Meet our Sponsors: Ingram Micro

In tech, publishing a diversity report is becoming a standard practice. But a diversity report starts with a diversity strategy. When it comes to women in business, celebrating and retaining talent means more than just a seat at the table. We sat down with the team at Ingram Micro to talk about some of their strategies for encouraging women in the workplace. As a sponsor for our Women in Tech: A Panel Discussion event coming up this Thursday, we wanted to get some insight into how Ingram Micro approaches this issue.

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Tell us a bit about Ingram Micro. What kind of products and services do you offer?

As #64 on 2016 Fortune 100, Ingram Micro delivers a full spectrum of global technology and supply chain services to businesses around the world. Our deep expertise in technology solutions, mobility, cloud, and supply chain solutions enables our business partners to operate efficiently and successfully. End-to-end solutions and distinct market insights allows us to forge forward with decades of strong and dependable partner relationships. With sales in over 160 countries and operations in over 45 countries Ingram helps businesses “Realize the Promise of Technology”. More at www.ca.ingrammicro.com

What does it mean to you, to have an employer who supports diversity in the workplace?

“We are trained to find things that are wrong, but we’d be far better off trying to celebrate what’s right.” Lori Scarlett, Director, Human Resources Canada, Ingram Micro Inc. “Empowering women and paving the way to leadership is one of Ingram Micro’s priorities. Each day we strive to support and celebrate women in our organization.”

What kind of engagement and outreach does Ingram Micro make within the GTA community?

Ingram Micro encourages all its associates to participate in volunteer activities. Additionally Ingram Micro aids in United Way collections, events and campaigns.

Why is Ingram Micro excited to support Young Women in Business, and the Women in Tech panel discussion?

Ingram Micro has partnered with IT World Canada since 2011 for the Women in IT Channel event. As well, Ingram Micro Canada recently launched its first inaugural Trust X Alliance (TXA)Canadian Women in IT event to promote unity and inspiration throughout women either just starting off in the field or veterans who need positivity and encouragement to continue to follow their passion, dedication and commitment to work life balance. Ingram Micro believes diversity and integration is a necessity to a great workplace environment and that’s why we are excited to support the Women in Tech event. We are strong. We are motivated. We will be equal.

Check out our Women in Tech: A Panel Discussion on Thursday, March 30th at RED Academy to keep the conversation going. You can buy tickets here

Meet our Panelist : Helen Mitres

Few people make diversity in the workplace (and beyond) one of the main tenets of their role like our next panelist, Helen Mitres. As a Learning Consultant & GTA focal for Women in Technology Initiatives at IBM Canada, Helen is co-chairing IBM Women's Networking group and leading the new IBM GTA Women in Technology Initiatives. She’ll be moderating our Women in Tech: A Panel Discussion event coming up this Thursday. In anticipation of that event we talked to Helen about her passion for teaching, the importance of stepping out of your comfort zone, and the some of the incredible work she’s doing for girls in STEM right here in the GTA.

We’re so excited to have you on our panel. How did you hear about YWiB, and what inspired you to participate in our Women in Tech panel discussion?

I had initially heard about YWiB through my network friends in the IT industry at Oracle and had seen a few of your events being featured. I immediately began to follow along on your Social Media platforms and was really impressed by the vision and work by YWiB. That same network of friends recommended me as a future panelist.

Aside from your multifaceted role at IBM, how do you like to spend your free time?

I really do enjoy travelling and am fortunate that my current role sends me to a few different places annually in addition to my personal family travel. Exploring different local communities really brings to light the importance of diversity in thought and an appreciation of my own community. Recently I made my first trip to East Coast Canada to Fredericton ,NB! ....and of course, top of the list is spending quality 'down' time with my teenage daughter reconnecting, cooking and binge watching our favourite tv shows!

Tell me about your story. How did you get to be where you are today? 

I started IBM 20 years ago as a new University grad thinking this would be a temporary role as I prepared to apply for teachers college. What I did not factor in was the various roles I would be exposed to at IBM. I have had the pleasure of working in roles in Operations, Business Management, Sales Management and HR. A few years ago I did some soul searching that led me back to my passion for teaching. I went back to school through distance learning to increase my skills and became a Certified Adult Instructor, leading to my current role as a Learning Consultant at IBM.

When you look back on your career to date, what is one important challenge, event, or achievement that stands out as a milestone?

