Axis Connects

The Professional Services Award recognizes a senior female executive in law, accounting, financial services, or consulting who serves as a trusted advisor to corporate clients. These leaders set the bar for excellence and mentorship in their industries. Alicia Quesnel, Managing Partner at Burnet, Duckworth & Palmer LLP, was honoured in 2024 for her leadership in professional services and her commitment to advancing gender equity in the legal sector. Do you know someone who deserves this recognition in 2025? Submit your nomination today—nominations close December 31. LEARN MORE: https://lnkd.in/eaddKnWJ Axis Connects, Nutrien

The Large Enterprise Award honours a female senior executive who plays a pivotal role in a large enterprise with over $1B in market capitalization. These leaders are trailblazers, driving transformation and inspiring change within their organizations. In 2024, Doreen Cole P.Eng. ICD.D, EVP of Downstream at Cenovus Energy, was celebrated for her significant contributions to one of Canada’s leading energy companies and her role in advancing diversity and inclusion. Nominate an influential leader for the 2025 CIWB Awards before December 31. LEARN MORE: https://lnkd.in/eaddKnWJ Axis Connects, RBC Capital Markets, Chris Redgate

The Small and Medium Enterprise Award celebrates a female senior executive integral to the success of an enterprise with less than $1B in market capitalization. These leaders exemplify innovation, excellence, and a commitment to advancing gender equity. Jennifer Massig, CEO of MAGNA Engineering Services Inc., was the 2024 recipient. Known for her leadership in engineering and her dedication to fostering inclusive workplaces, Jennifer sets a high standard for excellence. Do you know a leader driving meaningful change in an SME? Submit your nomination by December 31 and recognize their impact at the 2025 CIWB Awards. LEARN MORE: https://lnkd.in/eaddKnWJ Axis Connects, TC Energy

The Lifetime Achievement Award honours a female senior executive who has achieved significant career success and inspired those around her. This award celebrates leaders who dedicate their lives to the advancement of others and pave the way for the next generation. In 2024, Lorraine Mitchelmore was recognized for her remarkable leadership career, including her tenure as President and Country Chair/EVP at Shell Canada. With over 30 years of experience in oil and gas, Lorraine now serves as an Independent Director on boards such as Suncor, BMO, Alberta Investment Management Corporation (AIMCo), Cheniere Energy, Inc., Shell, Catalyst Inc., and Trans Mountain. Who will be the 2025 honouree? Nominate an exceptional leader by December 31 and help us celebrate the changemakers shaping Alberta’s business future. LEARN MORE: https://lnkd.in/eaddKnWJ Axis Connects, TD

We’re on a mission to increase gender diversity in leadership—and we need YOUR perspective! By taking our Gender Diversity Landscape Survey, you’ll help uncover workplace barriers, spotlight progress, and shape solutions for meaningful change. 💡 Why Participate? - Share insights to identify real challenges. -Help create actionable strategies for equity. -Be part of a movement driving workplace transformation. 🎟️ Complete the survey by Friday, Nov. 29 for a chance to win two tickets to the 2025 Calgary Influential Women in Business Awards (valued at $1000!). https://lnkd.in/gAuCzp7g

🚀 Last week I attended the Axis Connects Women’s Leadership Forum. A powerful gathering of inspiring leaders who shared wisdom on navigating challenges and shaping the future of leadership. ✨ Key Takeaways: CEO Transitions: 70% of new CEOs wish they'd acted faster to build strong leadership teams. Success isn’t just about wins on the board—it’s about learning the people and the organization before developing a point of view. Asking yourself what type of leader the organization needs you to be in order to create an enterprise mindset to solve enterprise challenges. Future of Work: The workplace is changing rapidly—leaders must adapt, stay true to their values, embrace human-centric leadership and connect all of their decisions back to the “why”. Soft (human) skills are the hard skills of the future! Prepare for what is predictable and deepen the organization’s capacity and resilience to respond and adapt to what is not.  Negotiation & Conflict: To win, understand your counterpart’s style, be curious, and never shy away from pushing for more on behalf of your team or cause. Negotiations are your gateway to success. If you aren’t asking, you aren't getting! In the words of the brilliant Joanna Shea, "If you aren’t engaging, why are you here?”.   Closing the Gender Gap & Women in Sports: Women’s sports are a prime investment opportunity. Mentoring young women in sports correlates with future leadership success. Let's support and champion the next generation!  Leadership Wisdom: Women leaders must embrace “nerve” and step out of the shadows of being liked; being liked is nice, but it is not always necessary. Seek mentors, find sponsors, and make yourself stand out by solving real problems without being asked. 🔥 Inspiring Reflection: Self-regulation, emotional control, and resilience were recurring themes—leaders who know themselves, connect their decisions back to the why, and lead with empathy and authenticity are shaping the future. Deloitte's own Zabeen Hirji said it best, “Judge yourself by your own standards; your career is a long game”. Let’s continue lifting each other up and paving the way for bold, inclusive leadership! 💪 #AXISConnects #WomenInLeadership #Empowerment #FutureOfWork #DiversityAndInclusion #Leadership Tanaquil Chantrill Emma Pope Janine NelElla Neiles Neneh Thapar Colin Whiteneck

