As the mother of an eight year old girl and a 12 year old boy, I feel a strong responsibility (more moral obligation actually) for them to recognize gender equality as a given. Throwaway sentences from them both about ‘men’s soccer’ and ‘the women’s world cup’ help show that my continuous lessons – along with societal shifts and changing norms - are having an impact. It’s not just a given that we are always talking about the traditional men’s game first. Nor of course is gender just a binary concept. And that’s progress. These small lessons are how the world changes. Bit by bit.
Another much loved teaching tool in this house are the Little People Big Dreams books. My daughter devours tales of heroic, trailblazing women from Sally Ride to Maya Angelou to Dolly Parton. So, when I realized after years of actively supporting International Women’s Day, that it’s actually part of a broader Women’s History Month, I was absolutely delighted. It’s a fantastic excuse to showcase stories of women who have helped – and continue to help – pave the way to parity.
International Women’s Day has in recent years, become heavily adopted by corporate organizations. Sometimes it’s done well, sometimes – let’s face it – less so. Photos of women from a business local to me all holding up flowers on their company LinkedIn page last year did make me cringe, however well intentioned. So, imagine my delight when I saw Cornerstone were doing something of true value. A live session of career insights and advice from a panel of our female leaders; with Kathy Schrepferman at the helm asking the questions of Mini Peiris (CMO), Brandy Pond (VP, Executive Programs) and Rose Sheldon (VP, Global Learning Strategy & Innovation). I was already mentally seated two weeks in advance.
Real insights from the frontline of leadership
And it did not disappoint! With thanks to our partners at Fairy God Boss for hosting a fantastic audience of over 200 who leaned in and, together with our experts, provided exactly the warm, authentic energy one would wish for in this kind of session.
Mini began talking about her studies of cellular molecular biology (which I did double check the spelling of!) and talked about her career as less of a straight line or ladder, and more of a jungle gym full of lateral moves. I’m a big fan of the Squiggly Careers concept so this analogy of working through sometime sideways moves that can lead to upward moves later on, really resonated. Especially as a mother, to hear how her personal goals have influenced her professional decisions – which still doesn’t get talked about enough! It’s been a fascinating that Mini has taken through Product Management roles, then into Product Marketing, and then ultimately to run Marketing in multiple C-suite positions. With the common thread that she can take ultimately take complex subject matter and simplify it for different audiences. So, don’t be afraid or reluctant to go sideways first.
To get to where she is today, Brandy told us she has always been the person that asks questions. Sometimes these might be the obvious or difficult questions that nobody else wants to ask. Having started her first ever role just four months before an acquisition, there was a lot to do, a lot to learn and yes – lots of questions! It’s so important to hear a female leader talk about the need not just to be curious, but to be brave too. Too often, I think we’re nervous of seeming silly or ignorant if we ask questions – but nobody comes to the table knowing everything! And I’d say that’s especially true in this age of AI disruption. Nobody has the playbook here, we are all in unchartered territory which is a great leveller. One of the best pieces of career advice I’ve ever
been given was ‘you don’t have to have all the answers, but you do need to ask good questions’. Words to live by.
Rose was also refreshingly honest about her self-confessed ‘straight A student syndrome’ and striving for perfection, when very often it simply isn’t needed. As an eldest daughter, this one cuts deep, I am my own worst critic and have definitely been guilty of letting perfect be the enemy of the good. Rose then talked about how to apply our individual strengths and talent - she’s figured out along the way what her preferences are in each role. In some, she has been in ‘building’ mode, creating new teams, new functions, new strategies etc. In others, it’s been more about tackling and solving for problems that exist within current set ups. And those preferences have changed as her career has evolved – and that’s OK! Again, giving ourselves the ‘permission’ to flex is something many of us need to be better at.
Key takeaways
The conversation continued in a rich vein, with brilliant questions from the audience, especially navigating layoffs in these tough times. There were so many golden nuggets of wisdom, my key ones being:
- Often a role can have strategic impact without being super senior – if a role exposes you to senior leadership for example, you can take the opportunity to lean into those ‘side-by-side’ moments you will find yourself in,as Mini put it e.g. in a taxi on your way to an event with them. Take those where you can. Watch, listen and learn.
- If you find yourself overwhelmed or finding it difficult to prioritize, ask in Brandy’s ‘what the life is on this?’ Is it going to matter next week/next month/next year? A friend of mine uses the rule of five here – five hours, five days, five weeks – and it’s a good reminder to keep perspective, especially if you are trying to get out of the quagmire of the day-to-day and think more strategically.
- Pivots and setbacks can offer opportunity. Rose talked about her own layoff experience in the past where she took more time with her kids and also wrote about how she was coping. I loved that when this piece went viral, her reaction was ‘all the content I’ve written and THIS is what you pick up on?!’ But there’s a positive and resilient mindset there that we can all learn from.
- Mentoring, reverse mentoring and sponsorship were all discussed. All passion projects for me. Understanding what we can learn from our direct reports as leaders is so, so important. My experiences here have been invaluable and if was fabulous to see a former team member of Brandy’s with whom she’s had this exact relationship with on the call! And the difference between having a mentor and having a sponsor is also critical. You might have someone helping you and offering input as a mentor, but do you have anyone senior mentioning your name in rooms you’re not in? That’s sponsorship. Work on those stakeholder relationships if you can’t currently say yes to that.
- Get yourself a board of directors. LOVED that Mini talked about this as it’s something I’ve always done. Sounding boards, mentors, teachers, counsellors. I never ask someone if I can appoint them to mine, I just quietly lean in and they assume their position by
osmosis! Take a look around you and see who you’ve got that can give you advice and figure out what your board looks like.
Finally, when asked about key achievements, it was telling that although the career highlights of these leaders are many, their reflections were more on the human connections they’ve made, the women they’ve lifted up and the meaningful legacies they’ve created. And that’s a huge part of what makes these women so successful. There’s ambition, talent, brains and a great work ethic for sure. But what sets them apart is their ability to cultivate connections and collaborate to get the job done. Here’s to more IWD activities like this and supporting the 2026 theme of leading change and creating sustainable futures – walking the walk like these leaders do every day.
