A Program for Racialized Women in Leadership

Description: A Transformative Professional Development Program for Racialized Women in Leadership

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This program provided me with a non-judgmental and safe space to speak about the challenges that I have experienced and still experience as a racialized woman and first generation immigrant in Canada and has equipped me with the tools I would need for future challenges.

Past Participant

In the wake of increased social justice movements, organizations have taken on widespread Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) strategies, geared towards redressing the historical, current and persistent diversity gaps at senior leadership and Board tables. Several research reports, such as the Black in British Columbia Report and Statistics Canada data however, show that the lived experiences of Indigenous, Black and all racialized communities continue to be marked by systemic racism and oppression. Diversity targets for racialized women continue to lag. In addition, experts from Linkedin to Harvard are pointing to failures in diversity hiring recruitment efforts due to tokenism and a lack of support or development pipelines for diverse leaders in the workplace, leading to a trend, as noted by Korn Ferry, of Chief Diversity Officers leaving their roles within 2 years. At the same time, criticism of DEI efforts and “culture wars” continue in public discourse, increasing polarization. At this very time, all things DEI/EDI in public sector and corporate organizations are being cancelled with only a few holding their ground. Racialized women in leadership roles find themselves caught in these crossfires, often facing increased scrutiny and having their qualifications and merit questioned, even when fully or overqualified for the roles they occupy. This is in spite of the clear business case that increasing diversity and advancing equity, inclusion and belonging is good for business in terms of financial outperformance, and positive social impact.

SLD Consulting is offering a professional development program for racialized women leaders to support their retention in senior leader roles. This program will provide core leadership and organization development skills for today’s racialized leader who is faced with the unique emotional tax associated with leading in today’s environment of hypervisibility to diversity, equity and inclusion efforts, while their lived experiences of visible-invisibility continues to create ongoing marginality and experiences of burnout.

By the end of the program, participants will have:

    1. Explored the unique challenges faced by racialized women in leadership.
    2. Reviewed personal-professional strategies for resiliency and thriving in the midst of systemic oppression.
    3. Examined the essence of thriving as a racialized woman leader through the lens of Identity, Belonging and Agency.
    4. Gained a knowledge base and toolkit based on research and practical leadership development activities to move you forward.

If you’re struggling with understanding your agency and role in transforming/existing in systems, this is the program for you. This course was affirming, grounding and energizing. Grateful to have found this space when I really needed it.

Past Participant

IMPORTANT NOTES:

      • Racialized womxn of all self-identifications are welcome and a broad intersectional lens will be held throughout, with a clear focus on gender + racialization
      • While we understand that the personal is political and the political is personal, this space is intended for transformative learning and development and not for activism/advocacy. Participants will be asked to adhere to community guidelines to preserve the integrity of the learning space accordingly

    Registration Information/Logistics: 

    Location: Virtual Self-Paced & Hybrid

    Dates for live sessions: As booked by participants

    Cost: $599

    Registration/Expression of Interest: via SLD Academy

    Facilitator:

    Yabome Gilpin-Jackson, PhD (she/her) is an executive leader, executive coach, consultant and educator in Leadership, Organization Development/ Change and Transformative Learning in academia and across the private, public, non-profit sectors. In addition to being Founder and Principal at SLD consulting, she has served in Executive Leadership roles within the British Columbia Public Sector and is Simon Fraser University’s first Vice-President, People, Equity and Inclusion. Yabome is community-engaged and has served on a variety of non-profit Boards as well as was past Chair of her international professional association, the Organization Development Network. Among other awards, she has been named International African Woman of the Year by UK-based Women4AFrica, was the inaugural recipient of the Emerging Organization Development Professional award from Organization Development Network and the recipient of the prestigious Harry Jerome Professional Excellence Award in Canada for Black-Canadian achievements. Her publications include, Transformation After Trauma, The Power of Resonance, co-editor for the 2022 Palgrave Handbook of Learning for Transformation, the We Will Lead Africa book series and  short story collections about global African experiences: Identities, Ancestries, Destinies. When asked about her work in the world, Yabome describes it as “developing our human capacity to be, think and do things differently and better.” If you ask what she is best known for, she will tell you, her wicked laugh. If you ask her about her proudest achievement, she’ll say, being an o.k mom of three in the midst of it all.

    Contacts: www.SLDConsulting.org|Newsletter/Substack| Linkedin: | Amazon

    See Dr. Gilpin-Jackson’s CV and list of Publications here.

    100% strongly agree they would recommend this program!

    Participating in these sessions was healing and inspiring. Yabome created a fantastic space that felt safe enough and created the conditions for transformative learning and practicing courage. There are not enough spaces catered to racialized women in leadership and it was invaluable to be in a learning community for us by us. Yabome provided concrete tools that can be applied to increase our capacity as leaders. It was a unique opportunity to connect with other racialized women, beyond our titles and positions in our work – as our whole selves. Grateful for the narrative approach, and the insights about resilience, transformation, and systems.

    Past Participant