As the year draws to a close, it’s time to engage in one of my favourite annual traditions: #My3words. I am happy to share my three words for 2025 are include, elevate, and sponsor.

After reading about the idea from Chris Brogan in 2015, I began selecting three words each December to guide my choices and actions throughout the upcoming year. Since then, my three words have served as guideposts on my path, helping me to keep my goals and values at the forefront of everything I do. Practicing this tradition for more than a decade has taught me to focus on what matters—and let go of what does not.

This year, my three words were once again inspired by Gavriella Schuster, Board Executive and DEI Advocate. When she joined us as a guest speaker at a Women Get On Board Inc. virtual session on allyship back in 2023, her powerful discussion galvanized me, igniting my desire to do even more to support the next generation of women in business. 

As part of the session, Gavriella introduced the acronym ALLIES to describe the core behaviours of an ally. Last December, I chose the first three letters as my three words for 2024, guided by her framework. To learn more, I encourage you to read last year’s blog post.

This year, I have chosen the last three letters of the acronym and their meanings as my three words: Include, Elevate, Sponsor. 

Here is what my three words for 2025 mean to me:

Include: Recognize when someone may have been inadvertently excluded and take steps to include them (if they wish to be included).

In the context of ALLIES, include refers to the act of welcoming and integrating individuals or groups into a community, activity, or organization. It emphasizes creating an environment where everyone feels valued and accepted, regardless of their background, identity, or differences. Inclusion is a fundamental aspect of building and maintaining supportive and harmonious alliances.

Elevate: Provide opportunities for others to be more visible where possible. Empower and support others to ensure they can thrive and fully participate within the alliance.

In the context of ALLIES, elevate describes the process of raising awareness, amplifying voices, or enhancing the presence and influence of individuals or groups that the alliance supports.

Sponsor: Once you get to know someone well, put your own credibility on the line to open doors for them.

In the context of ALLIES, a sponsor is someone who supports and advocates for an individual or group within the alliance. In essence, a sponsor is a champion for others, leveraging their own influence, resources, and connections to help allies thrive and succeed.

Why not select your own three words this year? Over the past decade, I’ve discovered that this exercise influences my actions and keeps me on track towards my goals. This year, they will guide me as I endeavor to become a stronger ally in my personal and professional lives.

My three words over the last 10 years:

2024: Advocate, Listen, Lift
2023: Elevate, Innovate, Sustain
2022: Light, Lift, Laugh
2021: Reach, Shine, Connect
2020: Energize, Elevate, Empower
2019: Breathe, Build, Empower
2018: Connect, Cultivate, Communicate
2017: Shine, Nurture, Grow
2016: Leverage, Focus, Empower
2015: Inspire, Breathe, Build