Session1
Leadership Development & Excellence
Pamela A. Ramotowski, Vice President, People Services, SMART Technologies
9:00-9:45
Qualities Needed To Lead And Qualities That Hinder Success
Pamela A. Ramotowski, Vice President, People Services, SMART Technologies
While it is impossible to establish a set of qualities that can be attributed to all women, certain leadership qualities are critical to the long-range success of organizations. This session will focus on the leadership qualities to be nurtured and developed for high potential women candidates, while addressing some qualities that can hinder success.
Reassessing your assumptions about how you communicate
Uncovering the qualities needed to become tomorrow’s leaders
Developing emotional intelligence and interpersonal skills
Developing your natural skills and working at using them as effectively as possible
Fostering the leadership qualities that women possess
Qualities perceived to be career-limiting: the need for diagnosis and remedy
9:45-10:30
Developing Your Power of Recorvery: Discipline, Self Belief And Resilience
Julia Yan, Vice President Regional Sales, TMX Equity Transfer and President & Board Director, Association of Women in Finance
The stamina and ability to bounce back and create better results are crucial to the success for women leaders of today. Learn key components on how to develop your power, self-belief and recovery through:
Building resilience
Deepening your networks and support systems
Adopting clear persuasive communication style
Taking a strategic approach: knowing how to pick your battle
10:30-11:00 NETWORKING BREAK
11:00-11:30
Networking Skills: Achieving Success Through Collaboration
Melinda Kondrat, VP Law General Counsel, Ferus Inc.
Networking is an effective career-building tool that, if executed properly, can go a long way in establishing and reinforcing your personal brand. This presentation will explore methods for dramatically improving your networking skills, providing you with practical tips.
The power of personal connections and community engagement to build your personal brand
Using networking as a career and business building tool for women business leaders
Affinity networking through associations and groups
Tips for improved networking online: use of social media
Leveraging strategic business relationships through collaboration
11:30-12:00
Key Strategies to Enhance Your Emotional Intelligence
Laura Wolczecki, Vice-President, TJX Canada/Winners Merchants International L.P.
The most effective leaders are those who are aware of their own emotions and who have the ability to understand the emotions of others. This discussion will share insights to aid in the development of a higher level of emotional intelligence.
Understanding how the way you manage your emotions affects your job performance and career success
Managing your own emotions and remaining in control even in the most challenging workplace situations
Identifying your emotional triggers and changing how you react to high-stress situations
12:00-12:30
Negotiation Skills
Nancy Marano, Vice President Land, Standard Exploration Ltd.
Negotiating is a skill that women will need to use throughout their careers, whether in the form of a formal negotiation or an impromptu conversation. This session will discuss best practices for negotiating to achieve success.
Importance of preparing for negotiating
Assessing the strength of your position at the bargaining table
Understanding the rules of engagement
Personal style in negotiations
Building long-term relationships to facilitate negotiations
Why you might naturally be a superior negotiator
Session2
Women at Their Best
Tamara Ross, Principal, Tamara Ross Professional Services
1:30-2:00
Power of Mentoring
Mary Chambers, VP, National Head of Strategic Planning, Publicis Canada
Don't go it alone. Learn how mentoring can contribute to your success and the success of your organization. This discussion outline the important role of mentoring in helping women become more effective business leaders.
What should you look for in a mentor and how do you manage that relationship?
What are the mentee's roles and responsibilities?
Do you mentor based on your personal style or adjust your approach for the person you are mentoring?
Realizing the power you have as a mentor and using it appropriately
2:00-2:30
Principles and Characteristics of Influential Leadership
Wendy Jossa, Vice President Corporate Services, Calgary Laboratory Services
An essential characteristic of a successful leader is the ability to exert influence. This session will provide insight into how to influence at all levels, but particularly at the executive levels. You will discover how to ensure that not only your ideas gain approval, but that you and your career gain ground with every senior level exchange.
Behaviour traits of highly successful influencers
What tone do women influencers set in the workplace? How does it differ from male influencers?
What do women influencers bring to the table: How is it different? How does it add value?
How to maximize these qualities to inspire transformation
3:00-3:30 NETWORKING BREAK
3:00-3:30
Achieving Effective Work-Life Balance
Tamara Ross, Principal, Tamara Ross Professional Services
Personal time management skills are critical in reaching your full potential both at work and at home, as women in leadership often have work-life choices to make. This presentation will explore strategies for achieving a better work-life balance.
