Raised by a single mother who was passed away when Jackie was just sixteen meant that Jackie had to learn how to navigate the world around her independently very early on. How do you start, how did she start, by focusing on what was in front of her, and also having a strong sense of where she wanted to go. She moved forward knowing that ultimately she wanted financial security and wealth.

Jeanne has spent over 15 years scaling and accelerating high-growth consumer tech companies in San Francisco, NYC and now Toronto. She is currently the Chief Business Officer at Watt Pad. Jeanne and I talk about what it takes to show up authentically and to create work environments that foster a deep sense of belonging.

Celina Caesar-Chavannes  got into politics because she wanted to make a bigger difference in the world. But when she became the first Black person elected to represent the federal riding of Whitby, Ontario, she hadn't really thought about the fact that Ottawa wasn't designed for someone like her. Celina soon found herself both making waves and breaking down. She paid the price for speaking out about micro-aggressions and speaking up for her community and her riding, but she also felt exhilaration and empowerment. Her first book, "Can you hear me now?", it out now!

Eleanor and her colleagues are on a mission to double the number of women entrepreneurs who generate over $1M in sales by 2030, through women-focused entrepreneurship education. She believes that economically empowered women entrepreneurs are key in driving gender equity globally. If there is one person who could make this happen, its Eleanor - her passion and drive formidable!

Golnaz is the founder of Accelerate Her Future a career accelerated program for black, Indigenous, self-identifying women of colour. In this episode we talk about stepping into ourselves.

Leen Li grew up in Northeast China, the fifth child in a family too poor to buy even a potato peeler. That experience informs not only her leadership role at Wealthsimple, but her whole life.

While working in the corporate world Deborah had an experience with discrimination and a series of aggressions that left her feeling helpless. The experience impacted her mental health causing her to lose weight, creating anxiety and self-defeating thoughts. She learned the skills and acquired the tools she needed to successfully navigate the situation, but also knew not everyone is as fortunate. After a long successful career in the corporate world Deborah Owens left to start her organization - Corporate Alleycats to support professionals of colour navigate sticky situations.

The US has Kamala Harris, we have Annamie Paul, the first Black leader of a major political party in Canada. Annamie has been an advocate for environmental and social justice from an early age, whether she was stuffing envelopes with her mother for the local MP or working as page in the Ontario Legislature at age of 12 -she believed in actively participating civic action. Today we learn more about Annamie and the plans she has for. much needed change.

Conversations about the need for a more diverse and inclusive corporate Canada are not new - we have been having them for years, with not much changing. But recent anti-racism protests have placed the corporate realm under increased scrutiny.

While making charitable contributions to organizations committed to serving diverse groups and supporting events that celebrate our vibrant and diverse communities are important, they are starting points not the end state. We cannot brush off the hard, roll-up-your-sleeves, long-term work of creating a diverse workplace where all employees can bring their full selves to work, be engaged and have a sense of belonging. To do this we need data, useful data, and an understanding of data analytics- only then can begin to develop meaningful programs and strategies for change.

In this episode Miranda McKie and I talk data and artificial intelligence as it relates to diversity, equity and inclusion. Both Miranda and I have worked in large corporations and seen first had the ad hoc approach do diversity and inclusion, the absence of data or an understanding of how to use data to identify opportunities, manage risks and hold leaders accountable.

When I read Amara’s article on Medium “I survived abuse, the shelter system and city politics. The thing that broke me? Being Black in Corporate Canada” I thought of the courage it takes to speak up, and yes, corporate Canada can really break people of colour.

“People of colour are an engine of Canada’s economy, yet they continue to face some of the workplace’s most entrenched hurdles, such as near invisibility in top leadership roles, pay inequities, and discrimination”.

Amara is not only courageous; she is a force destined to make big change in the world. In this week’s podcast Amara and I talk about the curve balls that life has thrown her way, micro-aggression in the workplace, and leadership that fosters diverse teams and an inclusive culture.