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!

Lisa Fingard (Keynote Speaker)
Vice-President, Human Resources
TransX Group of Companies

Making work make sense: Driving engagement in the workplace

It has been said that the best measure of engagement is how an employee feels on Sunday night about going back to work on Monday morning. Mondays often come with new work, changing priorities, and shifting demands: you might know what’s expected of your people, but do they? At its core, engagement is driven by understanding; that understanding can only be achieved through intentional and strategic communication strategies. In this session, Lisa Fingard will discuss:

• • Lessons learned about enterprise-wide communication strategies
• • Turning challengers into champions: building your internal communication leaders
• • How policy creation drives engagement

Kathryn Hordienko
Associate General Counsel
NFI Group Inc.

Effective communication in a professional environment

Clear communication is the foundation of a productive workplace. The ability to express thoughts clearly and adapt messages to different audiences is crucial in building strong working relationships. When practiced consistently, it leads to improved morale, reduced misunderstandings, and better overall performance.

• • Collaboration and teamwork
• • Positive workplace culture
• • Credibility and trust within the organization
• • Improved professional relationships
• • More effective negotiations

Rachel Ferguson
Chief Operating Officer
Grace General Hospital

Navigating tough talks

Handling challenging conversations is a critical leadership skill. These moments involve sensitive topics, conflicting viewpoints, or performance issues. With the right approach, even the toughest talks can lead to growth and understanding.

• • Preparation
• • Mutual respect
• • Resolution-based

Kelly Fournel
CEO
Tech Manitoba

Leading with empathy

Such a vital theme to our humanity, but often misunderstood, overlooked, and increasingly, in the business-world context, disparaged — empathy is the way forward to reconnecting with the best parts of ourselves and our teams. When truly acted upon as a core value within your organization, empathy-first leadership will lead you to new insights, new ways of working, and help you achieve results that previously seemed unattainable. This presentation will help you to identify why, where and how empathy can lead you into a more fulfilling way of leading by:

• • Helping you feel more energized by your work, because you’re prioritizing problem-solving through a ‘being present’ approach to leading that supports more meaningful connections with those you work with and with those you serve
• • Helping you identify projects that are ideal for empathy-based practices and tools, which will lead to unexpected and impactful solutions
• • Helping you successfully advocate for further changes in your organization because you can effectively communicate how your project’s success can be replicated and will help de-risk and contain costs of future projects, when you take a leading with empathy approach

Kerilee Falloon
Director, Communications and Marketing
Winnipeg Airports Authority

Practicing transparent leadership

Transparency isn’t about sharing everything; it’s about building trust through clarity, consistency, and authenticity. In this session, Kerilee Falloon will explore how transparent leadership empowers teams, strengthens culture, and drives results. Grounded in real-world experience, this conversation will offer practical ways to lead with openness while navigating complexity and change.

• • How to communicate with clarity and honesty, even when the answers aren’t easy
• • Creating a culture of trust through vulnerability, consistency, and follow-through
• • Setting boundaries while staying open: knowing what to share, when, and how

Alana Odegard
Director, Customer Experience
Johnston Group Inc.

Innovation is human: Solve for the need, not the noise

True innovation doesn’t necessarily come from rushing to solutions or responding to the loudest voices. Alana Odegard shares how leading with deep understanding — solving for real needs rather than surface noise — can build the foundation for lasting change and sustainable innovation. Drawing on her personal leadership journey and product-inspired approach to customer experience, she offers insights on building trust, embracing vulnerability, and leading human-centred teams that deliver meaningful results.

• • Scaling doesn’t require sacrificing connection — it demands more intentional listening and relationship-building
• • Making people feel seen — whether customers, partners, or team members — is critical to adoption and engagement
• • Sustainable leadership depends on listening not only to others, but also to yourself

Julie Chartier
Director, Finance & Development
True North Youth Foundation

The ability to influence

Influence isn’t just about authority — it’s really about making meaningful connections and finding solutions that work for everyone. To build influence, you often need to step outside your usual way of communicating, stay curious about others, and build trust over time. Julie Chartier will be sharing some key principles and stories from her experience on how to grow authentic influence at work.

• • Creating win-win outcomes helps build lasting collaboration
• • Genuine relationships are the foundation of trusted influence
• • Curiosity opens the door to diverse perspectives and stronger connections

Aimee Palmer
Regional Vice-President, Winnipeg Southwest & Western Manitoba
IG Wealth Management

Mentoring & networking for success

Unlock your leadership potential through the power of mentorship and authentic connection. This dynamic session dives into practical strategies for building meaningful mentor/mentee relationships, amplifying your personal brand, and navigating professional networks with confidence. Attendees will leave inspired to cultivate purposeful relationships and become the kind of mentor who uplifts and empowers future women leaders.

• • Craft and communicate your personal brand: Learn how to confidently articulate your strengths, values, and leadership story to attract mentors and sponsors aligned with your goals.
• • Leverage mentors for insight, sponsors for access: While mentors help sharpen skills and spark reflection, sponsors are critical for opening doors. Learn how to identify and cultivate both relationships and make your value visible, so others are confident in championing your skill set.
• • Mentor with authenticity and purpose: Discover how vulnerability and empathy can shape your leadership impact and how mentoring others is a powerful way to pay it forward while advancing inclusive leadership.

Esther Findlay (Morning Chair)
Senior Vice President, Financial Services
IG Wealth Management

Jodi-rae Kortje (Afternoon Chair)
Chief Operating Officer
Seven Oaks General Hospital