Leader Talks with Anne-Marie Pham powered by CCDI – Détails, épisodes et analyse

Happy International Youth Day! Today, we celebrate the power and potential of young people to shape a more inclusive and vibrant future. Our latest episode of the Leader Talks with Anne-Marie Pham podcast features Kevin Lawler and Rowan O’Grady from the Whiteboard Collective (WBC), who are passionately working to ensure that young people from all backgrounds have access to meaningful job opportunities. 

In this special episode, Kevin and Rowan share their inspiring vision for a society where youth are not only included but empowered to thrive. WBC is a social impact career accelerator dedicated to breaking down barriers and creating sustainable employment outcomes for marginalized communities across Canada.

Tune in as they discuss innovative career programs and their collaborative efforts with corporate partners to rethink talent acquisition and foster a more equitable society. Whether you're a young professional, an advocate, or an employer, this conversation is packed with practical advice on how to make a real impact.

Join us in amplifying the voices of young changemakers today!

Key Points From This Episode:

• Insight into our guests’ professional backgrounds and the important work they do at WBC.
• Unpacking WBC’s vision and their innovative career programs that make it a reality.
• Ways that WBC works with their corporate partners to promote sustainable employment.
• The mindset shift required to view diversity as an asset to your organization, not a liability.
• Challenges that employers face when admitting they have a diversity problem.
• Careers driving social impact: what goes into putting WBC’s tagline into practice.
• Inspiring examples of young candidates who have thrived through their programs.
• What an ideal partnership looks like for WBC, and how you can support their mission.
• How WBC is collaborating with CCDI’s See Different youth education initiative.
• Actionable advice for employers looking to improve their DEI outcomes.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

• Whiteboard Collective
• Whiteboard Collective on LinkedIn
• Whiteboard Collective on Instagram
• Kevin Lawler on LinkedIn
• Rowan O’Grady on LinkedIn
• Pinball Clemons Foundations
• CCDI ‘See Different’ Youth Education Initiative
• Canadian Certified Inclusion Professional (CCIP) Certification
• Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion (CCDI)
• Leader Talks with Anne-Marie Pham

Episode 6: Show Notes

This summer, with Canada's natural beauty on full display, we acknowledge and express gratitude towards the original caretakers of this land. Today, we honour them here on the Leader Talks Podcast and reflect on our journey of learning and unlearning for progress. Committed to truth and reconciliation, we've partnered with many like-minded organizations, including the very impressive Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Alberta (APEGA). 

In today's new episode, we are joined by Mohamed El Daly, Director of Outreach and Product Services at APEGA. Mohamed shares insights into the company's work and his role. We discuss APEGA's evolution, the social and business imperatives for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), and the importance of cultural awareness and cultural competence in Mohamed's work. Additionally, we explore the organization's commitment to improving representation of women and using research to uplift communities. You will also get a glimpse of other regulatory bodies excelling in DEI and reconciliation. Plus, Mohamed shares helpful tips for integrating DEI into your communities!

Available at your preferred podcast platform now, or visit: https://ccdi.ca/podcast/


Key Points From This Episode:

• Welcoming Mohamed El Daly as he describes APEGA and his role at the company.
• APEGA's social and business imperatives for EDI and how these have recently evolved.
• The importance of cultural awareness and cultural competence in Mohamed's work. 
• Why his role as Director of Outreach matters and how he instigates impactful change.
• Exploring APEGA's multi-year commitment to increase its representation of women. 
• Why the company values research and uses it to improve workspaces and communities. 
• APEGA's five-year plan, and how it aims to achieve its goals. 
• Mohamed's observations of other regulatory bodies that are doing similar great work.
• Our guest's simple strategies for improving EDI in your workplace and community.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: 

• Mohamed El Daly on LinkedIn
• Mohamed El Daly on X
• APEGA
• CCDI Awards of Success 
• Engineers Canada
• Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion
• Leader Talks with Anne-Marie Pham

Today, we’d like to celebrate the incredible work being done in our country to promote and fight for gender-based health equity. However, this work is far from finished and there is still so much more to do. For instance, Canada is 30th out of 146 countries when it comes to the global gender gap index. While this statistic may not seem immediately harrowing, it still highlights the persistent and systemic barriers against gender equity in the country that require immediate correction. Joining us today are two big players in the fight for gender-based health equity in Canada, Mike Casia and Sharlene Rutherford. Mike is the president and MD of Organon Canada, a global healthcare company focused on women’s health that works very closely with Sharlene and her organizations, the Alberta Women’s Health Foundation and the Women’s Health Collective Canada, which are centred around the same concerns. Our conversation tackles gender equity and health, why women’s health cannot be ignored, the consequences of villainizing conversations around women’s health, and the common health inequalities that are prevalent in Canada today. Mike and Sharlene also graciously explain the great work that their organizations are doing, the various partnerships that they’re involved in to drive the gender-based health movement forward, and what employers and everyday citizens can do to support gender and health equality, plus so much more!

