The Women in Leadership Conference brings together professional women to talk about the challenges that they face, exchange views, and learn from peers and leaders.

The event provides an invaluable opportunity to listen to industry leaders as they share best practices and insights to help women in leadership roles become more effective leaders and be on top of their game.

Join us at this in-person event. Learn, connect & reconnect, and have fun!

ERIN SCHULTZ (Keynote Speaker)
Interior Design Lead
FBM Architecture, Interior Design, and Planning

Redefining workspaces for well-being

As organizations transition back to the office, leaders encounter a new set of challenges stemming from the adoption of hybrid work and the heightened emphasis on employee health and well-being. Expanding on this, we will explore how workplace design can better support the new way of work in an evolving landscape in a post-pandemic era. The adoption of these strategies aims not only to enhance productivity and efficiency outcomes but also to positively impact the physical and emotional health of employees.

• • Evolution of the workplace
• • Relevance of the physical office
• • Current workplace research influencing design trends for health and well-being

Dr. GAYNOR WATSON-CREED
Associate Dean, Serving and Engaging Society, Dalhousie University
Chair of the Board, Engage Nova Scotia

Leadership and credibility

“Credibility is a leader’s currency. With it, he or she is solvent; without it, he or she is bankrupt.” – John Maxell. Credibility is the trust that others place in you. Credible leaders inspire trust and confidence. They demonstrate integrity by being honest and reliable. They do what they say they will do.

• • Why leadership credibility matters
• • Building credibility and trust
• • Maintaining credibility

TANYA WHITE
Director, Communications
Nova Scotia Association of REALTORS

Communicating in times of change

A lot of change, all the time! Do you know how to communicate your way through it? With the pace of change in our daily lives and in our workplaces, leaders need to know how to communicate effectively.

• • How communicating in times of change differs from everyday business communication
• • Solid tips and ways to conquer successful communication in times of change

ANDREA FORBES-HURLEY
Managing Partner
KBRS

Building high-performance teams

One of the most important measures of successful leadership is the ability to build high-performing teams. However, creating strong teams has become more challenging with the growth of hybrid work environments and shifting expectations among employees. Labour market realities are also contributing to higher levels of turnover in many organizations. As a result, today’s leaders need to take a closer and more frequent look at the importance of team composition, dynamics, and motivations. This session will:

• • Highlight common features of high-performance teams
• • Identify barriers that hamper team performance and how this has evolved as the workforce has evolved
• • Explore effective strategies to develop and sustain high-performance teams

CHERYL FRASER
Principal Advisor
Royer Thompson

Succeeding as a board director

Being invited to serve on a Board is a privilege, however, it can bring with it a lot of responsibility and heavy lifting from time to time. One comes to a Board with a host of experiences and competencies which are valuable to both the Board and management. How can one succeed as a Board director?

• • Come to the meetings ready; read and consider all the pre-read materials
• • You are there in a fiduciary role; ask questions and seek clarity prior to agreeing to a motion or decision
• • Remember Noses In; Fingers Out; your role is oversight, not operations and implementation

JENNIFER ARCHER
Director, Academic Equity & Quality
Nova Scotia Community College

Equity centred leadership

Lack of leadership is frequently cited as one of the biggest barriers to advancing workplace equity. What does it mean to be an equity leader and how do we bring equity leadership to life in our organizations to truly move the dial on equity, diversity, inclusion, access and anti-racism? Jennifer Archer will share her lived experience as a BIPOC woman and equity leader to explore some of the critical elements in advancing workplace equity. This talk will focus on the 7 C’s to advance equity-focused change within our organizations:

• • Care
• • Connection
• • Culture
• • Courage
• • Compassion
• • Complexity
• • Cultivation

Dr. NICOLE BOUTILIER
Executive Vice President, Medicine and Clinical
Nova Scotia Health

Finding your voice as a leader

Almost 20 years in leadership has come with lots of lessons. Hard ones, ones that had to be repeated, ones that Dr. Nicole Boutilier will never forget, ones that gave her hope, and ones that shattered her confidence. What did these lessons all have in common?

• • Leadership is a journey, not a destination.
• • Leadership skills attained and lived experiences will shape you as a leader but will only tell part of your story as you will also be forced to take a hard look at your purpose, your values, and your resilience.
• • The people you lead and the people who lead you will be formative in establishing your solid sturdy foundation which will allow you to grow, and fall, and grow again.

NICOLE DEVEAU
Partner
Grant Thornton

Finding purpose in community leadership

Many organizations have made a commitment to social responsibility and supporting their community. Whether volunteering time, donating funds, or sitting on boards, the participation of the broader team can create a collective positive impact, both personally and professionally. In this session, Nicole Deveau will share her experience on how a culture of community involvement can:

• • Help develop your people
• • Find your purpose
• • Create a meaningful employment experience

MEREDITH KIDNEY (Morning Chair)
Vice President, Brand and Communications
Atlantic Lottery

KRISTIN O’TOOLE SCOTT (Afternoon Chair)
Vice President Strategy, People & Culture
Build Nova Scotia