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May 15: Fiona Douglas-Crampton

Shannon MacDonald: Women + Workplaces Success Series

Posted on May 17, 2012

Welcome to the “Women + Workplaces Success Series.” Each weekday in May I am profiling individuals and organizations that are empowering women for career success.

The leaders profiled here are creating a revolution of sorts. Come learn about their creative ideas and initiatives to help women achieve success and significance…and thrive in the workplace.

May 17, 2012

Name + title: Shannon MacDonald, Atlantic Managing Partner, Deloitte

Why you feel it’s important to empower women + workplaces to thrive? “Workplace communities are filled with bright, talented and action minded people. However, titles and seniority do not always identify these people. They are scattered throughout the organization and anxious to contribute to the goals of the organization. When the workplace is not empowered to thrive, this talent and energy can be missed. Women are important contributors to thriving workplaces. They bring their own unique natural talents that balance those of men. It is imperative that these skills are brought forward and not considered second tier or weaker talents. Without them we miss interest insights, perspectives, and instincts. Women have different networks and experiences that can help any organization succeed. In addition, women’s brains and emotions are wired differently and this difference is a key to our diversity and something that should not be overlooked or underused.”

What you are doing/have done to help talented women succeed in your/the workplace: “Women benefit from example and from mentoring. We have changed the number of women in our partnership in our region. It is now increased to one third and this makes a difference as there is a critical mass for influencing discussion and decision as well as it provides a wide range of role models for our organization. We have also started courses and programs for women’s leadership development, where women receive mentoring and problem solving time around the multiple demands that women typically face when child-bearing and other family responsibilities clash with career aspirations and critical career promotion points. We have also strengthened our client and community network of women. This community is an important outreach for our organization as women are key decision-makers in our clients. If a woman doesn’t hold the key decision-maker spot you can be sure she is empowered somewhere close by to influence buying decisions in business.”

The benefits for women and the benefits for your/the organization: “Women are benefitting from having elevated roles in our organization because they have been trained for many years to do this. They are passionate about their careers, their clients. They have invested much time and energy into their intelligence and insights. They like to continue to use them. They like to make a difference. They care about making the work environment a better place and they enjoy problem-solving for clients. These bright women like to succeed at what they do. What work place wouldn’t benefit from that energy! Women are very focused on results and seeing improvement. They naturally rally together the people needed to get things done. Our organization has met more clients and made more sales since more women have joined not only the leadership but also the growth initiative. Once women understand how best to contribute, their passion, commitment and energy gets stuff done. We are enjoying much success because of this balanced gender approach.”

What you think needs to happen in organizations for more women to step into leadership:

“Sometimes women need to be braver and have much more confidence in their abilities.
Women need to help women and not fall into judging each other.
Women need mentors – these can be women or men.
Women need some coaching to understand how their personal style can translate into leadership.
We as a business community should not try to change women.
We as business leaders need to engage women in leadership learning.
We as business leaders need to bring women to opportunities to increase their hands–on learning experience.”

Anything else – ie. a signature line that sums up your philosophy, quote you love, groups you recommend that help foster the development and support of women personally or professionally, movies or books you recommend to help women + workplaces thrive: “Books: “How Remarkable Women Lead” by Joanna Barsh and Susie Cranston, “Leadership and the Sexes” by Gurian and Annis

“Then whisper, blossom, in thy sleep

How I may upward climb

The Alpine path, so hard, so steep,

That leads to heights sublime;

How I may reach that far-off goal

Of true and honoured fame

And write upon its shining scroll

A woman’s humble name.”

quoting William Cullen Bryant’s work from “The Fringed Gentian”, written in 1847.”

May 16: Leah Eichler

May 15: Fiona Douglas-Crampton

Leah Eichler: Women + Workplaces Success Series

Posted on May 16, 2012

Welcome to the “Women + Workplaces Success Series.” Each weekday in May I am profiling individuals and organizations that are empowering women for career success.

The leaders profiled here are creating a revolution of sorts. Come learn about their creative ideas and initiatives to help women achieve success and significance…and thrive in the workplace.

May 16, 2012

Name + title: Leah Eichler, founder of Femme-o-nomics, a content and collaboration portal for professional women.

Twitter Handle: @femmeonomics

Why you feel it’s important to empower women + workplaces to thrive? “I truly believe that women, as consumers and increasingly as business leaders, drive the economy. Empowering women is good for business and good for families.”

