Catherine Van Alstine

Date: June 15, 2015

Name: Women in Leadership Foundation – Championing Leaders

Presenters: Sarah J. Howard, Wendy King, and Catherine Van Alstine

Many great successful leaders across many different industries have championed to leadership positions. Moreover, the path behind their success is difficult and inspirational. Women in Leadership Foundation is a community for female leaders to gather, share, and celebrate their successes. Women in Leadership Foundation invites Gwen Gnazdowsky, the founder of One Conversation, to discuss with the panelists about their strategies and tips for their success. The panel includes Sarah J. Howard, the Managing Partner and President of Compton, Wendy King, the Vice President of Capstone Mining Corp, and Catherine Alstine, the Partner of Boyden Global Executive Search. This presentation will benefit many female leaders who are looking for motivation for their road of entrepreneurship.

Sarah J. Howard is the president of Compton Fundraising Consultant Ltd. She works in the non profit organization industry,specializing fund raising, for many years in the executive position. She mentions she come across an article that shows a huge difference in gender performance evaluation in workplace. The article summarizes male tends to react and women tends to respond in emotional. Howard shares she experienced gender discrimination in leadership when she started her career. There was a gap between different gender with different compensation. In her perspective, female leaders face different expectations than male.

In Howard’s experience, she saw people distinguish female leaders have the attributes of common care and compassion and male leaders have self confident. The bias between male and female made her feel unjustified. Even though the rules were clear, the politics were still in favour of male leaders.

Howard emphasizes the board was still dominated by middle age male leaders. During one of the board meetings, she was asked to acquire franchise instead of buyout. She could accept the decision, but she wanted more. Her mentor suggested her go beyond, and that was the moment she decided to go for the top.

In Royal Vancouver Yacht Club, the members nominated Howard to run the club. However, the remaining members on the board proposed the motion not to allow her to run. Howard stepped up the game and ask for the election to allow all membership to vote. The result is in Howard’s favour.

Howard mentions her godmother is her mentor. Her mentor gave Howard the advice that changed her work life. The advice was to allow her to choose the battle carefully, and eventually the respect will be earned.

Wendy King started her career as a tax lawyer, but eventually turn to legal care. Before working in the Capstone Mining Corp, her desired dream was to work in the law firm for 10 years and gradually moved to business. King believes any leader requires a long strategic goal and always do what they really love.

To achieve her goal, she knew education was the stepping stone. She used up 2 years to get her master. After her education, she decided to apply for KPMG to upgrade her knowledge because the resources in accounting firm are better than law firm. She moved on to BLG Law firm after.

The lesson King wants leader to know is that when opportunity comes up, it could be a hard decision for many leaders. However, leaders need to take risk to open up a better door for their future.

King indicates she does not have good mentors when she started her career. It is important to have a strong self-direct early as possible. This will help leaders to identify their strengths. Leaders should always continue to build up their tool kit. King believes in this generation, leaders with specialize skills are in favour of those who only have general skills. Leaders need to believe how valuable the skills are. Skills can be transferable in any career, but leaders need to know the value behind their skills.

King suggests leaders to be involved with community board to learn and grow their leadership.

“I never focus on the next advancement. I focus on the experience to grow because the next advancement tends to come by”

Catherine Van Alstine is the Partner in Boyden Global Executive Search. Alstine used to work in the bank before travelling to Vancouver. When she arrived to Vancouver, she needed to figure out what she wanted to. Alstine mentions her passion was to be involved with people and helped them change.

Alstine mentions her career builds around the passion of matching people to meet their dream. She wants to take the existing and make it better. Alstine suggests leaders to focus on bring new people into the team. By allowing new people to be successful will bring in new opportunities and outcome.

“Always be the person to champion other’s skills”

The career does not satisfied Alstine. In addition, she looks for community work. Many people feel hesitant about themselves. Alstine suggests leaders to think about what they want and what they want to be successful. Leaders need to find the right champions who can support them to the next level.

“Do not worry what you choose, just do it better. Figure out how to make it happen”

The panel

Howard believes leaders should always look for opportunity and prepare for challenges when time comes. When there is a tough decision, King suggests leaders need to have the confidence to believe themselves. They need to have the courage to take the risk. Alstine wants leaders to figure out what they can give to others. By understanding what other needs, leaders will be able to direct them to place where they want to be. Leaders should never say no. Moreover, leaders should say yes and figure out how.

Howard believes balance lifestyle is important. Leaders need to park their ego and set their boundary. King mentions she is lucky because her husband do at least 50% of work. Alstine believes leaders define their own balance.

Alstine believes her father was the leader who influences her the most. She is proud to work with many entrepreneurs by taking ideas and build to a business. King emphasizes each mentor has his or her own style. Different styles show different characteristics. Even though Howard never has a formal relationship with her mentor, Howard has a team of advisors who can support her.

Alstine believes if leaders do not have a business degree, they should find a way to show something that equivalent to a degree. Leaders need to understand that degree is important, but what degree can do for them is more important. Leaders need to articulate the reason of having a degree. King believes business degree is a way to fill the knowledge gap. It opens doors for leaders, but they must have content.

“Education does not mean you will get the job. People want to know why”

The world is shifting from less to more women in leadership. Howard advices female leaders to pick their battles carefully. King advise female leaders that sometime it is not necessary to fight; instead, it is necessary to understand the perspective. Traditionally, men leaders start from entry level and work their ways up. Alstine believes they do not know how to deal with female leaders because they are afraid. The society is changing and in the next 6 years, baby boomers will shift. The new generation will notice and the distribution of labour will change.

Alstine recommends female leaders who are currently on the board to be a leader with the other members on the board. It is important to be positive and get the points across. Howard suggests female leaders to be prepared all the time. This will earn their respect slow and show equal players at the table.

Self-direct is a concept to reach out for the next goal, seek opportunity externally and be always learning. Leaders need to be active learner.

“If you are not self-direct, you might not know where you want to go”