Help the Minerva Foundation for BC Women continue to elevate the visibility, influence and contribution of women leaders by bidding in our first online fundraising auction!

Thanks to the support of nearly 60 generous individuals and businesses from across the Lower Mainland, the Minerva Foundation is thrilled to feature a variety of getaways, dining experiences, professional services, health and beauty experiences, sports and entertainment packages and more!

Our fundraising auction is live from Monday, June 10th to Friday, June 28th. All funds we raise will go to support the Minerva Foundation’s programs that help women and girls across British Columbia.

Some featured auction items include:

1. 2012/2013 TEAM SIGNED Vancouver Canucks Jersey (value: priceless)
2. Half-page ad in the Vancouver Sun (value: $10,000)
3. One week stay at Indian Wells Condominium in Palm Desert, California (value: $1,500)
4. One-night stay in a deluxe room + breakfast for two at the Four Seasons Hotel Vancouver (value: $527)
5. One month of personal training at Kalev Fitness Solutions (value: $200)
6. $200 gift certificate to Aritzia Clothing Boutiques AND MORE

Don’t miss your chance to get a great deal and support a good cause! Treat yourself, a friend or family member and share our auction with your communities!

Panel moderator, Joanna Piros (centre), sits with Anne Stewart (left) and Kirsten Sutton (right).

The Minerva Foundation hosted its first Changing the Face of Leadership Conference on Friday, May 3 at Vancouver’s Fairmont Waterfront Hotel, where more than 225 men and women from across BC and beyond, gathered to discuss important issues and challenges facing today’s leaders.

Transformational Failure, jokingly referred to as “Vancouver’s Biggest Losers” by our panelists, discussed professional adversity, and how it inevitably transforms a leader’s journey—hopefully for the better.

Five Takeaways from the Transformational Failure: Turning Adversity in Success Panel

1. Failure can be a competitive advantage, but for failure to become an asset you have to be vulnerable—something that is not generally sanctioned in many workplaces. Why vulnerability? To grapple with the implications of failure – and actually learn from it – you have to be able to share your failure with others.
2. Don’t get trapped in the narrative of others! Take the time to reflect on and define what success and failure mean to you. Measure yourself against your own expectations rather than labels created by others.
3. Ditch the term “failure”! Let’s reframe “failure” as adversity—which allows more space for learning and growth.
4. Take the time to put a diverse support system in place, and don’t just include your fans (which Joanne fittingly referred to as, “people willing to drink your bathwater”). It’s important that you are challenged by your support system.
5. Favourite quote: “Failure is what success looks like because it’s really the beginning of success. How do you know what success is you don’t experience failure.”  - Joanna Piros

Moderated by Joanna Piros, broadcast journalist and executive producer with 11th Hour Productions, the 60-minute discussion featured panelists, Patricia Graham, VP Digital at Pacific Newspaper Group; Tracy Theemes, Financial Advisor with Sophia Financial Group; Yuri Fulmer, Chairman and CEO of FDC Capital Partners and Neil Chrystal, President and CEO of Polygon Homes.

Want more highlights from the Minerva Foundation’s Changing the Face of Leadership Conference? See these earlier posts recapping the conference.

Preliminary Findings from the Minerva Foundation’s Face of Leadership Study
Five Takeaways from the Taking Your Values to Work Panel

Researchers Jennifer Sung (left) and Bob Elton discuss findings from the Face of Leadership study with panel moderator, Donna Howes, at the Minerva Foundation’s Changing the Face of Leadership Conference

The Minerva Foundation for BC Women hosted its Changing the Face of Leadership Conference on Friday, May 3, where more than 225 men and women from across British Columbia and beyond gathered to discuss values-based leadership and important issues and challenges facing today’s leaders.

Opening the conference was the presentation of preliminary findings from the Minerva Foundation’s Face of Leadership study, the first comprehensive analysis of the gender breakdown at the top leadership levels across British Columbia’s largest industries.

The preliminary findings reveal that while women make up 50.4 per cent of the British Columbian population, just 20 per cent of businesses are run by them. Industries with more than 25 per cent women leaders include non-profit groups (67 per cent), retailers (58 per cent) and the federal government (53 per cent). Industries with no women leaders include crown corporations, engineering firms and restaurant chains.