What you are doing/have done to help talented women succeed in your/the workplace: “In my previous role at a managing editor, I often mentored younger women in my workplace. Now, I see my role as a communicator to spread the message through my writing and speaking engagements on how women can succeed. I’m also creating a networking and collaboration application that will help women reach their short-term business and career goals.”

What you think needs to happen in organizations for more women to step into leadership: “Mentorship and sponsorship are two good ways for women to move up but also we need more role models that set the stage from the top.“

Anything else – ie. a signature line that sums up your philosophy, quote you love, groups you recommend that help foster the development and support of women personally or professionally, movies or books you recommend to help women + workplaces thrive: “This is a tough one. The one thing that comes to mind is a card giving to me by a senior journalist when I was interning at a magazine in Jerusalem at the start of my career when I was feeling a lot of angst about my next career move. The card said “kick ass” and I carried it with me for years.”

Fiona Douglas-Crampton: Women + Workplaces Success Series

Posted on May 15, 2012

Welcome to the “Women + Workplaces Success Series.” Each weekday in May I am profiling individuals and organizations that are empowering women for career success.

The leaders profiled here are creating a revolution of sorts. Come learn about their creative ideas and initiatives to help women achieve success and significance…and thrive in the workplace.

May 15, 2012

Name + title: Fiona Douglas-Crampton – CEO, Minerva Foundation for BC Women

Twitter Handle: @MinervaBC

Why you feel it’s important to empower women + workplaces to thrive? “If women thrive, so do workplaces. When we help each other to reach our potential we both benefit, but more than that – our organization and our economy benefit. The workforce is changing rapidly so we need to help women get to the next level (whatever that looks like for them) to meet the needs of our economy in BC.”

What you are doing/have done to help talented women succeed in your/the workplace: “In our workplace, we try to live Minerva values every day. They are Inclusiveness, Accountability, Collaboration, Innovation and Authenticity. These values are brought into our decisions as an organization, and they are incorporated into all Performance Objectives for staff. Team members are asked to show how they are demonstrating these values in the work they do every day.

Our Mission is to elevate the visibility, influence and contribution of women leaders. We do this internally by investing in training, and by providing opportunities for everyone on our team to participate in our programs. Externally, we hold all of our programs up to the standard of our values and mission statements, and we look for opportunities to advocate for women and values-based leadership.”

The benefits for women and the benefits for your/the organization: “Over and over again, we see women come out of our programs who understand their potential, know their values and are ready to take personal leadership of their career, education or community contributions.”

What you think needs to happen in organizations for more women to step into leadership: “This is a very complex question, and I certainly don’t have all the answers. But I would like to see us move beyond the idea that the answer is simply getting more women into leadership roles. I think it’s more than that. We need to move from the old idea that leadership is tied to your title and how many people report to you, to the idea of values-based leadership. It’s also about men and women working together towards this new type of leadership……..we should be looking for values-based leaders, not just women leaders.

Another part of this is sponsorship, and recognizing potential. Those who are in leadership roles in organizations have to start actively looking for and recognizing potential in women, then sponsoring and mentoring them. And we need to start asking organizations to do this. The demand for this type of environment comes from potential employees asking how staff are supported and sponsored in the workplace, and asking about the leadership style.”

Anything else – ie. a signature line that sums up your philosophy, quote you love, groups you recommend that help foster the development and support of women personally or professionally, movies or books you recommend to help women + workplaces thrive: “1) Live your values 2) Do something you’re passionate about 3) Be positive 4) Try your best. All the other things you need to do to excel will come from those three traits.

Quote: On the value of collaboration…….”Everyone is smarter than anyone” (paraphrasing a quote by Carl Sandburg)

Groups: Get involved! I recommend the Vancouver Board of Trade – Womens’ Leadership Circle, Forum for Women Entrepreneurs, Professional Womens’ Network……..and getting out to as many events and workshops as you can.

Books: I am a big fan of Stephen Covey, and I would also recommend “How Remarkable Women Lead”, by Joanna Barsh, Susie Cranston & Geoffrey Lewis.”

Amy Dorn Kopelan: Women + Workplaces Success Series

Posted on May 14, 2012

Welcome to the “Women + Workplaces Success Series.” Each weekday in May I am profiling individuals and organizations that are empowering women for career success.

The leaders profiled here are creating a revolution of sorts. Come learn about their creative ideas and initiatives to help women achieve success and significance…and thrive in the workplace.

May 14, 2012

Name + title: Amy Dorn Kopelan, President and Founder, Bedlam Productions Inc.