I recently had the privilege of attending the Axis Connects Leadership Forum 2024 alongside some of TELUS' female leaders. It was a day filled with transformative moments, sparked by: ✨ Dr. Ty Wiggins session on CEOs/leadership reminding us it is both a privilege and a responsibility. He emphasized the importance of resilience, emotional intelligence, clear communication, and calmness as essential traits for effective leaders. ✨ A powerful negotiation workshop that equipped us with practical tools and deeper understanding of ourselves from Joanna Shea ✨ Raw and authentic dialogue with some of Canada’s top executives including Zabeen Hirji, who shared her wisdom on leading multi-generational teams, the importance of self-advocacy, and how to lead with candor, grace, and make an impact. ✨The Right Honourable Stephen J. Harper, shared his insights on "The Impact of the U.S. Election on Canada"—an eye-opening discussion on how global events shape our nation. ✨ A compelling and candid conversation with, Dr. Martha Piper and Dr. Indira Samarasekera, who shared their personal journeys as the first female presidents of two of the nation’s largest and most prestigious research universities. They did it with "nerve"! Thank you Nuvyn Peters. It’s events like these that remind us of the importance of creating spaces for women to lead, learn, and uplift each other. PS: The free headshot was a much appreciated touch! #AxisConnects #LeadershipForum2024 #WomenInLeadership #TELUS #Empowerment #ProfessionalGrowth

I had the pleasure of providing opening remarks at the Axis Connects Leadership Forum Lunch featuring The Rt. Hon. Stephen J. Harper, and Goldy Hyder of the Business Council of Canada. The event provided exceptional insight from our 22nd Prime Minister on how Canada can find common ground with the United States on defense, energy, and more.   “Canada needs to be eyes-wide-open on domestic policy that threatens that partnership and threatens Canada’s place in the world. And that means we need to actively work to align Canadian policy with the USA – beginning with killing the proposed emissions cap that would not only be devastating to Canada’s productivity and competitiveness, but would put energy and national security at significant risk. We as Canadians simply can not afford to be illogically and ideologically dogmatic in the face of a rapidly evolving bi-national trade context with the USA.” Lisa A. Baiton, CEO CAPP   Axis Connects Nuvyn Peters Heather Culbert

Nuvyn Peters, Katie Smith-Parent, and the entire team at Axis Connects hosted an exceptional Leadership Forum this past Wednesday. 600 leaders showed up for a full day of sharing insights, exchanging knowledge, and finding inspiration. One of the highlights for me was listening to The Right Honorable Stephen J. Harper, Canada’s 22nd Prime Minister. He shared his thoughts on the potential implications of the recent U.S. election results on Canada-U.S. relations. Goldy Hyder, who facilitated the conversation, asked thought-provoking questions about what a productive relationship between the two nations should look like, where their common ground lies, and how Canada can balance alignment with the U.S. while maintaining some independence. There was also speculation on the prospect of a second term for Trump and what that could mean for Canada. The former Prime Minister concluded with some personal insights and inspiring words: Women are often modest about their unique strengths and abilities but must become louder advocates for themselves. Promoting women in business and leadership is not just beneficial—it’s essential to the economy. Thanks to Equal Voice, WEDO Canada | Women’s Entrepreneurship Day Organization, WTAL Canada, Women Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub (WEKH), and other organizations focused on advancing gender equity and increasing representation for women, efforts like these are highly impactful. While each may take a different route, our objectives are strongly aligned. It’s always a privilege to be in a room filled with like-minded individuals, equally passionate about progress and leadership. 📸 Axis Connects, Milena Radakovic. Heather Culbert, Catherine Samuel.