Karmyn Kay 

To me, being in a leadership position means that I get to guide and be a part of an amazing team! Every member of our Young Women in Business (YWiB) team is truly an inspiration to me, and I love that we are able to create amazing events and content together. The most amazing part about the team for me is the community aspect, as we are always supporting one another in everything that we do!

Jordan Reed

To me, being in a leadership position means helping those around me grow and become the best versions of themselves. It also gives me the opportunity to grow as an individual and continuously find ways in which I can improve myself.

Dante Carter

Being in a leadership position as an Indigenous woman means to me that I have the opportunity to represent and inspire other Indigenous peoples. I have the ability to influence change to better the lives of those around me and create space for Indigenous voices and perspectives.

Daniela Eichner

I think the opportunity to be in a leadership position is unlike any other. It is an opportunity for me to focus on others rather than myself and what I can do to support them to reach their goals. Being a leader forces you to stop focusing on the details and the work and instead focus on the individual and their abilities. Having been a leader for the past year, alongside my Co-President Karmyn, has challenged me and reminded me that there is so much more to being part of a team than simply getting the work done. If you focus on communication and the relationship you form with your co-workers, the work is not only finished on time, but it is finished at a far better quality, and you are able to enjoy the time spent on it.

Katelyn Petersen 

To me, being in a leadership position means helping others succeed and helping your team reach both their individual and organizational goals.

Karmyn Kay 

I am surrounded by people who inspire me every day! I don't think I could name just one person, but rather a characteristic that I admire. I admire people who are dedicated to self-growth and determined to become the best version of themselves. Taking new opportunities and pushing yourself to try more can really help you discover yourself. The road to success is different for everyone, but it always involves a drive and wanting more.

Jordan Reed

I am inspired by the females in leadership I work besides. Our Edwards Business Students Society executive team is comprised mainly of females this year. These ladies are an inspiration to me as they have shown how women can thrive in leadership positions and inspire others as well. I am also inspired by my female professors, who I have had the opportunity to learn from. They have shown me how hard work and dedication pays off, and how although there are barriers for females in leadership, that it is achievable.

Dante Carter

Simply, the people around me. I am surrounded by proud and resilient Indigenous peoples working to create positive change, people who have overcome adversity and are now working to limit the barriers they have faced, and people who are not afraid to have those tough conversations and speak out about issues. I also find so much inspiration from my friends and family who have overcome their struggles but have continued to pursue happiness and support those around them.

Daniela Eichner

My major source of inspiration comes from my close friends and the people I choose to surround myself with. I wholeheartedly believe that if you surround yourself with the right people, you will grow and flourish into the best version of yourself. My friends and the people that I work with on YWiB continue to inspire me on a daily basis. Being able to see them grow and achieve all their goals inspires me to set challenging goals because they give me the courage to do so. I have seen how my friends have never given up and continue to work despite all the odds being against them.

 Katelyn Petersen 

My inspiration is my aunt, who I had the pleasure to work for her when she was the Senior Manager of Community Engagement for the Heart and Stroke Foundation. I got to see how she operates first-hand and her impact on the community. How strong, dedicated, but still compassionate she was really inspired my leadership style.

Karmyn Kay 

The most significant barrier to female leadership, in my opinion, is fear. It is common for women to doubt themselves when it comes to tackling a new challenge- whether it's due to low confidence, lack of support from peers, or other personal reasons. Women supporting women is so important in order to build up that confidence that we all need when taking on a new task.

Jordan Reed

I think one of the most significant barriers to female leadership is the gender bias that exists. This bias not only makes people more reluctant to choose a female for a leadership position, but it also makes females feel as if they are unfit for these roles. Females then feel less inclined to apply for these positions. It is an outdated and invalid argument to simply say that men are more fit for a leadership position.

Dante Carter

I think one of the most significant barriers to female leadership is an institutional mindset that views females as having less to contribute. As women, we are constantly met with people telling us what our role should be, what knowledge we are assumed to have, and other assumptions that degrade our worth as leaders. It is important that we have women in leadership roles. As females, we do not limit ourselves by these barriers as we have so much knowledge, insight, and determination to contribute to leadership roles.