Changing the Face of Leadership in BC
The Face of Leadership study, which is being conducted on behalf of the Minerva Foundation by Board Director, Robert Elton (former CEO of BC Hydro), along with a team of volunteer researchers, is a starting point for the organization to realize its vision to change the face of leadership in BC.

“Any meaningful change starts with an honest look at your starting point,” says Minerva Foundation CEO, Fiona Douglas-Crampton. “It is important to shine a light on the facts and identify whether women are in the decision-making roles across the province.”

Based on the representation of women leaders, the researchers divided BC industries into three tiers. The first tier, with more than 25 per cent women leaders, represents industries with the most women in leadership positions, while the second tier represents industries with between 10 per cent and 25 per cent women leaders and the third tier represents industries with less than 10 per cent women leaders.

Key Trends Observed
“Among the trends that stood out to us,” says researcher Jennifer Sung, “is that the industries with the most female leaders are what might typically be referred to as ‘feminine industries’, like retail and non-profit, while other industries represented in this tier have specific policies in place to promote women”.

Another observation highlighted by the research team is that the province’s largest industries – and its key economic drivers – can mostly be found in the third tier, where less than 10 per cent of firms are led by women. These include mining, technology, crown corporations, engineering and finance, among others.

“One of the most interesting observations is the question of economic drivers,” says Douglas-Crampton. “When we look at women in leadership roles we have to qualify the numbers with the impact of those roles. These findings indicate that the province’s most powerful industries are still mostly led by men.”

The absence of women from the province’s top leadership positions is echoed at the national level, as reported in Carlton University’s 2012 study, Progress in Inches, Miles to Go, which found that Canadian women hold just 29 per cent of senior management positions, though they constitute 47 per cent of the labour force. According to the report’s authors, women’s absence from the country’s top positions is more than an issue of adequate supply, as women experience under-representation in senior leadership even in sectors in which the make up a “significant percentage of middle managers and specialized managers.”

Another trend noted by the Face of Leadership researchers, says Sung, is that industries with the lowest numbers of female leadership often have equal gender representation at the university-level. This is also true country-wide, as researchers from the Progress in Inches study also described the under-representation of women leaders in fields where they “dominate” in terms of educational credentials.

“You graduate from this type of [gender equality] bubble in university and you find that changes very quickly when you get into the workforce,” says Sung.

Closing the Gender Gap
For Douglas-Crampton, supporting women on their leadership journey is key to closing the gender gap, as is engaging men in the conversation and encouraging all people to lead from their values.

“It’s not just about getting more women into leadership roles, though that is essential to achieving gender equality,” says Douglas-Crampton. “But we also need to move away from the old command and control model of leadership to one that is values based—something that we believe will create more equitable workplaces for men and women, and more meaningful connections to our work in business and our community.”

For the Minerva Foundation, this first step in analyzing the landscape of BC leadership is fundamental to realizing the organization’s vision and creating meaningful change. As the Face of Leadership study progresses with interviews and recommendations, the Minerva Foundation will continue to support BC women to develop their leadership capacity and find meaningful work through its leadership development programs, employment programs and education awards.

Taking Your Values to Work panelists (from left): Nancy McKinstry, Margaret Wheeler, Brenda Leong, Fiona MacFarlane, Colin Hansen

The Minerva Foundation hosted its first Changing the Face of Leadership Conference on Friday, May 3 at Vancouver’s Fairmont Waterfront Hotel, where more than 225 men and women from across BC and beyond, gathered to discuss important issues and challenges facing today’s leaders.

With a jam-packed roster of presentations and panel discussions, including two keynotes and the release of preliminary findings from our Face of Leadership study, it’s hard to know where to begin our recap of the day’s events!

In this first installment of our Changing the Face of Leadership blog series we will focus on our Taking Your Values to Work panel discussion. Moderated by Nancy McKinstry, this 60-minute panel discussion featured Fiona MacFarlane, Managing Partner, Western Canada and Chief Inclusiveness Officer with Ernst & Young; Margaret Wheeler, Senior VP, People Potential, lululemon athletica; Colin Hansen, MLA, Vancouver Quilchena and Brenda Leong, Chair and Chief Executive Officer, BC Securities Commission.

Taking Your Values to Work focused on how leaders can bridge the gap between their personal values and the professional landscape without compromising those whom they lead.

