Vancouver Event Roundup: Men & Women Lean In

“We need women at all levels, including the top, to change the dynamic, reshape the conversation, to make sure women’s voices are heard and heeded, not overlooked and ignored.”- Sheryl Sandberg

On November 23, over 100 people arrived at Pal Studio Theatre in Coal Harbour to hear four inspirational leaders speak about personal and professional encounters with gender diversity at the leadership level.

To start the night, Dawna Friesen (Anchor, Global National) shared a reflection on what it was like being an anchor overseas – she was pregnant, but felt that she could not tell her manager. She was not given maternity leave and fought hard for her right. Her story gave the audience an idea of how far women have come since Dawna started her career, but despite that, it was a reminder how much farther we have to go.

As a female leader in the tech industry, Laura Silvester (Director of Ecosystems, Hootsuite) was asked, “What advice would you give females looking to get into the tech industry?” Laura paused and said, “My advice to a woman would be the same as to a man, and that is to unlock your best self.” She has a point – after all, why should the advice be different?

Miklós Gábor Dietz (Managing Partner, McKinsey & Co) was all about numbers and he brought both personal stories and statistical knowledge to the group. Having said that, the most profound piece of advice he gave came in four words, “One is not enough.Three is the tipping point.” In order to see a tipping point, you will need more than one female leader in order to see a distinct impact in culture, success and performance.

Grant Tufts (President of Impact Recruitment) is someone that leads by example. When asked why it was important for him to be a part of this event, he said he wanted to show commitment to two female leaders of his company sitting in the first row at the event, both who now volunteer for Lean In Canada and have endorsed him as a supporter and mentor in their careers. In addition to defining the word paternalism for the audience, Grant said, “The success of any organization requires a balance – savvy, tactful decision-making, coupled with the sensitivity required to nurture talented individuals. Women in leadership are critical to achieving this balance and developing future leaders in any successful organization.”

By the end of the night, it was clear that all of our panelists are strong supporters of the Lean In cause, as they each shared unique information and perspective on empowering women to lean in.

Lean In Canada is a community of professional women empowering each other to build purposeful and fulfilling careers. Please do not hesitate to share our cause with your network and people who want to join the conversation! If you have not signed up for our mailing list, sign up now to get updates for our 2018 events. The Vancouver Chapter is one of the fastest growing Lean In Chapters – join the conversation now.

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