In 2009, 51.2% of Canada's business and financial professionals were women, according to Statistics Canada, well up from the 38.3% in 1987. But, there's still room for movement into managerial positions, with 37% of those roles being filled by women, and only 31.6% in senior managerial roles (both up from 30.1% and 21%, respectively, in... Read More
Category: Advancing Women in Agriculture
There have certainly been plenty of headlines surrounding Syngenta’s choice to rebuff Monsanto’s $47 billion acquisition attempts. But, what does the future hold for the Swiss agribusiness now that the takeover bid is in the rearview mirror? “I think our position has been fully vindicated. We were very clear that we saw the execution risks... Read More
Western Canada and the northern U.S. could be positioned to provide more plant-based food protein to parts of the world where a shortage of protein is a growing nutritional problem. Some big picture thinkers, including John Oliver of Maple Leaf Bio-Concepts, are working on developing a concept they're calling the "Protein Highway." Extending from the... Read More
Life is all about relationships, whether working with a neighbour on the farm or helping students and teachers understand science. And that's exactly what Bonnie Schmidt, the president of Let's Talk Science, discussed at the Advancing Women Conference East in Toronto this week, where she delved into the importance of trusting others and working together.... Read More
It's a change many will confront but few will talk about — leaving the farm. Walking away from the farm is so much more than leaving home. It's leaving a lifestyle, a community, an irrevocable bond with the land, and the animals. For some, it's just the next step on a long journey, for others,... Read More
Alanna Koch, Deputy Minister, Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture, talks about finding a work-life balance, leadership and personality, as she answers these 5 questions: How do you successfully juggle family and work commitments? You mentioned the importance of being who you are, where you are. What did you mean by that? How do you decide how... Read More
Trish Jordan of Monsanto Canada gives her top tips for talking to the media, and describes her most memorable moment in the limelight. Imagine you're in an interview, and after wrapping up your answer to one of the interviewer's more difficult questions, you're met with a wall of silence. To many people, lapses in conversation... Read More
Last week, close to 600 women, and a few men, met in the Calgary, Alta., for the second Advancing Women in Agriculture leadership conference. From learning about the value of networking, to finding work/life balance, to hearing many people's personal journeys to success, women who attended the conference left inspired, connected and energized. As is... Read More
Announced at the Advancing Women in Agriculture event in Calgary earlier this month, the Canadian Agricultural Human Resource Council (CAHRC) is launching a research project called Supporting the Advancement of Women in Agriculture (SAWA). The federally-funded study will examine and address critical barriers to advancement that women face in the agricultural industry. "It's going to... Read More
Only 53% of women have the confidence to invest money, while 82% of their male counterparts are confident investing money, Gwen Paddock, national manager, agriculture and agribusiness, client and business strategy at RBC Royal Bank, told delegates at this year's Advancing Women Conference in Calgary. Yet, Paddock explained, women tend to be better investors than... Read More