I wouldn’t be where I am today without the people who went out of their way to support my career. It began with my father, who encouraged me to believe I could follow in his footsteps and succeed in business. Then, there were the mentors and sponsors who advocated for me during the early stages of my career as a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA), speaking up on my behalf and opening doors to new opportunities.

Finally, there were the colleagues who supported my journey to my first corporate board seat. When I joined my first board in 1999, it was uncommon to see a woman at the table. What helped me break the status quo was a mix of my persistence and the support of those dedicated to elevating women leaders.

In the realm of professional and social networks, to elevate someone goes beyond mere teamwork. It involves empowering and supporting those whose voices are often marginalized. Board executive and DEI advocate Gavriella Schuster includes the word elevate in ALLIES, her acronym that summarizes the core behaviours of an ally (click here to read the full explanation on the WGOB blog). Inspired by her concept, I chose the last three letters of the acronym—Include, Elevate, Sponsor—as my guiding principles for my decisions and actions this year.

I know from experience that elevation is an essential behaviour of an ally. It is the crucial process of raising awareness, amplifying voices, and expanding the presence and influence of marginalized individuals or groups.

Elevating voices that were once marginalized is vital for building inclusive spaces where everyone can thrive and fully engage. That’s why I have dedicated the third chapter of my career to supporting others.

Ten years ago, I founded Women Get On Board Inc. (WGOB) to achieve exactly that. We established WGOB as a social purpose company committed to fostering the next generation of women corporate directors. Through our events and programs, we fulfill our mission to connect, promote, and empower women to serve on corporate boards with confidence and courage.

Since our founding in 2015, WGOB’s influence has expanded. Our efforts have helped thousands of women enhance their board knowledge, broaden their networks, refine their board resumes, prepare for interviews, and develop their leadership skills. Most importantly, hundreds of our members have been appointed to boards, with many advancing to committee chair, vice-chair, and chair positions. 

It’s more common than before to see a woman in the boardroom. It’s becoming increasingly usual to see two, three, or even more women. According to Osler’s 2024 Diversity Disclosure Practice Report, 29.8% of TSX-listed companies now have at least one woman on their board.

While we can hardly claim full credit for this achievement ourselves, my team and I are proud to be part of the movement to increase the number of women on boards. I always say that we believe in the power of three: one woman in the boardroom is a token, two is a presence, and three is a voice. 

As WGOB celebrates 10 years of getting more women on boards, I want to share what I’ve learned about elevating others throughout my career. Here’s how allies can do their part to elevate new voices in their personal and professional spheres.

Raising Awareness

The first step is awareness. Pay attention to the dynamics in your workplace or wider community and recognize who might not be heard or seen within the group. Awareness involves understanding the diverse range of backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives present in a company, organization, or community. By actively seeking out underrepresented voices, allies can ensure that everyone receives the recognition they deserve and has the opportunity to express themselves.

Amplifying Voices

Once awareness is established, the next vital step is amplification. Allies offer a platform to uplift marginalized voices, giving them the attention they need and deserve. Amplification can involve providing speaking opportunities, offering public endorsements, sharing successes, or showcasing contributions that might otherwise go unnoticed. Remember, it’s not just about increasing the volume; it’s about making sure that news of your colleagues’ achievements reaches a wider, more influential audience.

Throughout my career, I have been fortunate that others have been willing to elevate my ideas. Allies, supporters, and friends have amplified my thought leadership by inviting me to speak at their events and conferences, welcoming me as a podcast guest, connecting me to key decision-makers in their network, and publishing my writing.

I am especially thankful to Adrianne Fekete for the opportunity to contribute regularly to I Am Unbreakable Magazine, her publication that offers a platform for women’s voices, perspectives, experiences, and achievements.

You can read my last article in I Am Unbreakable Magazine® here, or peruse my previous work below.

The Transformative Power of Giving
Accelerating Your Career with the Power of Mentorship
Connection Is a Powerful Force
Beyond the Facade
Mastering the Art of Boardroom Leadership
Breaking Into Corporate Boardrooms

I was also honoured to be recognized this year as one of CEO Magazine’s Top 50 Women Over 50, a list that provides visibility for women making significant impacts in their fields. I felt privileged to be included among them and to be elevated in this way.

Enhancing Presence and Influence

Actual elevation goes beyond what is visible. As a next step, allies should focus on actively strengthening the presence and influence of marginalized individuals. Offer resources, mentorship, and opportunities for leadership roles, giving these colleagues chances to build their reputations and networks within their field. In doing so, you’ll not only empower others to assert their influence, but you will also enrich your company, organization, or larger community with the benefits of diverse perspectives and leadership styles.

At Women Get On Board, we enhance the presence of our members by promoting their board appointments. When a WGOB member secures a board seat, we share it on our social media channels and add their name to our website listing. By sharing this news with our network—which includes many leaders in boardrooms and corporate executives—we can increase the visibility and influence of women in our community. 

Empowering and Supporting Others

Empowerment and support are essential to success. To provide adequate support and empower others as an ally, focus on creating a network where every member feels valued and has the tools to succeed. As an ally, ensure that you build trust, offer opportunities for skill development, and encourage teamwork. 

Support systems are like feedback loops—when you provide ongoing learning opportunities and accessible resources, everyone can thrive. If you’re successful, you will inspire people to give back to the networks that supported them, paying it forward to the next generation.

We observe this effect in the WGOB Mentorship Program. WGOB launched the program in 2021 to support women in their board journeys through guided mentoring, peer networking, and interactive working sessions. Since then, five cohorts of women have completed the program, and many alumni have gone on to lead and serve on corporate boards. 

The program’s impact has exceeded my expectations. It has not only fostered a thriving community of women board members who support and uplift one another, but we’ve also seen many former mentees choose to give back by mentoring other women, either formally or informally. 

Impact on the Community

When you commit to uplifting others, the advantages are substantial. Allies who support marginalized voices foster a lively community where diversity is not only embraced but also honoured. Research indicates that when more voices are present at the table, it results in greater innovation and more effective decision-making. And that’s just the beginning. I’ve seen firsthand how allyship improves collaboration, boosts morale, and enhances collective dedication to shared goals—inside the boardroom and beyond. 

Elevation should be regarded as a vital tool in your allyship toolkit. By raising awareness, amplifying voices, increasing visibility, and offering ongoing support, allies can help ensure that marginalized people gain greater visibility and influence, paving the way for a future where everyone has the opportunity to thrive. Through these actions, we elevate not only individuals but the entire community, nurturing an environment of growth, solidarity, and collective success.