International Women's Day prompts us to reflect on the progress made in achieving greater gender balance within organizations and among leaders, while also acknowledging the journey ahead.
At KBRS, we're dedicated to supporting practices that promote diversity and challenge biases – both in our work as talent advisors and in the way we continue to grow as an organization. We are proud to be an organization where women are strongly represented at all levels, including three of our four Managing Partners.
In honour of International Women's Day, we've asked a few team members to share their insights on gender diversity in the workplace and the lessons learned in their career.
How does gender diversity in the workplace influence the success of teams or organizations?
"Research proves that gender diversity improves organizational performance. Decisions informed by diverse perspectives are more likely to ensure resonance and appeal to a broader range of clients and teammates. Gender diversity, and diversity more broadly, reinforces and strengthens organizational creativity, adaptability, and engagement as employees and clients alike see that their voices and perspectives are represented and truly valued within your organization."
– Natalie Hand, Managing Partner, KBRS
"Gender diversity is essential in business. For way too many years, men ran the majority of businesses. This resulted in a narrow perspective and severely limited diversity of thought. This one-dimensional approach to business prevented organizations from experiencing the creativity, sensitivity, and compassion that responsible employers need to embody to reach their potential."
– Kevin Stoddart, Managing Partner, KBRS
"When teams and organizations embrace gender diversity, the diversity of thought, experiences, and talents is expanded, driving innovation and excellence. We know gender diversity leads to higher employee engagement and retention levels, leading to a stronger bottom line. Overall, gender diversity isn't just a moral imperative—it's a strategic advantage."
– Janice Tanner Ernst, Senior HR Consultant, KBRS
What advice would you offer women aspiring to leadership roles?
"Values matter in leadership. As you are working towards the role you want, think about why you want it. If it is only because it is the next rung on the ladder you plan to climb, you will likely struggle with well-being, balance, and finding joy in your life. Being a leader is hard, especially during times of disruption, so making sure that you find purpose in your work is essential to being successful in any role. My advice is to ask yourself what is important to you and why, and then assess any future roles in terms of alignment with your sense of purpose and values. Then, even if your work is hard at times, you will still have a core sense of fulfillment in putting the work in. Women face more barriers to career progression, which means that having aligned values with your organization and the work you have to do in your role are even more important."
– Jennifer Massey, Partner, KBRS
"Be confident in your unique talents. Everyone brings different strengths to the leadership table. Focus on your strengths and what makes you uniquely well-positioned to lead, not on your gaps – all leaders have gaps. Successful leaders focus on their strengths and build a team around them with the strengths they are missing."
– Katherine Frank, Partner, KBRS
"Treat tomorrow like it’s day one of your career. Remember to stand strong in who you are and the value you offer. Work hard and treat people well, and the road will lead you in the right direction."
– Heather Labucki, Partner, Meridia
"Embrace your authenticity as your unique personality is an asset that can greatly influence culture and the people around you. You cannot be duplicated! Leadership is about so much more than titles. Seek opportunities to lead in your current roles, whether it’s spearheading projects, participating in mentorship programs, or championing initiatives. Don’t be discouraged by perceived gaps in your knowledge or skills – view every experience as a valuable lesson that contributes to your growth and development as a leader. Make sure you celebrate your achievements – recognize your wins and take pride in your accomplishments."
– Camilla Quaglia, Executive Recruiter
What is one piece of advice you wish someone had given you at the start of your career?
"Choose the organization and the leaders you will work for as carefully as you choose your roles. It’s taken me time to learn that the same job title at different places can be wildly different roles. A job description might even look aligned with what you want, but your career path and satisfaction at work are often impacted more by the people you work for, and with."
– Jennifer Massey, Partner, KBRS
“You can have it all, but you can’t have it all right now.” This is a piece of advice someone gave me not too long ago when I was feeling like I needed to quickly check off as many accomplishments as I possibly could. Those words lifted the burden of an unrealistic expectation I had put on myself and that I think many of us put on ourselves when we were younger. Most of us will have long careers, and there is a lot of time on that career continuum to achieve things at a reasonable pace."
– Katherine Risley, Managing Partner, KBRS
"To write down my successes and contributions made to the workplace from the very start, and be ready to speak to them. It is not “showing off" to bring attention to your greatness and to the positive impact that you have! Your uniqueness is what makes you an extremely valuable asset. Your career path is your own and you can set the pace. but be intentional in goal setting and making plans toward achieving your goals."
– Daniella Sam, Executive Recruiter, KBRS
"Like many women, in pursuit of ‘perfection’ in work early on, I often felt that failures were a sign of inadequacy and let their sting linger. Now I look back at all of those ‘failures’ as valuable experiences that give me the benefit of perspective to inform future decisions. I wish someone had been able to convince me then that every failure, setback, and tough piece of feedback was not a sign of deficiency, but rather would serve as powerful building blocks for growth and success."
– Andrea Forbes Hurley, Managing Partner, KBRS