Key Points From This Episode:

• Introducing Mike and Sharlene and today’s topic: Gender Equity and Health.
• How and why Sharlene became so passionate about gender equality and health equity. 
• Why Mike chose to be a leader in the fight for women’s health. 
• Where health fits into the gender equality conversation, and why it matters. 
• The consequences of making women’s issues taboo. 
• Taking a closer look at the common health inequities that women in Canada face. 
• Why women’s health needs to be normalized and become part of our everyday speech.
• The work that Mike and Sharlene’s organizations are doing to promote health equity.
• What employers and the general public can do to support gender and health equality. 

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Mike Casia on LinkedIn 

Sharlene Rutherford on LinkedIn

Organon Canada  

Royal Alexandra Hospital Foundation 

Alberta Women’s Health Foundation 

Women’s Health Collective Canada

‘Global Gender Gap Report 2023’ 

‘Surveying the Silence’

Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion

Leader Talks with Anne-Marie Pham

Today, we are joined by thought leader and truth and reconciliation program facilitator Salena Starling, who is also the co-owner and president of Community of Big Hearts. Salena has personally been through Canada’s foster care system and, in this episode, she opens up about her journey. We discover how and why the foster care system disproportionately affects Indigenous youth and what needs to change to break stereotypes and address intergenerational trauma. Salena’s story illustrates the implicit challenges that Indigenous youths are born into and what can be done to support reconciliation efforts. Our guest is an exception, having made it out of the system as a healthy, successful individual. Tune in to hear about her efforts to break the cycle and what the rest of us can do to facilitate change.

Key Points From This Episode: 

• Introducing Salena Starling, President and Co-Owner of Community of Big Hearts.
• Salena shares her personal connection to Canada's child welfare system and its challenges.
• How and why the foster care system disproportionately affects Indigenous youth.
• The importance of reconciliation efforts to address intergenerational trauma.
• A reminder that the ‘60s scoop’ didn’t end in the 60s.
• What reconciliation involves and what needs to be done to support reconciliation efforts.
• The stereotype cycle affecting Indigenous people; what Salena is doing to break harmful stereotypes.
• Why it’s important to create safe spaces promoting dialogue and understanding.
• The role parents play in shaping their children's attitudes toward diversity and reconciliation.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Salena Starling on LinkedIn

Community of Big Hearts

CanU Canada

Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion

Leader Talks with Anne-Marie Pham

Self-care refers to the intentional activities and practices that individuals engage in to nurture their physical, mental, and emotional health. Joining us today to help us understand the importance of self-care is Psychologist and Human Resources Consultant at Invictus Psychology and Consulting, Zuraida Dada. Zuraida is a seasoned psychologist specializing in adult individual therapy. She is known for her ability to create a warm, safe environment and provide empathetic, solution-focused care. Her main objective is to aid clients in reconnecting with themselves, strengthening their resilience, and enhancing their coping strategies. In our conversation, we uncover the importance of self-care through the lens of her personal and professional experiences. We unpack the negative stigmas of mental health, the value of psychoeducation, her positive psychology approach, and the causes of mental health issues. We also talk about safe places and the role of supervisors in mental health and hear invaluable advice on creating healthy work environments. Tune in now!

Key Points From This Episode:

• Zuraida’s experience growing up in Apartheid South Africa.
• What sparked her initial interest in psychology.
• The state of mental health in Canada.
• Common misconceptions and stigmas regarding mental health.
• Zuraida shares her own mental health struggles.
• Separating the condition from the personality.
• Contributing factors to mental health conditions.
• How to create a safe and mentally healthy workplace.
• Advice for supervisors to create a healthy work environment.
• Providing effective support for employees.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Zuraida Dada on LinkedIn

Invictus Psychology and Consulting

The Canadian Psychological Association

The Mental Health Commission of Canada

International Self-Care Day (ISD)

Dr. Diane McIntosh

This Is Depression

Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion

Leader Talks with Anne-Marie Pham

Today's guest is Kai Scott, and he is here to share his experience and expertise on the subject of pronouns and inclusive language. Kai is the President and Gender Strategist at TransFocus Consulting and has a great amount of insight into diversity in the workplace, with a focus on guiding thoughtful, respectful, and impactful conversations. In our chat, we get into some of the crucial areas of this discussion, including how to respond and react to mistakes, necessary nuances, creating safer workplaces, and more. Kai also unpacks the roots of TransFocus and a little of his career history and grounding in social science. So if you would like some fresh illumination on this important aspect of diversity and inclusion, how to be a better ally, and the ways in which we can all support change within companies, be sure to tune in! 

