by Manpreet Dhillon | Sep 5, 2019 | Community, Diversity, Equality, Leadership
At Veza, we honour the work of inspiring leaders every single day. Not just the known and notable but rather, everyday women who are drawing upon and celebrating their culture while making a lasting difference in their community using their gifts. From authors and teachers, CEOs to entrepreneurs, not-for-profit directors, artists, and more, these women are changing the face of leadership.
These are truly women to watch and Veza Community is so pleased to share their brilliance.
May their stories inspire YOU to rise.
Meet Hurriya Burney
Hurriya Burney is Vice President, Commercial Banking, at RBC Royal Bank. She leads a team of 13 Commercial Accounts and leads RBC’s Healthcare segment strategy in BC. Hurriya holds an MBA in Finance from the University of British Columbia and a Bachelors in Economics & Business and English from Lafayette College.
Find her on Instagram
If you know a leader we should feature please invite her to share her story with us here.
by Staff | Aug 29, 2019 | Leadership
As women of culturally diverse backgrounds, many of us aren’t taught the skills we need to move up. It’s not expected that we will move up, because there are a number of barriers facing us and we are not used to seeing women who look like us in positions of power. When we do have success and find ourselves rising to new levels, we often end up learning by trial and error, which leaves many of us feeling like we’ve been dropped right into the deep end.
The first time we negotiated salary was when we landed our first career jobs. (How many of us accepted the first offer we were given?) The first time we managed staff was the first time we became a manager – there’s no bootcamp. In most companies, there’s no additional training for new managers. So, we find new challenges at each new threshold we reach in our careers.
To have a competitive advantage, we cannot be passive. Personal advocacy is a skill set we all need to move up, to create better long-term results for ourselves, and to communicate our worth to the people we work with/for.
What underpins strong personal advocacy?
1. Build a foundation for your thought leadership
Get clear on your strengths and what areas you want to build thought leadership on. Speak and post about your interests. Demonstrate your expertise online and in-person. People in your network will begin to associate you with your area of expertise and your skill set. By building your thought leadership, you will have a foundation to stand on when seeking new opportunities. (If you aren’t clear on your value or where you want to go, download our complimentary worksheet to identify your interests, values and strengths.)
2. Prepare
Do your research and your prep work. If you’re negotiating salary or asking for a raise, know what industry standards are and build your case based on your experience. If you are putting yourself forward to lead on a project, be able to discuss how your skill set makes you the right fit for the opportunity and to break down how you would approach it. Anticipate questions or reservations your audience might have. When you come in prepared, not only will you feel more confident, but you will present as professional and knowledgeable.
3. Embody your worth
Embodying your worth can be a challenge – see last week’s blog on Imposter Syndrome for a case study. It is the most effective piece in creating results through personal advocacy. Not simply the belief in yourself, but the full presence you command when you own that worth is that secret sauce that makes others believe in your worth as well.
If you’d like to learn more about personal advocacy and deep dive into some of the key tools you need, Veza Community is hosting a morning talk on September 26th featuring 3 women leaders from different sectors. Get your tickets for Personal Advocacy: The tools you need on your leadership journey today.
Until September 6th at 11:59pm, use early bird discount for 20% off tickets: AdvocacyEarlyBird
*When we refer to “women,” we mean all people who identify as such.
by Staff | Jul 5, 2019 | Business, Culture, Diversity, Equality, Leadership, Management
Millennials are stereotyped as being less competitive, entitled, avocado toast loving, technology addicted workers. Sure, many millennials are glued to their smartphones and social media, but that doesn’t mean they don’t have important things to contribute to your organization – nor does it mean that they don’t work hard.
By 2020, millennials will make up 50% of the workforce and their share of the workforce will continue to grow from there. On the whole, this group is goal and value driven and cares about its impact on society and the planet. So, millennials are not only going to represent a large portion of your talent pool but will also be looking to the job market for an opportunity to make that impact. That is good news for employers – hiring millennials can actually offer a number of (maybe) unexpected benefits to companies.