Unique challenges women face reconciling their work and personal lives
Creating a work-life strategy and action plan
Adjusting mindset: deciding what is important and effectively delegating the not-so-important
Latest trends in work-life initiatives geared for women in the workplace
3:30-4:00
Building Resilience
Bellanne ("Belle") Toren, International Petroleum Consultant, Barrister & Solicitor, Office of Bellanne Meltzer Toren
Resilience, how we respond to setbacks and overcome challenges, becomes increasingly important at senior levels, perhaps more so for women in leadership. This session will discuss how we can build resilience in leadership development.
Behavioural and performance aspects of resilience in leadership, wisdom that can be gained from proverbs
Developing flexibility and adaptability in women leaders while remaining true to one’s self
Developmental assignments for building resilience by challenging one’s self
Networking for success accepting the need at times to seek assistance and to make the time to assist others
Case examples: lessons in adaptability and strength of purpose – historic and modern role models
4:00-4:30
Entrepreneural Leadership
Sheila MacLean, President, Kelly+MacLean International
Growing numbers of women are becoming leaders of their own businesses. In order to achieve success, well-grounded entrepreneurial thinking is an invaluable asset. This session provides insights into leadership strategies for achieving success.
Key factors in successful entrepreneurial leadership
Programs available to support women in building their business
Women entrepreneurs' characteristics
Women's leadership styles and management strategies
Barriers and conflicts encountered by women business owners
4:30-5:00
Navigating through Career Changes
Marjorie Malinowski, President and CEO, Global Emission Solutions
As women leaders, we recognize the need to be adaptable in the face of change, finding a way or blazing a new path to make the most of opportunities. Career progression is a voyage of discovery, and this presentation will share experiences and insights into navigating the twists and turns of a career of change.
Capitalizing on opportunities to broaden experience
How do you transfer experience and skills to different sectors?
Continuous development: demonstrating competence in a new realm
Deepening your networks and support systems
Lessons learned to enhance leadership and mentor effectiveness
Session3
Strategies and Skills for Successful Leaders
Renée Wasylyk, Chief Executive Officer, Troika Developments Inc.
9:00-9:45
Women & Governance
Carmelle Hunka, Vice President Governance and Compliance, Cenovus Energy Inc.
Over the years, the progress of Canadian women holding corporate board positions has been slow and incremental at best. This session will explore why so few women hold director positions and outline practical strategies on how women in executive positions should prepare themselves to be eligible for positions on company boards.
Drawing corporate directors from among women in executive positions
Director recruitment process
Women’s contribution to corporate boards
Facilitating the readiness of women for board positions
Encouraging boards to recruit qualified women for board seats
9:45-10:30
Leadership Style: How Do Women Lead Differently than Men?
Renée Wasylyk, Chief Executive Officer, Troika Developments Inc.
Many gender-based researchers suggest that women bring a different style of leadership that stems from differences in how they work with subordinates, their networking style, how they share information, and how they communicate. This session will examine whether women have a different leadership style than men and how it affects their career path.
Should women approach their career path differently?
How can women use their different leadership style to add value?
What style of leadership works best?
How do men respond to a female leadership style?
10:30-11:00 NETWORKING BREAK
11:00-11:30
Principles of Influential Leadership: Leading Change And Thinking Outside the Box
Marietjie Bower, Vice President and CFO, Commerx Corporation
The concept of leadership is evolving, with a style that depends on influencing, rather than commanding. An influential leadership style is suited to the dispersed, networked nature of many businesses today, where informal leadership through influence develops relationships that shape thinking and gather support. This session will focus on the principles and characteristics of effective influential leadership.
Developing your abilities to influence and lead change
Honing your skills in thinking strategically and seeing the “big picture”
Dealing with the backlash from individuals who don’t buy in
Gaining commitment and building partnerships
Establishing and leading successful teams and building strategic working relationships
11:30-12:00
Leading & Living the Brand
Deanne Carson, Vice-President, Marketing and External Relations, Calgary Stampede
As women, we often bring a fresh and unique perspective to branding - one that needs to be inculcated within the corporate culture. This discussion will explore effective strategies as well as the particular sensitivities that women leaders can bring to the fore when leading and living the brand.
