Like Hillary Clinton, we must stand up and speak up

We came to hear Hillary Clinton’s introspective views on politics, Russia and her presidential defeat. And we left with all of that and more. While much of the news coverage involved her thoughts on the Alabama Senate race, I walked away with an inspiring message for female empowerment.

Her optimistic, wide-ranging talk in Vancouver hit many of the most topical issues facing North Americans, but none was more important than her views on women. She has long been a champion for women’s rights and her insights should be a lesson for us all as we move beyond the #MeToo conversation to true equality.

In Vancouver, as she has during her book tour, Clinton said the only way to combat sexism in politics is to elect more women. For me, the same thing holds true for business.

Like so many others, I want to change the status quo, which often sees women passed over for promotions or not even considered for jobs in the corporate suite. Today, just six per cent of Fortune 500 companies are led by women.

We can do better. Having more women at the corporate board table will not only help eliminate sexism and power imbalances but studies have shown it will also improve profits. A recent study found that companies with at least 30 per cent women in senior roles were six per cent more profitable.

Unfortunately, progress is slow. Despite significant advances over the last half century, being a woman in the workplace remains a disadvantage. Women earn less, have less power and are often afraid to report abuse, discrimination or harassment.

Like many women, my past is littered with many #MeToo moments, ranging from abusive relationships to workplace discrimination.

Early in my career in the finance world, an older male colleague warned me not to become a financial adviser: “You’re young, you’re female and you’re pretty. People just won’t take you seriously,” he said.

I was furious. But I used my anger as fuel to propel me to new levels of success.

I wish the discrimination had stopped there. But, as so many others can attest, the outrageous abuses and subtle biases are almost everywhere.

After each indiscretion or inappropriate comment, I became stronger — and I’m hoping the same for others. I climbed the corporate ladder and broke through the glass ceiling, becoming a senior executive at North America’s largest independent brokerage firm.

Now, I am hoping we can use these retrospective stories to fuel a new narrative — based on true equality.

That’s what my book, The Female Edge, is about — giving women a roadmap to a place where they have the confidence to stand up, and step up, to greater challenges.

As women, we need to turn obstacles into opportunities. We need to step out of our comfort zones to get ahead. And we need to push our limits to achieve more.

Shaming, harassing and belittling have no place in our society.

It’s not good enough to watch as Canada’s Environment Minister is denigrated with a demeaning moniker like “Climate Barbie.” We — both women and men — must speak up and be intolerant of this kind of conduct.

Hillary Clinton is one who stands up and speaks up. And she doesn’t want women to be dissuaded by her electoral loss — she is hoping more women will be inspired by it. As she says, she doesn’t want anyone to give up because it is hard.

Inspiring words. But it goes well beyond the world of politics. It’s about breaking down barriers, stamping out harassment and inspiring a new generation of leaders who believe in true equality.

TIME Magazine calls it a “revolution of refusal” — refusing to stay quiet, refusing to accept the status quo, refusing to stop.

A social movement is upon us. We have momentum. To achieve true equality, we must continue to move forward.