Session1
Leadership Development and Excellence
Esther Zdolec, Senior Vice-President, Human Resources, Candu Energy Inc. subsidiary of SNC-Lavalin
9:00-9:45
Panel: The Power of Mentoring Relationships
Dominique Dionne, Vice-President, Corporate Affairs, Xstrata Nickel
May Chang, Chief Executive Officer, Shared Services West
This interactive panel is designed to help you to tap into the power of mentoring for women leadership development. Learn about what is needed and what you can do to optimize the success of mentoring relations to contribute to career and professional development as well as improving performance and achieving strategic business goals.
Critical components of a successful mentoring relationship
Assessing developmental needs and objectives
Clarifying what is wanted and needed in the mentoring relationship
Selecting and matching a mentor: key considerations
Making the most of mentor interactions
Value-added of a mentor in performance management and improvement
Avoiding stumbling blocks: why some mentoring programs have faltered
9:45-10:30
Qualities needed to lead and qualities that hinder success
Sussannah Kelly, Executive Vice President, DHR International
While it is impossible to establish a set of qualities that can be attributed to all women, traditionally, they have been seen to possess innate team-building skills and other natural leadership qualities that 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.
· 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
10:30-11:00 NETWORKING BREAK
11:00-11:30
Leading as a Woman in the Canadian Forces
Christine Whitecross, Chief Military Engineer, National Defence and the Canadian Forces
Leading change and being a trailblazer within a male-oriented industry or organization comes with a set of unique challenges but also opportunities. The roles and career options for women in the Canadian Forces have evolved dramatically in recent years and women are rising through the ranks to serve around the world on operations and in key leadership positions across the organization. This session will explore the issues involved in leading as a woman in the Canadian forces.
· Creating opportunities and opening doors for the next generation
· Identifying and addressing challenges and barriers
· Influencing change within male-oriented organizations or industries
· Facilitating attraction and enhancing retention of women in these professions
· Measuring success
11:30-12:00
Disciplines for Success: Principles and Characteristics of Influential Leadership
Cathie M. Brow, Senior Vice President Human Resources, Revera Inc.
The concept of leadership is evolving, with a style that depends on influencing, rather than commanding, others is emerging. 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
Influential leadership practices for best results
Gaining commitment and building partnerships
Influencing strategies
Establishing and leading successful teams and building strategic working relationships
12:00-12:30
What We Owe to the Women Coming Behind Us
Lisa Kimmel, General Manager, Edelman Canada
Edelman, the biggest PR firm in the world, works in an industry disproportionately populated by women. Yet Edelman’s global senior leadership was dominated by men and women were not making it to top roles in satisfactory numbers. Lisa will talk about her responsibility for creating the conditions for the next generation of women to succeed at her firm, both in structural and cultural ways, and what other women can do to ensure women want to follow in their footsteps.
· Supporting mothers so they don’t opt for an “easier” job
· Providing flexibility in work day
· Mentorship
· Career planning/pathing
Session2
Women at their best
Esther Zdolec, Senior Vice-President, Human Resources, Candu Energy Inc., a subsidiary of SNC-Lavalin
1:30-2:15
Panel: Community Leadership
Dorothy A. Quann, Vice-President; General Counsel; Corporate Secretary, Xerox Canada Inc.
Leslie Woo, VP, Policy & Planning, Metrolinx GO Transit
Sarah Qadeer, Senior Corporate Counsel, Home Depot of Canada Inc.
Critical skills needed for career advancement and success in the business community can be developed and honed through volunteerism. As well, volunteerism is consistent with the goals of corporate social responsibility. This session examines the benefits of volunteerism for women and how it can contribute to overall personal development and growth.
· Benefits of volunteerism for women
· Personal development, growth and contribution as one aspect of a balanced career
· Role volunteerism can play in your organization’s CSR efforts
· Volunteerism as a cost-effective tool for career development and training
· Power skills gained from volunteer activities
2:15-3:00
Negotiating … our least favourite and most critical skill
Esther Zdolec, Senior Vice-President, Human Resources, Candu Energy Inc., a subsidiary of SNC-Lavalin
This session will explore approaches and perspectives on negotiating, with a focus on de-mystifying and de-stressing this much maligned capability. The extent to which we are able to achieve success – at work, at home, or anywhere else – while nurturing positive and productive relationships rests on our skills and confidence in negotiating. This session explores:
What negotiating is – and isn’t
Why most of us hate negotiating
Why we need to be good negotiators
How to become an effective negotiator
Having fun negotiating
3:00-3:30 NETWORKING BREAK
3:30-4:00
Relationship building for success: strategies to enhance your emotional intelligence
Marni Johnson, President, Workplace Communication & Diversity Inc.
The most effective leaders are those who are aware of their own emotions and who have the ability to understand the emotions of others. In this presentation Marni will share insights from the field of neuroscience about a brain-based model for collaborating with and influencing others. Through recognition of our emotional triggers, we are better able to lead others.
