International Women’s Day (IWD) is celebrated globally on March 8 to honour the cultural, political, and socio-economic achievements of women. This year’s theme, #BreakTheBias, reminds us that conscious and unconscious bias serves as a significant barrier in limiting women, both personally and professionally. Your commitment to action is necessary to change this narrative.
To mark IWD, Women+Power is inviting members to submit an inspiring story about a time they acted or witnessed action that directly called out gender bias, discrimination, or stereotyping. Everyone that submits a story will be entered in a draw for a chance to win a $100 CAD Cadillac Fairview gift card. Women+Power will share some of the most powerful submissions in the days leading up to IWD 2022. The contest winner’s name and story will be published by Women+Power on March 8, 2022. *A Google account is required for submission. Click here to create your account.
Author:Jana Mosley, Board Vice-Chair and Sponsorship Committee Chair, Women+Power
I’ve had the privilege of formally leading people for the last 15 years, and I have to say they have been the most rewarding years of my career. Leadership is a journey, and I must admit I’ve hit some bumps in the road, maybe even a few potholes. (I just went back and forth on whether not to use the word “few” or “a couple”, not wanting to be too imperfect – such a female thing to think!)
I’m grateful to the people along my path who have been patient with me when I’ve started a new role, to those who cut me some slack when I didn’t take the time to understand their perspective, and to the many who have been kind enough to give me feedback so I could improve. You know who you are – keep it comin’!
As I’ve progressed in my career, it became clear that the strengths that got me the latest promotion were not necessarily the same strengths I needed to leverage to be successful leading at the next level, or at least how those strengths needed to change in order to bring out the best in those around me. It was less about what I had accomplished and more about what the team had accomplished.
I recently read a book called “Unleashed: The Unapologetic Leader’s Guide to Empowering Everyone Around You” by Frances Frei & Anne Morris. I was intrigued, as we often talk as leaders about empowering others, but find we get stuck in our comfort zones and hierarchical society. The book starts by stating clearly “It’s not about you”. Leadership is about empowering other people as a result of your presence and making sure that impact continues in your absence. If you are all about unleashing the potential in others, check out this book!
Here are the main principles the authors cover, taken from the contents summary:
Trust – Trust is the foundation for empowering leadership. You build trust when you reveal empathy, logic, and authenticity
Love – You empower other people when you simultaneously set high standards and reveal deep devotion to them
Belonging – You empower teams when you champion difference and ensure that everyone can contribute their unique capacities and perspectives
Strategy – You empower organizations when you show people how to create and capture value on their own
Culture – You empower communities – organizations and beyond – when you change the way people think and act
They say there is no “I” in TEAM, and throughout my leadership journey, I can tell you the times when I’ve felt the most fulfilled and proud have been when I have seen those around me in my team nail a presentation they were nervous about, have a difficult conversation they thoughtfully prepared for, rally others to achieve great results, or create a solution to a problem without being told what to do. When, through coaching, mentoring, learning, and trying, people in my organization move the needle on their path to reach their full potential, I get to sit back and smile knowing that in some small way, I made a difference. And that’s what it’s all about.
Post Author: Stefania Cerisano, Board Member – Events & Programs Committee, Women+Power
The words we choose in both casual and formal communications can have a significant impact on the perpetuation of gender stereotypes and inequality. Impacts are not just reserved for blatantly derogatory phrasing, but also extend to more subtle language choices and pairings.
Imagine receiving a group email from a male co-worker which begins, “Good morning, Kevin, David, Larry and ladies”. Even if you are not bothered by the term “ladies”, seeing this term used in a greeting that acknowledges male peers by name and female peers only generally can leave a bad taste and negatively impact a culture of inclusiveness far more than you may think. While some may choose to downplay wording implications as an over-reaction or unintentional ‘slip’, according to recent studies conducted by Stanford University, these kinds of ‘slips’ are often highly correlated to views held by the writer or speaker and if left unaddressed, bias wording will continue to encourage a culture ripe with obstacles for inclusion. According to leading research and advisory company, Gartner, “Any behaviour, habit or routine, will continue to persist as long as there is something in the environment that rewards and reinforces that continued action”. Reinforcement can take the form of inaction and result in missed opportunities to evolve mindsets.