Five Takeaways from the Taking Your Values to Work Panel:

1. Understanding, with clarity, your own values is the foundation of good leadership.
2. You don’t leave your values at the door when you enter the office. Why wouldn’t you want to live your values at work? It is a lot harder to lead when you leave your values at home.
3. Leaders: stop and listen to what is being said around you. It’s your responsibility to step back and take in the information, synthesize it and make a decision. Remember that you’re never going to please everybody, and when you are leading from a place of values it is easier to accept that idea.
4. There is always pressure to meet targets—a good leader will measure those targets against their values.
5. Adversity forces you to home in on your values, which will guide you through and make you a stronger leader.

Visit our Facebook Page to see photos from our Changing the Face of Leadership Conference and stay tuned for more highlights from our conference.

In 2010, a family crisis forced me to leave my home in Montreal for Vancouver. I was lucky to find a technical job with a prestigious engineering company, but my real ambition was to become a successful businessperson.

The following spring, I decided that the time had come to take a chance on myself and apply for entry into a Masters of Business Administration (MBA) program. My family situation (and Vancouver’s high cost of living) meant that I would need to remain fully employed, so the University of British Columbia’s part-time MBA program was my best option. I had previously earned a master’s degree in engineering, but the prospect of starting another graduate program at this point in my life seemed like a huge challenge. I embraced the challenge, however, and after successfully writing the GMAT test, was accepted into the Sauder School of Business.

In spite of my heavy workload, I was able to balance the demands of school and work and meet my tuition and living expenses. But it wasn’t long before life took another unexpected turn—I was laid off from my job before I was even halfway finished my MBA.

Thankfully, I discovered the Minerva Foundation for BC Women. Thanks to the generosity of the Hager Family, I have financial breathing room, and will continue to study for my MBA during this very challenging crossroad in my career.

Moloud Mousavi is the 2012 recipient of the Robert and Judy Hager Family Education Award, a $5,000 prize, which was matched with an additional $5,000 by the University of British Columbia’s Sauder School of Business.

The organizing committee consists of 12 dedicated and enthusiastic women from a variety of backgrounds and one amazing Minerva staff member. They all serve as a true reflection of the values-based leadership championed by Minerva and shared at the Learning to LeadTM BC weekend.

Starting in December the year before the event, this passionate group meets to start planning the weekend in May. And there’s a lot to plan. Everything from reviewing applications, designing the curriculum and arranging travel is taken care of by these volunteers over a period of six months.

Now, I’m not bemoaning the work. There is food and a lot of laughs at the meetings. And, there is nothing quite like being awed by the applications we receive from grade eleven students, emerging and community leaders. Clearly, the end result is worth it.

From the opening ice-breaker to the closing open mic, there is something that will leave a lasting impression on everyone. There is storytelling, self-discovery, and sharing of experiences. There is the development of a community that continues long after the weekend fades.

There is something very special about being part of that. Knowing that we contribute to advancing the leadership skills of women in British Columbia is an extraordinary feeling. As one participant noted:

“The learning to lead conference was a life changing experience that I will never forget. I left feeling empowered and stronger than ever. Not only did I learn how to become a better leader, but I was given the opportunity to discover who I really am and what my true values are.”

Who doesn’t want to be part of that?

About Erin
Erin is the Communications Specialist at the BC Human Resources Management Association (BC HRMA). Originally from Kamloops, Erin completed her Bachelor of Journalism degree at the University College of the Cariboo. Her major work experience has included writing for a daily newspaper, editing a monthly newspaper, creating communication materials for a non-profit organizations and working as the communications assistant for a public school district. Erin loves the outdoors, especially hiking and cycling. On her lazy days, she can be found relaxing with a book or enjoying a movie. She hates to cook.

Changing The Face of Leadership Conference 

On Friday, May 3, 2013 the Minerva Foundation held Vancouver’s first Changing the Face of Leadership Conference, a one-day forum for women and men to engage in conversation and dialogue on values-based leadership.

Acclaimed national and international leaders from business, politics, social enterprise and the arts engaged in interactive sessions dealing with emerging trends and the important challenges facing leaders today.

As host, the Minerva Foundation for BC Women brought together 225 men and women senior leaders and advancing leaders from British Columbia and beyond for this dynamic one day event at Vancouver’s Fairmont Waterfront Hotel.

M/C: Michelle Rupp - Lighthouse Leadership Ltd.