Twitter Handle: @bedlamprods

Why you feel it’s important to empower women + workplaces to thrive? “I do not support the idea that an organization should “empower” women. It supposes that the power can be withdrawn as well. It maintains a hierarchy that I don’t find effective or encouraging for women. I more deeply hold that women have to look for opportunities for influence and voice in the room, and stop waiting for someone else to give them “power” or permission to do so.

We will all begin to thrive when we consider our companies to be like theatre, offering well-timed entrances, exits and meaningful dialogue between all players.”

What you are doing/have done to help talented women succeed in your/the workplace: “I produce CEO Summits for senior women leaders so they can exchange the most current ideas on trends, leadership and business. I also produce “The Executive Studio” where I work with small groups of emerging talent on defining their leadership presence, clarity of message, and confidence with clients.”

The benefits for women and the benefits for your/the organization, what you think needs to happen in organizations for more women to step into leadership: “When women choose to take the driver’s seat instead of the passenger seat, more women will step into leadership positions. Too many women still resist voicing opinion, making critical decisions, speaking with conviction, and challenging the norm.”

I really believe we would all lead more courageously if we didn’t think we had to look over our shoulder. The other book I adore, and use as a guide, is called WHERE”S YOUR WOW? And even though it’s written more for entrepreneurs and marketing executives, I think it teaches how to articulate our own value in a much stronger way.”

The Thrive Thought: The Thrive Pyramid

Posted on May 14, 2012

The Thrive Pyramid

There are three components to thriving – a sort of hierarchy of needs/questions that must be answered to get what matters most to you.

Each one of these steps builds upon the other. Each one of these steps is required – you can’t skip one and truly thrive over the long term.

If you do skip one, achieving leadership + life success on your terms will only be fleeting. It will not be sustainable, and you can expect to experience burnout, disengagement, emptiness.

This week’s ask: Take a few minutes out of each day this week to ponder the three questions in The Thrive Pyramid. Some of your answer(s) may arrive immediately…others may take much longer. The most valuable action you can take is to listen carefully to what your heart + your head are whispering to you.

Click here to sign up for The Thrive Thought and receive the weekly newsletter straight to your inbox.

Janet Austin: Women + Workplaces Success Series

Posted on May 11, 2012

Welcome to the “Women + Workplaces Success Series.” Each weekday in May I am profiling individuals and organizations that are empowering women for career success.

The leaders profiled here are creating a revolution of sorts. Come learn about their creative ideas and initiatives to help women achieve success and significance…and thrive in the workplace.

May 11, 2012

Name + title: Janet Austin, CEO, YWCA Metro Vancouver

Why you feel it’s important to empower women + workplaces to thrive? “While Canadian women enjoy a measure of legal equality that is not shared by most of the women in most of the countries around the world, socially and culturally, we still have a long way to go. We have not yet achieved gender equality in our society and I believe this is a goal worth working for.

The benefits of diversity on the workplace are well-researched, so it makes good business sense to create environments where women can bring their best to the workplace and contribute according to their education and ambition. Although we have the best educated generation women in our history, the discourse on how to address the looming capital shortage has largely ignored the fact that Canadian women are underemployed in part-time roles or positions that do not fully utilize their education and experience. I believe we need to look seriously at the reasons why.”

What you are doing/have done to help talented women succeed in your/the workplace: “I hope that I have been successful in supporting the development of women in my workplace – and in others – through encouragement, formal and informal mentoring, access to training and development opportunities, etc. At the YWCA we have very high employee retention and employee engagement results – largely due to our commitment to work/life balance for our employees. Equally importantly, however, I am working to raise awareness of the underlying social and cultural conditions that inhibit women’s full participation in professional and public life.”

The benefits for women and the benefits for your/the organization: “Creating the conditions which support women to bring their best to the workplace and to realise their potential – professionally as well as personally – seems to me to be a worthy goal. McKinsey & Co. has done interesting research that demonstrates positive results – based on a series of objective measures including financial performance – for organizations that embrace gender equality and diversity. The research speaks for itself.”

What you think needs to happen in organizations for more women to step into leadership: “While I believe that workplaces can improve culture and conditions to support women’s participation and advancement, this is only part of the solution. While women have moved into all the traditional male domain roles in the workplace, men have not moved into the domestic sphere to the same extent. Women are still largely responsible for care-giving in society (children and elderly relatives) and this dual load – at home and at work – is largely responsible for the challenge that faces women in climbing the corporate ladder. this is a systemic problem which requires a systemic response. Access to universal early learning and care for children, would have positive economic and child development benefits and would enable the women to make the choice to use the education that we – as a society – are paying for. As well, we need to explore mechanisms to encourage me to play a stronger role in care-giving. For example, extending parental leave from 12 to 18 months – and reserving a portion of this time exclusively for men – would help to normalize the idea of men in care-giving roles and would help to remove some gender bias in hiring decisions. This is a complex topic. These are just a few thoughts.”

