This International Women’s Day, I’d like to celebrate the amazing women across Canada! This special day recognizes our achievements and continued strength, resilience, and perseverance in the face of challenges, including the motherhood gap.
To the women working hard to juggle multiple roles professionally and personally: let’s cheer each other on. Balancing work and family while tackling challenges like the motherhood gap, is difficult, but you are not alone. Being a mother and a woman in tech taught me the importance of seeking support, flexibility, and resources from loved ones, leaders and colleagues. Don’t be afraid to communicate what you need to feel empowered to overcome these challenges.
Do your best to invest in yourself for a healthy work-life balance — it’ll enable you to continue making important contributions in your professional journey. Together, we’ll grow and work towards creating more equitable workplaces for women. Happy International Women’s Day.
Stephanie Clarkson
Vice President, People at Intelliware
Andria Barrett is a Community Advocate & founder of The Diversity Agency, a Speakers Bureau and Consulting firm in the GTA. Andria’s current focus is on supporting women-led entrepreneurs through mutual aid. She sits on several boards & committees, including the Culinary Tourism Alliance, PACE (Project for the Advancement of Childhood Education) and Help A Girl Out (HAGO). Andria has been appointed as a member of Humber’s Program Advisory Committee (PAC) and is an Activator with SheEO/Coralus and a member of the Banker Ladies Council of Canada.
In 2021 & 2022, Canadian SME named her as one of the Most Inspiring Women Entrepreneurs & Business Leaders and In 2022 was the winner of the Rotman Family Entrepreneur of the Year.
