***EVENT SOLD OUT***
Please email witt@sait.ca if you want your name to be put on the waitlist.
Are you a company that is embarking on your own #BalanceforBetter initiative with respect to an inclusive and diverse workforce? Are you an employee who champions equity and fairness and wants to learn more? Are you a SAIT employee who wants to support this work on our campus? Are you a student who has encountered struggles getting traction in a non-traditional path? Join Women in Trades and Technology (WITT) on Friday, March 8, 2019 for the inaugural International Women’s Day Celebration.
Stay in touch with WITT and request to join the LinkedIn group
March 8, 2019 - 2 pm - 5 pm
Irene Lewis Atrium, Stan Grad Centre, SAIT Main Campus
1301 – 16th Avenue, NW Calgary AB T2M 0L4
1 pm - Check-in and Networking 2 pm - Opening Remarks 2:30 pm - Panel Discussion (Sponsored by PCL) 3:45 pm - Refreshment Break 4 pm - Keynote: Mandy Rennehan 5 - 6:30 pm - Cocktail Reception & Networking
Mandy Rennehan
Blue-Collar CEO™& Founder
Freshco.ca(not the grocery store!)
Mandy Rennehan (a.k.a. Bear) is called the Blue-Collar CEO™ for her ability to seamlessly navigate between the white- and blue-collar worlds, and to respectfully 'tell it like it is'. Mandy is a sought-after speaker, multiple award-winning entrepreneur, philanthropist, and trade industry ambassador.
She left her hometown of Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, at 18 with a dirty hockey bag and an audacious dream. By 19, she founded Freshco, Canada’s #1, full-service, reconstruction and retail maintenance provider operating across Canada and the eastern United States serving clients like Anthropologie, Apple, Banana Republic, Home Depot, Lululemon, Nike, Restoration Hardware, Sephora, The Gap, Tiffany & Co., plus many more.
Freshco and Mandy have received countless business awards including, Canada’s Most Admired CEO, Toronto Region Board of Trade Business Leader of the Year, Top 25 Women of Influence, the RBC Canadian Women Entrepreneur “Momentum” Award , Growth 500 Excellence inInnovation, (WXN’s) Top 100 Most Powerful Women – Hall of Fame, CGLCC LGBT Business of the Year and Atlantic Business Magazine’s Top 50 CEOs.
Mandy’s vision goes well beyond building successful businesses. She is redefining the collar, blue™ to help solve the massive skilled trade shortage in North America. It is a profound economic and social issue that affects everyone. Consumers are paying more and waiting longer for services, companies aren’t able to scale, and important infrastructure projects, like roads, transit and hospitals are being delayed. Mandy is challenging the misconception that white-collar jobs are “better” or “more desirable” than blue-collar ones. Society needs both collars, and if we do not change this, the crippling effects of the skilled labour shortage will only get worse.
Mandy defies labels. The description she often gets is “refreshing.” Her (respectfully) uncensored honesty is matched by her quick wit, East Coast humour, and big heart. It is impossible to remain unchanged after coming into contact with this authentic, self-taught and self-made powerhouse.
Twitter: @MandyRennehan
MandyRennehan.com
If you know a student and/or professional who has made an impact in their field, please review our awards page and consider nominating them.
One common barrier that holds women back from leadership is the lack of available role models (Cheung & Halpern, 2010; Ely, 1994). Women don’t see a lot of other women at the top of organizations so they don’t consider it a real possibility for themselves.
A common myth is that women need to be the ones to step up and close the gender gap. Recent research has outlined that putting the onus on women to change does not yield significant results (lean in vs. the literature, Mason, Hooblo, Burner, 2018).
The objective of this panel discussion is to highlight some Canadian role models so that women can see the possibility of a successful career in any field they choose. With a strong local presence in our community, PCL will demonstrate that they understand and have taken action towards the fact that is takes both men and women working towards gender equality to make it a reality.
Attendees will walk away with a better understanding of the systemic barriers that exist (it’s not just construction and trades; these barriers exist in all industries). They will have met some new Canadian role models, feeling inspired to become our next generation of leaders. Attendees will learn tangible strategies around getting men involved in making the workplace better for women.
Transit
SAIT is conveniently located along the CTrain line and can be accessed via the Red line, Tuscany (North bound)/Somerset-Bridlewood (South bound) trains. To access SAIT via the Blue line, 69th Street/Saddletowne CTrain, you will need to transfer downtown to a north bound Tuscany train.
When on the Red line, exit at SAIT/ACAD (Alberta College of Art and Design) Jubilee station and proceed south, continue up the stairs and then turn right, or via the platform gates to the North and left, then proceed straight.
Hotel
For on campus accommodation, please visit https://www.sait.ca/about-sait/campus/housing/guest-accommodations
Other SAIT preferred accommodation options include:
- Best Western Plus Village Park Inn, located two CTrain stops north of the SAIT/ACAD Jubilee station
- The Hyatt Regency Calgary, located downtown on 7th Avenue, along the CTrain line
Thank you to our sponsors:
CONFERENCE PRESENTING SPONSOR
INTEGRITY SPONSOR
RESPECT & FAIRNESS SPONSOR