Empowering Women's Career Aspirations: Breaking Barriers and Redefining Success Together

Investing in women's career aspirations leads to a generation of young women who follow in their footsteps. The motto "You can't be what you can't see" is one that resonates deeply with me. That's why I choose to be unapologetically myself, publicly acknowledging my flaws, mistakes, challenges, and successes as a single mother of two. People often ask me, "How do you do it?" or "Do you even sleep?" The truth is, I don't do it alone. I have a supportive community and a personal board of directors who help me along my journey.

One challenge I currently face is after-hours childcare. How do I catch a 7:00 am flight when I have my kids? What about weekend conferences? The struggle is real, and it can be expensive. Imagine if employers offered a bonus structure that helped offset childcare costs, so we don't have to constantly be burdened with raising a generation of thriving and mentally healthy children while striving in our careers. These are the conversations I want to have. We can't assume that everyone has family members who can help. We need to acknowledge that women continue to feel the pressure to do it all, be it all, and succeed. Yet, we still face criticism.

The glass ceiling is real, and it is reinforced by societal stereotypes that keep us running on a hamster wheel. At a recent event, I shared with a male executive the amount of guilt I feel when I leave my children. His response was surprising. He said, "Really? Still? Your kids are 3 and 6, and you've been traveling since they were born." He went on to share that the only time he felt guilt was on the first day he dropped off his son at daycare, and his son is now 20. I hear similar stories often. Meanwhile, I calculate the time I miss, book early or late flights to maximize my time, and sacrifice my sleep and enjoyment of visiting new cities to alleviate this tremendous guilt.

It's easy for others to say, "Don't feel guilty," but as mothers who have carried our children for nine months, it's not that simple. It doesn't get easier when our children cry or express how much they miss us. We know in our hearts that we are raising resilient, strong children, and we are their role models. But society makes us feel guilty with constant comments like, "Don't you get tired of traveling and leaving your kids?" or "No wonder she's separated, she chose her career over her marriage." We are constantly judged and questioned. We are either too much or not enough.

I've observed the conversations at conferences with my male colleagues, and they are different. This disparity exists because we value the contributions of men and women differently. Men feel the pressure to perform their best at work and make enough money, while women are burdened with trying to figure it all out if they want both career success and a fulfilling personal life. This creates resentment and an "us vs them" mentality.

Imagine a partnership mentality that supports us in our homes, workplaces, and social settings. Imagine removing the pressure to subscribe to societal roles that don't truly support our generation's lifestyle. We need a shared commitment. And for those who choose not to have children at all, they should not be labeled or questioned for their decisions.

It's time for a change. Let's create a world where women's career aspirations are valued and supported, where the pressure to conform to societal expectations is lifted, and where we can all thrive together.are paving the way to support the skilled trades in Canada.

In September 2023, I had the privilege of attending their Global Practices Forum in Ottawa. It was during this conference that I learned about a significant challenge faced by apprentices – the time off they must take to complete their studies. Apprentices have to go on Employment Insurance (EI) for 6-8 weeks, and for those of us who have been on the system before, we know it takes a few weeks to receive our first payment. This decision is incredibly difficult for individuals in today's economic landscape. Most of us are just one paycheck away from financial struggle, so giving up 4-5 steady paychecks is not taken lightly.

Immediately, I recognized that this was an issue we could address with the funding we received from UTIP. We swiftly made changes to our application, providing clear justification on how this would lead to greater retention in apprenticeship, supporting completion rates, and ensuring that our workforce does not have to make a difficult, life-changing sacrifice. The difference this change can make is quite significant – it's a short-term sacrifice for a long-term gain. Obtaining a Red Seal certification in a trade not only increases your salary but also allows you to train new apprentices, gives you a greater sense of purpose, and makes you highly marketable. Imagine if employers, government entities, and communities began to see the importance of increasing apprentices' wages to encourage them to complete their programs. The shortage of certified journey persons would undoubtedly decrease.

This connection, this "aha" moment, would not have been possible if I hadn't attended the conference. Six months later, I'm thrilled to share that we used that concept to help register 10 women as Industrial Mechanic Millwrights. Upon returning to attend the national conference for tradespeople, I had the opportunity to share the progress and innovative ideas we have launched with fellow attendees, exchanging best practices and creating synergies among our communities.

When it comes to addressing the talent shortage, increasing diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts, and improving completion rates, we must adopt a collective approach. It's about maximizing and leveraging each other's expertise, knowledge, research, and successful programs. It's an "all hands on deck" situation, where we embrace the contractor mindset and utilize the resources of various organizations, community partners, and professionals to build a stronger, richer, and more diverse workforce.

If you had the chance to attend the conference, I would love to connect and hear about your "aha" moment or any ideas you would like to discuss. After all, we need strong partnerships to ensure that no one gets left behind. Together, let's unlock opportunities for growth and collaboration.