than my husband … but I also learned that I have a higher earning capacity than he does.” On the other hand, O’Donnell and her husband were “100 per cent sure” that when they decided to settle down and have kids, she would be the one working while he became a stay-at-home dad. With the number of these types of parents rising every day, O’Donnell emphasizes the importance of altering “our thinking around traditional gender roles.” She adds that it needs to become “more acceptable for people to pursue the role that they are best at.” | Jamie Bertolini

NOVEMBER 2013 | JOBPOSTINGS.CA

BREAKING BOUNDARIES

SPORTSCASTERS

She shoots, she scores!

Women taking action in sportscasting. Tune into any professional sports highlight reel today and you’ll notice a slight difference from the coverage you likely had no choice but to watch as a child. Is that a woman’s voice you hear dissecting the performance of your favourite hockey team? It sure is! And what a brilliant analysis of Steven Stamkos’ dominant, almost god-like play last night! Ten to fifteen years ago, this would have been a different story. An industry ruled by male sportscasters, spotting a female in the same position would have made for a slow and boring drinking game. Today, however, women like Jennifer Hedger of TSN and Martine Gaillard of Rogers Sportsnet are gracing our screens and bombarding us with more sports knowledge than we could ever dream of attaining. Although University of Miami broadcast journalism student Catie Staszak has not yet reached official sportscaster status, her lifelong ambition to enter the industry is within grasp. Staszak, who works as an on-air personality for the university’s studentproduced television station and weekly sports segment SportsDesk, is set to graduate next year and is currently the president of USPORT, the university’s undergraduate sport professionals’ organization. “Luckily for me, many female sportscasters have already paved a way for me in the sports industry,” says Staszak, a competitive horse jumper and rider who has qualified for and competed in several national championships. “I will enter the full-time job market next year with confidence, knowing that women are now

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more readily accepted in the business.” She believes the stronger female presence can be attributed to more equal employment opportunities and more sports-related program offerings at universities. She adds, “there has also been a surge in the amount of 24/7 sports networks on television, meaning there are more job offerings. Women have been capitalizing on these opportunities, and that’s exciting!” Recently, Staszak has assisted with the implementation of Women in Sportscasting, an organization with the aim to provide a one-stop shop for women to post their portfolios and for prospective employers to find new talent. The creator, Chris Stafford, is in the process of producing a regular podcast that will be hosted and produced by the women themselves to hone their production and broadcast skills. Despite the gradual increase of women in sportscasting, Staszak says, “I get funny looks all the time from people when I start to talk with them about sports. This is especially true when I am talking about or debating a sports issue with men.” She adds, “at times, it’s frustrating that people continue to hold on to dominant gender ideology and the stereotype that women are not interested in sports and have no knowledge about sport-related issues.” But how did she get to be so sport-savvy in the first place? She gives the nod to her father, Ray Staszak, who once played for the Detroit Red Wings in the mid-1980s. “Sports often bring out the best in people,” she says. “The way I see it, who wouldn’t want to talk about sports for a living?” | Kyle Reynolds

FEATURE

WOMEN IN MALE-DOMINATED INDUSTRIES

It’s a woman’s world Successful women in male-dominated industries.

Words Kyle Reynolds // Illustrations Anthony Capano Calloused hands, yellow hard hats, and a grimy pair of construction boots are all common associations of someone with a job in the trades. You may also be reminded of your father, grandpa, or uncle—one of which might work in construction, engineering, or mechanics. But now more than ever, the trades are less exclusively a “man’s world.” In fact, according to Human Resources and Skills Development Canada, women are regularly dirtying their hands in jobs related to aerospace, forestry, green energy technologies, biotechnology in agriculture, and engineering.