Daniela Eichner

I believe that the most significant barrier to female leadership is the psychological barriers that women put on themselves. I know there are many stereotypes that exist for women in leadership, such as women being far too emotional or not being assertive enough. However, if you play into these stereotypes and dwell on them, then you will not succeed. Instead, be confident and recognize that all leaders go through a learning period, and you will find your ground. In addition, if you are confident in yourself and your ability to lead, then your co-workers or employees will have confidence in you. From my experience, I was quite intimidated when offered the position of Co-President. I doubted myself and my abilities and was convinced that I was too young to co-lead a group such as YWiB. However, I decided to put aside my fears and take on this role, and I could not be more grateful that I chose to do so.

Katelyn Petersen 

Women tend to bear the emotional burden of an organization’s success. We take on more responsibility and don’t say “no” as often as we sometimes should. This creates an immense amount of stress and increases burnout that can prevent us from reaching for higher positions. Furthermore, women are sometimes hesitant to apply for leadership roles because our self-confidence is not as high as that of men.

Karmyn Kay

During my time at Edwards, the majority of my leadership development has come from taking part in campus clubs. There are so many opportunities for students to get involved and network with one another, which is something that I have really taken advantage of! In addition to clubs, many classes emphasize the importance of strong leadership, and we are often given the opportunity to work in groups.

Jordan Reed

During my time at Edwards, I have had the opportunity to hold multiple leadership positions. Many courses and classroom situations have helped me build my leadership skills and have shaped who I have become. It's one thing to learn it in the classroom, but they are so much value in being able to put these learnings to use in real-life situations.

Dante Carter

I have learned so much from being a part of student societies and working with faculty on Indigenous initiatives. I value the leadership that I have seen around me within Edwards, and it has taught me what kind of leader I want to be!

Daniela Eichner

My time at Edwards has exponentially made a difference in the skills that I needed to be a leader. More specifically, the professors and the students have helped me grow in these skills. Specific classes that discussed leadership and what makes a leader, such as Organizational Behaviour and Introduction to Human Resources, gave me a completely different perspective on the skills required to be a leader. I used to think that leaders needed to be perfect at the technical portions of their job; however, now I realize that having emotional intelligence and the ability to communicate is far more important. Leaders within Edwards have exemplified this in how they support their employees in their work and ensure that they were reaching their goals. The professors and students have shown me daily what it means to be a leader, and the opportunities presented through Edwards, such as leading a student group, have allowed me to grow in these skills.

Katelyn Petersen 

Through various Edwards clubs, I have taken on many leadership roles, with the most significant being the presidency of Enactus. Our faculty advisors for the team are Edwards profs, and they are extremely encouraging of our activities and help us to realize our potential. They go above and beyond to support the rest of the team and me.

Karmyn Kay 

As of right now, my most significant career goal is to obtain my CPA designation after graduation. In the future, I would love to take on more leadership roles as it is something that really motivates me. The team dynamics and growth that I get to witness every day are so inspiring, and I can't imagine a career without it!

Jordan Reed

This spring, I will be graduating with a major in Human Resources. I plan on pursuing my CPHR designation and would like to get my MBA eventually. I want to find ways to give back to my community and help other young female leaders achieve their goals. I want to continue to take on leadership roles in the future, wherever that may take me!

Dante Carter

In the future, I hope to pursue a career when I can work with Indigenous communities and develop or change policy to better support Indigenous peoples. I want to continue to take on leadership roles and continue to create a space for Indigenous leadership and representation. I want Indigenous youth to be empowered by the possibility of having a future in leadership and not feel limited by the barriers we have faced in the past as Indigenous peoples.

Daniela Eichner

After graduating from Edwards, I hope to pursue my CPA designation. However, looking further into the future, I hope to take on another leadership position. Having experienced what it is like to be a leader makes me want to do it again. I loved the growth that I was able to witness within my co-workers, and even more so, I enjoyed being able to see the difference that YWiB as an organization and a team was able to make. Being a leader has challenged me, but it has done so in the best possible way.

Katelyn Petersen 

After my university career, I plan to go on to get my CPA designation and eventually open my own accounting firm where I can use all my leadership experience in university clubs to run my business and team.