Post Event | Confluence YYC: International Women’s Day

On March 19, the Calgary Chamber hosted Confluence YYC: International Women’s Day, an engaging and thought-provoking panel discussion focused on leadership, mentorship and the challenges women face in leadership roles. Moderated by Christine Dagenais, CEO and Founder of Bright Wire Leadership, the event featured an incredible panel of women leaders: Alisha Reynolds, President & CEO of Tourism Calgary, Kelsey Hahn, CEO & Co-Founder of Monark and Bontu Galataa, Entrepreneur Ecosystem Strategist at ATB Financial.

The conversation began with the panelists sharing what motivated them to pursue leadership and the challenges they faced in getting there. Alisha Reynolds spoke about her natural calling to leadership, which was supported by her family and mentors. She emphasized how important it was to learn from both the leaders she admired and those whose behaviors she chose not to model. Kelsey Hahn shared her experience in hockey, where she saw that leadership doesn’t always have to be loud or extroverted to be effective. She highlighted that women bring unique strengths to leadership, and we need to rethink what good leadership looks like. Bontu Galataa spoke about how mentors saw potential in her when she didn’t see it in herself, encouraging her to step outside her comfort zone and grow as a leader.

The panel also discussed the challenges women face in leadership, especially when it comes to bias. Alisha shared a powerful moment when imposter syndrome crept in after she was offered the role of CEO at Tourism Calgary. She spoke about the importance of leaning into mentorship and support networks during moments of self-doubt. Kelsey emphasized the need for organizations to provide women with opportunities to lead and support them in networking and professional growth. Bontu added that mentorship isn’t just about guidance—it's also about sponsorship. Women need advocates in rooms where they aren’t present to help break down barriers and create more opportunities for growth.

As the conversation turned to the barriers women face in entrepreneurship, Bontu highlighted unconscious bias in business and banking. She pointed out that despite these challenges, women-led businesses are often more successful. Alisha reflected on the positive changes she’s seen in policy, particularly regarding parental leave and stressed the importance of continuing to challenge outdated biases and structures.

The panelists shared stories of progress, highlighting positive changes such as more inclusive language around parental leave and a growing recognition of the importance of supporting all parents. In closing, they urged attendees to take action by applying at least one idea from the discussion to their organizations. They encouraged everyone to take that first step, believe in themselves and reflect on the progress made while continuing to push for further change.

A big thank you to our series sponsor, Mount Royal University, and our photobooth sponsor, Snap-N-Go Photobooth for their support in helping make this event possible.