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
4:00-4:30
Leading and Living the Brand
Kevin Garland, Executive Director & Co-CEO, The National Ballet of Canada
As women leaders, we are each charged with leading our corporate brand, winning and retaining customers and delivering on the brand’s promise. This discussion will explore effective strategies that you can adopt for leading and living your brand.
Strategies for successful brand leadership
Communicating and reinforcing the brand vision
Fostering brand sensitivity to customer needs and expectations
Leading by example: inspiring employees as brand advocates
4:30-5:00
Young Entrepreneur’s Perspective: Being Exceptional
Lauren Friese, Founder, TalentEgg
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. Young entrepreneur Lauren Friese will share 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
Session3
Strategies and skills for successful leaders
Stacey Karpman, Corporate Vice President, Worldwide Strategic Planning and Human Resources, Future Electronics Inc.
9:00-9:45
Panel: Leading in a Traditionally Male-Oriented Industry: Surmounting the Glass-Ceiling
Sylvie Lachance, Executive Vice President, Sobeys Inc.
Alysia Carter, CFO, VP Finance, Ainsworth Inc.
Deborah Morshead, Senior Vice-President, Legal Counsel, Loblaw Companies Ltd.
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, particularly among their management ranks, the reality is still less than perfect. This panel 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?
· Merit-based objectivity: emerging reality or elusive ideal?
· How to encourage better gender balance in your organization
· Tales from the front: women in leadership put to the test
· Overcoming talent management systems that are frequently vulnerable to pro-male biases
9:45-10:30
Enhancing your leadership though effective communication
Micheline Bouchard, Corporate Director, TELUS
One of the most effective ways for women to project confident leadership is through clear and persuasive communications. This engaging presentation will share tried-and-true principles for overcoming communication obstacles and ensuring that your communication skills are just as powerful and positive as your talents and abilities.
Reassessing your assumptions about how you communicate
Tips for projecting clarity and inspiring confidence
Delivering your message with empathy and your personal touch
Ensuring continuity between your visual and verbal messages
10:30-11:00 NETWORKING BREAK
11:00-11:45
Achieving Effective Work-Life Balance
Françoise Guénette, Senior Vice-President, Corporate & Legal Services and Governance, Intact Financial Corporation
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. Personal time management skills are key. 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
· Clarifying priorities: individual challenges and degree of importance
· Practical tips and advice for achieving better work-life balance, health and well-being
· Latest trends in work-life initiatives geared for women in the workplace
11:45-12:30
Leaderhsip Style: How Do Women Lead Differently than Men?
Renee Couture, Vice President, NHL Pension Society
Do women use a different leadership style than men? 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?
How do organizations recognize and benefit from different styles of leadership?
What style of leadership works best?
How do men respond to a female leadership style?
12:30-1:30 Lunch
Session4
Overcoming Hurdles
Stacey Karpman, Corporate Vice President, Worldwide Strategic Planning and Human Resources, Future Electronics Inc.
1:30-2:15
Women & Governance: Practical Advice to Women Aspiring to Board Directorships
Deborah Rosati, Corporate Director & Advisor, Sears Canada
The progress of Canadian women holding corporate board positions has been slow and incremental at best. Yet increasing gender diversity on boards should be a priority for companies aiming to remain competitive in the global marketplace. This presentation will examine practical strategies on how women in executive positions should prepare themselves to be eligible for positions on public company boards.
Recruiting corporate directors from among women in executive positions
Director recruitment process: nominations committees, recruitment firms versus an informal referral system among directors
Women’s value-add to corporate boards
Facilitating the readiness of women for board positions
Encouraging boards to recruit qualified women for board seats
2:15-3:00
Leading In Man’s World
Stacey Karpman, Corporate Vice President, Worldwide Strategic Planning and Human Resources, Future Electronics Inc.
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. In this case study session, Stacey Karpman, Vice President, Worldwide Strategic Planning and Human Resources at Future Electronics Inc. will draw on her experience to 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?
3:00-3:30 NETWORKING BREAK
3:30-4:00
Navigating through Career Changes
Judy G. Naiberg, VP, Legal & Business Affairs, Sony Music Entertainment Canada Inc.
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 acumen and competence in a new realm
Deepening your networks and support systems
Lessons learned to enhance leadership and mentor effectiveness
4:00-4:30
Negotiating to Achieve Success
Annie Blouin, Head, Relationship & Client Management Practice, RBC Investor Services
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
4:30-5:00
Young Entrepreneur’s Perspective: Have You Found your Passion?
Kanika Gupta, Director, SoJo
In order to achieve professional, personal and corporate success, you need to do what you love and love what you are doing. The more engaged you are with your passion, the more engaged, innovative and successful you will be with your job and within your company. To rise to a position of leadership in today’s competitive environment, an unrelenting focus and passion for your work is paramount. This presentation will explore the keys to building a fulfilling career.
· Finding your passion is a journey for discovery
· Honing your personal strengths and abilities
· Identifying your passion and riding it to success
· Having the courage to act on your passion
· Tips for overcoming obstacles in your career journey
· Finding balance and fulfillment in life and career