SPECIAL GUEST SPEAKERS INCLUDE

• Danielle Bochove - Broadcast Business Journalist
• Launi Skinner - CEO of First West Credit Union (Influential Women in Business Award – Business in Vancouver 2012; Executive Network’s Canada’s Most Powerful Women: Top 100 Award 2012, 2011, 2010)
• The Honourable Rona Ambrose - PC, MP
• Anne Callaghan - US Consul General
• Jody Wilson Raybould - Regional Chief – British Columbia Assembly of First Nations
• Maria LeRose - Award Winning Television Producer and Interviewer

Download the Changing the Face of Leadership Conference Schedule

Conference Fee (includes admission, continental breakfast, buffet lunch and closing reception): $275

Registration: from 7:30am
Conference: 8:30am – 5:15pm
Reception: 5:15pm – 6:15pm

Conference Location: Please note, our venue location has changed. We will now be hosting the conference at Vancouver’s Fairmont Waterfront Hotel, 900 Canada Place Way, Vancouver

For more information contact

Danna Murray, Program Director, Women Leading the Way™
Jo-Anne Lauzer, Program Coordinator, Women Leading the Way™
wlw@theminervafoundation.com | 604-683-7635 ext 228

CONFERENCE BREAKOUT SESSIONS: 1:30pm – 3pm (please choose one when registering)

1. Taking Your Values to Work Panel
Moderated by: Nancy McKinstry: Director HSBC Canada

As leaders become values-driven in both their personal and professional lives, these values will have implications on their leadership journey.  Four inspiring and successful leaders will share their stories on how they have created professional environments that match their values without compromising those whom they lead.

Panelists include:

Fiona Macfarlane: Mg. Partner, Western Canada & Chief Inclusiveness Officer – Ernst & Young
Margaret Wheeler: Senior VP, People Potential – lululemon athletica
Colin Hansen: MLA – Vancouver Quilchena
Brenda Leong: Chair and Chief Executive Officer BC Securities Commission

2. Transformational Failure: Turning Adversity into Success Panel
Moderated by: Lis Welch: Vice Chair, the Welch Group

Every successful leader faces adversity in his or her career and some will have even experienced significant failures that have transformed their leadership journey. Four passionate and highly successful leaders from Vancouver will share their stories and how they managed to turn adversity into success.

Panellists include:
Patricia Graham: VP Digital – Pacific Newspaper Group
Tracy Theemes: Financial Advisor – Sophia Financial Group
Yuri Fulmer: Chairman and CEO – FDC Capital Partners
Neil Chrystal: President and CEO – Polygon Homes

3. Respectful Workplaces? Holding Leaders Accountable
Moderated by: Anne Stewart Q.C.: Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP

Is your workplace a respectful environment for its employees? Do all individuals feel safe, healthy, valued and encouraged to excel or are some feeling belittled, intimidated or afraid to speak up? Is diversity (in the broadest sense of that word – including age, gender, culture, approach) seen as an asset to be cultivated or a problem to managed? How do you, as a leader, address these issues to  ensure a respectful environment in your workplace? In 2012, the BC Government passed amendments to the Workers’ Compensation Act which specifically address bullying and harassment. This session will discuss experiences, solutions and legislation, including the amendments.

Panellists include:
Erica Pinsky: Respectful Workplace Solutions Expert
Shona Moore: Partner – Moore Edgar Lyster
Blair Herrebout, CPP, CPOI: Securiguard Services Ltd.
Fiona Easton: HR Manager – TELUS Diversity & Inclusiveness

4. Innovation and Social Change Panel
Moderated by: Kirsten Sutton: Managing Director – SAP Labs Canada

We are in an era where innovation and social change are critical to the success of every enterprise, whether in business, politics or the non-profit sector. We must now embrace vital new strategies, concepts, ideas and organizations that meet social needs of all kinds. Four engaging and knowledgeable speakers will share their expertise in innovation and social change.

Panelists include:
Joel Solomon: President & CEO – Renewal Foundation
David LePage: Team Manager – Enterprising Non-Profits
Jess Fraser: Co-Founder – Mobile Movement
Bryn Sadownik: Program Manager, Evaluation & Community Impact-Vancity Community Foundation

We are working to ensure that all efforts are being made to reduce our carbon footprint. Where possible we will be using recycled materials.

**Please note that some of the speakers listed may change without notice, but we will do our best to let you know in advance if possible.