Tanna Marino’s enduring job hunt came to a sudden halt the day her refrigerator broke. She was a stay-at-home mom who dabbled in the flooring and tiling business after high school but decided not to pursue post-secondary education. After calling for help from the owner of Mr. Appliance, a home appliance repair company, Marino and her husband were impressed

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with the technician’s service and ended up chatting with him in depth on their driveway. According to Marino, the owner hinted that he was looking for new technicians at his office and she decided to seize the opportunity. “I put my heels and my skirt on and went to apply for a technician job,” she says. “They looked at me a little crosseyed but decided to try me out anyway.” She says she was thoroughly trained to fix home appliances and in no time was driving the company vehicle to multiple houses per day. Her infectious work ethic led to her eventual appearance on Undercover Boss, which producers initially told her would be a project called Don’t Quit Your Day Job. “My biggest fear was embarrassing myself, my company, or my family,” says Marino. “So I prayed immensely on it, asked for advice from people that I admired in my life, and eventually came

to the conclusion that I would go ahead and do the show.” She admits she had no idea that the CEO of The Dwyer Group, which owns Mr. Appliance, was female. She didn’t discover this until “Faith Brown” removed her dark wig and contact lenses, revealed herself as CEO Dina Dwyer-Owens, and offered Marino $35,000 to put towards an education plan for her children. She also received $5,000 to help initiate The Dwyer Group’s Women in the Trades program. “She had asked me to work on the Women in the Trades initiative with her on the show and, in agreeing to do that, I went to a meeting that I was invited to and

I put my heels and my skirt on and went to apply for a technician job. They looked at me a little cross-eyed but decided to try me out anyway.”

you think back to that era, you think of family and work ethics and how there were so many different women in the men’s industry at the time, working industrial jobs.”

came up with a campaign because I didn’t want to go emptyhanded,” says Marino. “I basically came up with a campaign that linked the Dwyer Group women and the women of the World War era. When

History class tells us Marino is right. During World War II, for example, thousands of women agreed to perform important jobs vacated by men who were fighting overseas. Then, as today, the skilled trades were necessary professions where women could boast their leadership skills and abilities. Today, over 150 sectors in the trades are offering genderneutral positions with average wages that range between $14 and $54 per hour. Most also come with medical and retirement benefits.

Marino’s dedication and creative spirit eventually led to her current position as corporate consultant for Mr. Appliance, a job that allows her to work from home and spend more time with her family. According to Heather McLeod, senior marketing manager at The Dwyer Group, Marino likely experienced such a positive response as a technician because women are generally the ones to make the call to Mr. Appliance and tend to be more comfortable when service professionals are female. She adds that the women’s initiative has been pushing for a female scholarship for women who are already working in the trades and want to take their careers to the next level with additional training. “It’s also for women who aren’t part of the trades but are looking to come in with the traditional training they can use to start a job in things like plumbing, electrical, glass repair, and appliance repair,” she says. “I’ve always enjoyed working with my hands, and if that’s something you’re good at, then why not make it into a career?” says Marino. “They asked me several times if I thought Dina was going to be a good technician and I said that’s not really up to me. If she has the ambition and drive to go after it as a career then she can do whatever she wants.”

NOVEMBER 2013 | JOBPOSTINGS.CA

WOMEN IN TXTXTXTXTXTX MALE-DOMINATED INDUSTRIES TXTXTXTXT FEATURE

Academics are welcome, too! Careers in the skilled trades and technologies often require solid skills in math, analytical abilities, and literacy. And according to Maninder Dhaliwal, executive director of Tradeworks BC in Vancouver, a woman working in the trades should be imaginative, resourceful, and able to figure out complex specifications and requirements in real-world applications.

Dhaliwal grew up in India, where she pursued a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering. “My father was an engineer and I was always fascinated by how he could build things, whereas everyone else had to go buy things from the store,” she says. “He could just build things from scratch. Growing up in the traditional Eastern culture, engineering was not something women did. But I wanted to be like my father.” Upon completion of her undergrad, she was offered a scholarship from the University of British Columbia where she received her master’s in electrical engineering. While attending UBC, Dhaliwal says the only women’s washroom was on the admin floor, which was significantly far from her regular classrooms. Fortunately, since she began teaching at the UBC School of Architecture (among various other campuses), she says the newer buildings offer both female and male washrooms on every level in order to match the increase of female students. She now runs Tradeworks BC, a nonprofit social enterprise that has helped women and at-risk youth find employment for nearly 20 years. The organization supports people with minor disabilities, victims of sexual abuse, and young adults who may have criminal records and want to build a better rapport. According to Dhaliwal, her company teaches life skills, employability skills, and emotional