In 2015, I was selected to represent Canada in IBM's prestigious pro-bono Corporate Service Corp program, living and consulting in Belgrade, Serbia for one month partnering with NGO SMart Kolektiv delivering expertise-based service to improving their economic and societal challenges. This leadership opportunity was a truly life changing experience both professionally and personally.

When you think about your journey, what would you say was the one trait that helped you get you to where you are today. Was this a learned trait, or did you have it from day one?

Saying yes when new opportunities were presented in front of me. Sometimes they seemed out of my realm or scope of expertise, but I learned to trust the people that champion for me and dive into new areas that have been the best growth and learning. Getting out of your comfort zone is not easy but the benefits always pay off!

How can women interested in the tech industries get their foot in the door?

Networking is huge - but look for ways to network outside of traditional channels. Start small, follow companies or influential people on twitter or LinkedIn- engage in conversations then build from that. Know the trends, keep your skills up date and participate in any local events happening to get involved. For those recent University graduates, your alumni groups are also a great source of contacts in the industry that could be willing to help. Organizations such as YwIB is a great starting point to expose you to people and corporations that may be looking for new talent. Events such as Information Technology Association of Canada - ITAC/WCT – Women in Leadership Speaker Series, Catalyst regional events, and those hosted by Women in Communication and Technology are also great local opportunities. Don't be afraid to ask for assistance. Start with people you know and trust, ask their network to be your network and seek introductions. You'd be amazed at how much people are willing to help those that are willing to put the effort in.

Tell me about the IBM GTA Women in Technology Initiatives - the vision, and your role.

The IBM STEM 4 Girls initiative empowers girls with STEM knowledge to unleash their unlimited potential and open more doors for their future. It is designed to include content covering all parts of STEM. Workshops include Design Thinking sessions, DNA experiments and opportunities to learn and ask questions about IBM Watson, The Internet of Things, Cybersecurity and cognitive computing. Girls gain experience with circuits,robotics and coding. Participants learn about engineering through hands-on challenges such as tower building and shoe design. We also run a workshop on self-esteem which is integral to ensuring girls have the confidence in themselves to pursue studies in STEM, which is typically considered “for boys”. In January we held private screenings of the movie Hidden Figures, for middle school girls across Canada where we also conducted a dialogue about women in science and overcoming obstacles one may face. I manage the IBM Canada STEM 4 Girls initiative in the GTA, which:

• Focuses on encouraging girls from grade 6-12 to explore STEM subjects in school
• Delivers workshops, camps and content specifically developed and given by IBMers
• Cultivates partnerships so IBM STEM 4 Girls can help enhance existing programs through additional resources and volunteers

Will you be speaking at any events in the near future, or have any other projects we should look out for?

There is a lot going on with our IBM STEM4GIRLS program all the time! We are just coming off a few IBMSTEM4GIRL events in the GTA in recognition of International Women's Month. You can follow along using the #IBMSTEM4GIRLS or my twitter handle at @HelenMitres. We are planning some exciting things in celebration of Canada's 150th Birthday and IBM Canada's 100th birthday over the coming months.

Check out our Women in Tech: A Panel Discussion on Thursday, March 30th at RED Academy to keep the conversation going. You can buy tickets here

Meet our Panelist : Heather Haslam

In lieu of our Women in Tech event coming up next Thursday, let's get to know a bit more about our panelists. Our first panelist, Heather Haslam works for ADP, a leader in payroll and human resources software and services. As the Senior Director of Marketing, Heather will be sharing her experiences from the perspective of enterprise level marketing expertise. Today though, we're talking about her interdisciplinary background, her non-linear path to where she is today, and her unexpected motivation for choosing business in the first place.

We’re so excited to have you on our panel. How did you hear about YWiB, and what inspired you to participate in our Women in Tech panel discussion?

I'm currently working with one of your members Zahra, and she’s shared the exciting things that YWiB are up to.

Aside from your role as a Senior Director Product Marketing / Market Insights at ADP, how do you like to spend your free time?

I'm kept busy raising two young boys, volunteering in my community and playing hard on either the slopes or in the yoga studios.

Tell me about your story. How did you get to be where you are today? 

That’s a pretty big question. Simply put, I got into business to prove to my father that I’d hate it. That was after studying psychology, sociology and social work. After finding our quickly that I loved the business world (despite starting out on the phones in a call center) I moved around across functions. Starting in service, I’ve also been in IT, Mergers and Acquisitions, Sales support, Operations and Marketing. The only consistencies in my career have been working in technology and focused on the Canadian business market.

