By Anna Carsley-Jones
Natasha Fernandes
Participants of all ages, experiences and environments came together at Saint Mary’s University with a common purpose—breaking down barriers in the workplace for women.
The Women’s Empowerment Conference, designed and led by the Saint Mary’s University Entrepreneurship Centre (SMUEC) was held virtually from May 24 to May 27, 2022. In addition to the tools, resources and advice, the key according to Saint Mary’s student and organizer Natasha Fernandes was “seeing strong women being vulnerable and learning from their inspirational stories.”
Kritika Gurung, Co-President Enactus Saint Mary's, speaking on campus
Kritika Gurung, Co-President of Enactus Saint Mary’s, says that “as an Arts student, I sometimes feel networking events and conferences are out of my reach, so when I heard about this event, I wanted to grab a seat as quickly as possible.” She also notes that this was a first for her—she had never attended a conference that is women-focused, with only women speakers.
Entrepreneurs, professors, engineers and financial educators alike were involved as panellists and educators in the conference. Panellists such as SMU professors Dr. Rohini Bannerjee and Dr. Patricia Bradshaw, athlete and entrepreneur Keisha Turner BA’12, and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion educator Crystal Witter BA’20 shared personal anecdotes of conquering adversity in the workplace.
Financial educator Mrugakshee Palwe and Sobey School of Business Professor Dr. Ellen Farrell MBA’88 led the roundtable on Women in Finance. Mechanic and entrepreneur Stefanie Bruinsma and Keisha Turner led the discussions around entrepreneurship. A Women in STEM workshop featured engineer Mel Holmes, followed by a roundtable led by geologist Wren Bruce.
Speakers shared their feelings of displacement in the workplace, but also their journeys of pushing past internalized misogyny and racism to reach own their potential. Panellists encouraged participants to overcome barriers and to understand that women and femmes (people who present as female) are as deserving of the same titles, jobs and awards as men.
The importance of allyship from men and masculine peoples was also noted by many speakers. Jonathan MacNeil chose to attend the conference because “it is a great way to understand the perspective of women who are rarely given a chance to speak their truth, living in a ‘man’s world’.”
For participants and organizers, the Women’s Empowerment Conference 2022 was a success, leaving those who attended feeling powerful, capable and a little bit wiser. Participant Tashauna Reid says, “Women’s empowerment means being courageous enough to question and break the social and gender norms. It creates a space for women to uplift and support each other.”
About SMUEC
The Saint Mary’s University Entrepreneurship Centre (SMUEC) is a leading provider of university-based business support services in Atlantic Canada. In the last five years, the SMUEC has engaged more than 4,000 students and 3,000 businesses in entrepreneurial support and promotion activities. Recognized regionally, nationally and globally for their programs, the SMUEC supports leaders through consulting, training, promoting entrepreneurship and cultivating community connections.