Perspective
There’s no denying it – millennials aren’t as experienced as the baby boomers in the marketplace, but boomers can’t beat the open-minded perspective millennials have. Millennials have experienced the world changing around them quicker than generation X, so they see new possibilities before they arise. They are always willing to think out of the box and come up with fresh and innovative ideas.
Plus hiring young employees can work out great if your business aims to attract young customers. After all, who knows better what the young generation wants than themselves? They’ll bring marketing and product design strategies that better appeal to their age group, which will kickstart your sales.
Qualified
Millennials are on track to be the most educated generation ever with 27% of women and 21% of men having completed a Bachelor’s Degree by age 33. Most of them are highly qualified, having done sometimes multiple internships to gain professional work experience. Hiring millennials will modernize your organization’s workforce, as well as bring the most up to date knowledge pertaining to your sector.
Tech Savvy
Millennials have grown up using computers, portable devices, the Internet, and social media. They have digital and technical knowledge at their fingertips. They pick up and apply technology better and quicker than the experienced baby boomers in tech-companies. You’ll have little or no trouble training these people on computer systems or new equipment.
Further, millennials are familiar with the latest communications technology and know their way around social media. There is no company in existence today that does not need a social media presence to be relevant. Even the millennials without a communications background can help you harness the power of Facebook, Twitter, and other social media platforms and turn that into brand awareness and sales.
Less focused on money
The older and more experienced generation have high expectations from their previous workplaces when it comes to compensation. The bottom line is usually their only bottom line.
Unlike baby boomers, the calculation millennials make is usually based on meaning rather than pay. A recent study of Canadian millennials showed that nearly half of this demographic would forgo a raise of about $9,000 to do work they considered more meaningful and impactful, so this benefit may not work for every job you offer. Also, with less experience, their salary expectations tend to be lower. But do ensure your salaries are competitive and commensurate with experience and responsibility. If you are truly unable to offer competitive salaries, millennials are more likely than other generations to be open to flexibility perks, such as remote days or additional vacation days.
Motivated
What’s better than having a highly motivated and excited workforce? Millennials are driven and deeply invested in what they do. They are motivated by their will to perform better and bring high-end results. It goes without saying how this particular attribute impacts your business outcomes.
They tend to be more tenacious and eager to learn in the workplace than other generations. Such a disposition leads to quick problem solving and adaptability, as well as a desire to get the job done well before moving on.
Collaborative
A survey of millennials conducted by IdeaPaint found that 74% of millennials prefer to collaborate in small groups, as opposed to large teams or on their own, and that 38% of millennials feel that antiquated collaboration processes actually damage their company’s innovation potential. Teams with more millennials mean better teamwork, less internal competition and more innovation. This leads to a stronger bottom line, but also a more positive work environment.
The Bottom Line is….
Hiring millennials helps you bring new and innovative talent into your organization. They are highly motivated and enthusiastic about their work. They know (or can find) their way around technology and are keen to learn new things, as well as seize new opportunities. The fact that they seek meaning through their work means that organizations have an opportunity to harness their enthusiasm towards achieving something greater.
by Manpreet Dhillon | Jun 17, 2019 | Leadership, Management
We are surrounded by individuals who we don’t agree with. We live in a world where we have different backgrounds, different cultures influencing us, different upbringing and different experiences that impact us in each moment. We are not going to agree on everything yet in order to create relationships where people are left feeling heard and valued, we need to have the empathy to understand what others’ perspectives.
The ability to influence change in others, especially as a manager or executive is so important. As a leader, being nice or letting things slide doesn’t work well for the individual, the leader or the team. When we don’t hold others to a higher standard we are at some level showing them that we don’t really care about them and we don’t care if they show up to the best of their abilities.
Understand where they are at
When we do want to influence change, it is important to understand what their vision is and what their obstacles are. It allows them to feel heard and respected. It helps to understand what is important to them and what is their “Why”. Aligning activities to align with their values and influence them to make the necessary changes.
