Dr. Condoleezza Rice advices young women leaders to break through the glass ceiling

At The Women's Global Leadership Conference 2010, Dr Condoleezza Rice former US Secretary of State presented a keynote speech focusing on increasing levels of diversity in business and encouraging young women to break through the glass ceilings. This Google alert was so fitting for my presentation at a financial corporation in Toronto. I presented conversations and a workshop on "Diversity Leadership: A Critical Perspective of Women Climbing the Corporate Structure." Central to my conversations were issues of breaking the glass ceiling, concrete ceiling, concrete wall and getting through the Labyrinth.

I also used another Google alert that came to my e-mail box yesterday at the workshop. Again women's leadership was the focus, however this time women leaders in the city of Ottawa were the focus of the Government of Canada. This e-mail was also timely for my workshop because the Government announced the support for a project addressing the priority issues of advancing women's participation in leadership and decision-making roles.

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Dr. Marilyn J

The Importance of Voices: Another study to show why women and minorities are not in leadership

A study coming out from University of Western Ontario by Alison Konrad and Ryerson University Margaret Yap says so much, although unwritten within the content of the article in the Business Section of the Toronto Star by Gloria Er-Chua. However, I ask the following questions: Are we to expect polices to be formulated from this research on barriers to get to the C-Suite, re gender and race? The research explicitly names gender and race as the bottleneck of promotion in middle management in Canadian companies. I agree that minority women face a double whammy for promotion like the authors, but what about women who are differently abled and are of diverse sexual orientation? Where are they located within the research results? I hope to read the full report soon.

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Dr. Marilynj

DiverseCity Counts Report Out and Race and Gender Remain Workplace Barriers

As a Consultant and Researcher on Diversity and Equity Leadership, trained at the Department of Sociology and Equity Studies in Education at OISE, I am looking forward to hear surprises on Thursday, June 10 from the DiverseCity Counts Research findings at the Design Exchange Trading Floor, 234 Bay Street, Toronto.

However, also released is economist Sheila Block's report on Ontario's Growing Gap: The Role of Race and Gender for the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternative, based on 2006 Census data. Block's report shows that visible minorities in Ontario are far more likely to live in poverty, have trouble finding a job and earn less in the workplace. Simply put, visible minorities are more likely to be unemployed or underemployed in Ontario. Particularly for women from racialized backgrounds, they face real barriers to success. Block calls for the re-introduction of Canada Employment Equity Legislation, dropped in the mid 1990s.

Given the findings from Sheila Block's report for the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternative, what similar results are we to expect from DiverseCity Counts report? After all, the DiverseCity Counts last report speaks to the low percentage of minorities in leadership positions relative to the high and growing percentage of minorities in the population. So far, if this continues, Thursday's reading of the DiverseCity Counts report will not bring surprises.

Additionally, what will not be surprising is that Block's report justifies why there is a low percentage of minorities in leadership.

Dr. Marilyn J

Donna Brazile: Women and Leadership in the Age of Obama

Women and Leadership in the Age of Obama

Donna Brazile speaks at Congress 2010, Montreal on women's leadership in the age of Obama. Several keys issues were spoken about which can be heard and seen on the video. Most importantly, Brazile speaks of the need for gender equity, diversity and women's leadership in this new era because it is ripe for possibilities.

Dr. Marilyn J

Women in Regina Police Service Equity Plan

There seems to be an underrepresenation of women in the Regina Police Service in spite of its initiatives since the 1992 Employment Equity Plan. Falling behind the marginal increase of women are Aboriginals, people with disabilities and visible minorities. In order to combat this continued problem, both the Treaty Four Citizens' Police Academy and a diversity mentorship program are working on strategies and proactive efforts to attain equity goals for recruiting.

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Dr. Marilyn J

BWWAD DJ's for Haiti

DJ's for Haiti is a fundraising event to support feminist organizations after the January 12 earthquake. As Black women and women of African descent, we came together to use resources to help other feminists in Haiti. To get a full description of the DJ line-up, please visit BWWAD.

Dr. Marilyn J

Haiti Shall Rise Again

We Shall Rise Again is a collaboration of Caribbean artists for Haiti. After the devastating earthquake on 12 January, 2010 a number of artists came together to produce this song. It is only fitting that I mention it on my blog to show my support for Haiti. Historically, Haiti has been pleagued with political, social and economic struggles, however she will rise again.

Dr. Marilyn J