Summit Highlights Immigrant Women Shaping Canada's Future Of Work

• During the Pathways to Inclusion Summit held, Sara Asalya and Rania Llewellyn led a fireside chat
• They addressed topics surrounding resiliency, stereotypes, and what it means to be authentic as leaders

The recently held Pathways to Inclusion Summit saw Sara Asalya, executive director for Newcomer Women's Services Toronto, and Rania Llewellyn, who has formerly held the position of president and CEO of Laurentian Bank, hold a fireside conversation that attracted large crowds and was one of the most popular sessions on the day.

Both women, who are leaders from immigrant backgrounds, shared their thoughts around resilience, stereotypes and authenticity and the reality-checks of leadership as a woman in Canada.

In a building upon the conversation about being resilient; Rania brought important dimension to resilience being learned through your experience and hardships rather than formal education.

Sara added that the immigrant experience also comes with unique strengths and skills around taking risks and doing more with less; in their experience these skills are not something that could be taught in school.

The two women talked discussed various barriers to entry for leadership and then difference between diversity and inclusion. Rania said, inclusion is not about being invited to the table; but simply having a voice on that table.

The two women both concluded with the quadination around multiple instances of rejection being a tremendous teacher. Sara added, there organizations are losing by not considering the potential of immigrant pre-professional talents.

The fireside chat set the stage for the day's symposium, which was jointly presented by Newcomer Women's Services Toronto and the Rotman School of Management, and brought together policymakers, industry leaders, and advocates to hear and learn from one another about the best ways for immigrant women to succeed in the evolving digital economy of Canada.

Panellists addressed issues related to AI and automation, acquiring skills, and working in inclusive workplaces. Speakers identified inclusive skilling, recognition of international credentials, and equitable hiring as essential to unlocking new employment opportunities for immigrant women.

Rola Dagher, former global channel chief at Dell Technologies, provided valuable insights on leadership with purpose and raising the Voices of Diversity.

Other speakers, including Sonya Goldman (WoodGreen Community Services), Moya MacKinnon (ACHEV), Salima Tejani (WCG), and Dayana Tellez (Future Skills Centre), highlighted community and policy initiatives to mitigate barriers to workplaces for immigrant women.