Happy Women’s History Month! This month we’re taking the opportunity to celebrate the powerful & knowledgeable voices of women on our roster. Here are just a few of the incredible women that are making history:
THE CHANGEMAKERS
What do you think of when you hear the word “changemaker”? We think of the activists, advocates, educators and people with platforms that use their position to promote social change.
Tina Varghese, Diversity & Inclusion Expert, is a changemaker among the communities of large organizations. Tina uses her personal experiences as a woman of colour to educate thousands on the importance of inclusion, equity and belonging in the workplace- an issue unfortunately still prevalent in 2021.
Gabrielle Scrimshaw, an Indigenous Leadership Expert, teaches us the value of Indigenous inclusion and reconciliation in the workplace. Although the diversity in the private sector and tech has progressed, there is still a long way to go. By working together with Indigenous communities, not only will we find opportunities to build future technologies, but we will be building a just, Canadian society.
Vouching to advance the participation and leadership of ALL women in tech, Move the Dial Founder, Jodi Kovitz, uses her platform to raise awareness of the lack of diversity in the tech space. Her annual conferences congregate powerful women in tech allowing future generations to network and learn from their predecessors.
CEILING-SHATTERERS
Watch your step… there’s a lot of ceilings being shattered by these amazing women. In the case of Dr. Roberta Bondar ceilings were shattered without gravity, as she became the first Canadian woman in space. The former-astronaut shares her leadership skills on Earth with thousands yearly, teaching them how to better adapt to change in the workplace environment.
In earthly “foreign” places, veteran journalist, Stephanie Nolen, has spent 21 years reporting for the Globe and Mail and was bureau chief in Africa, South Asia and Latin America. She has penned numerous accounts of her work, which help leaders to envision a better future. She has paved the way for many female journalists for the future of foreign correspondence.
Right here in Canada, Celina Caesar-Chavannes became the first Black person to be elected in a federal riding of Whitby. Celina was ready to make positive changes in Ottawa but Ottawa was not ready for the change. Now, as she shares her experiences, she inspires young BIPOC women to smash their own ceilings.
TECHNOLOGY TEAMMATES
These women are making way for a #femalefuture. Takara Small, a tech columnist for CBC’s Metro Morning, is not only fighting for her place in the tech space, but she’s also paving paths for future generations. Takara founded and oversees VentureKids Canada, an award-winning nonprofit that provides free coding classes and startup workshops to youth living in low-income or underserved communities.
Ann Makosinski, student inventor and media darling, encourages her fellow “gen-zs” to “ditch their devices” and dedicate their time to something more meaningful. She teaches audiences how to be a “differentist” in a generation of “sameists.” Ann wants her peers to learn that entrepreneurship and innovation are not limited to Silicon Valley. Rather, the opportunities are accessible to everyone.
With the invention of the Sphere App, Devon Brooks hopes to make coaching and therapy more accessible. Devon is working to destigmatize mental health and asking for help. With all the stress and uncertainty our future generations are facing, they need to make sure that a guidance counsellor is available at their fingertips.