Key Points From This Episode:

• Kai takes us through the personal journey that led him to where he is today.
• An explanation of pronouns and why they are so important. 
• Examples of pronoun usage in the workplace.
• Advice for how to approach fruitful conversations regarding gender diversity.  
• Thoughtfulness and nuance in conversations. 
• Kai talks about how employers can create safer workplaces.  
• How to react to the mistakes we all inevitably make and assumptions around damage. 
• Where to find Kai online and learn more about TransFocus and their work!

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

• Reliance Home Comfort
• Kai Scott on LinkedIn
• TransFocus Consulting 
• TransFocus on LinkedIn
• The Surprisingly Simple Way to Transcend Differences About Gender TEDx Talk
• Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion
• Leader Talks with Anne-Marie Pham

In Canadian workplaces, many Asians are forced to grapple with the bamboo ceiling, which is a term that is used to describe how their growth and success within their organizations is hindered because of their ethnicity. Moreover, other harmful stereotypes (like calling Asians the “model minority”) mean that there is still much work to be done for Asians to feel completely welcome in their communities. We continue to highlight extraordinary individuals this Asian Heritage Month, and today’s guest is a stellar example of using strength, determination, and resilience to overcome issues of racism, sexism, and Islamophobia. Introducing Sania Chaudhry, an Employment, Labour, and Human Rights Lawyer and a passionate champion for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). Sania joins us today to discuss how DEI work became her life’s focus, how to push through the bamboo ceiling, why the model minority is a damaging stereotype, and how marginalized people can speak for themselves in environments that discourage them to do so. We also explore the role of allies in the workplace, how to diversify the leadership prototype, why colonialism remains ever-present, and so much more!  

Key Points From This Episode:

• A warm welcome to Employment, Labour and Human Rights Lawyer, Sania Chaudhry.
• Sania’s professional background and why diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) matters to her. 
• Her perception of the bamboo ceiling and examples of how she’s been marginalized at work. 
• The myth of the model minority and why this is a harmful stereotype.
• What employers and workplaces need to do to address the bamboo ceiling problem. 
• How marginalized people can speak up for themselves in uncomfortable environments. 
• Redefining and diversifying the prototype of leadership.
• Making work activities accessible and enjoyable for all employees.
• How colonialism still affects Asians today. 
• Ways that Sania brings forth her concerns at work amid the risk of reprisal. 

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

•  Sania Chaudhry on LinkedIn 
• Forte Workplace Law
• University of Calgary 
• Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion
• Leader Talks with Anne-Marie Pham

We are thrilled to welcome Brittany Gataveckas to the show as she helps us better understand Canada’s new 50-30 challenge. Brittany is the Manager of Social Sustainability at the UN Global Compact Network Canada, and her expertise as a project design and implantation specialist is critical in her work of helping Canadian organizations advance their gender equality, diversity, and inclusion. In our conversation, Brittany gives us a clear understanding of Canada’s 50-30 challenge and how this work could be a defining factor in improving human rights in Canadian workplaces. We discuss the role of the UN Global Compact Network Canada and other ecosystem partners in the government-led movement, the potential learning paths for participants of the challenge, how to join the 50-30 challenge, and everything you need to know before signing up. And if you are feeling overwhelmed by your involvement in the challenge, Brittany reminds us that it’s okay to start small, as long as you stay committed! 

Key Points From This Episode:

• Introducing today’s guest, the Manager of Social Sustainability at the UN Global Compact Network Canada (UNGCNC), Brittany Gataveckas. 
• Brittany’s background, and more information on her company and her current role. 
• How her work encompasses diversity, equity, and inclusion. 
• The Canadian government’s 50-30 challenge and its merits on addressing human rights.  
• Taking a look at the ecosystem partners of the 50-30 challenge, including the UNGCNC.
• What’s being offered in the 50-30 challenge and the potential learning paths for participants.
• The steps that employers can take to join the 50-30 challenge. 
• Some things for businesses to consider before embarking on the 50-30 challenge. 
• A reminder that it’s okay to start small, as long as you stay committed to the cause! 

