Can We Say Merry Christmas at the Workplace Anymore? During this time of year I always get asked about hosting Christmas parties in the workplace; decorating the workplace with stockings, Santa and putting candy canes out into candy dishes. I know too many parents who take offence to Winter Celebrations at school rather than seeing…
The Emotional Price of Being BIPOC My background lies in immigration and I hold two degrees. I also had a successful relocation and settlement company. I sit on two Boards. I began speaking professionally in 2008 and it’s my sole source of income. I am passionate about diversity, equity and inclusion and attendees who hear…
Psychological Safety and Me After my second maternity leave, I returned to my part-time position with the provincial government. Back then, I knew it was a rarity to be able to work flexibly and part-time. Additionally, my old boss had very recently accepted a new position in London, England so I was weary of who…
I met Andrea Davis initially at the Canadian Association of Professional Speakers (Calgary Chapter) of which I’m currently serving my third term as President. Andrea, originally from South Africa, is a survivor of the Costa Concordia tragedy of 2012. I consider Andrea an esteemed colleague and dear friend. Such a dear friend that when she…
Feelings of Isolation and Inadequacy are Real for Women in Male Dominated Occupations Feelings of inadequacy and isolation are very real for women working in traditionally male dominated sectors. In honour of International Women’s Day where this year’s theme was #ChoosetoChallenge it’s important that we all challenge the status quo by ensuring everyone is seen,…
Why do Sikhs wear Turbans? Gurprit K. Randhawa Since the time of the first Sikh Guru, Guru Nanak, the turban has been a key, distinguishing article of a Sikh’s identity and faith. The turban holds significant historical, social, and spiritual significance for Sikhs. During the birth and development of the Sikh faith from the 15th…
Freddie Mercury- the Epitome of Diversity, Inclusion and Rock ‘n Roll Everybody remembers their first 45 single; first concert; first song they ever slow danced to. My first 45 was the single, “Another One Bites the Dust” by Queen. It’s not even my favourite Queen song now but growing up in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan as a…
According to Dr. Richard Wiseman’s book, 59 Seconds: Think a Little, Change a Lot” when it comes to persuasion, likeability is key. There’s a phenomena called the “spontaneous trait transference” (hmm, sounds like an episode of the Big Bang Theory) Essentially, when you pass along positive comments about a colleague, the listener subconsciously applies those…
Why do we engage in ‘small talk’ in global business? I have an app on my iphone that tells me the temperature anywhere I wish to go yet, when I meet someone for the first time, it’s often one of the first things we talk about, particularly in Calgary where the weather can change on…
As a woman in business, you may need to be prepared for culture-specific expectations and practices in business situations. Understanding cross-cultural differences and having an understanding of cross-cultural communication will definitely further your career goals. You may realize that building close business relationships with people from other cultures might often be more difficult for…