National Women in Leadership Day - Victoria Chapter

Join us as we celebrate the inaugural national Women in Leadership Day on May 31. Hear from three phenomenal speakers about their leadership journey and meet other inspiring, empowering local leaders over delicious snacks. We hope to see you there!

Speakers include Jessica Craig, Christina Compton, Virginia Holden and Sage Lacerte

Speaker Bio:

Jessica Craig , M&A Advisor, Pacific Mergers and Acquisitions Inc

Jessica Craig is an M&A Advisor with Pacific Mergers and Acquisitions Inc. She guides her clients through the process of selling their companies. From valuation to close, she provides support and advice to ensure a successful exit. Jessica holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of Victoria and she is on the board of directors for the Canadian Chapter of the International Business Brokers Association and the Victoria Chapter of the Women in Leadership Foundation. She is passionate about helping women advance in their careers and build businesses they can sell. 

Christina Compton, Founder, GIRLBOSS UVic

Christina Compton (she/her) is a third year Commerce student from the University of Victoria. She is the president of the UVic Commerce Students Society, and the founder and President of GIRLBOSS UVic. GIRLBOSS's mission is to empower students from intersections less represented in modern business environments, and facilitate connections with diverse community members. Christina also does marketing work for the Victoria Dragon Boat Festival, and is a Sales and Marketing Intern for a Toronto-based fashion start-up. In her personal life, Christina enjoys exploring new beaches, reworking thrifted clothing, and traveling. Her next adventure will be an exchange to Chile in July!

Virginia Holden, Executive Director, Greater Victoria Housing Society

Virginia Holden joined the Greater Victoria Housing Society in May 2021.  Previously she spent 15 years working for the BC provincial government in various leadership positions dedicated to affordable housing development and policy, community engagement, and land use planning.  During that time, she played key roles in the development of three provincial housing strategies, including HousingMattersBC and Homes for BC: 30 Point Plan, as well as community homelessness and encampment responses. She also established her own consulting practice to provide strategy and community engagement services to housing not for profit organizations.  Virginia is a registered professional planner and holds certification with the International Association in Public Participation (IAP2). She is also a committed community volunteer having served as a member of the District of Oak Bay Advisory Planning Commission and several non-profit boards. She and her husband are raising two active sons on the territory of the Lekwungen people known today as the Esquimalt and Songhees Nations.

Sage Lacerte

Bio to follow

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Women in Leadership Day 2023

Wednesday, May 31, 2023 Proclamation

Annually – the last Wednesday in May, WIL Wednesday

Join Us to Be Part of the Change

Established in 2001, the Women in Leadership Foundation (WIL) is a national, non-profit organization committed to creating a platform to promote diverse & inclusive workplaces. WIL offers deep expertise in creating impactful programs and content to raise awareness and drive tangible result for our community (176,000+, 7 chapters). We help all women across Canada to have the confidence and opportunities to pursue positions of leadership and help employers hire, grow, and support a diverse workforce.

As we celebrate our 22nd year, we invite you to join us on May 31, 2023 to show your support for advancing women in leadership, share your story, showcase your leaders, and highlight your commitment to build on your diversity, equity, and inclusion leadership to promote healthy workplaces. We are honoured to work with WIL Champions from across Canada committed to making a positive difference. WIL is about working together to get there.

In the next three years, more than 20% of the Canadian workforce is eligible to retire, nearly double the amount in the previous five years (Rubin, 2022). Attracting, recruiting, and retaining underrepresented groups will become vital to fill the workforce gap. Employees are demanding a more supportive, inclusive workplace, “which is what the next generation of employees — and especially younger women—want and expect.” (Women in the Workplace Report, page 15).

We hope you will be part of the change. We aim to transform workplaces by accelerating change with employers building or amending policies and procedures to support more women applying for leadership and decision-making positions through the Bridge to Gender Equality Project. The Women in Leadership Foundation acknowledges the financial support provided by Women and Gender Equality Canada for the Bridge to Gender Equality Project. Through the project, we have created a Women in Leadership Policy and Toolkit and are holding information sessions in Spring 2023 to engage employers and stakeholders to transform workplaces, shift mindsets, and empower women.

Join us to be part of the change and we will see you at one of our chapter locations: Victoria, Vancouver, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Toronto, Ottawa, and Montreal.

Sincerely,

Maya Kanigan, BComm.

Founder & President, Women in Leadership Foundation