Anything else – ie. a signature line that sums up your philosophy, quote you love, groups you recommend that help foster the development and support of women personally or professionally, movies or books you recommend to help women + workplaces thrive: Quote: “Far and away the best that life has to offer is the chance to work hard at work worth doing” Franklin Roosevelt. Philosophy: I believe it is important for women in positions of power to support other women and I have done my best in this regard throughout my life. It gives me great satisfaction to see others succeed, personally and professionally. Having the opportunity to contribute in some way to that success is personally fulfilling to me. Movies: Miss Representation, Sext up Kids by Maureen Palmer

Vinetta Peek: Women + Workplaces Success Series

Posted on May 10, 2012

Welcome to the “Women + Workplaces Success Series.” Each weekday in May I am profiling individuals and organizations that are empowering women for career success.

The leaders profiled here are creating a revolution of sorts. Come learn about their creative ideas and initiatives to help women achieve success and significance…and thrive in the workplace.

May 10, 2012

Name + title: Vinetta Peek, President and CEO, CMA Canada – British Columbia

Twitter Handle: @vinettapeek

Why you feel it’s important to empower women + workplaces to thrive? “Women need role models and mentors to succeed in business. We have the ability and the influence within our workplaces to provide that mentorship and empowerment. By providing support and challenges – we also empower women to take that influence outside of the office whether through other organizations or volunteerism. I was lucky to have had great female mentors when I started out in my business career – and their direction and advice helped form who I am today. They also provided me with challenges – that at the time – I thought were well outside of my abilities – but they knew I would succeed and grow through those experiences. I hope I am providing that mentorship and those challenges to the young women who now work within our organization.”

What you are doing/have done to help talented women succeed in your/the workplace: “We have an excellent education plan here which I support all of my staff to take advantage of. I have also provided a work environment where you can have a friend at work and it’s an enjoyable and rewarding place to work. There are always challenges – but those challenges help build expertise. I have also supported young women (and men) to continue to build their careers as they start their families. Women shouldn’t be penalized by having children – so supporting men to take paternity leave without sacrificing their careers – is also important.”

The benefits for women and the benefits for your/the organization: “I support the women in my team to join organizations where they can network to build their circle of expertise – as well as further their careers. I also support them volunteering for a cause they believe in.

I know that one day they will find something they feel is more exciting and challenging for them – and they will find that through their network. I hope that during the time they spend here – that they enjoy their roles and the people that they work with – and that I can provide leadership to them to succeed. In my career – I have rarely “applied” for a position – but instead have been offered exciting opportunities through my network.”

What you think needs to happen in organizations for more women to step into leadership: “You have to be willing to work hard and take on challenges and special projects that are outside of your core responsibility. I’m always impressed by women that come to me and say they want to take on a project that is in addition to their workload – because they feel they can have a positive impact on its outcome. Women also need to be passionate about their work – just coming in for a pay cheque can be seen immediately by Senior staff– and it’s not rewarded through promotions or financial incentives. If you are watching the clock – then find something you are passionate about – and make that move. You are not doing your career any good – nor are you helping the company you work for.”

A signature line that sums up my philosophy, groups I recommend, quote I love movies or books: I have always felt that I was a student for life, that every day I learn something that improves who I am – in business, as a daughter, wife, mother and grandmother.

I’m a fan of Richard Branson and how creative he is in doing the impossible. One quote I like is: “My biggest motivation? Just to keep challenging myself. I see life almost like one long university education that I never had – every day I’m learning something new.” Richard Branson

Michelle Pockey: Women + Workplaces Success Series

Posted on May 9, 2012

Welcome to the “Women + Workplaces Success Series.” Each weekday in May I am profiling individuals and organizations that are empowering women for career success.

The leaders profiled here are creating a revolution of sorts. Come learn about their creative ideas and initiatives to help women achieve success and significance…and thrive in the workplace.

