We all play various personal and professional roles in our lives. In my personal life, I am a mother, grandmother, daughter, and dog mom. I’m a mother to three daughters and a (proud!) grandmother to 6-month-old Meadow... and Rudy is my 7-year-old canine kid. I provide ongoing support to my mother, who courageously raised three of us on her own. It is my turn to be there for her. The multiple roles that we find ourselves in require us to provide guidance and leadership in different ways over the years.
As we celebrate International Women's Day on March 8, I find myself reflecting on the fact that we are all required to lead personally and professionally in our daily lives. We know that leadership comes in many forms, and it doesn't require holding a formal title or position of authority. While traditional leadership roles often conjure images of CEOs, politicians, or activists, the truth is that everyone has the potential to lead and enact meaningful change in their own spheres of influence.
Leadership is about creating positive change and fostering collaboration. In my many years of working at Humber, I have been privileged to witness countless acts of leadership at all levels of the organization. It is leadership that ultimately makes a difference to our students and supports the creation of a community that cares. I have seen leadership in the classroom and beyond where faculty lead in sharing their knowledge but also through providing individual support to students. I’m proud of the leadership our faculty and staff provide to students who compete in varsity athletics, mooting, and competitions like Skills Ontario, Iron Chef, and Enactus. In addition, I am so impressed by the leadership of members of the Humber community who share new ideas for initiatives, processes and programs on a regular basis. When the Faculty of Liberal Arts and Sciences host student appreciation events by providing students with healthy snacks – I am grateful for their compassion. When a support staff member guides a student through a challenging process or directs them to a new one, they are leading on behalf of us all. My experience has been that most acts of leadership are not public - they are private moments that are offered unconditionally with a view to quietly supporting a cause, a person, or a purpose.
Perhaps the most exciting form of leadership that we see at Humber is through our students. Our students regularly offer innovative solutions and provide thought leadership while often taking on multiple roles and responsibilities themselves. I have witnessed many of the students I taught and met in my various roles over the years go on to become exceptional leaders. Last week, I was invited to attend a ceremony where one of my former students will be sworn in as a Justice of the Peace. I regularly meet (and reunite) with former students who share their leadership journeys – and when they speak about their Humber experience, I am reminded of how privileged we are to be a part of their life story.
As we acknowledge International Women's Day, let's celebrate the diverse ways in which women around the world are leading and making a positive difference in their communities. Thank you all for the ways that you lead at Humber (and beyond) and the ways that you make life better for our students and their families, as well as the people that they will touch throughout their careers.
My hope is that my granddaughter will grow up in a beloved community where women find strength and courage to embrace their many roles as leaders and work towards a more equitable and inclusive world for all.