This is not to suggest that every person who makes a statement with a bias undertone should be explicitly called out, but rather that there is a range of reactions that could serve to change the narrative, including leading by example. A reply such as, “Good morning, Team” or “Good morning, Lisa, Karen, Kevin, David and Larry” may just be enough. Regardless of how one chooses to reply, the point is simply that by ignoring less than ideal wording, we forgo an opportunity to reduce counterproductive behaviour.
It is interesting to note that some wording biases may be inherently linked to the specific language spoken. A study by Carnegie Mellon, which investigated the male-career bias in 25 languages, found that “languages that heavily associate men with careers and women with family also have speakers who live out those biases”. English was found to be the 6th most biased language of the 25 reviewed in the study. The research results showed a positive correlation between biased language and high male-career gender bias and further demonstrated that the more biased the language, the lower the percentages of women in STEM fields and STEM higher education. According to the study’s lead author, Molly Lewis, those who speak a language filled with bias are more likely to hold gender stereotypes.
This is certainly something to consider the next time you find yourself wondering if it’s worth the effort to promote more inclusive language in the workplace. Collectively, we have the potential to shift mindsets towards a more inclusive environment by simply choosing our words more carefully and calling on others in our workplace to do the same.
This holiday season, Women+Power is once again partnering with the Calgary Women’s Emergency Shelter to collect essential items for families in need. In addition to the dropoff locations listed below, Women+Power we are hosting a festive drop off location on December 12, 2021, from 5-8pm at 175 Aspen Stone Terrace SW, where you can drop off your donation items, have a picture taken of your family in front of an amazing display of Christmas lights, enjoy a cup of hot cocoa and meet fellow Women+Power members.
The Calgary Women’s Emergency Shelter supports individuals, families, and communities to live free from family violence and abuse. In the last year, the Calgary Women’s Emergency 24-Hour Family Violence Helpline received more than 10,450 calls and the total number of clients served at the shelter was more than 15,000.
At Women+Power, we believe in the power of community. That we can work together to not only address challenges that women experience in the workplace, but that collectively, we can help to support the families in our communities that need it the most. This year, we will be helping to raise funds and gather essential goods for families in our communities that turn to the Calgary Women’s Emergency Shelter for assistance and safe refuge.
The statistics are staggering. 74% of Albertans report that they personally know at least one woman who has been sexually or physically assaulted and 1 in 2 women will experience one incident of physical or sexualized violence in their life. COVID-19 has only exacerbated the situation and has created additional barriers and isolation for people living in unhealthy and dangerous situations. Stress and anxiety remain high as there are still so many unknowns.
This holiday season, we ask that you reflect on the resilience of these families and help in any small way that you can, whether it be financial donations or collecting and dropping off essential items. Your support and generosity will help keep local individuals that are impacted by family violence safe during this critical time.
*Due to health and safety concerns, the Shelter cannot accept used clothing and toys. *They cannot accept new or used furniture, small appliances and household items. *They do not take hotel/travel size due to the length of stay that clients are at the Shelter.
And if you or anyone you know needs the support of the Calgary Women’s Emergency Shelter, please contact them via one of the methods below:
Phone their 24-Hour Family Violence Helpline: 403-234-7233 (SAFE) Email: help@cwes.ca Text: 403-604-6689
Post Author: Sharleen Gatcha, Founder & CEO, Women+Power Book Author: Simon Sinek
How three letters can change everything: “WHY”. “Why” is not just a word. It’s a powerful concept.
“People don’t buy what you do. They buy why you do it.” – Simon Sinek
If you aren’t familiar with Simon Sinek, he is a speaker, and best-selling author, who gave one of the most-watched TED talks ever about his renowned book “Start with Why”. Check out this video to gain an understanding of what the book is about.
In his book, Sinek discusses the principle behind every successful person and business and demonstrates why leaders guided by this concept will succeed more often than those that don’t. It is a simple but influential model for how leaders inspire action by starting with the question “Why?”.
Sinek calls this phenomenon “The Golden Circle”, which is a communication and leadership framework. The Golden Circle instructs leaders to start by clearly defining and communicating their WHY, followed by recruiting those who can strategize the HOW, and then using WHAT they do as proof of their why.