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intelligence skills through hands-on training in carpentry. Slowly erasing the “man’s world” stigma In 2007, out of a total of 24,495 individuals who completed an apprenticeship training program, only 2,780 (or 11 per cent) were females. As of 2011, about 8 in 10 registered apprenticeship certificates were held by men. According to Statistics Canada, women between the ages of 25 and 64 with degrees in science and technology, engineering, mathematics, and computer sciences currently make up 33 per cent of Canadians working in the trades. Considering the average age of a tradesperson today is 55, Canada will be looking to hire replacements soon. In fact, the Conference Board of Canada predicts that one million skilled workers will be needed by 2020. “The culture is changing but not fast enough,” says Dhaliwal. “The only way to change it is to put more women in charge of teams. We need women in decision-making … I am a woman and I run the organization, and our shop is run by women and men. We put the women in the same position as their male counterparts, so it’s possible that women are equal to men because they do the same job; they have the same qualifications.” In terms of benefits, Dhaliwal says “it’s the pay, it’s the confidence, it’s the skills, and it’s the ability to be in charge of your own destiny. When you have technical skills, you are not as easily replaceable as a worker. We have a lot of contractors that are female. They work when their kids are at school but they make enough money to not have to work all day. They have a flexible lifestyle.” Kiana Danial followed a similar path and studied electrical engineering in Japan.

She says she was the only female student in her class. “It just made me stronger and it taught me to not give up. It was very hard, to be honest, especially in an engineering course where people were a lot more studious. I felt pretty left out most of the time.” But her temporary loneliness worked to her benefit. She’s now the successful CEO of Invest Diva, a company that teaches women the art of foreign exchange trading. Danial says she was fascinated by the intelligence of Japanese women and their ability to self-teach trading currencies on the foreign exchange market. She decided to do a little more research and discovered that women often make smarter and less risky investment choices than their male counterparts. Her journey has led to appearances on CNN and the publication of her own book, Invest Diva’s Guide to Making Money in Forex: How to Profit in the World’s Largest Market. Her website now features an interactive online education course for women of all ages to learn the art of trading. According to Danial, accomplishing these feats required a lot of trial and error, but she wasn’t afraid to make her presence known. (In fact, her persistence actually got her fired at one point. She says she took it as a compliment and decided to become her own boss.) No matter your path, McLeod advises, “If there’s anything you’re passionate about— whether that means working in the trades or joining the military or anything that’s traditionally male-dominated—and you think it’s a place for you, then absolutely go for it! Reach out to women who are already in the industry and who are paving the way.” Regarding the surge in female tradespersons, she adds, “it’s just so exciting to see … it’s not something you hear about or see every day!”

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TOP FEMALE EXECUTIVES Karen Ritchie

Director, HR and associate relations THE Home Depot I think it’s also important to take your place at the table. You’re at the table for a reason, you’ve been hired with the company for a reason, so to be sure to voice your point of view. When Karen Ritchie finished her education, she knew what she wanted to do, and aimed high. “My goal was to be a director of human resources,” she says, “and to continue to progress into positions of increasing responsibility.” Like many of us, Ritchie learned much of her valuable career skill in the workplace. After completing a bachelor of arts with a specialty in languages, she landed a job as an employee relations assistant with a paper manufacturer and distributor. “My first job required the person to be bilingual, so I thought that would be a great opportunity to put my language skills into practice in business,” she says. “I didn’t have human resources experience so that’s where I started and went back to college to get a certificate in human resources and I was able to learn the theory while putting it into practice on the job as well.” Karen says she took a lot away from that first position, she says that showing initiative and getting involved with many projects and teams as possible is important to learn the business. “Adapting to the culture of the organization is very important as well,” she points out. “I’ve worked in different industries over the course of my career and understanding if it’s a formal culture where everyone wears business suits or more of a casual culture, and then being able to adapt accordingly.” After years of hard work, Ritchie reached

her goal of achieving a director-level position. She strived to have a well-rounded career, being able to experience many things before reaching a top position, and attributes her career growth to having a clear plan for development.