May 9, 2012

Name + title: Michelle Pockey, Partner and Lawyer, Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP and Founder and National Chair, Professional Women’s Network

Why you feel it’s important to empower women + workplaces to thrive and The benefits for women and the benefits for your/the organization: “I began realizing the importance of empowering women to help better the workplace when I made the transition from being a law student (where at least 50% of my class was female) to becoming a lawyer in a large firm where women were leaving in droves after articles or practising for only a short time, and where only a handful of women among the 60 or so partners in the firm were women. Unfortunately, not much has changed since my legal infancy in terms of the numbers of women staying in the profession and achieving partnership and leadership roles in the larger firms, so the need to empower women in professional firms remains great.

Why? As women we know that we can and do bring unique and beneficial perspectives to work and which contribute much to the advancement of our organizations and to supporting others. We often work collaboratively and in a consensus based way and have leadership styles which are different than our male counterparts. We often consider risk and process around decision making differently. We may prioritize values differently. Having a mix of men and women in business leadership and and a range of approaches to advancing organizational goals is critical to the success of our organizations and to the betterment of society. This mix better likely leads to a better reflection in the workplace and in the executive suite of the values of our society and likely leads to better decisions and a stronger more stable workforce.”

What you are doing/have done to help talented women succeed in your/the workplace and What I think needs to happen in organizations for more women to step into leadership: “I am committed to doing what I can to ensure that women achieve equality in professional firms, in the boardroom, in the executive suite, in government, and in community. My journey to this end began in earnest when I partnered with 3 other professional women in 1997 to found the Professional Women’s Network (see www.pwncanada.com). It has continued through service as a director of several other organizations and as a mentor in mentorship programs devoted to diversity and the advancement of women. There is always more we can do in our support of our women colleagues and peers. Equally imperative at the current phase of the women’s leadership movement is for women to support men - particularly influential men – to understand and accept the business case for promoting and ensuring women’s equality and to encourage those men who understand the business case to advocate on behalf of women to other men of influence in every pocket of community. This is a current focus of my work in and outside my practice of law because until more men of influence SPONSOR women, it will remain difficult for a significant number of women to be encouraged to seek out and to achieve leadership opportunities of significance.”

Anything else – ie. a signature line that sums up your philosophy, quote you love, groups you recommend that help foster the development and support of women personally or professionally, movies or books you recommend to help women + workplaces thrive: Words to live by: ”I absolutely LOVE Madeleine Albright’s enlightened warning that “There is a special place in hell for women who don’t help other women”, but here are a couple that for me on my journey are great daily reminders:

“Not knowing when the dawn will come, I open every door.” ~ Emily Dickinson, Poet

and

“The significant problems we face cannot be solved at the same level of thinking we had when we created them.” ~ Einstein

Ray Williams: Women + Workplaces Success Series

Posted on May 8, 2012

Welcome to the “Women + Workplaces Success Series.” Each weekday in May I am profiling individuals and organizations that are empowering women for career success.

The leaders profiled here are creating a revolution of sorts. Come learn about their creative ideas and initiatives to help women achieve success and significance…and thrive in the workplace.

May 8, 2012

Name + title: Ray Williams, Owner and President, Ray Williams Associates

Twitter Handle: @raybwilliams

Why you feel it’s important to empower women + workplaces to thrive? “The main reason is that we have a stereotype of what it is to be a successful person and a strong leader, based upon the norm, which is the aggressive male. Female characteristics such as compassion and compromise would make workplaces healthier and less conflict ridden if we had more female role models.”

What you are doing/have done to help talented women succeed in your/the workplace: “I have mentored and coached many women coming out of university into the workplace, particularly into business, through the Leaders of Tomorrow program of the Board of Trade. I have also mentored and coached women currently in the workforce who are rising to be successful entrepreneurs and corporate leaders.”

The benefits for women and the benefits for your/the organization: “A strong male leader who appreciates the value and necessity for female leaders in the workplace and having senior decision makers and talent managers recast their view of what it takes to be a leader.”

What you think needs to happen in organizations for more women to step into leadership: “Revise our perspective on what constitutes strong leadership. More senior male executives stepping forward to sponsor women into leadership positions. Having equal family benefit provisions for men, so they can raise children as easily as women. Legislation such as Norway has that mandates more equal representation for women on Boards of Directors.

Anything else – ie. a signature line that sums up your philosophy, quote you love, groups you recommend that help foster the development and support of women personally or professionally, movies or books you recommend to help women + workplaces thrive: “Three words that symbolize my business: inspire, empower and overcome, and that applies equally well for women as men. When men view their role as a duality like women do in economic and family terms, it’s more likely that women would be more acceptable as leaders.“