Inspire them
Inspire individuals by leading by example is one of the key ways others will rise in their own roles. They are able to recognize the value of the actions that they were not taking or taking unaligned actions. Allow them to be pulled to something bigger than them that they are passionate about.
Build trust
Creating a relationship based on trust and mutual respect will lead to influence. Trust allows individuals to relax, understand the outcome from the perspective needed rather than the lens that was brought with them into the position. It also allows for an innate allyship that is so important when there is a need to influence. Trust is built on things like transparency, loyalty, integrity and honesty.
Allow them to bring their whole selves into the office
When people feel comfortable and safe, they are likely to be less guarded and open to change. Creating an environment through onboarding and cultural initiatives that support employees to express with their orientation, culture, thoughts, beliefs and way of being (within the parameters of professionalism).
Provide them safe places to speak up
As leaders within organizations, the creation of safe spaces whether they be online, anonymous or in-person are very important to the health of the organizational culture and the change management. It allows people to speak up to what may be bothering them in the workplace, provide feedback and engage with each other and or leadership. The safety of these spaces is dependent on how they feel in each of the areas: physical, emotional, mental and spiritual attributes when they come to participate in these spaces.
Influencing change in others starts from standing in your own truth, your own power and influencing the change needed within yourself. It is from this place of discovery and strength that we can successfully create cultures of safety and belonging.
by Manpreet Dhillon | Jul 4, 2018 | Business, Community, Culture, Diversity, Leadership
At veza, we honour the work of inspiring leaders every single day. Not just the known and notable but rather, everyday women who are drawing upon and celebrating their culture while making a lasting difference in their community using their gifts. From authors and teachers, CEOs to entrepreneurs, not-for-profit directors, artists, and more, these women are changing the face of leadership.
These are truly women to watch and veza community is so pleased to share their brilliance.
May their stories inspire YOU to rise.
Meet Julie Archambault.
Julie grew up in Montreal where her bicultural-linguistic identity was stuck between Anglophone and Francophone communities, which meant she needed to sort out her identity amidst some hostility. As a child, she was very adventurous and loved walking in the woods and following streams all the way to their source, which is interesting to think of today since she’s someone who follows problems all the way to the source of it.
She always want to get to the Truth. Spiritually, she has always been quite open but living in an environment that was mostly concerned with the material items proved to have its challenges for her. Later in life, she would have to relearn to trust her spiritual gifts and not hide them! At one point, she went underground with them. She was passionate about life: a tiger in sports, an introvert that used acting to own her power and voice.
Then, it was the activist years: Julie wanted to change the world so that it would be a more respectful place. She became a teacher for the same reasons. Then, she had to understand why she was having so much trouble getting into healthy relationships. And this proved to be the start of a very deep inquiry about sex. About toxic relationships. About our childhoods. She started interviewing all kinds of people. She also trained as an Akashic Record Consultant since this was the modality that was helping her heal so fast and efficiently.
Then, she birthed “Fifty Shades of Connection: from Violently Disconnected to Blissfully Connected Sex” a book that follows this spectrum and discovers the laws of energy governing sex and our sexual energy. (Almost ready to print) Now, she has launched a business called Co-Creative Sex and has led programs to help her participants heal their sexual energy.
She is just getting her momentum going. She has so much to share on sex; game-changing information is on the horizon!!!
Tell me in 100 words who you are? How would you describe yourself.
I’m a woman on a mission! : ) I believe in helping people reaching their full human and spiritual potential. I have discovered some really powerful insights on how to heal our sexual energy and how this in turn helps us to heal our lives. Nothing like empowering women to embody their full selves, and this includes their sexual energy. Our sexual energy holds the imprint of all our wounding. What an amazing teacher to tune into!
So tell us, Julie: What inspires you most? What motivates you to get up every morning?