“When I first started my career in human resources, there were 8–10 key areas where I wanted to gain experience. Early on, I changed jobs every 3 years because I was building upon getting experience in those areas, so I would get as much experience as I could with certain organizations. But, at certain points, there was no more growing I could do, so I needed to change jobs in order to continue to grow and develop.” Now, Ritchie and her team provide timely and knowledgeable human resources support to innumerable associates in all fields, from finance to supply chain to marketing. She’s responsible for the entire associate relations team that provides day-today guidance to all HR partners in stores across Canada. To get to a position of responsibility and importance, Ritchie has some key advice: “For any new grad, it’s really important to build your professional network: joining an association in your field is a great way to volunteer and get to know people. It’s really critical early in your career to find a mentor, someone who can provide advice and coaching.”

She also recommends that new employees be heard. “I think it’s also important to take your place at the table. You’re at the table for a reason, you’ve been hired with the company for a reason, so to be sure to voice your point of view. I find often that some of the folks I work with are a little bit shy and overwhelmed at the beginning so I think it’s important to find your voice and contribute to the conversation.” | James Michael McDonald

NOVEMBER 2013 | JOBPOSTINGS.CA

FEATURE

TOP FEMALE EXECUTIVES

Chantel Sawchuk Regional Director of Operations Starbucks Coffee Company

It’s really the gauging, inspiring, motivating, and bringing along people with you who want to achieve the same objectives. Seven years ago, Chantel Sawchuk joined Starbucks Coffee Company as a district manager. “[Initially] I came over to Starbucks because of a mentor,” she explains. Since then, Sawchuk has not only grown to love working for the world’s leading retailer, roaster and brand of specialty coffee, she has also become a regional director of operations, overseeing stores in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba. “While I was taking my university degree, I was working part-time at the Gap,” she says. Partaking in the Gap’s management training program, which involved taking on a managerial role while also studying, Sawchuk was able to “apply real life experiences that I was learning about in university while working on the job.” This eventually led to her relocation to Alberta where she made the leap over to Starbucks.

While she had some previous managerial experience in retail, the transition to district manager was a “significant stepping stone.” Only 21 at the time, she recalls joining a team with several challenges and quickly learning the importance of building meaningful and trusting relationships with co-workers. She also discovered that effective management can be both a learned and inherent skill. “Some of the key components [of management] are planning and organizing, having a vision, setting goals, having specific objectives, and having strong discipline in following-up and recognizing progress along the way,” she says. Of leadership, Sawchuk says: “It’s really the gauging, inspiring, motivating, and bringing along people with you who want to achieve the same objectives. I also think humility; so being able to say ‘I don’t know what I’m doing’ and that’s okay.” As a female leader, she has also taken the opportunity to join networking groups for women, including the Women’s Foodservice Forum. “I have expanded my network a hundred times by joining,” she says, adding that it’s a group of highly engaged, motivated, and driven women that “most importantly want each other to succeed.” Sawchuck also outlines significant differences between women and men and their attitudes towards business. “Often I see females focused on team goals and putting themselves last. Their achievements have nothing to do with them, but everything to do with their team, and the people that have gone above and be-

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yond,” she says. She adds that Starbucks strongly supports worklife balance, putting the families of employees first, and respecting their personal time—something particularly important while striving to be a high-achiever. Putting her past experience into perspective, Sawchuk has been able to reflect on the importance of her previous positions. “Part of what has enabled me to have such a great experience in my career is due to all kinds of different roles and assuming that every single role, [including] lots of lateral assignments, teaches you something,” she says. “Every single role that I have taken on has

added something to my tool belt that I have inevitably applied later on somewhere, and thought ‘oh yeah, that’s where I learnt that.’” She also says that while many women struggle with a lack of confidence, if they can believe in themselves it will allow them to make huge achievements. Last, Sawchuk emphasizes that having a mentor—who can come in any shape or form—can be a huge support and a great sounding board in gaining advice and perspective. “We need women in business and we need them in leadership positions, to continue to push forward,” she says. | Laura Eley

