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!

Kendra Cruson (Keynote Speaker)
CEO
Vale Industries Ltd.

The power of continuous improvement

A continuous improvement mindset allows you to act boldly, knowing that moving forward in a consistent manner will trump the myth of delaying for perfection. The power of continuous improvement is more than a work mindset; it is a way of life. When we feel stuck, it is important to take action. Action dissolves procrastination, action builds inertia, in turn creating a wheel of motion that is easier to continue. Discover how changing your mind can change your life. Hear about lived experiences in continuous improvement for your:

• • Personal life
• • Family life
• • Business life

Cheryl Skiba
Senior Vice President, Human Resources
Farm Credit Canada

Building and developing high-performance teams

High-performance teams are characterized by their ability to deliver results through a collective drive for success. They thrive in environments where individual strengths are leveraged and team dynamics are continuously refined. Building such teams involves selecting the right mix of talent and creating a supportive culture. Development is ongoing, requiring opportunities for skill enhancement.

• • Shared vision
• • Growth mindset
• • Effective leadership

Tera Lowrie
Vice President, Consumer Advisors
Innovation Federal Credit Union

Leading through change and uncertainty

Leading through change and uncertainty requires a unique set of skills and a resilient mindset. In times of transition, leaders must navigate their teams through uncharted waters, maintaining stability and fostering a sense of direction. Effective leadership in such situations not only ensures organizational continuity but also inspires confidence and adaptability among team members.

• • Communicate Transparently: Open and honest communication is crucial. Keeping the team informed about changes, challenges, and the rationale behind decisions helps build trust and reduces anxiety.
• • Foster a Culture of Flexibility: Encourage adaptability and resilience within the team. Emphasize the importance of being open to new ideas and approaches, and support continuous learning and development.
• • Lead by Example: Demonstrate calmness and confidence in the face of uncertainty. Show commitment to the organization’s vision and values, and be a source of stability and inspiration for the team.

Diana Domm Smythe
Director, Customer Experience
Federated Co-operatives Limited

Encouraging creative thinking

Fostering creative thinking involves taking yourself out of the day-to-day ways of doing things to examine a challenge or opportunity in a new light. Openness to diverse perspectives and a willingness to challenge conventional approaches are two key ingredients to creative thinking in the workplace. Leaders play a vital role in celebrating success while also embracing failure as a part of the learning journey. When creative thinking is nurtured, it drives problem-solving and innovation.

• • Risk-Taking
• • Open mindset
• • Feedback

Larissa Wesnoski
AVP Human Resources
Prosperity Credit Union

Making an impact as a leader

This presentation will explore how effective leadership goes beyond authority to create meaningful change. Leaders who make an impact are remembered not just for what they accomplished, but for how they inspired those around them. It’s about leaving a legacy that resonates far beyond your role.

• • Leading with clarity
• • Empowering others
• • Driving change

Dave Pettigrew
President and CEO
Harvard Western Insurance

Community leadership in today’s world

Dave Pettigrew has been actively involved in the Saskatchewan community for over 30 years. He will share his experiences and insights with attendees on how getting involved in community leadership roles can allow you to:

• • Learn valuable lessons in leadership and governance
• • Build a powerful network of contacts
• • Have a lot of fun doing it

Karlee Armstead
Account Executive
ISM

The art of getting things done

In business, ideas are everywhere — but execution is everything. In this presentation, we’ll explore why the most effective leaders and professionals aren’t just thinkers, they’re doers. We’ll unpack how consistently keeping commitments, following through, and delivering results not only drives progress but builds the kind of trust and credibility that inspires team members and fuels long-term success. In the end, those who get things done are the ones who move the business forward.

• • Progress over perfection: Waiting for perfect conditions leads to inaction.
• • The importance of listening: Listening deeply builds understanding, alignment, and trust — essential for effective execution.
• • Gaining the confidence to execute: Confidence grows through preparation, small wins, and a willingness to act despite uncertainty. 

Jean Parchewsky
VP of People
Vendasta

Grit & grace: Rules to break for resilient leadership

Jean Parchewsky has spent the past decade scaling a global, AI-first SaaS workforce, while discovering that women accelerate their impact when they toss out the old “play-it-safe” script. The biggest performance leaps come when we challenge well-intended advice and rewrite the rules for ourselves. This session shares rule-flips, all grounded in stories from building high-growth teams and insights from trailblazers like Kim Scott, that blend the grit to push through adversity with the grace to bring others along.

• • The rules Jean tossed and why it worked
  Hear the pivotal assumptions Jean chose to break and how that opened doors to bigger roles, budgets, and impact.
• • The rules that stay sacred
  Discover the non-negotiables every resilient leader protects, the guardrails that keep grit productive and grace intact, even under pressure.
• • A rule flip framework 
  Leave with a one-pager template to identify, pilot, and measure your own rule shifts, so the learning starts the moment you’re back at work.

LeeAnn Croft
Principal Architect
1080 Architecture Planning + Interiors

Laura Goodsman
Interior Designer
1080 Architecture Planning + Interiors

How can workplace design support employee wellness?

Workplace design is undergoing a radical transformation moving beyond aesthetics and efficiency to embrace its potential as a catalyst for well-being. As our understanding of human health evolves, so too does the role of the designer, who must now consider how space can actively support physical, mental, and emotional wellness. This session explores how architecture is becoming a proactive partner in promoting healthier, more balanced work environments.

• • Buildings are no longer static backdrops, they are active participants in human health. This paradigm shift is redefining the designer’s role as one that merges design with biology, psychology, and behaviour science.
• • The WELL Building Standard highlights how design elements like air quality, acoustics, materials, and movement strategies can foster holistic wellness, transforming architecture into a tool for healing.
• • As digital wellness becomes a priority, sensory architecture and biophilic principles are helping create restorative, tech-integrated environments, from textured surfaces and calming lights to quiet pods and napping zones, that reduce fatigue and enhance presence.

Kathryn Pollack
EVP, People Safety and Indigenous and Corporate Relations
SaskPower

Body language and leadership effectiveness

Effective leaders communicate far beyond words — body language shapes how trust, confidence, and authority are perceived. From the perspective of a former professional dancer, this talk will explore how nonverbal cues influence leadership presence and team dynamics. Some key elements we will discuss are:

• • Posture & presence
• • Mirroring & empathy
• • Cultural awareness

Kyla Hillmer (Morning Chair)
Vice President, Crown Services
Crown Investments Corporation

Jennifer Leflar (Afternoon Chair)
Vice President, Experience, Marketing & Communications
SGI