Incorporating the emotional intelligence that women bring to leadership into the branding process
Importance of being able to connect people at an emotional level to the brand
Understanding how we align our values with that of the organization to bring our brand to life
How emotional intelligence allows you to connect at a values level: challenges if personal values don't mesh with the company's values
12:00-12:30
Principles and Characteristics of Successful Leadership: What Promotes and What Hinders Success
Gail Harding, Senior Vice President General Counsel and Corporate Secretary, Canadian Western Bank
The ability to influence others and to work collaboratively with people is often cited as key attributes of successful leaders. This session will provide insight into the key attributes of successful leaders. You will discover the principal qualities needed to lead and areas where women’s success is often hampered.
Behaviour traits of highly successful leaders and influencers
What tone do leaders set in the workplace?
How to maximize leadership qualities to inspire transformation
12:30-1:30 Lunch
Session4
Overcoming Hurdles
Eileen Dooley, General Manager, McRae Inc. and Certified Career Coach
1:30-2:00
Being Exceptional
Lucy Miller, President and CEO, United Way
Behind every single success story is a series of challenges that someone has worked hard to overcome through creativity, leveraging resources, and - plain and simply - a lot of hard work. This discussion details how approaching your career and your life with a dedication to being exceptional builds a unique "umbrella" that will protect you from any storm.
Real-life "being exceptional" stories and case studies
Recognizing opportunities for self-reflection, innovation and creative problem solving
Planning for success
2:00-2:30
Surmounting the Glass-Ceiling
Karen Barry, President, Barry Commercial Real Estate / Appraisal Propertyshop Inc.
While women continue to make inroads as leaders in traditionally male-dominated industries and many of these corporations are seeking to increase diversity in their workforce, the reality is still less than perfect. This discussion takes an in-depth look at what it takes for women in leadership to succeed in former male bastions.
Is it necessary to adopt male behaviour patterns and thought processes to succeed?
What are key steps to achieving success in male-dominated industries?
Merit-based objectivity: emerging reality or elusive ideal?
Tales from the front: women in leadership put to the test
How to encourage better diversity balance in your organization
3:00-3:30 NETWORKING BREAK
2:30-3:00
Becoming an Exceptional Leader by Leveraging Your Natural Talents & Strengths
Jane Fedoretz, Former Vice President and General Counsel, Ceda International Corporation
Today’s leaders require the ability to deal with complexity and a multitude of tasks, and to work cooperatively and innovatively. However, all too often such strengths are not legitimized through leadership development programs. By helping to recognize and leverage strengths, women can realize previously untapped leadership capacity. This discussion will help participants explore this notion in more depth.
Traditional vs. current models of leadership and the implications for development
Uncover and celebrate your natural talents and strengths
Develop and leverage talents through innovative leadership development initiatives
Link between your own leadership development and organizational transformation
How organizational culture can impede or enhance the development of effective leaders
3:30-4:00
Professional Passion - The Great Equalizer
Eileen Dooley, General Manager, McRae Inc. and Certified Career Coach
In order to achieve professional and personal success, you need to do what you love and love what you are doing. An unrelenting focus and passion for your work is paramount to rise to a position of leadership in today’s competitive environment. This presentation will explore the key criteria, both tangible and intangible, to building a successful and fulfilling career.
Honing your personal strengths and abilities
Identifying your passion and leveraging it into a career
Having the courage to act on your passion
Being happy with your choices
4:00-4:30
Leading In Man’s World
Susan M Shea, Managing Director, Edge HR Solutions
Though merit-based objectivity should be the determining factor for climbing the corporate ladder, women still face unique challenges that can impede their rise through corporate ranks. This presentation will provide insight into how to not only survive, but flourish as a woman in today’s business world.
Essential qualities for women in leadership
Obstacles encountered on road to success
Keys to achieving your professional and personal goals
Are opportunities increasing for women executives in today’s business world?
The importance of passion
4:30-5:00
Sales Skills: Why They’re Important in Corpo
Carol C.A. Rosdobutko, President, Sandler Training Calgary
Whether you’re trying to encourage a perspective candidate to join your organization, or you’re persuading the management or your team members to change or move in a different direction, the ability to sell your ideas is an important skill for women leaders. This interactive discussion will give you a framework to adapt your natural abilities as excellent communicators to become more effective influencers.