Heather Wilcott

Operations Integrity Manager Imperial Oil

Previous female engineers and managers have really blazed a trail for those of us who are coming now, so I’m thankful for that. With a master’s degree in chemical engineering and years of experience on a groundbreaking project, Heather Wilcott is a leader in the oil and gas industry. Unlike some that jump into work after an engineering undergrad, she saw the benefit of pursuing a master’s. “In school and undergraduate university, you’re kind of told what to do—go read this chapter; we have a test so do this,” she says. “In graduate studies, you are the owner of your own destiny.” After receiving an NSERC scholarship, Wilcott decided to press on and complete her master’s, something she says paid off throughout her career. “You have to figure out what to research, how to learn for yourself, and I think I carried that especially into my early career jobs when I was doing facilities and process engineering. I was able to take advantage of all the documents and all the great resources that we as a big company have at our hands.” An advocate of continuous learning, she emphasizes using the materials at your disposal. “We have tons of resources at our fingertips, but not everybody takes time to learn on their own to be better at their job.”

Her focus on self-improvement has led to more responsibility and challenging opportunities at work. After 15 years with Imperial Oil, she’s now the company’s operations integrity manager, leading a group that focuses on risk exposure and systems to keep staff safe while on the job. And for the last seven years, she’s had the privilege to work on Imperial’s Kearl project, a new oil sands mining project in Alberta. “As an engineer and a technical person, you don’t always get the opportunity to get to work on a new facility; you work on existing ones. Just working on something from start to finish is really interesting,” she says. Although she’s in a field dominated by men, Wilcott has never felt her success hindered by being a woman. “In my career, I’ve never felt negative treatment or lost opportunities because I’m a female in a male-dominant field. I think part of that is because I kind of grew up that way: I went to engineering which was a male-dominated discipline and I’m accustomed to working in that environment. I’ve never been mistreated because of it.” That said, she does recognize that

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FEATURE

TOP FEMALE EXECUTIVES

things haven’t always been so easy, especially in fields like engineering. “Previous female engineers and managers have really blazed a trail for those of us who are coming now, so I’m thankful for that,” she adds. As for advice for new grads entering the workforce, Wilcott has three recommendations. First, aim high. “If you want something, go get it, work hard to get there, and own your results,” she says. Secondly, as she’s taken to heart, keep learning. “I always try to

learn as much as I can and be the best that I can at what I’m doing. You’re not done learning when you finish university.” Most importantly, she recommends new grads be thoughtful about what they really want in their career. “Having self-knowledge about what constitutes a good career for you is important. It doesn’t necessarily mean becoming CEO. There are tons of fulfilling professional positions—technical, managerial—and you have to find a role that’s a good fit for you.” | James Michael McDonald

Anita McOuat

Partner, Audit and Assurance PwC CANADA As you progress in your career, don’t self-select yourself out of opportunities. A natural leader, coach, and cultural communicator; it seems there’s no stopping Anita McOuat, CPA, CA, mother of two, and audit and assurance partner at PwC. After 12 years of involvement with the firm, McOuat now leads a series of audit engagements in the entertainment and technology industries with clients in film and television, the music industry, and animation and visual effects.

“Ultimately we are providing our clients with assurance on their financial statement numbers; however, you can’t do that without really understanding their industry, the unique pressures they’re facing, and who the key players are,” says McOuat, who on a day-to-day basis determines whether her clients’ revenues, costs, and financial statements are accurate and appropriate. The other side of her role is to maintain and grow client relationships and ensure her clients are satisfied with PwC’s services. Upon graduating Queen’s University’s bachelor of commerce program, McOuat says she immediately set out to attain her CA designation, but not before she was offered an associate position at PwC following a summer internship stint with the firm. There, she articled

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for three years before receiving her full designation. According to McOuat, while articling, “you’re a full-time employee at the firm, where you have a lot of responsibilities. It’s successive and progressive responsibility because by the time you’re in your third year, you’re actually leading teams on your own.” “The job is very team-based so you will find, (particularly in the early years), that you spend a lot of time in a small, enclosed area with your team,” says McOuat. So does that mean a career at PwC isn’t for the claustrophobic? Hardly. McOuat says there are a variety of individual projects where you’ll be “given your own sections of the client file that you’re responsible for and you will have your own client contacts to deal with. So the first year is really about learning. Even though you’re responsible for these things, you’re also on the receiving end of a lot of coaching, asking a lot of questions, and trying to study for your (CPA) exams simultaneously.” She believes that at the end of the day, it is up to you to be disciplined enough to protect your time and carve out an efficient, well-paced agenda. She also believes the more experiences you expose yourself to, the more rewards you’ll reap—even if

those rewards and experiences aren’t what you were originally anticipating. “As you progress in your career, don’t self-select yourself out of opportunities,” says McOuat. “Some young women may look ahead and say, ‘That looks really difficult and I don’t know if

that’s going to be doable with all the other goals I have for myself in life.’ I would say forge ahead and cross that bridge when you get there—ensuring career opportunities aren’t missed. Often what looks like a big obstacle actually becomes more surmountable once you approach it.” | Kyle Reynolds