I feel motivated to fully embody who I am. I want to fully live into my potential and accomplish my mission on earth! Which keeps on revealing itself to me. Once I got a little fortune on my yogi tea bag. It said, “Without realizing who you are, happiness cannot come to you.” And this is true. This is why I am so motivated to “realize” who I am. And, it is starting to all make sense now! Exciting times!
What is it that you feel that you teach others through how you act/show up each day?
I teach people to connect to their hearts, to their feminine power, to their feelings, to their power. I teach people to release all past traumas so that they can show up fully and shine in their potential. I teach people about vulnerability and deeper connection to their partners or future partners. How to be more visible and speak one’s truth. I help people own their “shit” and “shadow” so that they can move forward in life. I teach people how to go from “violently disconnected to blissfully connected sex” and bring clarity on a whole slew of “loaded” subjects around sexuality. I help people understand what energetic transaction they are participating in and why.
What is one change you’d like to see in the world?
Seeing women fully empowered and walking in their divine light and men supporting them. Expressions of Healthy Sexuality and Healthy Relationships. (I.E. Not accepting to be lured into toxic relationships and sexuality. Empowered to manifest a wholesome, supportive, connective and exciting sexual relationships for themselves.) Helping people embody their power and light.
Which of your contributions to date have given you the greatest sense of pride?
If you know a leader we should feature please invite her to share her story with us here.
by Manpreet Dhillon | Jul 4, 2018 | Business, Community, Culture, Diversity, Leadership
At veza, we honour the work of inspiring leaders every single day. Not just the known and notable but rather, everyday women who are drawing upon and celebrating their culture while making a lasting difference in their community using their gifts. From authors and teachers, CEOs to entrepreneurs, not-for-profit directors, artists, and more, these women are changing the face of leadership.
These are truly women to watch and veza community is so pleased to share their brilliance.
May their stories inspire YOU to rise.
Meet Aimee Sehwoerer.
After founding a worldwide Marketing Consulting firm, Aimee joined Investors Group in 2014. She is a well-known mentor and advocate for financial literacy, featured in magazines and television.
She is passionate in helping clients achieve their financial goals through various areas of financial planning. She builds and maintains strong relationships by delivering short and long term quality sound advice on investment, debt and estate planning issues that we face today, for Canadian families and growing businesses.
Currently enrolled in the Certified Financial Planning programs, while supporting and volunteering with small organizations and various boards and committees.
Aimee is an entrepreneur and civil rights advocate, who is passionate about financial education.
She is a die hard lover of chocolates, novels and adventures!
So tell us, Aimee: What inspires you most? What motivates you to get up every morning?
I find it rewarding to wake up knowing that I will make a difference in someone’s financial life, that will enable them to reach their financial goals and live the life they’ve always wanted. It doesn’t get better that!
What is it that you feel that you teach others through how you act/show up each day?
Discipline and Mindset!
What is one change you’d like to see in the world?
End to any form of abuse and bullying.
Which of your contributions to date have given you the greatest sense of pride?
Partnering up with organizations such as BYOBF, Mompreneurs Canada to discuss about financial challenges and solutions, with simple language, values and goals that resonate with me and many other women’s.
If you know a leader we should feature please invite her to share her story with us here.
Ishu Kler is a photographer and Social Media Manager at Veza Global. She currently owns and operates a freelance photography company called Ishu Kler Creative where she specializes in branding, portrait and event photography. Born and raised in Vancouver, B.C., her love and passion for photography led Ishu to travel and live in New Delhi, India, where she obtained her Diploma in Photography. She also travelled to Costa Rica in 2015, where she obtained her Certificate in Documentary Photography from Photographers Without Borders.
Kelsey is a passionate Multimedia Designer & Communications Specialist with a diploma in Multimedia Production and over nine years of diverse design experience in different areas of the world including roles within multinational in-house marketing teams Microsoft and Technetix, marketing agencies and freelance. These experiences have led her to develop strong use of design principles, skills in Adobe Creative Cloud, knowledge in motion graphics and video editing, and knowledge in creating effective communication for a wide range of audiences and cultures.
