Powerful quotes from Canada’s premier gender equity and DEI conference
On 7 October 2024, over 650 HR, DEI, and business leaders gathered in Toronto for Catalyst Honours to discuss some of the most critical issues facing women in the workplace today. Featuring over six hours of programming and more than 130 companies in attendance, the event inspired participants and provided tools to foster more inclusive workplaces. Here are some of the highlights.
“We have an opportunity and I think we have a responsibility, quite frankly, to look to young people who are coming into our businesses now because they are the ones that are going to really drive the change next.” – Shaina Riley, Partner Growth Lead & Lead Black Googler Network, Google Canada
“We know when employees feel psychologically safe, not only do they thrive, but they actually increase their output, and there is also the added benefit to society as a whole.” – Karlyn Percil-Mercieca, Founder & CEO, KDPM Equity Institute
“Recognize that while reconciliation is important, it’s also integral because it’s going to help us solve the problems that we have today so that we can all have a tomorrow.” – Richel Davies, Director, Inclusion of Indigenous Peoples, Scotiabank
“When you support and uplift one group, you just naturally support and uplift other groups and other individuals so as an organization, when we’re talking about diversity, equity and inclusion, all boats rise.” – Simone Alleyne, Senior Director of DEI, Culture & Change, McDonald’s Canada
“What became very, very clear is when you have women and people with diverse mindsets impacting your decision making, that elevated your performance.” – Teresa Resch, President, WNBA Toronto
“I know for myself for so long growing up, I didn’t feel welcome in a lot of sporting events and even talking about sports because I always got really talked down to, and I know what I’m talking about when I talk about hockey, but a lot of men don’t think so.” – Sarah Nurse, Professional Hockey Player, PWHL Toronto & Canadian National Team
“If it’s truly mission critical, if giving our employees the opportunity to express themselves, to be part of something, to make change, to lead the grassroots movement, then it has to be in the same category as everything else that we do that is mission critical – to delivering the best value for our customers, delivering the best value for our shareholders.” – Jodie Wallis, Global Chief Analytics Officer, Manulife
“Diversity in general breeds creativity, breeds innovation, breeds productivity.” – Valeriya Yesypenko, VP, Global Data Governance, Manulife
“We need to have our DE&I representation, those folks at the table at the beginning as we implement the AI projects.” – Pamela Pelletier, Country Leader & Managing Director, Canada, Dell Technologies
“When we get this right, when organizations support associates to navigate the complexities of caregiving in ways that are supportive and humane, it builds loyalty, it builds capability. It’s win-win.” – Moira Klein-Swormink, Principal, Branch Development, Edward Jones Canada