Sandra Storoschuk

Vice-President College Pro Painters

Anything is possible if you are willing to work for it and you apply your passions to those goals. When Sandra Storoschuk returned home from a year away in Australia, she had no idea that she was about to begin a job that would develop into a successful career. Twenty-one at the time, she hoped for something that would be both enjoyable and allow her to begin paying back her student loans. She found that in College Pro Painters, a painting and window cleaning company predominantly run by students where she now works as vicepresident in Eastern Canada. “When I was growing up, I never was the one saying: ‘One day I will run a business!’ My family was not entrepreneurial and I never really even considered that it could be an option for me,” says Storoschuk. Despite not possessing any early ambitions to run a business, Storoschuk has always been a natural leader and interested in helping and working with others. “If you were to ask my parents, I think they would say I was born with tendencies towards taking charge and driving towards goals,” she explains. Once given the opportunity to lead a team with College Pro, she quickly developed a knack for customer service and management. However, this transition into a managerial role didn’t come without a unique set of challenges. “Any time you start a business, there are steep learning curves, and learning how to market and sell a business that I had never run before was definitely a challenge,” Storoschuk says. She also describes a significant obstacle as having learned “what real customer service looks like, especially

when I realized that I was personally responsible for a product and service.” Having worked with College Pro for 10 years, Storoschuk has held multiple positions for which she owes a sense of professional growth. “Over the past decade, I have gone from learning how to run a $100,000 business to overseeing over $10 million in business over the last two years,” she says. In other words: a make-or-break opportunity that has valuable entrepreneurial potential in the early stages of one’s career.

Storoschuk has also witnessed the growth of other young entrepreneurs in “as little as a few months.” She finds it encouraging watching as they build confidence and establish their own dreams and future goals. On a personal note, Storoschuk has developed a sense “that anything is possible if you are willing to work for it and if you apply your passions to those goals.” She adds that achieving small goals allowed her larger individual goals to seem more attainable. As for other young female entrepreneurs beginning their careers, Storoschuk says that finding confidence in themselves and what they have to offer is critical to their success. “I find that women bring different perspectives and strategies to the table,” she says. “I was very lucky to have strong female mentors throughout my first years in business, and I know not all young women have the same experience.” | Laura Eley

NOVEMBER 2013 | JOBPOSTINGS.CA

SPORTS MANAGEMENT & BUSINESS PROGRAMS

Active passion The sports management field is broad and a growing number of women are breaking into it. If you want to turn your passion for sports into a career, you’re in luck. When it comes to the business side of sports management, the field is growing and there are many avenues to choose from. “The field of sport management is so much larger than many people think,” says Janice Robinson, a professor with the department of business, IT, and management at Durham College in Oshawa, Ontario. “Students typically come into the program with a focus on professional sports; however, they are introduced to amateur sport, sporting goods, sport facilities, college and university sport, community sport, and sport and event partners.” Career opportunities include event planning, sales, marketing, facility management, and finance, she adds, with average starting

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salaries of about $30,000–$40,000. Universities and colleges across Canada offer both undergraduate and graduate programs specializing in sports management. Consider Durham’s one-year postgraduate certificate program. “It focuses on many different career opportunities in many different sectors of the sport industry,” Robinson says. “It includes areas such as sales, event planning and management, corporate communications, social media, computer applications, finance, law, and trends in the industry. The second semester consists of a 500-hour internship.” Chantel Crockett graduated from Durham’s program this past spring and works as a booking and events coordinator at Matta-

my Athletic Centre. ”You take courses in all areas of the sporting world,” she says. “It doesn’t focus on just marketing or sales.”

