Reader, this week, something a little different — a story I've been meaning to share.

I had a gut instinct early on in my career. Not a job title, but of the kind of work that mattered. Work that would help people and organizations grow their impact and do something meaningful in the world.

So when I first moved to Calgary, an opportunity came along that fit. The sector, the mission, the potential — it all pointed in the right direction. But a year in, it became clear the person leading the organization wasn't who I thought he was.

Due to a few mostly foreseen actions, I no longer had a job and found myself at a crossroads.

I could have easily retreated or even hidden under the proverbial blanket and questioned whether I'd chosen the wrong path entirely. Or I could keep learning. Keep listening.

I reached out to a couple of leaders who stood out to me and connected with those who needed support on different committees. I wanted to understand fully how they completed their work. I put my hand up to volunteer with one of them.

I remember the first day I walked into a meeting with their team. As everyone introduced themselves, one of the women spoke up and said she’d be leading the committee. I knew who she was from my earlier work. She had the experience, and you know that kind of presence you notice the moment someone walks into a room.

I remember thinking, "What an incredible opportunity it would be to learn from someone like her."

What happened next changed the trajectory of my career.

She didn't guard her knowledge.

She didn't treat experience like something to protect.

She shared it, generously.

And in doing so, she opened a door I didn't even know existed.

That woman probably doesn't know the full extent of the ripple effect of what she did that day. She wasn't running a mentorship program. Nor did she sign up to change my trajectory. She chose generosity in an ordinary moment. That's the thing about opening a door for someone: you rarely get to see what's on the other side for the person you let through.

That experience reminded me of something I've carried ever since:

Progress doesn't happen in isolation. It happens when we choose to lift each other up, share knowledge, and extend opportunities. When someone decides to say, "Join us. Come learn."

This International Women's Day, the theme is "Give to Gain" — forging gender equality through abundant giving and reciprocity.

But IWD isn't just one day. It's a movement powered by the collective efforts of all of us. And right now, more people than ever are showing up for it.

So what does that actually look like in practice?

It starts with imagination. Before we can build truly diverse, equitable, and inclusive organizations. Where we genuinely celebrate the difference. It’s not a checklist.

What would your team look like if every voice carried equal weight? What decisions would your organization make if the room reflected the insight of the groups of people your organization serves?

From there, the actions are simpler than we often make them:

Mentor someone who doesn't look like you. The woman who changed my career didn't seek me out — I showed up, and she made room for me. You can do the same. Identify one person earlier in their journey and make time for them.

Advocate in the rooms they're not in yet. When a colleague does exceptional work, say so loudly and to the right people. Credit travels. Make sure it reaches the person who earned it.

Look around your table. Who's consistently missing from decisions that affect them? Whose perspective is assumed rather than asked for? Diversity without inclusion is just optics. Real equity means people don't have a seat — they have a voice.

Continue celebrating your differences. The strongest teams don’t run on agreement, but on the productive tension of different lived experiences, backgrounds, and worldviews coming together around a shared purpose.

Normalize the conversation year-round. Don't wait for March 8th to ask how the women on your team are doing. Don't wait for a headline to prompt you to revisit your hiring practices. Gender equity isn't an annual initiative — it's a daily practice.

None of this requires a budget or a title. It requires intention.

Sometimes the most powerful thing we can do is simple. Share what we know. Make space at the table. Open a door for someone coming up behind us.

Because you never know when that small act might change the trajectory of someone's career.

If someone once opened a door for you, today is a good day to thank them and open one for someone else.

Want to open a few doors but uncertain where to begin? Get in touch - reply to this email or visit my website here.

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​IWD 2026 Give To Gain Campaign encourages a mindset of generosity and collaboration. When we give, we gain. Everyday lets help forge gender equality through abundant giving.

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