When you look back on your career to date, what is one important challenge, event, or achievement that stands out as a milestone?

When I first realized that fear would only hold me back. I use the “1-minute, 1-hour, 1-day… trick” all the time. How much will this matter in X time?

When you think about your journey, what would you say was the one trait that helped you get you to where you are today. Was this a learned trait, or did you have it from day one?

I’ve never been afraid to admit when I don’t know something, or when I’ve made a mistake. Humility makes it easier for people to work with you.

How can women interested in tech and marketing get their foot in the door?

Network. Pick up the phone. Ask. People inherently want to help others. But if you don’t make it easy for them to do so or don’t ask in the first place, they won’t. and take control of your career. Nobody is more accountable for it than you are. And who cares that you’re a woman. It won’t have any impact unless we let it.

Check out our Women in Tech: A Panel Discussion on Thursday, March 30th at RED Academy to keep the conversation going. You can buy tickets here

Our Top 5 Resume Writing Tips

Whether you're unhappy with your job but curious what is out there, it's always good to know what the market is like. That's why our third workshop of the year  focused on resumes! We've been waiting for this event to happen for so long. With a cool boardroom to work in at Workplace One hosted by Kathryn Torangeau, People and Culture Manager at Wave and former recruiter at Randstad Canada, she steered us through the ins-and-outs of the modern job hunt. The night could not have gone better! For those of your who couldn't make out on a rainy November night, here are the top 5 resume writing tips from our workshop to help you keep your resume fresh. You never know when an opportunity will strike!

1. Identify your motivation

Why are you looking for a job? No, seriously. Almost everyone wants to make money, but identify what your other goals are when looking at job postings. Do you want to develop specific skills or gain certain experience? Knowing what you really want will help you to tailor your resume but also find the right job for you.

2. Use job search tools

Online job searching tools have become pretty common but which ones will bring you the best opportunities? Here's our short list.

• Monster - One of the giants! It includes jobs from Canada and the U.S. which employers post directly.
• Workopolis - Based in Canada, this is another big site which employers will creating listings on.
• Indeed - Definitely the most popular right now. Indeed is an aggregator which means all the postings on it are pulled from other websites, making it a great way to search widely in one place.
• LinkedIn - You have an account anyway (and if you don't, get one!) and because HR reps and recruiters spend a lot of time checking out candidates on LinkedIn they post their jobs on their too. Good news - LinkedIn is smart so the more you fill out your profile the more likely it is to find jobs that match and bring them to you.

3. Decipher the job description

Really pay attention to the job posting you want to apply to. Print it out or make a copy of it in Word then go through and highlight any repeated words. Skills or tasks which are repeated 2+ times are a sure sign that this is what the hiring manager is really looking for. Make sure you use those same words in your resume (always being truthful!), recruiters don't care if you use the same words back at them. In fact, mirroring someone's speech patterns or body language often builds rapport and people don't mind it as much as you think they do. Make sure you balance it though, you still have to be yourself - don't just copy and paste.

4. Write a brand statement

When you Google resume templates or look for guides on how to write resumes you may come across a section called the "Objective." It's a statement at the top which usually says you are seeking such and such a job in field x, y, or z. The problem is this isn't adding any value to your resume and  you're starting off with telling the hiring manager something that they already know. Instead, start off your resume with something that differentiates you: a brand statement. A brand statement is a short summary 1-2 sentences long which highlights what value you are offering an employer while showing your personality. It should be your go-to answer when someone asks you to describe what you do.

5. Stay away from cliches

Team player. Go-getter. Innovative. Self-starter. These are all words that we know hiring managers want to hear but the problem is they have been way overused. Think about how you would define what you're describing yourself as and then spell it out. Suddenly, what you can do is a lot clearer. For example, what does it actually mean to be a team player? It means you're likely someone who listens, gives and receives feedback well, collaborates with others and doesn't put themselves before the team. Doesn't that sound more interesting than a "team player"?

What are some of your tips to keep your resume fresh?

Catherine is a storyteller, communications specialist, and blogger. When she isn't corporately communicating she is spreading her love of Canlit through her blog Hot Pepper Latte or lifting weights so she can read big books for longer periods of time. You can follow her online @cat_vendryes

Diversity In The Workplace : Ask Afrodite Cruz

According to Statistics Canada, by 2017, the number of visible minorities in Canada is expected to double and account for approximately 20% of Canada’s population. Diversity in the workplace is seen as a major challenge especially for women and minorities. We sat down with Afrodite Cruz, currently the Recruitment, Placement and Employer Relations Officer for the Master of Management of Innovation (MMI) program at the University of Toronto Mississauga Campus and discussed in depth her role and challenges she has overcome in the workplace. 