Most people naturally communicate from the outside in. We tell people WHAT we do, HOW we are different or special, and then we expect behaviours like consideration, support or even a job offer to be the result. The problem is that WHAT and HOW do not inspire action. Facts and figures make rational sense, but most people don’t make decisions based on facts and figures. Starting with WHY is what leaders do. Leaders inspire. What inspires you? What values and principles drive your beliefs? Why do you get out of bed in the morning? And why should anyone care?
Sinek cites Martin Luther King as a powerful example of how King’s clarity of WHY, along with his sense of purpose, gave him the strength and energy to continue to fight against seemingly insurmountable odds. King knew what had to change to bring about civil rights in America, and he was absolute in his conviction. It was not just Martin Luther King’s unflappable conviction that was able to stir a population, but his ability to put his WHY into words. Dr. King had a gift. He talked about what he believed. And his words had the power to inspire:
“I believe.”
“I believe.”
“I believe.”
People heard his beliefs and his words touched them deeply. Those who believed what he believed took that cause and made it their own. They told people what they believed, and those people told others what they believed. Some organized to get that belief out more efficiently. In the summer of 1963, a quarter of a million people showed up to hear Dr. King deliver his “I Have a Dream” speech on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. But how many people showed up for Dr. King? Zero.
They showed up for themselves. It was what they believed. They saw an opportunity to help America become a better version of itself. Being in Washington was simply one of the things they did to prove what they believed. Showing up that day was one of the WHATs to their own WHY. This was a cause and it became their cause.
According to Sinek, the “Why” does not come from looking ahead at what you want to achieve and then figuring out an appropriate strategy to get there. It comes from looking in the completely opposite direction from where you are right now. Finding the “Why” is a process of discovery, not invention.
The “Why” is within you. And once you find and know your “Why”, the hardest part is to remain true to it.
October is Women’s History Month in Canada, a time to celebrate the women and girls from our past, and our present, who are contributing to a better, more inclusive Canada. In 1992, the Government of Canada designated October as Women’s History Month, marking the beginning of an annual month-long celebration of the outstanding achievements of women and girls throughout Canada’s history.
This year’s theme, Women Making History Now, recognizes the amazing women who are making a lasting impact in our country, especially in the current context of the COVID-19 pandemic and efforts to advance reconciliation, through their work and commitment to make our country a better place.
Get involved:
Visit the Women of Impact in Canada gallery, which recognizes the contributions and achievements of 100 exceptional Canadian women and girls who have made an impact in politics, the arts and sciences, and countless other fields.
Post Author: Elaina Eifler, Women+Power Board Member & Chair, Events and Programs Book Author: Wab Kinew
Wab Kinew was named by the National Post as “an Aboriginal leader seeking to engage with Canadians at large”. The Reason You Walk is a moving father-son reconciliation told by a charismatic First Nations broadcaster, musician, and activist. Wab opens up in this book and shares personal details about his life, struggles and successes.
I committed to reading books by Indigenous authors to educate myself and to create common ground in an effort to address my biases. I connected with this book because our family also struggles and fails – these are human experiences. The more we can connect as human beings the more we move towards reconciliation.
Learning more about the Sundance was a highlight. Wab explains, “If you were to enter the centre of the Sundance circle, then you would understand the beauty of what happens there. The shake of the cottonwood trees in the breeze, the swing and sway of prayer flags of every colour tied to the branches, the chorus of cicadas singing a perfect soundtrack for the sweltering heat, and the feeling of hundreds of supporters standing on the edge of the circle watching you”. This sacred tradition is so deeply moving and important. I am inspired to reflect on my own cultural traditions to determine which ones have this kind of deep meaning and significance in my life. I expect this gift will bring me closer to my truth, my family and myself.
I encourage everyone to read this book. You will laugh, cry, reflect, connect and be given the gift of curiosity to learn more about yourself and where you come from.
At Women+Power we plan to continue offering member events to deepen the conversation and action towards reconciliation in Canada. Join Us as a member today to be invited to future events!
Enjoy,
Elaina Eifler Chair, Events and Programs | Women+Power
Today marks the 1st National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, a day that honours the lost children and Survivors of residential schools, their families, and communities. Public commemoration of the tragic and painful history of residential schools is a vital component of the reconciliation process.