For more information contact

Danna Murray, Program Director, Women Leading the Way™
Jo-Anne Lauzer, Program Coordinator, Women Leading the Way™
wlw@theminervafoundation.com
604-683-7635 ext 228

We would also like to acknowledge and thank our sponsors

Presenting Sponsor

Silver Sponsors

Board Chair, Kathryn Kolbuch, speaks on behalf of Minerva.

The Minerva Foundation for BC Women was proud to partner with Eileen Fisher for a day of shopping and fundraising at their South Granville store on Saturday, March 23.

The US-based retailer donated 10 percent of its Saturday sales to the Minerva Foundation with a grand total of $5,370 donated to Minerva!

A big thanks goes out to the whole team at Eileen Fisher and our volunteer photographer, Xel-hà Tapia Rivera, who took some great shots of the day.

We would also like to thank all the generous Vancouverites who came out in support of Minerva—you made the day a success!

See more of the day’s photos on our Facebook Page.

Eileen Fisher is known for its support of local communities. Learn about its new Women-Owned Business Grant program.

I’ve had the privilege of belonging to the Minerva community for almost 10 years, participating as an Emerging Leader in the 2003 Learning to Lead™ program and joining my first Learning to Lead™ organizing committee as a volunteer later that year.

While the Minerva Foundation has grown and developed immensely during these last 10 years, there is one thing that has remained unchanged… the quality of the people involved in this organization.

I have been consistently amazed and impressed by the high caliber of people we attract – intelligent, competent, dedicated and generous men and women.

It is due to our dedicated staff, volunteers and board members that we have been able to grow and expand, take measured risks and generate exceptional results.  They work hard to create opportunities and experiences for women they don’t know and might never meet.  Our donors and sponsors are to thank for believing in our vision and wanting to see the same changes in leadership that we are striving for.  And of course, our program participants and award recipients are consistently exceptional individuals, some more aware of their greatness than others, yet all growing closer to their full potential.

The people are what matters most at Minerva.  Whether you are a volunteer, staff member or participant – you define us, shape us and push us forward.

I am often asked what keeps me so involved and so committed to Minerva.  That’s an easy one.
Every day, I am surrounded by men and women who share my commitment to personal development and growth. People who believe in the potential of others and want to create a supportive community where women achieve their goals, no matter how bold they may seem.

What’s not to love?

After this, I went on a whirlwind of adventures. It started with being selected as one of Canada’s Top 20 Under 20, then being invited to Rideau Hall by the Prime Minister and Governor General for the celebration of exceptional Canadian youth.  I was chosen to present a gift to Prince William and Kate!

I’ve had life changing experiences, from speaking at women’s events to living in Sub-Saharan Africa as an 18 year old female. In Zambia, I was going for a business internship and faced the challenges of living in a significantly male dominated society. I was able to create gender equality workshops and women empowering presentations for the Zambian youth. I’m not going to lie, those three months weren’t a walk in the park, but it was so worth it. It was so worth it to fight back tears and stand up for injustice and let girls know that they are special and that they can change the world. It meant the world to me to hear these girls and boys tell me that I was a confident young woman who made them think differently about how to treat women. Simply asking “why” at presentations provoked thoughts and encouraged open discussion. Why are women less powerful then men? Why do women believe and follow the quote “if a man doesn’t beat you, a man doesn’t love you”? The heated debates between the Zambian youth and myself and our personal reflective moments were needed to shed light on the issue of gender inequality. Coming back to Canada made me appreciate the Minerva Foundation in a whole new way.

Minerva’s incredible support during my early ages made me realize my full potential. Recognition from Minerva of my leadership skills helped me realize my strengths and helped me have this uplifting amount of encouragement and empowerment towards my projects in my community and abroad. The amazing staff and what Minerva stands for has inspired me deeply. I could not thank Minerva enough for their acknowledgment and for allowing me to be one of their Ambassadors. Their first recognitions of my passion for helping people ignited something inside of me that has fuelled everything that I have worked hard for and will continue working for.

What’s next? I’ll be going to the Just Peace Summit in New York City in March as I have been chosen as a 2013 Three Dot Dash Global Teen Leader. Then, I’ll be leaving for India to continue what I started in Zambia. My next chapter is Project L.O.V.E (Letting Our Voices Empower), to spread the importance of gender equality by empowering girls, building schools, and much more!

To keep up with my journey, visit my website www.anoopvirk.com  and follow me on twitter, @anoopvirk.