WOMEN GENERAL COUNSEL CANADA QUASI-QUARTERLY Issue No. 4, October 2024

As the sun sets on a (hopefully) relaxing summer — whether spent sipping iced tea (or Chardonnay) on a dock somewhere peaceful, frenetically ferrying children to and from camps, sports and social events for 9-10 weeks, or pretending not to check emails during vacation — we’re thrilled to ease into the rhythm and routine of fall. Welcome to the Q3 edition of the WGCC newsletter! While the autumn breeze brings crisp air and packed calendars, we’re ready to embrace it with enthusiasm (and maybe just a little extra coffee). WGCC’s fall events calendar is shaping up to be both exciting and enriching, with a schedule that's busy enough to keep us sharp, but not so busy that we forget to enjoy those last few patio dinners. Look forward to reconnecting with all members in the season ahead!

WHAT HAVE WE BEEN UP TO LATELY

The summer months were quieter in terms of formal programming, however; they offered us a chance to recharge, reflect, and stay connected in more informal ways – from a casual social in Vancouver for our BC members (and their invitees!), to engaging networking circles about leadership, impromptu coffee connections, and even a few Friday afternoon patio drink meet ups!

WGCC Board Annual Retreat

In September, the WGCC Board gathered for our annual retreat, where we dove deep into shaping the future direction of the organization and ensuring we’re making real strides in increasing value for our members. We left energized and excited for what’s to come, and we’re proud to introduce our new and improved vision:

Connecting & Advancing All Women General Counsel Across Canada

When we come together, big things happen! 

(From left to right: Andrea Fellows | Senior VP, General Counsel, Amica Senior Lifestyles, Heather Mullen | VP, Law (Canada) & US Legal Lead, Customer Development, Kenvue, Kathleen Flynn | Executive Leadership, WGCC Emeritus, Jennifer Good | VP & General Counsel, CRH Canada Group Inc., Ratika Gandhi | Head of Legal and Compliance, LANCAN (Canada & Latin America), Adrian Lang | Chief Legal and Privacy Officer, Staples Canada, Lara Speirs | CLO & EVP Public Affairs, Randstad Canada, Alison Harnick | Senior VP, General Counsel & Corporate Secretary, First Capital REIT, Lilac Bosma | VP of Legal, Canfor Corporation, Cinda Serianni | WGCC Director and Industry Forum Chair, Clare Smith | VP General Counsel, PepsiCo Beverages Canada, Corinne Pruzanski | Executive VP, General Counsel & Corporate Secretary, Cadillac Fairview, Geneviève Richard | WGCC Director & Regional Recruitment Lead - Québec & Atlantic)

Vancouver Summer Social with WGCC
July 30, 2024

This past July, our WGCC members gathered on the rooftop patio at The Workshop in Vancouver for wine, appetizers and easy conversation among fellow senior legal leaders in the industry. WGCC members were encouraged to bring a fellow senior legal leader to double the opportunities for networking and to double the fun! Thanks to Lilac Bosma for hosting a successful evening for our BC membership!

WGCC INDUSTRY FORUMS: Expanding Horizons

The WGCC Industry Forums have really raised the bar — if the bar were a lively roundtable sparking debates, networking magic, and enough industry insights to keep us all talking. Our current forums in Healthcare, Tech, Financial Services, Real Estate/REIT, Education, and Construction/Manufacturing have been buzzing with energy and collaboration.

Forum-specific events are happening throughout the fall and you don’t want to miss out! Click HERE to view the WGCC Event Calendar.

Riding the wave of success, we’re thrilled to announce we’re expanding even more, with new forums on the horizon for a whole new batch of sectors:

Stay tuned - it’s going to be a fun ride!

If you are passionate about leading one of these new forums or want to help create a forum for your industry, we want to hear from you!

Please reach out to Cinda Serianni at info@womengc.ca for more details.

LOOKING AHEAD - MARK YOUR CALENDARS!

Upcoming Industry Forum Events:

WELCOME NEW MEMBERS

We’re excited to welcome our newest WGCC members to our community of talented, driven, and future-focused women leaders! We can't wait to get to know you better - and to learn from all the expertise and fresh perspectives you bring!

MEMBER SPOTLIGHT

Sheizana Murji | WGCC Member; Founder, Tuning Inward Coaching and Consulting; Fractional General Counsel

Tuning Inward Before Leading Outward

How can we better orchestrate ourselves and our teams through change?

In my first General Counsel (GC) role, I led a team responsible for jurisdictions and functions I had never dealt with before, spanning different countries and business units with very different working cultures. I had spent my career developing technical expertise, but now I had to grow and lead beyond that. While this was an exciting challenge and welcome opportunity, I often had a sinking feeling in my stomach, a critical voice in my head asking, “Am I doing this right?” This question led me to sometimes second-guess myself and my actions.

Early on, I tried to power through those thoughts, thinking that if I worked “harder” or mirrored the approaches of more seasoned GCs, I would quickly strike the right chord. I had done hard and new things before, but this felt different. It felt like playing an out-of-tune instrument. I immediately sensed that something was off; the sound wasn’t right.