What are your responsibilities at the University of Toronto?

Currently I work with the Master of Management of Innovation Program at the University of Toronto Mississauga campus.  This is a program that helps science and engineering students bridge the gap between science and business.  I oversee recruitment, employer relations as well as career counseling and professional development in this role.  We have a mandatory internship component in the MMI and part of my job also includes preparing students for this internship and working with companies to create jobs for my students.

What kind of challenges/advances did you see when managing the Diversity & Women's portfolio at Roman? 

During my time at Rotman, I worked on the FT MBA Recruitment and Admissions team.  Women and minorities are extremely underrepresented in business schools and Rotman was active in trying to change this.  On average, only 30% of MBA classrooms are comprised of women – this is a number that top schools worldwide are trying to increase.  While at Rotman, we partnered with the Forte Foundation, which is based in the US.  This organization helps young women learn more about career opportunities pre and post MBA and also offers generous funding and professional development opportunities.

Women very regularly put off doing an MBA and other advanced degrees because of several reasons.  These include but are not limited to high costs of education, fear of heavy studies, family responsibilities and fear of taking time off work  to return to school.  Unless we educate women about the long term benefits of proper training and mentorship and provide better funding opportunities for women to pay for school, we will not see the numbers of women pursuing advanced education rise.

Why did you choose to get into managing the Diversity & Women's portfolio?

I was very lucky to have these portfolios assigned to me.  My boss at the time noticed that these issues were of personal importance to me and asked me to advocate for them in my job.  As an immigrant, as a woman and as a mother to mixed race kids, I felt very connected to issues that relate to diversity and equality.  As someone who works in education, I feel that it is my responsibility to not just speak up about wanting change but to also influence change with my actions.  The work that I continue to do in both of these areas is very personal and plays into my professional life daily.

What's your favourite part of the job? What's your biggest challenge?

I have so many things that I love about my role at UTM!  If I had to narrow it down, I would say that aside from working with an amazingly supportive, innovative and positive team,  my favourite part of my job is seeing the change in my students from the time they apply to the MMI program to the time they graduate from it.  My students often say that what I do in a span of 12 month is magic but the truth is is that when you motivate students to see in themselves the potential that you see in them the magic is just waiting to happen.

My biggest challenge currently is a good one to  have.  This year, the MMI is a much larger program than in past years.  We have 34 students who are all very different and have very different goals.  For me, delivering personalized and meaningful career services and advice to them has been challenging – but doable!  When I get very busy and feel overwhelmed at work, I remind myself of the sacrifices the students are making when they take the time out of a hectic day to come and meet with me.  If they can focus on the big picture and make time to seek help from me, then I can make the time to ensure that they all feel important when they are with me.  In the same way that I motivate and challenge my students, they motivate and challenge me.  I  am so thankful that I have the opportunity to influence such an incredible group and I am humbled by the confidence that my students have in me.

Don't miss out our Diversity in the Workplace Panel happening October 19th and hear more from Afrodite Cruz!

Have you registered?

Entrepreneur Panel: Renish Kamal, CEO at Fidget Toys

Renish Kamal is the Founder and CEO of Fidget Toys Ltd. What was once a side project, Renish’s hard work and dedication to her work has launched her business into success, and she does not take the title of CEO or Founder lightly. She has mastered all the skills needed to run a successful business including sales and marketing, Human Resources, and Public Relations. As a Waterloo graduate with a degree in Sociology and Geography, Renish took the Business Entrepreneurship course, sparking a love for designing and creating something truly her own. Some of Renish’s volunteer experiences include working as a leadership Coach for KidsNow at junior public schools. She also gets to showcase her artistic side at various events where she creates Kolums for traditional Hindu weddings. She is also a part of an all-women’s volleyball and basketball league. A significant accomplishment in Renish’s career is following her gut and quitting her corporate job to focus on Fidget Toys. She is proud to be recognized as a dynamic, strong Tamil woman affiliated with a hardware company, and has been invited to speak on various panels as a young woman entrepreneur. A platform such as Young Women in Business is important to Renish because supporting one another is vital to the success in life. Renish also states, “Culturally, I believe I've placed a responsibility on myself to be a role model to those within the South Asian communities to follow their values and dreams and not conform to the back seat in which our culture puts us in.”