A special IWD message from Jamile Cruz

“Building a business from scratch requires drive, resilience, patience, and a commitment to your “why”… defining the reasons why you are in this journey is crucial to stay the course and be brave through the adversities, as we know, they will show up every step of the way.

Another thing that I have learned since I opened the company is the power of creating a strong network of advisors, peers and providers of services that are focused on supporting small and medium-size businesses and their growth. Knowing that you are not alone and that you have people willing to partner with your business and help in this, oftentimes, the solitary journey is key to building a strong and sustainable business.

Stay strong, stay the course. You can do it!”  Happy International Women’s Day!

Jamile Cruz

Founder and CEO of I&D 101

Jamile is the Founder and CEO of I&D 101, a consulting firm specialized in Inclusion and Diversity diagnostics, strategy development and implementation. She has spent over twenty years with clients transforming businesses in high performing organizations, creating and implementing strategies to reduce operational costs and achieve their business goals.

She has international experience across multiple industries including mining, engineering, telecommunications and management consulting, where she worked directly for Hatch, Vale and Accenture and advised Fortune 500 organizations. She is now driven to share her knowledge and experience to create a greater social impact, working with organizations that are committed to creating more inclusive and diverse work environments. Her focus on strategy, action plans and key performance indicators to drive progress is creating impact in various sectors.

An award-winning business transformation leader, Jamile has been featured as a keynote speaker in multiple conferences including the World Bank and authored publications, including an Action Plan for the advancement of women in the Brazilian mining industry, currently being adopted by many organizations.  Jamile served as a board member of Women in Mining Canada and is a founding director of Women in Mining Brasil. Both organizations lead change and promote an industry that fosters, advances and empowers women. Jamile is a board director and leads the Diversity and Inclusion committee for the Brazil-Canada Chamber of Commerce.

Jamile is a recipient of the 2021 Business Changemakers Awards by the Globe and Mail and the 2020 Canadian Institute of Mining Distinguished Lecturers Award, in recognition of her work developing inclusive workplaces, especially in mining. She holds a Master’s Certificate in Project Management, and a Bachelor of Engineering degree.