I recently attended a dinner that included an intriguing homework assignment. Prior to the event, which was organized around the theme “Own Your Bold”, Femina Collective CEO Beth Borody asked all 36 attendees to come prepared to answer the question When was the last time you blew your mind and got crazy results?

The question spurred me to reflect on my career. As a woman, it’s not always easy to “Own Your Bold”—to acknowledge your accomplishments and share them proudly, without downplaying the outcomes. I realized that’s what made this exercise so meaningful. The question required me to identify my achievements, reflect on them, and share what I accomplished with a group of my peers.

My Bold Identity
Throughout my 35-year career, I have been recognized in three interconnected ways: as a champion of corporate governance, a catalyst for change, and a builder of community. As an award-winning entrepreneur and corporate director, I have always been fuelled by passion, constantly aiming to challenge expectations and encourage change in the business world. My leadership style is naturally bold. It’s characterized by acute business savvy and creative thinking—colleagues often refer to me as a “well of ideas”, always devising new solutions to tackle emerging issues.

My commitment to diversity and good governance originated from my early experiences in the boardroom, where I was frequently the only woman around the table. The longer I was a board director, the clearer it became to me that greater women’s representation on boards yields better business outcomes. That realization prompted several bold actions—actions that “blew my mind and got crazy results”.

Building the Dam
When I reflect on my career, I think about it as a dam. Early on, I noticed water wasn’t flowing where it should. Talented women weren’t getting access to the resources and support they needed to step into leadership positions, despite their numerous qualifications.

So, I decided to step in and correct the flow. I engineered new structures—a dam, if you will—that redirected the professional current, creating channels for women to gain power in the corporate landscape. Those structures are the organizations I built that have since grown into robust communities—Women Get On Board Inc. and Women Funding Women Inc. 

Founding Women Get On Board Inc. (WGOB)
In 2015, I founded Women Get On Board Inc. (WGOB), a social purpose company committed to elevating the next generation of women corporate directors. WGOB began as a Toronto-based entity, but over the past decade our small team has grown it into a company that is national in scope. WGOB cultivates community and elevates the voices of women leaders through education, mentorship, and allyship. Our mission to increase representation is often summarized as the “Power of Three”—one woman in the boardroom is a token, two is a presence, and three is a voice.

Addressing the Funding Gap with Women Funding Women Inc.
As an entrepreneur myself, I have long been aware of the persistent funding gap faced by Canadian women founders. To catalyze sustainable change in this neglected area, I founded Women Funding Women Inc. (WFW) with my co-founders, Sherry Shannon Vanstone and Lara Zink. Through a range of events and programs, WFW amplifies access to funding for women-led ventures, attracts Canadian women investors to the venture ecosystem, fosters collaboration, and empowers women entrepreneurs to develop effective and realistic funding strategies. 

Championing Sponsorship
Throughout my years advocating for women in business, I have become a champion for sponsorship as a tool for empowerment and advancement.

In my conversations with leaders—women and men—I always advise them to focus on sponsorship as a specific, transformative act of allyship to help more women acquire leadership roles, secure funding for their ventures, and obtain corporate board seats. While mentors can be helpful by providing guidance behind the scenes, sponsors advocate for women, speaking up on their behalf and putting their names forward for opportunities. 

Over the years, I have been fortunate to advance in the corporate world with the help of sponsors. I believe women leaders have a duty to elevate other women, using their influence, resources, and connections to help them succeed.

The Crazy Results: Impact and Recognition
My bold approach to corporate governance, sustainability, and inclusion has established me as a sought-after thought leader and speaker. As a seasoned board director, I take pleasure in sharing my 20-plus years of experience leading and serving on boards for the benefit of others, and I am proud to serve as a mentor, sponsor, and promoter of other women on their board journeys.

The success and impact of my efforts were recently recognized when I was humbled to receive The Icon Award from BMO in honour of 10 years of Women Get On Board Inc. The WGOB community I’ve built has become a crucial resource to connect, promote, and empower women to serve on corporate boards with confidence and courage. I’ve been told that the secret to our success is rooted in my authenticity and collaborative nature, which have rallied a network of women and allies around a shared mission to reach gender parity in the boardroom.

By leveraging my entrepreneurial passion and commitment to challenging expectations, I was able to identify a need and boldly create ecosystems to address it. That’s my “Own Your Bold” story. Fundamentally, it has been made possible by my broad range of expertise and relentless commitment to helping women connect, grow, and ultimately, find their place in positions of power and influence.