Bower. I’ve met the Argos. You get to help them bring their A-game and bring in fans to support them.”

Students come from backgrounds such as kinesiology, history, political science, marketing, and law, Robinson notes. “Each of these individuals brings something different to the classroom. Their passion for sport unites them.”

In terms of challenges, Sarah Kennedy, a second-year student at the University of New Brunswick’s MBA program in sport and recreation management, says the field “is seen as a men’s dominated world. It makes you feel like you have to be twice as good.”

After completing an undergrad in psychology, Meaghan Green earned a postgraduate college certificate in sport business management from Algonquin College in Ottawa in 2009. “I saw this program and I thought it aligned with my personal life,” she says.

However, “it’s not as much an old boys’ club anymore,” she adds. Robinson notes that Durham’s program, for instance, attracts an even number of males and females.

Green, who serves as communications coordinator with Algonquin’s athletics department, says the program helped shape her career in sports marketing. “It was pretty concentrated around the business of sports. We took things like finances and communications.” Crockett too is passionate about sports. “I was always involved as a spectator,” she says. “A family friend played in the NHL. My part-time job throughout university was working at a golf course.” Another benefit is the opportunity “to meet a ton of people,” Crockett adds. “I’ve done events with Wendell Clark and Johnny

Crockett also warns that it’s not a 9-to-5 job. “For example, I worked from 8 a.m to 3 a.m. for an event,” she says. She highlights the need for organization and time management skills. “You work with people with schedules as crazy as yours,” she says. “You need to adapt to that.” However, “once you embrace what you do, it shouldn’t be a problem.” Just ask Kennedy, who aspires to break into sports marketing and event planning once she graduates from UNB. “I’ve played sports my entire life,” she says. “It’s my chance to continue my passion and be paid for it.” | Samuel Dunsiger

Business programs for women Take a look at the female-oriented business programs and organizations available in Canada. Canadian women have come a long way since the 20th-century suffrage movement, but there is still much room for improvement when it comes down to their roles in business. According to the Conference Board of Canada, 86 per cent of women still believe that a glass ceiling exists in the workforce.

In Ottawa, Carleton University’s Sprott School of Business has hosted the management development program for women (MDPW) since 1992. According to their website, the MDPW is designed for women in or about to go into managerial positions with their companies.

In an effort to encourage more women to occupy senior positions at companies, some post-secondary institutions have been enacting programs that aim to give these women the skills and confidence needed to break through that barrier.

Clubs and organizations Women currently enrolled in business programs can also opt to join student-run clubs and organizations designed to help or guide them through their time at the university.

University programs for women A press release posted on the Women of Influence (WOI) website states that “only five per cent of Fortune 500 companies are led by women and women only constitute 15 per cent of senior management and board ranks.”

Nura Jabagi currently runs the John Molson Women in Business Club at the John Molson School of Business, open to all women in the school’s MBA programs.

In order to fill in that gap, WOI has partnered with Queen’s School of Business to create the executive certificate in leadership program. “We wanted our programs to fill gaps that women have not necessarily been eager to jump into,” says Barbara Dickson, managing director of executive education at Queen’s. The certificate program held its first class in September, run out of the university’s Toronto office. Dickson says it requires their students to complete six courses over a period of no more than five years. To successfully acquire the certificate, women enrolled need to select three of six courses offered both through Queen’s and the WOI Advancement Centre. She adds that women in the program benefit from gaining “the ability to develop skills specific to aspiring women [and] the opportunity to learn from some pretty prominent women of influence.”

“Our mission is to enhance student life by building a network of fellow students, colleagues, alumnae, and business women from Montréal’s diverse economic sectors while also giving back to the local community,” says Jabagi. The benefits of joining such a club are numerous, but Jabagi says the most important is a woman can have the chance to “make a difference as a future female leader.” “The reality is that despite the fact that women make up almost half of the world’s population, women are still underrepresented both in MBA programs and the world of business, particularly in the c-suite,” says Jabagi. The John Molson School of Business is leading that change with a female student body of almost 40 per cent, she says. Though they may still have distance to go, it’s institutions and organizations like these that help bring light to new paths for women in the workforce. | Jamie Bertolini

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