Orange Shirt Day, an Indigenous-led grassroots commemorative day that honours the children who survived Indian Residential Schools and remembers those who did not, is also recognized today. Canadians are encouraged to wear orange (a shirt or even a ribbon) to raise awareness of the very tragic legacy of residential schools and to honour the thousands of Survivors. This day relates to the experience of Phyllis Webstad, a Northern Secwpemc (Shuswap) from the Stswecem’c Xgat’tem First Nation. On her first day of school, she arrived dressed in a new orange shirt, which was taken from her. It is now a symbol of the stripping away of culture, freedom and self-esteem experienced by Indigenous children over generations.
Women+Power acknowledges this monumental day in the spirit of reconciliation and the hope for a brighter future for our Indigenous Peoples. We must do more to deepen our understanding. We must come together to pause, lament and reflect – to embrace our shared humanity. We must commit to doing better.
We invite you to take the opportunity to reflect on Canada’s dark past and explore the rich and diverse cultures, voices, experiences and stories of the First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples. Whether you want to read, listen, or watch, click this link to start your learning journey today.
Women+Power is beyond grateful for the in-kind support provided by Gold Circle PR from May to July! Our social media feed was full of amazing content and imagery courtesy of Olivia Jacobs, Founder of Gold Circle PR, and her talented team. Olivia is a passionate advocate for women and children and proudly supports Women+Power, understanding first-hand the importance of diversity in the workplace and the systemic struggles women face to get a seat at the boardroom table.
Gold Circle PR is a public relations firm supporting mission-driven organizations across North America through a roster of specialized services that range from media to brand building. Gold Circle PR intentionally built their firm around a core belief and value system that supports the business objectives of creators, innovators and visionaries, allowing us to create positive, impactful change together.
Author: Georgina Newell, Women+Power Board Member & Manager, Operations Compliance at TransAlta
At certain times in my 25-year career, I have often found it important to sit back and reflect.
Who am I?
Am I where I want to be in life?
Have I made a positive impact?
Am I doing what I love?
Do I work with people I admire?
Who is my inspiration?
Sometimes the answers to these questions are obvious and other times the answers remain unclear.
Recently, I found myself at a similar crossroads. I felt like I had lost sight of my personal core values and I needed to reset. This led me to the realization that I needed to re-ground myself in the things I find most important and that I couldn’t do it alone. To do this, I needed help from someone I trusted and more importantly, someone who wouldn’t pass judgement.
Fast forward, I decided I would engage my coach to help me on my journey. She took me through an exercise called the Standards of Integrity (Reference: #Maria Nemeth – #ACE Academy for Coaching Excellence). I identified 7 qualities that resonated with me and these have since become my standards of integrity or core values.
Upon realizing that I am all of the amazing qualities that I identified, I felt slightly choked up and experienced the ‘having your heart in your throat’ feeling. It ended up being one of the most impactful moments I experienced in a long time.
These are a few of my standards of integrity:
I am smart, funny, genuine…
Included below is the #Standards of Integrity exercise. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
Standards of Integrity Exercise (10-15 minutes)
Get a blank piece of paper.
Draw a line down the middle.
On the left side write down the names of 5-10 people you admire. This can be anyone real or fictional.
On the right side write down the qualities you admire in each of them.
Go through the list of qualities and circle the ones that warm your heart.
The ones that warm your heart are your standards of integrity or core values.
Write down your refined list and place it somewhere you can view it often.
Your card will look like this:
These are my standards of integrity:
I am quality 1, quality 2 …
I know they are mine because I see them in others.
Women+Power is pleased to announce a new financial sponsor, TransAlta! “We are proud to include TransAlta as a sponsor. TransAlta has established as its objective that women should comprise at least 50% of the directors on the Board and 40% of their workforce by 2030. TransAlta’s recently announced objective is closely aligned with the objective of Women+Power to increase gender diversity in the power industry in Alberta,” said Women+Power Founder and CEO, Sharleen Gatcha.
TransAlta owns, operates, and develops a diverse fleet of electrical power generation assets in Canada, the United States, and Australia with a focus on long-term shareholder value. TransAlta provides municipalities, medium and large industries, businesses, and utility customers with clean, affordable, energy-efficient and reliable power. Today, TransAlta is one of Canada’s largest producers of wind power and Alberta’s largest producer of hydroelectric power. For over 100 years, TransAlta has been a responsible operator and a proud community member where its employees work and live. TransAlta aligns its corporate goals with the UN Sustainable Development Goals and has been recognized by CDP (formerly Climate Disclosure Project) as an industry leader on Climate Change Management, having recently achieved an A- score.