As I looked at colleagues and peers, I also realized that, while I needed to learn and grow, trying to replicate their voices or copy their approaches to leadership was also not going to work. I recognized I am my own, unique instrument. Trying to sound or be like someone else in my approach to leadership wouldn’t allow me to generate the best I could. I knew I needed to conduct some tuning, and it needed to be focused inward.

This process of tuning was not easy. As I started to find my rhythm, I realized that I was generally playing through three stages: what, why and how. First, I needed a more balanced understanding of what the situation was. This required me to dig into the assumptions, beliefs and fears that were driving my thoughts, all of which were often negative. I needed to take time to process my emotions by giving them space to be instead of ignoring them. I used my own skepticism to ask: “Are these thoughts true?” Often, they weren’t, or there were other, broader perspectives or alternative interpretations. Second, I needed to find clarity on the goal and why it was worth pursuing it. I asked questions like: “What matters most in this situation?”, or “What would need to occur for me to deem this a success?” and “Am I clear on my constraints?” Third, I needed to ask myself how I could contribute effectively as a leader in my role with my skills, experience and perspective. Conversely, where might I need to grow, learn or change to achieve the goal in a way that felt authentic, stretching myself without snapping?

Tuning inward gave me the clarity to stop doubting and start trusting myself and the experiences that had brought me to the GC role. I focused on bringing my strengths to the challenges at hand while also leveraging the expertise of my colleagues to fill the gaps. I found my stride and was leading with more confidence.

While tuning inward was crucial in finding and developing my own unique sound, I also recognized I wasn’t playing as a soloist. I needed to adapt to the actions and notes of others on my leadership team, and beyond. Just like I was my own instrument, so too were they. For there to be full harmony, I needed to tune my own sound first. To be effective, I needed to tune inward before leading outward. Over time, I’ve found that this mindset has been pivotal in developing the sound and melodies I make as a leader. In fact, the concept of “tuning inward” is so powerful for me, I named my coaching and consulting business after this very idea.

As GCs, we frequently lead through complex transitions as well as countless high- and low-stakes decisions. The nature of the GC role is often solitary, requiring us to maintain confidentiality, even from our own teams and executive colleagues. Sometimes, without disclosing particulars, a trustworthy, knowledgeable sounding board, like a coach, can help us find our rhythm. When we tune inward, it is the beginning of a process to reflect and to trust ourselves to lead authentically. This enables us all to navigate even the most demanding challenges with greater confidence. Leading from a place of internal clarity, we create the space for others to do the same. That’s how we produce not just great results, but harmony as well.

                                AMPLIFY YOUR NEWS!

At WGCC, nothing makes us happier than sharing hacks, tips, and must-know recommendations. Whether it’s a brilliant speaker for your next event, a legal app that could save the day, or a can’t-miss book or podcast, we’ve got you covered. 

That’s why we’re thrilled to spotlight Simply Cinda, a brand-new podcast by one of our own, a seasoned woman general counsel and WGCC Director. Tailored to women over 50, this podcast takes you on the wild ride of menopause, career shifts, evolving family duties, and even adult gap years - all served with plenty of humour and heart.

Check out Simply Cinda HERE!

Have you had an amazing speaker, service, podcast, resource or tool that your fellow GC's may benefit from? If so, please share and contribute to our curated recommendations for WGCC members! Whether it's announcements, awards, or upcoming speaking engagements, allow WGCC to amplify your news and spread the word by emailing: info@womengc.ca!

FEW SPOTS LEFT!
Cohort 3 - WGOB Chairs Forum
October 23, 2024:
WGOBPAP (20% off)
Click here for more details | Click here to register

WGOB Membership Discount
$50.00 off
Click here for more details and to apply, click here

Cohort 6 - WGOB Financial Intelligence in the Boardroom
February 19, 2025:
WGOBPAP (20% off)
Click here for more details | Click here to register

NEW! WGOB Holiday Cocktail Reception | December 12, 2024
5:00 - 8:00pm ET
Click here for more details and to register

WGOB Virtual Speaker Series: Emerging Trends for Audit Committees in 2025 | November 25, 2024 | 12:00 - 1:00pm ET
Click here for more details and to register

WHAT'S NEW IN THE WGCC SPOTLIGHT

We're thrilled to share that key portions of the WGCC website are now accessible in French, opening new doors for improved reach and inclusivity, made possible with the invaluable assistance of Alexa Translations. To find us en français, visit womengc.ca today!

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Nous sommes ravis de vous annoncer que des parties importantes du site web du GTCM sont désormais accessibles en français, ce qui ouvre de nouvelles portes pour améliorer la portée et l’inclusivité, grâce à l’aide inestimable d’Alexa Translations. Pour nous trouver en français, visitez womengc.ca dès aujourd’hui !

OUR SINCEREST GRATITUDE TO OUR SPONSORS & PARTNERS

WGCC would like to thank its generous sponsors and partners for their ongoing support of the women general counsel community!

SPONSORS

PARTNERS

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