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Brittany Gataveckas on LinkedIn

UN Global Compact Network Canada 

S. Sutton & Associates Inc.

The 50-30 Challenge: Your Diversity Advantage

Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion

Leader Talks with Anne-Marie Pham

Women have been undervalued in the workplace for almost a century and a half! Today on the Leader Talks Podcast we are celebrating International Women’s Day with the incredible Kadie Ward to discuss gender inequality in the workplace. This episode is packed with some amazing insights into how women have been undervalued in work over the years, why legislation is essential in closing the gender wage gap, how gender diversity, equity, and inclusion create economic prosperity, and so much more! Kadie even shares some tools for how to make a difference in these issues and tells us how we can play a role in her vision for an inclusive Canada. To hear all this and more, tune in now!

Key Points From This Episode:

• Introducing today’s guest, Kadie Ward. 
• A brief overview of Kadie’s illustrious career and the awards she’s received.
• Kadie tells us why the need for equality to achieve prosperity keeps her so engaged in work.
• A history of women in the workplace, how they’ve been undervalued, and how it’s changed. 
• How legislation is closing the gender wage gap faster than human rights. 
• What the economic value proposition of gender diversity is and its economic impacts. 
• Some examples of what we need to do to close the pay gap and some tools we can use.
• Kadie shares her vision for an inclusive Canada and what role we can play in it. 

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Kadie Ward on LinkedIn
Kadie Ward on Twitter
Kadie Ward on Facebook
Pay Equity Solution for Small Businesses Toolkit
Level Playing Field Series
Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion
Leader Talks with Anne-Marie Pham

When it comes to women in engineering, Canada’s numbers are surprisingly low. They are substantially outperformed by countries like Panama and Colombia, both of which have near parity when it comes to the ratio of women to men in engineering (despite having to contend with far greater levels of instability than Canada).

Our guest today, Claudia Gomez-Villeneuve, is uniquely qualified to talk on the topic of women in engineering in Canada, having emigrated from Colombia during her studies and overcoming tremendous barriers to entry in the process. She is also the co-founder, Principal, and two times Chair of the Women in Engineering Summit (WES), a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting the 30 by 30 Initiative by Engineers Canada.

In our conversation with Claudia, we unpack Canada’s low enrollment rates, how it varies across the country, and what can be done about it. We discuss the various systemic issues that cause so many women to leave the field of engineering, the major obstacles Claudia has faced in her career, and how she had to fight to overcome them. Claudia also shares her tips for women struggling to navigate their engineering careers and offers sage advice to workplaces on how they can ensure the retention of their female workers. The world needs engineers, and now more than ever, it needs the unique perspective that female engineers have to offer.

Tune in for this inspiring conversation, where we break down the systemic issues within the field of science and engineering, and the important work people are doing to change it!

Key Points From This Episode:

• The importance of removing systemic barriers to women entering the field of engineering, and giving them a fair chance to succeed.
• Claudia provides a breakdown of the seven key obstacles she faced in her career and her studies, and how she had to work around them.
• Understanding how obstacles force many women to leave the field of engineering.
• Claudia’s thoughts on the systemic issues that resulted in her pay being lower than her male counterparts and not being considered for management positions.
• Why needing to negotiate for your salary is an unreasonable expectation for workers.
• The networking that happens outside of work and how it excludes women, immigrants, and anyone who doesn’t have a close friendship with higher-level executives.
• Learn about the 30 by 30 initiative and its specific targets for increasing the number of women in the field of engineering by 2030. 
• The percentage of women in Canada who pursue engineering and its low enrollment rates compared to many other countries.
• Examples of areas in Canada where enrollment rates have improved considerably thanks to grassroots campaigns.
• Claudia’s tips on how to change your salary, find flexible work opportunities, and thrive in the workplace as a woman.
• Claudia’s advice for workplaces on how to support women in engineering.
• The Women in Engineering Summit in 2023 and how women can sign up.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Claudia Gomez-Villeneuve

Claudia Gomez-Villeneuve on LinkedIn

Women in Engineering Summit

Enbridge Inc

Engineers Canada

30 by 30 Conference

30 by 30 Virtual Conference

Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion

Leader Talks with Anne-Marie Pham