When asked about TransAlta’s decision to sponsor Women+Power, CEO John Kousinioris stated, “The advancement of women and diversity is a top priority at TransAlta. The persistent inequities around the world underscore the urgent need to remove barriers and promote an inclusive working environment for all employees where everyone belongs and can bring their authentic selves to work. We are dedicated to raising awareness about equity, diversity, and inclusion at work. When we do so, we create space for our employees to unlock their potential, to be highly engaged, and to reflect the diversity of the communities in which we operate, ultimately leading to an enhanced employee experience and the success of our company.”
In lieu of our July and August monthly entries for the EmPOWERment Hub that are submitted by Women+Power board members, we have compiled a list of recommended industry books plus two leadership books for you to consider reading over the summer. We will continue our monthly entries in September. In the meantime, we hope you find this list useful. We would love to hear from you if you do read one of these books and can share any insights gained!
Energy for Future Presidents: The Science Behind the Headlines by Richard Muller (2012)
The near-meltdown of Fukushima, the upheavals in the Middle East, the BP oil rig explosion, and the looming reality of global warming have reminded the president and all U.S. citizens that nothing has more impact on our lives than the supply of and demand for energy. Its procurement dominates our economy and foreign policy more than any other factor. But the “energy question” is more confusing, contentious, and complicated than ever before. We need to know if nuclear power will ever really be safe. We need to know if solar and wind power will ever really be viable. And we desperately need to know if the natural gas deposits in Pennsylvania are a windfall of historic proportions or a false hope that will create more problems than solutions. Richard A. Muller provides all the answers in this must-read guide to our energy priorities now and in the coming years.
The Energy Switch: How Companies and Customers are Transforming the Electrical Grid and the Future of Power by Peter Kelly-Detwiler (2021)
The way humans produce, distribute and consume power will be cleaner, cheaper, and infinitely more complex within the next decade. In The Energy Switch, leading energy industry expert Peter Kelly-Detwiler looks at all aspects of the transformation: how we got here, where we are going, and the implications for all of us in our daily lives.
Revolutionary Powerby Shalanda Baker (2021)
Revolutionary Power is a playbook for the energy transformation complete with a step-by-step analysis of the key energy policy areas that are ripe for intervention. Baker tells the stories of those who have been left behind in our current system and those who are working to be architects of a more just system. She draws from her experience as an energy-justice advocate, a lawyer, and a queer woman of color to inspire activists working to build our new energy system. In Revolutionary Power, Shalanda Baker arms those made most vulnerable by our current energy system with the tools they need to remake the system in the service of their humanity. She argues that people of color, poor people, and indigenous people must engage in the creation of the new energy system in order to upend the unequal power dynamics of the current system.
The Power Brokers: The Struggle to Shape and Control the Power Industry by Jeremiah Lambert (2015)
For more than a century, the interplay between private, investor-owned electric utilities and government regulators has shaped the electric power industry in the United States. Provision of an essential service to largely dependent consumers invited government oversight and ever more sophisticated market intervention. The industry has sought to manage, co-opt, and profit from government regulation. In The Power Brokers, Jeremiah Lambert maps this complex interaction from the late nineteenth century to the present day.
The Grid: The Fraying Wires Between Americans and Our Energy Future by Gretchen Bakke (2016)
America’s electrical grid, an engineering triumph of the twentieth century, is turning out to be a poor fit for the present. It’s not just that the grid has grown old and is now in dire need of basic repair. Today, as we invest great hope in new energy sources–solar, wind, and other alternatives–the grid is what stands most firmly in the way of a brighter energy future. If we hope to realize this future, we need to reimagine the grid according to twenty-first-century values. It’s a project which forces visionaries to work with bureaucrats, legislators with storm-flattened communities, moneymen with hippies, and the left with the right. And though it might not yet be obvious, this revolution is already well under way.
