Special Events
The 10th Annual Women of Influence Breakfast was held Tuesday, November 6, 2012 at Prairieland Park, Saskatoon with a record attendance of 400 students and members of the business community
eager to hear three women share their success stories. Jill Salamon, Director of Executive Education welcomed guests on behalf of the Edwards School and spoke about a new initiative of the event which allows guests the
opportunity to support the dreams of students wishing to pursue a business
education. Guests were given the opportunity to contribute to The Women of Influence Award which will provide financial support to assist
Edwards School of Business students who are single parents of dependent children
and who have committed to their education while raising children. Donations were taken at the breakfast and are also available online at: https://give.usask.ca/online/edwards.php.
Following this welcome, Shelley Ballard, Inspector with the Saskatoon Police Service; Marla Adams, Senior VP/Partner with Deloitte; and Ilene Busch-Vishniac, President of the University of Saskatchewan each spoke on the rewards and challenges
of becoming women leaders.
Recently retired Ballard used humour in her speech to elaborate on the similarities and differences of her two passions, mountaineering and policing, saying she had "no idea what I was getting into when I entered these predominately male dominated fields and the challenges that would lie ahead." When being named the first female Inspector in the Saskatoon Police Service in 2009, Shelley said she did not want any extra attention for her achievement just for being a women; she had worked very hard to get to where she was and did not think that her gender should matter. Shelley urged everyone to "seize opportunities when they arise and not to wait for the "right" time, because that time will never come."
Adams used a play on the idea of Alice in Wonderland in her speech, comparing herself to Alice where she had gone through the looking glass, becoming Senior VP/Partner of the Accounting firm Deloitte, where male partners are the norm. Marla says "always be your authentic self, as soon as you get up in the morning." Marla wants to be a role model for all the women she works with at Deloitte as well as for her two daughters. She spoke about three stages of a women's working life "apprenticeship, through the pipeline and finally wonderland. During apprenticeship men and women are represented and treated equally, but as women move into the pipeline they tend to be underrepresented, as family commitments start to arise and work-life balance becomes more important, and finally wonderland where only a few women are left to find unlimited possibilities." Marla has achieved such success and encourages others to do the same.
Last on the agenda, was the new President of the University who warmly joked that she was excited to be presenting on something other than her usual University speech. Here Busch-Vishniac spoke to a list of eight myths about women in the workplace that she had researched from a host of more than 120 possibilities. Ilene then became the "myth buster" with the audience participating as she dispelled each myth one at a time. As an example one myth was "women aren't good team players". Ilene brought to light the large number of participation in team sports that women are a part of both at the high school and university level. Another myth was "women aren't good leaders", this was quickly busted as Ilene spoke about how employees are generally more satisfied with women leaders then men and how some of the most successful companies are led by women. Ilene encouraged the women in the audience to "not let the myths define us, let's make sure as time goes on all of the myths are dispelled."
This event serves as a networking opportunity for
Saskatoon business women.
Please watch out for next year's date for the breakfast so you don't miss your chance to be a part of this great event!
Women of Influence Speakers 2012:
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Ilene Busch-Vishniac
President, University of Saskatchewan
"Women Aren't Good Team Players and Other Myths!"
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Marla Adams
Senior Vice President/Partner, Deloitte
"Through the Looking Glass; A Portal to Wonderland or a World Turned Sideways?"
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Shelley Ballard
Inspector, Saskatoon Police Service
"From Mountain Peaks to Policing the Streets."
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2012 Sponsors:
- Comfort Pak Canada
- Dawn Watier Designs - Hair & Make-up Boutique
- Edwards MBA Program
- ICR Commercial Real Estate
- Lia Sophia Jewelry: Megan Lloyd
- Persephone Theatre
- Prairieland Park
- Select Roses
- Spell It Photo Art
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- TCU Place
- Tim Horton's Lawson Heights
- Tony Roma's Restaurants
- Trek 2000 Corporation
- Twisted Goods Saskatoon
- U of S Bookstore
- West Wind Aviation
- Wilson Centre for Entrepreneurial Excellence
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Past Events:
News article on 2011 Women of Influence Breakfast
Spring Forward 2013 was the first annual Leadership Luncheon sponsored by the Grandey Leadership Initiative at the Edwards School of Business.
In 2012, Jerry Grandey (retired President and CEO, Cameco Corporation) announced a $1 million gift to the Edwards School of Business. The gift—a combined donation from Jerry and Tina Grandey and a legacy gift from Cameco Corporation—has already been put into action through student scholarships, supporting students and faculty involved in community leadership projects, “Fireside Chats” with prominent leaders, and much more.
At this year’s inaugural Spring Forward Luncheon, the Edwards School of Business featured remarks from Jerry Grandey, and two guest panelists: Chief Darcy Bear of Whitecap Dakota First Nation and Head Coach Corey Chamblin of the Saskatchewan Roughriders —who will speak about “Leading through Adversity.” See a news article from the first event.
2013 Sponsors
- Crave Cupcakes
- Edwards MBA Program
- Persephone Theatre
- Rock Creek Tap & Grill
- State & Main Restaurant
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- TCU Place
- The Saskatchewan Roughriders
- U of S Bookstore
- Wilson Centre for Entrepreneurial Excellence
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