Energy Transitions: Global and National Perspectives by Vaclav Smil (2016)
Based on the best international and national statistical sources, the second edition of Energy Transitions: Global and National Perspectives supplies an in-depth evaluation of how economies and nations around the world are striving to move away from traditional energy sources, the unfolding decarbonization process, and problems with intermittent energies and national transition plans. It supplies readers with a clear introduction to the basic properties of energy systems and key concepts of their appraisal, puts energy transition patterns in long-term historical perspective, and looks at the energy transition in eight of the world’s leading economies. The last chapters focus on the advances in the decarbonization of the global energy supply and consider how the energy transition will continue in the coming decades.
The New Map: Energy, Climate, and the Clash of Nations by Daniel Yergin (2020)
The world is being shaken by the collision of energy, climate change, and the clashing power of nations in a time of global crisis. Out of this tumult is emerging a new map of energy and geopolitics. The “shale revolution” in oil and gas has transformed the American economy, ending the “era of shortage” but introducing a turbulent new era. Almost overnight, the United States has become the world’s number one energy powerhouse. Yet concern about energy’s role in climate change is challenging the global economy and way of life, accelerating a second energy revolution in the search for a low-carbon future. All of this has been made starker and more urgent by the coronavirus pandemic and the economic dark age that it has wrought. A master storyteller and global energy expert, Daniel Yergin takes the reader on an utterly riveting and timely journey across the world’s new map. He illuminates the great energy and geopolitical questions in an era of rising political turbulence and points to the profound challenges that lie ahead.
Creating Climate Wealth: Unlocking the Impact Economy by Jigar Shah (2013)
Jigar Shah, internationally recognized for revolutionizing the now multi-billion-dollar solar energy industry, outlines how entrepreneurs and investors can unlock the massive potential that climate change represents. Shah argues that, while new technical innovation is valuable, deployment of existing technologies are the key to reaching our near-term climate targets. Rather than waiting for yet to be developed technology, business model innovation is the key to attract mainstream capital and unlock transformational change.
Cadillac Desert: The American West and Its Disappearing Water by Marc Reisner (1993)
The story of the American West is the story of a relentless quest for a precious resource: water. It is a tale of rivers diverted and dammed, of political corruption and intrigue, of billion-dollar battles over water rights, of ecological and economic disaster. In his landmark book, Cadillac Desert, Marc Reisner writes of the earliest settlers, lured by the promise of paradise, and of the ruthless tactics employed by Los Angeles politicians and business interests to ensure the city’s growth. He documents the bitter rivalry between two government giants, the Bureau of Reclamation and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, in the competition to transform the West. Based on more than a decade of research, Cadillac Desert is a stunning expose and a dramatic, intriguing history of the creation of an Eden–an Eden that may only be a mirage.
Lucky and Good by John Sherriff (2013)
Trading, poker, investing, gambling, starting a business, baseball, betting on lawsuits, innovation, and one insider’s story about the rise and fall of Enron. In “Lucky and Good,” John Sherriff, former Enron Europe CEO, shares his insights about what went right and wrong at Enron, his current business of betting on lawsuits as well as tales from the poker table and the sporting world to provide very useful and entertaining advice for anyone in business. John Sherriff is the former CEO of Enron Europe, based in London, which was one of the largest commodity-trading organizations in the world.
The Future Leader: 9 Skills and Mindsets to Succeed in the Next Decade by Jacob Morgan
Based on interviews with over 140 of the world’s top CEOs and a survey of nearly 14,000 people, this book explores the mindsets and skills that will be essential to leading effectively over the next decade and beyond. Jacob purports that while some core aspects of leadership will remain the same, leaders of the future will need a new collection of skills and evolved mindsets to succeed. His commentary includes insights into significant trends impacting the future of leadership; top skills and mindsets future leaders will need and how to acquire them; new perceptions as to what leadership means; and challenges related to future-ready leadership.
Invisible Women: Data Bias in a World for Men by Caroline Criado Perez
Data is relied upon daily to make critical economic decisions, inform government services and programs, develop products and so on. Historically, data collection and analytics have failed to consider the impact of gender bias within data sets. Male experiences and perspectives have often served as the “default” for data collected and considered, while female experiences and perspectives have been treated as “atypical”, often unknowingly. In this book, Caroline Criado Perez investigates how data bias has perpetuated gender inequality in government institutions, businesses, healthcare sector and more. This book will truly change the way you look at the world!
